CHAPTER 142: LONG TIME NO SEE

The Cold Awakening

"Ugh," El groaned, stirring from deep sleep. His entire body felt numb, every nerve singing with residual pain. "Haah... haaa... haaah," he panted, sweat beading on his forehead as his teeth ground together. He struggled between the pull of unconsciousness and the harsh reality of waking up.

Finally, "Haah!" His eyes shot open to find himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

"Haah... haaah... haaah," he continued panting, though more calmly now as awareness crept in.

Taking a moment to survey his surroundings, he realized he was in what appeared to be a hotel room—and an expensive one at that. Sunlight flooded through a massive window across the room, casting everything in dazzling brilliance.

"Someone saved me," he muttered, sitting up with a pained groan. His body protested the movement, but he pushed through it.

But who?

He made his way to a mirror and examined his reflection. He was... completely healed. Every wound had been treated with what must have been high-level healing potions. Not a mark remained.

This only deepened his curiosity. Who could have saved him? Who had even found him? So many questions, so few answers.

"Could it be... Maria?" he wondered aloud, but dismissed the thought almost immediately. She was already headed for the academy—probably there by now. How could she possibly know what had happened to him, when it happened, or where to find him? No, that didn’t make sense.

"So who?" He frowned, considering other possibilities. Helen? No, that wasn’t right either. She was probably being held captive by Ednar at this point. The possibility of her saving him was virtually nonexistent. Yes, she knew that his death would affect her—that she would likewise die—but given the state she’d been in before he escaped, it was safe to say she wouldn’t be free to move about for a very long time.

Click.

The sound of the door opening made him freeze. He turned, and the sight that greeted him left him speechless.

"K-Katharina," he muttered in absolute disbelief. She was literally the last person he’d expected to see.

"El," she breathed, tears already trailing down her cheeks as she stood face to face with the man she’d come to love after so long. She lifted the hem of her gown and rushed toward him, arms outstretched for an embrace, but—

"Huh?" she blurted, confused and hurt as he stepped back, avoiding her touch.

Only then did she notice the look in his eyes. Cold. Indifferent. There wasn’t a trace of affection in those depths—nothing like the warmth her Yuriel had once shown her. Something was terribly wrong.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice flat.

She frowned, apprehension beginning to grow. "I-I saved you. Why are you acting so distant? Like I’m a stranger?"

"How?" he demanded, throwing accusatory questions at her. "Aren’t you a noble? You should be headed for the academy, or already there. How did you even know where I was?"

"This is the academy," she explained softly. "Well, the town it’s located in." Her voice grew smaller. "What’s wrong, El? Why are you sounding that way? Aren’t you... aren’t you happy to see me?"

He just stared at her for a long moment.

"Thank you," he said finally, offering a curt bow.

"You don’t have to do that," she said, trying to move closer, but he stepped back again.

"El," she pleaded.

"Yeah?" His response was mechanical.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you running away from me?" The pain in her voice was unmistakable.

He continued staring at her with those cold, empty eyes. "I’m keeping boundaries. You’re someone of high standing, involved with my past. I don’t want to have anything to do with that."

At this point, all he felt toward anything related to his past—anything that wasn’t Maria—was hatred. She had successfully poisoned his mind to such a degree that he’d rather die than go back.

"Why are you talking like that, El? It’s me... Katharina," she said, forcing what she hoped was a gentle smile. But he remained unmoved.

"Look, Katharina," he said carefully, respectfully, "I’m genuinely grateful you saved my life, even if I don’t understand how. But I want to be clear about something—I’m not that Lorelle anymore. I don’t consider you a friend, or anything remotely close to that. You’re the future partner of Lodric, and I don’t intend to have anything to do with anyone related to him."

His words hit her like physical blows.

"So please," he continued, "you don’t have to act this way. The friend act isn’t working on me. If you need something from me as payment, I’ll do it."

She froze completely.

"What?" was all she could manage.

He tilted his head, frowning. He didn’t understand why she persisted with this friendly charade she’d always maintained around him. Just like Maria had said—she was deceiving him. If he thought clearly about it, whenever Maria was around and Katharina was there too, she would act all friendly with him while subtly antagonizing Maria. The consequences always bounced back on him in the end.

He didn’t like this girl one bit.

Suddenly, a tear slid down Katharina’s cheek.

"What..." her voice broke, "what has she done to you?"

In that moment, the truth of Maria’s influence became crystal clear to anyone who might have been watching—anyone except El himself, who was too deeply under her spell to see the manipulation for what it was.

Katharina stood there, heartbroken, watching the man she loved look at her like she was a stranger—or worse, an enemy. And perhaps most tragically of all, she realized she was looking at someone who had been so thoroughly broken and rebuilt that the person she’d fallen in love with might be gone forever.

...

...

A/N-Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation! Also, if you have enjoyed the story so far perhaps you can try dropping a review, the author would appreciate that, thanks!

And also, I would love powerstones!