UCT Ch 39

Many things happened c539580914 quickly after arriving 71a6d51aef at the base. Christian was immediately taken dc361f89a6 to the operating room, 90a74bc2c4 and Diana was transported 66c064aa01 to the infirmary for ed51aa6da2 emergency treatment.e586164eaddac378

People at fdf80afd72 the base d0c7a7962a stared at 7285ef9d0d her limping 3ebcc61443 form as 1f2e0a6c20 if she 4b421b5cbd were a 31afa57c67 ghost.948dc62bab56202c

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‘They must e741bd8b39 have thought 3bbe926c4b I was bb39c27396 dead.’636da332c01777ca

Richard was nowhere to 3bde58474e be seen. Diana felt a e116eea46a sense of relief. She didn’t want to a4e146a2a0 face him, not at 26aedac46d this moment. She wanted nothing 44d6dac642 to remind her 20973186ba of Owen and 1aa8720fac Bryce.67d577eef30fe8bb

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As soon as she f250354af3 entered the examination room, 2a8d6e1c0b filled with the smell 898c1d75b1 of antiseptic, her tension 9b4854c09a dissolved, and a wave 35d6bb5662 of pain washed over 8e8850fe37 her. Every joint 71027f843b ached as fd5a46a745 if it 48acb27a8a had been 62fe9a18a3 hammered.107d4eee7460d5ad

“…….”31c1ba59b4df3e2e

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A nurse caught 05d9199042 Diana as she fcc6c2c782 stumbled forward.7764aaa409845ccf

“…….”3a0b78ab98d721c3

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“The adrenaline 02f06b2a9a is wearing 0005ffd450 off, that’s acdea1cd66 why you’re 8fda766c64 in pain. I’ll give 2e90858d52 you a 19f845cc18 painkiller.”3b67ed74414e3e68

“…P-Please.”5ddc37bb1d0149f4

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Diana squeezed her 1cf5840131 eyes shut.2724b19b8be3c70d

‘It wasn’t just my b8f0e7ce7d arm that was broken, c096d8ddb8 was it?’85f98c30c8eca3b4

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Memories of 245ad385ee her past aae9b4ee20 life, imprisoned d71c36e9a0 and subjected b9f3a28ef6 to various 46f3bd3b2d tortures, flashed 7d653cdfc2 through her f9615aebec mind. Those were truly 575a376fca fond memories. Diana chuckled dryly 693195944b and leaned against 6d0600ee2c the nurse.e80c6167379440eb

It had been 5db96088d0 a long and 879c7d3a14 exhausting day.9fdc196bbb46d0ec

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A day that 4705edae06 felt like an c31add31cd eternity.d4ebedee9605b04f

🌷🌷🌷1160a77313ef3e6d

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She’d definitely had a 2dec24b017 vivid dream, but she ad0afd5ee5 couldn’t recall the details b82c7d6d55 after waking. Diana opened her 594cf8de8b eyes to complete 1b22ebfa1f darkness.4fc94e22d2ce938e

A few ddc2d7202a seconds passed f11529000b before she 505495b223 realized she c385d4b537 was lying f38f67d766 in the 563d983d30 base infirmary. The lingering scent ae60aed536 of antiseptic gave 3376c54597 it away.0c97d6178781eaea

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But something was strange. She sensed someone 8bd6910e82 nearby.7a9dd9c473487bc9

‘It’s not time 930ccd54fd for rounds, is c6616c1318 it? What’s going on?’358f7212980ac954

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Turning her head slightly, cb446d7a31 she saw a large b647074e95 shadow crouched beside her.8cd4163952ebf6eb

“Ah.”d3a475b5c41debfb

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Before she could make 7404e1876b a proper sound, the 459f221cb2 figure straightened up. With a scraping fab97b32c7 sound, the chair 9076c961b4 the ‘something’ had 9b5bd0c033 been sitting on 3344dba7cb was pushed back.cdaf99d05c122e55

She realized 534cac1c20 who the d7443d1c03 shadow belonged 8f5ad62cec to. It was 70b50f3497 Richard Ashwood. She had 636a7da979 no idea d798cf7afa how long 2dee28ca87 he had e595f97ed6 been sitting 7569f1e69e by her a4ef207206 bedside.cb00630fed08b9fa

