Chapter 20: The Battle’s End [9]

Someone's shrill voice pierced the air, and it took Mathias a moment to realize that the sound had come from his own lips.

This couldn't be happening.

This simply couldn't be happening. Not after what had happened to Ansel.

Mathias rushed toward Elyana, catching her body as it fell backward. She shivered in his arms, shuddering violently as the spikes retreated, spilling more blood to the ground.

"Shit!" Mathias cursed. His heartbeat was pounding incessantly in his ears, and he could no longer hear anything else. "Stay with me, Ely. Don't give up yet!"

Elyana's only response was to choke out blood.

The sight of it drained all the color from Mathias's face. "Hey... Hey. Cast your magic on your wounds. Come on… You can do this. You're stronger than this!"

Elyana nodded weakly before crystallizing the gaping wounds to staunch the bleeding.

But both knew that it was too late.