UCT Ch 39

Many things happened 67facf8c79 quickly after arriving 4a4eb019b7 at the base. Christian was immediately taken 5ffbc874e7 to the operating room, 2204f66322 and Diana was transported 6194f32af4 to the infirmary for 38c5ca6d00 emergency treatment.21359fbb53b0d2c2

People at the 2eed0f9d89 base stared at 4ef373165d her limping form fe2fd4a2c2 as if she 000c386f5a were a ghost.9bdcfe263460b5e9

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‘They must have thought 2d1837a731 I was dead.’1eb668b58a2f56bf

Richard was 294b542e32 nowhere to f8a6d093f2 be seen. Diana felt c380f0d295 a sense 97d165bf93 of relief. She didn’t want a02e431b1b to face him, a868bd54bd not at this fc310c8349 moment. She wanted nothing to 58623c7ff7 remind her of Owen be599a814e and Bryce.9550d71d38a2f803

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As soon as she 967d4cd734 entered the examination room, f75c89bbde filled with the smell a898761bcc of antiseptic, her tension e07c7a7e17 dissolved, and a wave e28031b0e1 of pain washed over eebae59c58 her. Every joint 9c13f96d74 ached as 24a3a3ed23 if it af44b7661e had been 9247819778 hammered.23ad01fe688468dd

“…….”9b678cdb22a93545

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A nurse 10911829df caught Diana 2872421e35 as she 4d48d0403a stumbled forward.e8baef6579debb2a

“…….”d28906287c480ce8

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“The adrenaline is wearing 4f8f82689e off, that’s why you’re e5cfd2edbc in pain. I’ll give you a 96fefd13c2 painkiller.”8933869e5ca86b5f

“…P-Please.”3602bddc41bbf6ac

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Diana squeezed her a26cb049b0 eyes shut.ee915fdd4a8684a1

‘It wasn’t c65b56dd58 just my 5a0fe27518 arm that b5cf86545a was broken, 39fbd4c3dc was it?’3a71fd6993b7155a

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Memories of her 014b6f3f6c past life, imprisoned 9b8a2a8ff7 and subjected to e401a84e43 various tortures, flashed 78ae3aa650 through her mind. Those were 2c73ab82a4 truly fond 10a958ccb6 memories. Diana chuckled dryly and bf9a1c928d leaned against the nurse.ed37c7ccae719748

It had been 96e2e78ff9 a long and 1c11976e6f exhausting day.305b5af984d2140b

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A day that ec3c2c814a felt like an f17314b471 eternity.7a0c7a52fe9ec2cc

🌷🌷🌷367ef429f4985830

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She’d definitely df9956d5bd had a c7ac181ecd vivid dream, a1a8f7292a but she daa9a5c767 couldn’t recall ae846f42cd the details 7114a84f9c after waking. Diana opened 32a0c6e3e9 her eyes 71c28f99d0 to complete a7852d9163 darkness.df5e5f8d0d20413b

A few seconds passed a0e7bc53fd before she realized she 45e299c14c was lying in the 5cd15650fc base infirmary. The lingering scent of effe9e104f antiseptic gave it away.9cf832639d19d666

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But something was strange. She sensed someone nearby.12b80037aa062a57

‘It’s not time for 684329615c rounds, is it? What’s going on?’10c9044a10ecf134

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Turning her 3ea5d8ab2e head slightly, 76da767f88 she saw a47d766d50 a large 67c2e8a533 shadow crouched a555602d5b beside her.1d4ebb44dda05a09

“Ah.”d0e94e82d6168369

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Before she could a9f2eae100 make a proper e1fb5f7052 sound, the figure 400a4147eb straightened up. With a scraping sound, d54cedae34 the chair the ‘something’ 030fb9700f had been sitting on db82658715 was pushed back.61727af449c2c3a7

She realized who the 7f0901c1c0 shadow belonged to. It was Richard Ashwood. She had no 1e94248285 idea how long 1ac8acfafc he had been 0805a4d0d3 sitting by her b98275b8a6 bedside.5ea617e9ad904492

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Diana stopped herself 216c104acc from screaming and 76656854ba glared at him.359cb8e623be44a7

