Chapter 22: Chapter 22
Currently, I am fixated on a woman who is fast asleep by my side. She even refuses to let go of the grip she has on the edge of the jacket I'm wearing, as if afraid I might leave her.
Is the fear so strong that she's willing to be close to a man who made her uncomfortable just a little while ago? The same goes for what I'm feeling. Despite Aurel's prior request to stay away, I won't do it. I'll watch over her, be near her without her knowledge, beyond my plan to find out about our connection.
I reach out, pulling her small waist closer. Outside, the rain pours heavily, accompanied by synchronized thunderbolts. My warm body temperature should make her comfortable, that's what I think. Her steady breaths drown out the noise outside.
I was about to join Aurel in slumber, thinking I could rest for a while. But suddenly, something surges painfully within me. I open my eyes wide and sit up. I don't want to disturb Aurel's sleep, so I glance at her for a moment before moving away.
I enter another room in my chamber, staring at my reflection in the large mirror. The gray tint in my irises is distinct. This pain is exactly the same as what I felt before, but this time it's magnified. I can't hold back my natural reaction anymore; it's as if my spine is being stabbed by countless painful knives. I can't control my body, and then the door suddenly opens. It's Brenda and Rex, looking at me with concern and surprise. I can only slump onto the floor, trying to endure the pain.
"Gray," Brenda says, her worried face blurred in my sight. Then, not just Brenda, but also Rex, both of them are shocked. As I'm struggling with the pain, I suddenly feel a change. My hands are growing fine hair, becoming more and more dense. Not just that, my nails are growing longer and sharper.
"Is he experiencing a resurgence?" I faintly hear Rex asking Brenda. But then, the pain disappears just like that, along with the changes in my hands. My racing breath begins to stabilize, and my sweat-soaked body leaves me utterly helpless. All my strength seems to drain away. It's only then that Brenda and Rex approach me, trying to help me up.
"Are you okay?" Brenda asks, but I'm too weak to respond. She looks at Rex, asking him to help carry me to my room. He assists me, gently laying me on the bed. The intense heat I felt earlier seems to burn through me, and I watch Brenda try to contact Lauv.
"Don't do that," I manage to say weakly. I need to stop Brenda from sending the packlink to Lauv.
"Why? We need to find out about your revival immediately, even if it's just for a moment. There must be something that triggered it," Brenda says. At that moment, the image of Aurel comes to my mind, and Rex seems to know as well. He looks in my direction.
"I want you not to tell anyone about my condition until I am fully revived," I say, causing Brenda to let out an annoyed sigh.
"That's why we need to find out. We can't just stay idle like this. Do you want your revival to keep getting delayed and underestimated by others?" she retorts, but that's not what's on my mind right now.
"Give me time to figure everything out on my own and don't interfere with whatever I'm going to do in the future, Brenda," I say, causing her to rub her face roughly. She looks frustrated facing me.
"What he's saying makes sense. Let him figure out his condition on his own. I'm sure there's something he needs to handle personally," Rex chimes in. I feel like he's not entirely on my side, but he's worried about Aurel. It's enough for me.
Brenda and Rex exchange glances and then Brenda asks, "Are you hiding something from me?" I avert my gaze, not wanting to engage in a lengthy debate with her.
"We're not hiding anything. I just felt the pain and sudden revival. I'm sure Gray felt it too," Rex answers, causing Brenda to sigh in annoyance again.
"Discuss this outside. I just want to rest, and I remind you not to let this incident reach Lauv's ears, especially Wentira. Otherwise, I won't be able to forgive you, Brenda," I warn her again, and Brenda doesn't respond. She leaves, visibly irritated, and then it's Rex who tries to disturb my rest.
"Did you do something to Aurel?" Rex asks, looking at me suspiciously.
"What could I do? I was just trying to comfort her when she was scared. That's the truth," I answer, and Rex remains silent, staring at me as if he doesn't believe the answer I gave him.
"You can ask Aurel directly. I was just trying to calm her down. I think she had a bad dream, and before she fell asleep, she asked about your whereabouts. She looked worried," I explain, making Rex once again fall into silence.
"Does all of this have to do with the appearance of the ogres?" Rex asks, the same question as the others.
"Why are you trying to ask me? Can't you find out on your own? I've made it clear that I have no connection to Wentira or anything like that before my revival. I'm only going to focus on myself and Aurel. So, don't ask about any other matters," I firmly state, causing Rex to finally go quiet and try to swallow all the questions in his mind.
"Alright then, I'll go check on Aurel," he says, and I just clear my throat without turning around. He's about to leave my room when I stop him.
"Let her rest for a few days in this house," I suggest, and Rex turns back.
"Why should I do that?" he questions, seemingly disagreeing with my idea.
"We don't know what's going to happen next. What if the Hunters haven't strengthened the realm's protection, and the ogres or perhaps other monsters could appear? This house might be the only safe place for Aurel," I explain, making Rex fall silent, seemingly considering the idea I've given him.
"I can protect her myself," he stubbornly responds.
"Fine, if you don't believe me, at least you should believe Brenda. I assure you that Aurel won't be in any danger. I won't let the ogres harm her," I clarify, feeling oddly determined that this request of mine should be approved.
"I trust you even less," he retorts, and it only makes me chuckle sadly. Do I come off as untrustworthy, I wonder? Just like Aurel, who initially disagreed with my opinion
"Alright, it's up to you. I'm only giving you the best advice," I reply, finally choosing to close my eyes. I need to regain my strength and hurry to find out about this condition.
I hear the door close as Rex leaves my room, and then for some reason, I catch a faint whiff of Aurel's scent, just as Simon had mentioned. Could she really have a unique human scent, I think to myself as I open my eyes. The scent becomes more distinct as we're in close proximity. I try to sit up, staring at my hands that changed a while ago, even if it was only briefly. The pain was intense. What would it be like when I'm fully revived? Not just that, my body temperature starts to rise, as if I'm being infused with an intense power. But shortly after, the powerful surge diminishes along with the fading presence of my wolf form.
I'm lost in thought about my revival when suddenly I'm alerted to someone being near the realm's protection that Brenda created. I quickly dismiss my fatigue and the lingering pain, staring out the window. I'm certain that there's someone around our house, observing us. I immediately send a packlink to Brenda.
"Can you check around the realm's protection? I'm sure I sensed something out there," I tell Brenda, who promptly responds,
"Rex is already checking outside. I sense it too." I continue to gaze around. It's still pouring rain outside and quite dark, yet my eyes can clearly make out a suspicious figure. I don't know why these anomalies are happening one after another—the arrival of the ogres, the weakening of the realm's protection, Aurel's arrival, and my revival. Could they all be interconnected? I wonder, about to seek out Simon and Thunder. They need to help me as soon as possible. Just as I'm thinking that, my bedroom door suddenly opens.
I turn to see Aurel looking at me in silence. Is she having another nightmare, I think, observing her pale face. We're both silent, and she seems reluctant to enter or get closer to me. She stands at the threshold, just watching me. I can't decipher her thoughts, unfortunately.