Elsie’s POV

I couldn’t believe my eyes. For hours, I had watched Madriod muttering incantations, his voice low and steady, his hands moving with precision over the strange concoction of leaves and powders. I had wanted to give up, to walk away and let my frustration consume me. But here we were.

Mia stirred.

It wasn’t much at first, just a twitch of her fingers. Then, her eyes fluttered, the lashes trembling as if fighting to stay closed. My breath caught in my throat.

“Madriod!” I gasped. “She…she moved.”

His head shot up, his green eyes narrowing as he watched her intently. He said nothing, but the tension in his...