Jade Dragon [Lan Xichen x Reader]

Chapter: 11

A week and a half had passed since the devastating battle of Lotus Pier, and the aftermath still lingered in the war camps. Amidst the chaos and the wounded, Wei (Y/n) remained unconscious, her delicate form lying on a cot. News of the young girl's condition reached Jiang Yanli, and she hurried here.

With worry etched on her face, Yanli sat next to (Y/n)'s cot. Yanli's attention was solely focused on the younger girl. (Y/n)'s breathing was labored, her body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. A heavy sigh escaped Yanli's lips as she gently replaced the damp cloth on the younger girl's forehead, hoping to provide some relief.

Time seemed to stand still as Yanli watched over (Y/n), her heart heavy with concern. The younger girl's condition seemed to worsen, her shallow breaths becoming even more strained. (Y/n) began to stir restlessly, her body twisting and turning, caught in the grip of a nightmarish dream. Beads of tears streamed down her closed eyes as fragmented whispers escaped her trembling lips. "No... No..." she murmured, her voice filled with anguish.

The sight broke Yanli's heart, and she refused to stand idly by. With desperation in her voice, she called out to (Y/n), shaking her gently. "A-(Y/n)! Wake up! A-(Y/n)!" she pleaded, her voice laced with urgency. Yet, (Y/n) remained unresponsive, lost in the depths of her troubled slumber. Undeterred, Yanli continued to shake her, her movements growing more determined.

Wei (Y/n) found herself trapped in a seemingly endless black void. Disoriented and lost, she aimlessly wandered in various directions, her steps echoing in the void. With each passing moment, the darkness seemed to swallow her hope, and despair began to settle in.

Suddenly, a faint glimmer of light caught Wei (Y/n)'s attention. It beckoned her, igniting a flicker of anticipation within her. Determined, she sprinted towards the elusive light, eager to escape the suffocating darkness. But as fate would have it, her eagerness betrayed her, and she stumbled, crashing to the ground.

Struggling to regain her footing, Wei (Y/n) felt an invisible force relentlessly pulling her down, as if mocking her efforts. Amid this struggle, a haunting voice echoed through the void, sending shivers down her spine.

"You failed..."

The words hung heavy in the air, taunting her. Refusing to succumb to despair, Wei (Y/n) mustered her strength and defiantly responded, "No... I didn't."

The voice persisted, accusing her of betraying the trust others had placed in her. It whispered of the lives she had failed to save, the loved ones she had let down. But Wei (Y/n) stood her ground, unwavering in her belief.

"I am still trusted," she declared, her voice resolute.

As the voice continued its relentless assault, recounting her perceived failures, Wei (Y/n) fought back, defending her actions and intentions. She refused to accept the narrative of her weakness, desperately clinging to the belief that she had done what she could.

Though doubts gnawed at her, threatening to erode her spirit, Wei (Y/n) summoned her inner strength and reminded herself of the lives she had touched. "I saved Madam Yu," she countered, her voice filled with determination.

But the voice persisted, cruelly reminding her of the losses endured by her loved ones. Wei (Y/n) felt her resolve waver, her heart heavy with the weight of guilt and sorrow. Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded, "No... please... stop."

However, the voice's relentless onslaught showed no mercy, accusing Wei (Y/n) of her perceived inadequacies. It questioned her worth and purpose, tearing at the very fabric of her being. In her darkest moment, it posed a chilling question that froze her soul.