Chapter 9: The Beginning of a Partnership
Shortly after Harun left, one of his men came to escort Kaelen. He walked him through the shelter's corridors, which were now quieter, though still filled with tense survivors who looked at Kaelen with a mix of awe and suspicion. Kaelen felt the weight of their gazes, realizing that every step he took was being judged. The situation wasn't easy, but it was part of the plan he had formulated in his mind.
He led Kaelen to another small room. Unlike the previous one, it was cleaner and more organized. There were metal beds lined up along the wall, and some basic medical equipment. Emily was lying on one of the beds, pale-faced but seeming calm. Laila, the nurse, sat beside her, examining Emily's arm, which was wrapped in a white bandage.
When she saw them, Emily's body trembled for a moment. Her eyes were open, and she seemed to be trying to remember what had happened. She looked at Kaelen, then at her arm, then back at him with eyes filled with fear.
"You're fine; that's what matters," Kaelen said in a calm voice, trying to reassure her.
"What... what happened?" Emily asked in a weak voice, as if afraid of the answer.
"You were rescued," Kaelen replied, then looked at Laila. "Can we speak privately for a moment?"
Laila looked at Kaelen with a suspicious gaze but remembered that Harun had asked her to leave once he arrived. She exited the room, closing the door behind her.
Kaelen approached Emily's bed and sat on the chair beside it. His hands were still trembling, but he controlled himself.
"Listen to me carefully, Emily," Kaelen said in a serious tone. "What happened in the corridor was dangerous, but it was also... an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Emily asked, her expression changing to surprise. "What do you mean?"
"The monster that attacked you was from the Third Wave," Kaelen replied. "It possessed greater power than anything we've seen before. But it didn't kill you. Something else happened."
Kaelen explained how the System he saw had revealed her ability, and how her cry, "I want to live," wasn't just a scream, but a command for a dormant power to emerge. He didn't tell her any details about his own System, but he made it clear that her body now possessed the ability to regenerate and heal, and that this power would be essential for her survival in this world.
"You're no longer just an ordinary survivor, Emily. You possess something unique. This makes you a target, but it also makes you powerful."
Emily looked at him in shock, then at her bandaged arm. She still felt a faint pain, but she knew something irreversible had changed within her. She felt a strange mix of terror and awe, as if she were waking from a nightmare that was still ongoing.
"I... I don't understand. Am I... like you?" she asked fearfully, but this time there was a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"No, you're not like me," Kaelen replied. "But we are now connected. This isn't because of fate, but because of logic. I can help you understand and control your abilities, and you... you can help both of us survive. We can be a partnership, if you want."
Kaelen finished speaking and left the choice to her. This was all he could offer for now. He didn't want to force her; he wanted to build trust between them.
After he finished speaking, Kaelen looked at her pale face, and at that moment, he felt a strange shock. It was as if he had seen that face before. He remembered the crowded university cafe, where he used to watch the crowds from a distant corner, analyzing people's movements. He used to see Emily there often, laughing with her friends, making her part of the background of his old world, part of the daily routine he observed. Was it her? He wasn't sure, but the sense of relief he felt was real. In this world where everything had collapsed, he found a familiar face that represented a link to the past, and at the same time, a key to his future.