Chapter 189
Chapter 189, Episode 026: Accidentally Protected a Weakness (4)
639 words
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4 min read
As her fingers touched the ship, an inexplicable joy radiated from the depths of her heart. Without hesitation, Becca Reyes looked over at Flossie Wright who was hot on her heels, her eyes shimmering with an irrepressible joy and satisfaction. It seemed as if the small gain of reaching their destination a bit before had outweighed the pain and torment she had endured for hours on end to get there.
Flossie Wright gave her a glance, feeling somewhat bemused.
𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
Was this cross-water armed march a competition?
During a moment of reflection, a familiar voice suddenly resounded from above. A silhouette standing on the ship blocked the increasingly scorching sun, casting a shadow that bestowed hints of coolness. A young hand, bereft of the calluses accumulated over the years, reached out to her. It bore the scent of the sea, but appeared quite sturdy and comforting.
Lifting her gaze subtly, Flossie’s view was graced by Rowdy Brightwill’s handsome face. His features were devoid of their usual restlessness, now emanating a kind of composure instead.
With natural ease, Flossie placed her hand in his.
She really was out of energy.
The hand that held hers tightened, and with a pull from Rowdy Brightwill, she was lifted out of the water, as his calming voice reached her ears.
"Welcome aboard."
He was very serious, his eyes shining brightly.
Flossie stood before him, catching every subtle emotion displayed in his expression, including the hint of anxiety hidden deep within.
Pausing briefly, a slight grin found its way onto her lips. Flossie withdrew her hand casually and patted his shoulder with a cheerful laugh, saying, "Thanks."
Although her words expressed gratitude, the nonchalance characteristic of her demeanor emphasized her carefree attitude, as though the person before her could have been anyone.
Rowdy Brightwill watched as she placed her bag down and then seated herself on the ship, her lazy expression intermingled with fatigue, making it clear she was tired. He squinted slightly as a wave of faint disappointment spread within him.
At the same time, Becca Reyes, who had placed her hands on the ship but had yet to climb aboard, watched the small exchange between the two with satisfaction and then shot an embarrassed Nathan Foster a teasing look. Extending a hand, she playfully asked, "Instructor Foster, aren’t you going to give me a hand?"
Nathan Foster gave her a surprised look, seeming somewhat hesitant. However, considering Becca and Flossie held the same status, he couldn’t really favor one over the other, and so he reached out reluctantly and helped Becca aboard as well.
"Instructor Foster, we’ve passed the assessment, haven’t we?" As soon as Becca boarded the ship, she collapsed next to Flossie like a boneless creature, resting her head on Flossie’s shoulder. Despite being drained and extremely weak, she made a point to confirm their status with Nathan.
Gazing at their figures, Nathan nodded affirmatively, "Mhm."
Perhaps these two were indeed falling a bit short in physical endurance, but for soldiers, physical strength was never the issue. Even if they couldn’t keep up for a day or two, they would eventually catch up under intense training. Both of their abilities were excellent, including their mental endurance and determination, which were beyond the norm for females in military service. They joined the selection training with new troops without any preferential treatment.
Once she received confirmation from Nathan Foster, Becca Reyes closed her eyes and sealed her lips, seemingly falling asleep almost instantly. Similarly, Flossie, without any intention of pretending to have energy, also closed her eyes. In fact, Flossie’s stamina was worse than Becca’s; staying in their current condition was already exhausting enough. After shoving Becca to one side, she too lay down on the ship and fell into a deep sleep.
— End of Chapter 189 —