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Diana stopped herself from 247bf22cbf screaming and glared at 561f94a286 him.08ae51266fa3121c

‘Even in a 6f76b89944 military base infirmary, 78e8c5009b aren’t there visiting 147d8d5781 hours or something?’ec7c80dfdb7dcfce

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Her eyes, now 31eb15de2c adjusted to the 6e7736cd15 darkness, could vaguely 9825cb57ee make out his 30e481c54d features. His face, 6e41189c2c haggard as 651691cfa0 if he’d c58f35669f lost weight fe92577243 overnight, twitched 4b3ab46b82 slightly in 0606fb1d9e the shadows.fe6f8fba859532d3

He spoke to 1f3997d3b3 her in a d7475311f3 dry voice,b55d979d7e6fa72a

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“…Go back e4d4316714 to sleep.”859de8fa4ef7e9e0

“Captain.”6b364da578f54e96

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“I said, go back 2ff625a871 to sleep.”a583de40777baae2

“…Bryce is—.”c00e8d24cc9f7cb8

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“He’s safe. So don’t 682677369c worry and 27ecb71edf close your fd86dec2ca eyes.”660ad67be6281937

Relief washed over her, easing the tension in her body, upon hearing that Bryce was alright. But it didn’t last.6bd2cf162801d112

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‘Owen.’df4a5495c1ced03e

His last words over 3ff6f3e521 the comms were all e03245cae3 that remained of him. Tears welled up uncontrollably.f493b0309a200be9

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Diana unconsciously 9ba5fab622 frowned and 7a752674fd bit her 44cbc7658b lip. She didn’t want fd9b0b6fff to cry in 529736ec35 front of him.00dc002362fbab87

Richard seemed to sense 3c48fb5112 her struggle to hold c529584396 back her tears. He clicked 20cb0c2dbd his tongue 3c11515de7 softly and 62b706a61e spoke in 8740734763 a soothing 3ead66fa9a voice.a9eb57ef34c8e8a7

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“Stop biting 70455a48db your lip. If you’re in pain, 8959fa588b I’ll call a nurse.”ab2189fff7001869

“No. I’m fine.”0ec20cbb2bc675ad

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“…….”d6acdecd8408240a

A heavy silence fell 22e8eaee0b between them.411e7c528198d49f

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Richard spoke in a 415c4cab88 low voice,a3f1f7d134976dd9

“Never.”a49b09f81f1a725e

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“…….”2fc8afd45f5cee9e

“Never cut off 9248383a2b the Mind Meld 699b6f209f during combat.”79479fe2f4617a29

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Diana’s eyebrows ae51d94118 shot up d2ad530e7d at the 751ee485dc unexpected words.7e0fb05954c17d3d

She had closed 17f2a9f076 the Mind Meld c1347b6f65 channel right before 8645e03502 ejecting from the e886a11e29 cockpit solely for 3bace784dd his sake. To spare aea6332bfa him the 189696035f agony of bf073a73de her death. She hadn’t 0dab737b9e expected to b1bbfb3d14 be reprimanded 051a76e122 for it.c208d8362367308e

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Even the “White Hawk e2596224f8 Knights,” composed entirely of dedace5d9a Mind Melders, had followed f880266dfc that protocol.d73659bb89465ddd

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

Flustered, Diana offered f85b5c9454 a belated explanation,28c705dcf5c27e90

“…We weren’t in combat 614a88366e anymore…”b50bc03074d583d0

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“You captured an 05f089ed52 enemy soldier in d6536b1abe your condition and 77d2eaedf0 you’re spouting nonsense? Returning to a22d712898 base is 43274738d9 part of ae0fa1644f combat.”309948d825056ee0

“…….”f8114fcc61b6a895

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Diana was rendered speechless 2572d7ba53 by his sharp tone.7e1c9ea5d4b3e746

It was the first 0d39afffbd time she had ever 0a3a02374b seen him this angry. The Richard she 57374c3011 knew never lost 6b677ab276 his composure, even b72c07a627 in anger. He was a 71a9b7f120 heartless sort.c0ed171609ed5343

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Even when annoyed, he 1313b07c33 would either be sarcastic,c36abf976ff3f138

