Paragon

Remnants of the Great War [15]

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PARAGON

Remnants of the Great War Arc [15]

Chapter 24 : Mankind's Greatest Desires

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Ash opened his eyes to the sound of silence assaulting his beleaguered senses. He was lying down indoors, and as his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, he saw high walls of mahogany draped in noisy tapestries closing in around him. A trail of dust shimmered in the sunlight that beamed through the vaunted windows, and he squinted at its brightness.

Where...? He pawed at his face and his line of sight gradually shifted down to his torso, where he was buried beneath several layers of thick blankets. He kicked them off and sat up. A dull pain ached throughout his entire body, like he'd fallen asleep on a bed of cragged rocks, and he winced. His eyes drifted around the room. Then his heart dropped and his eyes shot open. "Pikachu!"

As he moved to jump out of bed, movement to his left stopped him. "He's safe, Ash, as are all your other pokémon." Albrecht was sitting by his bedside table, a book in hand, though he promptly closed it.

"Albrecht!" Ash exclaimed, and took several seconds to process what was going on. "You were..." He looked around again. "Where are we?"

"This is my estate. I assure you, you're safe."

"Where're my pokémon?"

"I have my people taking care of them. You've raised some excellent partners. Despite the beating they took, it seems they'll all be fully recovered in just one more day."

Ash took several deep breaths to try to calm himself down and process what was going on. "I...thank you."

"You went well beyond your own limits as well," Albrecht continued. "I'll have a meal brought to you, but after, it'd be best if you let your body rest so you can regain your full strength."

Almost as if Albrecht's words had manifested into reality, Ash's stomach gurgled and he was suddenly hit by a wave of fatigue. The room began to spin and he closed his eyes, refusing to fall asleep. Once it passed, he opened them again. "Where are Sabrina and Anabel?"

Albrecht stood, leaving his book on the bedside table. "They're here as well. Not to worry, they're being taken good care of."

Noticing Albrecht's reserved tone, his eyes flicked over nervously. "What's wrong?"

Albrecht hesitated, looking away. "Sabrina is still asleep last I checked, sporting only minor injuries. But your friend Anabel... How much do you remember—?

No, it can't be. Ash nearly tripped over himself clambering out of bed. His stomach protested, but he didn't care. Please tell me I imagined that. Please don't be real.

"Ash, wait. Please, wait! Just—I'll take you to her, just please slow down!"

Albrecht rushed ahead and opened the door for Ash, and Ash stormed through. The hall outside had a similarly high ceiling and medieval adornments on its walls. Albrecht waited a moment for Ash to catch his breath before heading down the hall. They didn't have to travel far before they came upon an open set of twin doors. Beyond lie an array of pristine white beds, and one of them was occupied. Several nurses looked up at Ash's arrival in confusion.

"Anabel!" Ash yelled, surging toward her.

The girl was wrapped in bandages, but the skin on her face that was exposed was raw with burns. Ash's stomach dropped upon seeing her right side. In the sea of white, he'd seen a dark spot of red from the door. Where her right arm should have been laying on the bed next to her, there was nothing. Her bandaged right shoulder ended in a bloody stump.