Claire rushed forward, her boots sliding slightly on the blood-slick ground as she fell to her knees beside Arris. Her trembling hands pressed against his chest, where blood flowed sluggishly from the deep, jagged wound near his heart. A soft, pure green light blossomed from her palms, gentle yet determined, as if defying the bleak reality of his injuries. The light pulsed, its warm glow pushing against the darkness that seemed to cling to him like a curse.
Tears blurred her vision, spilling freely down her cheeks, as the light grew brighter, spreading to envelop his entire body. Her sobs were quiet at first, choked whispers of grief and desperation, but her voice cracked as she muttered, "How... how did this happen?"
