"Adrian?" Aria's voice trembled as his eyes slid shut. Her face drained of all color, fingers trembling against his cooling skin. "No... no, no, no! Adrian!"
The others stood frozen, the gravity of the moment crushing down on them. Elara's hands still glowed with healing magic, but the light was weak, useless against the poison that had already claimed him. Lloyd's knuckles were white around the blood-stained sword, his expression conflicted.
Aurelius remained motionless, his usual confident demeanor shattered. The 'main character,' renowned for his unwavering resolve, could only watch helplessly as his friend, whom he thought was the strongest among them, slipped away.
The explosion roared closer, now barely fifty meters from their position. The heat was unbearable, the sound deafening as it devoured everything in its path. They had seconds left – five, maybe six at most before it would consume them too.
