The way back was without events. They arrived close to midday at the gates. Camile separated from them to take the woman to a hospital to be treated. While the other three went to the mercenary base in the city to report the mission.
Since Leon did not know the procedure, he went along to see how it was done. James had to sign a lot of papers and also write a report to leave archived.
" You look like a wreck Leon !. " Nora said with a small laugh at the young man's state. " You should see the state of the other one. " Leon pointed to the sack at James's waist. And Nora made a sour face at that.
" Eh... I'm glad you're well. The orc was not a normal orc. You did very well managing to defeat him on your own. " She said encouraging Leon.
" I almost saw the light of death, but somehow I made it. I'm more prepared for the next times !. " He said in a firm tone, and soon James finished the paperwork and handed it to Nora. She read quickly and then filed the papers away.
" Excellent. But no... We're going to have more work ahead James. Especially since this is the second monster in an evolutionary state found in the surroundings. "
" The second already ?, how much time do you think we have Nora ?. "
She thought for a moment while looking more serious at them. " Possibly 3 months, until it happens. And in the meantime the monsters will only intensify around the city. I've already heard that merchants have started reducing their trips here in response to all this. So we're going to have to manage. With luck the city inside the walls is large, so if they cut the route here completely until everything passes we will still survive. "
Every action had a reaction, Leon understood that, with monsters intensifying, trade would begin to slow down. There was no way to guarantee the merchants' safety one hundred percent. And even then it would be another expense for them to hire mercenaries or whoever to protect them along the road.
" So a lot of work then ?. " Nora nodded at Leon. " I don't mind, I need to get stronger, but James is the one in charge. I just want to take a bath and eat something... " Again he looked at the state of his body and clothes and let out a sigh.
" We have a place for you to bathe here, it's to the right of the training area !. You can go there. " Leon's eyes shined at that. It had been a while since he had taken a real bath. The last times had been in the river where he had fallen.
" I'm going there then. I'll be back soon. " James and Nora soon continued talking about what they would do and what would happen. But Leon was more focused on the bath he would finally take !. As he walked he felt the midday sun, as if it gave him more energy with its comforting warmth.
Upon seeing the door, he noticed something written on a sign. He could identify some symbols, but did not know what they formed together, he imagined it was something like " bathroom " or something similar.
" Bath here I come !. " He opened the door enthusiastically for the bath, and as he opened it he could see inside that it was an open-air place, but between four walls. And a large wooden bathtub filled with water inside, he froze for a moment and then sighed at the archaic tub.
" Damn... I set my expectations too high, of course it wasn't going to be a hot bath. " Leon removed his dirty shirt and his pants and shoes placing them in a bucket that he filled with water. And then entering the bathtub, even cold he still stepped in completely.
As he began to relax, he looked at the water. And saw that from his body, the red color began to spread through the bathwater, slowly the dried blood dissolved from his body into the water.
Leon tightened his expression seeing that, and flashes of the place where the orc had been began to return to his mind, him slipping after the first strike because of the blood on the ground, him falling into the liquid. The metallic smell taking over the place.
He took a deep breath. As the images slowly passed. And then he held his nose with his hand, and fully submerged into the water. The silence of the water around his body made him calmer. It reminded him of the school pool. Of his classmates having fun jumping and doing flips, and a few seconds later he emerged.
His eyes were calmer. His expression softer. And his mind more at peace. Leon grabbed the soap that was there, it did not really have a smell, but it seemed to work. The bath was not very long. But his clothes would still have to dry.
He stepped out of the bathtub while washing his clothes with the soap as well, and hung them on the line beside it. And then he looked around, seeing that near the entrance there was a counter, he opened it and soon grabbed a towel from inside. And then dried himself with it and wrapped it tightly around his waist.
Leon sat on a bench beside it still inside the place. And looked at his sword leaning against the wall. He stretched his hand toward it while grabbing it by the sheath, and then pulled it out.
The blade was stained with dried green liquid. A proof of his first real battle in this world. " I can't leave you like this. " Leon spent the next thirty minutes cleaning the sword diligently, waiting for his clothes to dry.
After that time, the clothes were damp but no longer wet, it was enough for Leon. Who put them on so he could return to the lobby. He could see Tris leaning over one of the tables asleep. She had been the one who had most exhausted her powers.
James was right beside her sitting on a chair with some papers in his hands. " Look at that, you look brand new Leon !. Good. Sit down, we have more work to do tomorrow. And then after that. Apparently until the outbreak happens, all mercenaries will be required to participate in extermination missions around the city. To reduce the future impact. "
As he sat down he saw that James had three sheets in his hands. " Three jobs then ?. Are you choosing what we are going to do ?. " The large man nodded. " Yes. There are two close to here like the last one, and one a bit farther. "
He placed one of the papers on the table. " This one is for killing a group of gray wolves, approximately six of them, that are killing the animals around in a worrying rate. And we will need them alive for food stock. "
Placing the next sheet on the table he spoke. " This one is to deal with a lake monster. A type of giant frog, apparently it was one, but it suffered a mutation and became a problem. "
Placing the last one he let out a small sigh. " And this is the most complicated of them. To capture or kill a bandit, not really a monster, but this one is known for taming some dangerous creatures, and he has committed several crimes around the city. "