[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
Grayfia was stunned by seeing the number of people returning being more than the ones left. Especially three more fiancées appeared, but just when she was going to question—
She saw me being carried by Zeraphira and my condition,
Grayfia stopped.
Not figuratively.
She halted—one foot forward, hand half-raised, breath caught somewhere between inhale and annihilation.
For a heartbeat, the Morningstar Manor itself seemed to freeze with her.
The grand foyer lights flickered faintly as ancient wards reacted to her emotional spike. Mana pressure rippled outward like a silent shockwave, bending curtains, rattling chandeliers, and making Selene's hat slide halfway off her head.
She literally snatched me from Zeraphira before she could even finish a single step.
Grayfia's arms wrapped around me with terrifying gentleness.
