She placed her hand over mine, her fingers interlacing with mine. For a moment, the war, the dragons, and the Triumvirate didn't exist. There was only the warmth of her body and the truth of her words.
"The healers checked while you were unconscious," she whispered, her eyes shining with a new, fierce light. "The child is strong. Despite the Negative Mana, despite the stress... our child has your spark. A little ember of the Vessel is growing inside me."
She leaned down, pressing her forehead against mine, her breath warm against my skin. "You're going to be a father, Craig. But you have to stop. You have to stop tearing yourself apart. I can't raise this child in a world where you are just a memory."
I closed my eyes, feeling the 62% mastery humming in my veins. I thought of the future Craig and the blank pages of his diary. He was right. I wasn't just fighting for Norkiya anymore.
