Lysandra lay in the ward, her breathing steady but shallow. Her powers were working overtime to heal her wounds, and Lisa and Seri were by her side, their faces etched with worry. The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and the faint glow of healing runes.
Kairos, Caelum, and I entered the room quietly, not wanting to disturb the fragile peace. Lisa's eyes snapped to mine, her expression a mix of anger and frustration.
"How were you able to defeat that wraith when even Lysandra couldn't?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "And if you could, why did you wait? Were you trying to be a hero or show off? Congratulations, you did it. Now Lysandra is in bed while you walk around freely. You even went to the room, right? Must feel special, wanting Grandma's appreciation."
Her words hit me like a physical blow. I opened my mouth to respond, but Seri stepped in, her voice calm but firm. "He was in danger too, Lisa. Lysandra dealt most of the damage; he must have delivered the finishing blow."
I stayed silent, my mind racing. Agreeing with Seri seemed like the right choice, but my heart wouldn't let me lie. The truth was more complicated than anyone knew.
Kairos stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "What you're saying makes Lysandra sound weak, and she wouldn't like that. She's strong. Think about how it affects him. He could have escaped and called for help, but he stood up to an opponent who was clearly going to kill him and saved his teammate. Mind your words."
Caelum nodded in agreement, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a rare intensity. "Lisa, we all know how strong Lysandra is. Rudra did what he had to do. We should be grateful they're both alive."
The argument was interrupted by a soft, weak voice. "Guys… I'm awake."
We all turned to see Lysandra's eyes fluttering open. We rushed to her side, relief washing over us. To our astonishment, she was already trying to sit up, her wounds seemingly healed. Her guardian spirit, Sylvanus, must have been working tirelessly to aid her recovery.
Lisa and Seri hugged her tightly, tears streaming down their faces. Lysandra hugged them back, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm not going to die that easily," she said, her voice stronger than before. She looked directly at me, her eyes filled with gratitude and something else I couldn't quite place.
I can feel Sylvanus's energy. He is thanking us for saving her life.
The next day, we had no classes, and I decided to skip training. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. In the evening, as I sat in my room, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Lysandra standing there, looking much better.
She stepped inside, glancing around. "I didn't expect to see your room so clean. Kairos and Caelum's rooms are always a mess."
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "What brings you here? If you had called, I would have come to you."
She shook her head, a serious expression on her face. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life."
I felt a lump in my throat. "Lysandra, I—"
She held up a hand, stopping me. "No, let me finish. I know you were in danger too, and I know you did what you had to do. But you didn't have to stay and fight. You could have run, but you didn't. You saved me, and for that, I'm grateful."
I looked into her eyes, seeing the sincerity there. "I couldn't just leave you. We're a team, and we look out for each other."
She smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Thank you, Rudra. I won't forget this."
Just when I thought the tension had eased, her expression turned serious again. "But there's something else. Why are you lying to everyone?"
Confused, I asked, "Lying about what?"
She stepped closer, her eyes piercing into mine. "I saw your fight. I had my doubts during our spar, but when you fought that wraith, I was sure. Thalassa is not your guardian spirit. None of your attacks had a water element. Now, reveal who you are and why you did it."
I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. "There's some misunderstanding—"
As the pressure from Sylvanus's aura intensified, I felt a surge of energy within me. Desperate to resist, I called upon all my strength, and suddenly, Fulminor manifested beside me.
Fulminor, the king of lightning and shadow dragon, emerged in a blaze of electric blue and deep indigo. His scales shimmered like polished obsidian, each one edged with a faint, crackling glow of electricity. His eyes were a piercing, luminescent blue, filled with ancient wisdom and a fierce, protective intensity.
His body was sleek and powerful, a perfect blend of grace and strength. Long, sinuous limbs ended in razor-sharp claws that seemed to hum with latent energy. His wings, vast and imposing, unfurled with a sound like thunder, casting shadows that danced with flickers of lightning.
Fulminor's head was crowned with a series of jagged, crystalline horns that crackled with arcs of electricity, giving him an aura of both majesty and menace. His breath, when he exhaled, was a mist of shadow and sparks, creating an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere around him.
As he roared, the air vibrated with raw power, and the ground beneath us trembled. The sheer force of his presence dispelled Sylvanus's manifestation, leaving Lysandra stunned and on the ground. I rushed to her side, helping her stand, while Fulminor's form slowly faded, leaving behind a lingering charge in the air.
She looked at me, stunned and confused. "Why are you helping me and the team?"
I took a deep breath. "There was a misunderstanding about Fulminor. He's not the kind of spirit you think. He saved my family once, and since then, he's only helped me and made me stronger."
Lysandra was silent for a few moments, then nodded. "I believe you. He saved my life when you could have been killed. But you must not tell the others. It could lead to distrust in the team."
I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and something deeper. As she turned to leave, she paused at the door, looking back at me with a soft smile. "Rudra, thank you. For everything."
Her words lingered in the air long after she left, and I couldn't help but feel that something had shifted between us.