novelzi Chapter 12: Importance of Duty
Chapter 12: Importance of Duty
Chapter 12: Importance of Duty
Once the doctor left, Athena decided to freshen up. She returned to her room, took a quick shower, and changed into fresh clothes. I still feel tired.
The water felt like a balm, washing away the physical grime of the long night but doing little to ease the weight in her mind.
Afterward, she made her way back to the medical facility. The moment she entered, her eyes found Mors, still unconscious but undeniably alive.
She took her place by his side, determined to stay vigilant. This man, her mysterious husband, might not have her heart yet, but he had her attention.
And for now, that was enough. As Athena sat by Mors's side, a soft chime from her optical brain drew her attention. Who is this?
A message appeared on the translucent screen hovering before her eyes. It was from someone named Ryver Dale, her husband's deputy and right-hand man.
Why would he reach out to me?
The subject line read: "Confidential Report: Medicines and Experimental Research for Major General Jericho."
Am I reading this document right? A data? Why would he send something so precious to me? Curious and apprehensive, Athena opened the report.
Her eyes skimmed over the detailed document, which outlined a series of experimental medicines designed to enhance Mors's physical resilience.
The goal was clear, to strengthen his body against toxins and poisons. But as she read further, Athena's heart sank. The implications were horrifying.
This is very disturbing... Why would someone want to experiment by taking in several poisons? The body will develop a certain immunity to it, but humans are not immortals!
The report detailed Mors's participation in numerous field experiments where he had voluntarily exposed himself to poisons encountered in battle.
Each substance was meticulously cataloged, neurotoxins, bioweapons, and rare, unidentified venoms. Did I marry a crazy man?
He hadn't just been poisoned once, he had repeatedly subjected himself to these toxins to better understand them.
She read on, her hands trembling slightly. This is tantamount to committing suicide!
Objective: To identify antidotes and develop immunity.
Status: Several poisons remain incurable.
Prolonged exposure has weakened the immune system and vital organs. Immediate cessation of testing is recommended to prevent further degradation of health.
Her resolve hardened as she looked at the man lying before her. He might not care about his own life, but she would ensure that changed.
If Mors Jericho thought he could keep throwing himself into harm's way, he had another thing coming.
-
Mors Jericho awakened five days later, his sharp inhale breaking the silence of the medical room.
The subtle hum of medical equipment filled the air, and the faint glow of diagnostic monitors cast soft shadows across his features.
His deep blue eyes fluttered open, no longer clouded by blindness but gleaming with clarity and strength. Athena was at his bedside, her posture rigid but alert.
She had barely left his side in those five days, and now, as his eyes locked onto hers for the first time, she felt a strange jolt of anticipation.
"You're awake," she said, her voice steady but laced with an emotion even she couldn't name.
Mors blinked a few times, his gaze sweeping the room before landing back on her. His brows furrowed slightly, and his lips parted as if to speak, but then he hesitated.
"You're... my wife," he said finally, his tone measured and cautious.
Athena nodded. "Yes. And you're my husband, Major General Mors Jericho. I've been waiting for you to wake up."
His expression was unreadable, his guarded demeanor casting a shadow over the moment. He studied her as if trying to solve a puzzle.
"You've been here... all this time?" he asked, his voice low, almost disbelieving.
"Of course," Athena replied, her tone firm. "Who else would make sure you didn't die from your reckless experiments?"
The corner of his mouth twitched, whether, in amusement or irritation, she couldn't tell.
He pushed himself up, his movements deliberate and strong, a huge contrast to his frail state days ago.
Athena's sharp eyes didn't miss the ease with which he moved. His strength seemed entirely restored, and the diagnostic monitors displayed readings that were, impossibly, perfect.
The chief doctor entered just then, carrying a tablet with the latest test results.
"Major General, it's good to see you awake. Your recovery is... remarkable. All your vitals are normal, and there's no trace of the toxins in your system. Frankly, it's a medical anomaly."