Chapter 3: If I Could (3)
While gazing at the dazzling city lights of Starcentral District, Ahcehera's attention was drawn to a small, shadowy figure crouched beneath the towering artificial trees.
The cityscape shimmered with a kaleidoscope of neon hues, but the lonely figure hidden in the shadows stood out like a silent plea for help.
Cautiously, Ahcehera approached, her steps light yet deliberate.
"Huh? Who would abandon an injured little wolf here?" she murmured, her voice tinged with concern.
Kneeling beside the creature, she examined its battered body. The wolf bore heavy bleeding, massive wounds, and deep gashes that were almost life-threatening.
Yet, as her fingers lightly touched its fur, she could feel the strong, resilient pulse of life coursing through its small form.
It's trying to survive.
Without hesitation, Ahcehera carefully scooped up the injured wolf and carried it home.
The palace, serene under the moonlight, erupted into controlled chaos as a team of medical experts was summoned in the middle of the night to treat the dying juvenile wolf.
One of the doctors, his brow furrowed with concern, approached her hesitantly. "Princess, may I ask where you found this young juvenile wolf?"
"I found it in the streets of Starcentral District," Ahcehera replied with a casual shrug. "At first, I thought it was a large cat. I figured it wouldn't be bad to adopt one for companionship."
The team exchanged uneasy glances, their pity evident as they worked on stabilizing the wolf in a high-tech medical cabin. Some bowed their heads, while others sighed sharply at the sight of the battered creature.
Leaving the wolf in the care of the doctors, Ahcehera retired to her chambers. Her mind, however, refused to rest.
There was so much to prepare. The upcoming joint military entrance examination loomed over her schedule, where she would participate as an examiner.
On top of that, she needed to organize her food supplies and assemble space buttons packed with emergency tools and survival gear for unforeseen situations.
I miss homecooked meals...
The palace chefs were undeniably skilled, but the dishes they prepared didn't suit her palate.
Some were too sour, others bland or excessively salty.
If I'm going to survive here, I'll need to understand the ingredients grown in this community. I'll have to experiment and create alternatives.
Her thoughts drifted to the planet's peculiar flora, mutated plants that had evolved into aggressive, carnivorous creatures.
Some bore vibrant, unnatural hues, while others grew to intimidating sizes. These ingredients were nothing like the ones she was familiar with on Earth, yet they held potential.
Ahcehera sighed deeply, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her. She picked up her digital tablet and began jotting down a bucket list of goals.
Her eyelids grew heavy as the list grew longer. Despite her endless to-dos, sleep finally claimed her.
Outside her chambers, the juvenile wolf's survival rested in the hands of the medical team. Unbeknownst to Ahcehera, this creature's fate would intertwine with hers in ways she could never have anticipated.
-
The next morning, Ahcehera was awakened by unexpected good news.
The juvenile wolf had been moved to rehabilitation after an extraordinary recovery. Its wounds heal far faster than those of any normal creature.
However, not everyone in the medical team shared the same relief.
Whispers of unease circulated among the doctors, many of whom confessed to a gut feeling that the wolf was no ordinary animal.
Some speculated that it might belong to one of the orc tribes scattered across the galaxy.
Ahcehera received the report while enjoying her breakfast in the palace dining hall. Her expression remained calm, though her mind was already considering the implications.
"Let's focus on healing it first," she said, her voice steady with authority.
"Afterward, we'll let it decide what happens next. My home can still support and feed another mouth. But I want you to keep an eye on the news, just in case someone reports a missing child in their family."
The thought of a deeper mystery lingered in her mind. Setting down her teacup, she turned to her personal assistant.
"Emil, I need you to track any recent reports of missing children or cases of human trafficking in the galaxy. I have a bad feeling about this."
"Yes, mistress," replied Emil, his tone precise and efficient.
Emil was no ordinary servant.
He was an S3-class intelligent robot, the most advanced and human-like model in the galaxy. Such machines were rare and could only be acquired with military authorization.
Designed for seamless integration into both royal and high-stakes environments, Emil was a trusted ally for Ahcehera.
After finishing her meal, she decided to visit the juvenile wolf in its medical room.
The wolf lay peacefully on a soft, glowing bed of bio-foam that supported its healing process.
Its small body rose and fell with the rhythm of its breathing, the once severe injuries now reduced to faint scars.
It's really pitiful.
Ahcehera approached quietly and took a seat beside it.
Gently, she placed her hand on its fur, brushing it lightly.
A sudden sensation coursed through her, a pulse of energy flowing from the wolf into her palm.
Strange.
The feeling was faint but undeniable, a warm, almost electric current that seemed to resonate deep within her. Though puzzled, she continued stroking its fur, her curiosity mingling with an unspoken sense of connection.
Time slipped by unnoticed as Ahcehera sat by the wolf, absorbed in the quiet moment. It wasn't until the butler entered the room to remind her it was time for lunch that she realized how long she had stayed.
Is it possible for an entity to use hypnosis even without using their eyes?
I have read in a text before that interstellar creatures can possess different kinds of gifts, abilities, and supernatural talents.
Rising reluctantly, she cast one last glance at the sleeping wolf. There was something about it, something beyond its rapid healing or mysterious origins, that seemed tied to a destiny far greater than either of them yet understood.
With her back turned the eyes of the seemingly sleeping wolf opened.
It stared at Ahcehera's back intently, as if engraving her image into his memory.