As Arran's lungs filled with blood, an instinctive panic rose within him. Yet there was nothing he could do — his body had been paralyzed by the Blood magic that tore at his life force, the violent force of it tearing any control he had from his grasp.
He could Sense the power within the blood that surrounded him and filled his lungs, and he vaguely felt that if he could only grasp it, there might be a way to solve the crisis.
But it was too late — the Blood magic was already devouring him, and he had lost the control he needed to resist it. Despite the power all around him, at this moment, he lacked the strength to reach for it.
His consciousness was on the verge of slipping, and any moment now, it could disappear entirely.
As he felt death approach, a sense of calm came over him, and his mind suddenly grew clear.
In that brief instant of clarity, he gained some small understanding of the Blood magic that was attacking his body.
