Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 17

Chapter 17

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 06:43

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Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 06:43

Waking up was strange. There was no distinction between oblivion and consciousness, neither darkness nor light. Just Alex realized at some point that he was looking at the ceiling. It was an ordinary ceiling, almost white with a faint golden sparkle, slightly curved with a hint that it might be a part of the dome.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 07:02

// Or maybe just curved, like in the guest rooms at the palace." Alex contemplated, not feeling his own body at all.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 07:11

He felt like a disembodied observer-no pain, though he remembered the punctured lung and broken ribs, no hunger, no thirst, no throbbing in his head at least - nothing at all. It was as if he had no body at all.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 07:12

// "That would be very inconvenient." He grinned and tried to turn his head. It worked, but not right away; moving your muscles when you can't feel any feedback at all is very uncomfortable. There were tubes in his nose, too. That could also have had an effect.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 07:13

Slowly, as he turned his head, the picture of the world turned: first, there was the edge of the tall windows touching the ceiling, and a bright streak of pale blue sky, then a wide bracket, a metal paw hanging over the edge of the bed, studded with sensors, buttons, and the lights of small screens. A bright yellow plastic curtain hung beneath the bracket, now pushed aside, with only the dazzling light of the bowed goddess behind it.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:35

A woman was sitting next to his bed, and the huge sunset sun shining through the windows was blazing around her head with a halo of blinding gold. Her face was almost indistinguishable in the glow, but there was so much majestic beauty and serenity in her silhouette illuminated by the fiery gold that Alex involuntarily admired, mesmerized by the sight:

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:41

"You look like a goddess." He said, surprised at how easily the words came out. It was as if the tearing pain in his chest hadn't been there recently.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:41

The goddess put the infoblock aside and turned to him. Even through the sheen of her halo, he could see that she was smiling:

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:42

"What an immodest compliment Prince." He heard Artala's voice, which only confirmed his guesses, caused by the white uniform peeking out from under the green medical coat slung over her shoulders and her short hair. "I have to wonder if you really think so or if you're just drunk on anesthetic."

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:44

"I think so." He nodded, squinting slightly. His body was slowly remembering how to behave if you were looking at bright light.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:45

"I don't believe it." She laughed. "You should see your eyes - the pupils are huge. I'd ask you how you feel..." Artala leaned closer to him, and the mischievous glint in her blue eyes became visible. "But I know you don't feel anything right now. So just welcome back, Prince."

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:47

"Thank you." He smiled, looking at her with one eye. It was too bright for two. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such a pleasant greeting?"

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:48

"Oh, Prince..." The princess sighed heavily, and her smile turned miserable. "Be thankful it's just me here. Do you have any idea what started when Daim Diltar told me that you fell down the stairs, so much so that you needed an operation? Can you imagine the tragedy if you'd died during the onstum? Well, I mean, it would have been a tragedy either way." She corrected herself in a conciliatory tone. "But during an onstum, it's also a political disaster, especially after Duke Assaro's death, especially when you're investigating it."

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:50

"Indeed, that would be very unbecoming." He nodded with the look of a seasoned politician. "Please accept my apologies."

Camrad_RIP 11.07.23 в 09:51

"That's enough." She laughed again. "You'd better tell me how it's going there?" She asked sharply, becoming more serious.

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:16

"There where?" Alex sincerely did not understand.

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:17

"Well, there..." Artala raised her eyes meaningfully to the imaginary heavens. "You've been in a coma for four hours, and you're of blessed lineage. Did you see the bright edge of the flames?"

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:18

She was so serious and, at the same time, looking with such interest that he was even kind of embarrassed to say he hadn't seen anything at all:

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:19

"To be honest, nothing at all." He admitted with a guilty look. "I just passed out and woke up here."

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:20

"But what about it? You're from a blessed family, aren't you?" Artala seemed genuinely upset. "To you, and to the Flame Lords, Ryan should send you dreams and omens..."

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:21

"I lost my memory." Alex reminded her. "I might have forgotten or not realized what I was dreaming about. What do you think a dream sent by Ryan should look like?"

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:22

"An endless sea of fire, with rising waves of golden flame." The princess explained with complete conviction. "And some prophecies or warnings. Or just the presence of her divine essence," she added, much less confidently.

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:24

Actually, that description fits pretty well with what he'd dreamed at the moment of transference:

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:21

"There was something like that." Alex nodded.

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:24

"When?" Artala's eyes lit up.

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:25

She was obviously very curious: // "Does religious upbringing have an effect? Although she was also very interested in fortune-telling. But maybe one doesn't contradict the other?".

Camrad_RIP 16.07.23 в 08:25

"When I was poisoned." He answered aloud, trying not to sound condescending.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:28

"I guess an induced coma doesn't count." More like talking to herself, she muttered and then asked. "Was it scary?"

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:29

He honestly tried to remember what he had experienced then:

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:29

"I guess not."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:30

"You betcha." Artala sighed enviously. "It must be like coming home for you..."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:30

She clearly wanted to ask something else, but footsteps were heard from somewhere on the side of his feet, and Dudo's voice:

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:31

"Your Lordship, are you awake?"

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:32

"I should have warned them when you woke up." The princess whispered, "It's all your fault, prince." She snorted defiantly. Her nose turned up. "You've distracted me with all this nonsense."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:33

At this point, Dudo was approaching, but not alone. Liora and one of the medics from the guards were with him:

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:34

// Tivo or Tilo?".- Alex couldn't even remember his name to his shame - his 'Arm' was expanding very rapidly, before flying to the capital.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:35

The medic asked Alex how he was feeling and warned him that the effect of the painkillers would soon wear off and started fiddling with the screens that were on the bracket hanging above the bed.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:36

"Well, there's probably a lot of procedures coming up. So I'll get out of your way." The princess apologized as she rose. "Oh, by the way." She paused, clearly remembering something. "Father told me to tell you not to even think about dying during Onstu. And you better keep an eye on him." She added, turning to Liora.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:38

"I will do my best." Liora bowed her head and added, "Your Highness."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:38

For which she got a parting poke from the princess.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:39

Liora looked completely impenetrable, but Dudo looked like a man who was torn by the need to say something. Alex had a lot of questions he wanted to ask without anyone else around.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:41

"Their Lordships, will they be able to eat soon?" Liora asked the medic, seeming to understand without words.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:41

"Yeah, anytime now." The man shrugged. "It's just that while the feeling of hunger is blocked, it'll pass soon enough."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:43

"Then, unless you're busy with some vital procedure. I'd like a moment of your time, please. It will be necessary to coordinate with you, as a doctor, the menu for His Lordship."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:44

"I don't know..." The confused medic looked to Dudo for support as a superior.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:45

"It's worth consulting the esteemed Liora." With an important look, Dudo nodded. "I'll keep an eye on His Lordship for now."

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:46

"Were there any other casualties?" Alex asked as the medic and Liora left the room, at the same time trying to look around him. But without much success. He was wearing a kind of vest made of thick white plastic with some tubes and wires.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:49

"No," Dudo answered, not at all surprised by the question.

Camrad_RIP 17.07.23 в 10:49