Persephone froze as she gazed at Morpheus.He bore numerous wounds, spanning from his neck down to the back of his feet. Positioned with his back to the bathroom door, he appeared to be tending to an injury on his back.Bruises, swelling, cuts…There were bruises and patches of dried blood, silently proclaiming to the world that he had endured a brutal and vicious battle.Yet, at the shopping mall, he had displayed nothing.It turned out he had been suppressing his pain.Persephone felt a jolt in her heart. Her hand, covering her mouth, slowly dropped."Aren't you... sleeping?" he asked."I woke up," she said softly. "Your wounds…""It's nothing."Morpheus seemed calm, but his heart was in turmoil. Grabbing his clothes quietly, he accidentally aggravated the wounds on his back in his haste.He bit his lip, striving to endure it."L-Let me tend to your wounds!" Persephone suddenly said.Morpheus was stunned—doubt flashed through his eyes.His reason urged him to keep his d
Persephone had never witnessed the cruelty of life, nor had she fathomed the extent to which it could push a person. While her brother, back in the Hamertons, had a boxing trainer to enhance his physique as a personal interest, Morpheus engaged in it for survival.The realization hit her, and a wave of sadness washed over Persephone, prompting tears to fall. She struggled to speak, her voice choked. "Who... was it... Who subjected you to such brutality... Does it... hurt?"Morpheus' heart tightened at her words. Slowly, he turned to face her, questioning if the glistening tears on her face were for him. Touched by the unspoken emotion, he refrained from expressing it overtly.After a prolonged silence, he handed her a bottle of ointment. In the darkness, his deep voice resonated. "I can't reach my back, indeed. Please apply this for me."Persephone was taken aback. Wiping away her tears, she accepted the bottle. As she ceased crying, he softened his demeanor.In the quiet house,
Morpheus battled insomnia that night, tossing and turning in a restless struggle. Despite his weariness, sleep eluded him, his mind consumed by thoughts of Persephone.Unable to divert his focus, he found himself immersed in memories of her. Yet, in the rare moments when her image faded, all that remained was the haunting specter of his life, besieged by bullets.The merciless brutality of the battlefield lingered in his thoughts—the shattered ruins, the blood-soaked drains.He curled into a ball and closed his eyes, a sharp pain radiating from the depths of his heart. Trembling and breathless, he grappled with the overwhelming anguish.Morpheus summoned his strength and compelled himself to sit up, seeking solace in the bathroom. Cold water cascaded over his wounds as he cleansed them repeatedly.Gazing into the mirror, he confronted his reflection, a visual narrative of scars, old and new. Perhaps, he mused, his involvement in the gritty underground arena served as a deliberate
Persephone pointed at them. "These two herbs together are for promoting blood circulation and removing bruises. Soaking them in bathwater and using them to wash can reduce swelling and alleviate pain..."Morpheus gazed at her steadily. Yet, Persephone interpreted his complex expression as his surprise.Waving her hand, she chuckled and continued. "No need to thank me. These are small matters to me! And you don't have to worry about the proportion. It's absolutely precise!"Morpheus narrowed his eyes. The herbs were quite common, but not in Flinge, not even familiar. However, in Southeast Aciatic... His heart lurched, and his gaze toward Persephone deepened."Hey, this is the culmination of my lifelong learning!" Persephone looked at him. "You should go to the pharmacy for them when you have time!"After a prolonged silence, Morpheus asked in a low voice, "How do you know these prescriptions?"Persephone felt proud. What was so difficult about it? Her grandmother was a descendant
Even though Morpheus didn't show it on his face, he felt a wave of warmth inside."I'm not that fragile." He smiled. "Are you full?"Persephone burped, wiped her mouth, and grinned at him."The weather is nice today." Morpheus glanced outside. "How about we go out for a stroll?"Persephone happily agreed, quickly tidied up, and went out with him.Morpheus took her to several streets in Flinge. It was her first time observing the city during the daytime. She found that Flinge was quite lovely in daylight, a city filled with sunshine and vibrancy. Each street was adorned with beautiful, nameless flowers competing in beauty.Boys and girls in ethnic attire were playing around in groups, looking exceptionally cheerful.The shops on both sides were bustling, attracting tourists from all around the world. Everywhere was a scene of joy and harmony.Persephone mingled among the crowd, brimming with excitement. Morpheus feared she might get lost and stayed close behind. He grabbed her
"Are you praising my looks?" Persephone asked.Morpheus remained silent and just ruffled her hair gently."But I'm your wife, right? How could she let a married woman...""These things are common here," Morpheus said casually. "Husbands accumulate gambling debts, and wives sell themselves to pay them off. It's a routine occurrence.""But didn't you say you'd protect me?""That was under the premise that I'm alive." His voice grew deeper, his expression more serious. "But in those lawless underground rings, anything can happen. Everyone signs a life-or-death contract. Even death in those fights is deemed deserved!"Persephone halted, staring at him blankly.Morpheus paused when he noticed the coldness and tremors in her hand. Her pretty face paled with fear, too.He frowned slightly and pulled her into his arms. He alertly scanned around, then led her to blend into the crowd swiftly with their heads down."Morpheus, I..." Persephone's voice trembled."I was talking about the w
Persephone suddenly halted, realizing there were familiar faces around her. A surge of joy filled her, but she cautiously avoided looking around. She silently trailed behind Morpheus, taking small steps forward.Morpheus turned around. "What's wrong?"Persephone's heart raced as if it would leap out of her mouth. She looked up at him, unable to utter a single word. Her unusual expression and pale face puzzled Morpheus."Are you feeling unwell?""No...""Let's look around, then head back."Morpheus squinted. He noticed the flickering light on her wrist and her distracted demeanor and then recollected her prescriptions and those exotic ingredients only found in Southeast Aciatic...His doubts gathered like thick clouds in his mind. This bracelet was highly unusual as he had never seen her take it off. Could this flickering pendant be some sort of signal?Just as this thought struck him, he abruptly grabbed her shoulder and embraced her tightly.Startled, Persephone raised her he
Persephone's worries were almost flowing out of her eyes!Morpheus stood aside, straightening his back. The punch he had received wasn't much, but it surprisingly stung right now. Did she not remember that he also had injuries? Did she not realize these were a mix of old and new injuries?He assessed Seamus thoroughly. Seams was good-looking and refined. He appeared as a dashing young fellow. However, the viciousness in his punch moments ago contradicted his genteel appearance.Seamus was fairer, leaner, and had more delicate features, yet his muscles were as developed as his. Morpheus grunted and cleared his throat.Persephone finally remembered him and turned to look."This is...""He's Seamus Rutherford," Persephone introduced formally. "My... My good friend."She couldn't say Seamus was her bodyguard. After all, how could a regular girl have a bodyguard? In spite of it, the words "good friend" pricked Morpheus' heart.He glanced at her wrist and then at Seamus'. They bo