Chapter 1424 (1/2)

Sydney sat at Drake’s bedside with her hands folded in her lap. Her eyes remained fixed on his still face. Since she was able to rescue his familiar from Ace, the lines around Drake’s eyes and mouth had certainly eased. All of the doctors in Donnyton’s premier hospital believed that his vitals were trending in positive directions. According to them, these sorts of results were basically unheard of. Everyone was astounded by the physical power that was present in Drake’s body.

Yet now, a week after he was supposed to have been fully ‘healed’, Drake still slept without stirring. The wait was… difficult. It wasn’t that Sydney had given up hope of a recovery, but her expression was becoming increasingly bitter as she observed her subordinate. Perhaps I truly waited too long to take action… the mental strain… the continuous torture… it has been years. I have… failed him.

A single tear began to run down Sydney’s cheeks, but a crackle of electricity raced across her face. Instantly, the small tear was transformed into a small ball of ice. Her skin itched at the sudden change in temperature. With an irritated expression, Sydney reached up and tore the tiny frozen orb off her face and threw it across the ward. It clattered across the ground and bounced off the wall.

Sydney pressed her eyes shut and did her best to prevent further tears.

She sat there for several minutes until she could hear the sounds of footsteps walking down the corridor. The very exact timing between the steps immediately revealed the identity of the approaching individual. Hope and despair warred in Sydney’s heart until her familiar’s image descended and froze everything. When the cold was strong enough, even emotions succumbed. She would be strong. She would look with clear eyes, no matter what the result was.

Regina Northwind pushed open the door and looked at Sydney’s stiff form. She didn’t smile. Instead, she walked smartly up to Sydney’s side and offered her the folder in her hand. “This is the best that we can do. Physically and with regards to his Aether… Drake is entirely healthy. The cause of his continued coma… is likely psychological in nature.”

Sydney took the folder. However, due to the heavy level of chill she maintained to suppress her emotions, her vision was somewhat fuzzy. Although she looked down at the paper in front of her, she didn’t actually see any of the details on the page. They were just tight lines and squiggles, an unintelligible sprawl that left her feeling helpless.

Regina took a step back but didn’t leave the room. Instead, her sharp eyes focused on Drake while she waited for Sydney to speak.

Finally, Sydney thawed enough to clear her throat. “Do you… have any ideas what might be going on?”

“...just a partial theory,” Regina admitted readily. “And honestly, it’s somewhat of a stretch… but as the leader of East End, I’m sure you are aware that the bond between an individual and their elemental familiar is unusual, but not unique. It shares some characteristics with the Soulbound connection that some individuals in Zone 32 maintain to this day.”

Sydney nodded and Regina continued to speak. “The marked difference, of course, is that a contract with a familiar can be terminated unilaterally by either party. I suspect the problem currently with Drake is that both he and his familiar were presented with circumstances in the past year that would have made it logical for them to sever their bond. Yet neither was willing to abandon their partner. They both attempted to protect each other. So their bond endured… but I believe they have become somewhat numb to external stimulus.”

“We need a way to reach them, then,” Sydney whispered. Regina nodded.

After a few more minutes at looking at Drake’s sleeping face, Sydney stood. “Thank you for your help doctor. I’ll… think of something.”

Regina Northwind bowed slightly to Sydney. “If you need anything, we are here.”

Then Sydney left the hospital, her expression becoming increasingly stormy and vicious as she swept out of the buildings and out under the cloudy sky. Snow flurries drifted downward, subtly spinning in Sydney’s direction. It was time that she confronted the man who had caused it all. Roy had been there with Drake at the World Crater and had somehow convinced him to take the personal boost in Stats rather than giving an experience buff to Earth. Sydney would find out what that sick piece of shit had done to her subordinate.

And then she would make him pay, just as she had done with Ace.

*****

“J-j-just a moment! Miss Helen!” The police commissioner squeaked, raising a hand for Helen to slow her assault while the other hand attempted to wipe blood out of his eyes.

Helen ignored his panicked cry. Would an enemy listen to such a request on the battlefield? Of course not. Helen might not care either way how strong this police commissioner would become, but she certainly cared that it was widely known that he was being personally trained by her. As such, she made sure to shower him with ‘affection’.