The Healing of the Mind and Body

Just as Joe emerged from the forest's edge, all the instructors let out a sigh of relief. With their enhanced eyesight, they could see clearly the condition he was in. Aside from being bathed in blood and overly fatigued, he appeared otherwise unharmed.

Having entered the clearing, Joe's adrenaline began to subside. Every step felt like he was dragging a mountain behind him. The wounds he had been focusing on now began to reopen and a new layer of fresh blood started covering his uniform.

As he staggered towards the staging area, Joe noticed tow figures approaching him at a relatively high speed. Clara immediately took off from the safe zone and was only focused on getting to the man she held so dearly. To her left, she was surprised to notice John was also keeping pace with her.

Just as the two were about to reach Joe, all the injuries and fatigue he had accumulated over the last two days caught up to him. His vision began to fog over as his legs lost what little strength they had left. Just before he would have fallen over, he felt the warmth of two arms encircle his back.

Both John and Clara wrapped and arm around his back and began to drag him the remaining halfway to the staging area. With his lost consciousness, Joe became dead weight in their arms. Regardless, they both pulled him the remaining distance.

As soon as they crossed the border line, every medic on site swarmed the three. Joe was taken away to receive immediate medical attention. Without it he'd likely die before they made their return to the campus.

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Three days had passed since the class had made their return to campus. While every other student went about their days awaiting the results of the midterm, Joe had remained in the infirmary. His wounds took longer to heal than expected due to his body overexerting itself for an extended period.

When he finally regains consciousness, Joe was greeted by the warm smile that quickly spread across Clara's face. Without even worrying about where he was, Joe sat up and pulled her closer to himself. The last time he laid eyes on her was when he brought her to the medical team within the staging area. The relief he was feeling as he saw her seated next to him was replaced by worry.

Without any signs of warning, Joe planted his lips on hers. The worries remained. What if he had arrived even a minute later to that clearing? She'd have likely been gone before he had arrived. What if he had taken too long or got too injured during the fight and failed to get her medical help in time?

These worries flooded his mind as he poured all his passion into that single kiss. A kiss he may not have ever gotten had things played out differently that day. As the two slowly separated, a cough sounded from the other side of the room. A red tint filled Clara's face at the realization that somebody had seen that kiss play out in full.

Joe looked towards the source of the cough with slight irritation. What he was met with were white walls and a woman dressed in a typical military nurse's attire. It was at this moment that he realized where he was.

"How long was I out?"

The nurse answered after seeing that Clara was still recovering from the sudden embarrassment that she still was unused to.

"Four days. It took almost a whole twenty-four hours for us to stabilize your condition enough to transport you back to campus. The young lady refused to leave your side the entire way.

A few times we thought we'd lost you so welcome back from the dead. You can return to classes tomorrow morning. For now, you can check yourself out at the front desk and return to the dorms."

With that, the nurse turned and left the room.

Both Joe and Clara spent a moment in silence before Joe abruptly stood up from the hospital bed. Being greeted by Clara covering her face, Joe looked down and realized he was in a hospital gown that was barely long enough to stretch half his thighs.

Looking around the room, he quickly found a fresh change of clothes and hurriedly pulled them on. After leaving the infirmary together, Joe took Clara's hand in his and turned towards the Eastern gate.

"I thought you were going back to the dorms to rest?"

"I've had four days to rest. What I want is something to fill my stomach. It also just occurred to me that you and I haven't ever left campus together other than to train."

For a moment, Clara was unsure as to what was happening. The man she knew would have prioritized training over anything else. That's why rather than complain, she simply enjoyed the times they spent training together.

As they left the gate, Joe leads her towards a rather crowded street. On either side were a variety of shops and restaurants. Food ranging from the cuisines of old France to those of Spain could be smelt as they toured the busy sidewalk hand in hand.

Finally, Joe came to a stop in front of a rather busy looking pastry shop. Moving through the crowd, Joe brought Clara to the counter. Looking at the older gentleman moving back and forth on the other side, Joe simply smiled and waited for him to be noticed.

It didn't take long for the gentleman to stop everything he was doing and stare at the pair. Without warning he started laughing hysterically before reaching across the counter and shaking Joe's hand.

"Was beginning to think you'd outgrown my little shop kid. It's been, what, two months since you came in here last? Guess I can't be to upset seeing how you've clearly had a reason to stay busy."

Bringing his gaze over to Clara, the shop owner simple smiled.