Inside the protective shell, Silphie tended to Lydia and Von, her hands trembling slightly as she worked. Von's breathing was shallow, but steady, and Lydia's wounds were beginning to close.
"You're insane," Silphie muttered softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Lydia. "But I suppose that's why he trusted you."
Lydia's eyelids fluttered, and she let out a weak laugh. "He owes me . . . big time," she mumbled before slipping back into unconsciousness.
Silphie shook her head, her smile fading as she glanced at Von. "You better wake up soon," she whispered. "You owe Lydia tons of gold."
=== 🐲 ===
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Stars retreated, confident that Von had succumbed to the darkness. They believed that by now, he had fully transformed into a mindless creature of destruction.