They tested the dicine Diaval and Ares had brought first.
We all gathered in Jeron’s room. I stood beside Rion, but I couldn’t stop glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. No matter how much he insisted, I still doubted if my blood had really worked.
But as the minutes ticked by, I noticed his complexion shifting back to its natural color, the faint gray pallor fading from his skin. His breathing, too, had evened out. When nothing happened after a while, no sudden collapse, no sign of the poison worsening, the knot in my chest began to ease.
And then, without even looking at , his voice brushed across my thoughts.
’I told you. It’s working. Poison is too simple to kill .’
I didn’t even flinch. I kept my eyes glued to Jeron, forcing myself to focus. Keigan tilted the vial under the light, his sharp gaze narrowing as he studied the way the liquid shimred.
"This is rare," he murmured, more to himself at first. "The herbs in here don’t grow on most continents. So of these only survive in climates so extre most people wouldn’t last a day there. Whoever brewed this dicine had access to places far beyond our reach."
His voice was calm but tinged with respect, maybe even a little awe.
Jeron lay still, limp against the pillows, his skin pale as parchnt. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths that made my stomach tighten each ti.
Keigan finally leaned over him, steady hands coaxing his mouth open. The liquid slid past his lips in a smooth line of silver-green. Jeron didn’t move, didn’t even twitch, but Keigan’s magic flared—soft and shimring, like faint threads of light wrapping around the fluid and pushing it down. I could almost feel it tugging at the air, pulling the dicine deeper, making sure it reached every corner of his body.
"I really hope it works," Raye whispered. Her voice cracked a little, though she tried to hide it.
Ares stepped closer to her side, resting a hand gently on her shoulder. He didn’t say anything, but the quiet gesture spoke for him.
We waited. And waited.
Hours passed before we returned to the room again. Jeron hadn’t stirred once. His skin was still too pale, his breathing still shallow.
Keigan’s face was grim as he checked Jeron again. "The dicine should have been strong enough to show signs of recovery. Since it barely made any difference, I can only assu the magic used by the culprit was laced with poison. A rare type of magic. I’ve read of it, but I’ve never seen it in person."
"Damn it," Ares cursed under his breath, his jaw tight.
Raye sank down onto the edge of the bed and took Jeron’s hand between both of hers. Her expression twisted with worry, her beautiful face marked by exhaustion.
Sothing inside clenched.
"Try my blood," I said.
"Yes," Rion agreed. "We tested it. It cleansed the poison from my body."
I unwrapped the cloth from my palm, the fabric sticking slightly to the dried edges of the cut. The wound stung as the air hit it again, but I forced myself not to flinch.
Diaval stepped forward, his expression as blank as ever, and held out a small cup. "Use this," he said.
I took it and pressed my palm tight. Blood welled up quickly, warm and thick, sliding down in slow drops. Each one echoed too loudly in my ears as it splashed into the cup. My stomach knotted tighter with every drop.
When there was enough, I handed it carefully to Keigan. My fingers lingered on the rim for a mont before I let go.
The room grew silent as Keigan coaxed Jeron’s mouth open and eased the blood down with practiced care. All of us stood still, watching, waiting.
The minutes stretched unbearably. For , it felt like an eternity. My nerves were stretched thin, my heart pounding so hard I swore they could all hear it.
Finally, Keigan pressed his fingers to Jeron’s wrist, his pale brows lifting slightly. "His blood flow... it’s much stronger now."
My chest loosened.
Keigan’s voice brightened, his usual calmness giving way to relief. "It’s working. Truly. It will take a day or two for the wounds to close, but the poison is already being cleansed. Even his internal injuries are starting to knit. This is... incredible."
I let out a shaky breath, realizing how long I’d been holding it.
Raye’s eyes filled with tears as she threw her arms around . "Thank you, Vivien!" Her voice broke as she clung to tightly. "You are such a blessing to us. I felt so hopeless, but because of you, Jeron will survive. I don’t even have words for how grateful I am..."
Awkward but touched, I hugged her back, my throat thickening.
"Seems like you’re one special girl," Ares drawled, smirking from the side. The teasing was light.
That night, I managed to sleep without worry clawing at . Jeron hadn’t woken yet, but Keigan said he’d likely regained consciousness by tomorrow. That was enough.
As I lay in bed, the tension in my body finally eased. A small smile tugged at my lips.
I had actually helped. Really helped.
Yes, there were still problems ahead—the looming war, the danger we couldn’t yet see—but I could take things one step at a ti. And for now, I could enjoy this one small victory.
In the silence of my room, I let myself admit the truth: I was beginning to love the Undercity. Its people, its wildness, even its shadows.
’We should be more careful now,’ Leika murmured in the back of my mind. ’Now that your blood’s ability is proven, we must stay vigilant.’
I exhaled softly, staring at the faint glow of the lantern by my bed. ’You’re right. But for tonight... let’s just rest, Leika.’
A pause, and then a gentle huff of agreent.
And with that, I finally drifted to sleep.
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