The Smiling Death

Marcus was lying on one of the beds to the left, his knee wrapped in glowing bandages. His arms were crossed, grumbling about something as a healer scolded him for moving too much.

Beside him was Arnold, sleeping soundly or maybe not, because of Marcus' grumbling.

Eliana sat on another bed, her bow beside her, a healer gently checking the bruises on her arm. She offered Seraphina a small wave and smile.

But Seraphina's eyes moved past them.

And stopped.

Amon lay on a bed near the center.

A healer knelt beside him, her hands pressed over the deep wound on his abdomen. Bright emerald mana flowed from her palms into his body, slowly knitting torn flesh back together.

Amon's shirt was opened. The blood had stopped flowing, but it had stained the sheets underneath. He winced occasionally, teeth clenched, breath shaky.

"Hold still," the healer said, her voice strict but focused. "You're lucky the knife didn't hit anything fatal. But you lost far too much blood."

Amon shot her a weak grin. "Hehe… yeah… lucky me."

Seraphina's chest tightened slightly.

She stepped closer.

The healer treating Amon glanced up at her. "Ah… Lady Seraphina. You also need healing, don't you? Sit down, I'll come to you after I stabilize him."

Seraphina nodded silently and sat on the bed next to his, laying her sword beside her. Dirt and dried blood clung to her hands and arms, but her attention remained fixed on Amon.

On the bed beside Amon was Aisha. But she was asleep.

Amon glanced sideways, noticing her.

"Oh… hey, Seraphina…" he said, forcing a grin despite the pain. "Heh… you won. So you will be first. Congratulations."

Seraphina didn't smile back

Her golden eyes softened. "Amon… I didn't expect you to stabbed yourself."

Amon blinked. "Huh?"

She looked at the wound, then at his pale face.

"You stabbed yourself… just so you could keep your points." Her voice was quiet; there was tiredness, so it felt heavy.

Amon wanted to laugh it off, but the healer pushed harder on his wound, making him jolt.

"Gaah—! Damn, woman! Be gentle!"

The healer glared. "Stop talking!"

Amon really wished that it should have been Adelia treating him. Her gentle and warm smile. Sometimes playful teasing. A smile bloomed on his face. Pretty idiotic smile.

Seraphina lowered her gaze, her arms resting on her knees. She was amused at what Amon was thinking and smiling like that.

The tent echoed with the soft hum of healing magic, quiet groans of injured students, and the murmurs of healers working tirelessly.

But for Seraphina…

Her focus remained on Amon.

The boy who kept smiling even while bleeding.

The boy who fought her despite knowing he couldn't win.

The boy who was sneaky to defeat Marcus, yet fought her head-on.

She exhaled softly.

"…Idiot," she whispered under her breath, just enough that only she could hear.

But Amon, half-conscious now, still caught the faint sound.

"Huh…? Did you say something?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"Nothing."

Yet her eyes lingered on him for a long moment more.

But Amon, he was used to it.

'She called me idiot… Hah, I guess I am getting used to it now,' he thought silently.

It was not the first time her calling him idiot. She had called him idiot many times during training. She always muttered in a low voice, thinking he didn't hear.

Well, he lay comfortably on the bed, letting the healer do her work.

After half an hour, both Amon and Seraphina were treated.

They both were laying on the bed, resting silently.

Amon's wound was now healed completely.

In his hand was a bright red apple, cool and smooth to the touch.

He lifted it to his lips and took a bite.

Crunch.

The crisp sound echoed lightly in the quiet clearing. Sweet juice burst onto his tongue, refreshing after the long day. Amon closed his eyes for a moment, savoring it—the simple, clean taste cutting through the lingering fatigue in his body.

A soft breeze brushed his messy black hair from the entrance of the tent as he chewed slowly. Another bite.

Crunch.

A droplet of juice slid down his thumb; he wiped it absentmindedly on his sleeve before taking another mouthful. Even with everything that had happened battles, pain, and chaos, this small moment felt strangely peaceful.

'Hah… it's so tasty.' Eating weird fruits, fishes and some monster meat for days had been a real challenge.

He was happy now. A smile itched on his face. Why would he not be happy? He had done such an amazing job in the exam. Now he was laying between two beautiful ladies. Of course it was not that they were laying on the same bed. There was distance between them. But oddly, it was a good feeling.

Professors had told them to rest for now. The result of the Survival Exam would be announced in the evening.

"Hey. Why are you grinning so much?" Aisha called him from beside. Her face was irritated. For some reason she didn't like the boy's current smile. Something about it made her tense.

Seraphina, from Amon's other side of the bed, also looked at them.

"Oh, it's nothing. I mean, it's just… you know, being in the middle of two beautiful ladies. Aren't I so lucky~" Amon didn't hide it. He shamelessly declared it. There was a teasing smile on his face. He was really happy.

Aisha was taken aback by his reply. Seraphina was no different. There was quite a distance between beds. But the moment he said that, Seraphina was confused. Why did that make him happy?

Meanwhile, Aisha blushed. Her fair cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "Yo-You perv! How can you say something so casually! Without any shame!" Her fluffy wolf ears twitched.

Amon's smile widened. He really liked her expression, which made him want to tease her more. She was being too cute now.

"I don't want to hear that from you~ Did you forget how we were on the same bed? How you hug—"But before he could continue, a soft cushion hit his face.

"Shut up, bastard! It was a mistake!" she yelled at him, now more embarrassed.

Amon grabbed the cushion and put it aside.

But the smile never left his face.

Seraphina, meanwhile, was surprised and also confused at what they were actually talking about.