The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, pressing down on me like an invisible weight.
Selena's sharp green eyes bore into mine, reading every flicker of emotion that crossed my face.
She hadn't left my side since last night, exhaustion evident in the faint shadows beneath her eyes and the subtle tremor in her hands.
Yet, despite it all, her gaze never wavered. She stood like an unyielding sentinel, a pillar of quiet strength.
Under that unwavering attention, I felt small—vulnerable.
'Don't look at me like that, I'm a victim here.' I silently urged.
But the words never left my mouth. I swallowed them down, bracing for whatever came next.
The weight of her stare was unbearable.
'This pressure… it wasn't normal.'
'She must be Awakened. Maybe even higher.'
A shiver ran down my spine. 'If she wanted to, she could erase me with a flick of her finger.'
I stole a glance at her, my mind working overtime. 'What if she realizes I'm not the original Lucion? Would she tear me apart on the spot?'
The thought sent ice through my veins. I had no choice but to play along.
"You're a fool," Selena finally said, her voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.
Her words were sharp, laced with frustration and something deeper, something I couldn't quite place.
It felt like this had been building for far too long, and now, it was all spilling out at once.
My gaze dropped to the floor. "I didn't—"
"Don't."
Her tone was low but firm, a quiet command that sent a chill through me.
She stood rigid, fists clenched at her sides, knuckles white with barely restrained emotion.
"Don't even try to explain yourself. I don't want to hear it."
A flicker of irritation sparked in me. 'Damn, she's in no mood to listen.'
'Arguing would be suicide right now.'
From Lucion's memories, I had learned that provoking Selena in moments like this was a dangerous game.
Her words struck deeper than any physical blow.
The anger in her voice, mixed with something I couldn't quite name, settled in my chest like a stone.
I wanted to say something, to tell her I hadn't meant to push her away, but the words died in my throat.
She stepped closer.
I stiffened.
'Why is she getting so close?' My heart raced, dread tightening my chest.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, sharp and cutting.
"I told you not to touch that technique. I warned you not to push yourself. But you never listen, do you?"
'Ah… So, it's about the technique.'
I had no idea what she truly meant, but the weight of her words and the intensity in her eyes made it clear.
Whatever Lucion had done had led me straight to the edge of something dangerous.
"What?"
Seeing my confusion, Selena's expression darkened, her sharp green eyes narrowing as if searching for something in my face. "You didn't know?"
She let out a breath, running a hand through her hair.
"I went to find the ingredients you needed to master the technique, and when I returned, what did I find? You pushing yourself past your limits."
Her voice wavered slightly. "You didn't even think about what you were doing."
I tried to make sense of it. 'What technique? What the hell had Lucion been doing before I arrived?' The pieces didn't fit.
'I hadn't seen any mention of a technique in my status.'
A wave of frustration washed over me. 'Damn it, Lucion. What were you doing?'
I forced myself to meet her gaze.
'I don't even know what I've done, but judging by how serious she looks… whatever this is, I need to end it now.'
I let my voice hitch, just enough to sound shaken. "I… I'm sorry, Sister."
The words spilled out, fragile and rushed.
Her eyes softened for the briefest moment, the anger slipping away, replaced by something else.
It wasn't just frustration.
It was fear.
She was scared for me.
"I know you always try to do things alone," she said, her voice quieter now, though no less firm.
"But not this time, Luci. Not now."
I swallowed hard. 'What kind of person was I before?'
The question lingered, haunting me.
It wasn't just about the technique. It was about me, the person I had been.
And the fear in Selena's eyes… as if she thought I was slipping through her fingers.
"I won't do it again," I promised, my voice barely above a whisper.
For a fleeting moment, her gaze softened further. She sighed, lips curving into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Luci," she murmured.
"I'll forgive you, but only if you promise me one thing."
I nodded, my throat tight. "I promise."
The tension in the room eased, though an unspoken understanding lingered between us.
I exhaled.
'Now, the real problem.'
'If I don't ask her now, I might actually die from this stench.'
After a brief internal debate, I finally spoke, my tone dry. "What did you do to me?"
Selena blinked. "What?"
I gestured at myself. "Look at me. I'm filthy, reek, and I feel like I crawled out of a grave. So… what exactly did you give me?"
Her gaze swept over me, and as realization dawned, a faint pink hue crept up her cheeks.
Clearly, she was embarrassed she hadn't noticed sooner. She hesitated before clearing her throat.
"I, uh… gave you a Revitalizing Elixir."
My eyes widened slightly before I quickly masked my reaction. 'That must be why I got some of Lucion's memories back.'
"It cleanses your body, helps you recover. Nothing special."
I nodded, pushing my thoughts aside for now.
"Then—" I started, but she cut me off.
"Then you'll get a shower first."
Her tone left no room for argument.
'Great. Now I'm disgusting to her.'
But I didn't argue.
Just as I turned to leave, a sudden realization froze me in place. 'Lucion's mother she—'
"Where's Mom?" The words came out sharper than I intended.
Selena's expression softened. "She's down the hall. She was shaken by your collapse, but she's fine now. Your father came just in time to help."
A pang hit me—
'my collapse must've scared her.'
'Those memories, I'd seen it too. How much she cared about him.'
A knot of guilt twisted beneath my ribs. My gaze dropped to the floor, unable to bear Selena's eyes.
Selena's voice was gentle but firm. "Don't worry about it right now. Just clean up. We'll wait for you in the hallway."
I nodded, exhaling slowly as I turned toward the door. Whatever happened next, I had a feeling this was just the beginning.