Only those who have seen the dawn after a sleepless night know that sleep is worth more than gold.
Little Mad Scientist
"Lil," I said, nodding toward the untouched plate Alex had prepared for Rolo. "Can you reheat this for me? I'll take it up to him."
She didn't say anything, just waved her hand over the plate. The food shimmered with a brief golden glow before the steam began to rise from it again.
"Thanks," I said, reaching for the plate.
But before I could take a step toward the stairs, a thundering noise stopped me. Footsteps—heavy and frantic—followed by a disheveled Rolo bursting into the room.
He looked… awful. His hair was a wild mess, sticking up in every direction as though he'd been running his hands through it nonstop. The dark circles under his eyes were so pronounced that I almost thought he'd smeared soot under them. His clothes were crumpled, and the manic energy radiating off him made me instinctively step back.
"Rolo…" Alex started, staring at him like he was seeing a ghost. "What the hell happened to you?"
Rolo didn't even acknowledge him. His eyes darted wildly around the room before landing on the plate in my hands. "That's for me?" he asked, his voice hoarse and strained.
I nodded, but before I could answer, he practically lunged for it. I held it out just in time, and he snatched it like it was a lifeline.
"You look terrible," I said flatly, watching as he stuffed a forkful of food into his mouth without even sitting down.
"Thanks for the observation," he said around a mouthful, his voice sharp but tired.
"What have you been doing?" Lil asked, her tone softer than mine but still pointed.
Rolo shot her a quick glance before focusing back on the plate. "Research. Lots of research."
His wild eyes sparked with something that wasn't entirely exhaustion. Rolo's plate hit the counter with a clatter as he abandoned it, his food suddenly forgotten. "I need your input," he said, stepping closer to her. His energy felt frantic, teetering between discovery and desperation.
"For what?" she asked, folding her arms but not retreating.
"I will help Mose recover his magic."
Lil hesitated, her mouth opening slightly, but no words came out. The silence stretched, heavy and uncertain, as her gaze darted toward me for some kind of backup.
I didn't move, letting her handle it.
Finally, she spoke, her voice gentle and measured. "I don't know if it's possible to restore magic like that. Mose's case is—"
"Don't," Rolo snapped, cutting her off with a sharp edge that made her blink. "Don't say it's impossible." His eyes burned with a determination that almost masked his exhaustion. "Don't write him off like that."
Lil's lips pressed into a thin line, her composure faltering for a moment. "I'm not writing him off," she said softly. "I'm just saying that—"
"That you don't know," Rolo interrupted, his tone a little calmer but no less insistent. "And that's fine. You don't have to know. I'll figure it out."
"And how do you plan to do that?" I asked, my voice low but cutting through the tension.
Rolo turned his wild gaze on me, and for a moment, he looked like he was ready to snap again. But instead, he took a deep breath, steadying himself.
Rolo's eyes burned with an intensity that spoke of exhaustion and frustration. He shifted, taking in a shaky breath before speaking. "I'll tell you something about my magic. I was born with only a tiny amount of it. My body doesn't naturally create much, and it never will."
Lil's eyes narrowed slightly, doubt flickering in them. She had heard from Mazen about the potential Rolo possessed, about his knack for understanding and manipulating magic in ways that shouldn't be possible for someone with his limitations.
Rolo caught that hesitation and sighed again, but this time with more force. "I know what you're thinking," he said. "You think I'm just a reckless kid with a crazy idea. But I need you to believe me now. Reach out with your magic, Lilinette. See it for yourself."
Lil hesitated, then nodded, standing and stepping to Rolo. She put her hand on his back, right around where his heart was beating, her expression shifting to one of concentration. She focused as she extended her senses. The air around her seemed to buzz with energy as she connected with Rolo's core.
"Absolutio," Rolo whispered. His voice resonated with the finality of a statement, and the room seemed to pulse with a hidden current.
Lil's eyes widened as she looked inward, past the fabric of reality, into the center of Rolo's being. What she saw made her lose her breath. A swirling, tangled network of energy, barely a fraction of what a mage with his age and skill should possess, yet it moved with an elegance and relentless cycle that left her stunned.
Rolo noticed her reaction and smiled, a smug, satisfied grin. "That's right," he said. "This is just a tiny amount of magic. But it circulates." His gaze shifted to the stillness of her face. "The magic in my core follows a pattern. It grows, amplifies and even transforms as it moves. That's what I call Resonant Circulation."
Lil's expression shifted from shock to understanding as she took in his words. It explained why Rolo could push himself past his limitations and work magic that seemed impossible for someone with so little raw power.
"But…" Lil said cautiously, "there's a limit, isn't there? If you overwork the cycle—"
Rolo nodded, the hint of seriousness clouding his grin. "Exhaustion. If I don't draw upon it, it fades. And if I push it too far, it could overflow, damage the core itself. But," he added with a bit more conviction, "if I can use this circulation, then maybe, just maybe, I can help Mose with just the right type."
Rolo's voice broke through my thoughts, a little less confident but still determined. "And I'm not stopping until I try."
"I know there are some families, who use similar techniques to mine. If anyone knows more about this, is you, a millennia-old mage," he added.
Lil's voice was low and steady, each word precise as she spoke. "You're right, Rolo. The concept of circulating magic isn't new. Old mage families have used it for generations, but it's a closely guarded secret. The patterns, the ways they enhance magic—those are specific to bloodlines and kept hidden from everyday mages. That's why it was difficult for me to believe you had one at first. But what you have... this is different."
Rolo shifted, eyes intent on Lil as she continued, searching her expression for the truth she was about to tell. The room was still, the crackle of the morning light casting sharp lines across her face.
