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Scene: Hospital Room, Late Morning
Mordryn's eyelids felt impossibly heavy as he slowly blinked, his vision blurry and disoriented. He could hear the faint beeping of machines, the sterile smell of antiseptics filling the air. His entire body ached, but there was something else—a deep emptiness where his power used to be.
For a moment, he struggled to remember what had happened. The last thing he could recall was Cyras's mocking voice, the ground splitting beneath them as they fought. And then… nothing. Darkness.
He tried to sit up, but his muscles screamed in protest. With a groan, he slumped back against the pillows, trying to assess his condition.
Mordryn (thinking):
"How long have I been out? And why... why do I feel so weak?"
He had fought countless battles in the past, wielding magic and strength that had once made him a living legend. But now, it was like that power had been drained from him—leaving behind a hollow shell of what he once was.
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice, soft but urgent.
Kang Wo Hu:
Mordryn... You're awake!
Kang Wo Hu's face appeared in his vision, her eyes wide with relief. She had been sitting by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up for what felt like an eternity. Her hand found his, squeezing it gently.
Kang Wo Hu:
"You've been out for months. I was starting to think you might never wake up."
Mordryn closed his eyes for a moment, trying to process everything she was saying. Months? How could he have been unconscious for so long? He forced himself to take a deep breath, pushing through the haze of pain.
Mordryn:
his voice raspy
"How... how long exactly?"
Kang Wo Hu hesitated, biting her lip.
Kang Wo Hu:
"Almost three months. The doctors couldn't believe you made it through. They said... they said you were lucky to be alive."
Mordryn's expression darkened. Three months? It felt impossible. His body, his power, should have healed faster than that. He was no ordinary man—he was Mordryn, the greatest sorcerer of his time. So why did he feel so... broken?
Mordryn (thinking):
"What's happening to me? Where is my strength?"
He clenched his fists, feeling the lack of energy that once surged effortlessly through him. Even lifting his arm felt like a monumental task now.
Mordryn:
softly, to himself
"I should've healed by now... this shouldn't be happening."
Kang Wo Hu looked at him with concern, unsure of what he was talking about. She knew Mordryn wasn't like other people, but she didn't fully understand the depth of his power—or why it wasn't returning.
Kang Wo Hu:
"You've been through a lot. Maybe your body just needs more time to recover."
Mordryn shook his head slowly, his eyes distant as he stared at the ceiling.
Mordryn:
"No. I should've been at full strength long before now. Something's wrong."
Kang Wo Hu frowned, trying to piece together what he meant. She had seen a glimpse of Mordryn's power during the fight with Cyras—power that was beyond anything she had ever witnessed. But now, he seemed so... human. So vulnerable.
Kang Wo Hu:
hesitantly
"Maybe... it has something to do with Cyras? He did something to you during the fight, didn't he?"
Mordryn's jaw tightened at the mention of Cyras, anger flickering in his eyes. Cyras. The man who had once been his ally, who had betrayed him and twisted the world into chaos. He had taken everything from Mordryn, and now it seemed like he had stripped away his very power.
Mordryn (thinking):
"Could Cyras have done this? Or is it something else... something deeper?"
He closed his eyes, trying to reach for the power that had once been so familiar, but it was like grasping at smoke. The energy was there, just beyond his reach, but something was blocking it—something he couldn't understand.
Mordryn:
gritting his teeth
"I don't know. But I'm not going to sit here and wait for it to return. I need answers."
Kang Wo Hu watched him carefully, her heart aching for him. She had never seen him like this—so frustrated, so uncertain. He had always been so strong, so confident. But now, he was grappling with a weakness he didn't know how to fight.
Kang Wo Hu:
"Well, you're not alone in this. I'm going to help you, whatever it takes."
Mordryn looked at her, his expression softening for a brief moment. He hadn't asked for her help—he had never needed anyone before. But the sincerity in her eyes reminded him that he wasn't entirely alone in this strange new world.
Mordryn:
quietly
"Thank you."
---
Scene: Leaving the Hospital
A few days later, Mordryn was finally discharged from the hospital, though his body still felt heavy and foreign to him. Kang Wo Hu had arranged for his release, signing the papers with an urgency that made the nurses raise their eyebrows.
As they stepped outside, the fresh air hit Mordryn's face, and he breathed deeply, grateful to be free from the sterile, suffocating atmosphere of the hospital. But the feeling of weakness lingered, gnawing at him.
Kang Wo Hu led him to her car, a sleek black sedan that looked out of place in Mordryn's eyes. He still wasn't used to the modern world, with its strange machines and towering buildings. Everything felt foreign, like he had been thrust into a world that wasn't his own.
Kang Wo Hu:
"I'll take you back to my place. You need some real rest, and I can't let you stay in a hospital bed forever."
Mordryn nodded absently, still lost in his thoughts. He climbed into the car, feeling the hum of the engine as it started. His mind was racing, trying to piece together everything that had happened—the battle with Cyras, his sudden weakness, and the three months he had lost.
Mordryn (thinking):
"I was the strongest in the old world. No one could challenge me. And now... now I'm this."
As the car sped down the city streets, the world outside the window passed by in a blur of lights and motion. Mordryn watched it all with a detached gaze, his thoughts fixated on one thing: how to regain what he had lost.
---
Scene: Kang Wo Hu's Apartment
By the time they arrived at Kang Wo Hu's apartment, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the city. The luxury apartment building stood tall, a symbol of wealth and status that Mordryn barely registered.
Kang Wo Hu led him inside, guiding him up to her spacious apartment. The moment they stepped through the door, the scent of freshly cooked food filled the air—something simple, but comforting.
Kang Wo Hu:
"Sit down. I'll get you something to eat. You need your strength."
Mordryn gave her a tired nod, sinking into the plush sofa in her living room. As he sat there, staring out at the city skyline through the large windows, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The world had changed so much, and yet the shadows of the past still clung to him.
He had been the strongest once, a force that no one could stand against. But now... now he was just a man, weakened and lost in a time that wasn't his own.
Mordryn (thinking):
"I will get it back. No matter what."
Kang Wo Hu returned with a plate of food, placing it in front of him with a small smile.
Kang Wo Hu:
"You'll feel better once you eat. And after that, we'll figure out what to do next."
Mordryn stared at the food for a moment, his appetite dulled by the weight of his thoughts. But he knew she was right. He couldn't stay like this forever. He needed to heal, to regain his strength—because Cyras was still out there, and the war wasn't over.
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End of Chapter 12