Chapter 47 Words Unspoken

• *Maerilee*
• The world around me blurs into chaos as the guardian rises from the water, its iridescent form casting a ghostly glow over the riverbank. It advances toward our group, though it seems done with me now that River has been shot. I hear the sharp, metallic twang of arrows and the clash of magic as Akin and Brook fight it off, but my focus is solely on River.
• He’s sprawled on the ground, his face pale and his chest heaving as blood pours from his wounds. My hands press desperately against his chest, trying to staunch the flow, but the crimson warmth seeps through my fingers, relentless and terrifying. I can’t make it stop, and he’s fading fast.