Chapter 11: Volume I. Chapter XI. – Left Behind

[March 30th, 863]

I woke up a short while ago. The dreams I had still made me feel unwell. Though, the first one seemed too genuine… what was it about?

I’m resting my head on Iris’s thighs and my legs on Charlotte’s. I inspect the area with my eyes and notice how similar this place looks to the shelter I was previously in. This must be another one.

What about Hidiku and Hiro? Are they alright?

After some time of looking around, I see them sitting next to each other on a different wall. Their pitiful expressions are a direct reflection of how they are feeling, Hiro's forehead being covered in bandages doesn't help either.

Should I try talking to them? I could cheer them up, even if just a little bit.

I pause and start thinking about how I left Hidiku alone, subconsciously reaching for my arm with the other. Suddenly I don’t feel too optimistic about talking to them anymore.

“Let it be, Yuuna. They need some time alone.”

Iris remarks as she sees me giving them a wary look in my eyes. Her leg is also wrapped in bandages.

“How’s your leg?”

“It’s nothing serious. Though, it will most likely leave a scar.”

I flinch a little after hearing her say that. Iris likes to wear skirts, but she giggles in response.

“Don’t worry about it. I can just hide most of it with my thigh highs.”

I guess that’s true. Still, it is a shame to have her smooth skin tainted.

“Say… What happened to Himari? And why are we all camped out here? Does everyone just want to rest, or are there any safety concerns?”

I express my curiosity, but at the same time, I’m eager to get out of here. The air is awful, and it's freezing.

“The adults have taken care of Himari’s body after being given a chance to bid our farewell.”

Replies Iris, to which Charlotte follows up.

“And then there’s this fancy guy claiming to be one of the commanders from the capital’s military base who ordered everyone to stay in the shelters. Additionally, he appointed the residents of the Hogo-sha district to a shared refuge. We'll probably be transferred to the capital, in my opinion.”

Charlotte, with her carefree attitude, fills me in on the situation.

“Is that so…”

The place is crowded, but now that it’s been brought to my attention, I can only make out a small number of pupils from our academy. Not that I am acquainted with them, though.

Then I realize something. Something significant to me and my sisters has escaped my mind as a result of all of the troubles.

I'm hesitant to ask my sisters about it because I'm already bracing myself for any negative answers.

“So….what about mom and dad? Have you seen them?”

A hand gets placed on the top of my head. I look up at Iris; she doesn’t look happy at all. Charlotte’s once lighthearted demeanor now includes sadness too.

“We haven’t, but there’s a chance they are still out there.”

She says that, but….they already accept the worst outcome. Their expressions say it all.

I don’t dare to respond.

From the nearby stairwell, footsteps can be heard filling the hallway.

It’s a group of three armed guys, most likely knights. Among them walks the young soldier that has saved us from certain death.

“That’s him, the guy I told you about earlier.”

Says Charlotte as she looks at a tall man standing before the other two. He peers through the open area before him and shouts….

“Attention, please!”

All eyes are on the three soldiers.

“Thank you for patiently remaining present. Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Gerald Losk, and I am one of the military base commanders in the capital city of Taiyo. We have come here under the order to escort everyone to safety. Sadly, due to the limited space on our transporters and the potential risk of being attacked, we prohibit any kind of luggage. But first, I will need you to form two groups.”

The two soldiers accompanying this man step forward as the commander first extends his arm to one of them and then to the other.

“Those who are at the age of fourteen or lower, pregnant, suffer from any disabilities or illness, please stand here. The rest of you, please here.”

Few people disobey their orders and those who do tend to murmur discreetly. The morale is low; everyone is desperate to escape any potential threat that may still linger.

Commander Losk resumes his speech as he addresses the latter group.

“Thank you for following my instructions. You can now follow us outside, where the convoys are waiting. Escorts for the second group will arrive shortly after.”

This means my sisters will be leaving me behind… I don’t like this. Soon after, both of them walk up to me. I look at them with a slight discomfort showing on my face.

“I suppose this is goodbye for now.”

You are reading story HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK at novel35.com

I say as I try to force a smile. Iris takes my hand as she nods to my comment.

“Take care of Hidiku while we are gone.”

Charlotte then slaps my shoulder with her usual carefree attitude.

“Why the long face? We will see each other again soon. Or is it too much for you to bear, baby girl?”

I stare her down with an unamused look; Iris lets out a sigh.

“Alright, you two…. Let’s go. We don’t want to be left behind.”

“See ya. Don’t miss us too much.”

Charlotte follows up after Iris. And just like that, I’m left behind, with Hidiku being the only other person I know.

He’s standing just a bit further from me. Quite a few people separate us, but I manage to reach him.

“Hey, Hidiku, how are you feeling?”

He looks at me sadly with a hint of surprise.

“I will be alright.”

Yet he doesn’t sound ‘alright’. Maybe this is not the best time to bring it up, but I want to apologize as soon as possible.

“I, um… I’m sorry about earlier.”

He looks confused.

“What are you talking about?”

I had faith that he would figure it out. I feel embarrassed about explaining it, but the feeling of regret is more potent.

“Well, you know… when-”

“Attention, please!”

The entrance guards, two metal-plated knights without gifts, interrupt me mid-sentence and request for our attention.

At last, it's time for us to go.

It’s early in the morning. The sun just emerged, showering the land with its light and warmth.

The crowd of soldiers marches out of the hideout and continues heading down a valley with the two guards serving as our guides. I quickly become aware that we are leaving the Hogo-sha district.

Are the convoys perhaps waiting outside of the town?

It was a possibility… until making a turn that would contradict that idea.

So then, where are we headed to? - That will soon become clear as our advisors show us a sizeable edifice constructed of the same material as everything else nearby.

It’s the orphanage.

“What… is this?”

I question the guard’s intentions.

“Yuuna, is something wrong?”

Hidiku queries how I respond to the shift. I look at him with sheer confusion.

“What do you mean? Weren’t they supposed to take us to the capital?”

His clueless expression remains.

Just like a ticking time bomb, with each second, I’m getting closer and closer to unleashing all of my negative emotions on Hidiku. My patience is wearing thin.

I immediately come to terms with a crucial fact.

I look back at what Charlotte and the guy from Taiyo said.

We won't be moved, they haven't said so yet. The commander indicated we would be sent somewhere 'secure', whereas Charlotte could only make conjectures.

But then... there was no need to divide us into distinct groups. And time shouldn't be wasted in a crisis where a threat could materialize at any time.

In light of yesterday's events, I might also be experiencing paranoia.

The double doors serving as the entrance begin to open wide, and a woman dressed in a nun outfit walks out. Her face is covered up to the bottom of her eyes.

She slightly bows as a welcoming gesture; the guards do the same in response.

The crowd begins to march inside as the nun observes us from the sidelines.

You can find story with these keywords: HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK, Read HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK, HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK novel, HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK book, HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK story, HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK full, HELL’S DAWN x HEAVEN’S DUSK Latest Chapter