"Vera—"
"Vera!"
Feiyin's repeated cries finally made Vera look at her.
Feiyin's face was streaked with tears, and in her trembling hand she held a small emerald-green medicine bottle. It was the healing elixir Sirian had given them before he left, a miraculous remedy powerful enough to pull someone back from the brink of death.
Now, that little bottle was empty.
The wound between Feiling's brows had already healed. Her skin was smooth and flawless as before; only the lingering bloodstains still spoke of the arrow that had struck her moments ago.
But she lay there, motionless, not laughing as she climbed back up like she usually would, saying, "You're all making a fuss over nothing again."
"Vera, it didn't work—Sister—Sister, she's already—"
Clarity returned to Vera's eyes. He turned and looked at the Demon Race charging in from outside the city, then bent down and gently kissed Feiling's still-warm lips.
After that, he placed Feiling's body into Feiyin's arms. "Feiyin, take Feiling and leave first. Don't go to the nearby cities. Run straight east."
Feiyin's voice came in broken sobs. "Vera—I can't—I can't leave you alone—"
"Your staff is gone. Are you staying behind to be dead weight?"
Vera's sudden harsh shout made Feiyin freeze as if someone had seized her throat. She choked and could not get a word out, only tears rolling down without stopping.
"I'm sorry, Feiyin." Vera pulled Feiyin, who looked like a frightened little beast, into his arms and kissed her. Feiyin's tear-blurred eyes flickered faintly.
After the kiss, Vera looked calmly at the girl and said again, "Be good. Take Feiling and leave right now, all right?"
"Mm—" Feiyin nodded in pain. Urged on by Vera, she held her sister and turned, running toward the rear city gate.
Up in the sky, a