Xiran’s POV

Tears...

Pain, anguish, violation, ache, invasion of her rights or all of these combined? What was it that she felt? What had made her cry?

Her tears fell like hammers on my already wounded heart. I wanted to take her in my arms and shield her from this barbaric world.

But her body was not in that condition and I didn’t want to cause her any more physical pain than what she was already experiencing. On top of that, there was this emotional pain she was dealing with.

I had hoped my words would provide some comfort to her aching heart for I had never seen her so vulnerable. That tough Aselia I had come to know was crying today and it felt wrong. My words weren’t soothing her and for the first time, I felt at a loss, no, I felt powerless in front of her.

So carefully I picked up her hand and placed it on her thigh. Then I climbed into bed with her and very carefully pulled her close to me so that her head was resting on my shoulder and my arm was wrapped around her shoulder. She sobbed quietly for a while. I let her cry and vent out all those emotions she kept hidden. I didn’t say anything just held her close to me. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

She eventually fell asleep. I kissed her head softly and before I knew I also drifted into a deep slumber.

In the next few days, Dr Wanstine gave her permission to walk a bit, so her muscles wouldn’t become all stiff. I helped her to walk. Her results were promising, her healing process was going on rapidly and her body was making ample blood.

Her positive attitude and will to heal quickly mingled with her tenacity to become independent once again paced up the process. I was astonished at the pace her body was healing, of course, it was faster than humans but it was even faster for an elf.

One week after the incident Dr Wanstine gave her permission to finally eat and get discharged from the med room.

"Aselia, you can start eating from today but begin with something light like soup or cereal so you can easily digest." Aselia’s face showed the joy she felt at her words. If she wasn’t injured she would have been jumping up and down in excitement.

"Xiran, time to keep up your promise." There was a mischievous grin on her lips.

"Of course, but you get chicken soup for today. We will gradually move ahead in the food department."

"I wanted something solid but ok I can work with that." She seemed a bit disappointed.

"Once you heal, you can eat whatever you want. No one will stop you." I offered her a smile before calling Frila to bring a bowl of chicken soup.

I had made up my mind that she will stay in my room. As Frila arrived with soup, I took the bowl and ordered her to prepare my room in the dungeon for Aselia’s stay.

"Move all her things into my room and arrange them properly. She will be staying with me from now on."

"Understood, Señor." Frila left to make the arrangements.

I took the bowl inside and helped her sit up. She wanted to try and eat soup on her own.

"No, not gonna happen. I will feed you." I sat near her and offered her a spoonful.

"You realize I am a grown woman and I can eat on my own now. You treat me like a little kid." She frowned, her beautiful face still showed injuries.

"You can’t, your hands are not healed. Until they are 100 per cent healed I will do the feeding part." I pushed the spoon forward so she would eat. She slowly opened her mouth without further complaints and took a mouthful.

"One more thing, I am shifting you into my room. From today onwards you will stay with me." Her eyes opened wide with shock and she halted in her action and refused to eat further.

"Huh! Why? No, I want to stay in my room." She glared at me, not at all pleased with my decision.

"This topic is not up for discussion. I can’t allow what happened to transpire again. I am going to keep you closer. So my room it’s going to be from now on."

"You can’t force me to stay with you." She challenged me.

"I am not forcing you I am merely keeping you safe. Use the room any way you want, I won’t mind. You already know I won’t touch you against your wishes so relax on that front too. But you won’t stay alone as long as you are here, you are stuck with me." I offered her another spoonful, but she refused to eat. I sighed, why did she have to act so difficult about everything?

"If only looks could kill, you would be so dead right now." Her furious gaze was definitely enough to kill a weak-hearted person.

"I am glad they can’t or I would have been long dead. You look cute though." I teased her and she averted her gaze in anger.

"Finish your soup and get some rest. I will move you tonight." I offered her another spoon.

"You are the biggest manipulator I have ever met in my life." She began eating again, and that brought me relief.

"Thank you for the sweet compliment." I smiled at her hoping her mood would become better.

"How am I going to paint in that dark room of yours?" She wasn’t going to give up that easily.

"I will arrange extra lights for you. Let me know whatever you need and I will provide it."

"Where will I keep my clothes?"

"Cupboard in my room is enormous and I barely use half of it. I have asked Frila to move your stuff. She will organise everything. You will have your own space, I promise I won’t suffocate you." The bowl was almost empty now.

"Ok, I will give it a test run but if I don’t like it I am moving back to my room." She announced finally, there was still a small scowl on her face. I would have preferred a smile. But at least it was a start, a start to finally have her close to me at all times. A start to something magnificent...maybe.