Kael barely registered the words, but his body reacted nonetheless. The violent instability inside him lessened slightly, the burning in his chest settling into something that, while still painful, no longer felt like it would tear him apart at any second.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the flow stopped.
The absence of it was almost as jarring as its presence had been. Kael's body lurched forward, his hands catching him as he struggled to breathe properly again. Air rushed into his lungs in uneven bursts, each inhale still painful, but no longer suffocating. Another cough escaped him, weaker this time, and when he looked down, there was still blood, but noticeably less.
He stayed like that for a moment, steadying himself, trying to understand what had just happened.
Behind him, the Fist King finally removed his hand.
"You've bought yourself a little time," he said casually. "Not much. Half a month, maybe less if you're careless."
