"Stephen? What in the world happened to you?"
Lucian's voice echoed through the forest clearing as his eyes widened in disbelief.
The figure that had suddenly emerged from the shadows no longer resembled the calm and dependable bodyguard who had accompanied him for years.
Stephen's clothes were torn in several places, dark stains covered large portions of the fabric, and his normally steady posture looked slightly unstable, as though he had barely managed to remain standing through sheer determination.
Without wasting another second, Lucian reached into his storage ring, pulled out a recovery potion, and quickly pressed it into Stephen's hands before helping him drink it.
The effects appeared almost immediately.
Warm energy spread through Stephen's body, mending injuries and restoring color to his face.
