The soft hum of medical equipment filled the hospital room. The sterile white walls were now familiar, almost comforting, in a strange way. Marcus lay on the bed, his body still wrapped in layers of bandages. A heavy cast immobilized his legs, and his right arm was supported in a sling. Despite the visible signs of injury, his eyes were alert—burning with a quiet intensity that hadn't dimmed since the battle.
Sunlight poured through the window, scattering golden rays across the floor. The door creaked open.
"Marcus, how are you feeling today?" The doctor's voice was calm, professional. He approached the bedside, clipboard in hand, and began his routine check-up.
Marcus shifted slightly, wincing as pain stabbed through his ribs. "Like a dragon danced on my chest," he muttered, trying to inject some humor.
The doctor chuckled, placing a stethoscope on Marcus's chest. "Well, it's nothing short of remarkable, Marcus. Your body is healing at a rate I've rarely seen. For most people, these kinds of injuries would take months to recover from. But you? You're regenerating far faster than normal."
Kael, who had been seated in the corner with Lira beside him, let out a soft breath. Lira's eyes, however, were focused on Marcus's face, watching every expression with unspoken concern.
"That's Marcus for you," Kael said, shaking his head. "Always breaking the rules—even biological ones."
Marcus chuckled. "I've always been like this from the beginning. Must be all the times I got beat up as a kid. My body learned early how to patch itself up."
The doctor smiled and jotted down some notes. "Still, I'd advise no training or heavy activity until the casts are off and the wounds fully closed. Let your body do the rest."
"Got it," Marcus said with a playful salute.
The doctor gave a nod and left, leaving the three of them alone. The air in the room shifted—less clinical, more personal. Kael leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"We need to get stronger," he said quietly, his tone serious. "Back there... I've never felt so helpless. Watching that thing blast us, knowing I couldn't stop it. It tore me up."
Marcus looked at him, then at Lira. Her hand was clenched in her lap, her nails digging into her palm.
"You're not alone in that," she said softly. "When I blocked that cannon fire with my Prana... I thought I could hold it. I really believed I could. But my body... it gave out. I can't even access my Prana properly right now. It's like my energy core is frozen."
Kael's jaw tightened. "We all pushed beyond our limits. But it wasn't enough. That's the truth. We survived—but we didn't win. Not really."
Marcus looked at them both, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then he smiled—a genuine, warm smile that cut through the gloom.
"That's why we rest," he said. "We get back on our feet. We heal. And when we're ready, we train like hell. We're not going to be helpless ever again."
Kael nodded slowly. Lira's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she wiped them away and nodded too. For a moment, the three of them sat in silence, a quiet pact forming between them—a bond forged not just through battle, but through shared resolve.
Kael's communicator buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed. "Duty calls. I need to take this. I'll be back soon."
He stood and gave Marcus a firm nod before leaving the room.
Now it was just Marcus and Lira.
She shifted awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. Marcus noticed and tilted his head.
"You okay?"
She blushed, avoiding his gaze. "Yeah... it's just—seeing you like that. Bandaged. Broken. I—I hated it."
Marcus softened. "Lira... I'm still here."
She glanced up, meeting his eyes for the first time since they were alone. Her heart thudded in her chest.
"Marcus... when you're better. When you can walk again... would you maybe... like to go out for dinner? With me?"
He blinked.
His heart skipped.
Then a wide smile spread across his face, his cheeks tinting red. "I'd love that."
Lira's face exploded in color. She stood so fast the chair almost toppled. "Okay! Great! That's great! I'll... I'll come check on you later!"
She spun and dashed out of the room just as Kael opened the door.
He stepped aside to avoid being run over, watching her bolt down the hall with wide eyes. "What the hell...?"
He turned to Marcus, who was still grinning like an idiot.
"What was that about?"
Marcus scratched his head. "Uh... nothing happened."
Kael narrowed his eyes but decided not to press. "Right. Well... Liana says to get well soon."
"Tell her thanks."
Kael gave him a two-finger salute and slipped out the door.
Now alone, Marcus turned his head toward the window. The sun was dipping lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and red.
His smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression.
I need to get stronger, he thought. To protect them. To protect everyone I care about.
A flicker of Lira's blushing face passed through his mind, and he smiled again, softer this time. The pain in his body dulled just a little.
He closed his eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Outside, the world moved on. But inside that room, a new promise had been made.
A promise of strength.
A promise of love.
A promise of tomorrow.
The scene shifts from the quiet hospital room to the lively streets of Virelia City. The air is filled with the sounds of honking vehicles, distant chatter, and the hustle of a recovering city. People moved along the sidewalks, unaware of the silent storm that had passed just days ago.
Kael walked with steady strides, his jacket slung over his shoulder, a communicator pressed to his ear. His voice was calm but carried an undertone of urgency.
"Yeah, we're in Virelia for now," he said, weaving between pedestrians. "Marcus is still recovering, and Lira too. We're all taking a few days to rest and regroup. You should come here."
There was a pause, then a deep, rumbling voice replied from the other end, resolute and commanding.
"Understood. I'll be there."
Kael clicked off the call and looked up at the towering skyline, the reflection of sunlight glinting off his determined eyes.
"Things are just getting started."