Chapter 31 - Pity

                                    

                                          
"But don't you pity
other people?"
                          
---
                          
"Vien!"
                          
After stepping out of the bath room fully dressed, I was immediately greeted by three of my best friends
                          
"How did you know I was already here?" I raised an eyebrow at them
                          
Francis crossed his arms "Stables were full meaning you already came back. And we knew you'd go straight to clean yourself up so we waited at the hallway back there"
                          
We shared a few jokes and chats, until I began to speak more gently
                          
"I was only gone for a few days but I missed you three idiots so badly" 
                          
"Us too" Aaron and Eric smiled
                          
Francis looked away, "Yeah I missed your noisy ass too I guess" 
                          
They pulled me into a group hug, but they quickly pulled away when I suddenly winced loudly in pain
                          
"Don't press on my arm, it hurts bad with pressure" I laughed
                          
Eric held my arm up, and tried moving it around. It stung, so I yank his hand away and chided
                          
"Oi, are you trying to kill me?"
                          
"She's got a sprain" Eric spoke
                          
They all glanced to my arm, and I laughed it off "I kind of sprained it when I was using 3DMG, so I had to use one arm in riding back here"
                          
A thought came to my mind, so I asked "How about Commander?"
                          
"Oh I tended to Erwin awhile ago, he's in a room now" Eric reassured
                          
Upon hearing my brother's condition, I sighed in relief. Only then I realized we were walking towards somewhere I didn't know
                          
"Where are we going?" I asked
                          
Aaron tapped the sprained arm gently "I'm going to cast up your arm of course, you need to elevate it and avoid using it for a while"
                          
I nodded and went to the clinic near the east corridor with them
                          
---
                          
"Oi Erwin" Levi, who was seated beside his bed interrupted his sleep
                          
He sat up, replying "What is it?"
                          
"How could you let her join the expedition?" Levi questioned
                          
Erwin sighed quietly "I didn't want her to come. But she contributed so much to the plan which is why the trip succeeded as we hoped for"
                          
Levi's eyes glistened in shock, as he raised a brow at the Commander
                          
"I always looked at her as a young and weak girl who always needed protection. Which is why I was always overprotective over her. Seeing that she was able to prove herself as a fighter makes me feel bad for suppressing her freedom"
                          
It was quiet between them, but Levi carried on the conversation
                          
Levi changed the topic "But how's the brat doing now? Any injuries?"
                          
"I've noticed she wasn't using her left arm awhile ago, other than that she's alright" Erwin weakly smiled
                          
"Mm okay. I'll leave you to yourself for now, I'll come back tomorrow"