Chapter 118 - The Hope of the Light Girl
Meanwhile, in Sylvia’s original world a world that now felt so distant the atmosphere in a small room in the human settlement was filled with a different kind of tension. Sofia, her frail body lying on a simple bed, looked like a fragile porcelain doll. Her skin was pale, her usually radiant hair now dull, and her breaths so faint they were barely audible. For months, she had been trapped in a coma, disconnected from the world that continued to move around her.
Rina, her loyal friend, sat beside the bed, her hands busy replacing the damp cloth on Sofia’s forehead. Her tired but hopeful eyes never left her friend’s face. Suddenly, Sofia’s fingers twitched only slightly, almost imperceptible, but enough to make Rina hold her breath. Her heart raced. She leaned forward, gently grasping Sofia’s hand.
"Sofia? Sofia, can you hear me?" Rina called, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and anxiety. "Come on, open your eyes... I know you can do it!"
Sofia’s fingers moved again, more distinctly this time, as if responding to Rina’s call. Yet her eyes remained closed, and her body was still trapped in the silence of her coma. Even so, that small sign was enough to spark a glimmer of hope in Rina’s heart. She stood up, ran to the door, and shouted toward the settlement.
"Everyone! Sofia moved! Her fingers... she’s responding!"
The news spread quickly, like a breeze carrying good tidings amidst a storm. The residents of the settlement a group of surviving humans now building a new life in the territory once ruled by Sylvia gathered around the small house. Some smiled, others whispered with hope, and some shed tears. Sofia was more than just a member of their group she was a symbol of hope, someone who had fought alongside Sylvia and now served as a reminder that they still had a reason to keep moving forward.
Amid the crowd, an old man with a wooden cane nodded slowly. "This is a good sign," he said.
But behind the small cheers, uncertainty loomed. Their world had changed drastically since Sylvia’s disappearance, and now, with Sofia still lying in her coma, they could only hope answers would come soon.
Not far from the human settlement, in the territory now controlled by Sylvia’s undead forces, Zark stood atop a small hill, his glowing red eyes gazing toward the castle under construction. The magnificent structure, with its towering spires and sturdy black stone walls, was a gift for his queen Sylvia, whose whereabouts were unknown. Zark, an undead commander with intelligence far surpassing that of ordinary zombies, had led the construction with unwavering dedication. Every stone, every pillar, was designed to reflect Sylvia’s grandeur.
But at that moment, Zark was restless. From a distance, he heard the faint cheers of the humans from the settlement below the hill. His sharp ears caught the name "Sofia," and his instincts kicked in. Sofia was someone important to the queen, someone she had mentioned before vanishing to another world. If Sofia was showing signs of awakening, this could be significant news.
Zark closed his eyes, focusing inward. He attempted to use telepathy. "My Queen," he called in his mind, his voice echoing in the void. "There is news from this world. Sofia... she is showing signs of consciousness. Can you hear me?"