It didn't register at first.
The blade.
The blood.
The silence.
Malvoria turned just in time to see the light leave Elysia's eyes.
One breath sharp, shallow and then her body sagged forward. She collapsed like a marionette with cut strings, her knees folding beneath her, hair catching firelight as she hit the floor with a wet thud.
Malvoria moved instantly, catching her before she fell completely. Her arms wrapped around Elysia's waist, pulling her close, lowering her to the blackened stone.
Her hands came away warm.
Sticky.
Red.
"Elysia?" Her voice cracked, raw in her throat. "Elysia, look at me."
Elysia blinked slowly. Her lips parted, but no sound came. Her chest rose in shallow jerks, breath rattling as if each one might be the last.
Malvoria pressed her palm over the wound, fire magic sparking under her fingers in a desperate attempt to cauterize it but the damage was deep.
