Ravihiro's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a soft, glowing light. He found himself lying in a pool of shimmering water that pulsed with faint spiritual energy, his body floating in its warmth. His memories of the intense battle were blurred, but he could still feel the lingering effects of the injuries.
Sitting up, he looked around, recognizing that he was in a grand chamber, its architecture reminiscent of a castle or noble manor. The room was lavishly decorated with tapestries, artifacts, and statues of powerful figures, each radiating an aura of strength and grace.
Where… am I ? he thought, a little disoriented.
Just as he began checking his injuries, a familiar figure entered the room—Kaira his maid, her face lighting up in relief as she saw him awake.
"Master Ravihiro!" she called, hurrying over. "You're finally awake."
"How long was I out?" he asked, feeling surprisingly well for the state he remembered himself in after the fight.
Kaira paused before answering, her tone respectful yet cautious. "A year. You've been unconscious for an entire year."
Ravihiro blinked, the shock settling in. An entire year…
He quickly pulled himself out of the spiritual pool, shaking off the lingering water and beginning to gather his qi to stabilize himself. Kaira helped him to his feet, explaining, "You were brought here to recover, and the spiritual pool helped your body regenerate over time."
Ravihiro's mind raced, but one question nagged at him. "What happened to the woman?" he asked, his gaze steady.
Kaira hesitated for a moment, then nodded toward the door. "She's in another room, injured and unconscious, much like you were."
Without another word, Ravihiro followed kaira, curiosity and a strange sense of responsibility driving him forward. They made their way through the halls, past large, intricately carved doors, before stopping in front of a chamber.
As they stepped inside, Ravihiro found the woman lying on a soft, ornate bed, her face pale but strong even in her sleep. She looked peaceful, though a faint trace of the same fierce aura lingered around her.
Ravihiro approached, gathering his energy, and began channeling a healing flow toward her. The gentle warmth of his qi seemed to do the trick, and soon, she began to stir.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. She shot up, yelling, "Bastard!" before catching sight of him, her face quickly shifting from fierce anger to embarrassed shock.
Her face turned red as she realized the situation, covering her mouth, clearly flustered. Ravihiro smirked, finding himself entertained by her reaction. "Quite the introduction," he teased, crossing his arms. "Are all your greetings this dramatic?"
The woman cleared her throat, calming herself and mustering as much composure as she could manage. "Forgive me," she muttered, straightening her posture and smoothing down her hair. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Likewise," Ravihiro replied with a casual shrug, an amused glint in his eyes. "Good to see you're recovering after all that—what do you remember?"
"Enough,"
She introduced herself as Rumina
Than she said with a slight smirk. "I remember your… interesting techniques."
"Well," he replied, not missing a beat, "you were quite the challenge yourself."
There was a brief silence as the tension between them softened. Finally, she let out a sigh, her tone shifting to one of unexpected warmth. "You have proven yourself."
Ravihiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Proven myself? For what exactly?"
She gave him a cryptic smile. "You'll find out soon enough."