Glimpses of a Ruthless Soul

Arvanya's POV:

A faint light filtered through my heavy eyelids, and I blinked slowly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The familiar scent of lavender lingered in the air, comforting yet slightly disorienting. My body ached with every breath, a dull, throbbing pain radiating from my limbs.

“Aria?” a soft voice called, breaking through the fog in my mind. Esme’s worried face swam into view, her brows knitted together as she leaned closer. “You’re awake.”

I parted my lips to speak, but only a rasp emerged. My throat burned, dry and strained, as if I hadn’t uttered a word in days. Esme swiftly reached for a glass of water on the bedside table and brought it to my lips. “Here, drink,” she encouraged softly, her gaze steady and full of concern.

The refreshing water eased the rawness in my throat, and I exhaled a trembling sigh. Esme placed the glass back on the table with deliberate care, her actions cautious, as if handling something fragile.

“How are you feeling now?” she asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

I leaned back against the headboard, my body still aching with every breath. Esme's question lingered in the air, her eyes filled with concern. I swallowed hard, willing myself to speak despite the exhaustion clouding my mind.

"I feel… sore, everywhere. My head is pounding, my body feels like it’s been trampled, and I… I don’t understand. What happened?” My voice cracked, the confusion seeping through my words.

As I spoke, flashes of last night began to return. The voice—low and haunting, pulling me to the window. I had gone to investigate, curiosity mingled with caution. And then… the sharp, deafening crash of glass, the world spinning as I plummeted out of the window into darkness. The memory hit me like a wave, and my eyes widened in realization.

"I fell out of the window," I said, my voice trembling as I turned to Esme. "The shattering sound, and then… nothing. Everything went black. How… how am I here now?"

Esme’s expression softened, her worry morphing into a mix of relief and hesitation. “You were struck by the chandelier before falling,” she began gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “You tumbled from the window, but Lucian… he jumped after you and caught you in time. He saved you, Aria.”

Her words left me frozen. Lucian? The dark prince who barely acknowledged anyone unless it was absolutely necessary?

I glanced down at my hands, noticing for the first time the bandages wrapped tightly around them. The ache in my palms was dull but persistent, a reminder of how close I’d come to disaster. Slowly, I lifted my fingers to my forehead, the rough texture of another bandage brushing against my skin. My heart sank at the realization of how badly I must have been hurt.

Esme continued, her voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “He was so desperate to make sure you were okay. He carried you to the infirmary himself, and he didn’t leave your side for a second. He refused to let anyone else even touch you.”

My heart raced, her words echoing in my mind. Lucian had jumped after me? Saved me? Stayed by my side? It didn’t make sense—none of it did. He was the most aloof, unyielding person I’d ever met.

Esme added softly, “After Dr. Kaelis assured him you’d be okay, Lucian still carried you back here himself. He didn’t trust anyone else to do it. The way he looked at you… I’ve never seen him like that before.”

I stared at her, disbelief and confusion churning in my mind. “Why?” I whispered, more to myself than to Esme, my thoughts spinning. “Why would he do that? Why would he risk his life for me?”

Esme shrugged, her gaze curious but thoughtful. “I can’t say. But he did. And it wasn’t just an obligation, Aria. It was… something more.”

I stared at my hands, my thoughts swirling with confusion and something else—something unspoken and deeply unsettling. Could he have felt it too? The bond? Was that why he had done it?

Esme shifted in her seat, her lips parting as though she wanted to ask something. Her hesitation was evident, her gaze flickering between me and the window. Before she could say a word, a knock echoed through the room.

Esme stood up to answer it, and I instinctively braced myself, expecting Calen to check on me. My heart warmed at the thought of how my friends, who had only known me for a few days, cared so much for me. But as Esme opened the door, I saw not just one figure but four entering the room.

My breath caught as I recognized the first figure—Lucian. His piercing gaze locked with mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch. There was something in his eyes, a flicker of emotion that I couldn’t place, a hint of something softer, but it disappeared too quickly for me to understand. My heart raced, my pulse echoing in my ears as I fought to steady my breath.

Following him were Zane and Ryker, their faces etched with concern and curiosity. Bringing up the rear was Calen, carrying a small satchel that I assumed contained medical supplies. But it was Lucian who commanded my attention. His eyes never left mine, intense and unblinking, as though searching for something deep within me. His presence was overwhelming, and I couldn't shake the sensation that he was studying me more than anyone ever had.

He stepped forward, his movements deliberate, each one measured as though he was afraid of making the wrong move. "You're awake," he said, his voice low but steady, carrying an undertone of something I couldn’t place. "How are you feeling?"

I stared up at him, my heart thudding louder in my chest. The way he spoke, the slight catch in his voice, it caught me off guard. Lucian didn’t worry about anyone, least of all me. His aloofness was legendary. So why did it feel like there was something more in his voice now? Was I imagining it?

