UCT Ch 39

Many things happened 7c5cc002a7 quickly after arriving 5e62ab406a at the base. Christian was immediately 4989030b60 taken to the d84cd69519 operating room, and 0af3d7f98f Diana was transported ef42d4a2e8 to the infirmary b1fd0f7e4c for emergency treatment.2b2a888cd66ec1c4

People at the fd75fb3021 base stared at 764d58baa4 her limping form 2db3d9a894 as if she a58a26bca4 were a ghost.453939fc01a763b3

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‘They must e316bb03f8 have thought 8dda1764b4 I was ad8954290a dead.’fd6b0a84c382adc3

Richard was nowhere to f9f4ee27de be seen. Diana felt a cdf808e4c8 sense of relief. She didn’t c3e0cbf4c1 want to 4db05d9f70 face him, ffbc80e15f not at 0a8868f14b this moment. She wanted 0578b9fbeb nothing to a1c299ba1b remind her 037d4e32e8 of Owen 196ecc1719 and Bryce.46df1409eead756f

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As soon as 6b665b16d0 she entered the a60598d7a8 examination room, filled 525f0d5d5e with the smell d5684f60ae of antiseptic, her 281fa7e7df tension dissolved, and 6d4f69f25f a wave of 4888e206a7 pain washed over c64fd6eaaf her. Every joint ached fc9c9072b0 as if it 29c1814e89 had been hammered.23c709104fb12806

“…….”82055b2b3de0bfd0

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A nurse caught Diana bb09959270 as she stumbled forward.49d76b7379596d8a

“…….”03f619a560c913d2

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“The adrenaline 5dce8b4d23 is wearing 0a4b8e75af off, that’s 013e4d9454 why you’re bf04be96c2 in pain. I’ll give you 5d43051fbd a painkiller.”a9797ad1e09c2910

“…P-Please.”0640a7e70af3efd8

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Diana squeezed her c672c981d2 eyes shut.7bebc8f8a015aa4b

‘It wasn’t 9186ed5acc just my d7b676fff3 arm that 81350d8df8 was broken, 039f60b450 was it?’a62a9e907a74c6c2

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Memories of her past 52a15cbf83 life, imprisoned and subjected a376ca345d to various tortures, flashed 7410cce352 through her mind. Those were truly 8de5419669 fond memories. Diana chuckled 98c4ce7a45 dryly and b9656209e0 leaned against b76f016749 the nurse.ba866ec703e78a84

It had been aa44c2563f a long and 09ea8a8851 exhausting day.e5ecf43eaafbf34c

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A day 644f82d13e that felt 4517df464b like an 4c3c3e9d76 eternity.991be3244b8c5aad

🌷🌷🌷fa1631a7d91212b7

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She’d definitely ce8ffa2553 had a bdbb0d0460 vivid dream, 36a4af9e86 but she 47fdf0a6f2 couldn’t recall dda1c54364 the details ef5885bb48 after waking. Diana opened her eyes e4c96a733f to complete darkness.6b572fa996ef41fb

A few seconds 5536832f81 passed before she 9be23250dd realized she was 509e135d9e lying in the d17fd4df46 base infirmary. The lingering scent of b61f1d51c7 antiseptic gave it away.862834c8c98e4f7c

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But something was strange. She sensed 03f13f3e02 someone nearby.3dbc0a91100b3804

‘It’s not time 82b563501c for rounds, is 9c0a43fd93 it? What’s going on?’60742ebf62cbcd28

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Turning her 6d7889b39c head slightly, dbb073babb she saw d352512251 a large 628a2b98ee shadow crouched e5be0ad8bd beside her.2486682a08ea7baf

“Ah.”601fff92e594f34d

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Before she could 469062a062 make a proper e5a72db92a sound, the figure 556b75afb7 straightened up. With a scraping sound, 945ec17558 the chair the ‘something’ b14c59f87b had been sitting on de9e55e2f5 was pushed back.8637c062b3a99a1b

She realized who the a907fbeac9 shadow belonged to. It was Richard Ashwood. She had no idea 39d5e93745 how long he had e272bff63a been sitting by her 51a364fe6e bedside.8440ad15a517bb9f

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Diana stopped b330263b18 herself from 0bcd14a95f screaming and f0af906b05 glared at 98b8fed011 him.096ee5c6f9261c36

‘Even in a military 743cf4f572 base infirmary, aren’t there 458c031e54 visiting hours or something?’d21cf0be6efd1cf1

