Riku dismissed the System window, the information about Levi settling in his mind. Humanity's strongest soldier was now under his, albeit strange, command. The possibilities, and the potential for utter chaos, were equally vast. He briefly checked for the next mission, but the usual notification was absent. Perhaps the System was taking a brief respite after the chaotic turn of events.
"Igris," Riku called out, his gaze drifting towards the cave entrance where his shadow knight stood sentinel. "What's the situation outside? Is it clear?"
Igris's deep voice echoed back, "The immediate vicinity appears clear, Master. The magical presence I sensed earlier is no longer detectable."
Despite Igris's assurance, a sliver of caution lingered within Riku. He had learned that trusting solely on initial assessments could be a fatal mistake. "Just to be absolutely certain, Igris, would you mind taking another sweep of the area? Extend your senses further this time. We can't afford any unwelcome surprises."
"As you command, Master," Igris replied without hesitation, his crimson form melting back into the shadows before fully dissipating, heading out to scout the surroundings once more.
While Igris was on his reconnaissance, Riku retrieved a collapsible bucket from his inventory and filled it with water from a small spring trickling down the cave wall. The cool liquid sloshed gently as he carried it towards the still-unconscious Erina. Her delicate features were pale, and a faint residue of vomit clung to the corner of her mouth. He couldn't just leave her like this.
As he approached her, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. He glanced over at Levi, who was observing the scene with a detached air, perched on his rock like a brooding gargoyle. An idea, both practical and slightly impish, took root.
"Hey, Levi," Riku called out, a deliberately casual tone in his voice, "you're a bit of a clean freak, right?" He emphasized the last two words with a pointed look at Erina's current state.
Levi's sharp grey eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his stoic features. "Tch. So I appreciate a modicum of cleanliness. It prevents the spread of filth and disease, unlike the pigsty most of you seem content to inhabit. But," he added, his gaze flicking dismissively towards Erina, "that doesn't automatically translate to a desire to sanitize every single speck of unpleasantness I encounter. Don't get any bright ideas, Dola. You're the one who brought the sleeping beauty here, you can handle the… biohazard. I have more pressing matters to contemplate, like the sheer incompetence of titans and the general lack of hygiene in this godforsaken world. So, no. Come on, clean her up yourself, Boss. Unless you expect the 'humanity's strongest soldier' to dabble in the delicate art of post-vomit cleanup? I think not." His tone was dry, bordering on sarcastic, a clear indication that Riku's attempt to delegate the unsavory task had failed spectacularly.
A wry smile touched Riku's lips. He hadn't genuinely expected Levi to jump at the opportunity to clean up someone else's mess, especially not one involving bodily fluids. The Captain's legendary fastidiousness, while intense, was also selectively applied. He was meticulous about his own surroundings and the cleanliness of his gear, a necessity in their brutal fight against the titans, but extending that to nursing the unconscious aftermath of a traumatic experience was clearly a bridge too far.
He knelt beside Erina, the bucket of water feeling heavier than it should. The delicate curve of her cheek, even marred by the faint residue, was undeniably beautiful. It was a stark contrast to the blood and grime that had coated him just moments ago. A pang of sympathy, unexpected and genuine, resonated within him. She had been thrust into a nightmare, a world of violence and self-inflicted horror, and her reaction, while unpleasant, was entirely understandable.
He carefully dipped a corner of his sleeve into the cool water, wringing it out gently. With painstaking care, he began to dab at Erina's face, wiping away the traces of her distress. Her skin was soft beneath his touch, a stark reminder of the pampered life she had likely led. He worked slowly, mindful not to startle her if she were to regain consciousness suddenly.
Levi watched the scene with a detached curiosity, perched on his rock like a silent observer. His sharp eyes missed nothing, taking in the gentleness of Riku's touch, the subtle concern etched on his otherwise impassive face. It was a side of Riku he hadn't seen before, a stark contrast to the ruthless efficiency he had displayed while mutilating his own limbs. Perhaps there was more to this enigmatic "Boss" than met the eye.
The silence in the cave was broken only by the soft sounds of Riku tending to Erina and the occasional drip of water from the cave ceiling. It was a moment of unexpected tenderness amidst the brutal reality of their situation, a brief respite before they had to face whatever dangers lay outside.
