Chapter 55: Reprieve
Jania stopped in front of a sleek, reinforced door embedded with a small, touch-sensitive panel. She pressed her thumb to it, and the door slid open with a faint hiss, revealing the room beyond—a room that, if seen by anyone other than herself, Doctor Liam, Butler Kai, or Master Lyle, would cause them to faint from shock.
The space was dimly lit, casting a soft, bluish glow over everything and creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. As she stepped inside, her eyes traced the clean lines and minimalist design—functional yet infused with advanced technology that wasn’t supposed to exist in the present but rather in the distant future.
The walls were a blend of smooth, reflective glass and matte panels, housing numerous hidden devices that hummed quietly with life. To the left, a large, transparent screen displayed Lyle’s vital signs in real-time, flickering with graphs and numbers that updated every second. Below it, a console with sleek, touch-sensitive buttons allowed for manual adjustments to his treatment.
Against the far wall was a medical bed that looked more like a capsule than a traditional bed. Smoothly curved and cushioned with memory gel, it was equipped with retractable arms ending in small, precise instruments that could monitor or administer care as needed. Above the bed, an array of lights hung, each casting different hues meant to support Lyle’s recovery—everything from stimulating red to calming blue, all programmable and adjustable based on his needs.
To the right, a compact set of drawers held sterile equipment and supplies, but Jania knew they also contained more advanced devices that could aid in cellular repair and energy restoration. These weren’t ordinary medical supplies; they were engineered specifically for Lyle’s unusual condition, discreet yet powerful—a subtle testament to the lengths he went to maintain himself.
Near the bed, a slender robotic arm extended from the wall, ready to inject nutrients or medication through an IV line connected to his arm. The arm could also administer stimulants to maintain his energy levels or sedatives for rest, depending on what his body required. Even the air had a distinct quality—filtered through advanced purification systems, it carried a faint hint of antiseptic mixed with floral scents designed to ease stress and calm the mind.
Jania bowed briefly at Lyle, who was resting on a chair with his arm, currently being injected, placed on the smooth table beside him. "You called for me."
"Is she asleep?" Lyle asked without opening his eyes, his bare upper body dotted with wires as he rested in the chair.
"I’m not sure, but I personally led her to her room," Jania responded.
Lyle didn’t say anything. Instead, he removed the small noise-canceling device from his ear, and like an explosion, countless sounds rushed in—the soft hums within the room, the faint echoes throughout the mansion, even noises from beyond its walls. They all flooded his mind, clear and loud. He closed his eyes for a moment, sifting through the chaos with intense focus, tuning out the irrelevant and honing in on what he needed.
When he caught the soft, even breathing of Eira in her room, he replaced the device.