I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 254: I Am Home

"How is she?" Julian asks as Liam steps out of the guest bedroom.

"She’s having a fever. Very high." Liam runs a hand through his hair. "Maeve and Thea are trying to bring it down. Or they’re helping her ride it out. I don’t know. Something like that."

He drops onto the sofa with a heavy sigh.

Julian can see the exhaustion written all over his face.

After Alicia fell unconscious at the entrance, Liam carried her in princess style and brought her to the guest bedroom without hesitation.

Theo and Maeve immediately took over.

They checked her pulse.

Her breathing.

Her temperature.

That was when they discovered the fever.

They have been inside that room ever since.

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"Can’t we heal her or bring the temperature down with magic?" Maeve asks quietly.

Theo exhales slowly.

"We certainly can. But this fever is not caused by a disease. It’s her body reacting to something her mind has not processed yet. Her body and mind are not aligned."

He glances at Alicia.

"We can bring the fever down artificially. But it will spike again later."

"So you’re saying it’s no use?" Maeve presses gently. "It’s very high. I’m worried she cannot handle it. Her mind is already unstable. Adding this on top of it? That is not a good combination."

"I know." Theo nods. "One of us should stay with her at all times. We need to make sure it does not go higher than this."

Both of them look down at Alicia’s hand.

She is gripping Theo’s shirt tightly.

Even in unconsciousness.

Maeve lets out a small chuckle.

"I guess you’ll take the first shift."

Theo chuckles lightly as well.

"I guess so."

His eyes shift to Alicia’s other hand.

The one still holding the knife.

"Still cannot pry it away?" he asks.

Maeve shakes her head.

"Not without hurting her."

She studies Alicia’s face.

She looks peaceful.

Almost calm.

"It’s amazing she can hold onto it that tightly while unconscious."

Theo exhales softly.

"It is because she’s unconscious that she is holding it that tight."

Silence settles between them for a brief moment.

Heavy.

Understanding.

Maeve straightens.

"I’ll come back in a couple of hours and relieve you. Call me or call all of us if you need anything."

Theo nods.

"Oh," he adds as Maeve reaches the door. "If you can bring my dinner here, I would appreciate it very much."

Maeve laughs softly.

"I will. I’ll finish cooking and bring it to you."

Theo smiles faintly.

"Thanks."

Maeve exits the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Theo pulls the chair closer to the bed and sits beside Alicia.

He studies her face.

Sweat beads at her temples.

Her breathing is uneven but steady.

"I am so sorry you had to experience the loss of your brother again," Theo says softly. "And I am here for you. Whenever you need."

He begins to stroke Alicia’s hair gently.

"He is so proud of you, you know?"

Strokes.

"I know you might feel guilty. But please, do not be. It was his choice."

Strokes.

"He chose to sacrifice his life so that you could live."

Strokes.

"Do you know he did that twice?"

Strokes.

"Both times to save you. But he was smart. He did not just throw himself away blindly."

Strokes.

"He saved me. And he made me promise to save and protect you for the rest of my second life."

Strokes.

Tears fall from Theo’s eyes without him realizing it.

They land quietly on the blanket.

"I wish I had a brother who loved me the way he loved you," Theo whispers.

Strokes.

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Alicia is running.

Alex told her to run.

And she runs.

Running toward what and running from what, she does not know.

She only knows one thing.

She has to run.

So she runs.

The ground beneath her feet feels endless.

The air feels thick.

But she keeps moving. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

After running for a while, nothing becomes clearer for her, unlike what she expected.

She thought clarity would come if she obeyed.

She thought safety would appear at the end of the sprint.

It does not.

The world around her is still blurred.

Uncertain.

Wrong.

She feels like she needs a direction.

A destination.

But Alex did not give her one.

He only said, Run.

So after running blindly for a while, she decides she will run toward something that feels familiar.

Something safe.

If she cannot see clearly, she will run by instinct.

So she runs again.

With all her strength.

With everything she has left.

Her lungs burn.

Her legs ache.

But she pushes harder.

She can almost feel it now.

That sense of home.

Of safety.

Of something known.

She is almost there.

And then—

There are people standing in front of her.

Blocking her path.

Stopping her.

Preventing her from going further.

Preventing her from reaching that safe place.

Fury surges through her veins.

Hot.

Instant.

Who are these people to stop me from going home?

Why are they stopping me from feeling safe?

I do not want to feel scared anymore.

Go away.

Let me in!

Get out of my way!

Get the fuck out of my way!

Her heart pounds violently.

The fear twists into anger.

Alicia knows she has to fight her way home.

She remembers Alex used to tell her stories.

Stories about heroes.

Stories about villains who always tried to block the heroes from happiness.

From safety.

From peace.

Villains loved to see heroes suffer.

They thrived on it.

So these people must be villains.

They are standing between her and safety.

Between her and home.

Alicia lunges forward.

She fights like a tiger.

Claws.

Teeth.

No hesitation.

She grins.

There is adrenaline in her veins.

She feels powerful.

She feels like she is winning.

But then another villain joins the fight.

This one feels different.

Stronger.

More skillful.

His movements are sharper.

More precise.

More dangerous.

He does not fight wildly.

He fights with control.

Alicia narrows her eyes.

So, this is the Boss Villain.

Fine.

She will fight seriously.

She will not let these bad people prevent her from going home.

With each blow she throws, she repeats inside her mind:

I want to go home.

Get out of the way.

I want to go home.

Get out of the way.

But the Boss Villain is very strong.

After fighting for a while, he manages to lock both her arms from behind.

His grip is firm.

Unyielding.

Alicia struggles with all her might.

She twists.

She pulls.

She jerks her shoulders forward.

But she still cannot escape.

Then another villain approaches her.

This one is closer.

Too close.

He reaches for her hand.

Trying to pry her fingers open.

He wants to take my compass away!

No!

That is the one thing that will lead me home!

I am not going to let you take it from me!

Never!

Her grip tightens.

She feels her fingers tremble, but she refuses to release it.

Alicia lifts both her legs.

She wants to kick this villain away.

She wants to break through.

"Little Ali!"

Alicia freezes.

Everything pauses.

Who said that?

Only Alex called her that.

But Alex is dead.

Who said that?

"Little Ali, please calm down."

The voice is gentle.

Soft.

Soothing.

"Please give me the knife."

Like Alex’s voice.

But the wrong gender.

"You don’t need it anymore."

I need to see who this is.

She calls me Little Ali.

Only Alex knew that.

But her voice is so soothing.

I like it.

Very much.

The figure in front of her slowly becomes clearer.

The distortion thins.

Oh.

Beautiful hair.

Gorgeous face.

Those eyes.

Alicia remembers.

She has seen those misty grey eyes before.

She saw them.

She saw Alex’s honey hazel eyes turn misty grey.

They are the same.

She tries to speak.

Her throat burns.

No voice comes out.

She tries again.

Her body trembles.

Air pushes through her lungs.

"Alex."

Finally.

But it comes out jumbled.

Broken.

Barely there.

I hope she understands.

The woman in front of her smiles gently.

Ah.

She does.

The villains fade.

The path is no longer blocked.

I am safe.

I am home.

Alicia closes her eyes.