Meanwhile, within Azure Mist’s camp, Emily was shaking her head as she looked at Vanessa.“Vanessa, stop looking. We’re mere ants in the eyes of Dustin. We’re worlds apart.”
Her eyes followed the path Dustin had taken, and she let out a deep sigh.“As the chosen one, he’s a force capable of overwhelming the grandmasters. We can never hope toreachhislevelinourlifetime.”
Shesharedthesame admirationtowardDustin,whowasa younggrandmaster.Butshewaswell
awarethattheywerenotinthesameleague.
Itwouldbebesttoonlyadmirehimfromafar.Gettingcloserwould onlyleadtonothingbut
frustration.
“Ifonly hewasn’tsoremarkable,”Vanessamuttered.Shelookedconflicted.
Shehad finallyfoundsomeonesheliked.Buthewassooutstandingthatshefeltinferior.
Perhapsitwasbettertopartwaysandforgeteachotherinthemartialworld.
Perhapsthiswasthebestouetheycouldhopefor.
Yet,whywasshereluctant toseehimgo?Couldshegenuinelyerasethememoryofthat
exceptionalman?
Laterthatday,insidearoombackatZephyrLodge,acutelittlegirlwasgently shakingNatasha’s
arm.Shewascrying.1
“Prettdy,pleasewakeup.Pleaseopenyoureyesandlookatme.Youpromisedmeyouwould
tellmestories.Whyareyoustillsleeping?
“Ifyoudon’twakeupsoon,I’mgoingtogetmad.”
ApregnantCeciliawasalsobesidethem.Redtingedhereyesastheyappearedoverwhelmedby
grief.
Eversinceherhusband,Nelson,passedaway,Natashahadtakencareoftheirdailyneeds.
Fromhospitalcheck–upstomakingsureHaleywenttokindergarten,shehaddoneeverything
meticulously.Shetreatedthemliketheywere family.
Ceciliawas notonlygratefultoNatasha,shealsosawherasherownsister.Thatwaswhyshe
washeartbrokentoseeNatashaunconsciousandincriticalcondition.
“Dr.Watkins,istherereallynootherway?Ismysistergoingtostayunconsciousforever?”
AtearfulRuthsatbyNatasha’sbedside,holdingherhandtightly.
Sincehersisterhadbeenincriticalcondition,she hadneverleftherside.Ithadbeentwodays
sinceshehadproper/rest.
“Tobehonest,it’samiraclethatshe’sstillholdingonrightnow.’