Chapter 246: An Eventful Night.

Kael’s gaze returned to Ezra.

"So she’ll wake up eventually?"

"She should," Varek replied. "She simply needs time to recover."

Kael turned toward Varek, who was still standing beside his bed.

"How long would it take for her to wake up?"

Varek’s expression became slightly solemn as he glanced toward Ezra.

"It’s hard to say, Master. She could wake up any minute now, or it could take years. It all depends on the extent of the damage done to her soul and spirit, as well as how quickly they can recover."

Kael frowned.

"Of course, there is no guarantee that it will take that long," Varek added, his voice still grim.

"From what I can tell, the damage isn’t particularly severe. Her condition is stable, so now it mostly depends on how quickly she can recover on her own. If her recovery slows or she encounters some difficulty, she may require external support."

Kael’s brows furrowed slightly.

An item capable of healing damage to the soul or spirit was not something he currently possessed. He had items that could improve mental clarity and strengthen certain aspects of the mind, but nothing that could directly repair a damaged soul.

Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t obtain something like that in the future.

And at the moment, there was no reason to assume Ezra would even need it. Varek had already said the damage wasn’t particularly severe. For all he knew, she could open her eyes at any moment.

There was nothing more he could do right now.

Kael let out a quiet breath before making his decision.

He had done his part. Continuing to focus on something completely outside his control wouldn’t accomplish anything. There were already more than enough things he could control that demanded his attention.

"Keep an eye on her for now," Kael said. "Let’s see how things develop from here."

"As you instructed, Master."

Kael nodded before shifting his attention toward the room.

It was time to head back.

He had left in the middle of dinner without giving Lyra any explanation. She was probably worried sick by now.

Kael couldn’t exactly blame her.

He had suddenly disappeared after receiving Varek’s message, and considering how urgent the situation had sounded, he hadn’t even had the time to properly explain what was happening. The problem was that he hadn’t known the full situation himself. How was he supposed to explain something when he barely understood it?

With that thought, Kael stepped away from the bed.

"Open a portal, but not at the last entry point. Open it in the usual location, the place I normally enter from."

There was a reason behind the request.

Kael wasn’t going to exit from the area where he had fought the Dark Viper Guild. The disturbance caused by that battle had undoubtedly attracted attention by now. With the amount of destruction left behind, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Hunter Association had already flooded the area with officials.

Exiting there would only create unnecessary trouble.

Varek understood the order without question.

The next moment, space began to crackle.

A faint distortion appeared in the air before rapidly expanding, forming a stable portal.

Kael walked toward it, but just as he was about to step through, he paused.

"Oh."

He turned his head slightly toward Varek.

"There’s one more thing I want you to do for me."

Varek’s face turned serious. He knew that tone, it always meant his master had some serious task in store for him.

***

The portal’s light faded as Kael stepped out on the other side.

The area was just as quiet and desolate as usual. Nothing appeared out of place, and there was no sign that anyone had noticed the portal’s brief appearance.

The moment Kael fully exited, the portal closed behind him.

He didn’t linger.

His body blurred as he shot into the distance, rapidly making his way back toward the city.

By now, it was already late into the night. Most of the streets were quiet, with only the occasional streetlight illuminating the empty roads below. Kael moved through the sleeping city like a shadow, his figure barely more than a blur as he crossed the distance.

Before long, the familiar apartment building came into view.

Kael slowed down and landed in front of it.

He immediately began climbing toward their apartment, reaching it within moments.

The hallway was quiet.

Kael stopped in front of the door and listened for a moment.

There was still light coming from inside.

Lyra was awake.

Kael couldn’t help feeling like an asshole.

The way he had left without saying anything would have been enough to make anyone worry. But what choice had he really had?

Still, that probably wouldn’t make her any less worried.

Kael shook his head and reached for the handle.

He twisted it and opened the door.

The moment he stepped inside, his enhanced hearing picked up the sudden rustling of fabric from the sofa.

Someone had quickly gotten to their feet.

Hurried footsteps followed.

Kael barely had time to close the door behind him before Lyra appeared in the hallway.

She rushed toward him, her face filled with worry.

"Kael!"

Her eyes immediately swept over him.

Kael hadn’t suffered any injuries from his fight with the Dark Viper Guild, but the battle hadn’t left him completely spotless. Some of the blood from his enemies had splashed onto his clothes, leaving several dark stains across the fabric.

The moment Lyra noticed it, her expression changed.

Her worry deepened instantly.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

She rushed closer, reaching for him as she began checking his body for injuries.

Kael immediately caught her by the shoulders.

"Calm down, Lyra."

His voice was steady.

"Nothing is wrong with me. This isn’t my blood."

Lyra froze.

Kael looked directly into her worried eyes.

"Just take a deep breath."

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