Uijae jolted upright. Something damp and heavy slipped off him, but he had no time to care. He rubbed his face and blinked repeatedly, but no light appeared. Nothing but darkness.
âMy eyesâ¦â
He touched his lips, a sinking realization dawning on him. Could this be the penalty? How long would it last? Was it temporary⦠or permanent? He reached around, feeling the soft, heavy fabric beneath him and the warmth of the floorâlikely a blanket. As he continued groping, his hand closed around something damp and lukewarm.
âA towel?â
He stretched the towel out. Someone must have tended to him. No wonder his forehead felt damp earlier. After wiping the back of his neck, Uijae carefully folded the towel and set it aside. At least his powers had returned despite losing his sightâhe could vividly sense the movements outside the room. His fever and the crushing pain were gone, too.
ââ¦â
He let out a quiet sigh before opening his eyes wide.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
****
In the darkness, flames flickered to life. A small flame and two large ones moved around nearby. Closer still was a flame that stood utterly still. Relief washed over him. This was enoughâenough to fight if needed, or to act as though nothing was wrong.
There was no need to worry anyone unnecessarily.
âI canât be a burden.â
A powerless J was useless. He had already shown enough weakness. No need to reveal any more of his shortcomings. He needed to prove his worth. A voice echoed faintly in his mind.
âProve yourself.â
âDo what you must.â