Unanswered question

Restrained and gloomy, these are the words used to describe the current atmosphere inside the military institute. For the past few days, the dislike between the ordinary soldiers and the remnants were palpable in the air. There were no longer hidden whispers or disgusted gazes, all was out in the open especially when the remnant were thrown in that isolated building like they were prisoners. But this atmosphere was suddenly changed into buzzing scene.

Soldiers on the main grounds of the institute were currently moving to and fro around the area. Some were busy cleaning while others were busy setting up some light on the pathway leading to the main hall. The remnants saw this from a far and thought nothing of it since they were clearly not included in what festivity the soldiers were preparing for.

Endo, Vira and Rond visited Dreigh and saw him already sitting up and leaning on the headboard of the bed. They brought him a plate of cut fruits and some books to past his time. Dreigh observed that the three were very subdued and looked like they were thoroughly bullied. He silently accepted the plate of fruits given to him and waited for them to say something.

Minutes passed but the sparsely decorated room with slightly chipping wall paint remained silent. He didn't know if these friends became suddenly mute or they were just waiting for the right timing to speak which he suspects would never come. He put down the fork he was holding and placed it on the plate.

He sighed, "Just say it."

In more than a month that he knew these people, he already had a very good grasp on their personalities. He can see that Vira was obviously irritated but he chose not to speak, he could confidently say that the man was ashamed. He moved his gaze to the other two and saw that they were also silent.

Vira could feel Dreigh's gaze on them but he did not speak, he was indeed embarrassed to speak because he knew that Dreigh was still recuperating. Although it came so natural for them to look up to Dreigh as their leader, the sense of shame when talking to him about their complaint was still there. They would occasionally talk to him about these matters but they still hesitated at that moment.

"Aren't you going to talk?" Dreigh raised an eyebrow when no one still spoke.

Vira gathered his courage, "sorry, we're just a little bit embarrassed to say anything because you are still recovering from your injuries."

"If that was the case, then why are you still here? The door is open for you leave if you insist on keeping on silent," he was annoyed with these people. They've already known each other for a long time now but they still feel embarrassment, it was a bit disappointing to say so. "I've already known you three for more than a month now, yet I didn't know that you have thin skin. All this time I thought all of you were utterly shameless," he shrugged and resumed eating the left fruits on the plate.

Vira choked at his words and wanted to retort back but he was lost for words. This was the first time he discovered that Dreigh can joke. They don't even know if he was joking or not because he said it with a straight face.

"Well, I'll start then and take advantage of your generosity," Endo volunteered. He couldn't hold back the urge to speak what was on his mind. "General Rozen will surely come for you one of these days so you need to be prepared. I also want to inform you that we are currently inside an isolated building a hundred meters away from the military institute, I mean like a few meters away that we can't hardly see the activities going on inside the military institute," all three listeners could hear the heavy sarcasm and irritation from Endo's voice.

"Are you jealous then?" he lifted his head and looked at Endo.

"No!" Endo saw the ridicule in Dreigh's eyes and immediately negated what he said. "I'm just furious that they treat us like we are ghost and that we don't exist beside them, literally beside them."

"If they don't want to include us then let them be, we don't have the obligation to please them," Dreigh simply answered. Their lives were their own, even though they were drafted to serve in the military, they still had their freedom of choice. They are not required to bow their heads to anyone just to be looked at favorably.

Endo was stunned and calmed his nerves. The words from Dreigh had a point and it is useless if he always gets angry just because of this small matter.

"And if the general wants to come, let him come. I don't have anything to say anyway," he continued to eat and didn't give it anymore thought.

Besides what could he say to them? There was none, he was only injured and nearly died in that altercation but he didn't complain. He had gained nothing and almost lost everything because of a decision the government of Glasfale made, so naturally he would not be happy and would not be willing to open his mouth and tell them any information.

"Is that all?" Dreigh asked after finally finishing what he was eating. He placed the empty plate on the side table and looked at them.

"Nothing, we were supposed to dump our complaints to you but it has no effect now and besides we already felt better," Vira was the one to speak seeing that Endo became speechless while Rond obviously would not say anything.

The three left Dreigh to his thoughts and didn't further disturb him. This gave him time to think of what happened during that battle. Till this moment, the look on that mysterious man's face was still embedded in his memory. The man's eyes had shown shock and a disbelieving look while he was about to give Dreigh a killing blow. A trace of recognition also flashed on the man's eyes but Dreigh did not have the time to ponder it because he lost consciousness.

He was confused and thought more about it until the sun has set on the horizon. Finding no answers to his questions, he decided to put the matter on the back of his mind. If they encounter the man again in the future he could directly ask the man himself.