Chapter 108 Get to the root
~ Lyra's POV ~
Seeing Taren collapse again in pain after I had done nothing more than touch a single strand of his hair sent a jolt of shock through my entire body. I instinctively jumped back, my heart racing wildly inside my chest as I stared down at him.
However, the shock was not the only thing that rose inside me.
Beneath it, a strange and unfamiliar anger began to coil inside my chest, tightening with every second that passed.
“I am so sorry,” I apologized quickly.
Just like before, the pain seemed to vanish from him the moment I released his hair. It was as though the moment our contact ended, whatever force had struck him withdrew just as suddenly.
“I’m alright, my lady. I’m alright,” he insisted as he pushed himself up from the floor once again.
But this time, as he straightened himself, I noticed the subtle rise and fall of his chest. His breathing was uneven, far from the steady rhythm it should have been. He was trying to normalize it, but the effort showed.
“Now this is getting out of hand,” I muttered, frustration sharpening my tone.
Without another word I turned away from him and marched toward the bathroom.
“What… where are you going?” I heard him call after me, confusion clear in his voice.
“To freshen up,” I replied firmly without turning back. “I am getting to the root of this today. Give me a few minutes.”
Once I stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door behind me, I heard the almost silent click of the bedroom door closing as well. That told me he had stepped outside to wait.
I quickly got under the shower, letting the cool water clear my thoughts. I changed into a fresh set of clothes and tied my hair neatly into a bun.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Taren standing just outside the door, leaning lightly against the opposite wall.
I didn't need to ask him whether he was feeling alright. For reasons I could not fully explain, I knew he was not.
That realization brought a bitter taste to my mouth because for the first time since discovering my abilities, I stood in front of someone who clearly needed healing, yet I could not offer it, not when my touch itself seemed to be harming him.
“Let’s go back to the clinic,” I said, gesturing toward the exit with a slight tilt of my head.
He frowned immediately.
“Why are we going back there?” he asked. “I already received medicine from Kaitlyn.”
Despite his protest, he still fell into step beside me as we walked down the hallway.
“We are not going there for medicine,” I replied calmly without slowing down. “We are going back because I need to find out why this keeps happening to you.”
“How exactly do you intend to do that?” he asked, curiosity threading through his voice.
“I will first determine whether you are the only one affected this severely by my touch,” I explained. “I need to know if this reaction is unique to you. Once I know that, I will decide what to do next.”
My steps slowed slightly before stopping completely as we reached the exact spot where the guards assigned to Kael’s quarters were stationed.
I turned toward the guards, studying both of their faces carefully. For a moment I considered starting with them, but after a brief assessment, I dismissed the idea.
Without saying anything, I resumed walking toward the elevator instead.
“Why were you looking at them like that?” Taren asked once we were far enough away that the guards could no longer hear us. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened,” I answered. “I was thinking about starting the test with them, but then I realized they are not the best candidates.”
“Why do you think so?” he asked.
The tone of his question made me suspect that he had already guessed what I intended to do.
So I explained. “If what happened to you happened to them as well, they would not understand it,” I said. “They would immediately assume I was trying to bewitch them.”
The elevator doors slid open right at that moment, welcoming us to the ground floor.
“Better to avoid unnecessary explanations and pointless defenses,” I finished as we stepped outside.
“Valid point,” Taren said with a small nod of agreement.
We soon arrived at the clinic and found Kaitlyn. She stood near one of the examination tables, organizing a few medical supplies with the calm efficiency that always seemed to surround her. When she noticed the two of us entering together, she immediately paused and looked up.
Thankfully, she did not appear to have any urgent matters demanding her attention. From the relaxed way she set the items aside and turned fully toward us, it was clear she had the time to listen to whatever had brought us there.
“Seeing the two of you here at this time,” she said slowly, her gaze moving between Taren and me, “I take it something is wrong.”
The look she gave us was an odd mixture of curiosity and suspicion, as though she already sensed that whatever we had come for was unusual.
Instead of explaining, I simply walked up to her and grabbed her hand.
Her eyes widened immediately, surprise flashing across her face as confusion followed right behind it. She stared at our joined hands and then back at me, clearly trying to understand what exactly I was doing.
Seconds passed and I said nothing. I simply waited, but nothing happened. There was no jolt of pain, no sudden collapse, not even the slightest discomfort. Kaitlyn remained perfectly fine.
“Can either of you tell me what is going on?” she asked again after a moment, her gaze still fixed on our clasped hands.
I released her hand slowly and let out a quiet sigh, then I began explaining everything to her.
When I finished, I asked if she could bring two or three people from the clinic for me to test it on. I explained that I did not want to walk around touching random people because it might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.
To my relief, she agreed without hesitation.
“I’ll be right back,” she said before stepping out of the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Taren spoke.
“I think I might have an idea what is going on.”
I turned to look at him immediately.
“That day at the archives while you were still in that vision,” he continued slowly, as though piecing the memory together while speaking, “I came across a scroll. It contained a warning that I might get hurt while helping you. I can't remember the exact wording right now, but that was essentially what it said.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“At the time I didn't think much of it, so I ignored it. But now I am beginning to believe that this might be what the warning was referring to.”
My brows immediately knitted together.
“I didn't know about this,” I said, my voice sharpening slightly. “Why did you not tell me?”
How could something so important exist and I knew nothing about it?
“Because I didn't think it meant anything significant,” Taren answered quietly, lowering his gaze as though ashamed.
“Do you still have the scroll?” I asked quickly. I needed to see it for myself.
His answer shattered that hope instantly.
“No,” he admitted. “I destroyed it. I didn't want you to see it and start feeling guilty about something that was not your fault. I also did not want you to push me away because of it.”
“Taren,” I called his name in a disappointed tone. “You should not hide information like that from me,” I said firmly. “Especially something this important.”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
Before I could respond further, the door opened and Kaitlyn returned. Three members of the clinic staff followed behind her.
Just as planned, I approached them one by one and touched each of their hands.
None of them reacted the way Taren always did, and that only heightened my confusion. Why was this happening?