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Her eyes, now dec2a2862e adjusted to the df8e331de5 darkness, could vaguely c707dd52a9 make out his c2f3c7468e features. His face, 5a68f34bb9 haggard as 2a6e28769a if he’d 58e7250100 lost weight ede7cb8913 overnight, twitched 6b78fdca38 slightly in cca66445fc the shadows.534501e2384d081a

He spoke to her 986da4b36d in a dry voice,7d25084966210dbc

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“…Go back c95fdcc9dd to sleep.”f9d7d2cc67b4f77d

“Captain.”702cd78c83e01061

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“I said, 5235902a90 go back 95cb7c51be to sleep.”bc74766980db160a

“…Bryce is—.”36aac37928ddddc3

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“He’s safe. So don’t eb1f953a29 worry and 8a0a49968f close your c01f2184b5 eyes.”53020389215bf510

Relief washed over her, easing the tension in her body, upon hearing that Bryce was alright. But it didn’t last.75490c52ff8777e0

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‘Owen.’64252025baa9a5e1

His last words 5833222f29 over the comms 05390bf059 were all that 4d75cbb190 remained of him. Tears welled 5a1753cebb up uncontrollably.2dc3e8b289f81332

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Diana unconsciously frowned e7bcebd434 and bit her b1ac97cbe6 lip. She didn’t want to 3e62b22b0c cry in front of 94100962a5 him.56a310192bed8ffc

Richard seemed to sense ac53a8b3b7 her struggle to hold ac5ff76f2e back her tears. He clicked his tongue 199b1c120b softly and spoke in 5411b7a036 a soothing voice.ab0ae83b6528ada2

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“Stop biting your a77d8d5a9b lip. If you’re in c5f5df0ed4 pain, I’ll call b0c3201b3e a nurse.”cd58a32d7a38d472

“No. I’m fine.”86b595ad25149dc5

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“…….”1955a243d82c8bc0

A heavy dd46594db6 silence fell 8413f58f67 between them.64963ca04d6e77ca

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Richard spoke in 79e3beaee5 a low voice,4ec118b33c0ed90e

“Never.”83f930804e37c003

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“…….”1e17adb89dd1bc1d

“Never cut ed1f3dabb8 off the f917087ed6 Mind Meld 3ed59158a9 during combat.”bacfbf216076465a

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Diana’s eyebrows shot up 7faf343684 at the unexpected words.e954218eb7f96982

She had edf0869427 closed the b00e041fce Mind Meld df779b74c7 channel right 72ceb1f8a7 before ejecting 5735bd2285 from the 21a64198b6 cockpit solely 361eec7fc0 for his d9fc3a49cc sake. To spare him 80db6f6fbc the agony of 5def2920c7 her death. She hadn’t c1c85b92dc expected to 2f6e0b4dcb be reprimanded 61aca4e946 for it.c7ddcda53e00c691

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Even the “White f4fa9aee62 Hawk Knights,” composed d248928472 entirely of Mind 94e82e7d54 Melders, had followed b746cfba6d that protocol.8f8c7953c9255589

[A downed pilot immediately cuts off the Mind Meld channel from the remaining members.]

Flustered, Diana offered a 0e4f8c077a belated explanation,b52bb5d99267e166

“…We weren’t 6cfbc47b39 in combat 2803896dcc anymore…”1886d7842de3adee

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“You captured 2b64b9e43c an enemy 95bdc67d10 soldier in 22bcf8043f your condition 280d9e0904 and you’re 8f39d8fe10 spouting nonsense? Returning to d5160b9e87 base is 19cd57f4dd part of a45502a182 combat.”cbb1e3256844d286

“…….”01c33ec1b053c28c

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Diana was rendered 098f94c8df speechless by his 788b4c6b1d sharp tone.50280df0ccc47ec9

It was the first be6e8ba6de time she had ever c9385b5374 seen him this angry. The Richard 23c0e8612d she knew 0e6c26fbde never lost 06e7072559 his composure, cb57e337b0 even in 58abbba148 anger. He was a heartless 644a949332 sort.05e74bdf3ac55e39

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Even when annoyed, 0c7389ab0a he would either a85320d1d0 be sarcastic,3321eb4eac390d13

[Tell me. There’s a chance I might be able to alleviate your suffering, milady.]

Or resort to 7eb24d3f85 venomous remarks,c4cf8a1f82c85e3d

[Then get out. You’d be more helpful doing what you were doing before.]