“I’m… I’m okay,” I stammered, my voice shaky and uncertain. The words felt hollow, forced, as I tried to process the fact that Lucian, the prince who had always seemed so distant, was standing so close to me. My hands trembled, and I had to fight the instinct to pull away from his gaze, but I couldn’t.

“Okay isn’t good enough,” he replied sharply, his jaw tightening, the lines of frustration deepening on his face. His eyes remained fixed on me, but there was something in his expression that was… unfamiliar. Was he upset? No, not exactly. More like he was… blaming himself?

The intensity of his eyes made my chest tighten, a knot forming in my stomach as I tried to make sense of it all. “You shouldn’t have been in danger in the first place,” he continued, his tone more raw now, almost accusatory, but it wasn’t directed at me. It was as if he was angry at himself.

Before I could respond, Esme spoke softly to him. "Lucian," she said gently, her voice calm. "She’s awake now, and Dr. Kaelis said she’ll recover fully in a few days. That’s what matters."

Lucian exhaled, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly, but his gaze never wavered from mine. His expression softened just a fraction, though the tension was still evident in his posture.

He moved closer, and to my complete disbelief, he sat down on my bed near my feet. I froze, my eyes fixed on him. This was so unlike him—unexpected and utterly confusing. Zane and Ryker exchanged glances before taking the chairs in the room and sitting down. Meanwhile, Calen and Esme settled on her bed, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

After a few moments of silence, Zane was the first to speak, his voice soft but laced with concern. "Are you sure you're okay, Aria?" he asked, his eyes scanning me for any sign of discomfort.

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I nodded weakly, my throat dry as I answered, "I’m fine, just… still a little shaken."

Ryker, ever the more direct one, leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You scared us," he said bluntly, though his tone softened as he continued. "You should’ve seen how messed up your condition was when we got to you. Dr. Kaelis did her best, but we were all on edge."

"I know," I replied softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry."

Calen, sitting across from Esme on the bed, cleared his throat before speaking up. "It’s not your fault," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "You didn’t cause any of this. Just focus on getting better."

I gave him a faint smile, appreciating his words, even if they didn’t erase the worry gnawing at me. "Thanks, Calen."

The room fell silent again, the weight of unasked questions hanging heavily in the air. They all glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. But despite their gazes shifting between one another, their attention kept returning to Lucian. It was clear they were waiting for him to speak, to give them some direction or guidance.

My own eyes drifted to him, filled with confusion. He looked calm, but there was a weight in his expression, something that told me this wasn’t just a casual visit. Finally, he broke the silence.

“When you fell from the window,” Lucian began, his tone measured but edged with something I couldn’t quite place, “your condition was… critical. There were so many injuries—your hands, your body, your forehead.” His face tensed, a muscle in his jaw twitching as his gaze shifted briefly to the floor before snapping back to me. The intensity in his eyes deepened, and I could almost feel the weight of his words, as if he were reliving the moment. “But when Dr. Kaelis checked you, she said you were healing too fast than an ordinary single elemental.”

My breath caught, the weight of his words hitting me hard. Healing too fast? The words reverberated in my mind, and fear gripped my chest. Did they know? Had they figured it out? Did they suspect what I truly was? My heart raced as uncertainty gnawed at me. I couldn’t let them find out. Not yet.

His expression remained tense, lips pressed into a thin line, and the furrow in his brow deepened, a quiet concern settling there—a side of him I had never seen before. His gaze lingered on me, dark and searching, like he was waiting for something, expecting me to say more.

I glanced at Esme, hoping for some sort of reassurance, but her expression was unreadable. Then, Ryker’s voice broke through the tension.

“You were healing faster than Lucian,” he said, his voice laced with astonishment. “And he’s a five-elemental.”

Shock coursed through me like a tidal wave. Faster than Lucian? That was impossible. Wasn’t it?

I struggled to maintain my composure, my mind racing. Yes, my healing was faster than that of a single-elemental because of my five dragons, but faster than Lucian? That didn’t make sense. How could that even be possible?

The thought gnawed at me. Lucian was also a five-elemental, so why was my healing speed faster than his? Our healing powers should be equal, shouldn't they? I couldn't wrap my head around it. The more I tried to understand, the more confused I became.

Lucian’s gaze remained fixed on me, sharp and intense. His silence was heavy, and I could feel his tension rise with each passing moment of my quiet contemplation. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, he spoke.

“Are you hiding something from us?” Lucian’s voice was low, tinged with frustration. “Did you and your family know about your healing speed?”

I hesitated, the weight of his question pressing on me. I couldn't tell him the truth, not when it was so much more than just a healing ability. “Yes, my healing speed is a little faster than an ordinary single-elemental’s,” I said, keeping my tone steady despite the turmoil in my mind. “My family knows about it, but... how is it possible that my healing speed is faster than yours? I think you all must have mistaken something.”

Esme shook her head, her brow furrowing. “No, Aria. We’ve seen how your wounds heal quickly. And why didn’t you tell Calen and me about this before?”

