Evaline:
Elder Morwen and Elder Penn imdiately took their positions before the chanting began - softer at first, but louder as they reached the end of the spell.
The runes started glowing as the spell started rooting itself into the runes.
The air itself seed to shift, humming with controlled magic.
Once everything was in its place - the runes, the spell, and the hologram - Elder Morwen stepped back.
"It will hold," she said.
Elder Penn nodded. "Now it is up to you."
I took a deep breath. Then I turned to Kyros and lifted my hand slowly, letting it hover over his chest while the other steadied against his shoulder.
I t his eyes one last ti and spoke quietly, "I need you to trust ."
He nodded.
"I do."
I inhaled deeply, and then, I let my healing power rise. And the mont it did, I felt the familiar resistance.
It was imdiate.
Instinctive.
My healing energy did not like what it was touching.
The mont it brushed against that dark presence coiled inside Kyros, it reacted the sa way it always had... like it wanted to pull back, to retreat, to refuse.
But this ti… it didn't. Because I didn't let it.
Stay, I commanded silently, my breath steadying as I focused. Don't heal… not yet. Just… hold it.
And it listened.
Slowly, carefully, my power seeped deeper into Kyros's body - not attacking, not pushing, but spreading. It wrapped around the dark energy like a barrier, containing it, preventing it from crawling further into him.
A shaky breath left as I felt it stabilize. The evil energy was still there, still wrong, still dangerous... but it wasn't spreading anymore. And that was enough for now.
I pulled one hand away from his chest and reached up, sliding the hairstick free from my hair. The long strand of my hair slipped loose over my shoulder as I brought the sharp tip down.
Kyros watched , still confused but trusting. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"We need an outlet," I said, my voice calr now that I had sothing to do. "If I push it out without a path, it could spread internally. This is the safest way."
He didn't question further, just simply nodded.
I took his hand gently, steadying his finger between mine before pressing the sharp tip of the hairpin into the pad of his fingertip. The skin broke easily, and a small bead of blood surfaced.
It was a tiny wound.
But it was enough.
Kyros didn't even flinch.
I glanced up at him briefly, and he gave a faint nod, as if to tell he was fine... that I could continue.
"You are doing it right," Elder Morwen's voice ca from outside the hologram, and I looked up for just a second.
Her eyes were on - sharp, assessing, but there was sothing else there too... approval.
"You are being careful," she added. "You understand exactly what you are dealing with now."
A small, shaky breath left as I whispered, "I have to."
Because I didn't get a second chance this ti. I couldn't fail Kyros and his trust.
I placed my palm back against his chest, right over the veins.
"Be ready," I told him softly, my eyes locking with his.
He nodded again. "I'm ready."
I inhaled deeply. And then... I pushed. My power surged forward, no longer just containing... but pressing.
The reaction was imdiate.
The dark energy recoiled violently.
Kyros gasped sharply, his entire body jerking beneath my touch. The sound echoed in the room, making everyone outside the hologram stiffen, but no one interfered.
"Stay with ," I said quickly, my voice firm despite the fear clawing at my chest. "Don't fight . Fight it."
His hands ca up, gripping my shoulders tightly as if anchoring himself.
"I-" he gasped. "I'm trying-"
"I know," I said. "You are doing good. Just hold on."
I pushed again. Harder. And this ti, my power didn't hesitate. It pressed into the darkness, forcing it to move.
And it did.
Though slowly and reluctantly, but the black veins finally moved. Encouraged, I pushed further and watched as it started retreating from his chest. It moved upward, toward his shoulder.
Kyros groaned under the sensation, his grip on tightening.
"Keep going," Rowan's voice ca from sowhere beyond the barrier, tight with tension.
I didn't respond as all my focus was on Kyros and on that darkness.
"Stay with ," I repeated, softer this ti.
My power followed the movent, guiding it, forcing it along a path - from his shoulder to down his arm.
The veins moved like sothing alive, slithering beneath his skin, trying to resist, trying to cling.
But I didn't let it... I kept pushing.
"Almost there," I whispered, more to myself than to him.
Kyros's breathing had turned ragged now. His forehead was damp with sweat, but he didn't let go. Didn't break.
His wolf was fighting too... I could feel it. It was fighting alongside .
The veins reached his forearm. Then his wrist. Then his palm.
I saw the darkness gathering there, drawn toward the path I had created. Toward the small cut on his fingertip.
"Elders," I called out, my voice tight with focus. "Be ready."
"We are," Elder Penn responded imdiately.
I took one final breath.
"This is it," I said softly to Kyros. "One more push."
He nodded weakly and whispered, "I trust you, Eva."
And that... that gave the strength I needed.
I pushed with everything I had. My power surged through him in one final wave, forcing the dark energy forward... and out through the cut.
Kyros collapsed forward instantly. His body went limp as he fell into , unconscious.
"Kyros!" I gasped, wrapping my arms around him to keep him from hitting the ground.
But I didn't have ti to check on him because sothing else hit the floor.
A wet sound made my eyes snap downward... and there it was.
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