The room sank into an excruciating silence as neither of them spoke. Leonhardt remained quiet, waiting for Kaelith to say something about the surprise he had shown him. But rather than offer any words, Kaelith stayed completely mute.
Yet, silence wasn't all that filled Kaelith.
Just hearing Leonhardt's voice and standing in that room had suddenly made his entire body go stiff.
He couldn't move his legs, his arms, or even lift his head. His whole being shut down. It was as if his muscles had locked, his limbs frozen in place. His lips turned numb, his throat tightened, and his voice grew hoarse. His heart quaked violently inside his chest. A sharp, suffocating pressure wrapped itself around his lungs, making breathing nearly impossible. His thoughts became clouded, and for long, dragging minutes, he tried to breathe, but nothing worked. He couldn't move. He couldn't talk.
And it went on until Leonhardt finally spoke.