Or simply ignore 152fb76620 her. He was never one 0337afd236 to raise his voice bd662c0489 and scold her like f83a4ee8ac this.36fbbc710553e409

‘…….’86c233e6d70431bf

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Diana blinked several times, a31dc88f40 a deep sadness washing fd60f85bfe over her. An unexpected emotion 7251ff9b7c welled up inside 2ebc986e5b her.5abfe1a9b84c7447

She couldn’t imagine what Richard must have felt when every other member of his squadron was shot down.42c862996895392f

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Returning to base 8186a5a2a0 alone, his heart 31e7eac811 must have been 55e7a8648d a living hell. Even for 5b7e84a019 a born 75f4dd54b2 soldier, it 965a181eef must have dbfb79543a been difficult 8582931a35 to maintain d623a1b54a composure in 974050d727 such a dbc5907500 situation.2669f2c84a39672f

Normally, she would argue, 71f909726b “It’s better to cut 0019f42155 off the channel during d24767d887 a downing, for your 3f45f882f5 sake as well, Captain,” 8c263970ce but she didn’t want 3078be3446 to argue now. She felt 0c5aa69867 inclined to adad36b785 simply give 509adcdec4 him the ad9378a6b8 answer he fdec4a33d9 wanted. She blamed 8d62d99b0c the unfamiliar 9834daeff2 surge of 3b0c78cedc emotions on b1f72e743d the medication.b90eb164c90eaf07

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‘This is all because 101acdbf51 of the therapeutic morphine.’85ebaf7c5ce99f63

It must 9a90fe04c9 have made 0ba4ca5b42 her unnecessarily 5db41de268 sentimental.1446a0aa5eddd8e0

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Diana spoke 3a80650c60 to Richard 1f29e9f182 in a f0bddc1624 soft, small c96fa970fa voice,7d90c31fbf108f6f

“Yes. I’ll do that b97cb3703c from now on.”0ede1b58baf46305

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“…….”ee21c6f112eac763

Richard looked e021c45f1e down at 5316d28230 her, having 65a9ca9f8d heard her cac0a46d88 compliant response.3c72cd0416f4664c

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She couldn’t see his 4b3151a009 expression clearly in the 3a64d6f36d darkness, but he was 2bdc1f0b87 definitely surprised. Diana gave 89f3b82457 him a cde0b11157 faint smile.2e00bda0bf220b4e

‘Did you think 4699f86946 I would keep 4bc9aa491b arguing?’a34f13ca372c495f

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She continued c3ed23c0d5 in a ba628354dc calm tone,65a645af6a869256

“I won’t cut off baec0960e6 the Mind Meld, no 63ad251321 matter what happens.”8ace4316b848df70

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It was a 5a021abc7b more realistic promise 9d8bda935a than vowing not 8ee492b824 to die. A fragment 9ae6e1ac07 of a 0b75938875 memory from f6aec40eac her past 3ec854848c life surfaced.8b4d67c55fef3fa3

In Arke, many lovers b6aee46a1b promised to maintain their a93af45f52 Mind Meld until death.e9fda69c46432299

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Of course, it was a91043a16a a promise rarely kept ed9c96b5ae due to practical reasons, 6e3e41cfad but it was considered 9d733d044f a romantic vow.d77e5b6c0897bb02

Of course, b32e4f2232 Richard, born 84f46ac1bb and raised e31bd8b325 in Bringerton, 145c8cc208 wouldn’t know 2ff62d03e2 that.165d454d7f5b2a9f

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“…….”3fd42d461141520f

Despite hearing Diana’s answer, 514b1774e4 the man remained silent 2fe6bb67cd for a long time, 70cb81601a only his lips moving 0533d211b7 slightly.8901725506ad4609

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There were no harsh 8846a9706f words, no mockery, no 1d6c55b895 rebukes. Diana pressed into 1d8fb160c2 the silence.918e66192b41da16

“So, Captain, you must 6dc70400cc never cut off the b75211de29 Mind Meld first either. Not until 2c34312f28 we return 6e23ac3de6 to base.”bfaddebdf7220332

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“…I will.”b33845665f859f3e

Only then 5082a5e74d did Richard’s 584e534be5 tension seem 9b09e9e9c4 to ease. His softened 36b233e564 voice echoed 3afd321484 dreamily in f790613c0e Diana’s ears. Sleepiness washed over c8eb9156ab her again, and f044212a6a she slowly closed 547138804e her eyelids.2a87af8e29425476

