Vol. 1 - Ch. 53
Chapter 53
Drip. Drip.
The sound of water droplets falling roused Daphne from her sleep. The first thing she felt was the cool droplets landing on her cheek, followed by the damp air that clung to her skin. Slowly blinking, Daphne groaned and clutched her throbbing head as she pushed herself upright. Feeling the moisture against her hands, she glanced around. She was inside a cave.
Frowning, she struggled to piece together her memories.
[“Stay alive. I will find you, no matter what.”]
That was the last thing she heard before she lost consciousness, clutching the unconscious Damian as they plummeted downward.
As Edmund had warned, the waters below had risen due to the rain. However, one crucial miscalculation had been made. Daphne, weighed down by Damian, was no match for the raging currents.
[“Damian, please…! Please, wake up!”]
Even as the current dragged them mercilessly downstream, she shook him over and over, but his tightly shut eyes remained unyielding. Realizing that trying to rouse him would only result in her swallowing more water, Daphne focused entirely on keeping hold of him.
For what felt like an eternity, they were carried away by the rushing waters. Then, a chilling realization struck her. If this continued, hypothermia would claim his life. Survival was left to chance.
Blindly reaching out, she managed to grab onto a floating tree trunk. Seizing the brief respite when the rain momentarily lessened, she fought her way toward the riverbank. Once she climbed up first, she lay against the tree, panting, before mustering the last of her strength to pull Damian from the water.
Every inch of her body ached, but she had no time to rest. With trembling hands, she reached into her soaked clothing and pulled out the magic stone she had held onto so desperately.
[“Please… please…”]
Turning Damian onto his back, she gasped at his pallid lips and sweat-soaked face. Praying she wasn’t too late, she placed the magic stone into his hand.
Even in his unconscious state, Damian’s survival instincts kicked in. His fingers clenched tightly around the stone. A soft white light emanated from it, seeping into his body. Gradually, the ominous mist rising from him began to dissipate. When the last traces vanished, Daphne let go of the tension she had been holding onto.
Through her dimming vision, she caught a glimpse of Damian’s eyes opening before everything went black.
Damian is saved.
“Hah…”
A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she tried to steady her racing heart.
Glancing around, a delayed realization hit her – Damian was gone.
“…Damian?”
Her hoarse voice echoed within the cave. A sudden wave of anxiety crashed over her. Staggering, she braced herself against the cave wall.