Chapter 40

Every muscle in Lia's body was in agony.

Never could I have imagined I would experience the full strain of all the muscles I learned about with Master Theodore.

Pipi, who had returned from the bathroom with a wet towel, screamed at the sight of Lia's bruised body.

"My goodness!" said Lia, dropping the clothes in her hand. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

She slumped down on the bed, unable to gather the strength to pick them up off the floor. Now that she could relax, she couldn't move a single finger.

Pipi wiped away the dust and blood with the clean towel. Lia gripped the sheets, writhing in pain every time the cloth grazed her scars.

"What is this?!" cried Pipi, bursting into tears. "You're battered and bleeding, and we can't even take you to the doctor! What am I to do if something happens to you?"

Lia smiled, thinking of Betty and her lectures. "I'm just bruised, that's all. It looks worse than it feels."