Chapter 397: Blood Does Not Lie
They didn’t think Valen would be in danger, but they surely didn’t think that they would see the man sitting on a chair as the magician trembling on his feet.
And there didn’t seem to be a fight--except for the bits of shattered stone on an elevated platform--so they couldn’t help but stare in astonishment, wondering what could possibly happened during the time they took to reunite and climb the tower.
"Forgive me...please forgive me..." they heard she beg. "Please forgive me. What...what should I do so you can forgive me, S-Sir...Master..."
She practically clawed at Valen’s trousers, and the little bird chirped aggressively at her, sending out a gust of wind to repel her from its master. Zarfa secretly wondered if it was because the bird worried about its master’s leg, or because someone unauthorized called Valen ’Master’.
Getting shoved a few steps away, the magician crawled back again. Only this time, she was careful not to touch the young half-druid; bowing her head low instead, almost prostrating.
"You know what the problem is with something like this?" they heard Valen’s soft voice. But that soft voice, being used for speaking coldly, sounded more eerie than vicious poison. "I can’t tell if you truly feel remorseful, or if you just want your power to be back."
Suddenly, as she heard Valen’s voice, Zerfa was reminded of something. It was a memory of when she was still on Earth, after she told Valen’s grandfather about how some of the nurses were treating Valen badly; perhaps doing the uncles and aunts’ bidding, or perhaps just out of their personal spite. Zarfa--Cecilia then--did not care. She wanted those nurses to receive punishment.
At that time, she didn’t understand what kind of person Valen’s grandfather was. She only knew he was kind and nice to Valen; sometimes even gave her a snack or two when she was in the room during his visit. She just thought he would make a complaint to the higher-ups and get those nurses to get their act together.
But when she eavesdropped on the head nurse’s office, she heard things she shouldn’t hear; a warning, that was borderline threat. No, it was a threat. She did not remember what exactly was being said, but she remembered the voice.
It was soft, as if he was talking about pleasant weather. But it was also cold, unfeeling, so casual in the way he mentioned things kids shouldn’t listen to.
The next day, all those nurses who treated Valen badly disappeared from the hospital. Not just because they were being suspended for a few days, no. They disappeared; from the hospital, from the city...Ceci didn’t even know if they were still alive.