District 42-Chapter 387: The response

Casper gave a careful look at Vick’s legs, trying to understand how she was able to walk again. The latter got a bit embarrassed since her dress went up a little bit, so her bare thighs could be seen.

However, since it was Casper, she didn’t mind. Instead, she let him look at it without complaints, although it embarrassed her. Anyway, he was just staring at her legs out of curiosity, so there was no deeper meaning in his actions.

"Ah... this is something that Rurik helped me with. It’s quite straining for my body but it works really well to walk for a little bit on specific occasions."

She took his hand and placed it on her back, a bit ashamed.

Casper could feel on his palm that there was something there. It was sturdy, which showed that it wasn’t part of her body at all. The soldier got used to this type of surprise, so he was sure that Rurik made some kind of technology to help her.

"It creates a bridge that connects the nerves on my lumbar spine. This way, I can walk again as if nothing happened. However, it makes the act of walking very tiresome. My brain needs more concentration and effort to make my legs work, so I get mentally exhausted very fast." She explained.

Casper was a bit disappointed with that news. He was expecting that the medicine of District 42 would be enough to do something for her and make Vick walk normally once again, but he needed to accept that they weren’t enough advanced just yet.

Nonetheless, he had high expectations of their everyday development and discoveries. Soon or later, something with the potential to heal her completely would appear.

For now, he was glad just to see that she could walk for a little bit, at least.

"Well, I am happy now. Surely it will become easier as your mind get used to it. Also, I can see that Rurik isn’t going to stop working hard until he can find something to definitely heal you. He is a stubbornly confident guy when it comes to medicine, after all."

Vick giggled happily.

"Yes. When he isn’t all melancholic, he is a very cool and competent healer."

The soldier nodded in agreement.

He and Vick continued to make out and converse in between the pauses. It took a long while until they stopped with their lovey-dovey things and just sat beside each other, appreciating one another presence.

Casper’s countenance became more serious as they kept in silence for some minutes.

Someone was performing a speech outside, probably a Jarl of the Council. From what they could hear, he was narrating the Great Reconquest, but epically. He said a thing or two about the raid made by the Frelsis but didn’t give too much emphasis to it.

"Soon, it will be your time, Casper. Are you sure you are prepared? Gungnir is with you, right?"

"It is..." He said in a grim voice.

"What’s with this tone? Are you ok?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The soldier reasoned for a while, choosing carefully his words.

"Vick, do you trust me? Do you believe that everything I have been doing is only for the sake of this district... and for your sake?"

The Princess got caught off guard by that sudden question. For a moment, she just looked at Casper in confusion.

She knew that the White warrior always had a reason for everything he did, so, if he was asking something like that, it was important for him somehow.

"Yes. I trust you. I am aware of your intentions towards my folk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Will you trust me, no matter what I do?" Casper never looked at her eyes as he asked it.

Vick found it strange. Casper would always look deep into her eyes when talking to her. Particularly when talking about something so serious.

Casper didn’t say things lightly when he was serious. He didn’t joke about such questions. What he was asking had a deeper meaning within and he really wanted to know Vick’s true feelings.

The Princess took him by the hand, opening her mouth to say something.

"Casper, I--"

Nonetheless, she got interrupted when someone knocked on the carriage’s door.

"White warrior, you will be called in just some seconds. Be sure to take Gungnir with you and walk slowly on top of the carpet that is now placed in front of the carriage. Look straight to the King and the Queen and maintain your posture. Show dignity. Good luck." The hoarse voice of a Ridire could be heard.

Casper barely heard those instructions, but he knew how he should act when in the ceremony. It was very similar to how they did back in the army on some occasions.

Rather than hearing that explanation, Casper was more interested in what Vick had to say to him. However, those seconds to spare seemed to pass too quickly and he heard the loud voice of Leif calling his name.

He hesitantly looked at Vick. She was willing to say something, but the doors of the carriage opened and he was forced to get out as fast as possible.

Out there, Jarls, Aesirs, and Ridires were lining up on the two sides of the long carpet placed on the plaza. In its other extreme, King Leif and Queen Freya were standing and looking solemnly at Casper.

Various lights illuminated the White warrior as he went off the carriage.

The commoners were looking at everything in the distance. They didn’t know exactly what to think about Casper. In truth, they had mixed feelings about him.

The White warrior gave two weak and tiny steps forward but ended up looking rapidly over his shoulder.

Vick was looking at him from inside the carriage. She didn’t say anything, but nodded her head and smiled at him. A smile that only he knew. Something that she hid from everyone else except him.

That was enough for the soldier. It was the ultimate response.

This way, he looked forward again and, with more confidence, began to walk towards the King.