Destinies : Connected by Fate✔️

Chapter 9

YiHuang monitors the human for a few hours. The equipment his brother had salvaged from the burning vehicle helps him check the vitals of the human in his care more thoroughly. 

The second prince observes that the items were primitive compared to their own, but they seem to do their job surprisingly well. For instance, he had found a medical kit with grafts for skin and serums for protection. Among others, there was a handheld X-ray machine that was unlike anything the young prince had ever seen. For it projected images outside the body in three dimensions. 

"Fascinating..." YiHuang mutters as he moves the machine over the human's body. Within seconds, his brother's words are proved right. 

"His lungs have suffered, just as brother had informed." The prince observes and times the breaths that were still shallow but not as labored as before. 
After the preliminary examination, YiHuang decides to visit the grove, for he had estimated that it would take the human at least a couple of hours to regain consciousness. 

As expected, when he returns, he finds Zhang just as he had left him. Well, not exactly as he had left him, for color had returned to the human's cheeks. The faint glow emanating from the atmosphere regulator made the stark lines of Zhang's countenance look ethereal. 'Brother was right. He looks more like a Yuanjian than a human.' 
Before YiHuang can stop himself, he reaches out and intertwines their fingers. Warmth like the tantalizing teasing winter sun washes over him in waves. He closes his eyes at the feeling of completeness that spreads through him. It starts from his now-thundering heart and floods every strand of his being. 

"Zhang..." He whispers the name he had heard himself utter hundreds of times, standing just as close as they were now, maybe even closer. "How much longer are you going to make me wait?" He asks, seating himself next to the human. 

It is at this moment that he feels one of Zhang's fingers twitch. The young prince panics. All the doubts and fears that had plagued him earlier make themselves known yet again. He lets go of the hand and steps away a second before the dark almond eyes flutter open.

Zhang takes a few ragged breaths; his hand moves to his chest and his long, delicate fingers fist in his shirt. He looks around: brows creased, pupils dilated. He spots YiHuang, whose expression mirrors that of the human. Zhang gasps. "I can't breathe!" 

In an instant, the prince is by his side. But unfamiliarity and uncertainty stop him from touching that which is right in front of him. "May I..." He mutters, hand hovering... inching closer. He expects the human to reject him. He receives a nod of approval instead, along with a desperate plea. "Help me, please."

Having received permission, YiHuang helps Zhang sit up. The latter winces even though the Yuanjian had been gentle. Then, placing his fingertips on either side of Zhang's temple, he instructs softly, "Calm down. You are safe. I will not let any harm come to you-" He catches and holds the human's panicking gaze, "Zhang. Don't try to force your breath. Your vehicle crashed into our space. Our atmosphere is slightly different from what you are used to; your lungs were affected. Luckily we were able to stabilize your condition." 

Maybe it was the shock, or maybe, it was that he had found himself in an altogether different place after waking up, but try as he may, Zhang fails to calm down despite guessing that perhaps the man in front of him was trying to do just that. Thus, even though the stranger continues to move his lips but no sound reaches Zhang's ears. 
"I can't-" He struggles to get the words out. "-breath." Something akin to shame engulfs him. For he can tell that the latter is trying to help him, it's just that he can't hear any of the words spoken by him.

'Why is he still panicking? Why is he still scared?' The prince wonders as the human's eyes well up. "Zhang, I am not going to hurt you." He enunciates each word, but it doesn't help.