Ayame's eyes began to close slowly. She didn't know how long she had been reading – her eyes burned from staring at the text for so long. She would have dozed off if she hadn't snapped awake at the last second.
She couldn't afford rest — didn't want to. She desperately searched for that one piece of information, that one chapter, that one passage – the one that could save Haru's life.
And deep down, a gnawing feeling told her something bad was happening in her absence.
"Milady, you should get some sleep," said Rouhuo, breaking the silence. The half-lioness looked at her mistress, worry in her eyes.
"No… I have to… we have to find the information…" Ayame replied, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Forgive me for saying this, my lady, but you're pushing yourself too hard. You're hurting yourself more than helping. What if, from exhaustion, you miss the very clue you're looking for?"
