Chapter 32: Awakening and Deception
Arthur woke to the sensation of warm magical energy flowing into his depleted core and the sound of soft elven singing.
The melody was ancient, carrying healing power that seemed to reach into his very soul and slowly piece together what the Heart of Lyranth had nearly torn apart.
Sylrathi knelt beside him, her hands glowing with gentle silver light as she channeled centuries of elven healing knowledge into his damaged magical pathways. Tears streamed down her face, and her voice cracked slightly as she maintained the healing song.
"Don’t ever do anything that stupid again," she whispered when she noticed his eyes opening, her voice breaking with relief and residual terror. "I thought I’d lost you before we even had a chance to—"
"Did it work?" Arthur managed to croak, his throat raw from the magical strain. Every part of his body felt like he’d been struck by lightning repeatedly.
"The barriers are holding perfectly," Valentina reported from across the chamber, where she’d been monitoring magical displays that still flickered in the air. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, but Arthur..." Her voice broke completely, professional mask crumbling.
"You died for three minutes. Your heart stopped, and I felt it through our blood bond. I felt you leaving me."
She moved closer, her hands shaking as she reached for him. "Sylrathi’s been healing you for eight hours straight. I haven’t left this chamber since you collapsed. I couldn’t—".
"I can’t lose you."
[SYSTEM RESTORATION IN PROGRESS]
[ENERGY LEVELS: 125/500 - Critically low but stable]