I Woke Up 120 Years After The Apocalypse-Chapter 35: Oathbearers (4)

Lerius and Akram worked in tandem to stop the hemorrhage and properly diagnose Aphroa’s injuries. Their efficiency forced the Oathbearers to step back and give them space.

"The bolt is lodged... Judging by the angle, the liver m-m-m-m-m-m-might be hit, Master."

"I know... we’ll have to move her. It’s impossible to do more than basic first aid here, the risk of infection is far too high."

Lerius nodded, continuing his work with meticulous, almost surgical precision, a stark contrast to his bugged robotic appearance and personality.

Akram shouted over his shoulder, calling for an emergency stretcher. Several Vulkans rushed over, ready to transport the unconscious injured woman.

Akram and the others carefully placed her onto the stretcher, taking care not to worsen her injuries.

Rubayd then ordered half of his troops to return to Bomfort, the capital of the Oathbearers, to inform Phaistos the Titan of the situation.

He, Zulfar, and two other soldiers followed the improvised stretcher into Vulkania.

Akram, meanwhile, ordered his chief scout, Baron, to defend Vulkania’s cause before the Oathbearers and to serve as proof of their good faith. Baron obeyed without question, placing blind trust in his leader.

***

Some time later, Akram was working relentlessly alongside Lerius and Rissam, a massive but highly skilled apprentice doctor, currently serving as a medic.

Rissam had joined the colony a few months earlier. He stood out for his imposing build, certainly, but above all for his strong inclination toward medicine. He had treated several war injuries in his life and was entirely devoted to the profession.

Rubayd did not leave the operating room. He followed Akram’s instructions regarding full sterilization of the room, carried no weapons, and wore the special garments, wanting to see with his own eyes how the leader and his people acted.

After several hours of surgery, Akram finally exited the room, followed by the other Vulkans.

However, there were no smiles, no joy. No expression of success on their faces.

And for good reason. Aphroa was not out of danger yet.

Akram and his improvised medical team had managed to extract the bolt embedded in the young woman’s abdomen, but it was not enough. Her liver had indeed been hit.

In his own time, saving her would have been easy. Regenerative technologies were widespread. But in this near-medieval context, such an injury often meant death.

And Akram knew it.

He held the extracted bolt in the palm of his hand, staring at it for a long moment, lost in thought.

Rubayd’s arrival pulled him from his daze, his rough voice echoing in his mind.

"I saw what you did, Cursed One."

"I didn’t fully understand this whole sterilization and infection business... At first, I thought you were trying to disarm me to attack..."

"Huh..."

The Pillar shook his head, even allowing his stern expression to soften.

"But what I do know is that you truly did everything you could to save the Mistress’s life."

"Someone who tried to kill her would never have worn the expression you wore. Never."

Akram let out a long breath. The relief those words brought him was indescribable.

"However... who among your people hates us enough to do this?"

"Huh? No one. We checked everyone’s background. No one seemed to have any connection to you."

"Then how do you explain this?"

"I don’t yet... I need to conduct my investigation to find the culprit."

Akram immediately headed out, making his way toward Plumrol’s forge. That was where he hoped to find answers.

Rubayd watched him leave, following him only with his eyes.

Akram was stopped several times along the way by worried Vulkans.

"Are they going to come back for revenge?"

"Are we going to be forced to leave again?"

"Why are they here? Are you a hostage?"

Akram did his best to reassure everyone he passed, though it was difficult given the current atmosphere.

When he finally reached Plumrol’s counter, the blacksmith was forging relentlessly, hammering without pause—weapons, arrows, and above all, bolts.

"What’s going on, Plumrol? Why are you rushing like this?"

"We need to be ready... Before they come... She won’t survive..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa."

Akram frowned, stepped closer, and grabbed Plumrol’s hands to stop him.

"This is pointless. You’re exhausting yourself for nothing."

Indeed, Plumrol was completely out of breath. He hadn’t stopped forging since the end of the fight. That was how he released stress, and how he prepared himself.

Akram discreetly slipped Aphroa’s extracted bolt into Plumrol’s hand.

"Can you confirm this came from us, and that you forged it? And can you stay discreet about it?"

"Is this...? Okay. I get it."

Plumrol nodded and examined the bolt more closely, turning his massive back to the main aisle.

Akram kept watch around them, making sure no one was observing.

"Mhmm... It definitely came from us, no doubt... The metal quality... It was forged this week."

"Do you know who you gave new bolts to this week?"

"No one. There were no orders. The shooter must’ve taken it from my reserve."

"Tch... Of course it wouldn’t be that easy."

As Akram rubbed his chin, members of the Vulkan guard burst in, shouting his name.

"Akram! Akram! Akram!"

He turned toward the voices. Zofyan and two of his men were approaching, out of breath as if they’d run a marathon.

"We... we didn’t manage to catch the bastard who fired... But we got the crossbow. He dropped it while fleeing." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

A long smile spread across Akram’s face, but it wasn’t pure joy. It was closer to relief, to release. Akram knew exactly what to do.

"Perfect, guys... Perfect. We’ll find the culprit with this. Trust me."

The guards relaxed in turn, exchanging relieved looks.

Akram didn’t waste another second. He hurried toward the research center, where he could begin his investigation and find the true culprit behind the attack.

When he opened the door, his eyes narrowed. He spotted someone working at the back, a hood covering their head.

As he approached, he tried to call out.

"Leyla...? Nezra?"

There was no answer. The person kept working on whatever they held. Akram touched their shoulder, and they flinched, finally revealing their face.

"Nezra? What are you doing?"

"Oh shit! You scared me, Akram! I didn’t hear you come in with all the metal noise..."

Akram raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze toward Nezra’s workbench, toward what she was working on.

His expression stiffened instantly. His body froze, stunned—almost terrified.

What he was seeing should not have existed in this world.

Not yet, not now... Especially not now.