Orryns POV:
I could feel a dissonant blend of pain and warmth. The sensation was overwhelming, a contrast of agonising torment and comforting serenity. The pain was familiar, the sensation of cold steel piercing flesh. The warmth was new, almost protective.
I desperately tried to piece together the events that led me here. The battlefield's chaos, the shouts of warriors, the clanging of weapons. But most vividly, Nadya. Her fierce spirit was evident as she fought alongside us, a ballet of precision and power. Then, suddenly, her demeanour shifted. She froze, her gaze locked onto someone, someone I didn't recognize.
It was the unmistakable look of dread that captured my attention. Without thinking, acting on pure, unfiltered instinct, I thrust myself between them. The drive to protect her was an unstoppable force, a reflex I didn't even know I had. It was a split-second decision, the desire to keep her safe overpowering any rational thought of the consequences. Even now, through the haze and pain, my only regret was that I hadn't acted sooner.
Suddenly, the warmth intensified, like a healing fire mending broken parts, stitching together wounds. I realised, in that moment of semi-consciousness, that Nadya was connected to this sensation. She was always full of surprises, even in her moment of fear, she had found a way to help me. She was a mystery I wanted, needed, to unravel.
Immersed in the comforting warmth she provided, it felt as though I was undergoing a transformation, an amplification of my being. The longer I revelled in this sensation, the more invincible I felt. An immense surge of power coursed through me, beyond anything I had ever envisioned.
The pain started to fade, leaving only the enveloping warmth in its wake. I had lost track of time, suspended between consciousness and a dreamlike state, oblivious to the world around me. While the chaos of battle had been my last memory, an innate sense reassured me that I was protected and out of harm's way.
The sensation of newfound strength surged through me, its final touch sealing itself within. As my eyes snapped open, the world presented itself with an unprecedented clarity. Distinct sounds, ones I would previously miss, now resonated clearly.
Nikon's familiar face appeared, a mixture of relief and joy illuminating his features. "My Lord, you're awake!" He exclaimed, voice tinged with disbelief. "We feared you might never stir."
Rising slowly, I looked at him with newfound intensity. "How long was I out?"
Nikon hesitated, his gaze clouded with memories of past vulnerability. "A week," He finally admitted, the boyish fear evident in his eyes, a reminder of the time we first met, and of all that had transpired since.
A week? The news took me aback. Instead of the expected fatigue from such a prolonged unconsciousness, a wave of invigoration flowed through me. Indeed, I felt more alive and vital than ever before.
"What happened?" I asked, fragments of hazy memories trying to piece themselves together in my mind.
"After you selflessly shielded Nadya, her heartrending cries filled the air, invoking your name. Almost instantly, she radiated an intense blinding light," Nikon described, his expression a blend of awe and bewilderment. "We were certain our end had come. But, in a twist none could predict, the fiery waves didn't scorch us. Instead, they mended our wounds. Minor injuries vanished as if they were never there. However, the more critically wounded sank into a recuperative slumber. Those who were gone, sadly, remained so."
A swell of emotions welled up inside me - from amazement to a fierce pride for Nadya's dormant strength. Such raw power was rarely, if ever, seen. True, our world wasn't devoid of magical entities, but this? This was on an entirely different scale.
Nikon continued, his voice laced with a mix of relief and lingering concern. "Once the light retreated, Nadya too succumbed to the overwhelming exhaustion and joined the others in their deep sleep. Our hearts were heavy with dread, fearing it might be a sleep without end. Yet, over time, the injured began to wake. Still, those who bore the gravest of injuries remain ensnared in their rest. Nadya, too, hasn't stirred."
A weighty sigh escaped me. Memories of her vibrant smile and fierce spirit clashed with the image of her lying still, creating a storm of worry and hope in my heart.
"It sounds... otherworldly," I murmured, still absorbing the tale. "Has anyone experienced or documented such an occurrence before?"
Nikon shook his head slowly, the look of wonder still evident in his eyes. "Never. We've tales of powerful sorcerers and legendary creatures, but none that have ever harnessed such raw, elemental power as she did."
Concern gnawed at me. "How is she now? Where is she?"
"She's still in the tent across from yours, under the care of our best healers," Nikon responded with a sigh. "They've been working non-stop, trying to rouse her, but she remains unresponsive. Her vitals are strong, but it's as if her mind is somewhere far, far away."
A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Whatever had awakened within her, whatever energy she had tapped into, it had drained her entirely. She had literally given her all to protect us, to heal us.
"Take me to her," I announced, determination building within me. If Nadya had pulled me back from the brink, then I would do everything in my power to bring her back.