After taking Thalia from the hot spring carefully, he gently laid her on the floor, his movements cautious, almost reverent.
First, he checked her pulse, pressing his fingers to the delicate skin of her neck. It was steady… calm.
And her breathing? He leaned close, feeling the warm flutter of her breath against his palm. The air gently flowed from her nose, faint and soft, misting the surface of his skin.
"She is fine? Then what happened?" he muttered, confusion flickering in his voice as he leaned over her.
He looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of mischief or play-acting—Thalia's favourite trick. He parted her eyelids, peering at the whites of her eyes. They were rolled back, glassy and distant… as if she had truly lost consciousness in the midst of their bath.
"Hmm." Aether frowned as he patted her cheeks a few times, trying to stir her awake.
"Thalia. Come on, quit messing around."
But she wasn't responding.