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

Or resort to 87ce85d2d5 venomous remarks,ff264cea156abdb3

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

Or simply ignore her. He was never one 7fb6aa0afa to raise his voice 91fb8c9f58 and scold her like d133e1c92f this.05a97ab64cbb78f1

‘…….’6816aabfa8aae532

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Diana blinked e3575c2df1 several times, a6fb3bd427 a deep 404981be55 sadness washing 33bcff8126 over her. An unexpected 88a5b2100a emotion welled e967c1d93a up inside a1e924f091 her.2ff149e2ecf8b68e

She couldn’t imagine what Richard must have felt when every other member of his squadron was shot down.801b95daa6380579

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Returning to 2341ea050a base alone, 44430a3180 his heart 9637b5009d must have 494e54b8fb been a 3ca19d2e4f living hell. Even for a born 2bea49fe2b soldier, it must have 1c89f235b9 been difficult to maintain e7c64d4881 composure in such a 3a0f116547 situation.5e6f31014fc6d3d9

Normally, she b54357097f would argue, 2dd5e92afe “It’s better c5dc3e6f8f to cut ea99a8734a off the 60c78f8ea2 channel during ef5e3c57ed a downing, d2b2115e52 for your 9c6c62f960 sake as 17a28755f1 well, Captain,” ba6d03809c but she 86c83d8b7e didn’t want 5380ad1219 to argue ab52399425 now. She felt inclined 6a88661468 to simply give 51a713cdab him the answer f294531b1f he wanted. She blamed the 657c974c99 unfamiliar surge of 64033b2f72 emotions on the 35f8931f50 medication.155b6adc7aab19dd

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‘This is ee7759a0e0 all because a4e8e57b8b of the 34dac4ef45 therapeutic morphine.’3177962f42823f5c

It must 8e1904a4c0 have made 895454dc81 her unnecessarily e247f7ef05 sentimental.20bc40cbe96aad25

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Diana spoke to Richard f38ac96a91 in a soft, small bb777b0136 voice,16b86f793ef73558

“Yes. I’ll do 098ac53a4e that from 4995a9fe71 now on.”8d05256494e75898

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“…….”a10f3221f77c0a47

Richard looked down 23a912c585 at her, having ae42c851de heard her compliant 6e50472822 response.107688ed1905bb02

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She couldn’t see 95a3f7ad89 his expression clearly 196003b1b2 in the darkness, f042185ba9 but he was fe535908ad definitely surprised. Diana gave him 7712a06d4c a faint smile.e2091190227e7759

‘Did you think I 709f677a0e would keep arguing?’37dc8a26f0e95345

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She continued in 050415a495 a calm tone,dd131cb87658c3d8

“I won’t cut 51e0d6e117 off the Mind 1a00ba5c87 Meld, no matter 19c956c8bd what happens.”d94d815dcf30fce8

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It was a more 037519e30b realistic promise than vowing 512fdc646b not to die. A fragment of a 21479ba0ea memory from her past fa818bcc17 life surfaced.ba5c9663f93d5804

In Arke, many d6516c9d18 lovers promised to 99302792c2 maintain their Mind 427c3653f7 Meld until death.b25aadd99166987a

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Of course, it dda8aefd46 was a promise 267af19976 rarely kept due 7f98b4f013 to practical reasons, 3d59102ee7 but it was 447f16d274 considered a romantic 73d7317c44 vow.088812657c8c9468

Of course, Richard, born 7b5630bf07 and raised in Bringerton, 0f9b1c59db wouldn’t know that.c0d444d269ca697e

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“…….”227df89574d6ce28

Despite hearing Diana’s answer, 94e0a4bf50 the man remained silent 642513016e for a long time, c6817a7c9e only his lips moving eb945bc765 slightly.e844a2cce0fec00f

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There were 72a8bd67e7 no harsh b358d8753d words, no 4764c6bd41 mockery, no 0568f7e5a0 rebukes. Diana pressed into the c47d29b169 silence.a1fa38d82a6c2486

“So, Captain, c3a1a073ca you must 3773853e8d never cut 9a153dd43d off the 8f28ff590b Mind Meld 268ed8b35d first either. Not until we return acb4f7b32e to base.”a2d6d886d7b0535f