"I've never seen anything like yours," she admitted, the shock in her voice palpable. "The way your magic moves, the way it vibrates and gains momentum... it's unlike anything I've seen before. It's as if your core has a life of its own, a pulse that propels the magic to expand and strengthen. If your core had been any weaker, Rolo, it would have shattered."
Rolo's jaw clenched, and for a moment, silence reigned between them, heavy with the weight of what Lil had just said. His eyes held a flicker of both fear and fierce determination. "That's why I need someone with a different circulating method," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "If I can find a circulating method that can heal his magical veins, then I can—"
"Help Mose," Lil interrupted, finishing his sentence with a gentle nod. The intensity in her eyes softened, but the concern never left. "I believe you can. But you need to understand, this kind of power comes with risks. You'll need to be careful."
Rolo's eyes gleamed with something that might have been recklessness, but there was also a spark of resolve. "I know. So do you know anyone with a circulating method that can heal?"
Lil took a deep breath, the weight of Rolo's request pressing into the quiet room. "A method that can heal…" She let the words linger, her eyes narrowing as she considered his question. "There are a few theories, but most of them are fragmented, passed down in whispers and kept within the oldest families. The art of using circulating methods for healing isn't just rare—it's almost mythical. If someone were to master it, they'd need to have an intimate understanding of both magic and the body, a balance so delicate that even the smallest misstep could be catastrophic."
Rolo shifted, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "Do you know anyone who might have such a method? Even if it's just a hint or a clue, I need to start somewhere."
Lil's brow furrowed, the lines deepening as she thought. "There is one person I've heard about, someone from the old mages who specialized in healing. His name was Aelric of the Amber Line. He was said to be able to use circulating methods to mend injuries, even regenerate damaged tissues. But…" She hesitated, her voice catching. "He vanished over a century ago. There's no record of him being seen since, and no one knows whether he perfected his methods or if they were lost with him."
Rolo's eyes widened with a hint of hope. "Then we need to find out what happened to him. If there's even a possibility that his work still exists—"
"Rolo, even if we find traces of his work, it's not a guarantee that it will be safe," Lil said, the single word cutting through the room. "or even that it will work in Mose's core."
"It's worth a try," I said, my voice steady, holding the weight of a resolve that even I didn't fully understand. "I'll talk to Livius about this Aelric. If anyone knows anything about an old mage like him, it's Livius. He's well-versed in the history of powerful mages and their legacies."
Rolo's eyes sparked with hope, flickering like a flame that had just been rekindled. "Do you think he could be a white mage?" he asked, urgency threading through his voice.
I nodded, a small, almost defiant smile pulling at my lips. "Most likely. Aelric's skill set matches that of a white mage. If we can find any record of him, we'll know if this path is worth taking."
Lil's brow furrowed in thought, but the tightness in her expression softened. It was a long shot, a thread pulled from the darkness, but it was a chance. "And if this leads to a dead end?" she asked, her voice quiet but edged with doubt.
Alex was chewing slowly, following the conversation with sharp eyes.
I leaned back in my chair. "Then we still have one other chance," I said, and the hint of a challenge sparked in my tone.
Both Lil and Rolo exchanged glances, surprise blooming in their expressions. I let the silence stretch for a moment before I said, "Who in this room has the most potent healing ability?"
Alex's eyes met mine, and then the realization flickered across his face. A grin spread over his features as he leaned forward. "It makes sense now," he said, a low chuckle escaping him.
I nodded, the corner of my lips quirking up.
Lil's brow furrowed. "You're not a mage, Shay. It's different."
I looked at her, my expression serious. "Then tell me, which bloodline in me has such potent healing abilities?" Silence fell over the room, thick with unspoken questions.
"Exactly," I said, leaning forward. "Mazen had a theory that my lineage had mages mixed in, giving me magical properties that enhance my natural healing ability from my vampire ancestors. If I had been born a human, I would have been a healing mage."
Lil raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk spreading across her lips. "With that personality of yours?"
I scoffed, the tension in the room easing slightly. "What can I say? A healing mage has to be persuasive to make it through the day."
A laugh escaped Alex, and even Lil's smile deepened.
I turned to Rolo, my expression more serious now. "Listen, I'll give you some of my blood," I said, the words hanging in the air. "You can work with the magic in it, study it, experiment if you need to. Maybe it'll help you find a way to channel that energy into something that could help Mose."
Rolo's eyes widened, a mix of awe and shock flitting across his face. "You'd really do that?"
"Of course," I said, my voice low but resolute.
Lil's expression softened, but there was an underlying concern in her eyes. "Shay. You've been splashing your blood around lately. Blood carries not just power but also your life force. It's not something you should give lightly."
"I know, Lil," I said, glancing at her.
Rolo's hands fidgeted with excitement and nervous energy. "I'll make sure I'm careful. I won't waste a drop of it."
I looked at Rolo, who still stood there, eyes wide and filled with an unspoken mix of emotions. "Rolo, I need you to stay here with Mose until we leave for the declaration," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can you do that?"
He blinked, a quick flash of hesitation passing over his face before he nodded, the resolve in his eyes hardening. "Yeah, I'll stay."
I let out a small sigh of relief, the tension in my chest easing just a little. "Good. Now, go get a container for my blood and head to my room. I'll be there in a moment."
Rolo nodded again, his movements quickening as he left the kitchen. I watched him go, his posture slightly hunched with a nervous energy that seemed out of place for his usually carefree demeanor.
I turned to Lil, who was looking at me with concern. "You sure about this, Shay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt.
I met her gaze and gave a small, reassuring smile. "I'm sure. It's worth the risk if it means saving Mose."
Lil's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "Just… be careful. Both of you. If the wrong people get to know about your blood..."
"I know." I knew better than anyone else.
With a final glance at her, I left the kitchen and made my way to my room. I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. Time to get dressed for the declaration.