Chapter 17: You Must Live
Lily drifted in and out of the pain. Her body felt heavy, blood warm and sticky against her skin. Voices echoed around her, distant and faint, like they belonged to another world.
A gentle touch landed on her arm—steady, careful. The healer. Kael.
He knelt beside her, opened his pouch, and reached for herbs and bandages. His voice was calm but urgent. “Can you hear me? Lily, stay with me.”
He checked her wounds quickly, eyes narrowing. “Where does it hurt? Can you move your fingers?”
Lily blinked slowly, her vision foggy. Her lips parted. She tried to speak, but no sound came. Only a whisper of a thought mouthed silently—let me die.
Kael froze, he looked at Martha who was equally stunned.
“Fine,” He sighed without a second thought. He wasn’t about to waste his time on someone who didn’t want to live. There were others more deserving of his help.
Then—smack!
The sound echoed across the field. Martha’s hand trembled in the air, just after she struck Lily’s cheek. Not hard, but firm enough to snap her back.
Lily stared at her, stunned. Martha had never hit her before. Tears spilled down the older woman’s face.
“You selfish girl,” she whispered, voice cracking. “After all the nights I prayed and watched over you—you want to give up now?”
Lily’s eyes showed confusion and pain.