Chapter 11The Weight of a Silent Thought
After venting all her anger and frustration, Sky slowly made her way back home.
As she drew closer to the house, a booming voice rang out from inside. There was no mistaking it—her father was absolutely furious.
Sky stopped at the entrance. She placed her palm flat against the wooden door, remaining perfectly still as she quietly listened to what was happening inside.
"Niel, you came here to become a warrior! Do not listen to Noelle. I am fine!" Adam roared.
His voice was thick with pure annoyance. He wasn't angry at his wife for pleading with Niel, nor was he angry about the condition of his own legs. What truly infuriated him was that his commands simply weren't getting through to the young man.
Niel instinctively stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the severe injuries covering Adam's legs.
"I don't need Lady Neela to tell me that you're hurt," Niel said.
His voice was soft, low, and completely cold.
Adam gritted his teeth, his chest swelling as he prepared to argue back and shout the boy down. But the moment his eyes met Niel's unwavering gaze, he froze.
The fierce authority within those silver eyes caught him completely off guard.
A long, defeated sigh escaped Adam's lips.
"Fine..." he muttered. "Do as you wish."
Without another word, Niel knelt beside the bed and gently lifted Adam's foot, bringing it closer to inspect the damage.
"Lady Neela," he said, "could you bring me a bucket of water and a towel, please?"
Neela nodded before quietly leaving the room.
As she stepped into the hallway and turned the corner, she walked straight into Sky, who had secretly returned home and was standing outside the bedroom door, listening to every word.
Neela rubbed her forehead tiredly, trying to gather her thoughts. Then she reached out and grabbed Sky by the arm.
"Perfect," she sighed. "You're just what I needed."
She picked up an empty wooden bucket and handed it to her daughter.
"I need you to fill this with water, Sky."
Though thoroughly confused, Sky accepted the bucket.
"Yes, Mother."
She turned around and left the house once again.
Deep in thought, Adam sat silently on the edge of the bed while Niel continued carefully examining his swollen legs.
I've been a warrior for decades, Adam thought.
I've fought in countless wars... survived battle after battle... and with every victory and every scar, I gained lessons that most men could never hope to understand.
His gaze slowly drifted downward until it rested on the silver-haired youth kneeling before him.
One of those lessons...
...was learning how to deal with people like him.
The kind who refuse to abandon a goal.
It doesn't matter if the entire world declares it impossible... or tells them it isn't worth pursuing. They'll continue walking forward because their hearts have already made the decision.
Adam silently studied Niel.
And Niel... is undoubtedly one of them.
"I'm back with the water," Sky called as she lightly nudged the kitchen door open with her foot.
"Good," Neela replied.
She gestured towards the bedroom.
"Take it to Niel."
Sky carried the bucket down the hallway before entering the room.
She carefully placed it beside him.
Instead of immediately turning around to leave, however, she found herself watching him.
Her eyes lingered on him far longer than they should have.
A few moments later, Neela entered the room carrying Niel's heavy leather satchel.
"I've brought what you asked for," she said softly.
She carefully set the bag down beside him.
Inside its dark leather compartments were countless medical instruments, dried roots, carefully prepared herbs, and strange glass jars.
They were items that no one else in the entire kingdom—other than Niel and his parents—knew how to use.
Niel released Adam's leg and slowly stood, taking a single step backwards.
He rested one hand against his chin as he disappeared into thought.
Silence filled the room.
A heavy...
Uncomfortable...
Half minute passed.
Then, without warning—
Smack!
Niel struck both sides of his own face with his palms.
The sharp sound echoed throughout the bedroom.
Everyone froze.
They simply stared at him, utterly bewildered by the sudden, bizarre action.
Finally, Niel lowered his hands.
"Lady Neela," he said, shifting his gaze towards her before looking at Sky.
"And Lady Sky."
He brushed the dust from his trousers before standing upright.
"Could the two of you wait outside?"
He paused briefly.
"I work much better alone."
As Neela and Sky silently looked at one another, the very same thought echoed through both of their minds.
Can a skinny boy with almost no muscle... truly heal the damage caused by an entire lifetime of relentless hard work?
For years, they had watched Adam force his body beyond its limits.
Day after day.
Year after year.
He had worked until his muscles failed him... until even his own legs could no longer support the weight they had carried for decades.
In their world, they had always believed that enough determination could overcome any physical weakness.
That if someone simply refused to give up...
...their body would somehow continue to endure.
Yet they had witnessed Niel's own injuries disappear within a single day.
That impossible sight had ignited a dangerous spark of hope deep inside both of them.
Neither woman dared to say the words aloud.
But in the silence of their hearts...
They desperately wished that the young healer's mysterious knowledge could succeed where sheer determination had ultimately failed.