Dragon Root 龙根 • Imbibitor Lunae 饮月君

Chapter 2. pt. 2 (第二话，第二篇）

Chapter 2 pt. 2 : Paths 道

Yue's POV

SMALL glimmers of white dotted my vision like stars. They were the first thing I saw before the haze started clearing. The stinging sensation across my head had me groaning in agony, my mind struggling from the constant ringing in my ears.

"Ugh.." Was all I could mutter out, as the burning sensation mixed with a bitter aftertaste lingered at the back of my throat.  I tried moving my hands, or my feet, but it seemed numb all over, with barely any strength left.

Where..?

The more I saw, the more confused I became. I couldn't really see much, with most of my view blurred out, but I could barely make out that the white screen before me was a ceiling.

Where was I?

I blink, to no avail. My senses slowly restored the more I awaken, yet the white ceiling was making my head spin. That was when I felt something warm on me.

Something damp was settled atop my forehead, a soothing and welcoming heat spreading across my skin. It was comfortable, and seemed to calm the pain slightly. My half-lidded eyes were still adjusting to my surroundings, as I squinted and squinted.

"Oh- She's awake!" A young man's voice rang out, snapping me awake. Instinctively, my fingers  twitched as I tried to reach my arm out to the side for a weapon, growing alert. A sudden rush of footsteps swarmed the room, the sound getting louder until it right beside me.

Are they going to kill me?

My body tensed in response, my eyes moving to the side.

I can't do anything. I can barely even move.

I tried lifting my head, only to find it rooted to the pillow. It was as if there was a strong gravitational force that locked me in place, stuffed between a soft bed and...wait, this scent?

Is that..?

Floral, sweet and woody.

I knew that flower. I attempted to reach out, only to twitch again in my spot. I grumbled in annoyance under my breath.

Os...something... that was all I remembered, before a voice caught my attention.

"Oh my, thank the Aeons!" A woman's face came into view, the blurry vision not helping me identify who was in front of me at all. I squinted my eyes again, fingers slowly trembling back in motion.

"W-who..are you?" I croaked out, my throat stinging in pain, as if parched in a desert with no oasis in sight. I coughed repeatedly, my body shaking in response.

They didn't seem hostile, at least.

"Oh dear, you must be thirsty. Ah Xiang, bring some water, quickly!" The woman had an older, mature tone. While it was still hard to see her facial details, it wasn't hard to distinguish the few white hair strands that stuck out of her greyish bun.

Ah Xiang...?

That voice also....seemed familiar?

Before I knew it, I felt warm arms hoist my back, with another fluffy pillow propped against my neck. I was now leaning against the bedframe, finally able to see my surroundings and my body.

I grimaced slightly. It wasn't in the best state, but it seemed much better than before.

"Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?" The voice of a man, the one that I heard when I woke up, called out to me. I glanced over at him, he seemed to be much younger than the woman earlier.