"Papa, what happened? Are you hurt?"
Dracula, despite his apparent distress, wore a peculiar expression – a mix of exhilaration and triumph. He waved away Abby's worry, insisting he was fine.
"It was a necessary sacrifice, my dear," he explained, managing a weak but genuine smile. "The Stone Book has revealed its secrets, and I am unharmed. Nexus, my boy, you've been instrumental in this."
Nexus, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, helped Dracula to his feet. "But what about the explosion? And why did the Stone Book shatter?"
Dracula chuckled, a raspy sound escaping his lips. "The explosion was the result of a protective enchantment within the Stone Book. As for its shattering, it was the culmination of a profound revelation. The knowledge gained transcends the physical form of the book."
Abby, skeptical but relieved, examined her grandfather closely. "You seem different, Papa. Are you sure you're okay?"
