Chapter 21 Her Story
Sunlight slanted through the newly installed windows of the Azure Building, painting long, warm stripes across the bustling construction site.
Ceid emerged from his meditative trance, feeling revitalized.
A surge of power emanated from his being.
As he opened his eyes, a sharp glint reflected within his pupils.
As he took a deep breath, joy etched on his face.
The air felt refreshing and pleasant. Each cell and pore of his body rejoiced with the arrival of True Qi coursing through his veins once more.
It gave him a profound sense of peace and satisfaction, enveloping him like a gentle embrace.
"Another day spent meaningfully," Ceid muttered to himself.
He grasped his palm, sensing the strength contained in it.
-
Outside his room, the clanging of hammers and the whirring of drills had subsided. The clamor from construction had momentarily quieted as the workers enjoyed their well-deserved rest.
As Ceid stepped out of his room, the voices of conversations filled the air, emanating from the construction crew gathered in the reception hall. They lounged around makeshift tables, their laughter and chatter enveloping the space in a cozy and warm atmosphere.
With a smile adorning his face, Ceid joined them as they eagerly awaited the delivery of their afternoon meal.
Their wait was not long. Sooner than they thought, the delivery guy arrived punctually, carrying steaming boxes brimming with food.
"Ah, finally!" Borris exclaimed, his booming voice filled with teasing impatience as he clapped his hands. "That aroma was torturing me."
The crew erupted into cheers. Their enthusiasm was palpable as they dug into the various dishes in the boxes with gusto.
Ayda, who had been exploring the upper floors with childlike curiosity, descended the stairs, her eyes wide with surprise.
"This place looks incredible!" she exclaimed, taking in the polished walls and the glint of sunlight reflecting off the newly installed windows. "It's completely different from yesterday!"
Borris beamed with pride. "Of course it is. We haven't been slacking, I'll give you that.
You can wait later to see what we have prepared for the reception hall tonight. I'm sure you'll be amazed."
He winked conspiratorially, and the workers exchanged excited murmurs about the projected light show and holographic displays they were installing later.
As the afternoon sun dipped under, the workers gradually returned to their tasks, leaving Ceid and Ayda alone on the ground floor.
Curious about her plans, Ceid gently inquired, "So, Ayda, what do you have planned next? Do you have anywhere to go?"
Still immersed in her meal, Ayda asked him, "What do you mean? Honestly, not much. I'm free for the rest of the day."
Hearing her response, he knew she had misunderstood. "No, I meant your plans after this. Yesterday, you did say that you wanted to stay only for the night, right?"
Hearing this, she stopped her movement.
As a flicker of sadness momentarily crossed Ayda's face, she tried to smile and said, "I'm still figuring things out."
Ceid nodded in understanding, "I suppose you're still reluctant to explain your situation?"
Ayda remained silent, her gaze fixed on her meal, lost in thought.
Noticing her silence, Ceid tried to change the subject.
"Tell me about your hometown," he prompted, hoping to engage her in conversation and perhaps provide some relief.
Truthfully, he was more interested in learning about her.
After a moment of silence, she sighed. A nostalgic note crept into her voice.
"I don't have one anymore," she said. "My family is said to be from a country far to the east, on a different continent.
But ever since I can remember, we've been traveling due to my father's work."
"What did he do?" Ceid asked, intrigued.
A shadow passed over Ayda's eyes. "I never really understood," she confessed. "But we were always on the move, exploring new places. It was exciting, at least until the disaster struck."
Ceid nodded, recalling the whispers of the cataclysmic event that had reshaped the world eleven years ago.
Wyd, how long ago was it since the disaster equivalent to Earth's time?
<10 years, 100 days, 20 hours, 13 minutes>
<...since the start of the disaster's official date.>
Why does that sound bizarrely coincidental? And how is that equivalent to Earth's date exactly?
