She nodded again.
"And don't ever assume you can handle a ten-thousand-year-old ghost," he continued.
"You can't. The only reason you survived was that I channeled my forbidden energy into you. That gave you enough strength to fight it."
Lana looked down at him, realization dawning.
His condition… Had been because of her.
Guilt rose sharply in her chest. "I'm sorry."
For the first time since she woke up, Axel's expression softened. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because of me," she replied quietly. "You lost your cultivation… and you used forbidden art."
Axel stared at her, looking as though he was once again resisting the urge to question her sanity.
"You shouldn't feel sorry for me," he replied, exasperated. "You should feel sorry for yourself for pushing your body that far."
Lana nodded seriously. "I understand. I'll take care of myself from now on."
Axel finally smiled. It was faint, but it was real.
The moment she saw it, Lana knew she had been forgiven.
