~ "We won but how come it doesn't feel like it? Come on Ion you know why, you are the only one who is mostly unscathed... somehow. Garrette and Lazar are badly hurt, saying in the hospital for the night, Kyara and Zephyr more so, currently undergoing emergency surgery, Zephyr should be fine but Kyara... the jury is still out on whether she will make it or not, I don't know what I would do with myself if she died under my watch, I should be there for them, I should be back at the hospital waiting for them to come out of surgery, not here at Narche's, being taken care of by her but my arms and legs... I can hardly move them... I feel so pathetic." (water pours down on Ion as Narche starts cleaning the blood off of Ion) "Narche... I am sorry, I have failed you, you helped me grow strong over these years but I must have failed somewhere, can't even make sure my comrades make it home ok, I am their leader, I am suppose to protect them but how can I face them now being the only one to come back unscathed besides yourself but that is because you are strong on your own, I am sorry didn't deserve to be your student, not now and especially not back then, you are a flawless teacher, I am just a bad student. I know we won, we finally got Virgil, I was able to kill him and erase that nightmare from the world but at what cost, I guess he got the last laugh, his blood staining me as a last reminder of the blood of those close to me he has spilled, Narche no matter how much of it you was off the more it stains, I am not good enough to be a Hunter, I never was... ~
Just some thoughts Ion had as Narche was taking care of him for the night after Fangenclaw took down their long hated foe, most of the team got fairly hurt in the process, with only Ion and Narche who not part of Fangenclaw, was accompanying them as she also had unfinished business with Virgil as well. Don't worry, Ion's teammates do pull through and Ion's depression is only temporary as a result of some survivors guilt, normally he is the one who gets hurt protecting his friends and this is the first time the reverse is true for him so as the weight of what transpired hits him after that feeling of accomplishment he has some self doubts but his friends do rally around him still, they all accepted the risks when they took on the Hunt and do credit Ion's decisions that while they did get hurt, his leadership did make sure none of them died. I know it is kind of weird explain the setup without a back story but I have touched on this moment between Ion and Narche after the fall of Virgil before https://inkbunny.net/s/2218512 I do plan of eventually getting a commission and subsequent story around the final Hunt for Virgil but seeing this YCH pictured what I had in mind of Ion's demeanor as Narche was cleaning him up after the battle so I went for it, even if it meant building up the aftermath of the fight before the story of it happens
Aye, survivor guilt can hurt like that. But I'm sure that if he wasn't as talented as a leader than he is, everyone would be dead, even him. Cheer up Ion, you did well ! ^^
Aye, survivor guilt can hurt like that. But I'm sure that if he wasn't as talented as a leader than
