The priest who had been smashed looked far more miserable. His head was mottled with bruises, his brows were knotted together, and his face was scrunched up like a steamed bun.
Richard felt he could understand him quite well. Burier physical constitutions really were absurdly strong. He had already found it outrageous that Nora could survive after having her head chopped off, but now it seemed the other Buriers were no less extraordinary.
Just as Richard could no longer bear to watch and rose to try talking Gwen down, the young priest's eyelids trembled, and he successfully opened his eyes.
He paid no attention whatsoever to the unfamiliar surroundings, the unfamiliar Transcendent Richard standing beside him, or even the pile of battered helmets strewn across the floor. Instead, he stared at Gwen in terror and shouted:
"Stop smashing, stop smashing! I'm awake! I'm really awake!!"
Nora and Richard's eyes lit up, while Gwen's face showed a hint of disappointed reluctance.
"It actually worked!?"
"Of course it worked. This is a proper awakening ritual. This is how we awaken our companions."
"Your awakening method sure uses up a lot of helmets."
Gwen glanced at the helmets littering the floor, hesitation creeping into her voice. "Normally... it doesn't take this many hits."
"Yes! That's right! No more smashing, I'm already awake! Gwen, put the Flail away!!" The priest's eyes were filled with terror and, uh, a powerful will to survive.
"You're bleeding from the head. Let me treat you?" Gwen shook the Flail, looking eager to give it a try. "I remember this Flail can be used for healing too."
"No! No need! It's only a minor injury!" The priest forced out a smile, utterly ignoring the streaks of blood running down his head.
"Alright." Gwen lowered the hand holding the Flail,