Chapter 6 Into the Lion's den

Evangeline,

" Are you alright?" Daniel asked as he walked behind me, following the medics and soldiers inside the Imperial Court Room.

I nodded quietly, but my body said otherwise. My fingers were still shaking after healing Commander Ivan entirely.

He hadn't woken up yet, but he was out of danger. I had successfully saved him from behind amputate. But now I felt like I would have a stroke and became paralyzed.

" Do you need something to eat?" Daniel asked once again, his eyes full of concern.

I wasn't expecting him to talk to me. In the last two years, nobody in my class had initiated any kind of conversation with me. So it felt strange.

I couldn't answer when a frantic heartbeat suddenly slammed against my eardrums. My eyes snapped toward the courtroom. A few soldiers were lying on the floor, being treated by the medics.

Gun shot, burnt skin, excessive blood loss... Something bad had happened.

A few familiar faces appeared soon after. The greatest healers, surgeons, and nurses were all over the place. I used to read their books and now seeing them in person, didn't stir anything inside me.

How weird.

" Wow. Isn't that Healer Swornblood?" A girl gasped, " I heard he is around a hundred years old."

" That's right. He is only Healer who has been treating Lycans with his healing power."

Another person chimed in.

But I thought the gifted healer didn't appear in the last two or three centuries.

" Look over there. The Snow Angels!" Another voice cut through my thoughts.

" Snow Angels?" I whispered, confusion lacing my voice as I looked at a group of people wearing white cloaks and serious expressions.

" Snow Angels are from the north." Daniel replied immediately. I didn't know that he was listening to me,

"They're experts in northern medicine and herbs. They provide some of the rarest herbs capable of destroying any kind of toxic substance and poison, including Wolfsbane and Black Thornhawk," Daniel explained as he stood beside me.

" People would have worshiped them if it wasn't considered offensive," he added.

I watched as they treated the injured soldiers. They looked focused, and thoughtful.

" Then why are we here? They could handle them without any assistance from others!" I asked flatly, though exhaustion seeped through my tone.

" Well, nobody knows who might need whom. Also, having more people who can help is always a plus point."

I didn't say anything. But judging from my blurry vision and the pain throbbing through my neck, I needed something to eat as soon as possible.

It was ironic that I had the biggest body here yet, I could barely have any strength left to move.

That mere sandwich hadn't helped at all. I had used far more strength than I should have.

Just as I turned, ready to sneak out, another announcement echoed through the courtroom.

" Healer and Neurologist Evangeline Deveraux, please follow the soldiers to the meeting room immediately. I repeat, Healer and Neurologist Evangeline Deveraux, please follow the soldiers to the meeting room as soon as possible."

Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward the soldiers. Even the healers who were already kneeling beside the injured paused.

" Who is Evangeline? I just heard the Lord refused anyone from entering the meeting room."

" A new healer? But they already have Healer Swornblood."

My heartbeat pounded violently against my chest. They needed me again? But no matter how strong my power was, my body remained its greatest obstacle. I couldn't heal a single person without pushing my body too far.

" The soldiers are here. Who is Evangeline? Please step forward," a sharp voice came from the stage.

I couldn't help but walk through the crowd. It felt like a joke at this point. I wanted to live a low-key life, yet somehow I ended up stepping directly into the Lion's den with no escape.

" Oh Lord! Is she really a healer?" A gasp echoed, " She is... too big!"

Laughter followed soon after. The same storyline all over again. Meaningless. People don't get tired of shaming others.

" Are you Evangeline?" One of the soldiers walked toward me.

" Unfortunately, yes," I answered coldly. " What can I do for you?"

" Please follow us."

I stood there for a brief moment before I followed them. For the first time in my new life, I wanted someone standing behind me. Someone familiar. Someone safe.

I missed Dad terribly.

I followed the soldiers into the meeting room. The room itself was massive. Bigger than the house we used to live in.

The entire room was filled with the table and chairs. But no food that could actually give me the strength I needed.

However, the moment I stepped inside, a sudden weakness nearly buckled my knees. A sharp burning pain spread from my mark, crawling violently through my veins.

A gasp escaped my lips as my eyes widened. This was the first time, my Mark started throbbing the way I felt when I first manifested my Wolf.

" Healer Deveraux," Commander Georgia stepped forward, gratitude flickering briefly across her otherwise composed expression, " You saved Ivan earlier. We need that same help again, immediately."

I looked at her as she slowly stepped aside, revealing two people lying on the floor with severe injuries. Their skin looked horribly burned.

" I will provide any assistance you require," she continued. " Please save them. They are important figures in the werewolf world."

I walked past her, past the patients, and past the people standing around with confusion and fear written across their faces.

Their eyes followed me as I grabbed a water bottle and drank from it.

There was nothing else to consume. Nothing that could give me more calories.

After taking a sharp breath, I looked at them.

" If you don't mind, can you leave the room?"

They looked surprised.

" Is that necessary? We are their bodyguards."

" And I am their doctor." My eyes darkened. I didn't have enough strength left to waste time arguing.

Commander Georgia silently signaled for them to leave, and she followed after them.

I slowly sat down and closed my eyes, forcing my body beyond its limits once again. I should have packed more food, but now there was nothing I could do about it.

Warmth slowly spread across the room. Gentle golden rays flickered through the air like flying fireflies as I pushed through the crushing tension and exhaustion.

Pain immediately tore through my body. My fingers trembled violently. My breathing became uneven.

A warm liquid suddenly slid past my lips.

Blood, My nose had started bleeding.

Still, I forced myself to continue.

The golden light wrapped around their burned skin while my vision darkened at the edges. My wolf whimpered painfully inside my head, yet the warmth continued spreading from my hands.

It took almost half an hour. Several times, I had to stop briefly just to drink more water and steady my breathing before continuing again.

Finally, their injuries disappeared completely. Their skin looked perfectly fine once more.

I pushed myself to my feet, but the world spun so violently that I nearly collapsed again.

My body screamed for rest. My Wolf growled. We both were beyond weak, and on the verge of passing out.

Just then, My attention immediately shifted toward the door beside the large chair.

I didn't think twice. Couldn't think at all before sensing an unfamiliar warmth behind it. And it was somehow making my body follow.

I barely had enough awareness left to process it.

Slowly, I moved, opened the door. A strange sensation ran through my body when I felt something inside there.

Reached for it without hesitation and curled myself against the warmth. It felt alive. Warm and steady.

The throbbing pain in my neck gradually disappeared, causing my wolf to let out a soft, satisfied coo before drifting into sleep.

" Lord. She is-" A voice came from behind,

" It's alright," a deep, cold voice answered.

But I was far too drained to tell whether my mind was playing tricks on me or if I was truly hearing two people talking around me.