"Wait... why is it you?"
Seraphine snapped her eyes open, only to see Link standing in front of her, shielding her with his body.
At this mont, Link himself felt a wave of frustration.
He hadn't even died yet, and this Moon Worship Sect scum was already targeting soone else?
Wasn't the plan supposed to be that he would be finished off first?
Still, in a way, it was fortunate.
This ti, the opponent's attack was powerful enough.
Taking a direct hit like this — surely, it would be fatal.
An unbearable agony exploded in Link's chest, the pain so intense it nearly rendered him unconscious.
In a hazy daze, he thought he saw a figure running toward him.
He vaguely felt a soft, warm embrace,
but he no longer had the strength to feel or think clearly.
Overwhelming exhaustion rapidly consud him, dragging his consciousness into darkness.
What Link didn't know was that, just as he lost consciousness,
a furious roar echoed through the training hall's upper levels:
"Save him! Sobody, SAVE HIM!"
...
Sanctilum — Holy Light Hospital
An elder stood by a large window, silently gazing at the unconscious boy lying on the hospital bed.
After a long mont, he sighed heavily.
"Martin," the elder said softly, "how's the boy doing?"
Sergeant Martin, standing respectfully nearby, imdiately replied,
"At present, there shouldn't be any major issues. His body is recovering well."
"Thanks to that person's intervention, and their unique healing talent, there won't be any lasting damage."
"The only problem," Martin added more cautiously,
"is that we don't know when he'll regain consciousness. His body took a brutal hit, and the pain he endured... if it had been an ordinary person, their mind would've collapsed entirely. It's a miracle this boy's willpower held out."
The noble elder sighed again, guilt and regret clouding his face.
"If only I had acted myself that day..."
"Fortunately, the boy survived. Otherwise, the human race would have suffered a grievous loss."
Sergeant Martin offered a gentle, comforting smile.
"In truth, my lord, this wasn't your fault.
According to our camp's protocol, the Entry Test was supposed to include this phase. No one could have anticipated sothing going wrong."
"Tom's attack was originally aid at Seraphine," Martin explained.
"And Seraphine was equipped with powerful defensive artifacts. That's why the attack intensity was increased."
"Who could have predicted that the boy would suddenly leap forward and take the strike for her?"
The elder sighed deeply once more, but his gaze toward Link softened, carrying a rare trace of affection.
"This is precisely why I place such high hopes on this child," he murmured.
"He didn't even know Seraphine's true identity, yet because she was his companion, he instinctively chose to shield her with his life."
Sergeant Martin nodded, echoing the sentint.
"Indeed. According to the records, he's done similar things before.
Such bravery and kindness are rare virtues in today's youths."
"With his courage and natural talent," Martin added,
"I firmly believe that it won't be long before he becos a cornerstone of humanity's future."
However, his expression soon turned grim, and he continued more solemnly:
"The real problem now is that we can't predict when he'll wake up.
According to the doctors, it might be a few days... or it might be several years. His mind suffered trauma, and at present, we lack effective treatnts."
The elder furrowed his brows, lost in thought, then finally spoke:
"There are indeed so old experts secretly researching mind power healing techniques."
"But their work is still classified."
"Enough," he muttered.
"If he doesn't wake up within a month, I'll personally travel to the royal capital."
"I don't believe they would refuse a favor even then!"
Just as he finished speaking,
a crisp, clear voice ca from behind them:
"Principal rlin, Sergeant Martin — you're both here too."
They turned to see a cold yet ethereal figure walking toward them.
Sergeant Martin smiled warmly.
"Seraphine. You're here again."
Seraphine nodded slightly and walked quietly into the room.
She sat down beside Link's bed, gazing at him silently, as if whispering unseen words.
Sergeant Martin watched the scene, a complicated look flashing across his eyes.
"My lord," he said quietly,
"you may not know this, but ever since Link fell unconscious, Seraphine has visited him here every single day."
"Perhaps," he added thoughtfully,
"it's because of that old wound in her heart."
"If Link could help her finally let go of the past..."
"That wouldn't be a bad thing at all."
"Fate," Martin chuckled dryly, "is a funny thing, isn't it?"
"Co," he said more briskly. "We old n shouldn't linger and bother the young ones."
The elder chuckled, agreeing.
As they left, Martin muttered under his breath:
"My lord, I'm only thirty-eight. I'm still young!"
...
Inside the ward, Seraphine sat quietly for a long while.
Her gaze was complicated, tender, yet filled with sorrow.
Softly, almost as if afraid to wake him, she began speaking:
"Link... can you tell , why did you stand in front of that day?"
"You probably don't know this," she continued, her voice trembling slightly,
"but because of my talent, I've lived my whole life under constant protection."
"Uncles, aunts, guards... so many people threw away their lives for ."
Her hands clenched into fists.
"I hated it.
I didn't want anyone dying for ."
"When I was six years old, Moon Worship Sect assassins attacked."
"Those adults — they died shielding ."
"For years, I couldn't understand —
We were all human.
Why did they have to sacrifice themselves for ?"
"It wasn't until I grew older that I realized..."
"It wasn't they were protecting. It was House Roland's legacy."
Her voice grew bitter, anguished.
"To them, I was nothing but a tool."
"You wouldn't understand, Link."
"I never wanted to be protected like that again."
"But you..."
"You didn't even know who I was.
And yet... you still chose to protect ."
Seraphine bowed her head, tears glimring in her eyes.
"Link...
When will you wake up?"
"Please... wake up soon.
I know you have a bright future ahead of you."
...
Maybe she simply needed a place to pour out her heart —
Seraphine ended up staying in the hospital room for a long, long ti.
Unknowingly, the sky outside the window darkened.
With a sigh, she finally stood up, feeling lighter sohow.
Glancing at the clock, she smiled faintly and murmured:
"Link... I've talked your ear off again, haven't I?"
"Talking to you... feels strangely comforting."
"But I should go now."
"You must get better soon, okay?"
"Goodbye, Link.
I'll co visit you again tomorrow."
She turned and walked toward the door.
But just as she reached for the handle —
a soft voice suddenly echoed behind her:
"...Huh?"
Seraphine spun around sharply —
and her breath caught in her throat.
On the hospital bed,
Link's eyes were slowly opening.
"I...
Where... where am I?"
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