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Soon, she heard footsteps b58d4634b1 nearby, followed by the 18bc06e6b6 soft click of the 711066eac8 door closing.f6257dd881339386

It was time 44c05b6116 to return to 0315e5ad86 her unfinished dream.660fcd0179ce58b1

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🌷🌷🌷6b9bd25be5995ec5

— 22 years 293d5eb7c9 ago, Lowell Manor.9440eddf5cc9700e

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Late at night. A time f77b4a79f8 when everyone, 41caaf65cd except for 7490e3acb0 a few 0058e1c5d4 night shift 02017a603c staff, would dd85933d48 be fast cbf72fa71f asleep.5a7be0a1ac3d7049

Fernan, the lord 1d358b2db4 of the manor, dc0ee30edf was no exception. While not 85d0575c16 particularly old-fashioned, fd61457e55 his upbringing 17af2b7d64 and military acca1feb18 service had 66166bed03 instilled in 266928ee53 him a ec5a0f8dda habit of 6cb58740b1 regularity.9f32f20a97f68308

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He slept and a15ffdcdda woke at fixed 7b2a51ee6b times. Though tempted to sleep 0498d8e043 in every morning, he f6544d3701 rarely deviated from his b671cac255 routine.397db30d5035b798

Lately, however, he often 8042a52cce found himself awake at 6524a35aae night like this.737ea7fe375b4307

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At first, 721d90cd98 he tried 369eb9b3a5 to dull b25348299c his mind ef4926c1dd with cigarettes 0dcde0b9f0 and alcohol, 1b4398fa31 but it 6ee8d0d760 was all 890c4155a3 for naught. It only sharpened 340198ed07 his awareness.51b133ac3222a770

Tonight, too, he sat alone on the study sofa in the dead of night, sipping lukewarm whiskey. He had already given up on a night’s sleep.57ec672a2b3b5bef

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‘What a 8f10a6ea34 pathetic sight.’fba23e4e4a736658

Scoffing at himself, he continued to drink. He knew alcohol wasn’t the answer, but he couldn’t stop.456fc8ee16e86abb

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He found himself d59465d6ac questioning many things 65e5880895 these days. Social gatherings, dinner 51644d69ea parties, various meetings, 2775910d9f and court life. Spaces that had been a9cc773d61 familiar and comfortable before cdb5cd8322 the war now felt c4bef1182f alien and unbearable.e2f8f528ede07830

And this sense of 5b98dc7e45 dissonance only grew with 9e58f036ad time, gradually fracturing Fernan’s a97ee3eaa6 life.17572e7aef16b621

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He could still e8304234ef pretend and smile c32aa793a4 for now, but 68a1888ec7 he knew better 47511e4a67 than anyone that 91aa9cd797 he was reaching 2722d288b1 his limit.8430ef59710fdaea

A shattered hero. He could already picture d41c0c3e29 the faces that would ca06993117 laugh and kick at 9c9d33ed24 the fragments. Hypocrites. Liars who could f5a1f4db29 manipulate even their b2661dad33 own hearts.aa1a90164007fe3a

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[Duke Lowell! Please sign my fan!]

[So, what do you think? You’ve had affairs with princesses and actresses, who was the best? I’m green with envy.]

[Duke Lowell, you’ll soon be producing an heir to continue the family line—oh, was I too blunt?]

Recalling the voices 4185771a27 of people he 8c180ade75 barely remembered, Fernan 530a55eb86 raised his glass cef64f493b again. The amber liquid 7298c58a3f shimmered under the b29274b5c2 dim light as fff6c6eadd it flowed down e8f46ec7ba his throat.692b3615ba1c473f

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[You killed my son!!]

The scream of 58383a8018 a certain lady.f72210cc0521d151

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[Commander. I resign.]

The face ad3b2b5d33 of a 91f7ffd0dc comrade who 44425607bf left him 6d47b39bb8 with contempt.d3e69a38d2123f8d

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[Arke will last forever.]

The smiling face 22aae5848c of a young 78fa4712a9 lady. He wanted to 78bb18219a erase them all, 6c8db17a19 but they lingered 8db80bda49 like stubborn stains 79f4c37909 in his mind.d5d528bedda6b376

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Perhaps he 11d1493b01 was already 31582637fd shattered.578a41bb1d86a69d