Three days passed with no change.
Arianna lay still and pale. Breathing but not waking. The corrupted magic slowly processing through her curse but not resolving.
I barely left her side. Just sat there holding her hand. Talking to her even though she couldn't hear. Hoping somehow my presence would help her fight.
Kael brought food I didn't eat. Elena brought reports I didn't read. The world kept moving but I couldn't move with it.
"You need to rest," Kael said on the third evening. "You haven't slept properly in days. You're going to make yourself sick."
"I can't rest while she's like this. Can't sleep knowing she might not wake up."
"She needs you healthy when she wakes. Needs you able to help her recover. You can't do that if you've destroyed yourself staying vigil."
"Then I'll destroy myself. Better than leaving her alone."
"She's not alone. There are healers constantly monitoring her. Elena checking on her every few hours. You don't need to be here every moment."
