CHAPTER - 139

  The late afternoon light filtered through the tall infirmary windows, tinting the white walls with a soft golden hue.

  The pungent smell of disinfectants mingled with the faint scent of medicinal herbs, neatly arranged on shelves.

  The silence was broken only by the distant ticking of a wall clock and the steady breathing of those present.

  Sofia took a small bottle and a large cotton swab, and with a gentle but firm voice, asked Dav to sit down.

  She had to apply that medicinal liquid to the old wounds on his face, to prevent them from becoming infected or reopening.

  Even though some time had passed, a few still looked fresh, as if the pain refused to let them fully heal.

  Dav sat down on a cushioned stool, while Sofia took the seat in front of him, ending up very close.

  Their legs brushed against each other unintentionally, but neither of them moved.

  An awkward tension lingered in the air, as palpable as the warm breeze flowing in through the open window.

  With care, Sofia applied a cream to Dav's skin, skillfully avoiding the scars.

  Then she dipped the swab into the bottle and passed it over his wounds, while her other hand gently held back his crimson red hair.

  Every now and then, their eyes met and in those moments, time seemed to stop.

  She lost herself in his red eyes, deep and alive like drops of the purest blood, framed by long and perfect lashes.

  Dav, on the other hand, gazed into her green eyes, glowing like emeralds under the golden light of sunset.

  It felt as if their eyes were silently calling out to each other.

  Their faces slowly drew closer, pulled together by a quiet, magnetic force…

  then, suddenly, they both turned away, as if waking from a dream.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Dav stood up, adjusted his uniform, and gave a calm look to both Sofia and Ekaterina.

  “Guess it’s time to go.

  See you next time for the cream and the little bottle.

  Ekaterina, I invite you to come visit me in one of my classes.

  My doors are open.”

  Ekaterina nodded politely and greeted him.

  Sofia also gave a small nod, but the blush on her cheeks said more than words could.

  "What the hell got into me!? For a moment, I completely lost myself…

  it was like something was pulling me into his eyes.

  That wasn’t normal… I wonder what he must’ve thought..."

  Dav stepped out of the infirmary and leaned against the door.

  The sky outside had already turned a soft orange, with the first long shadows stretching across the polished corridor floors.

  "I got mesmerized by a pair of simple eyes like that chicken Kael…

  Her eyes were so clear, I could see so many things."

  He walked slowly, hands in his pockets, until he reached the giant library door.

  He knew no one would be there at that hour… but he was wrong.

  Seated elegantly in one of the armchairs, Valeria was reading a book, gorgeous and refined in her dark clothes and black heels.

  Her glasses had slipped slightly down her nose.

  When she saw him, she lifted her gaze and stood up in a flash, running toward him.

  “I missed bothering you today… but Dad wanted to visit Mom and my sister.

  I couldn’t leave him alone.”

  She hugged him tightly.

  Dav did the same, kissing her forehead sweetly.

  Valeria looked up at him with a playful expression.

  “When did you get taller than me…? I clearly remember you being a bit shorter.

  You must have a slow growth rate.”

  Dav smiled, his nose brushing against hers.

  “You complain too much.”

  Valeria gave him a goofy, annoyed face.

  “Stupid.”

  She pinched his cheek and silenced him with a kiss.

  The sun, nearly set, cast their shadows on the library walls, dancing slowly as they exchanged long, silent kisses.

  Dav sat down at a table.

  She settled onto his lap and hugged him around the waist, caressing his face and scars with infinite tenderness.

  “Tell me about your day. I’m curious.”

  Dav asked Valeria, running his fingers through her hair.

  “At 7:00 we left, went to the cemetery…cleaned the graves, changed the flowers.

  Then we found a place to have lunch and Dad… talked a lot about you.”

  She made a funny face.

  “He kept saying:

  > He stole my little girl! <

  with tears in his eyes.”

  Then she added with a smirk,

  “Then he said not to wait for him to die to see a grandchild…

  a little dramatic, I guess.”

  “A little?” Dav replied, laughing.

  Valeria stretched on top of him and kissed his neck with playful mischief, finding Dav’s weak spot, his neck.

  His skin heated up right there, turning almost red, as if overwhelmed by the warmth.

  She noticed it immediately and stored that precious detail away… something she’d later share with Iris with a cheeky grin.

  Then she took his face in one hand, gently squeezing his cheeks.

  “So, you let someone else sit in my place today, huh? You've got guts, doing that while I’m away.”

  Dav sweat a little, trying to keep calm.

  “I can’t stop anyone… you know that.”

  She smiled and stroked his hair.

  “I’m just teasing you, dummy.

  Selene is really stunning, and she's strong too, being a royal guard.

  Now… tell me your day.”

  END OF CHAPTER - 139