Rian and Soraya stood inside the cave, the boulder has completely sealed the entrance. Luckily, the place wasn’t dark,faint light slipped in.Rian sighed and stepped forward. “I’ll just blow this stupid rock off with my Arcane”But when he lifted his blades, his face twisted in pain. His shoulder dropped back down instantly.“What’s wrong?” Soraya asked.Rian touched his shoulder and winced. “That soul-maddened freak must’ve sliced me harder than I thought.”Soraya rolled her eyes but stepped closer. “Sit. Let me see it.”He hesitated, then tugged off his robe, revealing the bruised, torn skin across his shoulder and upper arm.Soraya placed her hand over the wound.She muttered a short healing phrase,her palms glowed and a warmth spread across his skin. The injury began to knit itself closed.Rian blinked. “I didn’t know you took healing class serious.”Soraya scoffed lightly. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”He rotated his shoulder slowly. “Huh… feels better.”“Well don’t push it,” s

When they slowly pulled apart, Rian pressed his forehead to hers again.“We’re not dying here,” he whispered. “Not after that.”Soraya, still weak, managed a small smile soft, real, and unlike any expression she had ever shown him before.“Then you better keep holding me,” she muttered.He tightened his arms around her. “I’m not letting go. Ever.”Soraya’s breathing slowed, the shivers easing, her body gradually warming in Rian’s arms. Her eyelashes fluttered once… then she sagged against him completely, unconscious but peaceful, her cheek resting against his shoulder.“Soraya?” Rian whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.She didn’t answer.Rian swallowed hard, gathering her closer, almost protectively curling around her. Even though the cold had seeped into his bones, even though his own shoulder still throbbed painfully from the earlier fight, he didn’t let go of her for a second.Then.BOOOOM!!!The entire cave shook.Dust rained from the ceiling as light suddenly