For Aria, she heard the words—but she might as well not have.
The heavy exhaustion that had been weighing her down moments ago began to fade, replaced by something sharp and sudden. Her eyes widened as she stared at Zyren as though he had just spoken madness.
She let out a soft, disbelieving chuckle, shaking her head slowly, almost as if the movement itself could undo the words she had just heard him say.
He didn't mean that.
He couldn't have meant that.
But she had barely opened her mouth to respond when Zyren spoke again, cutting her off before she could form a single word. He shook his head slightly as he did so.
His eyes were cold.
And there was something fierce in them—something unwavering that made it clear he meant every word.
"You can no longer get out of bed," he said. "And Savira's solution is to wait and see. She has nothing left to give you to make you better."
For a moment, Aria could only stare at him.
She was too stunned to speak.
