Mercenary System: I can increase innate potential !

Chapter 109 Panic attack

"Maxime, come back! Breathe!"

She tried to catch his gaze, but his eyes were lost, fixed on something invisible, deep in the darkness of her mind.

In a panic, she began to slap his face in an attempt to shock him awake, but nothing helped.

His eyes seemed to have lost all life.

So she tried another, more effective method.

She took him in her arms and tried to reassure him.

Simultaneously, Maxime began to tremble violently, spasms running through his body like waves of pain, and his jerky breathing worsened.

Laura, determined, tried to hold him steady, but she felt all Maxime's accumulated fear and fatigue spreading through him like an insidious, uncontrollable poison.

His clenched fists dug into the ground, and she perceived his barely audible, almost incoherent murmurs.

"I should have protected them... all this... it's my fault... I... I'm not up to it... they're all going to die..."

Laura felt a shiver go through her; she'd never seen Maxime like this, he who had always worn the mask of the unwavering leader.

She shook her head slightly and, gathering her courage, spoke to him in a strong voice, trying to break through the wall of panic that enclosed her.

"Maxime, listen to me! You brought us all back here, you saved us. Look at me!"

She clenched her face firmly in her hands, forcing him to look at her, his own eyes filled with determination.

"No...No, I didn't!"

"Those men...In Plouta, how many died?"

"37 men. 37 men died because of me!"

Maxime's short sentences shocked Laura, because he was partly right, and he would have to bear the weight of these individuals' deaths for the rest of his life.

Tears streamed down Maxime's face as madness took hold of his mind.

"But how many others survived? If the village of Plouta is still protected, it's because you intervened!"

"And you're not alone. Today, if your men have all returned alive, it's thanks to you!"

"They trust you. I trust you. But right now, you need to regain control. You need to breathe."

His words finally pierced the veil of terror, and Maxime felt his tremors diminish slightly.

He drew in a shallow breath, followed by another, and a semblance of lucidity returned, enough for him to slowly regain his bearings.

The sound of his breathing calmed, becoming a little more stable, although his gaze remained haunted.

Laura remained crouched beside him, without letting go.

She felt Maxime's shoulders slump as a crushing silence fell over the room.

He let his head fall back on his chest, exhausted.

Laura felt Maxime gradually relax, but she couldn't ignore the depth of the crisis that had overtaken him.

She stayed by his side, letting the silence envelop them, waiting for him to come to his senses.

Maxime's gaze was still fixed on the ground, his face downcast. She perceived the shadow of shame mixed with sorrow in his eyes.

After a few moments, Maxime pulled himself together and spoke again with a relieved face.

"Thank you, my darling," he said, looking Laura straight in the eye with a look full of love.

Laura was surprised; it was the first time Maxime had called her that.

At that moment, a smile that could appear on the face of an angel appeared on Laura's face. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"I'll always be there for you," she replied in a very gentle voice.

Silence permeated the room, as each enjoyed the warmth of the other.

Both wished this moment could last forever.

But after a moment, Laura decided to break the silence slightly, continuing to reassure Maxime.

"What happened back there... it was an ordeal beyond what most of us could have imagined. But you held on, Maxime. You stood your ground when all seemed lost, and put your life on the line to save us all."

"That was truly admirable, even though I thought my heart would explode with grief."

Maxime nodded, but the shadow of uncertainty still hung over him.

"What if it's not enough next time?" he murmured, almost to himself.

Laura remained silent, searching for the right words. She knew that nothing she could say would dispel his doubts.

But she remembered every moment when Maxime had shown his determination and resilience, far beyond what anyone would have expected of him.

"I can't promise you that everything will always be okay, Maxime," she said at last, squeezing his hand.

"But I do know that I don't want to be at anyone's side but yours to face the worst. We all know what you've done for us... and what you'd do again, even if it's eating you up inside."

She gently helped him to his feet, her hand firmly anchored in his, offering tangible support.

Maxime felt a burst of gratitude pierce through the thick cloud of guilt and exhaustion.

Slowly, he sat up, regaining his balance. The stone of divine power had remained on the ground; he picked it up, holding it with a new perspective, almost as if he understood that this ordeal was just one of many.

Later in the evening, the atmosphere was calm and comforting.

The academy's large dining room, usually noisy and animated by the heated discussions of the apprentice knights, resonated this evening with a softer energy.

Long, solid wooden tables were set with simplicity, but the abundance of dishes on offer made for a veritable feast: large platters of roasted meats, grilled vegetables, still-warm breads and steaming soups followed one another in abundance.

The delicious aroma wafted through the room, enveloping the guests in a benevolent warmth.

Maxime and his mercenaries took their places alongside the apprentice knights, the ranks finally complete with the return of the wounded who had regained their strength thanks to the care of the healers.

The faces of Alden, Tomas, Theo, Lila and Caleb were still marked by fatigue, but brightened by calming smiles.

Their presence added an unexpected touch of camaraderie, a bridge between the young apprentice knights and the seasoned mercenaries, who were sharing a meal together for the first time in this hall steeped in history.

The evening came to life slowly, each discussion intertwined with discreet laughter and murmurs.

All the apprentice knights had somehow learned that the mercenaries and the few geniuses who had accompanied them had survived an ordeal that could have killed them all.

But this event created a surprising bond between the mercenaries and the apprentice knights.

And it wasn't just Alden, Tomas, Theo, Lila and Caleb, but all the apprentice knights, who had strengthened their respect for these mercenaries.

Leo, standing off in the distance with other apprentice knights, wore a complicated expression.

He was glad to have escaped the crisis, but he also wished he'd been at the center of all the attention.

Naturally, everyone remained rather evasive about what exactly had happened, reinforcing everyone's curiosity.

All they knew was that they had been attacked by an extremely powerful orc army.

In the catastrophe, Maxime had stood alone in front of them to delay them, and let his men save the villagers.

On hearing this, many apprentice knights began to admire a mercenary for the first time in their lives.

For this mercenary was, coincidentally, the embodiment of a knight in deed.

Even more than that, he was a hero.

Naturally, the mercenaries and apprentice knights who had the courage to return to Maxime's aid after securing the villagers, received their share of compliments.

For his part, Maxime, seated at the end of the table, watched his companions, remaining silent.

Tiredness still weighed heavily on him, but there was something reassuring, almost restorative about this shared meal.

It felt so good to know that he and his men were safe.

The next morning, the audience with the Count took place in a private room at the Academy.

Maxime, accompanied by Andrew, stood before the Count, who already seemed to have meditated on their exploits and the next step in their collaboration.

"I hope you've taken the time to consider my proposals," began the Count with a smile.

Maxime exchanged a glance with Andrew, then took a breath.

"We've thought it over, yes. But our men are first and foremost here to carry out specific missions. As for this... power, we prefer to learn more for ourselves."

The Count remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"That's your choice. But you should know that on our continent, few people can claim your level of blessing. To leave it at that would perhaps be a waste."

Maxime remained impassive, refusing to show the slightest hesitation.

"We have our own ideas for improvement."

The Count gave him an enigmatic smile.

"Very well, then. But know that if you change your mind, the Academy's doors will always be open to you."

"Now let's talk about the main subject, your remuneration for the mission."

Maxime's eyes seemed to be filled with stars.

In his world, apart from Laura and her family, nothing was more precious than gold coins.