Bastian
Chapter 199 - Paradise Sea

✧Paradise Sea✧

 

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

As the sun rose on the horizon, Odette began her busy day. She woke up to the soft blue light of dawn and felt surprisingly refreshed despite her restless sleep. With a quick stretch, she got out of bed and neatly made it. After taking a shower and a change of clothes, she donned her familiar nurse’s cap and headed towards the hospital bed with a warm towel in hand.

 “Good morning, Bastian,” Odette said with a smile, kissing his cheek. She felt a pang of sorrow when he didn’t respond.

Bastian lay peacefully with his eyes closed, almost as if he had just drifted off to sleep. Odette sat in a chair next to the bed, gently stroking his face as she began her storytelling. Her voice was soft and warm, like the comforting glow of a fireplace, as she weaved an intriguing tale. At times, she would pause, overcome with emotion, but she doggedly, carrying on her one-sided conversation with Bastian in the tangible quiet of the room.

The surgery had been a success. The doctors were able to remove all fragments of the bullet and his internal injury was not as severe as feared. However, his recovery was still uncertain due to major bleeding and hypothermia. All they could do now was wait until he woke up.

She held onto her belief and gratitude, praying to every deity for Bastian’s recovery. Although the doctor attending to him grew uneasy after a week had passed with no signs of improvement, she remained confident that Bastian would wake up and refused to give up hope as she continued to wait by his side.

Bastian’s condition showed signs of a miraculous recovery. His body temperature, pulse, and breathing were finally returning to normal after days of dangerously low levels. Odette could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeats and warmth from his hand as she held it.

For her, Bastian was merely in a deep slumber. His body and soul were beyond exhausted, drained from a lifetime of never-ending running. She only had to believe in him and wait patiently by his side. He just lay in a deep slumber for much-needed rest and would wake up after getting enough rest. 

After wiping his face, Odette carefully pulled back the blanket and examined Bastian’s injuries. His wounds now showed signs of healing, and his broken bones seemed to be slowly mending. The warm morning light bathed his strong and handsome form, enveloping him like a blessing in the making.

Odette changed his bandages with care, all the while wearing a smile. Though tears threatened to fall from her eyes, she bravely held them back.  On the dawn that she heard the news about the success of his operation, she made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t cry until he woke up. She didn’t want to let him see her weakness and shattered. She wanted to show him her strong determination, just like he was in his fight for life and recovery.

After changing the bandages, she continued her story while cleaning Bastian’s body. Day after day, she repeated the routine – pouring her heart and soul into each word as she talked to the unconscious man lying before her. Though sometimes waves of sadness crashed over her, she never stopped her storytelling, never faltering or missing a beat.

The doctor recommended stimulating Bastian’s senses as a way to bring him out of his coma. From then on, she made it a daily ritual to talk to him in the morning and at night after cleaning his body. If words felt too heavy, she would sing sweet melodies and other times when even that became too much, she simply whispered his name. 

Odette settled into the chair beside Bastian’s bed after covering him with a warm blanket. The wintry landscape outside was beautiful, but she couldn’t fully appreciate it as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Taking care of Bastian was no easy feat, as he suffered from extensive nerve damage and even the slightest mistake could worsen his condition. But she found some joy in caring for him, as she could be of use and do something for Bastian during these moments.

Through the window, the clear sky above the Trosa Islands stirred a longing in her heart for his gaze. “The sky is beautiful, without a single cloud in sight, Bastian. Just like your eyes, as if the sky has morphed into you lying here,” she whispered to his sleeping form. “I don’t blame you, I know you need rest, my love, but please come back to me soon.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the scar on Bastian’s cheek and chin. It may have been a small shaving cut, but it held a deep emotional scar on her. She felt guilty, as if she had added to the pain of the already wounded man, and couldn’t help being annoyed that he was peacefully sleeping while she struggled with her feelings.

Almost every day, she shaved Bastian’s moustache and beard, even though she could have easily asked for help from a professional barber. But she didn’t want the world and anyone else to see him in his helpless state. And that became a matter of pride for her. She wanted to protect him, love him, take care of him, and do everything in her power for him.

Because he was her family. The family she chose, not an inherit–the family she longed for and built one of her own– And in the end, became her true family.

“Bastian, as you can see, my shaving skill is so bad. I don’t want you to wake up one day and get startled by my ‘expertise’,” she joked, trying to ease her own tears. Her fingers trembled as she ran them through his neatly combed platinum hair. Glancing at the clock, she realised it was almost time for her nursing duties to begin. She rose from her seat and put on her blue nurse’s uniform

Whatever the purpose, she came to this place to become a member of the nursing volunteer group, and she didn’t want to neglect any of her assigned duties.

Because Love came with a responsibility. And that belief alone was strong enough to stave off her feelings of despair. Because she loved him, for the one she loved, she would do everything right.

After giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek, Odette quietly left the hospital room. The soft rustle of her deep blue gown accompanied her as she made her way to her workstation.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

A glimmer of light emerged in the darkness. It shone like the sun in its full glory, then dimmed into moonlight before eventually fading back into darkness, and from that twilight, a dream began to bloom. 

In that dream, Bastian was a young boy wandering through a dark forest. A huge dog with the body of a wolf suddenly ran towards him. When he took out the eggs and bread that he had secretly hidden in his pocket, the stray dog wagging its tail in excitement. 

He slowed down his pace as he watched the dog happily playing. The dog’s eyes glistened with love and longing, captivating him. A hint of shame tingled in his cheeks as he realised he had been using stolen food from the kitchen to gain the dog’s trust. Quickly, he handed over the peeled egg, along with all the other food he had brought. While the stray dog sat patiently, waiting for its next meal, Bastian couldn’t shake off his nagging doubts:  

Did this dog truly love him?

