Chapter 36

                                    

                                          
The Great Kosiran Bridge took 3 days to be rebuilt.
Instead of the 3 months that it would've taken, Nikolay managed to speed up the process by an unprecedented amount.
Despite this monumental achievement, however, the 'saviour' in question seemed the furthest thing from proud. Leaning against a larger tree, Nikolay intently watched the drove of civilians walking through the bridge.
Although, his solitary post was about to be interrupted. A figure, clad in iron armour and emblematic cloth, marched towards the tree. His shadow merged with the expanses of the leafy shade, joining Nikolay in the quiet domain underneath.
When his footsteps grew close enough, Nikolay finally averted his eyes from the bridge. He recognised the head guard who'd greeted Nikolay and Raine when they first arrived.
"You look down. What's wrong?" the guard asked Nikolay.
"There's nothing wrong. I'm making sure the bridge stays," was the terse response. "If it fails again, I can hold it together temporarily."
"What about your companion? Shouldn't he be looking for you right about now? Your job here is done, after all."
Nikolay scoffed lightly. "I'm sure he's busy as well. Besides, the bridge is more important. I'd rather not have to pay the hefty fine for plunging several hundred civilians to their deaths."
"Sometimes you have to let go. Things are often much more capable than you think."
Nikolay let the words sink in for a few seconds before resolutely turning his head back to the bridge. "Better to prepare for the worst."
"If you keep lowering your eyes to the ground, then you'll be blind to the beauty above." 
Even though Nikolay didn't honour him with a response, the guard lingered beside him without any signs of leaving.
At first, Nikolay tried to ignore his presence. He squinted at the wires and bolts holding the bridge in place, monitoring every miniscule movement that resulted from a new passenger stepping on. His quiet concentration didn't last long, because Nikolay could hear the breathing and slight shuffling of the guard beside him. It was painfully obvious when everything else around them was completely silent, which only accentuated Nikolay's irritation even more.
"Your presence is preventing me from concentrating," Nikolay said, trying his best to sound unbothered.
His efforts clearly weren't very effective, because the guard merely hummed knowingly. 
"Then why don't we have a conversation instead? I'm sure it'll be more beneficial to your mood compared to watching others be happy while you sit here alone."
"Shouldn't you have better things to do than engage in meaningless conversation?" Nikolay retorted. "Surely the Head Guard would be more needed at the bridge."
"There are many ways to protect someone. You can perform most of them from afar. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I wouldn't know the first thing about it."
After all, fate had cursed him with the power to destroy since the beginning. If mercy came so easily to Nikolay, then he wouldn't have to feel guilty every time he looked at Raine.
The guard patted him on the shoulder. "From my eyes, I already see a protector. Perhaps the problem lies in the way you perceive yourself."
Leaving these heavy words in the air, the head guard then sauntered his way back towards the bridge. This left Nikolay still standing under the single tree, without a soul nearby.