The underground forge had become a place of quiet waiting, where time seemed to stretch and bend around the soft crackle of coal and the steady rhythm of Elara's heart monitor.
More than five weeks had passed since Lian carried her through the rusted door.
Five weeks of the same quiet routine: the healer's daily scans, the old blacksmith's silent meals, the endless vigil at the bedside.
Elara's body was now in perfect condition.
The new chest plate was seamless and strong, matte black alloy matching her original design exactly, with no visible sign of the massive crack that had nearly ended her.
The circuits flowed smooth and uninterrupted.
The red heart monitor pulsed with a consistent, healthy rhythm that never faltered.
The human parts had healed completely: bruises vanished, skin grafts around the neck seal flawless, no scars left on the pale flesh of her face and shoulders.
The healer woman checked her every morning and evening without fail, her green-aug arms glowing softly as she connected scanners and reviewed the floating holo-readouts above the bed.
She explained the situation patiently each time Lian asked, her voice calm and full of professional experience.
He spent nearly every waking hour at her bedside.
He sat on the same worn wooden crate that had become his permanent spot, positioned close enough to reach her hand easily.
He held her alloy fingers in his.
The metal was cool and smooth from the repairs.
He felt the faint vibration of her internal systems running beneath the plating.
He watched her face for hours at a time.
Beautiful in stillness.
Peaceful for the first time since the tournament ring.
Long black hair spread across the clean pillow, carefully brushed by the healer to keep it from tangling.
Blue cybernetic eyes closed.
Red heart monitor glowing steady on her chest.
He spoke little to the old couple.
Mostly quiet.
But when he did speak, the words came more easily now.
Short sentences of gratitude.
Questions about her recovery.
Comments on the forge fire or the tea.
The old blacksmith brought meals regularly—simple but nourishing dishes of thick stew with real meat chunks, fresh bread he bought from trusted city contacts during rare safe runs, vegetables steamed soft, and protein-rich shakes designed for cultivators recovering from heavy injury.
He understood the vigil completely and never pushed Lian to eat elsewhere or do anything else.
The healer woman adjusted nanite flows and ran additional scans when needed.
She smiled encouraging each time.
"She is improving slowly but surely."
"Strong fighter inside."
"Wake soon, I feel it."
Lian felt restless energy build inside him as the weeks dragged on.
He needed to move.
Needed to release the storm trapped in his body.
He never tried leaving the forge.
He knew the danger outside—search teams, drones, bounty.
He stayed.
But one evening, when the restlessness became too much, he turned to the old blacksmith.
Voice low.
"Spar."
Old man looked up from forge.
Eyes kind.
Nodded.
Hammer set aside.
They moved forge yard.
Small space.
Clear scrap.
No words.
Circle.
Hammer vs hammer.
Old man fast.
Aug legs explosive.
Lian match.
Blur steps.
Hammer swings.
Root power.
Spar hard.
No hold back.
But control.
No injury.
Sweat.
Breath heavy.
Old man smile.
"Good."
"Root hold."
Lian nod.
Relief.
Energy release.
They spar often after.
Evenings.
Quiet.
Teach.
Learn.
Healer watch.
Smile.
Elara sleep.
Forge warm.
Underground safe.
Dark outside.
Rundown.
But home.
Lian watched.
Held alloy hand.
Ready wait.
More weeks.
For wake.
For her.
One morning.
Light vent faint.
Healer scan.
Eyes wide.
"Today."
"Wake today."
Lian stand fast.
Heart beat hard.
Old man smile big.
First big smile.
Healer adjust scanner.
Monitor beep change.
Soft.
Elara fingers twitch.
Alloy.
Lian hold tighter.
Gentle.
Blue eyes open slow.
Glow soft.
Look around.
Confused first.
Then Lian face.
Void eyes.
She focus.
Voice synthetic faint.
Dry.
"Where…"
Lian voice low.
Soft.
"Safe."
"Here safe."
She look room.
Forge.
Old man.
Healer.
Back Lian.
Memory slow.
Ring.
Strike.
Pain.
Darkness.
Now here.
Hand hold.
She squeeze weak.
Alloy fingers.
Lian relief deep.
Eyes soft more.
Old man step close.
Smile warm.
"Welcome."
Healer nod.
"Good."
"Rest more."
"But awake."
Elara look Lian.
Long.
Voice stronger.
"You…"
"Carry."
He nod.
"Yes."
She close eyes brief.
Relief.
Then open.
"Thank."
Lian shake head.
"No need."
Old man bring water.
She drink slow.
Healer check.
All good.
Weak.
But awake.
Lian stay hand hold.
Hours.
She sleep light.
Wake.
Talk little.
Words few.
But enough.
Safe.
Together.
Old couple watch.
Smile.
Forge warm.
Underground safe.
Elara wake.
Slow.
But real.
Lian breath easy.
First time months.
Wait end.
New start.
Quiet.
For them.