Waking from a Slumber
She opened her eyes and fell into a daze as she looked at the grey tent overhead. The noises made by the soldiers outside as well as the shouting sounded as though it came from an extremely faraway place. Veirya sat up. She reached out and grabbed a pot on a wooden barrel. She licked her dry lips. She then removed the cork and gulped mouthfuls of the liquor in the pot.
After having a drink, she gently sat straight up. She wore the military’s unlined garment, but her clothing was so filthy that nobody wanted to look at it. It was either stained with black or blackish green blood. As a matter of fact, the buckle on her belt had the shattered organ of some species.
She turned her head to see a new uniform by the side of her bed. She slowly stripped down and tossed it aside. Her naked body had wounds and bloodstains. She checked out her body then hesitated for a moment before picking up her dirty uniform again and wearing it on.
Someone suddenly pulled open the curtain to the tent. The individual checked inside. He paused when he saw Veirya. He asked, “Sorry, Madam Veirya. Have I disturbed you?”
Veirya shook her head. The man was very young. In fact, he looked as though he had yet to mature. He looked immature and naïve. He sported very clean and tidy short blonde hair. He wore the same uniform as Veirya. His green eyes looked lively. He held a helmet underneath his underarm.
“I am glad I did not disturb you. Do you plan to head to that camp now?”
The young man nodded. He was nervous yet eager. Since he had his helmet under his underarm and his long sword strapped to his belt, he looked as though he was prepared for combat. Judging from that, the battle must’ve been his first one. Men viewed their first battle as a stimulating adventure. It was an important turning point for a young man to transform into a man.
“Bath.”
Veirya picked up her clothes. She headed out of the tent and shoved him aside without any hesitation. The young man carried his helmet and followed after her in an awkward fashion.
Veirya didn’t reside in the military camp; therefore, the noise and shouting must’ve come from a long distance away. Veirya carried her clothes with her as she headed into a tent. She spared no thought for the soldiers around. The two soldiers wore astonished and frightened expressions upon seeing Veirya pass by them. They wore the same uniforms, indicating they were from the same camp, yet they looked very vigilant of Veirya.
Noticing the frightened and disgusted gazes around them, the young man awkwardly lowered his head. After they looked at Veirya, they’d shift their gazes over to the young man. To him, it felt similar to being in a precarious situation of having countless crossbows aimed at him. He lowered his head as though he wanted to bury his head in the ground. While he greatly respected and admired Veirya, he didn’t enjoy being looked at with those gazes.
Veirya went to thebathroom. As opposed to defining it as a bathroom, it’d be more appropriate to describe it was a segregated section similar to a toilet that was segmented by a wooden board. She poured hot water into the wooden tub then pulled the string off and poured the water in. However, because there aren’t many females in the army, men and women didn’t bath separately. At the current time, there were a few other soldiers bathing in wooden cubicles separated by wooden boards. Veirya didn’t mind bathing with a group of men. As a matter of fact, she didn’t care that they saw her body. Standing there in an empty cubicle, she began to strip.
“Umm, Madam Veirya, you should not strip here!!!”
“Hmm?” Veirya reacted surprised.
He quickly turned his head away so as to avoid seeing Veirya’s body. Veirya’s body was a little too stimulating for the young man. Nonetheless, he quickly noticed that he didn’t need to worry. Next, he heard the sound of swishing water. The sound of water all around him stopped. The soldiers, who were bathing, quickly picked up their clothing and immediately fled without getting dressed. They didn’t dare to look at Veirya. She looked at the young man with her head tilted: “What’s the matter?”
“No… nothing…”
The young man’s response showed his dilemma. Veirya appeared to be used to it. Nobody wanted to bath next to her despite her absolutely sensational body. Veirya was a soldier and warrior Her Majesty was very proud of. Nevertheless, the soldiers viewed her as a blade without a sheath, one, which not only could kill enemies, but also her allies. Nobody dared to have any thoughts that crossed the line for Veirya. Anger her just a little, and they might just die.
“Help me. Pour water.”
Veirya gently lifted up her hair behind her, revealing her pure white neck and back. She waited for the young man to pour water on her back. The young man didn’t catch sight of a critical spot, but Veirya’s back and neck alone were enough to make his face and ears red. He quickly shut his eyes to kill any ideas he had for his venerated Madam Veirya. He then picked up a water bucket…
“Wait!! Wait!! You mean that you asked a guy to help you take a bath?!”
I looked at Veirya, feeling stunned. She responded with a subtle nod. She pinched her chin and asked, “Is. There a problem with that? There were only men. After all.”
Somewhat unhappy, I pouted. I didn’t reply. Although Veirya merely recounted the past – not to mention that she now bathed together with me – hearing another man bathing her before left me with a somewhat bitter taste. Veirya didn’t continue recounting her past; instead, she titled her head and looked at me in silence.
“Hmm?”
I noticed a touch on my thigh, surprising me. I saw Veirya looking at me with a serious expression. She seemed to notice my discontent. She touched my thigh with her toes. Seeing me look up, she asked, “Are you angry?”
“I… I… Mm… I’m not angry! Why would I be angry?! As if I’m angry!”
“Mm…”
I defiantly denied it, but I knew that I was jealous. I knew that fellow was god-knows where, but I was still angry.
After a short silence, Veirya clasped my face. I was surprised. Expressionless, she stated, “I won’t. Do it again.”
“What?”
“I won’t. Let others see. And won’t. Bath outside. I’ll. Be with you. Also. Sorry. For the past.”
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