Immediately after the battle ended, Jaanav gave the order to retreat to the Hanjaan market without giving time for them to rest or get healed of the injuries they had suffered in the battles.
Only now Gideon realized that there were a little less humans and monster partners around. There have been a few who had lost their lives or their monster partners in these battles which he didn't notice earlier.
The second battle was easier than the first as there were only 100 monsters they had to fight and not many were injured as they could gang up on the monsters who were more powerful and kill them with ease.
The adventurers and guards who were not injured and had stamina and strength to walk immediately moved around gathering the weapons that were scattered across the battlefield, left by the deceased or the injured, while some were standing, kneeling or holding their monster partners who were injured or weeping while holding them as they were dead.
He felt sad and wanted to do something for them, who had lost their monster partners they had Soul Integrated with, but he was a kid who had just turned 15 a few months ago with no background to make any kind of contribution.
He saw an adventurer who had lost one of his legs and was crawling towards the centre of the battlefield with blood gushing out from his leg, while a goose was walking close looking at him as if it was worried about him. That goose was his monster partner which couldn't help him at this time to carry him.
He immediately went toward him which made the goose look at him ferociously until the wounded man patted its head, calming it down a little.
Gideon rummaged through his backpack and took a bandage from the inside and gave it to the man who took it with thanks. He had already used his both Medical syringes that were given to him before they came out of the Hanjaan market and had no means to stop the bleeding without help from anyone, which Gideon had given.
The bandage might look small, but it was created with nano technology, when placed on a wound, it would expand covering the entire wound, no matter how big the wound is, reducing the loss of blood and the medicine that is in it will reduce the chances of the wound getting infected.
Gideon gave it to him as he had always kept a stock of 10 bandages in his backpack anytime he wanted to go out into the wild to hunt the monsters.
He looked around nervously as he hadn't seen Raam after the second battle and worried where he was and by each passing minute, his worry became more and more making him shudder.
He wished to become strong, so he could help the people in need, to protect the people he loved and cared for, his foster family, and friends.
But, he knew wishing is easier than doing and he needed to work hard to achieve what he just wished for which made him sad. 'Will dad and mom allow me to go on dangerous tasks?' He thought to himself, which made him worry about his wish.
Sensing his worry, Jaice flew down, stood on his shoulder and nibbled at his head as if she was trying to console him that everything would be fine.
"You made me worry, kid." He heard a familiar voice, which made his lips curl into a smile. He turned immediately towards the sound and saw Raam standing there with a relieved expression on his face.
"You too made me worry. Where have you been?" Gideon asked before he could stop himself, which made Raam chuckle.
"I was doing what I was good at. Giving first aid and treating people who were injured." Raam said, looking at Gideon up and down as if he was scanning through him, which made Gideon a little uncomfortable.
"I am fine. Sorry if I made you worry." Gideon said it in a single breath which made Raam to shake his head with a slight smile. 'Kids will always be kids.' He thought.
Raam nodded at Max who came and stood next to Gideon. It was a gesture of thanks for keeping Gideon safe during the battle and keeping an eye on him even now.
Raam left after that, as he continued being the nurse he was trained to be and helped the adventurers and guards who were injured. Gideon joined him without any word and started to help the people who had minor injuries that didn't need a veteran nurse's aid.
They started marching towards the market after 5 minutes of rest and preparation time for the injured and the mourning people and monsters to get together. Being in the forest was dangerous and they had to leave as it was already evening and they had to reach the market soon or they would have a disadvantage in the darkness of the night.
The return journey to the Hanjaan market was slower, they were able to reach it and enter its defence fence by 05:30 PM, just before the sun started setting in the west.
Raam decided to stay in the Open Hands inn for the night as the travel and battle fatigue along with helping the wounded was too high for him to ride in a bike back to the village.
Gideon called Henry and informed him that he would be out with Raam in the inn as they had to get some rest after venturing into the forest and would reach home the next day, which was passed on to Sienna also who was as usual worried about him staying outside of their home.
It took him almost 30 minutes for her to agree with him, thanks to the inn owner Aaravi who promised her that she would take good care of him when he is at the inn.
Around 07:00 PM, Max came to the inn along with a few other guards who just stood outside the inn which made Aaravi puzzled as she didn't know why these many guards had to come to the inn as if she was hiding a criminal.
"Sorry about the intrusion mam. But I was ordered to hand over the rewards for Gideon and Jaice immediately." Max said looking at her puzzled face and looked at Gideon with a smile.
As if on que, Gideon's phone chimed a message notification. He opened it and was surprised to see a 500 dallans been transferred to his account from the security branch of Hanjaan market.
Max then took out a few boxes that immediately filled the inn with a pleasant and roasted aroma of meat which made Aaravi stare at Max who immediately took a step back and said nervously "This is for Jaice. Security Chief Jaanav had promised a treat to Jaice if she helped in the mission and personally asked me to give it to her."
Max looked nervous and scared which Gideon saw for the first time as he was not like this even when they were in the forest and made him wonder who this woman Aaravi really was.
Max's face relaxed only after he got an approval from Aaravi with a nod that he is permitted to give the food to Jaice which she immediately flew over to grab in a swift move that made everyone laugh, reducing the tension inside the inn.
Max also gave Gideon a commendation letter that he can show it in the Adventures Association as a proof that he has joined in a mission to fight Swift Tail Monkeys, thus he worked on the task he took over gaining additional rewards from the association.
Gideon took it with reluctance as he felt he was getting overly paid for a simple work he had done. He only fought 2 monkeys and killed only one and already got 500 dallans doubling his money in the account.
Raam also got a reward in dallans for fighting along with them and extra for helping the wounded after the battle, but Gideon didn't ask about it as he thought it was like intruding into his privacy which Gideon didn't want to do.
After a brief talk, where Max mostly praised Gideon for being the bravest newbie he had ever seen and for aiding him in the battle that made him feel a little awkward as he became a kid in the spotlight of the entire inn.
Even Raam started to praise him for what he had done so far in the association tasks, even though he was just in Tier-1, level-1.
After the dinner, Gideon went to the room that was allocated for him and was surprised when he entered it.
It was a room that was decorated like a VIP suite and had all the luxuries one would ask for when staying in an inn.
He immediately turned around to leave only to be blocked by Aaravi who came there to inform him that he is the VIP for the day and hence, he should stay in the VIP suite of the inn even if he didn't want to.