"Does it hurt a lot?"
Julian closed his eyes for a second, feeling the warmth of her touch.
"It's manageable," he lied. "The medicine Father gave me is helping. I just need rest."
Olivia didn't look convinced. She stayed seated beside him, her hand still resting lightly on his hair. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of his labored breathing.
After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"When I saw the light from the training ground… when I felt the clash of those two powers… I was terrified. For a moment, I thought something terrible had happened to you."
She looked down at him, her eyes glistening with unspoken emotions.
"You've become so strong, Kraven. Stronger than I ever imagined. But strength like this… it comes with a price. I don't want to see you destroy yourself trying to prove something."
Julian opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Father had hopes of me,"
He said quietly.
