Watching the two women together, Guts decides that any questions on his mind might be best saved for tomorrow. Lashan looked like she could use the rest, and it felt like an intrusion to approach her now. In the end, he says nothing.

His body was tired, but with the pain easing away alongside the warm food, Guts finds it easier than expected to relax from the adrenaline high earlier in the day. He was expecting to be hurting a lot more by now, but the old witch’s brew must be taking effect. He can particularly feel the weight on his eyelids by the time he tips up the bottom of the bowl to finish up the soup, and leaves an empty cup of tea to go along with it. The sated feeling of a full stomach was a nice reward for being battered around. The meal had been well earned. This satisfied him more, somehow.

He normally disliked having so many people this close to where he slept, but it felt different this time. Less like a constant pending threat, and more like a sea of company. Safety, even, in knowing there were dozens of eyes and ears keeping watch rather than just one pair. The thought felt ridiculous if he reflected on it too much.

He was ruminating. Going in circles. In the end, he’d still have to leave once he gets his sword back. Best to not get too attached to the pleasant feeling.

The boy curls up in his cot to rest, succumbing easily to the pull of sleep.