23 Chapter: 22 IMMORTAL WRAITH
[ONE OF THE MANY UNKNOWN HIDDEN BASES OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMY]
Making his way towards an office, a lone figure dressed in black attire with a mask was saluted by soldiers in military uniforms along the corridors.
The figure nodded in acknowledgment of their greetings and continued on his path, but he couldn't help but overhear some recruits whispering among themselves.
"Is that the 'Immortal Wraith' they're talking about? But he looks like he's barely over 10 years old. Can't be, right?"
"And isn't he just a little girl trying to disguise herself as a boy? I mean, look at that slender build and those delicate hands. Anyone can see she's a beautiful girl pretending to be a boy."
"Even some soldiers mentioned that her voice is so sweet and heavenly that you'd empty your wallet just to hear it once."
BONK! BONK! BONK!
As the three recruits were discussing among themselves, their superior appeared behind them and bonked their heads. He scolded them for wasting time gossiping and dragged them away to do extra work.
Ignoring the commotion, Leo continued on his way to Geralt's office. His fingers trembled as he opened the door and approached Geralt's desk.
While Geralt was reading important reports, Leo just stands in front of him and shows his shaking fingers and asks.
"Did the new supply of cigarettes come?"
Leo's question about the new supply of cigarettes prompted Geralt to open a drawer and hand over a box to him without a word.
Taking a cigarette from the box, Leo lit it up and moved to the sofa in the office.
There, he removed his mask and lay down, puffing on the cigarette as if he were a seasoned addict seeking his daily fix.
Geralt watched silently as the 13-year-old smoked, his hands still trembling.
Normally, he would have reprimanded any other recruit for such behaviour, but seeing Leo's condition, he remained silent, contemplating the troubled boy's circumstances.
Five years ago, Leo's health had improved significantly after he arrived at the main base from the hellish place he had been rescued from.
However, about a year later, signs of trembling began to manifest during his training sessions.
Initially, Geralt attributed it to the intensity of Leo's training and advised him to rest.
However, even after taking time off, Leo's trembling persisted, and he eventually began to cough up blood during his workouts.
Despite Leo's protests, Geralt insisted on taking him to the medical unit for a thorough examination to determine the cause of his deteriorating health.
The results from the laboratory were devastating for a young child who was barely ten years old at the time.
Leo's body was engaged in a constant battle against itself. While the infusion of danger beast blood had granted him remarkable regenerative abilities, it was also wreaking havoc on his internal organs, slowly but steadily consuming him from within.
The head of the medical facility informed Geralt that Leo should have been experiencing constant pain throughout the whole previous year, as his body battled against itself, continuously breaking down and rebuilding itself.
Leo endured this agony silently, knowing that if Geralt were aware, he would forbid him from training.
The head doctor expressed uncertainty about Leo's prognosis, unable to determine how many years he had left to live.
She explained that whether Leo continued to utilise his regenerative abilities or not, his body would continue to deteriorate until the corrosive effects of his blood could be controlled.
Unfortunately, with current medical technology and knowledge, this proved to be an insurmountable challenge.
When Geralt questioned Leo about why he hadn't disclosed his severe condition, the child remained silent for a while before stating that it didn't matter; he just needed his body to survive until he could exact his revenge.
In an attempt to maintain his composure and avoid lashing out at the child, Geralt refrained from giving Leo any lessons for the entire week.
"Why am I even angry at the child? We're not close, are we?" Geralt pondered during that time.
He had initially intended to simply teach the child combat skills and had been careful not to form a connection. However, over the course of the year, while instructing Leo, he found himself developing affection for him, seeing him as a son he never had.
Throughout that week, Leo stood outside Geralt's sleeping quarters all night and his office all day, waiting to apologise for his mistake and seek forgiveness from Geralt.
Geralt, unable to stay angry at the child, eventually had taken Leo to the medical facility for examination at that time and started to train him again because of Leo's stubbornness.
"Have you been to the medical facility to check your health?" Geralt inquired as he observed Leo finishing his second cigarette.
Leo's reputation as the awe-inspiring and powerful 'IMMORTAL WRAITH' was not shared by Geralt, who instead felt deep pity for the child's pain.
"Nah, I'll go there today for my check-up," Leo responded to Geralt, placing the box of cigarettes in his special storage artifact which he recovered from one of his missions.
The doctor had provided Leo with a box of cigarettes specially made from powerful herbs and drugs to help alleviate his symptoms, including coughing up blood and trembling.
The head doctor mentioned that these drugs couldn't be made into an inhaler because no ordinary container could contain their powerful effects and the effects would only show when these cigarettes are consumed at a specific temperature.
Leo was warned not to allow others to consume these special cigarettes, as a single dose was potent enough to cause hallucinations and instant fainting in an ordinary human.
Only Leo could safely consume them due to his unique hybrid physique.
"Here are the documents I found in the slave trader's vaults," Leo continued, handing over the documents of the slave trader from his storage artifact.
As Geralt received the documents, he glanced at Leo, reflecting on the past four years they had spent together.
After Leo had undergone his checkup and medical treatment, continuing his training for several months.
Leo had absorbed all the battle tactics, weapon handling, infiltration tactics, and other essential teachings from various instructors, including Geralt.
Leo's ability to absorb knowledge was abnormal, and he became powerful enough to take on several instructors by himself.
Leo had even reached a point where he could defeat Geralt one-on-one.
With nothing left to teach Leo on the training grounds, Geralt informed him that he could only further hone his skills through real-life battles and experiences.
Geralt understood the danger of sending a child into such situations, but he believed it was crucial for Leo's development.
Geralt had arranged for Leo to join a special operations squad, where he participated in numerous life-and-death missions with his teammates.
Leo easily rose though ranks because of his battle strength and even had gained a moniker of 'IMMORTAL WRAITH' due to his duarablity and his ability to heal from any dangerous lethal wounds during those years.
But several accidents took place during different missions, leading to the deaths of Leo's squad members and decreasing their ranks.
Despite the perilous situations, Leo consistently emerged as the sole survivor, albeit in worsening states each time.
Geralt recommended Leo to join a different squad, but Leo rejected the idea, explaining his perceived lack of strength to protect his comrades.
Instead, Leo opted for solo missions over the past year.
Geralt observed that Leo had constructed a mental barrier to prevent himself from breaking down.
Leo rationalised that it was natural for the weak to perish and the strong to survive, a principle he applied solely to himself.
Leo never blamed his parents or categorised them as weak civilians for their demise.
Instead, he shouldered the responsibility entirely, holding himself accountable alongside the soldiers who carried out the massacre and the commanding higher ups of the imperial army for his parent's death.
He didn't even blame his teammates for being weak that led to their deaths.
'He is broken.' That was the conclusion Geralt reached after spectating the child.
Unable to see Leo's burden, Geralt took a leave from his position and transferred to one of the Revolutionary Army's bases to support the child in his times of need.
Geralt could only hope during this time that the child could find comrades and his passion, which would let him survive and help him to enjoy his life, albeit a little.
