Chapter 314: What Is Left of Me
The Baroness sits on her favorite rocking chair, her head and arms fully relaxed, legs crossed. Her eyes are closed, one finger tapping idly against the armrest in a slow, steady rhythm.
She replays everything the Hunters told her.
She had dismissed them with a simple order to return tomorrow, when their training would officially begin.
A faint sneer touches her lips as she recalls how they reluctantly agreed, dragging their two unconscious companions out of her residence.
"They are nothing but a group of low-levels who do not know their place," she mutters, her tone flat, as if stating an obvious fact rather than passing judgment.
"I let them go because they brought me information about Rhaenas."
She tilts her head slightly, eyes still closed.
A slow, almost indulgent smile forms on her lips.
"Thea..." she whispers, her voice soft, laced with quiet adoration.
She inhales deeply, savoring the thought, as if indulging in something intoxicating.
"Arthur..." she whispers again, her tone shifting, carrying a more intimate, almost possessive note.
Her eyes open lazily.
"What would I not give to enter a dungeon with you..."
It is unclear whether she means Theo, Arthur, or both.
"What is it about you that draws me in so completely?"
"I am certain you can use magic as well. Where did you learn? How did you learn? Who taught you?"
She closes her eyes again, sinking deeper into the chair, her finger resuming its rhythmic tapping.
"Should I make the Hunters stronger... and send them to test you?"
She chuckles softly, the sound low and amused, as the chair rocks gently beneath her.
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Sonia wakes abruptly. She throws off her covers, jumps out of bed, and drops to her knees on the floor.
She bows her head until her forehead touches the ground.
"I am sorry for being late, Elder Maer! I promise I will never do it again!" she shouts.
Silence.
Sonia does not dare to move.
But as the seconds pass, she begins to notice her surroundings.
Why am I shivering?
Why is it so dark?
What time is it?
Oh my lord... why am I naked?!
Sonia gasps loudly.
With her forehead still pressed against the floor, she turns her head to the right.
Then to the left.
She shifts slightly, trying to look behind her.
Huh?
Then the memories come rushing back.
Oh! I am in Solarys!
Relief floods through her. She straightens and drops back, sitting on the cold floor.
"Cold!" she yelps.
She quickly jumps to her feet.
Lightning flashes outside her window, followed by a loud crash of thunder.
She moves her fingers. A bathrobe flies out from the wardrobe and wraps itself around her.
She ties the belt, and the lights flicker on.
"That is right. I am in Solarys. No scary Elder Maer." She grins widely, almost giddy with relief.
She turns toward the window, staring at the raging storm.
"I need to find whoever summoned this storm. I need to prove that I am right."
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"You ready?" Liam asks.
Theo nods. "I’m ready."
He grips Liam’s hand, using it to support himself as he stands. His hold is tight, almost desperate, as he pulls himself up.
Liam fights the urge to grab him with both hands.
He knows Theo is trying to strengthen his core and legs, forcing his body to adapt. But seeing him struggle just to stand hits harder than he expected.
This is the third day since Theo woke up. Five days since the storm began raging.
Neither Theo nor the storm has changed.
The storm still howls without pause. Theo still cannot access his magic, and his physical strength has not returned.
The rest of Rhaenas does not know.
Arthur is still busy at the DEU, assisting Alicia, who is officially still the chief. Their focus has shifted from clearing dungeons in Solarys to search and rescue, trying to locate those missing because of the ongoing storm.
Neither of them has returned to the apartment since the first day.
Claudia has not left since she arrived on the second day.
Julian remains in his lab, working on various gadgets to help Arthur locate the missing more efficiently.
Maeve keeps herself occupied with the housework, maintaining a sense of normalcy in the middle of the chaos.
And Liam...
Liam is busy taking care of Theo.
As much as Theo hates being treated like an invalid, he knows he needs help. Liam knows it too.
So they pretend.
They treat it like Liam is only Theo’s physical therapist.
And his personal trainer.
"Good. Do it slowly like that. No need to force it. Good," Liam says, still holding Theo’s hand, making sure he will not fall to the floor.
