Lily barely had time to widen her eyes before reality hit her again.
"AAAAAAARRGHH!" Now fully awake, she screamed in extreme anguish, waves of pain piercing her very cells. A black liquid began seeping from her pores, filling the room with a pungent, metallic odor.
She writhed, struggling to make it stop, consumed by a searing fear of death. But the agony didn't cease; instead, it grew more intense.
Once again, Lily genuinely thought she was going to die.
Flashes of memories started playing in her mind.
Her brother chasing after her...
Her mother cooking lunch...
Her father returning from the camp...
It was a simple life, filled with many imperfections, but Lily recalled it with unconditional fondness. Yet, beyond her mother's occasional violence, she bore the burden of being the eldest daughter, helping her parents manage the household and taking on responsibilities far beyond her age.
Her fragmented mind drifted in and out of these memories as pain ravaged her body. In the end, all she wished for was an older sister.
What a fool.
"Lily? Lily!" A distant voice called her name.
Slowly, Lily closed her eyes, an odd sense of peace washing over her...
...
Lily didn't need to open her eyes to know she was in an unfamiliar place. After being dragged from one location to another, she wouldn't even be surprised to learn she was in hell itself. But feeling a soft breeze on one side, her curiosity stirred, and her eyelids began to flutter.
So, she wasn't dead yet.
Lily opened her eyes to find herself in what appeared to be an infirmary. She was alone. Glancing down, she saw herself dressed in a simple white gown, her legs covered by a thin sheet.
She wasn't sure how to feel anymore. The pain had been real, and somehow, she'd survived. Her arms and legs still tingled with phantom pain as flashbacks of the unbearable moment flickered through her mind.
"Ah..." Lily groaned, shifting uncomfortably. When the discomfort finally eased a bit, she let out a long, despondent sigh.
She had thought she was finally on the right path, but Celestine had cruelly torn her off course. Now, she couldn't even feel her limbs properly, except for the scorching pain that came and went.
For a while, Lily sat alone with her thoughts, which inevitably returned to the white-haired girl. When she'd heard Erin's account of the massacre, it had left her utterly shaken. A resolution had formed in her mind at that moment, but she hadn't had the time to process what had truly happened.
Kill…
Why did she do it?
Why had she spared Erin if she was so out of control?
Wait...
Lily's eyes widened.
Why, indeed?
"Are you feeling okay?" a voice asked.
Lily turned her head sharply in the direction of the sound.
Leaning against the doorframe of the infirmary was none other than Mikha.
Shoving aside her uncertain thoughts, she replied, "Yes." What he had said about this not being a goodbye had turned out to be true. Who would've thought they'd meet again so soon?
"Care to explain how you underwent a bone marrow cleansing without any special treatment?"
"..."
Mikha gave an ironic smile. "No words on that, huh?"
Lily had no idea what he was talking about. Besides, she didn't know how to explain without exposing Celestine, so she'd rather endure external punishment than anger the entity residing in her mind.
"Haah... Alright." He sighed.
Alright?
Lily was surprised.
"What did you think I'd do? Torture you until you spilled the truth?" Mikha joked, a playful tone in his voice.
"I'm not that kind of person."
'At least not with you.' He thought.
"I hope one day you'll feel comfortable enough to tell me."
Mikha rose from the chair he'd been sitting in. "Well, I have to go. I only came because Cielle mentioned your condition."
Before he could leave, Lily stopped him. "Wait!"
He turned, waiting for her to speak.
Lily hesitated, then bowed her head slightly, speaking softly. "Thank you." For being understanding.
"What?" Mikha cupped his hand over his ear as if he were an old man hard of hearing.
"It's nothing!" Lily couldn't bring herself to repeat it, her cheeks flushing red.
"Alright~" He smirked mischievously.
Cielle appeared at the doorway, amused by their interaction. As Mikha left, he seemed to whisper something to her before departing, but Lily wasn't interested in eavesdropping.
Cielle sat down in the chair.
"How are you feeling?" She stared deeply into Lily's eyes, allowing no room for dishonesty.
"Strange," Lily answered truthfully without even thinking.
"I thought as much. Such a process requires immense willpower and endurance, but once it's complete, it brings great rewards. Lily, your body has been completely renewed—the benefits are immense."
While part of her was glad to hear this, a bitterness lingered in her chest. She hadn't realized Celestine had such control over her body. Did this mean he could manipulate her like a puppet whenever she displeased him?
Cielle flicked her forehead.
"Ow!" Lily clutched her head with both hands, confused.
"Why are you so downcast? You should be happy!"
"I know, I was just thinking about some things..." Lily admitted, her feelings still conflicted.
"Do you know what a bone marrow cleansing is?"
Lily shook her head.
"Basically, it's a complete purification of your body, removing all impurities that hinder your cultivation. It's incredibly useful for those who are stuck at a certain cultivation realm, for example. The benefits include increased lifespan, cleansed meridians, and enhanced core potential. It's a gift from the heavens!"
Cielle's enthusiasm was palpable. This was every cultivator's dream, and her student had received it as if by magic. What else could she be but blessed by Elifah?
Lily looked at her strangely, not fully grasping the excitement. Perhaps, because she was the one who'd been fortunate, she couldn't truly understand the magnitude of her blessing. Still, she felt genuinely happy.
Did this mean her path would be easier now?
After so much hardship, she felt she deserved it.
After chatting for a while, Cielle said, "Anyway, there's someone else who wants to see you. Come in, Erin."
From behind the slightly ajar door, Erin emerged.
Lily raised an eyebrow. It seemed her question might be answered sooner than expected.
Erin looked different from usual, not wearing her falsely innocent expression but instead a solemn one.
She'd had a lot to think about. Her deepest desire was simply to see someone as fascinating as Lily display a wide range of emotions, to witness her liveliness firsthand.
Maybe, then, she could remember what it meant to be human.
But in the end, it hadn't been a responsible move to throw such shocking information at someone so fragile, nor to ignore the girl's wishes regarding the massacre.
After seeing Lily's other side — or rather, her other personality — Erin had been utterly captivated. At last, she'd found someone she could connect with, someone as inexact as herself. So, she'd done everything she could to appear kind, even though she'd didn't use to act that way. She'd tried to befriend Lily, but the girl had immediately rejected her. Left with no other options in her point of view, Erin had lost control.
Erin looked at Lily, whose face was indifferent. She still wasn't sure if she wanted to protect her as requested, but at least she didn't think she'd need to hurt her again.
The idea of apologizing seemed like the obvious next step, but for some reason, it felt wrong and distasteful. Would Lily even take her apology seriously?
Perhaps showing sincerity through her actions was the best approach.
So, Erin spoke, shedding her mask. "I hope you're feeling better."
Without much thought, Lily replied, "I am."
She glanced at Cielle. "Can we speak privately?"
"Of course." Cielle nodded, standing up and leaving the room. At the doorframe, she cast a curious glance back before disappearing.
"Please, have a seat," Lily said to Erin.
A little nervous, Erin complied.
"I'll ask directly. What really happened there?"
Erin couldn't suppress a smile.
Oops.