š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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The room was steeped in serenity, its walls adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to breathe life into the chamber. Warm golden light from enchanted crystal lamps cast a soothing glow, illuminating the space in a soft, otherworldly brilliance.
The young woman stirred beneath the silken covers, her body feeling both heavy and unyielding as if tethered to the very bed she rested upon.
Her breathing hitched, a faint groan slipping past her lips. Her consciousness, muddled and fragmented, slowly pieced itself back together. Blurred images of light and shadows danced before her vision, and the sound of voicesāgentle but urgentāwrapped around her like a distant melody.
"She's stirring," came a hushed voice from her side.
Her eyelids fluttered, straining to open. At first, the light seemed too harsh, but gradually, her eyes adjusted. The world came into focusāfigures clad in flowing robes, symbols of healing embroidered in gold upon their chests. They moved around her, their hands glowing faintly as they worked tirelessly, tending to the arrays of sigils floating in the air above her.
A sense of disorientation gripped her, and she managed to rasp, "Whereā¦ where am I?"
The healer closest to herāa man with weathered features and a kind, fatherly demeanorāpaused in his work. He turned to her with a smile that was both relieved and reassuring.
"You are safe, my lady," He said gently, his voice like a soothing balm. "You are in the care of the Heaven and Earth Sect. This is the inner sanctum of our medicine wing. You've been unconscious for several months."
"Months?" The young woman's voice cracked, disbelief threading through her words. She struggled to push herself upright, only to find her body betraying her. Her limbs felt weak, her strength sapped by her prolonged slumber.
The elderly healer quickly stepped forward, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Please, do not exert yourself. Your body needs time to recover fully."
Her gaze darted around the room, her heart pounding with an urgency she couldn't quite place. "Whyā¦ why am I here? What happened to me?"
"You were gravely injured," The healer replied, his tone grave. "When you arrived here, your condition was dire. We have worked day and night to stabilize you. The Sect Master himself ensured you received the utmost care."
The mention of the Sect Master made her pause.
"Sect Masterā¦ Jason?" She murmured, the name stirring something within herāan amalgamation of confusion, anger, and a faint, inexplicable ache.
"Yes," The healer confirmed, his smile widening slightly. "Sect Master Jason has been watching over your recovery. He has taken a great interest in your well-being. In factā"
He paused, turning to glance at another healer by the door. "Go. Inform the Sect Master that she has awakened."
The other healer nodded and disappeared through the door.
Solevia's thoughts raced as she tried to piece together the fragmented memories of her predicament.
Jason's name was a thread that tied them all together, and the mere mention of him caused her chest to tighten.
Why him? What did he do to me? To my mother?
Her musings were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor. Her head turned instinctively toward the door, just as it swung open with an audible thud.
Jason appeared, his tall frame filling the doorway. His robes, though slightly disheveled, carried an air of authority and power. His usually composed expression was replaced with something rawāconcern, urgency, and perhaps a trace of guilt.
"You're finally awake," He breathed, his voice deep and laden with emotion. He crossed the room in swift, purposeful strides, his piercing eyes locked onto her face as though needing confirmation that she was truly awake.
The healers bowed respectfully and began retreating, their departure silent but immediate.
The young woman, however, was far from serene. Her initial shock at seeing Jason quickly gave way to a torrent of anger.
"You!!" The single word escaped her lips like a venomous hiss, sharp and filled with accusation.
Jason stopped at her bedside, his expression shifting to one of calm composure, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
The young woman pushed herself up despite the trembling in her arms, her amethyst eyes blazing with fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Any idea at all?"
Jason remained silent, his hands folded in front of him, waiting for her to continue.
"My mother," She spat, her voice rising with each word, "is suffering because of you! Because she dared to help you, she is being punishedāhumiliatedāby my father and the others! And Iā¦ I was captured, hurt, and left for dead. All because of you!"
Her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions, but she refused to let it weaken her resolve. Tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them away, her pride unwilling to show weakness before the man she held responsible for her plight.
Jason exhaled softly, lowering himself to sit in the chair beside her bed. His movements were deliberate, unhurried, and entirely calm, in stark contrast to the tempest of anger radiating from the young woman.
"Are you finished?" He asked, his tone measured but firm.
Her eyes narrowed. "What kind of response is that? I'm telling you that my life has been ruined, and that's all you have to say?"
"I understand your anger," Jason said quietly. "And you have every right to feel it."
"Do I?" She snapped, her hands clutching the silk sheets tightly. "Do you even comprehend the damage you've caused?"
Jason met her gaze evenly, his calm demeanor unshaken.
"Solevia. That's your name, right?" He said, his voice steady, "I'm not here to argue with you. I'm here to ensure you understand the truth. Whatever has happened, whatever pain you've endured, it was not my doing."
His words struck a chord, though she was loath to admit it. Her anger wavered, but she quickly fortified it.
"If it wasn't your doing, then whose was it?" She demanded.
Jason's expression softened, but his resolve remained firm.
"I will explain everything," He promised, leaning forward slightly. "But for now, you need to rest. We'll talk when you're ready."
Solevia hesitated, her emotions a swirling storm of anger, confusion, and an unfamiliar warmth she couldn't place. Despite herself, she found his unwavering presence both infuriating andā¦ oddly reassuring.
Her voice softened, though her glare remained. "You had better have answers, Jason. And they had better be good."
Jason nodded, his lips curving into a faint, enigmatic smile. "You'll have them. I promise."
As he stood and began to leave, Solevia's thoughts turned inward.
Motherā¦ why did you trust this man so much? What did you see in him?
Her eyes lingered on Jason's retreating form, a flicker of curiosity piercing through her lingering anger.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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