‘Even in a military e100c7f8f8 base infirmary, aren’t there 64041a4c31 visiting hours or something?’a444d1ddf91a1f32

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Her eyes, now adjusted 953ae7cf38 to the darkness, could 24d2074601 vaguely make out his a1283ae018 features. His face, haggard 3499c03413 as if he’d b98882f016 lost weight overnight, dba1768134 twitched slightly in 8cb4b7ac93 the shadows.0a27ab480c3cf1fc

He spoke 1c7a9ac775 to her 33771db2fc in a a92791519e dry voice,21c9e3c197141e24

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“…Go back to 137a95c4c2 sleep.”5e8dc365653e4554

“Captain.”255f3ced0bb1c75a

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“I said, 5171d6a7cb go back cf5c49544b to sleep.”45fb81d5264fa015

“…Bryce is—.”8bfc2792f1fd23ee

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“He’s safe. So don’t worry and 091cf87edd close your eyes.”c9365a6c19e3506e

Relief washed over her, easing the tension in her body, upon hearing that Bryce was alright. But it didn’t last.d80f4c60eaa05761

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‘Owen.’3cd50caf15d15235

His last 264ae0c8be words over 6250843d32 the comms 0b58bdb9d2 were all 270f68f3cf that remained 8b0921d722 of him. Tears welled up 094c38d39a uncontrollably.80692256a6791349

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Diana unconsciously frowned and f8cbad7766 bit her lip. She didn’t want to e09310c7da cry in front of 7538192c11 him.7cd47eec97b5ab5a

Richard seemed 7300a78ef9 to sense b6559ff9a3 her struggle 75b115cb8d to hold 669d19073b back her f1a90f1218 tears. He clicked his fb45d532b3 tongue softly and a0dc18ff7e spoke in a 541dc8afd0 soothing voice.bf4d5d5f54050185

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“Stop biting your 384195318d lip. If you’re in 8085c9d6a4 pain, I’ll call e243bf5709 a nurse.”56e7ecca7caa9cb9

“No. I’m fine.”3066ba5f5d1d05f4

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“…….”6a6fc1b767104163

A heavy silence fell f594069548 between them.abc1041cd062ed20

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Richard spoke in 2011917407 a low voice,3b15f83785524580

“Never.”f78f152a6315d371

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“…….”96480fac7c65050d

“Never cut 37ae5983f7 off the 19f52232a8 Mind Meld ef6066d8ee during combat.”a4000cbab697089e

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Diana’s eyebrows shot up 4d06186ba6 at the unexpected words.1118bfcfbaa12e6f

She had closed the d31d3c0242 Mind Meld channel right 8420d135d0 before ejecting from the 8035aa701d cockpit solely for his 9a840f31f1 sake. To spare him 01c6b88c5d the agony of 1918f55b8f her death. She hadn’t expected 62cccefd9a to be reprimanded 56fb0d7da9 for it.a6c0719264147a0c

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Even the 4ff630ce7a “White Hawk 319deafa65 Knights,” composed 7de832c239 entirely of ec2c0c3f3b Mind Melders, 4a67401690 had followed b368baff6c that protocol.8d476b88f6244f46

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

Flustered, Diana cefc55acd9 offered a 56886c9743 belated explanation,6b110094a72d184d

“…We weren’t in 03c91137ad combat anymore…”aecd62af05cd05d4

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“You captured an enemy b48646da95 soldier in your condition e0482ece12 and you’re spouting nonsense? Returning to base is e2cd327611 part of combat.”17f0308cea4e10aa

“…….”77e608a40d0bcf3b

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Diana was rendered speechless 200c5fe827 by his sharp tone.20ee476f17b60006

It was the first f84adf897d time she had ever 94d23de6d1 seen him this angry. The Richard she knew 19614480a8 never lost his composure, 7552254c8b even in anger. He was a 7a89f9e22a heartless sort.12bd570477612625

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Even when 06ba9cc36c annoyed, he 2e621a747b would either 44ff0f41cb be sarcastic,3c16dbe9449f2275

