A short time later after the sun rose, it became noisy outside.
Caera and Tessia were still lying in bed. Outside they could hear loud voices and noises. They knew what was going on. The castle was evacuated so that Tess could be saved.
Ellie also woke up early. She was about to complain about her headache and a hangover, but when she realized the mood everyone was in, she figured it probably wasn't the best time to complain.
"I'm going to go and check on Arthur again before I leave the castle," she tried not to cry. She knew what was ahead for Tess. She didn't know whether to say goodbye or wish her luck. Are there even the right words in such a situation? She didn't know. So she just said "Caera, Tess I'll see you later."
"See you later, Ellie," Tess replied with a smile. Ellie couldn't hear it, but Caera, who was standing right next to Tess, heard her whisper, "Hopefully."
Ellie and Boo had left the room and it became quiet again. Only the sounds from outside could be heard.
Caera and Tess sat side by side on the edge of a bed.
"Thanks for last night," Tess said without taking her eyes off the floor.
Caera didn't answer and just nodded. That was the reaction she would want. Both sat silently in the room and waited.
As usual, Virion was very quick with his work. Shortly after sunrise, there was almost no one left in the castle.
After a few minutes the door of the room where Caera and Tess were waiting opened.
It was Virion and Seris.
Not a single sound came out from the hallway that was noisy only a few minutes ago. All of them must have left by now.
Virion had seen Tessia after weeks of fighting, with little food and drink and barely any sleep. But it was no comparison to the image she gave now. Tessia was on the verge of death.
"Tough night, huh?" it was not Virion but Seris who commented on Tessia's condition. Was she trying to make a joke to lighten the mood? She failed miserably.
She got an evil look from Virion for that.
After both stood in the room, it became serious.
Seris repeated again what she had told yesterday. "Tessia, I worked all night and found a technique that should work. It will be hard and painful. But you need to focus, I can't do this without you. The most important thing is that you maintain a mana flow. I can only remove the particles in your mana core and without a mana flow they will remain dispersed in your body. I am sorry but I have to say it, if you move you will die. I have to concentrate and I can't afford any mistakes. And it is not only your body that must stay active. Your mind must also stay in tact. Not only your body will suffer but also your soul. The best thing is to think about something or someone that is very important to you. You must not lose consciousness."Seris paused for a second. "Now please lie down on the bed."
Tess swallowed. After last night, she knew it was time. Not only once had she thought of going to Seris in the middle of the night to finally get started. It was only Caera who made her make the right choice and wait. Tess lay down.
Caera, too, was more than nervous after listening to Seris once again. Her hands were shaking.
Tess looked at Caera. She returned her gaze and nodded.
"Okay, let's begin," Tessia said.
It was then.
Seris unleashed her aura.
Virion took 3 steps back until the wall stopped him. The world turned black and white for him. Only with mana could he protect himself from staying on his feet. He knew she was powerful, very powerful though. But this was just unreal. They would never have stood a chance if she attacked Dicathen directly. And Arthur… That boy, he fought and defeated someone who was even stronger than her. Virion couldn't believe it. He now knew why Arthur was still unconscious even after his body healed, that kind of power isn't only exhausting for the body but also for the mind. He wanted to stay by Tess' side, hold her hand as her grandfather but he couldn't make an inch towards her.
A metallic sound was heard outside the door. A guard must have fainted. Virion couldn't blame him.
Caera took it too, but she managed to stay standing. In her face, however, it was clear that she was struggling with it. Only with her precise mana control and augmenting her full body she was able to endure the pressure.
Only Tess seemed to have hardly changed. "White core is really something else," Caera thought.
After recovering from the shock, Seris said "I don't know how long this will take."
Seris stood by the bed and put her hand on Tess' mana core.
She hesitated for a moment but then tiny black flames almost invisible for the eyes appeared on her fingertips and moved into Tess body.
Tess let out a painful scream.
„I can't even imagine how you must feel right now but you have to stay still, no matter what", Seris said in an unusual loud voice.
Virion averted his eyes from his granddaughter. He couldn't bear the sight and more than ever he was ashamed of his own weakness.
Tess' eyes were blood red, her nose bleeding and in her mouth she must have bitten her tongue. But she didn't move while Seris was doing her work. Fully concentrated to keep her mind and body sane.
Only Caera was able to stand next to the bed. Her face was pale as she saw Tessia suffering, unable to help her.
Now she grabbed Tess hand like she did last night.
Tess squeezed tightly. Any normal person would lose their hand from the powerful grip of a white core mage. Caera augmented as much as mana as possible in her hand and didn't even think of letting go.
Without looking to Caera, Seris said "Talk to her." Her face still focussed straight on Tess.
Caera recalled the last day, what they have talked about, that she wants Tess to meet Regis and that they are waiting together for Arthur to wake up.
Tess hung on to her words. Her eyes closed and her face hardened.
Fifteen minutes passed, yet no one would have dreamed that they wouldn't have been standing here for hours.
„I'm almost done.", Seris said.
That's when Tess grib lost her strength.
Caera looked at Seris with a panicked expression. "What happened?"
Seris didn't look at Caera, still fully focussed on Tessias body.
Caera noticed that Tessia's chest stopped moving. "She doesn't breathe," she screamed.
"I'm ready. It's done," Seris said and immediately withdrew her aura.
Everyone looked at Tess, unable to do something.
Incredibly painful seconds passed.
Caera didn't know why but for some reason she thought of last night.
What did Ellie say?
Kiss the princess and she wakes up again.
Without any second thoughts she moved her mouth to Tess and kissed her slowly on the lips.
Only after a matter of seconds Tess opened her eyes.
And she returned her kiss.
It was as if there was no one else in the world but Caera x Tess.
The End