All eyes darted toward the direction of the [Water] spell. Every head turned, and for a heartbeat the entire battlefield froze.
Evie stood on her island, staff raised, hair matted with soot and sweat, half of her MP bar glowing blue.
Everyone's jaw dropped.
"How—how did her MP suddenly jump to half?" Rafaela stammered, blinking as if the heat waves were playing tricks on her eyes.
Evie didn't even look over; her eyes stayed locked on Vulcan. "Nikolai gave me one," she said calmly. "He traded me a [Mana Potion] before… you know."
Her voice wavered just slightly on the last words.
Ren blinked, momentarily stunned before a quiet laugh escaped his lips. "Thank goodness," he murmured, his chest loosening for the first time in minutes. "That kid really saved the day."
Rafaela smiled faintly despite the chaos. "The man of the hour, even after death."
"Honestly…" Silvia exhaled, her relief trembling through her words.
But their respite didn't last.