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

Or resort to venomous f32e6e8a7d remarks,d7f6685e2aaa2117

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

Or simply ignore her. He was never 9826451ae3 one to raise e4a61fccef his voice and 5da7f39091 scold her like d8b0cb817c this.b1173070975f370b

‘…….’3e4a3e89f47ce003

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Diana blinked several times, 1b9aedfd6a a deep sadness washing 5f56eaf2a3 over her. An unexpected emotion welled 2eb89cf72a up inside her.64bf98ea9bb2b198

She couldn’t imagine what Richard must have felt when every other member of his squadron was shot down.0b59732bb0dfc25b

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Returning to b751433933 base alone, 348769c6dc his heart 62133f0add must have 35f7ebe192 been a 3b7d8e0662 living hell. Even for a 0c2d5095d7 born soldier, it faa379472d must have been 0dd4bded4f difficult to maintain 1351d51f60 composure in such e232197fc8 a situation.3346a463b5e46cfb

Normally, she would 349f4ac147 argue, “It’s better 5dc8620799 to cut off 4dafb69c7b the channel during 7409563945 a downing, for 31a94a40a9 your sake as 4c1fee0462 well, Captain,” but a9312b41e6 she didn’t want eab803c0f3 to argue now. She felt inclined to 0b60edc5d0 simply give him the 33242e3b00 answer he wanted. She blamed 30562e6ef0 the unfamiliar 9f5cbe7de6 surge of 6be17603e0 emotions on b82d195516 the medication.27080b67ac72c825

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‘This is 84fbffeb72 all because b87361ced2 of the e6e91619cd therapeutic morphine.’12d9d844112cb720

It must have made 5f9127095a her unnecessarily sentimental.02b70af129abc729

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Diana spoke to 4ef79ed7e0 Richard in a 35045b30c5 soft, small voice,0434b79eb2074a0e

“Yes. I’ll do that from 5a0578b9bb now on.”971ae62b313004ae

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“…….”3de64efa32868217

Richard looked down at 9e22267a5d her, having heard her 77ab8bf6c7 compliant response.1b56b14d427de193

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She couldn’t see his bc4f93389a expression clearly in the dd449bd3dc darkness, but he was 44cdcf01e4 definitely surprised. Diana gave him 860c1e02b1 a faint smile.536ba0e4f8a6ad8c

‘Did you 857dd52059 think I de9316f334 would keep dfa1959905 arguing?’78388b3ce00b6d76

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She continued in a a5358d6267 calm tone,505448cdbfea3753

“I won’t cut off 0a44cc5e17 the Mind Meld, no 22d411d87d matter what happens.”48666b5eeb30cdbc

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It was a more 4610fa994d realistic promise than vowing 5eb7ab00ce not to die. A fragment of f1d71d428f a memory from ff801dea7a her past life 626832071f surfaced.43095071da3da2e6

In Arke, many 0567f31a1e lovers promised to 36ae712b76 maintain their Mind 6dc4dd0c23 Meld until death.2e285cb102833760

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Of course, a538ffb7cb it was 02969173d9 a promise 20193aecea rarely kept d420141762 due to 08ee9dd37b practical reasons, 3990dd9fb9 but it 6c30785d91 was considered 052023447b a romantic 55efd592d0 vow.ec29c9f382bb8baf

Of course, Richard, born a540e7fd91 and raised in Bringerton, 7736b34b42 wouldn’t know that.62be41f652630efb

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“…….”c705d3fba1ae0ffc

Despite hearing Diana’s bdb0e087e2 answer, the man 3df7e3ec1b remained silent for d4246ba6ec a long time, 47661d2554 only his lips af5d4698cc moving slightly.3921ef01aa5754eb

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There were f2b1ab17d0 no harsh 6621ce6e92 words, no 924928e2f0 mockery, no b0d0d55951 rebukes. Diana pressed into 7c4615b803 the silence.ec7931663a58dd62

“So, Captain, 4487095e69 you must 761169e00a never cut 1fcc74c5c7 off the 05ca5fbf5d Mind Meld 94be784eae first either. Not until cf63a21f75 we return a0a25e90ef to base.”aac073d4fc2a5ad3

