Chapter 34: The Silent Agony of Ava Lysan

The orphanage loomed ahead, a desolate structure clinging to the side of the islets like a ghost unwilling to let go of its tether to the world. Its cracked walls were streaked with dirt and overgrown with moss, while shattered windows stared out like empty eyes. The faint creak of the wind weaving through its broken beams made it seem alive, breathing out its sorrow with every gust.

Balthar, Calen, and Livra stopped just outside the building, their breaths visible in the cold air. Balthar was the first to speak, his rough voice cutting through the tense silence. “This place looks about as inviting as a death trap.”

“It’s not like we’ve had much choice,” Livra shot back, folding her arms. Her tone was sharp, but there was a nervous undertone she couldn’t quite hide. “Besides, aren’t you supposed to be the big tough mercenary who’s seen it all? I thought a few cobwebs and some rubble wouldn’t faze you.”

Balthar snorted. “Cobwebs don’t bother me, girl. It’s what’s hiding in them that you gotta worry about.” He smirked at her, his confidence tinged with just enough humor to ease the tension.

Calen rolled his eyes. “Can we just get on with this? If we’re going to find any clues, it’ll be inside, not out here arguing.”

With that, the three of them pushed through the rusted double doors. The hinges groaned like a wounded animal, the sound echoing through the decayed halls beyond. The interior was worse than they had imagined. Dust blanketed every surface, and what little furniture remained was either broken or rotting. The air was thick with the smell of mildew and decay, a stark reminder of how long the orphanage had been abandoned.

“Charming,” Balthar muttered as he stepped over a toppled chair. “Bet this place was a real joy to grow up in.”

“I’m sure you’d have fit right in,” Calen quipped. “You’ve got that whole ‘grizzled orphan’ vibe down to an art.”

Livra shook her head, exasperated. “Will you two stop? We don’t have time for this.” She brushed past them, her eyes scanning the room for anything of note.

They moved cautiously through the orphanage, each room revealing more signs of its forgotten past. Broken toys lay scattered across the floor of what had once been a playroom. Faded posters still clung to the walls, their cheerful colors dulled by time. Livra paused to pick up a stuffed animal, its fabric worn and its stuffing spilling out. She set it down gently, a pang of sadness tightening her chest.

“Over here,” she called softly, spotting a stack of photographs on a dusty shelf. Calen and Balthar joined her as she carefully brushed away the grime obscuring the images. The first photo showed a group of children, their faces bright with laughter as they posed under a sunny sky. Calen’s breath caught when he recognized two of them.

“That’s Rion,” he whispered, pointing to a boy with a mischievous grin. “And that’s Tessa.”

Calen took the photo from her, his brow furrowing. “They look… so different. So young.”

Livra nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she flipped through the rest of the photos. In each successive image, Tessa’s demeanor changed. The once happy, carefree girl began to look more withdrawn. Her smile faded, replaced by a tight-lipped expression that grew colder with every year. By the last photo, she was standing apart from the group, her posture rigid, her gaze distant and unreadable.

“Something happened to her,” Livra murmured. “You can see it in her eyes. Whatever it was, it changed her.”

“Looks like life wasn’t kind to any of them,” Balthar said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

They continued their search, eventually finding their way to the infirmary. The room was in chaos, with overturned cabinets and medical supplies strewn across the floor. But it was the locked drawer of a heavy desk that caught Balthar’s attention.

“Help me with this,” he grunted, prying it open with his knife. Inside was a file wrapped in worn leather. Livra opened it carefully, and a photograph fell out. She picked it up and gasped.

“It’s a wouded girl” she said, holding up the image. The girl in the photo was covered in bandages and was lying on a bed connected to a bunch of machines. Alongside the photo was a thick file detailing her medical history.

Calen skimmed the documents, in the medical history he could read:

Patient Medical Record

Name: Ava Lysan

Age: 4 years

Gender: Female

Status: Orphan, admitted post-catastrophic event in Lysan Mining Facility.

Summary of Incident:

Patient was involved in a catastrophic mining accident caused by an experimental levicita reactor explosion on the Lysan family mining site. The blast resulted in significant structural collapse and exposure to hazardous levels of radiation.