After a few minutes, Erina stirred, a soft groan escaping her lips. Her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly blinked, her purple-pink eyes unfocused and clouded with confusion. She shifted slightly, a small frown creasing her brow as she tried to orient herself.
Riku paused his ministrations, his gaze meeting hers. "Erina," he said softly, his voice gentle. "You're safe now. Just take your time."
Erina's eyes slowly focused, and recognition dawned in their depths. The memory of the horrific scene she had witnessed seemed to flood back, and she recoiled slightly, a flicker of fear returning to her gaze.
"W-what happened?" she whispered, her voice still shaky. "Where… where are we?"
Riku offered a reassuring smile, though the weight of their current predicament still hung heavy in the air. "We're still in the cave. You… you had a bit of a reaction. But you're alright now." He gestured to the damp cloth in his hand. "I was just cleaning you up."
Just then, Igris reappeared at the cave entrance, his crimson form solid once more. "Master," he announced, his voice clear and resonant, "the area is secure. There are no signs of the Flugel or any other hostile presence within a significant radius."
A collective sigh of relief seemed to ripple through the small cave. The immediate threat, for now, appeared to have passed. But the encounter served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in this world, and the unpredictable nature of their enemies.
"Thank you," Erina murmured, her voice still a little unsteady, a delicate blush rising on her cheeks at the realization of Riku's care. She sat up slowly, leaning against the cool cave wall, her gaze flickering between Riku, the imposing figure of Igris, and the stoic Levi perched on his rock. The sheer strangeness of her current situation was beginning to sink in. A brutal world, a man who could heal from self-inflicted wounds, a silent knight, and now… a grim-faced soldier who seemed to have stepped out of a nightmare.
"Took you long enough, Dola," Levi interjected, his sharp gaze sweeping over Erina with a detached air before settling back on Riku. "That little movie the System showed was… informative, to say the least. Though I still can't fathom why you'd willingly carve yourself up like that. Seemed rather inefficient, even for a bunch of suicidal recruits."
Riku sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It was a mission, Levi. A requirement to ensure our continued survival. And as you saw, it heals." He flexed his right hand to demonstrate.
Erina's eyes widened further. "A dangerous race? Attacked us? And you… you cut off your own hand?" Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and horror.
Levi snorted, pushing himself off the rock. "Dangerous is putting it mildly, Blondie. Though compared to titans, these 'Flugels' sound… different. Still, anything that necessitates Dola playing human pincushion is clearly a threat. So, Dola," he turned his piercing gaze back to Riku, "what's the objective? The movie glossed over the finer details of your… rather peculiar existence."
Riku met Levi's intense gaze. He recognized the soldier's need for clarity, for a purpose. Levi Ackerman was a weapon, honed for battle, and he would want to know his target. "The objective is to get back to my village. It's where the other humans are. The Flugel we encountered might not have been alone, so we need to be cautious."
"A village full of humans, huh?" Levi's brow furrowed slightly. "And this 'System'… it's responsible for all this? Bringing us here?" He gestured towards the cave and the lingering tension in the air.
"Yes, there's a village," Riku confirmed. "And the System… think of it as a force that governs certain aspects of this world, gives me tasks, and provides… well, you two." He gestured between Levi and Erina. "It seems to think you can help."
Erina looked from Riku to Levi, her mind struggling to process the bizarre information. A dangerous race of beings, a mysterious "System," self-inflicted wounds that healed… and now, a soldier who spoke of fighting giants and seemed strangely unfazed by the horrific scene she had witnessed. Her world of culinary perfection suddenly seemed incredibly distant and irrelevant.
"So," Levi said, his gaze sharp and focused. "Flugels are the enemy? We need to get to this village? Lead the way, Dola. Lingering in this damp hole doesn't appeal to my sensibilities. Though I must say," he cast a pointed look at the bloodstains on the cave floor, "your definition of 'clean' clearly differs from mine." He cracked his knuckles, a familiar gesture of readiness. "Point us towards this village, and tell us what the plan is." The pragmatism of humanity's strongest soldier was already kicking in. He might not fully grasp the intricacies of Riku's world, but he was ready to face the immediate threat.