Ashtoria had not even opened her mouth when the sound of creaking wood came from the door. Riven instinctively turned his head, the motion sending another sharp wave of pain through him.
The door opened slowly. Standing in the doorway was a figure he knew all too well. Long, slightly messy black hair, a pale face, weary eyes still swollen from tears.
Melly.
For a moment, the little girl hesitated, as if unable to believe what she was seeing. Then, when she was certain Riven was awake, her eyes widened and her body moved on its own.
"Riven!"
With quick, stumbling steps, Melly rushed forward. Without thinking, she leapt onto the bed and threw herself against her brother's chest, hugging him tightly.
"Urgh!" Riven coughed violently. The pain tore through his chest, leaving him gasping for breath. He almost spat blood again but forced it down with sheer will.
Melly trembled, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down, soaking Riven's clothes. Her voice broke between sobs that spilled without restraint.
"Riven… I—I was so scared… I thought… I thought you'd never wake up again! I saw you bleeding… I didn't know what to do… I thought I was going to lose you…"
Riven fell silent. Her words cut far deeper than his wounds. The pain in his body blurred together with the warmth filling his chest. Slowly, he lifted his heavy arm and wrapped it around her in return.
His hand brushed gently over her back, trying to steady her trembling. A faint smile touched his lips, pale though they were.
"Ssshh… it's alright, Melly. I'm here. I'm much stronger than you think. There's no way I'd die that easily." His voice was weak, but it carried enough weight to reach his sister's shattered heart.
For a moment, Riven let go of everything else. The pain, the questions about Ashtoria, the carriage, the sword—none of it mattered. All that mattered was this moment. He closed his eyes briefly, taking in the warmth of the two people beside him.
Eventually, Melly's sobs faded. She hurriedly wiped her face, her eyes still red. Riven looked at her with quiet affection, brushing her hair back gently.
Ashtoria, who had stayed close all along, finally let go as well. She sat upright at the edge of the bed, her gaze no longer as cold as before.
Riven drew a slow breath and asked in a heavy voice, "What… happened after I passed out?"
Melly lowered her head, as if unsure how to respond, or perhaps ashamed. Riven's eyes shifted to Ashtoria. She was silent for a long while before finally speaking.
Piece by piece, the story came out, shared between Ashtoria and Melly. Riven listened in silence, piecing it together.
After he collapsed, Ashtoria had rushed them out of the forest and into this village. She had carried both him and Melly the entire way. Melly, still asleep at the time, knew nothing until she awoke to find her brother lying broken.
Ashtoria had been forced to abandon the carriage. There had been no time to waste. Riven's condition had been critical, and every moment mattered. Riding the carriage would only have slowed her down.
Melly lifted her tearful eyes again. "I was so scared…" she whispered. "I really thought I'd lost you."
Riven's chest tightened with a painful warmth. He said nothing, only took her hand and squeezed it firmly.
Ashtoria added in her steady voice, "I left the carriage, but I did bring your sword."
Her eyes flicked toward the corner of the room. Riven followed her gaze and saw Riftmaker leaning against the wall. Relief loosened his chest.
"At least… that's still safe," he murmured.
But his thoughts soon turned to what had been left behind. He pushed himself upright with effort. "Then I need to go back. If someone else finds it—"
The sudden movement ripped agony through him. His body screamed in protest, his breath caught, his vision blurred, and he nearly cried out.
Ashtoria pressed him back down swiftly, her hand firm on his shoulder. "Don't move," she said sharply. "You can't even sit up, let alone walk. Forcing yourself now will kill you."
Riven clenched his teeth. He hated hearing it, but his body betrayed him.
"Listen carefully," Ashtoria went on, eyes locked on his. "You will rest here for the next few days. The village physician will treat you until your body recovers."
Riven turned his face aside, unwilling to meet her gaze, but he knew she was right. He had no choice but to accept it. With a weak exhale, he gave a small nod.
The room fell quiet again.
Outside, the night wind drifted by, carrying the scent of wood and damp earth. Riven closed his eyes, sinking into helplessness.
Moments later, the door creaked open once more. An elderly man in plain clothes entered, carrying a leather bag. His face was kind as he looked at Riven. This must be the physician Ashtoria had mentioned.
He set the bag on the table, then sat beside the bed. "How does your body feel?" he asked.
Riven released a heavy breath. "It hurts everywhere."
The physician gave a slow nod and drew out a small vial of thick green liquid. He held it out. "Drink this. It tastes foul, but your body needs it."
Riven eyed it for a moment before downing it. The liquid was viscous and bitter, its taste so sharp it nearly made him retch. He forced himself to swallow every drop.
The physician then asked a few more questions, which Riven answered honestly.
"You have many internal injuries. Several organs are badly shaken. I'll return to check on you, but most important of all, don't push yourself." With that, the physician packed his things and left, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Riven lay staring at the dim ceiling above, the bitterness of the potion still clinging to his tongue. Just as his thoughts began to drift, a low, heavy voice broke the silence.
"…I'm sorry."
Riven turned his head. Ashtoria sat upright, her expression softer than before.
Her words echoed in his mind. He found himself wondering again—who was this woman, really? What had happened to her? What haunted his dreams every night?
But Riven exhaled slowly. He was not ready to know the truth. And he wasn't sure he wanted to be tangled in it. No matter what they had just been through, they were still strangers, bound to part ways someday. For now, it was better left unanswered.
Ashtoria lowered her head slightly, her voice quiet. Then, all of a sudden, she asked,
"Why? Why would you do something like that for me, knowing it would hurt you?"