The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 220: Naive and innocent (2)

Chapter 220: Naive and innocent (2)

Hex groaned, opening his eyes slowly.

The pain in his voice alerted Elena immediately. She hastened to his side, utilizing her abilities at once.

"Don’t exert yourself. Miss Rosa said you need plenty of sleep and potions to recuperate. It will take some time to get back to your old self."

Her soothing voice affected the superficial injuries he suffered. Hex sensed the energy spread through the air as she spoke. The ability’s nature made him forget about his plans for a second.

’Interesting. She can project the healing effects through her voice. If she has offensive or curse-related abilities, I need to be alert. But I doubt she would expose it if she relied on it. On the other hand, by exposing her healing abilities she can use the offensive ones as a sneak attack.’

Hex considered the various ways Elena’s abilities could be used against him. It took less than a second to come up with all these thoughts. But then he shook his head. He was too paranoid. It helped him be alert to an extent but if he didn’t keep it in check he might overthink and turn cowardly.

"How long will I be stuck in a bed?"

He asked while allowing Elena to adjust his head so he could lie in a comfortable position.

"Miss Rosa is an excellent healer. The best in here. You will be okay in no time."

Hex nodded and his eyes darted to the room. Despite the darkness, he saw that the room was cleaned and maintained. It was the first place in the ruins, aside from the prison, where he didn’t spot cracks or withered paint on the walls.

"I often wondered what the insides of the Temple district looked like."

Hex looked at the girl from the corner of his eyes. Seeing her look up as he mumbled indicated her interest.

"For years I escorted people from the outside to the gate, only to see them disappear. I often hoped to enter so I could see the inside myself. And now that I am inside, I am stuck to a bed."

He met her eyes and gave her a wry smile. "You must not understand the ramblings of an old and injured man. But I can’t help it. Being stuck in one place becomes boring after some time."

With a sigh, he looked away and fell silent, staring at the opposite wall with a dazed look.

A depressing silence hung in the air. The faint sound of their breaths was the only sound Hex’s enhanced ears picked up for a minute.

"I understand how you feel."

Hex, who was waiting...hoping for something, heard her speak. Her voice was barely a whisper. Even with his enhanced abilities, Hex nearly missed her words.

With a distracted look on his face, Hex turned toward her. She smiled weakly at him. Hex stared at her, making it clear he expected more. She hesitated but continued.

"I was a child when my mother died. My father, distraught by her death, ordered me, the youngest of the ten children, to come and take care of her grave. It’s been years since I have left the walls. I can’t even remember how the world looks outside this dark and grim place."

Elena dropped her gaze toward the end.

’She feels guilty to complain yet her desire for the outside trumps her guilt.’ He understood her feelings. Despite that, his mind spun rapidly. It was the right time to win her trust.

"You are a nice yet brave girl. Compared to you, I am just a sulking old man. Your mother would be proud of you."

The girl looked up. A hesitant smile curled her lips and she looked at Hex with wide eyes. "You think so? My...my father says mother would be disappointed with me."

"I know so. Your soft and kind nature reflects her love residing in you." Hex trembled as he lifted his hand and patted her hand lightly.

Tears welled up in her eyes as her hesitant smile turned into a wide giggle.

’It’s official. Heaven won’t have a place for me. There might never have been a place for me to begin with.’

Seeing her joyful face and uplifted mood, filled Hex with guilt. ’First the cost of lives and now this. What the hell am I doing?’

Even if he convinced himself that the guards deserved their fate as part of the royals who were conspiring something sinister, there was no denying he was taking advantage of a girl’s neglected mental state at the moment.

"How about I tell you about the outside world and you tell me about this district?" After chatting for a bit, he asked, careful not to sound too eager.

"Sure."

Elena nodded with full enthusiasm. She was so pleased to have a confidant that she forgot to make rounds or even consider the rest her mentor prescribed Hex.

Hex painted a vivid visual of the world outside, describing snowcapped mountains, narrow streams, lush bushes, and fields with flowers. He avoided talking about cities. He didn’t know where she hailed from nor did he know the Vice-Captain’s birth place.

Luckily, his story enthralled Elena so much, that she didn’t mention cities or towns. ’Or she doesn’t remember those anymore.’

After he finished, the girl had a dreamy look in her eyes. But she started to describe the Temple district, albeit a bit reluctantly. After learning about a world full of color, the gray and dark district lost all appeal to her.

"I don’t go everywhere. I sleep, eat, and clear Mother’s grave. Somedays I even read to her. Father is often inside his chambers. No one is allowed in without permission. Sometimes my elder brothers come to visit but they don’t talk to me a lot.

This block is filled with people working for Father but only a few talk to me. Most of them avoid me. Most of the time I help clean the Temple, and the infirmary, and train with Miss Rosa."

Elena never conversed with anyone much so her thoughts were unconstructed and all over the place but Hex gleaned a lot of information through her words. A disturbing thought struck him as he listened to her ramble about her brothers and fathers.

’Her father’s workers? Brothers that come? Mother’s grave? Don’t tell me she is talking about the King, the Queen, and the Crown Prince?’