The fire had burned low by the time Darius woke.
For a brief, disoriented moment, he didn't understand why he was on the living room floor.
Then he felt the weight against his chest.
Sion.
Still wrapped in blankets. Still pressed close.
But no longer trembling violently.
Darius inhaled sharply and shifted slightly, careful not to wake him.
Sion's skin,when Darius brushed his knuckles lightly against his cheek,was no longer marble-cold. Cool, yes. Pale, yes. But not that lifeless, frightening frost from before.
His breathing was steadier now.
Not shallow gasps.
Relief washed through Darius so suddenly his shoulders sagged.
He must have fallen asleep while keeping him warm.
Carefully, gently, he eased himself upright. He adjusted the blankets around Sion, then stood and dressed properly again, movements quiet and composed despite the exhaustion under his eyes.
He helped Sion back into his clothing as well, as respectfully as possible, ensuring he remained wrapped and protected near the hearth.
Then—
Footsteps approached from outside.
Darius straightened immediately.
The door burst open.
Eiran entered first, slightly out of breath, followed by a woman in physician robes carrying a leather case,and behind her stood Cassian,his usual composure shadowed by unmistakable concern.
Eiran rushed forward.
"Over here—please!"
The female physician knelt beside Sion immediately, her hands efficient and precise. She checked his pulse. His eyelids. His temperature.
Her expression tightened.
After a long, tense silence, she exhaled slowly.
"It's blood frost," she said firmly. "The heat has left the body itself."
Cassian frowned slightly.
The words made Eiran stiffen.
"Will he—?"
"For now, he's stabilized," she said. "Someone provided a body heat."
Her sharp eyes flicked briefly toward Darius.
Eiran followed it knowingly.
Cassian's expression darkened slightly.
But no one commented.
The physician opened her case and withdrew a small vial and a wrapped bundle of powdered herbs.
"Ginger root extract," she said as she prepared it. "And a pinch of ground capsicum. We need to force the heart to pump harder and reopen the vessels."
She mixed it quickly into a heated tonic and carefully lifted Sion enough to let the liquid slide past his lips.
They waited.
Seconds stretched unbearably.
Then—
Color faintly returned to Sion's cheeks.
His fingers twitched.
The shivering lessened further.
His pulse strengthened beneath her fingers.
The room collectively exhaled.
"It's working," Eiran whispered.
The physician nodded, but her face remained serious.
"This is temporary," she said. "Not the cure."
She stood.
"I need to see the suppressants he took."
They moved to the kitchen.
The small bottle of suppressant sat on the table.
The physician examined it carefully.
Her expression darkened.
"…This is why one should not rely entirely on forest witches."
Cassian lifted his head slightly. "Is there something wrong with the suppressant?"
"It is true the higher dosage can minimize heat intensity and pheromonal release," she said. "However, it also affects secondary systems."
She tapped the table lightly.
"The heart. It slows the pulse. It constricts blood vessels excessively. In some cases, the body fails to regulate temperature,resulting in internal cold shock."
Darius's jaw tightened.
"Was there no warning?" she asked sharply.
Eiran spoke immediately. "There was. The herbalist warned us about possible side effects. She told us to consult a physician before increasing dosage."
The physician paused.
A faint, amused smile touched the her lips.
"…It is rare," she admitted, "for a herbalist to advise consulting a physician. Herbalists and physicians seldom see eye to eye."
"I would like to meet this 'forest witch,'" the physician added thoughtfully.
Eiran slowly leaned toward Darius and whispered under his breath,
"I wonder what her reaction would be if she found out the 'forest witch' she's criticizing is actually the Queen herself."
Darius suppressed the urge to react.
The physician cleared her throat.
"The medicine I gave him only forces temporary circulation. It is not a cure."
Cassian folded his arms. "Why can't you administer the cure?"
She met his gaze evenly.
"Because it was the herbalist who created the imbalance. He must be the one to correct it."
Silence fell.
"He will formulate the counterbalance," the physician continued. "But of course,I will inspect it before he takes it. I will not allow further instability."
Darius nodded immediately.
"Understood."
The physician then removed a folded parchment and began writing swiftly.
After a while,she handed it to Darius.
"For reference," she said. "These are the symptoms you must tell to the herbalist."
He scanned it:
— Marble-pale skin
— Core body cold despite external heat
— Violent tremors
— Slow, irregular pulse
— Bluish extremities
— Shallow breathing
— Gum trauma from jaw tremors
— Post-stabilization fatigue
Darius folded the parchment carefully.
Before leaving, the physician gave final instructions.
"Keep the hearth steady," she said. "Not blazing. Consistent warmth. Too much heat will exhaust him further."
She turned to Eiran.
"Feed him iron-rich broths once he wakes. Warm and frequent."
"To strengthen circulation?"
"Yes."
She gathered her case.
"And make him drink bitter tea upon waking. It will keep the pulse active and prevent collapse."
Darius committed every word to memory.
She paused at the doorway.
"Before I forgot,there might be another side effect that will apear."
All three stiffened.
"It is called the Hollow Sense."
Eiran frowned. "What is that?"
"It dulls the senses. Taste and smell especially. After severe blood frost, the nerves retreat."
Sion will experience of having no taste or smell after waking up .
Darius's chest tightened.
"Give him citrus once a day," she continued. "Lemon. Orange. Something sharp enough to tickle the nerves back to life.And don't worry,the hollow sense will also be gone after taking the cure."
Cassian nodded firmly.
"We'll ensure it."
The physician gave a final look toward the living room.
"He is fortunate," she said quietly. "Most do not recover from blood frost without permanent damage."
Her eyes flicked once more toward Darius.
"Continue doing what you did."
Then she left.
The door closed softly behind them.
Silence returned.
The three men stood there for a moment, absorbing everything.
Eiran exhaled shakily.
"Blood frost," he muttered.
Cassian looked toward the hearth where Sion lay resting.
"…We'll fix this."
Darius remained still.
Clutching the parchment.
And with that, the plan was set.
Now,all that remained,was waiting for Sion to wake.