Theo lets out shaky breaths.
Beads of sweat have already formed on his forehead.
His arms are losing strength. His legs tremble beneath him. But he refuses to stop.
Half of him is terrified that if he stops, he will not be able to move again. That this is it. That he will be crippled for real.
"Thea, Thea, Thea... Princess. Stop. Remember what we agreed on," Liam reminds him gently.
Theo stops, panting, and drops back down onto the edge of the bed.
"I can still do it, Liam. Let’s do another set," Theo says, breathless.
"Thea, we agreed not to push ourselves," Liam reminds him.
"Liam, I am just standing up and sitting down. That is all I am doing." His voice shakes.
"I have only done it four times. Four times. And I am already sweating and panting like this."
His voice rises, frustration spilling through every word.
Liam looks at him, his expression soft. "I know, Thea. I know how frustrating this is. But we cannot force it. Instead of getting your strength back, you will only make yourself weaker."
Theo jerks his hand away from Liam as hard as he can. Even that feels weak to him.
"How could you possibly know what I am feeling?!" Theo shouts, his voice breaking. Tears gather in his eyes, threatening to fall.
"I cannot even stand for more than five minutes! How am I supposed to walk out of here?! How am I supposed to still be part of Rhaenas?!"
"I cannot even change my own sleeping position without panting like this. I cannot go to the bathroom by myself. I cannot do anything!"
"How could you possibly know what that feels like?!"
Theo finally screams, everything spilling out at once.
His frustration. His fear. His helplessness.
Tears stream down his face.
Part of him feels ashamed.
I am a man. I cannot cry like this.
Theo tries to stop, but to his horror, he cannot. The sobbing only gets worse.
It is the last straw.
"Get out," he says between his sobs.
"Thea..." Liam chokes, his own eyes reddening.
"Get out!" Theo says, more firmly this time.
Liam hesitates, then takes a step back.
"I am sorry, but—"
"GET OUT!" Theo screams at the top of his lungs and throws a pillow at him.
It barely travels.
The weak motion pulls Theo off balance, and he crashes onto the floor.
"Thea!" Liam rushes forward, reaching for him. "Are you okay?"
Theo says nothing.
Humiliation burns through him.
He turns his face away, hiding it, and continues crying.
Liam freezes.
Then slowly, he steps back.
He has no choice.
Before closing the door, he looks at Theo one last time, just to make sure he is not hurt.
Theo does not look back.
Click. The door closes.
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The moment he hears the door shut, Theo breaks completely.
He stops trying to hold it in.
He cries.
He sits there on the floor, sobbing, his entire body shaking with it.
He does not even have the strength to sit upright.
Slowly, he slumps down onto the cold floor, curling into himself, drawing his knees close.
He stays like that, crying until exhaustion overtakes him.
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Outside, Liam grips the door handle so tightly it nearly bends.
Theo’s muffled cries seep through the door, and each sound cuts deeper than the last.
It tears him apart.
He hates this.
He hates that he cannot help the one person he wants to help the most. The one person who needs it the most.
He leans back against the wall and slowly slides down to the floor.
Covering his face with both hands, he tilts his head back and knocks it lightly against the wall.
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"Are you giving up?"
"Who is speaking?"
"Are you giving up?"
"Show yourself."
"Are you giving up?"
"Show yourself. Who are you?!"
"Are you giving up?"
"Stop asking me that!"
"Are you giving up?"
"I will answer if you show yourself."
"Liar."
"I am not."
"You are a liar."
"I am not a liar. I just do not want to talk to a voice."
"Big, fat liar."
"Alright, stop it. Just come out."
"A liar. That is what you are."
"And you are a coward."
"No, I am not."
"Oh, you do not like being called a coward. Well, I do not like being called a liar when I am not."
Silence.
"But that is what you are. A liar."
"And you are still a coward for speaking like this. Show yourself. Let us talk properly. If you are not coming out, then you really are a coward."
Silence.
"Ah, you are a—"
From the shadows, a figure slowly steps into the light.
A sharp intake of breath.
"You are... Thea."