Chapter 46 - So,I look Ugly now?
<Thalia's POV>
The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle radiance over the room adorned with flowers and dainty decorations. In the middle of the night, Thalia's room felt like a tranquil sanctuary.
A sudden groan pierced the silence, and Thalia's eyes fluttered open. She had barely drifted off to sleep, her thoughts consumed by worry for Zeph. There, lying on the bed, was Zeph, his face contorted in pain.
"Water," he croaked, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Thalia's heart ached at the sound of his distress. Without hesitation, she reached out with delicate, soft hands, gently brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
"Wait, I will get you some," she murmured softly, her voice filled with a tenderness that belied her usually fiery spirit.
Thalia slipped out of the room for a moment, returning with a glass of cool water.
She carefully helped Zeph sit up, supporting his trembling form as he took small sips to quench his thirst.
Zeph's request for a mirror caught me by surprise. I had been trying to encourage him to rest and recover, not expecting him to want to see his own reflection in his current state.
"You should rest, don't look at your face," I urged, concern etched across my features.
But Zeph's determination was evident as he insisted, "No, I need a mirror, please give me one."
I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly retrieved a small mirror from a nearby table.
Handing it to him, I watched as he held it up to get a glimpse of his own appearance, despite my earlier warning.
<Zeph's POV>
As I held the mirror and slowly brought it in front of me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Thalia's earlier warning about the state of my face had prepared me somewhat, but seeing my reflection now was a different experience altogether.
My heart sank as I gazed at the mirror. The face that looked back at me was barely recognizable. The skin was marred with angry, red burn marks, crisscrossing like a grotesque puzzle.
It was as if the dragon's breath had scorched away not just my flesh but a part of my identity.
The pain that coursed through my body seemed almost secondary to the shock of my appearance. I could hardly believe that this was me.
I traced my fingers gently over the burns, feeling the rough texture and the searing pain that accompanied each touch.
I knew that healing would take time, and there would always be scars to remind me of that fateful encounter. But in this moment, as I stared at my reflection, it was hard to shake the overwhelming sense of loss and helplessness that washed over me.
A small tear escaped from my eyes as I couldn't help but voice my insecurity,
"So, I look ugly now?"
The weight of the changes in my appearance was hard to bear, especially after all the hard work I had put into transforming my body following the transmigration.
Thalia's gentle hand cupped my ruined face, and she turned it towards her.
Her unwavering gaze met mine, and she said with sincerity, "You are not ugly at all, Zeph. You are much better than anyone I've seen so far."
Her words touched a deep chord within me, and a sense of relief washed over me. In that moment, I couldn't fully comprehend why her reassurance meant so much, but it did.
It was as if her acceptance had helped me find a glimmer of hope amidst the scars and pain.
"I will talk to my father about annulling the engagement," I said, summoning my resolve. My appearance might have changed, but I had many ways to restore my face. Besides, this might be the opportunity I needed to free myself from the engagement that had started to feel like a burden.
"You want to spread rumors about me leaving you just because your face got destroyed while saving me?" She spoke, her voice quivering, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Do you really hate me that much, Zeph? Then why did you save me?"
"No, Thalia, it's not like that," I hurriedly replied, trying to clear up any misunderstanding. "I don't hate you at all. I just don't want you to be burdened with my problems. And I saved you because... because," I stopped, biting my lip, before a realisation hit me that my mind was in swirl of conflicting emotions. Maybe Facing death had left my thoughts tangled, making me fall for her tricks, I guess.
"Because you're an idiot, who strolls inside such a dangerous forest," I said, my attempt at seriousness quickly turning into a playful smile.
Thalia's surprised expression transformed into a mock scowl as she sat down in a chair, pretending to be offended. But soon, our laughter filled the room as we shared a moment of relief and genuine connection.
"So, where are you going to sleep?"
I inquired, genuinely curious about the sleeping arrangements.
Thalia, with a teasing smile, replied, "I can just sleep beside you."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her playful banter.
"Alright then, good night," I said with a small smile, knowing she was just teasing.
As I began to drift off to sleep, a delicate fragrance reached my senses, causing me to stir. To my surprise, I found Thalia lying beside me.
It made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, and I was about to say something when she spoke up, "What are you looking at? It's not the first time. You were unconscious for five days, and I slept here."
AUTHOR NOTE::
Everyone keep giving Power stones -- Keep getting Chapters, Hope Story will become interesting.