Chapter 70: Some Scars Never Heal
"Wait... is this a joke?" Adrian raised his eyebrows when A’Mila and Akila entered the tent.
The Shaman referred to them as his saviours, but didn’t they want him to suffer? While A’Mila could have had a change of heart, the same couldn’t be said about Akila, who still viewed Adrian as a criminal.
While Adrian was lost in his thoughts, Akila moved forward, and the others instinctively retreated. Something was about to happen, and everyone else seemed aware of it except for Adrian.
The next moment, Akila lunged forward before Adrian could grasp the situation, landing a swift blow to Adrian’s abdomen. He was forced to take a few steps back, hunched over and caressing his stomach. Though Akila’s blow didn’t inflict as much pain as before, it still made him wince.
"Three punches daily until I decide otherwise," Akila mumbled as he turned to leave the tent. "Consider it my punishment to you. Also, I won’t tell you when I’d strike you. It’d do you good to be alert around me."
"...huh?" Adrian asked, but Akila didn’t bother replying and left.
"Don’t mind him," the Shaman said. "He’s angry because he lost soldiers under his command while subduing you."
"That’s what confuses me," Adrian groaned as he got back to his feet. "Why bother saving me if he despises me so much?"
"Is it too hard to understand? He wants you to suffer, and just killing you would be too easy. At least that’s what he thinks," A’Mila replied. "As for me... I believe your tale. It wouldn’t be right to punish you for something you couldn’t control.