Thirty minutes later, the spell is successfully cast and Lia’s condition is stable, even though she still remains unconscious. Sandara heaves a sigh of relief and sinks to the floor, exhausted beyond measure. Her eyes, however, tell a different story, as they sparkle with unbridled joy and something that bears a close resemblance to fear. I almost lost her.

Estelle is not much different. Even as she struggles to maintain a detached look, the sides of her lips tilt downwards in a surreptitious manner. The two sisters stared at each other for a long time, until Sandara giggles. Estelle tries to maintain a modicum of calm but fails as they...