Chapter 184: [Extra - ] Ch182. Half healing
The scream hit Miles like a gunshot.
He was already sprinting before Mara could react. The hall between the forge’s main floor and the infirmary was short, but in that moment, it felt endless. His boots slammed against enchanted tile, and the blue runes lining the corridor pulsed in recognition, letting him pass unimpeded.
He kicked the door open. The scent of burning incense and bitter herbs hit him immediately, but that was a background note compared to what he saw.
Sarissa was sitting up in the cot, sweat pouring down her face, one hand clutched to her chest, the other reaching towards something he was not able to see or sense. Her eyes were wide, unfocused, flicking around the room like a caged animal.
The runes etched into the walls trembled with residual mana, reacting to the violence of her scream like a child reacts to their mother’s sudden yell. Almost as if flinching in intimidation.
"Sarissa!" Miles reached her in two strides, kneeling at her side, but still keeping some distance, however small. "You’re okay, you’re back. It’s me, it’s over."
Her lips trembled, her eyes locked onto him slowly, as if seeing him through layers of fog. She opened her mouth, then closed it, her breath shallow and fast, but no words coming out of her lips.
Behind them, Mara entered more quietly. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes made it clear she was ready to step in if things went south.
Miles summoned the [Ethereal Teapot] without a word. It manifested in a swirl of silvery colorful sparks, steam hissing gently and filling the room with notes of cinnamon, lavender, apple cider, and strawberry, if it even made sense for these flavors to be mixed together in a single concoction, but he poured from the teapot into a small crystal cup that appeared along with it anyway, and carefully reached it towards Sarissa.
"Here." He said gently, raising it to her lips. "It’ll help, just drink. Slow and steady, small gulps."
Sarissa drank, though her hands still trembled too much to hold the cup. The effect, strangely, wasn’t instant, but Miles could see it.