Chapter 180 Intrusion
Aleshia awoke in the dark, and beside her lay Lucia. To her relief, the top of her was back to normal, no longer concave. Looking around, Aleshia noticed a small, worn, stitched blanket strewn across her. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a glow coming from the room ahead of where she had been sleeping. A few children were trying to peek inside, hovering just outside the entrance.
She slowly got up, gently carrying the still-asleep Lucia on her head, and walked to the other room. When she approached, the children greeted her, their gazes fixed on the scene inside. Curiously, she peeked in to see what was happening. There, Daniel diligently tended to everyone in the room—wiping them down, feeding them what scraps of food they had, combing their hair, and doing everything he could to ease their pain.
'He's so caring, even though he can be so intimidating. I guess that's what a life in the slums does to you,' Aleshia thought as she entered the room. When she crossed the threshold, Daniel immediately noticed her and turned his head toward the door. A moment later, he realized who it was and eased up.
"You're awake now, I see. When do you think you can start on the next one?" Daniel asked, his voice shaky yet hopeful.
Aleshia could hear the hope in his tone and wanted to respond with certainty, but she wasn't sure when they could do it again. She didn't believe she could replicate everything Lucia had accomplished that first time. So, Aleshia gave him a straightforward answer: "I'll need Lucia's help to do this, so once she is awake and recharged, I think we can tackle the next one." she said, her gaze panning across the room.
"That's good to hear. I won't try to rush you, but I would appreciate it if you could continue healing the kids here when you can. They certainly need it the most," Daniel said somberly.
Changing the subject, he asked, "Do you need any food? You've been sleeping for a while, and if you're hungry, you should ask the children. They know where it is and how to ration it."
At the words "ration it out," Aleshia winced, recalling the bread they had given her. "No, it's alright. I can't possibly intrude on your food budget," she tried to decline politely. However, the rumbling in her stomach compelled her to reconsider.