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“…I will.”694c707c2e0cd188

Only then did Richard’s 8f4cb75891 tension seem to ease. His softened voice echoed 479562035e dreamily in Diana’s ears. Sleepiness washed over her 7f63dfab06 again, and she slowly 68036bbe6b closed her eyelids.e89644a6660b5878

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Soon, she heard footsteps 8eacec21d9 nearby, followed by the d62b10dc90 soft click of the 3104fa6a1c door closing.aa1852d6f3c5fa49

It was time to e77d39e67d return to her unfinished b453a94f89 dream.81aacd46ec7809b3

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🌷🌷🌷ec0794146edb7fd8

— 22 years ago, 01340fa37b Lowell Manor.f2061649699b3430

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Late at night. A time when b04fa06816 everyone, except for 5e8e06a51a a few night 50b4d0475c shift staff, would c8d9010c4b be fast asleep.821c2e19becaad0b

Fernan, the lord 874c9afbd9 of the manor, 7cac56b93e was no exception. While not particularly 99a72d23ff old-fashioned, his upbringing fffd425b98 and military service 71f02e4952 had instilled in c13dccf0e5 him a habit 69a598c9d0 of regularity.36c2ca5973209cb1

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He slept and 7193ffa63e woke at fixed 778565f3e1 times. Though tempted to 0c328db8eb sleep in every 514d3d3ed0 morning, he rarely 32798c1923 deviated from his 4ace8b612e routine.85843f91c363b038

Lately, however, he ec4ecdcc48 often found himself 6898a0541e awake at night f92d83967a like this.89ed7bc4e09898b6

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At first, he 6652d96371 tried to dull 6a4bad6e04 his mind with dd4eb1a275 cigarettes and alcohol, bf59b0f053 but it was 94fbddda18 all for naught. It only sharpened his 43b69be098 awareness.eba77343222d5629

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.7214870b85303663

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‘What a 9f147bbf72 pathetic sight.’237d7d1f54a08c8b

Scoffing at himself, he continued to drink. He knew alcohol wasn’t the answer, but he couldn’t stop.550b442b546653c8

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He found himself questioning b23ee558a1 many things these days. Social gatherings, dinner parties, a75fbca4af various meetings, and court 4b4f2e6e3e life. Spaces that had 05ba361373 been familiar and 31053943e0 comfortable before the 37deb59e5a war now felt 18ac8f5e13 alien and unbearable.2b336c10deca691b

And this sense 1b83beaf53 of dissonance only 456390fdbe grew with time, ea5420048b gradually fracturing Fernan’s faf2d520fe life.e34f8384f332803a

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He could still pretend 05e8ec52d1 and smile for now, d9026f2bbc but he knew better 2a4d4a155c than anyone that he 16184dcc3b was reaching his limit.485ec924dff80a40

A shattered hero. He could already 637364b15e picture the faces a0e0c6a9e6 that would laugh 25ff1b1b7b and kick at 7ac40f9a08 the fragments. Hypocrites. Liars who could manipulate 254e3566c4 even their own hearts.25fe546f9b180e18

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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 48e5af5b9c of people he 05c3840053 barely remembered, Fernan 018e120f9c raised his glass d3bbf95bbc again. The amber 3fef8b5711 liquid shimmered 43119389d1 under the ed5a7faa65 dim light 87440b563a as it 8150b15987 flowed down 1e883f92a7 his throat.f9c09acea81bbf9b

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[You killed my son!!]

The scream of de698ce8c3 a certain lady.886227373109cb57

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[Commander. I resign.]

The face 55dd7952b5 of a f6943a697c comrade who c8f339f35d left him 20caec2aa5 with contempt.ed388bb01a094bf0

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[Arke will last forever.]

The smiling aecdd518cf face of 5199c8d975 a young 3e1880cfe3 lady. He wanted to d66726ae9b erase them all, 336bd104e4 but they lingered 4b9bbe9b09 like stubborn stains 27bf9d0a26 in his mind.1d4c963b9ecf469f

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Perhaps he 42fa17ce69 was already ecc7858c06 shattered.64c676d1b3384816