Chapter 40- Prize
The next morning, Julian slowly opened his eyes. He felt an unfamiliar lightness in his body, his aches were gone, and his strength had returned. As he shifted to sit up, his gaze fell on the four women sleeping soundly next to him, tangled in the blankets and each other, exhaustion still etched on their peaceful faces. A faint heat rose to his cheeks, he remembered just how intense last night had been.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb them. He dressed quietly, then stepped out of the room for the first time in days. Outside, the shelter was bustling with life. People smiled, laughing with relief, food supplies were stable again, and hope had returned. Julian chuckled to himself, imagining Derrick somewhere passed out after overusing his skill to replenish their stores.
Further ahead, he spotted Luke and Rogan walking together. Luke waved as soon as he saw him. "Hey, Julian! How’s the wound? You’re up and about faster than I expected."
Julian shrugged lightly. "Maybe my body just heals quickly."
Rogan exhaled in visible relief. "Are you planning to head out today?"
"Probably tomorrow," Julian replied calmly.
"Good," Rogan said with a nod. "Before that, there’s something we want you to see."
Luke chimed in, grinning mischievously. "But don’t freak out."
They led Julian through the bustling shelter to Albert’s workshop. The gruff old craftsman looked up from his workbench, scowling. "What do you want? I’m not building another rocket launcher for you, Rogan."
Rogan groaned. "That was one time! And this isn’t about that."
Albert’s gaze shifted to Julian, his expression softening. He bowed slightly. "Julian... thank you for what you did. We owe you everything."