Chapter 11
The Price of Courage
Mihail is attacked. Amani, despite her pain, intervenes, unleashing a powerful burst of magic to protect him.
The world swam back into focus, a hazy kaleidoscope of pain and Mihail’s frantic, whispered words. Eldergrove’s tranquil square, moments ago a scene of desperate defiance, was now a tableau of chaos and encroaching darkness. Blood, a stark crimson against the pale cobblestones, bloomed from Amani’s side, a searing testament to Vladislaus’s brutal efficiency. Each ragged breath was a struggle, a reminder of the venom that was now coursing through her veins, chilling her to the bone. Mihail’s strong arms were a desperate embrace, his face a mask of anguish as he cradled her.
“Amani… stay with me,” he pleaded, his voice thick with unshed tears. His touch, usually so steady and reassuring, trembled. She could feel the frantic beat of his heart against her cheek, a frantic counterpoint to her own fading pulse. The amulet, still clutched in her loosening