Page 56 of Cursed Dreams
Elric knelt beside her, his own features heavy with emotion. “I know how much you love him,” he murmured. “And I know how much he loves you and your daughter. He is still fighting. But his body is failing him. If we continue treatments that only cause him pain, we are not healing him, we are only prolonging his suffering.”
The words cut through Thalia like a blade, sharp and unrelenting.
Aric, who had always smiled through the pain, who had joked with them even when he could barely sit up, was dying, there was nothing more they could do.
Aric’s wife pressed a hand to her mouth, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I just, don’t know how to do this without him.”
Thalia clenched her fists at her sides, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Master Elric offered her a soft, knowing look. “Spend time with him. Cherish every moment.” He hesitated, then added gently, “We will continue to provide what comfort we can.”
Thalia couldn’t watch this anymore. The grief in this room was too much, suffocating in a way that made her feel helpless—she hated feeling helpless.
As they left the room, the air outside suddenly felt cool, fresh, yet it wasn’t enough to clear the heavy weight pressing against her chest.
Cellen ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I hate this,” he muttered. “I hate not being able to do anything.”
“We should go back to the library,” Marand suggested, her voice tight with frustration. “There has to be something we missed.”
Thalia barely heard them. Her mind racing, grasping to any idea that could help.
Vaelith’s reaction last night,his words going round in her head,
"The answers you're looking for aren't in this book."
Had he known?
He had known something.
Her heart slammed against her ribs as a new, wild idea took root.
What if she had been searching in the wrong place?
What if Vaelith knew what was happening to Aric?
“I have an idea,” Thalia blurted suddenly, already turning on her heel.
The others blinked at her in surprise.
“What?” Nyla asked.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be back soon,” she called over her shoulder, already running down the corridor.
She didn’t wait for their protests.
She had no time to explain.
Because if Vaelith did know something, if he had any knowledge that could save Aric,
Then she was going to drag it out of him
Thalia ran, her feet pounding against the smooth stone of the temple corridors as she wove through the halls, ignoring the startled glances from passing priestesses and scholars. Her breath was ragged, her mind racing with only one thought.
Find Vaelith. She had to find him.
Her boots skidded against the polished floor as she pushed open the grand temple doors, stepping out onto the wide, ascending steps that led to the temple courtyard. The midday sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the temple grounds, its light reflecting off the marble columns that lined the entrance.