I swallowed, the guilt pressing down on me like an unbearable weight. “Since my childhood my healing was slightly faster,” I began, my voice low and uncertain. “My family and I believed it might be because of my strong bond with my air dragon. We never thought much of it.”

I lied. I knew I lied. But I couldn’t tell them the truth. I had promised my family to keep the secrets of my powers, and breaking that promise felt like betraying everything they had asked of me. The guilt twisted inside me, but I couldn’t find the strength to reveal the truth—not yet.

Zane furrowed his brow, his gaze piercing. “But your wounds healed so quickly—more than Lucian’s. How can that be just a little faster than a single-elemental?”

I hesitated, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. “I… I honestly have no idea,” I replied, my voice faltering slightly. “Yes, my healing ability has always been faster, but not this much faster. This has never happened before.”

The words felt foreign even to me as I said them. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. What was happening to me? Ever since I arrived here, everything felt off. My powers were reacting unusually, and now this—my healing ability surpassing even Lucian’s.

The thoughts swirled in my mind, relentless and overwhelming. The more I tried to understand, the more my head throbbed with the strain of it all. I pressed a hand to my temple, wincing at the dull ache spreading through my skull.

Lucian noticed immediately. His eyes softened just a fraction, though the tension in his posture remained. “You don’t need to think about it that much right now,” he said firmly, his voice low and steady. “You should focus on resting as much as you can. We’ll figure this out later.”

His words were meant to be reassuring, but I could see the worry flicker in his gaze. For the first time, it felt like he wasn’t just addressing me as an enigma to be solved—but as someone he genuinely wanted to protect.

Esme broke the silence, standing and smoothing out her skirt. She glanced at Calen, her tone gentle yet carrying a note of resolve. “Let’s go grab some breakfast,” she said, her voice light but still laced with concern. Turning to me, she added with a soft smile, “I’ll bring some back for you, Aria.”

Calen hesitated, his eyes darting between Esme and me. “You’re sure she’ll be fine?” he asked, his tone laced with uncertainty, as though he wasn’t entirely convinced leaving was the best idea.

Esme shot him a reassuring smile, her voice warm but firm. “She’s in good hands, Calen. Besides, we’ll be back before she even has time to miss us.”

Ryker and Zane exchanged a knowing look before rising from their seats. “We’ll tag along,” Ryker said with a casual shrug, though his stomach let out a faint growl that betrayed his nonchalance. “No point starving ourselves.”

Zane grinned, the mischief dancing in his eyes as he turned to Lucian. “Looks like you’re on babysitting duty, Your Highness,” he quipped, though his tone carried an undercurrent of trust. “Keep her out of trouble till we’re back.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line at the jab. His sharp gaze flickered to Zane for a fleeting second, unreadable as ever, before settling back on me. Something unspoken passed between us—an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Finally, he gave a curt nod, his stance stiff, as if the weight of the room rested solely on his shoulders.

As the others filed out of the room, I felt my heart pick up pace. My gaze shifted to Lucian, who had now taken the chair closest to my bed. His presence felt heavy, almost suffocating, yet there was an odd sense of security in it too.

My thoughts swirled. Why does he care so much? I couldn’t help but wonder. Is it because of my unusual healing? Or… is there something more?

I tried to focus on steadying my breath, but his intense gaze bore into me, making it impossible to ignore him. I lowered my eyes, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way my cheeks flushed under his scrutiny.

I hesitated for a moment, watching him as he sat silently by my side. His unwavering gaze was fixed on me, and the tension in the room felt almost palpable. Summoning some courage, I finally spoke, my voice soft but sincere. “Thank you… for saving me.”

Lucian’s expression shifted, the hard lines of his face softening for just a fraction of a second. His piercing eyes searched mine, as though he was trying to unravel something even I didn’t fully understand.

“You don’t need to thank me,” he said quietly, his voice steady but carrying an edge I couldn’t quite place. “I couldn’t have done anything else.” His jaw tightened, a flicker of emotion—was it guilt?—crossed his face before vanishing.

I hesitated, my throat dry as I struggled to find the right words. His presence was magnetic and overwhelming, but there was also an unexpected comfort in it. “Still,” I murmured, my voice barely audible, “it means more than you know.”

His eyes held mine for a moment, a flicker of something unguarded breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. I thought I caught a glimpse of vulnerability—a shadow of something he rarely let anyone see. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by his usual guarded intensity. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest, the tension in his posture betraying his inner conflict.

“It wasn’t just me,” he finally said, almost reluctantly. “Everyone played a part.”

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the heaviness in the air. “Maybe,” I replied softly, “but I don’t think anyone jumped out of a window for me.”

His lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile threatening to break through his stoic mask. “Don’t get used to it,” he muttered, but there was a warmth in his tone that hadn’t been there before.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. For the first time, the distance I’d felt between us seemed to shrink, leaving me with a strange, fragile hope that maybe—just maybe—there was more to Lucian than he let the world see.