The moment Eldrigan fell, Peroncerea didn't think. Her movements blurred. as she dropped to her knees beside him.
"Eldrigan? Eldrigan!"
He didn't answer.
His body lay crumpled, twitching with the remnants of overloaded nerves. Steam hissed from his skin and parts of his armor had melted onto him. His heartbeat was faint. Natalis was already beside him.
"Denisia!"
"Already here!"
The two sisters began flooding Eldrigan's body with overlapping healing but it was like pouring light into a shattered vessel. His bones were fractured in hundreds of places and his organs were shredded from within. Natalis gave a sigh.
"He's dying. His body can't regenerate fast enough. He's fading—"
"No," Peroncerea's voice cracked. "No, no, no... don't you dare die, Eldrigan. Not now...."
She clutched his hand, her demonic aura flickering erratically with panic. Her claws dug into the ground.
"Why'd you take the whole hit, you idiot? You reckless, stubborn idiot!"
Denisia said grimly, still pushing Divine energy into Eldrigan's collapsing soul
"We need Aeterium healing. Body Reconstruction… maybe even Soul, if we're lucky. Even his soul is damaged."
"I could try. I could use Body Reconstruction from Vastarael."
"Then do it!"
Phaenora shook her head. "I can't, Peron."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"He's Divine now. That changes everything. Veneri bound his Aeterium characteristics to his Divinity. I can still mimic Aeterium traits but only how they used to work. Body and Soul Reconstruction was always exclusive. I can't replicate that. I can use it on myself and not him. If Adelasta was here, it would work but she's doing hee Sacred Trial."
The room fell into a tense, suffocating silence. The scent of ash and metal hung thick in the air. Peroncerea's hands trembled.
"There has to be another way. There has to be—"
A rift of light unfolded in mid-air. Then, with the lazy flick of a hand, a figure stepped through. She didn't speak at first. She just looked down at Eldrigan with a sigh. Then, without preamble, she raised her palm and waved. An invisible force cascaded over Eldrigan's body. His wounds, gashes, ruptures, burns and broken bones closed in seconds. His soul trembled, realigned and surged anew.
He gasped violently, coughing out blackened blood before air returned to his lungs like a shock. Peroncerea barely held in a scream.
"Eldrigan!"
His eyes fluttered open but alive.
"Still… here. Gods, that hurt."
Peroncerea didn't wait. She grabbed him and hugged him so tightly he wheezed.
"You almost died, you bastard! You almost—"
"I didn't, though. I'd never leave you."
It was only then that the others stared at the newcomer.
She was a young woman who carried herself with an almost royal elegance. Her very long auburn hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders, slightly wavy at the tips. Her golden eyes shimmered softly beneath long lashes and her dark bronze skin was kissed faintly by the island sun. The white sleeveless summer dress she wore swayed gently, Peroncerea blinked as she glanced at her, stunned for a moment. She didn't believe that...
Phaenora's eyes lit up instantly.
"Runner?"
"Aunt Phae!"
She exclaimed, immediately throwing her arms around her with a bright smile.
They embraced tightly. Runner's arms curled around Phaenora's waist as her chin nestled against her shoulder and Phaenora spun her once like an excited older sister.
"Look at you! You've changed so much!"
"It's been a year, Aunt Phae! I missed you!"
"Aww, come on now. Just a year? You're acting like it's been a decade. I'd say you missed me too much."
Runner pouted, crossing her arms.
"That's because you never texted back!"
Phaenora put a hand to her chest with exaggerated offense.
"I did! Once! Maybe! Okay, I forgot. I've been busy making sure your dad doesn't die doing something heroic and stupid. Where's Shimmer and Asenane?"
"They were looking for Dad. Where is he anyway?"
"He's coming, don't worry."
Phaenora tilted her head slightly but then her smile fell into a stunned expression. Her gaze narrowed, scanning Runner's aura more carefully now and then she gasped, stepping back.
"You're at the Third Enlightenment? Wait. You're at the Third?!"
She beamed and shrugged, a little sheepishly.
"So is Shimmer and Asenane. All three of us."
Narisva blurted out from behind them.
"What?! Wait, they're that strong now?"
Eldrigan, still lying in Peroncerea's lap as she gently supported him, turned his head with a weak groan.
"Someone tell me I'm hallucinating."
"You're not," Denisia said quietly, just as stunned as everyone else.
The others stared, disbelief slowly melting into awe. It wasn't just the fact that they had reached the Third Enlightenment at their age but the fact that she was completely unbothered by the gravity of what that meant. Runner waved at them and smiled.
"Hey there. It's been 7,706 years since we last met, right? Nice to see you all again."
They all blinked at her. A Third Enlightenment Divine at the age of sixteen just waved at them. Phaenora leaned in closer to her and studied her like a sculptor inspecting a masterpiece.
"You've really grown up."
"You look shorter."
Phaenora dramatically clutched her heart. "Ouch. Betrayed by my own daughter."
"Technically, you're my stepmother."
"Same difference. I still helped raise you when you were a squeaky little girl."
Runner glanced toward Eldrigan and Peroncerea, her smile softening.
"Glad he's okay. My Body Reconstruction really got better."
"He nearly died," Peroncerea said quietly.
Phaenora squeezed Runner's hand.
"You're going to give your father a heart attack when he sees you. All of you."
"That's the plan."