Chapter 22 - Tears That Warm
Several intense points of light were all Noah could see as he slowly opened his eyes; all around him, he heard various distant words spoken in different tones and voices. As he listened, Noah realized that it was clearly an argument – no, even a fight – and he wondered why those people were speaking so quietly.
'Where am I...? I wasn't at that girl's house... the general's daughter? Then, who are these people whispering beside me?'
Noah didn't feel well; all his senses were in disarray. His vision was awful—he could only make out blurred patches even with his eyes open. His hearing wasn't any better, as the voices surrounding him—voices he used to catch easily without even trying—now emerged in almost inaudible whispers.
He couldn't understand everything they were saying; the first thing he heard was someone say,
"Lying? Of course! That... psychological protection."
Shortly after, another added,
"Protection... that... exists!"
Barely grasping the subject, Noah decided to wait until his eyes and ears returned to normal. He had no other choice; after hearing those strange voices, he tried moving his right arm a little and, as expected, felt pain when he did.
However, Noah noticed that this pain was different from before—it was much weaker and, in a way, more bearable. As he pondered this, he clearly heard someone say,
"Stop, be quiet!"
And upon hearing that, he thought,