Kaelix's heart pounded in his chest as he scooped Eirik into his arms,lifting him with ease but with trembling hands.
He carried him as though Eirik were the most fragile thing in the world, cradling him close in a princess-style hold. He held Eirik close to his chest as if fearing he might slip away at any moment.
Eirik's head lolled against his shoulder, his breathing shallow. Kaelix moved swiftly through the palace corridors, his muscles tense with panic, his eyes wide with desperation.
He could barely process the sight of Eirik collapsing moments earlier, the image burned into his mind, twisting his stomach with fear.
Every step felt heavy, as if the weight of the world had shifted onto his shoulders. His pulse thundered in his ears, but all he could focus on was the shallow rise and fall of Eirik's chest, praying that it wouldn't stop.
