Chapter 234: Resolving Inner Thoughts
Chapter 234: Resolving Inner Thoughts
Jade, acknowledging the advice, nodded, her spirits slightly dampened by the ordeal. "Would you have won?" she asked, a curious edge to her voice.
Ash, caught off guard by the question, hesitated. "Won? What do you—"
"Oh," Jade clarified, her thoughts still on the recent confrontation. "The guy who attacked us. Would I win in a fight against him if he didn't send me away?"
Without hesitation, Ash responded with a confidence that seemed to solidify the air between them. "Yeah, I'd win. And we will get our revenge for what he did. Not just to my pupils but also for your boyfriend."
"I imagine your boyfriend also feels the same way, though, to some degree," Ash remarked, her tone carrying a blend of empathy and understanding.
Jade, managing a faint smile amidst the turmoil of her emotions, affirmed with a sense of resolve, "Yeah, everything from here on out is for Ty and to get that bastard the justice he deserves." Her voice, though soft, was laced with a steely determination that spoke volumes of her commitment.
Ash's smile broadened slightly, offering a silent acknowledgment of Jade's resolve. She waved goodbye to Jade as she moved towards the door, leaving her with a parting piece of advice, "Well, until then, keep yourself healthy." Her words were simple, yet they underscored the importance of self-care amidst the looming challenges.
As the door closed behind Ash, Jade was enveloped by the silence of the room. She drew in a long, steadying breath, her thoughts racing. "I'm not doing any good just sitting here," she mused internally, the quiet around her amplifying the weight of her realization.
Fully standing, Jade scanned the room until her gaze landed on a door marked "bathroom." Curiosity piqued, she entered to find not just a single bathroom but several, each stocked with an array of top-tier hygiene products. "Huh, I guess the director really values good hygiene, perhaps?" she mused aloud, a hint of amusement in her voice despite the circumstances.
She began to remove her suit, noting with surprise that it wasn't leaking blood. The fabric had absorbed it, a detail that caught her off guard. Standing before the mirror, she turned on the hot water, watching as steam began to fill the room.
As Jade ran a hand through her hair, she noticed an unusual detail: it was pure black, but the very tips were as white as ice. "It's almost like I have frosted tips or something?" she thought, bemused by the sudden change.
Curiously, she tried rubbing the white tips between her fingers, wondering if the color would somehow fade or rub off, but it had no effect. With a sigh, she resigned herself to this new mystery, muttering,
"Another confusing thing to deal with later, I guess." This unexpected change added yet another layer to the already complex situation she was navigating, marking a physical manifestation of the extraordinary events she had experienced.
Stepping into the shower, Jade let the hot water cascade over her. It provided a momentary escape. As the steam filled the air, she thought about the path ahead. "So much has changed in such a short time. If what Ty mentioned is true, time is somehow moving faster for him."
She leaned against the wall, the water tracing paths down her skin. "So what he's dealing with is probably much more intense than what I'm going through."
So the least I can do is keep my head up and push forward.
After spending some time lost in thought, Jade finished her shower, reaching a firm conclusion. She decided to take everything one step at a time, without faltering.
Stepping out of the shower, she found a robe along with purple and black PJs laid out for her, accompanied by a small note:
"Give it your all, -Ash xo."
"How? Guess she knew I'd be grabbing a shower and see the outfit on my way out," Jade mused, impressed by Ash's foresight. Chuckling softly to herself, she appreciated the thoughtful gesture and slipped into the attire.
Feeling somewhat fortified, Jade exited the bathroom, a trail of steam following her. Her attention was caught by a book resting on a wooden nightstand, a new addition to the room.
"Here's one of your weird picture books. Saw it on my way out." The note went on, "P.S. you take long showers."
Settling down, she stretched out and picked up the book, a light laugh escaping her. She began to delve into the novel, but barely five minutes into flipping through the pages, her eyes grew heavy. Before she knew it, Jade had drifted off to sleep, the day's exhaustion finally overtaking her.
Jade was abruptly roused from her sleep as the door flew open and Gojaro strode in, his voice cutting through the quiet of the room, "Rise and shine! Glad to see you're alive and well, kid."
He continued, a sense of urgency in his tone, "I got a short briefing from Master Ashaiki to have you in the most tip-top shape by the time she returns."
Still groggy and half-asleep, Jade rubbed her eyes and responded, "Oh, yes, that's nice. I'm coming. Also, kinda rude of you to not mention me getting stabbed," her words tinged with slight annoyance as she yawned and rolled out of bed, preparing to face whatever training Gojaro had in store for her.
Gojaro, rubbing the top of his head, began, "You'll have to forgive me, if I—"
Jade, cutting him off, stated, "Ash mentioned why, it's okay. Just next time let me know when I'm about to get stabbed, okay? I'll try to be ready for it."
"Uh, sure," Gojaro agreed, slightly taken aback by her straightforwardness. "Go ahead and get dressed in your normal attire for sparring, and I'll meet you at Gym A1—the usual sparring spot we use. Just leave this room, go right, and then straight for a bit until you see the sparring hall."
He then placed a grey suit with a weighted vest and grey leggings onto her nightstand before heading out, leaving Jade to prepare for the upcoming session