The bruised fingers of her right hand tightened around her staff, the worn bandages digging into her skin. Each ragged gasp left a pale cloud in the frigid air. She steadied herself, eyes fixed on the bloodied, motionless body of Lamack lying in the snow.
The chants and cheers of the group reached her ears only as a distant, muffled hum. Exhaustion crashed over her—more than half of her mana was gone.
Her legs gave out, and she sank onto one knee.
Spectre rushed toward her, his voice breaking through the haze.
"That was amazing, Eva-sama!" His eyes shone with unfiltered admiration.
As he stopped before her, he lifted his arms, clearly about to wrap her in a celebratory hug—
—but before he could, two small figures darted in from the side. Maley and Bailey slammed into Spectre, knocking him clear out of her sight.
"That was amazing, big sis! Wasn't it, Bailey?" Maley's excitement bubbled over.
"Yeah, Maley—it was incredible!" Bailey grinned wide.
