Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Please Hold My Hand_1
Aiden immediately understood that it was not strange for a patient to want someone to hold their hand; it was simply for the sake of comfort.
Presia had completely lost her memory, and now she lay among a group of strangers, unsure of their intentions towards her. Though they had been reassuring her and telling her they were trying to save her, she obviously wouldn’t trust them unconditionally. In such a situation, her wanting someone to grasp her hand was a way of seeking assurance, making sure they truly meant her no harm.
"Warden, may I..." Daili looked toward Aiden, proactively asking for permission.
It seemed that Daili and Presia really did share some acquaintanceship. Judging from Presia’s earlier reaction, it appeared she also retained some impression of Daili. Perhaps Daili was the only person present who could give her a sense of security, which was why she reached out her hand in this direction.
"Alright," Aiden granted permission.
"Don’t worry, Presia. You’ll be fine," Daili approached, soothing her with a gentle voice as she reached out her hand.
But at that moment, Presia suddenly withdrew her hand in terror.
"Huh?" Daili was taken aback.
Presia shook her head fearfully, straining her neck to look past Daili’s waist, her gaze fixed behind her.
Surprised, Daili also turned around—
"Me?" Aiden noticed their gaze turn toward him and furrowed his brows in confusion.
He was somewhat baffled. Everyone present, including himself, had thought that Presia was seeking the comfort of someone she had an acquaintance with in the past, like Daili. But now it seemed... Presia specifically wanted him by her side.
"Please... please stay by my side," Presia implored him with her eyes.
"Do you know me?" Aiden asked instinctively.
Presia once again showed a confused expression.
Aiden looked at Daili questioningly. Presia didn’t know who he was yet inexplicably insisted on having him by her side, as if her subconscious felt a certain closeness to Aiden. The only plausible explanation was that she had known Aiden before losing her memory.
But as far as Aiden’s own inherited memories were concerned, he and Presia had hardly any interaction.
"Well," Daili thought for a moment before answering, "Presia probably really does know you. She has actually mentioned you... more than once in the past."
"Oh?" Meiruki attentively watched Aiden, a meaningful smile curling her lips, a face full of gossipy expression.
The other people present, including Flandre and the prison medic among the prison staff, all pricked up their ears. The combination of what Daili said and Presia’s current behavior was too intriguing.
However, just when many were starting to fabricate a year’s worth of dramatic stories about the high-profile witch, listed as an S-class wanted criminal, harboring a forbidden love for the high-ranking Judge of the heretic tribunal in secret, Daili’s next words instantly shattered all their fantasies:
"Actually, Presia was an active pro-war faction in the ’Witch Gathering.’ She has always insisted that witches across the continent should unite against the witch-hunt tribunals of various countries and take the initiative to assassinate those who pose a threat to the ’Witch Gathering.’ Warden, you were one of her targets when you were still a high-ranking Judge. By the way, she also spontaneously issued a bounty on you, encouraging other witches skilled at assassination to take you out..."
Aiden reassessed Presia, his look turning vigilant.
Nima was after my head this whole time?
But this made Presia’s current behavior even more inexplicable; according to Daili, even if Presia retained a vague impression of him, she should have exhibited wariness or a clear sense of distance, not this unprovoked closeness and dependency.
And yet, the amnesiac Presia, enduring severe pain, reached out to Aiden with tears in her eyes, whimpering "ah ah" as though she were a young puppy abandoned by the roadside, wailing for help from passers-by, a sight that instinctively brought to mind the phrase "pity the misery of others."
Aiden seriously contemplated the situation inside his heart; he was no longer the Judge but the warden managing the prison, and if a little soothing could assuage a prisoner’s emotions, it wouldn’t hurt to try.
With Daili and other guards present, and Presia not only sealed of her Magic Power but also firmly restrained on the bed... After weighing the safety, Aiden eventually decided to go over and, as Presia wished, took her left hand in his.
This gesture visibly stabilized Presia’s emotions significantly, though she still appeared to be in great pain.
Another wave of intense pain struck, and Presia tensed her body violently, instinctively gripping Aiden’s hand tightly.
At this point, Aiden felt rather fine, as Presia’s grip was only that of an average young woman and did not cause him much pain.
After the bout of pain passed, Presia’s dress was almost completely soaked with sweat, sticking to her body and outlining her figure.
"Ugh... I... I... can’t breathe!"
She gasped for air with difficulty and urgency, slightly twisting her body, as if trying to turn over.
Being tied to the operating table in a prone position continuously compressed her chest, further exacerbating her breathing difficulties.
"No, don’t move! This position makes it easier for you to spit things out later. If you were lying on your back, you might choke on your own vomit," Meiruki said coolly.
At that moment, Presia suddenly let out a piercing scream that startled everyone present.
The surge of pain was more fierce than any before, piercing her entire body. She instinctively clutched Aiden’s hand so tightly that he actually felt pain.
The strength in her hand seemed to have increased...
Not only that, Aiden also felt a very unnatural sensation on the back of his hand where his thumb touched.
Aiden narrowed his eyes and observed, realizing that fine scales were beginning to appear on Presia’s skin.
"Warden," Meiruki suddenly spoke up, smiling at Aiden as she said, "She’s about to show symptoms of monsterization, and I suggest you withdraw your hand sooner rather than later."
"Why?" Aiden asked while exerting strength to pull his hand out but found, to his surprise, that he could hardly move it—Presia’s grip on his hand grew rapidly stronger, quickly causing Aiden to wince with pain, a strength that had already far exceeded the limits of normal humans.
"After monsterization, her strength will become as great as that of a magical beast. Once she goes berserk, she will ruin your hand!" Meiruki said with a schadenfreude grin.
"You should have said that earlier!" Aiden glared at her fiercely.
