Chapter 21: A Passive Threat?
Elias, still gripping the flashlight, jogged forward, a tentative grin on his face. "Hey, that was incredible! I mean, you really—"
Before he could finish, one of the soldiers stepped into his path. He was tall and lean, with streaked dark green hair and a calm but firm expression. He placed a hand on Elias's shoulder. "No one approaches the platoon commander," he said evenly. "Get back with the other recruits."
Elias paused, irritation flickering across his face. He opened his mouth to argue but stopped short.
"I suppose he has a point," Elias muttered, glancing back toward Elara. "She can't exactly act buddy-buddy with new recruits during a threat like this..."
With a resigned sigh, Elias turned away and made his way toward the other recruits. They were filing off the damaged bus, some leaning on each other for support. A few bore minor scrapes and bruises, while one recruit was being tended to for more serious injuries. Elias approached and recognized the injured man as Marcus, who was propped against the side of the bus.
"How're you holding up?" Elias asked, his concern evident.
Marcus winced but managed a smirk. "Still breathing, so there's that. Honestly, though, I'd probably have a hole straight through my chest if you hadn't blinded that lunatic with a flashlight. Smart thinking."
Elias glanced at the soldier tending to Marcus. Her long pink hair cascaded down her back, swaying slightly as she leaned over to pour a gel-like substance onto the gash across Marcus's chest. The gel hissed faintly as it worked to seal the wound, and she wrapped it quickly with precision and care.
"You think it was because of that shard he was shouting about?" Elias asked, lowering his voice.