[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 40

I hesitantly lifted my head and saw Edwin bleeding profusely, struggling to breathe. 

Seeing him so different from the proud figure who had once stood tall with a greatsword, looking down on Raven weighed heavily on my heart. 

*[I’ll protect you.]*

Each time I faced Raven, Edwin's words echoed in my ears, the ones he used to whisper to me, comforting me with a gentle smile. 

*What should I do? What am I supposed to do?*  

As I hugged my knees to my chest, my heart sent me a clear message: Edwin was going to die soon. That sharp, undeniable feeling made it impossible to turn away from him.  

*There’s no way. I don’t know what to do,* I thought, desperately clutching the bundle of jewels as my only hope. I prayed fervently to someone, anyone, who could hear me. 

*Please help. Please, someone, help us!* 

Had someone heard my desperate plea? Suddenly, a brilliant light emanated from the bundle. 

"My lady!" 

I heard Beryl call out to me, but he couldn’t approach me. Neither could Seth. The multi-coloured light flowing from the bundle had formed a protective barrier around me.  

Confused and overwhelmed by the unexpected situation, I instinctively unwrapped the bundle as if something was guiding me. As soon as the jewels were revealed, each one began to emit a strong, radiant light. 

The colourful lights converged and seeped into me when I acknowledged the jewels. A warm, soothing energy began to flow from my fingertips through my veins, gathering at my heart.  

Unlike the violent pounding I had felt when touching the Jueri’s sacred tree, this sensation was gentle, like a child softly knocking on a door. 

*Please let me in. Accept me.* 

The sensation was almost as if it were speaking, and I felt my tension at ease. As I opened my heart and accepted the unfamiliar energy, the warmth slowly permeated my heart, filling every corner of my body with vitality. 

*Is this the power of the Jueri?* 

I raised my hands and moved them around, but there was no visible change on the outside. However, it was as if someone had implanted the knowledge of using the gemcraft into my mind. I instantly knew what to do. 

*Which power should I use?* 

I scanned the jewels hastily, and although I couldn't identify the power in some of them, I could sense what most were capable of. The problem was that I didn’t know why Edwin had turned into a monster or why he was dying. 

*Should I stop the bleeding first? Or should I ease his pain?*  

As I stood there, uncertain and indecisive, I felt a strong pulse from the opal hanging around my neck as if it were calling me.  

I suddenly felt a strong urge that this opal was what Edwin needed.  

I quickly got to my feet and approached him. 

"Kraaaaagh!" 

The closer I got to Edwin, the more violently he thrashed. His bleeding intensified with every movement.  

"My lady! It's dangerous!"  

Beryl’s voice rang out as I turned to see him being held back by Seth. Seth bowed deeply to me as if entrusting Edwin’s life to me. 

Taking a deep breath, I summoned every ounce of courage I had left and moved forward. 

As I slowly took one step after another toward Edwin, he lunged at me as if he was about to tear my throat out. 

*Clank!* 

Thankfully, the chains held him back, but it was a terrifying moment. 

Then, I saw it—his eyes, mostly blackened, were trembling slightly. The little remaining blue in his irises was filled with confusion and, beyond that, desperation.  

Edwin was pleading with me, begging me not to come any closer.  

Realising this, I knew I couldn't back down. I gripped the black opal tightly and began to hum a melody. It was a song I had never heard before, yet the words flowed smoothly from my lips. 

"Do you remember the day when petals scattered and a gentle breeze blew? We, born from the flowers watered by your tears. You and we are one, even if time stops or is reversed. You are our sanctuary. We will be reborn in your embrace. May our time together be eternal." 

The soothing, familiar tune felt like a healing balm, even to my ears. As the song continued, the pulsation in the opal grew stronger. 

The moment I reached out toward Edwin, who had been violently thrashing about, he suddenly collapsed.  

*Am I too late?* 

My heart sank. But then, my own heart reassured me that he was still alive. I saw his chest rising and falling shallowly.  

I carefully held his hand, now swollen as if it might burst, and continued the song. The energy from the opal began to flow through me and into Edwin.  

A warm yet stormy sensation spread through my veins, causing me to wince, but I endured it.  

The blackened veins in Edwin's body slowly began to regain their normal colour, and the black blood that had been oozing from every pore gradually subsided. 

*Thank goodness.* 

As I watched him stabilise, I finally felt a sense of relief. Seeing Edwin limp and unconscious brought about indescribable feelings.  

I had always been terrified of him, always wanting to run away. But seeing him so vulnerable now, I couldn’t help but feel pity.  

Those eyes were filled with fear, desperately pleading with me not to come closer. 

Maybe that’s why I felt this surge of compassion. 

*I won’t let you suffer anymore.* 

As I repeated this vow to myself, the energy flowing into Edwin slowly decreased and eventually stopped.  

*Is it over?* 

Just as I was about to release his hand, a sudden wave of exhaustion hit me, and my entire body went limp. 

"My lady!" 

Whose voice was that? Beryl’s? Or Seth’s? But I couldn’t confirm it as I slipped into unconsciousness. 

***