The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 142: Memories

Chapter 142: Memories

She marched back to the pedestal, her heartbeat quickening. "Here goes nothing," she muttered, reaching out.

The moment her fingers brushed the orb’s surface, an intense pain shot through her body. She gasped, her knees buckling as the orb’s golden light enveloped her.

Adeline crumpled to the ground, her body wracked with agony. The light seared through her, each pulse a tidal wave of pain. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, fragments of voices echoed in her mind.

"I’ll... Change..." One voice said, raw with determination. There was a kind of gentleness to her voice that Adeline felt like it soothed her thought she was experiencing blinding pain.

"My only friend... Die..." Another voice replied. Her voice was filled with grief and helplessness. She felt like this voice was... Holding back anger. She could not tell what was happening.

Did one of them kill each other? But they were friends were they not? Whose voices were these? Did she know them? Were they related to the Sun Goddess?

The words made no sense, but the emotions behind them struck Adeline like a physical blow. Sorrow, anger, and despair consumed her, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her chest.

"Who are you?" She whispered, her voice trembling. "What happened to you?"

But there was no answer—only the overwhelming flood of emotions that weren’t her own. The light grew blinding, and her consciousness slipped away.

When Adeline opened her eyes, she found herself staring up at Dimitri’s familiar face. He was seated on the ground, his back against the pedestal, cradling her head in his lap. Relief flashed across his face as their eyes met.

"You’re awake," He said, his voice soft but tinged with worry. "I thought I’d lost you."

Adeline blinked, disoriented. Her body ached, and her mind was still reeling from the vision. "What happened?" Her voice was raspy.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Dimitri said. "I found you unconscious near the pedestal. You were glowing... And crying." He wiped her tears and gave her space so that she could wake up on her own.

Adeline sat up slowly, Dimitri steadying her with a hand on her shoulder. She recounted the events as best she could—the pain, the voices, the inexplicable grief. "It didn’t feel like it was mine," She added. "It was like I was feeling someone else’s emotions."

Dimitri frowned, he wanted to ask some more questions but he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be getting answers to them. Adeline carefully got up to look at the damned orb that caused her so much pain.

To her surprise, the orb’s colour had faded! It turned completely black, it looked devoid of life. Just what had happened?! She didn’t understand. This was the Sun Goddess’s relic, yes?

Adeline now assumed that the few memories she saw were related to her! One of the two people in her memory had to be her!

Before Dimitri could respond, the Goddess’s voice chimed in. Your body’s too weak to handle the power all at once. That’s why you blacked out.

Adeline scowled. "Too weak for what? What exactly happened to me?"

Oh, nothing to worry about, the Goddess said breezily. Just a little... Power transfer. You can thank me later.

Adeline’s frustration boiled over. "You could’ve warned me! I felt like I was dying!"

She almost died two times! TWO TIMES!

I didn’t expect it would be this painful, the Goddess muttered. Now, listen. You need to get out of this place and test your new power in open ground. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

Knowing that Adeline was actually older, the Goddess assumed her soul would be able to handle it but look like she was wrong... It really wasn’t her fault! She’s trying her best!

Adeline couldn’t argue with her now. She didn’t really feel different... But that could be because she couldn’t feel anything right now! Her heart was racing and she felt jittery. Perhaps, this is what happens when you have a near-death experience.

Dimitri helped her out of the ruins. There was only one way out, the doors opened revealing the central corridor again. Thankfully for them, all of the traps had been disabled. Adeline couldn’t express her gratefulness at the moment.

She was struggling to walk, she felt like jolts of electricity had passed through her leaving her shivery and unable to stand firm. The stairs up felt like hell, she couldn’t climb all that! She hates stairs!

Thankfully Dimitri flew them out of there. She didn’t think she could last longer.

Dimitri carried her most of the way, his strength was reassuring. "This ruin is cursed," He muttered. "I don’t care what power you’ve gained—we’re never coming back here."

He felt so helpless when he realised that he couldn’t use his powers... Locked in that corridor all alone... It scared him. He never wanted to feel that way again.

Adeline managed a weak laugh. "Agreed."

When they finally emerged into the open air, Adeline inhaled deeply, the fresh breeze blowing against her felt so relaxing. She felt safe... Even though she was in the middle of a dense forest infested with monsters!

She collapsed on the ground and so did Dimitri. They were tired... Very tired.

She turned to look at Dimitri with a faint smile on her lips. "We survived."

"Barely," Dimitri said, setting her down gently. "Now, let’s see what this power of yours can do."

But before that, Adeline had to heal herself. That pain did a number on her!

Adeline stepped forward, her legs still shaky from the ordeal in the ruins. The open-air was a relief, but her body felt drained, her muscles weak and her head pounding. She glanced at Dimitri, who didn’t look much better.

"Let me first heal us," Adeline muttered. She placed her hands on every muscle that ached. She had to heal herself before she could heal him. She didn’t know how long she could last.

Once she felt the pain ease and her body relax, she turned her attention to Dimitri who was still lying down on the grass, not minding that they were in the middle of a dense forest!

She looked around and was relieved to see her horse. What Dimitri said was indeed true... This ruin seemed to be protecting them. No monster dared to come near her horse.

She let out a sigh that seemed to release all her anxiety and pent-up frustration. After that, she kneeled down to tend to Dimitri.

There were a few cuts and bruises on him, she felt bad for once again dragging him into her half-baked schemes.

She didn’t feel any better after he was healed. He was in this situation because of her!

Sensing her worries Dimitri opened his eyes to look at her, "Hey, don’t overthink things. It’s not your fault."

He reached to poke her cheek. Because she was pouting the cheek bulged a bit, he wanted to pull on it but refrained from doing so.

Adeline let out another exasperated sigh and said, "But it is! You didn’t want to go into the ruins. You only went because I went..."