 In the depths of his heart, a mix of uncertainty, fear, and hope all vying for his attention. And when the answer finally came to light, it wasn’t in the form of love. The dog’s sharp fangs tore into his skin, ripping apart his flesh until it’s bleeding.

A gasp of pain escaped his lips. He quickly dropped to the ground, reflexes taking over as he loaded a bullet into his hunting rifle. The loud bang of the gunshot shattered the forest’s silence, and brought back his recurring nightmare. Blood gushed from his previous wounds and he could finally feel the raw sadness that came after the physical pain.

He stood at the edge of the cliff, his rifle still in hand. He looked upon the dog he had just shot, in its fading eyes, he saw a glimpse of himself filled with guilt and regret. The dog wagged its tail until its last breath, no food in his hands, only the rifle that had taken its life. 

With a hollow expression, he turned away and walked towards the cliff’s edge

A wave of relief engulfed him as his body glided freely through the air, diving headfirst into icy embrace of the ocean depths. He let go of the haunting memory of his aunt’s attempt to save him. His peaceful dreams returned at last.

Thank God.

Relieved and calm,  he let the ocean’s arms cradle him as he closed his eyes in peaceful surrender.

‘Bastian.’

A soft, murmuring voice floated into the stillness of the world. The boy blossomed into a young, his youth fading like a setting sun.

‘Bastian.’

The beautiful siren sang once more. As he covered his ears, his very being began to change, maturing with each of her notes. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the depths of the sea but surrounded by fields of vibrant red blooms. And there, holding hands with a beautiful young girl.

Her beaming smile lit up the flower field, her porcelain skin and luscious black hair held a delicate beauty, so lovely like that of a living doll. They walked together among the blooms, riding on wooden horses, gathering her favourite flowers, and playing with a ball lost in their joyful play under the softening sun.

The girl stirred a sense of déjà vu within him, one that he had cherished long ago. In the distance, the faint sound of a barking dog reached his ears. The same stray dog he had once loved and had loved him back.

As he stood still, the stray dog and the girl ran together joyfully through a blazing sea of red petals as if they were bound by fate. 

‘Bastian.’

A longing voice carried his name on the wings of the wind. He turned to find its source, but the little girl and the stray dog had already soared into the sky, never to be seen again 

He froze in place in the middle of the field where the crimson waves danced around him. Mesmerised, he looked closer, it was not a flower but an endless sea of blood. And in an instant,  the bloody sea devoured him whole in its ever-rolling tides.

‘Bastian.’

The haunting call of his name grew nearer,

He submerged himself in the depths of the sea closing his ears, shutting out the sounds.

It hurt…

It felt like…. a piercing wound…. 

Ripples of pain.

The Siren’s song grew louder, its melody pulling him deeper into the abyss of pain. Exhaustion crept through his weary bones, tempting him to surrender to a never-ending slumber. 

Perhaps it’s better like this…

To stay within the arms of the ocean and faded away in an eternal sea of dreams

‘Bastian.’

But why 

Why does that song of delusion not stop?

‘Bastian.’

He was adrift in the tumultuous sea, lost in the ebb and flow of life.

 As he opened his eyes, the water retreated further and further from his sight. Even beneath the dark water, he could glimpse the shadows of flame dancing on their own.

His hands slowly fell away, and his ears were greeted by the enchanting verse of the sea siren.

It was… beautiful.

Like a spellbinding love.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Odette arrived at Bastian’s hospital room earlier than usual, thanks to the kind nurse who had shortened her shifts. After disinfecting her hands, she drew back the curtain to let in the warm afternoon light. With the room now clean and bright, she approached Bastian’s bed and took a seat, gently humming to herself as she waited.

Bastian remained in a comatose state, showing little improvement since his transfer to the ward. Colonel Haller had warned that his recovery may take a long time because of the severity of his injuries. Although her heart was heavy with sadness, Odette tried to offer reassurance that Bastian would recover. But the doctor simply gave her a sympathetic look and chose to end the conversation.

“Bastian…..”

As her melody faded into silence, Odette whispered his name like a prayer on her lips. 

‘I am very scared and lonely, Bastian. So please wake up and hug me.’

She couldn’t utter those words, and just rested her head on Bastian’s body. The steady thrum of his heart became her sacred rite, it was a balm for her soul whenever she felt weak.

“Bastian…..”

His name kept dancing off her tongue as if it were the only word worthy of being spoken.  Tears streamed down her cheeks, and suddenly she felt a comforting hand gently stroking her back in soothing circles.  Odette slowly raised her head, and a pair of blue eyes glowing as bright as a cloudless sky were full of her.

Bastian was smiling. With his pallid face, but radiant like a child-like innocence.

“…I’m back, Odette……”

His voice sounded weak, but Odette clearly heard it 

“I love you….”

She could hear everything…

Each breath and every word…

Even his whispered confessions that sounded like sighs blending with the wind.

“Welcome back, my love.”

Odette’s smile bloomed like a flower in springtime, her turqoise eyes shining with love, like sparkling emeralds reflecting the sun-kissed waters. It was a pure and simple love, radiating from every fibre of her being.

‘Thank you for coming back to me.’

Her heart overflowed with emotions, unable to contain the depth of her love. Emotions too deep to articulate poured forth in a single sob. Then, her tender kisses rained down on Bastian’s face – forehead, cheeks, and lips all marked with her love’s passionate seal.

Her radiant smile was washed away by tears of joy, leaving him speechless but feeling loved beyond measure.

Bastian wiped away Odette’s glistening tears, and she held his hand full of love.

After a treacherous voyage across the endless ocean, the hero ship had finally dropped its anchor.

He finally arrived at the paradise sea, in the Siren’s arms who was singing about love.  

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

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