Chapter 321 Painful News
Eventually, the bowl became empty. Daniel only realized this after he tried to spoon out the last of the soup and found that there was nothing left. He placed the bowl on the bedside table. Since the girl had some food in her stomach and was thinking more clearly and actively, Aleshia decided it was time to ask her some questions to understand how she was feeling and what she could remember.
There was a stark difference between now and when the girl had first awakened. She looked much better now, thanks to the food and Lucia's ongoing use of nature magic. Aleshia turned to the girl and asked, "Now that you have eaten, may I ask you a question?"
The girl flinched at Aleshia's sudden words and timidly nodded. Aleshia continued, "Can you remember your name?" She gave the girl plenty of time to think before expecting an answer.
"My name is Natalia, and I was with my party when I blacked out." She said as she struggled to sift through her memories, a haze still clouding her mind. After realizing that her party members were gone, she began to feel anxious. Sensing her distress, Daniel replied, "They are all here, safe and sound. If you look to your left and right, you'll see all of them in their cots," speaking with lightness and calm in his voice.
Natalia followed his direction and visibly began to relax once she saw the steady rise and fall of breath beneath the sheets. "So we are all safe," she said hopefully. Daniel didn't share her optimism, but Aleshia responded in his stead, "You will be as safe as you can be here. This camp has had plenty of repairs, so there won't be as many drafts coming in, and the sunlight that used to streak in is no longer a problem."
Natalia pondered Aleshia's words for a long time before she spoke. "Huh, I don't remember the orphanage ever being in such disrepair as to need so many repairs. Wait, why are you calling this place a camp? I thought this was an orphanage. We were making enough, and from what I remember, there wasn't any major damage to the building that would let anything from the outside shine in or allow the wind to blow through." Natalia spoke with disbelief, her voice grew weary as she asked, "How long have I been asleep?" Her expression became increasingly confused and anxious.
Aleshia could see the strain and exhaustion that this line of thought was causing Natalia. She didn't want to upset her further, so she fell silent, troubled by guilt and the feeling that it wasn't her place to deliver the news.
After a moment of silence, Daniel replied, "It's been a few years since you all went under." He spoke softly, almost in a whisper, but Natalia understood. Her eyes filled with tears as she processed the painful information.