<6575 days, 20 hours, 13 minutes is equivalent to precisely January 19, 2008, Saturday, 8:13 p.m. or 18 years ago.>
What the...Ceid widened his eyes in shock!
What? Then, it suddenly occurred to him.
Wait...Ayda said she was 29 years old, right?
That would mean...
Oba-chan!
Of course, the biological age between different worlds varies as the creatures adapt to their environment. A person who lived on Blanc and Earth aged at different growth rates.
So you can't exactly give an apple-to-orange comparison. That would be unfair.
A 29-year-old (local time) Annasi woman on Blanc Planet is the same as a 29-year-old (Earth's time) human woman on Earth.
And, due to her race characteristics, Ayda had the face of a 21-year-old girl.
But for a transmigrator like Ceid, he can't help but marvel and complain at the absurdity of this difference. Because it would mean, despite him looking like a 36-year-old, he had not yet been born when Ayda was traveling around with her parents.
Even his parents were now 65 and 61 years old, respectively. With a mere 10-year gap, would Ayda be considered his mother's generation?
Let alone...I need to be left alone.
-
At that moment, Ayda, observing the shift in Ceid's demeanor, wondered what had transpired. Had she inadvertently stirred up some painful memories?
Sensing her concerned gaze, Ceid immediately regained his composure. "Cough...Ah, I see. So when the disaster struck eighteen...no, I mean ten years ago, what happened next?"
"Traveling became too expensive," Ayda continued, her voice barely audible. "Threats from the air and sea made crossing the ocean nearly impossible.
We settled in a city up north, near the Meza Republic border. My father, an elven awakener, ensured some protection for our family in exchange for his service, but..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze distant.
Sensing her shift in mood, Ceid gently prodded, "He went missing?"
Ayda nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Four years ago. One day, when he went out, he just... never came back.
They said that his expedition took the task of exploring a dungeon somewhere in the wilderness. His team was stranded inside and lost contact after entering the dungeon.
When reinforcement and investigation were sent in, they could no longer find the entrance to the dungeon."
A wave of sympathy washed over Ceid. He intimately understood the pain of loss and the lingering uncertainty it brought. Placing a comforting hand on hers, he offered her solace and support. "What about your mother and brother?"
Simultaneously, he infused her with his True Qi, providing warmth and emotional stability.
"Thankfully, my mother awakened her healing abilities not long after my father had awakened his. She's been working at the city's hospital ever since," Ayda said, a sense of pride returning to her voice. "So, when father went missing, nobody came to trouble us.
And when my mother was at work, I would look after my younger brother at home. Before long, I discovered my knack for communing with nature."
Suddenly, her expression hardened. "Two weeks ago, when we were traveling not far north from here, we were attacked near a town. My brother... he was seriously injured, and my mother tried to protect him. Now they're both in a coma at the Asma City hospital."
Ceid's heart ached for her.
The desperation in her eyes mirrored the struggle of so many in this broken world. He placed a comforting hand on hers. "Don't lose hope, Ayda. Asma City should have some of the best healers in the region. Your family will be in good hands."
Ayda's lips curved into a faint smile. A spark of gratitude lighted up her eyes. "Thank you, Ceid. Your words give me strength."
Ceid nodded in encouragement.
A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sounds of construction. In that moment, a connection formed, a shared understanding of loss and resilience.
After some time, he asked subtly, "Did they ever find out about the perpetrator?"
Hearing his question, Ayda looked outside, "No, at that time, no one knew who was responsible for the attack. The incident was too sudden, and no clues were found."
Ceid had keenly detected the words 'at that time' were explicitly used by her. This would mean, currently, they should have some clues about it. Or, at the very least, Ayda perhaps knew that some clues had been found.
So he waited for her to continue.
But, despite the long silence, she remained quiet.
It seemed like she didn't plan to share what she had found out. Ceid wondered why. Did she investigate it herself?
Or does it have something to do with why she was being chased?