The next morning, as the soldiers continued their search, a distant cry echoed through the palace grounds.
"Your Majesty! We found her!"
Syaoran, the Queen, and Taio rushed to the garden. When they arrived, they froze.
Fang lay motionless among the flowers, her body bruised and battered. Strange, glowing patterns were etched across her skin—like a curse had claimed her soul. A chilling silence fell as they took in the sight.
Syaoran's heart shattered.
He dropped to his knees, cradling her fragile body in his arms. "Fang… Fang, talk to me," he whispered, his voice trembling. "What happened to you? Fang, please—say something…"
But she didn't respond.
Desperation gripped him. "Call the royal physician—NOW!" he ordered.
Within moments, the physician arrived. He examined her with grave intensity, then turned to face the Queen and Syaoran. His expression was bleak.
"Your Majesty, Your Grace… she's been poisoned and cursed."
Syaoran's breath caught.
The physician continued, "She's under a deep-sleep spell—a fatal one. Her body will remain in this state until death. She… cannot wake up."
The Queen gasped and collapsed in a faint.
Syaoran's eyes widened in horror. His hands shook. "No… No, that can't be… There must be a way!" His voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes. "Physician, please! If it costs the world—I'll give it. I'll do anything, just save her!"
The physician lowered his gaze. "Medicine cannot cure her, Your Majesty… but—"
Syaoran grabbed his shoulders, desperate. "But? Tell me. Don't pause—just say it!"
"She must have the will to live," the physician said. "Only if her spirit fights from within… can the curse be undone"
Syaoran fell to the ground beside her, his knees buckling under the weight of grief. He reached for her hand, gently pressing it against his face.
"She has the will…" he whispered, broken. "Fang would never leave me like this…"
He clutched her icy fingers. "Fang… I'm right here. Please, wake up. Look at me."
Tears streamed down his cheeks. "I'll do anything—anything—just don't leave me. If you leave, I won't forgive you…!"
Her silence crushed him.
He rose suddenly and ran back into the palace, returning moments later with armfuls of blankets. He wrapped her trembling body with care, trying to shield her from the cold.
Taio, standing nearby, couldn't hold back his own tears. "Your Majesty…" he said softly, "She'll wake up. If she knew how much this was hurting you, she'd be worried."
Syaoran looked up, his eyes red and swollen. "I know she will. She has to…"
His voice cracked, and then he shouted into the sky, heartbroken and desperate:
"Fang… come back to me! Please—wake up!"