"No, no, no," Damien murmured, his voice a broken whisper as he held her close. "You can't leave me, not like this."

Seraphina approached cautiously, her eyes wide with shock and grief. "Elara?" she breathed, her hand covering her mouth as she took in the grisly scene.

Damien looked up at her, his eyes haunted and rimmed with unshed tears. "She's hurt, badly," he rasped, his fingers trembling as he brushed a strand of hair from Elara's face.

Seraphina knelt beside them, her hands already glowing with the soft hue of healing magic. "Let me see," she urged, her voice steady despite the anguish etched across her features.

Damien reluctantly...