10 | What the Future Holds

52 4 9
                                    

Fancover by @Ripiao_  . Thank you so much! <3

Waking up from her deep slumber proved to be a difficult task for Soleil. Her eyelids felt heavy as she slowly opened them, minding the afternoon sunlight that seeped through the windows. She tried to sit up, but paused when her eyes landed on her bandaged hands. The ginger woman brought both of her hands up to inspect them. They seemed to have been freshly wrapped. However, seeing a peek of the pale skin underneath the gauze meant that this wasn't the first time her wounds were treated.

Memories of the skirmish resurfaced, causing Soleil's face to fall grimly. Innocent travelers were killed, including Mina's father. The girl would have also died as well had she not stepped in and took the dagger's blade for herself. At that moment, Soleil's only concern was Mina's safety. Nothing else mattered, which is how she ended up this way. Even if she had died that day, Soleil would be at ease knowing those two were safe and sound.

Being alive after losing so much blood from her wounds was a miracle in Soleil's eyes. The ginger woman placed a hand over her chest, right where she remembered feeling her flesh being carved by the dagger's sharp blade. Had that bandit cut any deeper, it would've ripped through her heart and killed her faster. A tragic ending didn't suit someone like her and she was glad such a fate was avoided.

Carefully sitting up, Soleil realized she was in an infirmary. Six beds including her own were occupied. She had recognized them from the skirmish. A female medic had excused herself after treating a man's stitches and left the facility. Soleil also noticed she was no longer adorned in her white robes, which were most likely ruined as a result of her injuries. Instead, she was dressed in a plain white garment that served as temporary clothing for her. It begged the question of how long she had been out for.

The door to the infirmary opened, capturing Soleil's attention. She was then met with the familiar green eyes of the young man who saved her. Of course, how could she forget those eyes? Placing her life in the hands of a stranger was a risk, but it definitely paid off.

"Ah, you're awake," Haku greeted as he made his way over to the woman. "How do you feel?"

Soleil opened her mouth to say something, only for a dry cough to erupt from her throat. Haku reacted by reaching for a jar of water and filled an empty cup with it. He then handed it to Soleil, who wasted no time chugging the whole cup in a few large gulps. A satisfied sigh left her lips as she placed the now empty cup on the stand next to her.

"Thank you," Soleil managed to say with a hoarse voice. Haku nodded at her.

"Where am I?" she asked, glancing out the window briefly.

"You're in the infirmary of Cameran Palace," he informed her. "The knights brought you here immediately to get you medical attention. You were losing a lot of blood, so..."

A sudden thought occurred to Soleil. "Was anyone else with me?"

"Yes," Haku confirmed. "A woman and her daughter. They said you had been accompanying them throughout their travels and insisted they stayed with you."

"Where are they now?" Soleil further questioned.

"We made arrangements for them to stay in the castle until you were completely healed," he answered.

Soleil felt relieved knowing they were safe. A ghost of a smile played on her lips, but it quickly fell when thoughts of Mina's father came to mind. Did they know he was killed? What was their reaction upon hearing the news? Were they in mourning? She wished to know what they went through during the time she was unconscious.

"Do they know..." Soleil took a deep breath, preparing herself. "Do they know about--"

"They do," Haku answered honestly. She could see the way he tried to hide his feelings behind a strong exterior. "Survivors were asked to identify the people who were killed, and... well..."

The Burden of Destiny | Sequel to The Aura WithinWhere stories live. Discover now