Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

Chapter 209: Mapping the Future [1]

Soren decided to continue their secret talking later. To avoid making Ethea feel awkward, he just focused on feeding her, keeping things casual.

"How is it? Tasty?"

Ethea chewed thoughtfully, a genuine smile replacing her previous pensive expression as she nodded in appreciation. The savory flavor seemed to instantly bring a bit of color back to her pale complexion.

"It’s amazing. Is this one of those special meals too?"

"It has its benefits, but the one I made for breakfast was the real masterpiece. Have you felt any changes from it yet?"

He didn’t know how fast the effects would show themselves. Even though he had eaten some himself, he wasn’t the one who was injured, so asking the patient directly was the only real way to gauge its success.

Ethea swallowed, considering it for a moment. "...The pain has subsided a bit. But what exactly was its intended effect?"

"That’s good. As you said, it was meant to ease the pain," Soren answered casually.

’Its main effects are to soothe internal burning and heal your damaged pathways,’ he added mentally.

Ethea looked into his eyes, her gaze softening. ’I see. Thank you. I really appreciate it.’

’It’s worth it as long as you can get better.’ Soren smiled and waited until she finished another bite before asking his next question. "Ethea, where do you want to go after we leave here?"

Ethea raised a brow faintly, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "...It doesn’t really matter to me. What about you?"

"Actually, I haven’t given it much thought yet," Soren admitted, blowing on the spoon. "I was planning to discuss it with you soon."

"Oh, then, let’s discuss it now." A curious smile appeared on her face. "What’s on your mind?"

"Ideally, I’d like to find a quiet, peaceful place where no one would disturb us," Soren said, a faint longing smile touching his lips as he fed her another bite. "But I know that’s not an option right now. We have to prioritize our safety."

He set the spoon down for a moment, his expression turning serious. "First off, we can’t stay in places like Kalmira anymore. I don’t want a repeat of what happened the other day, and smaller cities just don’t offer the protection we need; we might even end up implicating more innocent people. That’s why I think we should look for a major hub, somewhere with the highest level of security, guarded by powerful figures. Ideally, a place backed by a Paragon would be great."

’A place where your enemies wouldn’t dare to act, or would at least hesitate to try anything,’ he added silently, his gaze locking onto hers to convey the depth of his concern.

Ethea nodded in agreement, though a faint shadow of worry crossed her features. "You’re right, but unfortunately, there are only a handful of places like that in the entire world. Gaining entry to them is incredibly difficult, and staying there is definitely not free."

"Right," Soren said, shifting the bowl slightly. "And the most straightforward option would be returning to the capital, with or without your father."

The capital city, Valorium, was one of the most prominent S-rank hubs on the continent. As the heart of the Grand Kingdom of Oros, it boasted unmatched security, largely because the King himself was an 8th Circle awakened who resided within its walls. Under normal circumstances, it would be the perfect haven, especially given Ethea’s high prestige and status there.

But considering how powerful her enemies were and Ethea’s current state, they couldn’t be certain how they would be treated. The human heart was fickle, and respect was often tied entirely to a person’s strength.

Ethea seemed to reach a similar conclusion. Her expression hardened a fraction before she looked back up at him. "Let’s keep it as a backup option for now. We shouldn’t rule it out entirely, but we should see if we have better choices first."

Soren nodded, placing his spoon back in the bowl and picking up the cup. "I actually looked into a few places myself, but you obviously know the world far better than I do. How about I share what I have in mind first, and then you can give me your thoughts and suggestions?"

Ethea agreed with a slight nod, letting him guide the cup so she could gulp the tea he held to her lips.

"The first place that came to my mind is the Timur Empire," Soren began as he put down the cup. "As one of the largest and most powerful nations on the continent, it boasts an incredible concentration of high-ranking awakened and unmatched military might. On top of that, it houses Etenia Academy, the best institution on the continent."

He paused for a moment to let her swallow. "Since you studied there, you must be pretty familiar with the environment, right?"

"I am," Ethea confirmed quietly. "I spent a good amount of time there."

Soren nodded.

Ethea had been exceptionally famous throughout the empire back then, which meant people would recognize her name, but more importantly, since she had spent years living there, she would have a deep understanding of the region’s layout and politics. That knowledge would make it much easier for them to navigate the area safely.

"Plus," Soren continued, leaning forward slightly, "the empire was founded by the Paragon of Order himself. He’s one of the legendary myths who protected the world during the apocalypse, and he was actually one of the very first cultivators to ascend to the ninth circle."

"Mmm." Ethea nodded slowly, a look of deep recollection entering her eyes. "I’ve actually met him a few times during my time in the empire as well."

"Oh! Can you tell me about it?" Soren asked, his curiosity piqued instantly.

Ethea paused for a moment, visualizing the legendary figure. "The Paragon of Order is exactly as the stories describe. He is majestic and powerful, possessing an aura that commands respect without him ever needing to say a single word. Despite his status, he carries himself with a profound sense of calm, speaking openly and normally with anyone who approaches him rather than hiding behind a wall of arrogance."