Chapter 82
Chapter 82 Fading Scales
Hearing that, Lyra looked at Jessa.
Jessa was looking at her with the same teasing expression.
She suddenly felt embarrassed over her wild, baseless thoughts from moments ago.
She quickly stood up, mouthed her thanks to the nurse, and reached to fold the blanket herself.
Finished
The nurse waved her off warmly. “Don’t bother. You’d better head out now. Your shift’s about to start p>
Lyra glanced at the time and froze in shock. She’d slept far longer than she’d meant to!
If she lingered any longer, she would definitely be late for work.
Before she could argue, the nurse stepped forward to take the blanket away.
Lyra rushed to bow repeatedly in gratitude, waved quickly at Jessa, then turned and hurried out of the ward without a second’s delay.
Jessa stayed on the hospital bed, watching Lyra’s retreating figure with a soft smile the entire time.
Once the sound of Lyra’s footsteps faded completely, the nurse lifted her head.
“Don’t worry,” Jessa assured her. “She didn’t hear a thing. I’ve been keeping an eye on her the whole time p>
The nurse nodded and left with the blanket in her arms.
Lyra sprinted all the way to the supply room, grabbed a utility cart, and rushed straight to the cell block building.
Her hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, drawing the attention of every Sentinel inside the cells.
Yet for the first time, there were no cheerful calls greeting her arrival.
Inside one quiet cell sat a lifelike doll dressed in an ornate, delicate gown, its long hair smooth and glossy.
Behind it, a miniature luxury castle lay half-assembled, its tiny warm orange lights casting a faint glow that chased away the room’s cold, lonely emptiness.
A single jet-black feather with a subtle iridescent sheen slowly drifted toward the doll.
It froze mid-air, inches from touching the doll’s surface, then gradually retracted out of sight, pulled back by the sudden noise outside.
Left alone, the beautiful, smiling doll remained seated quietly on its pink miniature chair.
Lyra began her daily rounds, checking each cell one by one.
12:35 pm
Chapter 82-Fading Scales
Finished
Arthur was as quiet and composed as ever, but he noticed her ragged, hurried breathing and spoke up with genuine concern. “Is everything alright p>
For the first time, he leaned down slightly to study her condition closely.
It was the first chance Lyra had gotten to truly see Arthur’s face clearly.
Her gaze was instantly drawn to his striking golden eyes, which shimmered with a soft, inherent radiance.
He was impossibly handsome, with refined, gentle features and the dignified grace of a true gentleman.
Right then, he stared at her with earnest, calm concern in his luminous golden irises, warm and comforting like sunlight in the depths of winter.
Lyra froze for a moment, caught off guard by his gentle demeanof
Arthur quickly clarified, fearing he’d overstepped. “I heard you rushing in just now and assumed something was wrong. I didn’t mean to offend you p>
Lyra shook her head in understanding and jotted a note on her pad.
“Thank you for worrying. I just overslept during lunch break and rushed over to avoid being late p>
Arthur read the words and nodded softly. “I see p>
Lyra nodded back and gestured toward the utility cart to remind him of the daily laundry collection.
Arthur quickly folded his soiled garments neatly, picked them up, and placed them gently into the cart. “Thank you for your trouble p>
Lyra spared him a curious glance, surprised by his rare initiative to strike up a conversation today.
She shook her head to signal it was no trouble and continued pushing the cart toward the rear cells.
Arthur did not move away. He stood quietly by his cell window, his gaze fixed steadily on her departing back.
The small window of Cell 103 slid open next.
Rhys awkwardly hurried to toss his dirty clothes out.
Gone was his usual bold, playful energy. He seemed stiff and overly polite, repeatedly murmuring words. of thanks and praise for her hard work.
Lyra could feel his intense gaze lingering on her long after she’d moved on.
When she turned back to look, he quickly ducked back out of sight, as if caught doing something he shouldn’t.
Lyra frowned in quiet confusion. What was he staring at?
She continued down the row of cells methodically.
17
12:35 pm
Chapter 82-ding Scales
Finished
When she subconsciously reached for the latch of Cell 120 to open its window, she abruptly remembered the cell was now empty.
Her eyelashes fluttered downward, heavy with unspoken melancholy.
She closed the window and kept moving upstairs.
She paused to check on Rook in Cell 201 out of habit.
As expected, his lunch meal was scattered messily across the floor once again.
Instead of feeling annoyed, Lyra felt a deep surge of sympathy for him.
Without the use of his hands, he was forced to eat crouched on the floor like an animal.
It was a humiliating, undignified act-one he would never dare do while anyone was watching.
Her thoughts drifted involuntarily to Felix, who also suffered the same loss of his hands.
Before she could open the next cell window, Draven’s voice cut through her quiet sigh. “What’s got you sighing like that p>
Lyra stepped closer and opened his cell window slowly. Draven tilted his head, studying her with obvious
concern.
Lyra froze mid-shake of her head, her eyes locking firmly on his face.
Once, dazzling crimson scales had swirled thickly around his eyes, nearly swallowing his entire iris.
Now, those scales had faded significantly, almost imperceptibly, without her noticing.
Her eyes widened in pure shock, and she pointed gently at his face, stunned by the obvious change.
Draven curled his lips into a faint, knowing smile and offered a vague answer. “Maybe I’ve just been in a better mood lately p>
Lyra lifted a skeptical brow.
She’d been told before that positive emotions could only keep a Sentinel’s contamination levels from rising-never reverse or reduce the existing contamination.
So how was this happening?
Sensing her clear doubt, Draven shifted his gaze.
The small red fish floated leisurely out from beside him.
He smiled softly. “The little fish wants to play with you. Is that alright p>
Lyra nodded, but her curiosity still lingered.
She prepared to press him further for answers.
12:35 pm
Chapter 82-ading Scales
Finished
Draven spoke again, snoothly steering the conversation. “Maybe coming out to play helps it shake off some of its gloom.
“The little fish seems far livelier than usual too p>
As if acting on cue, the red/fish fluttered its fins-more vigorously, its body expanding slightly in size.
Its layered fiery red tail swayed gracefully, like a flowing skirt dancing in the wind, vivid and breathtaking.
Lyra’s attention was instantly drawn to the stunning spirit animal, her train of thought completely diverted.
Could it be that when a spirit animal was in high spirits, the host’s condition also improved alongside it?
She turned back to Draven, hoping for confirmation. Yet Draven simply stared back at her, feigning complete innocence.
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12:35 pm
Feral Senunefs Obey Only Her
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.