Primary Diagnoses

Spinal Trauma (Cervical and Lumbar):

Cause: Direct impact from falling debris during the explosion. Patient sustained multiple fractures in the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.

Result: Complete severance of nerve pathways affecting lower body function, leading to irreversible paralysis of both legs.

Surgical Notes: Initial efforts to stabilize the spinal column failed to restore neural connectivity. Metal reinforcements were installed to prevent further degradation.

Radiation-Induced Systemic Decay:

Exposure Level: Extreme, prolonged proximity to a ruptured levicita reactor core.

Impact on Body:

Muscular Atrophy: Progressive breakdown of muscle tissue, likely due to cellular necrosis exacerbated by radiation poisoning.

Organ Degeneration: Early signs of hepatic and renal failure. Cardiac efficiency reduced to 65% normal capacity due to systemic strain.

Pain Symptoms: Persistent and acute pain requiring constant pharmacological management.

Chronic Toxicity and Immune Suppression:

Cause: High-dose radiation exposure has severely compromised the patient’s immune response, leaving her vulnerable to opportunistic infections.

Treatment: Administered a regimen of experimental anti-radiation serums and tissue-preserving drugs. Temporary relief observed but not curative.

Prognosis

Life Expectancy: Less than 6 months from the time of admission, based on current rate of systemic failure.

Quality of Life: Poor; patient is in a constant state of discomfort despite pain management protocols. Regular injections of high-strength analgesics are necessary for baseline functionality.

Additional Notes

Psychological Impact: Patient exhibits signs of significant emotional trauma, though verbal expression of distress is minimal due to her age. Persistent episodes of nightmares and episodes of silence have been reported.

Family Connection: No surviving relatives have been identified. Records indicate her father, Artorius Lysan, perished in the explosion, and her mother’s status remains unknown.

Physician’s Statement:

“It is a medical anomaly that Ava Lysan remains alive under these conditions. While every effort has been made to ease her suffering, the extent of her injuries and exposure render long-term survival virtually impossible. Her case highlights the devastating human toll of levicite experimentation and the urgent need for stricter oversight in its handling.”

Signed: Dr. Elma Thrayne

Position: Chief Medical Officer, Orphanage Health Wing

“As we knew, she was in an explosion,” Calen said. “In the mines on the Outer Continent. It caused severe spinal trauma—her cervical vertebrae were shattered, which left her paralyzed.”

“That’s not all,” Balthar said, reading over his shoulder. “Prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation. It says her organs were deteriorating, her muscles wasting away. They didn’t think she’d survive more than a few months.”

Livra’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Constant pain… and yet she’s still alive. How? And why?”

Before anyone could answer, a sharp noise shattered the silence. Balthar spun around just in time to block a blade aimed at his head. Auren had emerged from the shadows, his movements swift and deadly.

“Well, well,” Auren sneered, his voice smooth and mocking. “Looks like I found the little mice scurrying through the ruins.”

Balthar shoved Livra and Calen behind him. “Run!” he barked. “Take the files and get out of here!”

“But—” Livra started to protest, only to be cut off by the mercenary’s glare.

“Now!” he roared, locking weapons with Auren in a shower of sparks.

Reluctantly, Livra grabbed the files and pulled Calen toward the exit. They sprinted through the crumbling halls, their footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

Back inside, the battle between Balthar and Auren raged on. The two men clashed fiercely, their movements a blur of power and precision. Balthar, though battered and bleeding, fought with the determination of a cornered beast. Auren’s speed and agility made him a formidable opponent, but Balthar’s brute strength and sheer willpower began to turn the tide.

“You’re outmatched, old man,” Auren taunted, a cruel smile on his face.

Balthar growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Outmatched? Not likely.”

With a sudden burst of strength, he delivered a crushing blow to Auren’s throat. The man staggered, choking, before Balthar finished him with a brutal twist of the neck. The sickening crack echoed through the room as Auren’s lifeless body slumped to the ground.

Panting heavily, Balthar leaned against the wall, his vision swimming from blood loss. “I’m too old for this...” He mumbled.