Chapter Eighteen
I woke up to the feeling of someone lightly shaking my shoulder.
I wanted to protest against the touch, refuse to open my eyes, but the shaking was insistent.
“Aria?” a voice called to me.
It was familiar and warm. It sounded like home.
I managed to open my eyes a bit, fighting against the bright artificial light that assaulted me as I did so. But after several seconds of adjusting, I managed to make out the face of my mother.
“Aria?” she called again.
“I‘m alive…?” I said, my throat dry and sore.
She quickly brought some water to my lips and I began to sip on it, enjoying the refreshing feeling that came with it.
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she began to look over my body, making several notes in a chart by the bed.
How was I feeling? I was sure I had died again. I was in the Abyss, I saw the memory. It was just like how i t had felt last time.
…So, how was I feeling?
I felt confused by the entire situation right now.
“I should be dead,” I replied.
She instantly turned to look at me, a little shocked by my blunt response.
“Don‘t say such an awful thing,” my mother said, her eyes full of concern. “You‘ve fully recovered, there‘s n o need to say something like that.”
Did this mean I was never in the Abyss? Had it just been a nightmare the entire time?
My mother looked like she wanted to say something else, but she was debating internally.
“You know…as a doctor, I‘m happy to see that you‘ve healed so well, but…as a mother, I want to scold you for stupidly running into danger like you did. What were you thinking, Aria?”
| already realised it was dumb the second I came face–to–face with the sandy wolf. She didn‘t really need t o scold me further. On the other hand though, if I hadn‘t been there then there was a good chance Cai would have died fighting off all four wolves, or Myra would have been killed.
I was sure I was only still alive because of the effort he had
not to mention how he‘d carried
horrible realisation, I remembered then
okay?” I
of concern and my heart
able to walk around again. I‘ve instructed for him to take it easy over the next week
to hear he was going to be fine but I was confused
Chapter Eighteet
How long have I
unconscious for three days
it had been so long already. Time really was uncertain
been trying hard to come up with other explanations for
so serious that it would
“...What is it?”
your body… It looks
then I‘m sure it would have. What she
is that possible? I haven‘t even been close to
sort of marking,” she
marko n me. Not only that, but sure Aleric would have
seem to have been marked on your
And, internally, I cringed.
much for letting me choose my own fate. She seemed to
appear the Goddess had now marked me
what that
was asking me because it was virtually unheard of and wouldn‘t expect a fourteen year old to know. No one had seen the Goddess‘ mark in over a millennium and even then, the accounts were iffy at best. I learnt about it very vaguely during my Luna studies and knew the ramifications
my head at her. My life was
why
out. All the ranked members and elders would be pressuring my parents for information whilst trying to
lie to her, but I also didn‘t want to break her heart by telling her my story either. I wanted things to be normal between us.
cheek and shrugged my shoulder,
hesitated at the reaction but, thankfully, didn‘t push the topic any
possible to urgently discuss the attack,” she said. “You‘ve physically healed fine, but I was worried about your mental state given the coma you were in. Do you
it for a few moments. Did I want to meet with him? Not
Chapter Eighteen
do eventually. I felt completely fine
can meet with
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!