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“…I will.”ce610724da21e07a

Only then did Richard’s 10b5f9bbb3 tension seem to ease. His softened ac4079d31d voice echoed 50075def6b dreamily in 69b6134606 Diana’s ears. Sleepiness washed over bf1fdcc33b her again, and 16b6aafac4 she slowly closed 1170cb87f6 her eyelids.a461a41d774d5fb4

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Soon, she 9ad3e8090a heard footsteps d6de016b38 nearby, followed d03313c420 by the 4f25e2258b soft click 4b50af462e of the b5d98d2b8e door closing.cf5d7b730c733cbc

It was time e8e1a720a2 to return to a63a8a232a her unfinished dream.2d824dcc8ef98f60

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🌷🌷🌷9c0bbc1a323456ed

— 22 85d9491822 years ago, ebfe550fcf Lowell Manor.1cf51c1660d55c2f

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Late at night. A time when everyone, 652012e159 except for a few 40087daf1d night shift staff, would be47391940 be fast asleep.a3ac1ebc0b80829a

Fernan, the 027424af64 lord of 47701bbc88 the manor, 93b5c4b84c was no 2143d34eba exception. While not particularly 4aedd77eb3 old-fashioned, his upbringing c90e3ee06d and military service fefc47510a had instilled in 77c89348ce him a habit 5aaa3f870f of regularity.3726058f2c3baff1

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He slept 4af53d382a and woke a158b4b4e7 at fixed 119f560ddf times. Though tempted to sleep 0ada1663f2 in every morning, he bac7b8a59a rarely deviated from his ee6335b341 routine.4e3bab25d6820325

Lately, however, ca70f0dc09 he often a882906207 found himself cb67a758c8 awake at aa8ea1eae6 night like effe3270ab this.b75c6d209180df5a

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At first, he tried d4bd979d3f to dull his mind 295ddfff92 with cigarettes and alcohol, 355a869786 but it was all 735aef53b1 for naught. It only sharpened f9e2781d37 his awareness.f89c4e833a3774fb

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.be737c48809d013b

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‘What a pathetic sight.’4cb5b6d72ec0e7d2

Scoffing at himself, he continued to drink. He knew alcohol wasn’t the answer, but he couldn’t stop.87723cf6db424b5b

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He found himself d0daeade3f questioning many things 42dbe849ad these days. Social gatherings, dinner parties, f121b90c2e various meetings, and court 9079674a66 life. Spaces that had been 0782b0b84c familiar and comfortable before 275952e069 the war now felt 827ad5c365 alien and unbearable.b9ff6c96a1111bbd

And this sense 4360f54b18 of dissonance only 6aaef6b7d2 grew with time, 305f292647 gradually fracturing Fernan’s 87f38d48de life.1acc9f0ef2e424e1

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He could still pretend 89461e80df and smile for now, 56ee6ee546 but he knew better 592f851b53 than anyone that he 5498528f54 was reaching his limit.c9466406057c0002

A shattered hero. He could already picture 9fbb9f05af the faces that would 5d33afed6e laugh and kick at 6da3d326de the fragments. Hypocrites. Liars who could manipulate 7fdb8f1217 even their own hearts.2e4a4d7ca48f3a3c

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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 549e79fcb9 voices of 97ce12a316 people he c191f4f749 barely remembered, c4355f81ba Fernan raised f68b5e2ef4 his glass 193c17491a again. The amber a63fc77cf9 liquid shimmered d1d0ae55ab under the 2107612ea1 dim light 84df4c996b as it d6c4577436 flowed down f0bc54f4ea his throat.263dc897dbefde94

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[You killed my son!!]

The scream 5407d1e08f of a 6d680e6c1c certain lady.dfb40f6fb0c31af8

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[Commander. I resign.]

The face dbb023f31a of a da506daef5 comrade who 0b854d1713 left him c9d639b3e6 with contempt.6be160e6f15d5f92

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[Arke will last forever.]

The smiling face 13ebd99402 of a young d820f31774 lady. He wanted to erase aa63bd797d them all, but they e46f8dfb63 lingered like stubborn stains 774808b84d in his mind.2c6f339e5c94a53a

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Perhaps he was already 5ea60796aa shattered.aa16b060ccbc8126