Chapter 28
Chapter 28 A Gentle Spark for a Weary Sentinel
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The hyena gave an almost unnoticeable nod before curling up just like any regular large dog.
Lyra got the message.
She realized the hyena was not nearly as menacing as she’d first thought. Its hostile attitude only stemmed from Rook’s terrible mood.
She took the clothes back, gently shut the window, and returned to Cell 205 to thank Harlan.
A
Harlan’s gaze fell on the note in his hand. He caught sight of her small fingers and grew curious.
“How old are you, miss p>
His voice came out rough–toned with a slow, steady cadence, making Lyra feel as if she was talking to a kind elderly man.
She jotted down words and slid the paper through the opening.
“Hello. My name is Lyra Kaelin. I’m twenty–two years old p>
“Twenty–two…” Harlan murmured quietly.
“How did someone so young end up working in a place like this p>
Confined for years with barely any interaction with other Sentinels, he cherished this young girl who reached out to him willingly.
He resembled a sapling stuck in a shadowed corner, eager to lean toward any ray of sunlight it received.
A helpless smile crossed Lyra’s face.
“Sorry for rambling. I hope I haven’t bothered you,” Harlan added.
Lyra knelt down, resting her forearms on the window ledge so she could look straight at his hunched frame.
At first glance, she had taken him for an elderly man, yet a closer look proved otherwise.
Thin and worn–out, he was weighed down by deep–seated despair.
He held striking mismatched eyes; one was a regular human eye, while the other was a cold–blooded reptilian green slit–pupil iris.
Dark emerald–colored scales spread across half of his face.
Despite his intimidating appearance, his eyes remained calm and peaceful as he looked back down at her.
Harlan tilted his head slightly out of surprise, studying the girl who chose to show him kindness voluntarily.
Her round baby – soft cheeks were framed by short, sleek hair. Her delicate skin, tiny nose and mouth paired
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Chapter 28 A Gentle Spark for a Weary Sentine!
with big, clear eyes made her look like a gentle little woodland creature, easy to grow fond of at first sight.
Harlan’s hanging fingers trembled subtly. The heavy gloom built up inside his chest lightened under her bright–eyed gaze.
Once he had been nothing more than a soldier who only knew to charge forward on the battlefield. He would rather have perished amid piles of fallen soldiers than spend his remaining years trapped here, lonely and broken.
He resented himself for failing to control his rising contamination level.
He hated surviving the war only to waste away like a hollow shell inside these walls.
All his self–loathing vanished for a fleeting second when he saw her soft, innocent features.
A sense of peace washed over him.
If protecting sweet, gentle souls just like her was the cost, then everything he went through was worthwhile.
While he kept staring at her, Lyra bent her head to write another note.
When she glanced up halfway, her pen froze completely.
Wait–why were his eyes glistening red?
Shock washed over Lyra, and she looked at him with sincere concern.
Her warm, caring look gave his worn–down spirit a burst of strength.
He shook his head and spoke in a quiet, flat tone. “It’s nothing. Growing older just makes me overly sentimental p>
His eyes stayed locked on her, filled with grateful warmth as though he had watched a seedling he cared for finally bloom.
Lyra felt confused.
He claimed he was old, but she disagreed.
His dull eyes only showed that he had lost the will to live.
Without hope in his heart, a person withered just like a tree deprived of nutrients.
In truth, he possessed mature, handsome features with a defined nose and jaw lines and firm skin that simply lacked a healthy glow.
Lyra quickly finished writing and handed the note to him.
Harlan slowly reached out to take it.
“I don’t think you talk too much. Everybody needs to vent. Just call for me whenever I’m around if you feel like talking p>
Warmth flooded Harlan’s chest, and the moisture in his reddened eyes sparkled like his worn–out soul had
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Chapter 28 A Gentle Spark for a Weary Sentinel
woken up again.
Thank you p>
Lyra shook her head and smiled at him.
“My name’s Harlan Merle. I was a member of the Black Armor Task Force. I’m twenty–nine p>
Lyra’s eyebrows lifted, her eyes wide with genuine admiration.
She knew few details about this special–ops unit, yet she deeply respected his dedication.
Harlan read her next note.
TEIT
“That’s amazing. Thank you for your sacrifice and for protecting ordinary people with everything you had.
1 “I may not help with huge problems, but I will do my best to ease your troubles and wish you happiness. ”
Reading those lines, Harlan’s throat tightened, and his eyes welled up again.
Lyra grew alarmed and stared at him worriedly.
Harlan covered his face and turned his back toward her.
“It’s fine, my eyes are dry from age. You should get back to your work
He walked away into the dark area where Lyra could not see him.
Lyra scratched her head helplessly, left a note through the gap, and stood up.
This man was far softer–hearted than anyone would guess.
Over in Cell 204, Lucian waited patiently for her arrival.
The second Lyra opened the service shutter, he dropped his usual sly–fox grin and acted like a lonely man waiting for his wife’s return.
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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.