Reclaiming Her Heart

Selena found herself led to an indoor training arena, where K placed a shield in her hands.

He said, "Barbara likely tampered with your memories. Her hypnosis techniques were masterful capable of creating complete memory disorder. Your reflexes and resilience are remarkable, but they've gone without proper training for years."

Despite her blindness, Selena ran her fingers over the shield, exploring its contours.

"I'm going to train you with this whip," K explained. "For the next month, while your eyes heal, this is how we'll rebuild your reflexes. You're far too vulnerable right now."

The assessment stung Selena deeply.

How many times in Silver Bay City had she prayed for strength? If only she'd been stronger, she wouldn't have found herself so helpless, wouldn't have experienced such turbulence with Raymond.

If only she had the power to protect those she loved.

A memory suddenly struck her-Raymond holding her close, his voice gentle but firm: "I'm just human too, with limitations. There are things I cannot do, people I cannot protect. I still need to grow, and you have your own path to follow. If we're ever separated, live your life fully and trust that I'll find you again. Promise me?"

The memory filled her heart with renewed determination. But in that moment of distraction, the whip cracked through the air.

It struck her arm with brutal force.

K showed no mercy, his tone ice-cold. "On a battlefield, that moment of distraction would have cost you your life. Again!"

The second lash came whistling toward her.

Selena, entirely unprepared for this type of training, struggled to respond. Of K's first ten strikes, she managed to dodge only one. Her body was soon covered in open wounds.

Sweat poured down her forehead, dripping from her chin as her clothes became soaked through.

After twenty lashes, she lay on the ground, unable to move.

K tossed aside the whip with cold elegance. "Pathetic. Even if Barbara conditioned you subconsciously before you were thirteen, years without practice have left you rusty. We need to rebuild everything."

Selena could barely string a coherent thought together through the pain.

Without warning, she felt herself being lifted.noveldrama

She wanted to ask where K was taking her, but exhaustion had stolen her voice.

Then she was unceremoniously thrown into a small pool.

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The specialized solution immediately engulfed her, intensifying her pain beyond anything she'd ever experienced.

This was no ordinary water!

As she struggled toward the edge, the sound of the whip cutting through air made her instinctively dive beneath the surface.

Standing at the pool's edge with whip in hand, K watched her with the first glimpse of approval. "Good. Only twenty lashes and you're already sensing the whip's direction."

When Selena resurfaced, the pain nearly rendered her unconscious. Her entire body had turned an angry red, her face flushed with agony.

The pain was excruciating every inch of her felt crushed beyond endurance, too intense even for tears.

K explained from the shore, "This solution accelerates healing dramatically-your wounds will close in days rather than weeks-but at a cost: it intensifies pain to nearly unbearable levels. It's extremely rare-you'll soak in it after each training session." Selena felt herself slipping toward unconsciousness.

"Aren't you afraid this might kill me?" she managed to ask.

K gave her a dismissive glance. "I've acquired various pharmaceuticals from the research facility. As long as you haven't completely flatlined, I can bring you back." Curled up in the pool, Selena realized no physical pain she'd ever experienced compared to this torment. Her chest felt compressed, making it difficult to breathe. She forced herself to think of Raymond.

She had to survive this. She had to overcome this trial.

Her fists clenched underwater as determination hardened in her eyes.

K's voice reached her again. "This will also condition your pain receptors. Eventually,

even losing a finger would feel manageable."

Selena remained silent, lacking the strength to respond.

K casually checked his watch. Most people could barely endure ten minutes, yet here Selena was, twenty minutes in without a single complaint.

With a raised eyebrow, K announced, "Ten more minutes and you can come out."

Selena had begun to adapt to the agony, mentally detaching herself to make the time pass more bearably.

She tried to recall her precious moments with Raymond, only to realize with profound sadness that the time they'd actually spent together had been heartbreakingly brief.