"It's you," Alia finally admitted, nodding with a mixture of realization and respect.
The acknowledgnt like a carefully guarded secret, shared only within the confines of this unexpected encounter.
Eleanor, maintaining her composure, nodded in confirmation. "That's right. I'll decide what to do with him, and I have already decided. You are going to use all the resources to help him heal, and keep him within the school premises until then."
The gravity of Eleanor's command hit Alia like a sudden gust of wind, leaving her montarily stunned. "Keep him with !?But why?" she exclaid, her eyes blinking in disbelief.
Eleanor, known for her calculated and sotis harsh decisions, wasn't exactly renowned for acts of rcy.
This unexpected directive felt like a deviation from the norm, and Alia couldn't help but question the underlying motives.
Eleanor, however, offered no imdiate explanation.
With an air of mystery surrounding her, she withdrew her hands from Alia's shoulder and departed, leaving behind a sense of ambiguity, "Take good care of him," she uttered cryptically, and left.
"..."
Alia stood there in stunned silence, grappling with the unexpected directive from Eleanor. Her mind raced, contemplating the mystery surrounding Wang Xiao and the unusual decision to extend a lifeline to a stranger.
Collecting herself, she first took action to preserve the boy's modesty. A scarf, swiftly procured, discreetly covered Wang Xiao's private parts, preventing any potential scandal from arising.
Shaking her head to dispel the lingering confusion, Alia decided on the next course of action. She reached for the telephone, fingers dialing the number of her trusted helpers.
The urgency in her voice conveyed the gravity of the situation as she directed them to co inside, the treatnt of Wang Xiao requiring imdiate attention.
______
"Is he the right choice...?" Eleanor mused, her steps weaving through the silent pathways as she made her way back to her house.
The weight of centuries pressed upon her thoughts, an ancient dilemma resurfacing. For years, the search for a fitting successor to lead the Ethics Committee had been a futile quest.
As the cold wind whispered through the snowy landscape, Eleanor's mind echoed with the ghosts of the past. Wang Xiao, an unexpected candidate, carried the burden of her hopes.
The decision to save him wasn't rely an act of rcy; it bore the weight of countless heartless choices she had made to preserve the village's secrets. Innocent lives sacrificed in the na of secrecy.
In this seemingly vast world, the truth unraveled – the country and cities were but a façade. In reality, the whole place resembled a small village, with few scattered settlents beyond, the pulse of life concentrated within the heart of Silvertide City.
Amidst the shadows of her actions and the looming secrecy, Eleanor walked, grappling with the profound implications of her choice.
The winding paths carried the weight of her contemplation, each step echoing with the uncertainty of whether Wang Xiao could truly be the one to bear the responsibility and maintain the delicate equilibrium of their hidden existence.
________
"Any movents yet?" Eleanor's voice echoed in the dimly lit underground laboratory as she entered, her gaze fixed on Wang Xiao, his body enveloped in an eerie green liquid, sprawled on a stretcher surrounded by an alchemist's array of chemicals and herbs.
Alia looked up from her inspection, weariness etched across her face. "It's been five years, Eleanor. He isn't coming out of paralysis; his mind has been paralyzed. It's better to cremate his body." Her suggestion carried a bitter undertone, a confrontation of the harsh reality they faced.
Eleanor's eyes bore into Wang Xiao's motionless form, a silent contemplation swirling within her. "Five years," she murmured, the weight of ti burdening her words. "I've seen civilizations rise and fall in less ti than this."
Alia, her frustration evident, responded, "We can't wait forever. Unlike you, we can't heal our own cells..."
Eleanor, pacing around the laboratory, spoke with a mix of determination and uncertainty. "I sensed potential in him. There's sothing more to his paralysis. We can't abandon hope just yet."
Alia sighed, glancing back at Wang Xiao. "Hope is a luxury we can't afford. He's been a burden on resources, and the villagers are starting to question it."
Eleanor's gaze lingered on Wang Xiao, a profound sadness in her eyes. "I've carried this burden for centuries, seeking a successor. If there's even a glimr of a chance, we owe it to ourselves to explore it."
"Ugh!" Alia, unable to contain her frustration any longer, exclaid, "Say, Eleanor, even if he woke up? What good would it bring? He cos from outside, then he must be incapable of learning PK. His brain would burst even if you try to teach him.
Did you never think of that?" Her words carried a mix of resignation and concern, challenging the potential consequences of their persistent efforts with Wang Xiao.
Eleanor, her expression remaining stoic, t Alia's outburst with a asured response. "I have considered the risks, Alia. But in the centuries I've lived, I've learned not to underestimate the potential for change, even from unexpected sources."
Alia sighed, frustration still lingering in her features. "But if he can't learn PK, then what use is he to us? The village needs soone with the power to maintain the barrier and protect our secrets."
Eleanor, pacing the laboratory, contemplated the weight of their choices. "PK isn't the only asure of value. There are other qualities that can contribute to the well-being of our community. Perhaps he holds a key we haven't yet discerned."
Alia shook her head in disbelief. "You're willing to risk everything on a 'perhaps'? We can't afford such uncertainties."
Eleanor's gaze shifted back to Wang Xiao, a mix of determination and uncertainty in her eyes. "Sotis, Alia, uncertainties pave the way for unexpected fortunes. I'm not ready to give up on that possibility."
Alia's exasperated sigh echoed in the underground laboratory. "Why don't you train another person from the village to be the next head of the Ethics Committee? I can't understand you!"
Eleanor halted, her movents pausing as she considered Alia's plea. The dim light cast shadows across her contemplative expression. "We can't afford that. They have lived forever inside the village, trapped in a monotonous existence that lacks the broader perspective needed for the survival of our species. It's my own fault," she admitted, the weight of regret and responsibility coloring her words.
"We have forever hypnotized and erased their mories, keeping them enslaved to this small reality." The confession, a stark acknowledgnt of the consequences that had shaped the village's existence.
Alia crossed her arms, frustration etched across her face. "So, what's the plan then? Keep banking on an outsider who might never wake up and, even if he does, might not have the abilities we need?"
Eleanor's gaze remained fixed on Wang Xiao's still form. "I believe he has sothing unique to offer. The outsider's perspective might be the key to our survival. We've stagnated for too long within the confines of our own creation."
Alia's skepticism lingered, "But what if you're wrong? What if this is just wishful thinking, and we're risking everything for nothing?"
Eleanor turned to face Alia, determination in her eyes. "Sotis, Alia, we must embrace uncertainty to break free from the chains of our own making. I won't abandon the possibility of a better future, even if it cos from an outsider."
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