06 - Clinic [2]
It wasn't hard to come to terms with the possibility of me having passed out.
The last memory I had was of me using [Absolute Zero], only to wake up in this place all of a sudden.
I couldn't recall whatever it was that had happened back then. I didn't even know what happened to Eris.
'Ah, Eris…'
I heaved a sigh.
Wendy did mention that she was the only other survivor of the incident other than myself.
I looked around, searching for her but I couldn't see her anywhere around this place.
'Maybe she was put in a different room,' I thought.
I looked at my palms, staring at them like they were some strange nuclear weapons attached to my body.
Just how much damage did I do that warranted me passing out?
Surely, as an EX- rank ability, I expected it to be powerful and the Essence as well was no different than what I anticipated, maybe a bit more.
Wait a minute…
My eyes glinted with an unusual spark.
'Essence drain…'
The pieces were finally coming together.
I had gone unconscious because my Essence reserves had been largely depleted by just one technique.
That was going to be a problem for me.
Having powerful abilities without the resources available to execute them was no different from being a normal person without any abilities.
"You are still overthinking it," Wendy cut my train of thoughts short, cupping my face to look at her.
Unexpectedly, I felt her warm lips pressed softly against mine in a deep kiss.
The kiss was a brief one but it was full of emotions—feelings that she couldn't express.
Wendy Arclight transferred all of her heart's content into that kiss.
Opening her eyes, I saw hers.
She shut them, deeply immersed in such an emotional moment.
Her lashes watered.
I could see tiny bits of tears gathered underneath her eyes, but they didn't drop.
The kiss came to an end and she pulled back, flashing a big smile that was intended for hiding her true emotions.
"I'm really glad you are okay, Link. I was worried sick when they said you were brought in unconscious."
I was silent.
No words were coming to me.
She cleaned her eyes with the back of her hands, sniffling and still trying to laugh.
"I'm not crying. There was something in my eyes."
That was sweet.
Her words brought a sincere smile to my face.
'This Link guy really hit the jackpot with this lady.'
I placed my hands on hers, and held her firmly.
Underneath my touch, I felt her hands fold and mildly shiver.
She was truly scared—scared that the man she loved was at the brink of death.
Maybe she blamed herself or something of that sort.
Maybe she felt powerless, that she couldn't save her boyfriend or be there for him in his time of need.
My touch on her hands became even firmer.
"Forgive me for making you worry, Wendy."
Her world stopped, and her pupils shrank.
Tiny beads of tears flew out from the corners of her eyes.
"It won't happen again…" I said, cleaning her eyes with one of my hands.
[Your bond with Wendy Arclight is over 50]
[Click to see rewards]
[You have raised your connection with Wendy Arclight by +1.5 Bond]
[Bond: 81.5 ❤︎]
I ignored the few panels that suddenly appeared since I could sort that matter out later.
She smiled and nodded.
The antlers on her head lightened, almost as though they wanted to emit light.
Even the small leaves attached to them emit lighter colours.
She was happier, clearly in a better state of mind than before.
"What an emotional couple you two are."
Yikes! That startled us.
I felt a cold shiver run down my entire body in a split second.
Looking at Wendy, I was certain she experienced the same thing.
We had been lost in our discussion—our own little world—before this uninvited voice pulled us back to reality.
This person was a woman.
Tall and beautiful with a pair of prescription glasses that she was wearing.
Her hair was short and brown, well suited for her face.
In her hand was a file.
If I were to take a guess, I would say that it was mine, considering that she was standing in my designated area.
Over her casual wear was a long white lab coat with her name boldly knitted on the right breast area.
[Dr Grace Carson]
Dr Grace was in charge of this clinic.
She was brilliant at her work, so much that anyone whom she encountered would specifically request to see her the next time they would come.
Dr Grace turned her eyes to Wendy, who still remained on top of me.
Narrowing her eyes at my girlfriend, it was similar to watching laser rays shoot out from the eyes of a superhero back on Earth.
"Sowwieee Dr Grace!" Wendy exclaimed.
She quickly got off me and sat on the chair that was next to the head of my bed.
"How am I doing, doc?"
I quickly changed to the topic.
Asides that, however, I was genuinely curious since I couldn't tell if the effect of [Absolute Zero] on my body ended in just passing out.
"Let's see…" Dr Grace replied, taking a pen from her pocket and tracing it over the content of the file she was holding.
"Well, Link. Good thing they found you in time," she said.
"Your vitals are stable. Nothing to worry about. Thank goodness you weren't alone there."
I looked at Wendy and she returned the gesture.
I smiled as though telling her 'I told you so', but instead of accepting it, she playfully frowned her face and shifted her attention back to Dr Grace.
"So can I go today?"
I was eager to leave this place.
I needed to find the answers to my many questions.
"Calm your horses, young man."
She closed the file and relaxed her arm by her side, placing the other into the pocket of her lab coat.
"We will watch you a little bit more than I can consider letting you go."
I sighed.
While that was not what I would have loved, it was better than staying here any longer than she has agreed to keep me.
Dr Grace then turned her eyes to Wendy. "Time to go, Wendy. You know this is already past visiting hours and you will have your field activities soon."
Wendy bobbed her head repeatedly. "I know, Dr Grace. I will be going soon, so I won't cause you any trouble."
She rose from the chair and walked towards me, planting a kiss on my left cheek before saying her goodbyes.
All the while, Dr Grace watched.
She was seemingly amazed at how enviable our relationship was even after a little over a year of being together.
Such flourishing partnerships were no longer common amongst youngsters these days.
"Bye Link! Bye Dr Grace!"
We both waved her goodbye and she ran off.
Dr Grace looked around for a few seconds and when she was satisfied, she walked over to the chair where Wendy was previously sitting.
"Now that you are awake, Link… tell me what really happened."