A while later, after explaining the situation to Aria and the others, Aria sat alone on the bed while the rest of the group stepped back to give them space.
Zenith stood with her back turned toward the bed, while Lucian stood right beside her, firmly holding the dark, mana-filled sphere.
"Alright, let's do this," Lucian said simply.
For a few seconds, Aria just stared innocently at the two of them. Curling her fingers nervously against her chest, she asked in a soft, hesitant voice...
"Will... will it hurt?"
Giving her a warm, comforting smile, Lucian replied softly,
"Don't worry. Nothing will hurt you as long as I am here."
Aria's eyes widened slightly in surprise before a soft, mature smile graced her lips.
Standing in the back, Kaelen's eyes were practically sparkling as he watched this emotional, dramatic scene unfold. Standing right next to him, Sera just puffed her cheeks into a jealous pout...
