Chapter 294: Risks
Katelina was shocked when she received the news that Apollo had succeeded in purifying the green dragon. What surprised her even more was that the dragon, now freed from darkness, had followed Atlas back to the palace as he carried Apollo’s unconscious body.
Without hesitation, she turned to Levi. "Connect with the dragon," she instructed firmly. "We may need its energy to stabilize Apollo."
Levi nodded and left to carry out her orders with Asura accompanying him. Meanwhile, Katelina wasted no time and hurried to the chamber where Apollo had been taken.
When she entered, the sight before her made her chest tighten. Apollo lay motionless on the bed, his face pale, his body visibly weakened. The toll of purifying the dragon was evident. He had pushed himself far beyond his limits.
Katelina’s heart sank. He should have known the risks, yet he had still gone through with it.
Her gaze shifted to Cora, who was sobbing uncontrollably at Apollo’s bedside. The raw grief and fear in her cries were palpable, echoing through the room. Cora clutched Apollo’s cold hand as if her touch alone could pull him back to her.
The moment Cora noticed Katelina’s presence, she scrambled to her feet and rushed toward her. Falling to her knees, she looked up at the queen with tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling with desperation.
"Please, Your Majesty," Cora begged, clasping her hands together. "Save him. I beg you... Please bring him back to me. I’ll do anything... just don’t let him go like this. He promised me a future, and I can’t lose him now."
Katelina knelt, placing a reassuring hand on Cora’s shoulder. "Cora," she said softly, her voice calm but laced with determination, "I understand your pain. Apollo is family to us all. If there’s even the slightest chance to save him, I swear I will do everything in my power to help."