Page 71 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“They’re flying out today. We’ll probably have more wounded in by the end of the night,” a nurse notes.

“We don’t have that many empty beds left. We might have to expand,” another answers.

I continue to work, but I cannot help but eavesdrop on their conversation.

When I came here for the job, I did not realize this was an American military base. I had no idea about the bad reputation the 100thBomb Group had, or the fact that although they have great benefits for hired nurses, a lot of them end up quitting due to the high workload.

Too many injured.

Too many dying.

From what I hear, any other group would have been preferred to the 100thsince everyone believes it to be cursed.

I scoff at that.

Of course I don’t believe it is cursed. I do not sense any type of witchcraft surrounding the base or its people—well, aside from that ongoing problem with a certain soul snatcher. But with the way people are talking about the 100th, it is clear that it has one of the highest mortality rates—so much so it’s not just the nurses who dread working here; the airmen who get assigned to this group think they’re doomed, too.

I’m ambivalent on that matter. Work is work. And if nurses quit, then it will be that much easier for me to hold onto my job with my limited skills—I might be clueless about nursing, but I am not afraid of hard work.

Yet as I’m changing the bandage of one of the patients and I note the severity of his injuries, my thoughts stray to Mine.

He said he’s a pilot, no? Does that mean he’s in the direct line of fire?

I have yet to find out what exactly these airmen do besides fly planes, but I suppose they fight with them, too? I shall have to ask him when I see him again.

IfI see him again.

I shake myself. For some reason, I do not want to contemplate the thought of him dying. I suppose it’s the donuts. Who else will bring me donuts until I get my first wage if he’s gone?

But he’s a high-ranking official. He wouldn’t be one if he wasn’t skilled. In Aperion, you must not only open your ninth energy gate, but you must also be distinguished in the army to advance in rank.

I mutter a string of curses under my breath. Here I am, with only my fifth gate open and no opportunity in sight to advance. If only my parents would see that I make a better warrior than I would a wife.

“Good job, Miss Anyan,” the doctor praises me as he takes a look at my chart.

“Thank you.”

“You may take your lunch break. Miss Enid will take over for the time being.”

Oh, finally!

I look at the clock and realize I’ve been working nonstop for the last seven hours. My stomach growls in hunger, and if today’s course is the same type of succulent meat as yesterday, then I’m in for a treat.

Or…not.

Oh, yes, the high officials get to eat that delicious meat. But I get only a measly potato stew withnomeat.

On top of that, the nurses are supposed to eat in the same hall as the soldiers, and that means I must grit my teeth and not retaliate against the lewd comments they make about women.

Males. Ugh.

The nurses on break are all sitting at the same table, and I spot an extra seat. Holding on tightly to my tray, I head there. I may not have interacted much with them, but I will try to be friendly—after all, we will be living in close quarters for the next one hundred and one days.

I put on a smile as I greet them. But when I try to go around the table and take a seat, one of the females places her bag on the empty seat.

“We’re full here,” she tells me.

“But there is a seat there.” I point to where her bag is.

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