The third R:B short story, and as usual, is to thank and love for providing the original text.
K ~ Seven Stories: 24 Pieces
Piece 3: Awashima Seri (Recruit)
by Azano Kouhei
“If you will excuse me.”
With this, Awashima took her leave, exiting the Captain’s office and heading to her room in the dorm. Unfortunately, no spring could be found in her steps as she walked. But that hardly could be helped. After all, today she was subjected to the second biggest shock of her life. The mental strain and physical fatigue from the experience still weighted heavily on her mind and body.
When she thought about the decisions she had had to make within the window of just a few hours and their consequences, she couldn’t help wondering what was the best course of actions in the end and what exact moment was the most dangerous. Right now, however, objectively ascertaining the outcome she herself had helped bring about was proving difficult.
In her mind’s eye, today’s battle was resurrected, its might and intensity defying imagination.
“… So that’s kings’…”
That’s what an all-out battle between kings was like, and that’s what the true image of the world Awashima had set foot into looked like.
A shiver ran through Awashima’s body. Was it a shiver of excitement? Or of mortal fear? There were stress and fatigue gnawing at her, as well as confusion. That’s right. At the moment, the feeling of confusion reigned supreme.
But…
“…Don’t waver.”
She had made the decision herself, of her own volition, following her own gut.
“Don’t be afraid.”
She had as good as died once already, in that far away sky, where her life was then miraculously spared. What could she possibly regret dedicating her life to her savior and the lord she herself chose? It went without saying that she could never do what her master could, and there was no need for her to even try. What was required of her was to simply and honestly do what she could.
“This is a workplace hard to come by. Isn’t it, Awashima Seri?” she murmured intrepidly, lifted her head and crossed the hallway with sure steady steps.