Arya was distraught, holding onto hope by a single thread as Master Orion delivered the bleak prognosis. But then, Sofia's eyes sparkled with a hint of otherworldly determination.
"I think I might know something that could help Ethan," Sofia said gently. Arya's tears slowed, a flicker of hope returning— "What is it, Sofia? Tell us!"
Sofia took a deep breath, spinning a convincing tale about her past work with a renowned physician in Eldrida. Despite Master Orion's skepticism, Arya begged them to leave the room. Sofia locked the door, and her expression transformed into something mysterious and ancient.
Outside, Cable noticed a faint, ethereal glow emanating from beneath the door. Peering through the narrow gap, his heart hammered against his ribs as he saw Sofia prick her finger. A drop of dark, crimson blood—richer than any human's—fell onto Ethan's pale lips.
Cable stumbled back in shock just as Sofia called out: "Everyone, please come in. I think you should see this."
As they entered, Master Orion rushed to check Ethan's pulse. "It's... it's impossible! His heart rate is stabilizing to a perfect rhythm!"
Suddenly, the room went still as Ethan's chest heaved with a deep, gasping breath. His fingers twitched, and slowly, his eyes struggled to open, focusing on the blurry figure beside him.
"Ar... Arya?" his voice was raspy and weak, but it was the most beautiful sound Arya had ever heard.
Arya collapsed onto him, sobbing with pure, unadulterated joy. "Ethan! You're back! You're finally back!" Ethan feebly raised a hand to stroke her hair, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and eternal devotion.
Master Orion turned to Sofia, his awe mixed with deep suspicion: "Your Majesty... what exactly did you do here?"
Sofia's mysterious smile softened. "This method is a secret I am bound by oath never to reveal. It belongs to the shadows of healing." Cable nodded, realizing his wife had used her own essence to pull Ethan back from the veil of death.
Sofia embraced a crying Arya and spoke solemnly: "Arya, Ethan's awakening is just the beginning. His full recovery now depends on the strength of your bond and the care you provide. His soul has returned, but his body now needs your love to truly heal."
After Master Orion, Sofia, and Cable stepped out, a heavy yet peaceful silence filled the room. Ethan lay on the bed, his breathing stable, but his eyes held a profound ache—not from his physical wounds, but from the weight of his guilt.
He tried to reach for Arya's hand but pulled back instinctively, as if he felt unworthy of her touch.
"Arya..." Ethan's voice was a ragged whisper, "I shouldn't have come back. What I did... your father... the betrayal... I cannot look myself in the mirror. Why are you fighting so hard to save me? I only deserve punishment."
Tears streamed down Arya's face, but they were tears of compassion. She leaned forward, cradling his face in her hands.
"Ethan, listen to me," Arya said, her voice thick with emotion. "When you left for the war, my heart was consumed by hatred. But yesterday, I spent a moment with my mother, Queen Charlotte. For the first time in months, that old spark returned to her eyes. She told me that love and hate are both poisons, and I must choose the one that sets my soul free."
Ethan looked at her in disbelief. Arya continued, "Mother advised me to forgive you. She said your tears were real and that your heart longed for redemption. Ethan, I have forgiven you. Not just because of Mother, but because this world means nothing to me without you."
Tears of true repentance washed down Ethan's face. He kissed Arya's hands, feeling a massive weight lift from his soul for the first time.
"I will spend my entire life serving you and honoring this love, Arya," Ethan vowed with newfound strength.
Arya smiled through her tears and kissed his forehead, whispering softly, "Then no more waiting. As soon as you are strong enough, we will be married. Nothing will ever part us again."
A heavy silence had settled over the royal palace of Calorina. Ethan was finally out of danger, and Arya was at last sleeping peacefully. Sofia and Cable retired to their private guest chamber. The moonlight streaming through the window casts an ethereal glow over Sofia's features.
Cable, having removed his formal coat, approached Sofia. His eyes were filled with a blend of intense curiosity and profound affection. Taking her hands in his, he asked softly:
"Your secret is safe with me, my love—but I am so curious. What exactly did you do behind those locked doors to save Ethan? Was what I saw real?"
Sofia's gaze locked onto his, her voice barely above a whisper: "I gave him a single drop of my blood."
Cable's eyebrows rose in intrigue. "Just one drop? And it worked that fast?"
Sofia nodded. "Yes, my king. Vampire blood accelerates healing exponentially. Any disease, any wound—our blood restores balance to mortal bodies. Ethan will now recover much faster than any healer imagined."
Cable's curiosity deepened. "But why only one drop? If you had given him more, wouldn't he have healed instantly?"
Sofia's expression turned solemn. "Because, my love, if I had given him even a little more blood... Ethan would have undergone the transformation. He would have become a vampire like me."
Cable's eyes widened in understanding. "So the limited dose... was to spare him that fate?"
"Yes," Sofia sighed. "This way, he receives enough strength to heal his mortal body, but not enough to trigger the immortal transformation. He will live a normal, human life."
Cable embraced Sofia tightly. "You saved him twice—once from death and once from becoming what you are. Your heart, once thought immortal only in years, has proven immortal in compassion too."
Sofia's eyes sparkled with tears. "Your love transformed me, Cable. In your eyes, I saw the true value of mortal lives—Ethan's, and now my own. My heart beats for more than just eternity now."
Cable pulled her closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone. "Sofia... tell me, in all those centuries, were you always alone? Was there ever someone before me in your heart?"
Sofia looked down, her voice trembling with sincerity. "No... through all those long years of waiting, you are the only love of my life. My heart was kept only for you."
Cable leaned in, his lips brushing hers. "I am the luckiest man in any era to hold the key to this immortal heart."