She then looked at me,

“But I have a condition.”

…

As expected everything comes with a price.

“No thank you. Just leave me to a nearest healer’s clinic. That would be enough. The last thing I want is to be indebted to the Noble’s.”, I replied with a firm resolve.

Even though we the Heller's were hated by the Nobles, there was still some amount of self-respect within us.

Although, I was trying to act cool but lying down on the ground motionless was really pathetic site.

“Don’t be absurd.”, she replied, “Do you want to be crippled for life?” she asked in a serious tone, “No ordinary healing potions or even an excellent healer would be able to repair your broken body. Just accept this elixir and get back your body back to shape like new.”

It seems she knew about my injuries with just a glance. She really had good observation skills.

But still-

“Why?”, I asked, “Why do you want to waste your precious elixir on somebody like the descendants of the Heller family?”

What would she gain from helping me?

Was she thinking to chain me down as her manservant by making me indebted?

If she thinks that way, she can kiss my ass.

“I am giving you this elixir as an apology. I have no ulterior motives.”, she answered in a serious intent,

“I am giving this as an atonement for my fellow comrades. I am equally responsible for the crimes, Ruxia and her companions committed. Despite being in the same platoon I, who belonged to the righteous and great household of Nevarlises failed to stop the atrocities of my fellow squad mates. I am very ashamed of myself.”

Wow!

She sounded like some generous and humble hero from the children’s fairy tales. The one protagonist hero who was kind-hearted and humble. Their good traits were so exaggerated that it was literally made me sick by just imagining such a person. The heroes in the kid's fairy tales were described as a very honest and compassionate person that when they took a shit, it would turn into gold.

And now a similar person had appeared in front of my eyes to apologize.

Armin used to say sorry a lot of times whenever I punished him for his idiocy and antics although he repeated the same mistake over again.

Still what if this was all an act?

“I get that hard to believe. You handing me a top-notch elixir just because you feel sorry?! What a load of horse shit is this?”, definitely, no man in their right mind would give away such precious treasure just for the sake of being nice.

“This whole thing looks fishy! For all, I know that is a potent poison and not elixir.”, I added with a smug look.

Suddenly the guy with the Pietra joined in,

“You ungrateful twerp! How dare you-”

Pietra raised her arm and he stopped.

She then let out a small sigh,

“You know that if I wanted I can get you killed, I can do that without even the need of dirtying my hands. There wouldn’t need to me to belittle myself and apologize for the just the sake of killing you.”

Well, she does have a point. There was almost no benefit in getting me killed. So what could her reason be-

Suddenly she knelt down on her knees before me.

“My lady!”,

“Mistress!”

Shrieked both her companion simultaneously.

Shit just got real!

She was now kneeling down in front of me with her head bowed,

“I apologize for behalf the entire elite department of Stathford. I would offer this golden class healing potion as an apology. I want to suppress this conflict within ourselves and not let this matter come in front of the general public. This type of event will not only bring shame to Ruxia and her household but also to the house of Nevarlises.”, she seemed very serious with her apology.

This was to be expected from a new rookie of guardsman regiment was bullied by a group of Elites. If the word gets out it could become groundbreaking headlines.

They could be even stripped off from their ranks as elites. This was a good way to ridicule the whole Elite department with one blow. A good way to exact revenge.

So to avoid this, she was even going as far as offering a golden class elixir potion. A golden class healing potion was a powerful healing potion that it can heal the person completely as long the person was still alive.

I didn’t even think I would be able to take a glimpse of such an elixir, let alone be offered by someone.

“Accept this elixir as a token of apology with the condition that you would not tell about this incident to a soul.”, she said, “I will make sure to provide you protection from today onwards to prevent such situation to arise ever again.”

Well, it would be a good way to play the victim and shame the elite’s in the face of the general public. This would be a massive blow to all the elites all over the nation. Even though Pietra, herself wasn’t involved in this incident it would still damage the reputation of the house of Nevarlises.

But there were more benefits in accepting the elixir rather playing the victim card. Not to mention playing the victim card would also blow my cover.

I would instantaneously be healed and able to continue to works as a soldier plus getting protection from the Nevarlises.

“Alright, I shall accept it.”, I answered, “If you guys try to poison me, I will make sure to haunt the generations of Nevarlises.”, I added.

The guy joined in again.

“How dare you doubt my lady! You should be- blah blah”

Is this another long lost brother of William?

Later, I drank the elixir by the hands of Pietra herself. I thought her lackeys would help me drink as I couldn’t even move a limb.

She placed my head on her lap and then slowly poured the elixir in my mouth. I was getting to sleep on a girl’s lap that belonged to a noble house. The only problem was that iron-plated armor on her thighs was a bit sturdy and uncomfortable.

The elixir tasted almost like honey and it had a very pleasant and sweet aroma.

As soon as I drank the elixir, my body started to heat up. My whole body felt as if it was set on fire.

My numb arms were hurting the most.

This fuck was this elixir?

With all the pain I fell unconscious.

Then the next thing I saw was a familiar dusty roof and two brats sleeping with their heads on top of me.

I was finally back home,

"Oi sleepyheads. Wake up, you guys are drooling on me."