THIRD PERSON'S POV
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Back at the hotel suite—
Fiona and Sarah leaned over Nathan, who lay stretched across the couch, carefully examining his leg.
"Oh, it's broken alright," Sarah said, gently pressing around the swollen area. "Even with magic, you'll still need proper medical attention."
Nathan gave a small, tired smile.
"It's okay. Just do what you can for now. I'll rest. Renzo said he'd come back and take me to the hospital."
"Ivy, can't you—"
"Shh."
Ivy cut Albert's voice quietly.
Amid the concern filling the room, he and Ivy stood slightly apart, speaking in low tones. Ivy's gaze was fixed—completely locked onto Nathan's injured leg.
Unblinking.
Focused.
Nathan, who had been absentmindedly patting Lily's head to calm her down, slowly turned toward them.
"Don't even think about it," Albert muttered, pinching Ivy lightly.
Ivy blinked, as if pulled out of a thought.
"Mhm?"
Nathan watched them for a moment longer… but said nothing.
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Later that night—
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The suite had gone quiet.
Sarah had returned to her team. One by one, the others drifted off to their rooms. The lights dimmed.
The front door clicked open.
Renzo stepped in with Nathan, who was balancing on crutches.
"You sure you don't want to stay at the hospital?" Renzo asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you, sir."
"I told you to stop calling me that."
Nathan gave a small smile.
"Sure. Good night, sensei."
Renzo sighed as he watched him disappear down the hall.
Nathan pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside, letting it close softly behind him.
He exhaled, exhausted, and sat on the edge of his bed.
Then his gaze shifted.
And froze.
"…Sweet gracious— Ivy?!"
She was sitting on her bed.
Legs folded neatly beneath her.
Watching him.
Unblinking.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Does it hurt?"
It took him a second to process the question.
"…Yeah," he said cautiously. "But I'm fine. Why are you still awake?"
"No reason."
She stood and walked toward him.
Slow. Measured steps.
Nathan frowned slightly, confused—but didn't move.
Until her hand pressed down on his injured leg.
Pain shot through him instantly.
His body tensed.
"Ivy—what are you doing?"
He reached for her wrist—
"Shh."
Her smile didn't change.
If anything… it deepened.
Before he could react—
The pressure increased.
Deliberate.
Precise.
Nathan's grip tightened on her wrist, his breath hitching as pain flared sharply up his leg—
Then—
Crack.
A muffled sound tore from his throat.
His body jerked—but sand surged up instantly, locking him down against the bed.
His arms. His legs.
His mouth.
Sealed.
His eyes widened.
Another shift of her hand—
Another crack.
Controlled.
Intentional.
Ivy tilted her head slightly, watching.
Observing.
Listening.
As if memorizing the sound.
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The next morning—
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"Today's matches don't concern us," Renzo announced, scrolling through his phone as he sat at the table. "And we've been given tomorrow off because of Nathan's injury. So—two days before semifinals."
The others nodded, eating quietly.
The door opened.
Nathan walked in.
No crutches.
Just a slight limp.
Barely noticeable.
George was on his feet immediately.
"Nathan—are you okay? You shouldn't be putting pressure on it."
"I'm fine," Nathan said calmly, taking a seat.
Fiona frowned.
"How? Are you sure?"
He paused briefly.
Then—
"Ivy healed me."
"What?!"
Voices overlapped around the table.
Albert dragged a hand down his face while Renzo let out a quiet chuckle.
"And you didn't scream?" Renzo asked, amused.
Nathan gave a dry look.
"She didn't give me the option."
"But… Ivy doesn't heal," George said, still trying to process it.
"She does," Albert muttered. "Just… not in a way you'd like. If you're not strong enough, she might make it worse."
"WOW!" Lily beamed, eyes sparkling. "What can't you do? You're like a goddess. A grumpy, cool goddess!"
Through it all, Ivy ate quietly, as if none of it concerned her.
Then, finally—
She spoke.
"Human structure is… delicate."
A pause.
Her lips curved slightly.
"Very easy to break."
Silence followed.
A faint, almost absent-minded smile lingered on her face as she continued eating.