Chapter 280 A Blessing in Disguise
James' eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry at first, the hospital room swimming into focus slowly. A figure leaned over him, her features familiar yet hazy, like a half-remembered dream. Jennifer.
The two dreams he'd just experienced, so vivid, so real, clung to the edges of his consciousness, making it difficult to separate fantasy from reality. It took him a long, drawn-out moment to remember where he was and why he was here.
The fire. The children. The searing pain.
He was alive. He'd survived. A wave of relief, so profound it bordered on euphoria, washed over him.
Then, the pain returned, a throbbing ache that radiated from every inch of his bandaged body. He groaned, a low, guttural sound forced through gritted teeth. He was no stranger to pain, but this… this was a whole new level of agony.
As his mind meticulously reconstructed the sequence of events that had culminated in his current situation, an overwhelming sentiment of astonishment and incredulity enveloped him. He'd charged into that inferno, not once, but multiple times, the heat so intense it felt like his skin was melting from his bones. If it hadn't been for his internal energy, for the shield he'd erected around himself, he wouldn't be here now.
But even his considerable strength had its limits. The seal, the damn seal that had been placed upon him years ago, had restricted his power, leaving him vulnerable. If he'd been at full strength…
He froze, a sudden thought electrifying him. The seal. He could no longer feel its presence, and it was a suffocating hold on his internal energy.
Closing his eyes, he focused inwards, probing his body with his mind. And then, his eyes flew open, wide with astonishment and elation.
The seal was gone. Completely obliterated.
And that wasn't all. His internal energy reservoir, once limited by the seal, had expanded, doubled in size, no, more than doubled. It was as if a dam had burst, unleashing a torrent of raw power within him.
This… this was unprecedented. He'd never heard of such a thing, of a person's internal energy reservoir increasing to such an extent. It was as if his very being had been reborn, reforged in the crucible of that inferno.
Excitement surged, briefly overshadowing the pain. He would be stronger than ever before, more powerful than he'd ever imagined possible. This near-death experience, this brush with oblivion, had unlocked a hidden potential within him, a power he could now claim as his own.
But first, he needed to heal. His body, though infused with this newfound energy, was still weak, ravaged by the fire. It would take time and careful cultivation to rebuild his strength and harness the full potential of his enhanced abilities.
He focused his will, channeling his internal energy, directing it towards his wounds, feeling the familiar warmth spread through his body, soothing the pain and knitting together torn flesh and bone.
He was so engrossed in his healing, so focused on harnessing his power, that he didn't notice Jennifer stirring beside him, her eyes fluttering open, her gaze locking onto his.
"Jennifer," he rasped, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Have you eaten anything?"
His words, unexpected in the quiet room, startled Jennifer fully awake. She blinked, her sleep-fogged brain struggling to catch up with reality. Then, as recognition dawned, her eyes widened, her lips parting in a gasp of surprise and relief.
"James!" she cried, her voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Thank God, you're awake! I was so worried… I thought…"
Her words were cut short by a sob, her body trembling against his. James, caught off guard by her sudden outburst, winced as her embrace sent a jolt of pain through his battered body.
He wanted to tell her to be careful, that even the slightest touch sent daggers of pain through him, but he couldn't bring himself to interrupt her relief, her outpouring of emotion. Consequently, he persevered, mustering a smile as he tenderly caressed her tresses.
Finally, Jennifer seemed to realize she was hurting him. She pulled back, her eyes widening in alarm as she saw the grimace of pain that flickered across his face.
"James," she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
He shook his head, trying to downplay the throbbing agony that radiated through him. "I'm fine," he lied, his voice strained. "Just a little sore."
Jennifer wasn't fooled. She knew him too well. "Don't lie to me," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I can see you're in pain."
He sighed, knowing he couldn't hide it from her. "It's alright," he said, forcing a reassuring smile. "It's nothing I can't handle."
At that juncture, they fell into a hushed silence, the only audible sounds being the rhythmic beep of the cardiac monitor and the gentle shuffle as Jennifer readjusted his blankets. The sunlight streaming through the window painted the room in a warm glow, a stark contrast to the sterile white walls and the lingering scent of antiseptic.
"How long was I out?" James asked, breaking the silence.
"Thirty hours," Jennifer replied softly. "You've been asleep since they brought you out of surgery."
"Thirty hours?" He frowned, doing the math in his head. "So today's the 30th?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
Two days. Two days since the fire, his life had been turned upside down. It felt like a lifetime ago.
As if reading his thoughts, Jennifer spoke again, her voice barely a whisper. "James," she said, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and remorse, "I… I'm so sorry."
He turned to look at her, his gaze meeting hers. "Sorry?" he echoed, confused. "What are you sorry for?"
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