Chapter 37: Noble Shock Therapy
Then Seraphina moved toward the bodies lying across the fractured stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of ash and blood, and a faint hum of static still lingered—like a ghost of the battle that had just passed.
She paused.
With slow, deliberate grace, she reached for the half-burned cloak that hung loosely from her shoulder, its charred edges drifting down the curve of her back. The fabric—frayed by fire and shadow—caught the dim light, its threads shimmering like embers in twilight. As her fingers closed around it, she drew it behind her in one fluid motion.
For a breathless moment, the cloak floated—weightless, suspended in the stillness—as if time itself paused to watch.
Then, with a graceful sweep, she cast it across her back. The fabric coiled down from her shoulder, sliding across the armor with practiced ease, and settled low around her waist like it had always belonged there. It clung to the dark, flexible underlayer beneath her chestplate—melding perfectly to the curve of her form, as though woven with memory and intent. Shoulder to spine. Spine to hip. Seamless.
It wasn't just worn.
It was claimed.
As the cloak settled, its tattered hem swayed softly, brushing over the stone like whispered resolve. She stepped forward, and the motion of her cloak followed—fluid, powerful—draping over her form like a shadow born from fire.
She bypassed Leon and Arthur, kneeling beside Elara. Her gloved fingers hovered just above the girl's back, hesitant but precise. Her voice cut through the air—sharp, controlled, the kind that demanded no reply, only asked out of formality.
"Wake up," she commanded.
No response.
Seraphina tilted her head, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. She pressed two fingers to the side of Elara's neck—still warm, pulse steady. Merely unconscious.
She stood, dusting her knee, and moved next to Mira. Again: "Wake up."
Still nothing. Not even a twitch.
She frowned, barely. The line of her jaw tightened. "Why aren't they waking up?" Her voice was low, controlled. "This isn't natural sleep. Someone forced it upon them... a deep state only accessible through healing magic. Zandagar lacks that finesse—he's a fire magic user. Then it must be him. The one who fought before I arrived."
She paused, her eyes narrowing.
"I was too late."
She looked at the ceiling, her gaze distant but sharp. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, composing herself.
"If I'd arrived moments earlier... Maybe I could've saved him. Kael wanted to come, but I denied him before he could even ask. I thought it was a risk I couldn't afford. I let pride dictate the mission. Foolish, arrogant pride. It cost someone their life."
Her voice was silent in her mind now, steel beneath her calm. "This must never happen again. I will not let emotion cloud my command. Not ever again. One death was already too much." Then a sigh, "No more delays, Seraphina. Act. They're still alive. You can still change the outcome."
She glanced around the surroundings, scanning for water bottle, potions, anything to wake them. Nothing. Just scorched earth… and blood. The blood would be useless.
Her eyes fell once more on Elara. She approached with a graceful stride and knelt again beside Elara. Her voice, though low, held weight—like a command dressed as an apology.
"You are a healer, are you not? Then allow me to apologize in advance for what I must do."
Then she removed her glove with a precise, graceful tug. Her bare fingers emerged, pale as moonlight against the obsidian sheen of her armor. Her hand was flawless—long, slender, and elegant, as if sculpted from porcelain. Each movement carried a quiet poetry, and when she flexed her fingers once, they shimmered faintly in the low light like something enchanted. Then, with a touch both soft and deliberate, she placed her hand against Elara's.
A tiny spark snapped between their skin—
Zzt!
Bright blue lightning danced across Seraphina's fingertips. It wasn't raw power—it was focused, flickering like the fine strands of a spiderweb made of lightning. The current slithered gently along Elara's skin like a curious serpent, searching for a nerve to rattle.
Elara jerked upright with a yelp. "Wh-what the—?! My spine just did a backflip!" She blinked around, dazed. "Am I… dead? Did I fall into the sky? Why does my tongue taste like burnt copper?"
A quiet voice behind her answered. "You are very much alive," Seraphina said, slipping her glove back on. "Forgive the method. It was efficient, if inelegant."
Elara whipped around and paused. "Oh! You're—Seraphina! I mean—Captain Seraphina!"
Seraphina raised a brow. "You know me."
"Everyone knows who you are. You're, like… scary famous. Legendary, even. Also, the terrifying Knight Order Captain." She hesitated, then added in a softer voice, "No offense."
Seraphina regarded her coolly. "None taken. And you are?"
"Elara. You can just call me Elara. I heal people." She offered a weak smile, brushing her hair back. "Not usually with electric shock therapy, though."
"Hm."
Elara tilted her head, then glanced at the others. "Wait… are they—?"
"Unharmed," Seraphina replied. "Unconscious, like you were. I require your assistance in waking them up."
Elara blinked. "You want me to wake them up?"
"I would prefer not to shock everyone individually. It's inefficient. And I believe you'll be gentler."
"I mean, yeah, that's generally how healing works," she said, already crawling toward Mira. "Though I gotta say, your method does wake people up fast. Might patent that—'Noble Shock Therapy'—has a nice ring to it."
Seraphina didn't respond, but there was the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips.
Elara paused mid-healing spell. "By the way… thank you. For waking me up. Even if it was a little... zappy."
Seraphina nodded once. "Do not thank me. Just ensure they wake."
Elara chuckled softly as she placed her glowing hand on Mira's forehead. "Right, right. Gentle touch. Got it. Honestly, you could've just shaken me. Or, I dunno, yelled louder?"
Seraphina turned away, her gaze sweeping the bloodstained battlefield, the shadows deepening under the ruined arch.
"I tried, but no one woke up. In the end I had limited options," Seraphina stated, voice clipped yet calm. "I considered bloodletting, slapping too. This seemed the most... strategic."
Before Elara could even open her mouth to answer, she felt a sudden shift.
"Mmmh…" Mira stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked a few times, her eyes landing on Elara. For a moment, confusion danced on her face… then—
"Elara!!" Mira practically launched herself forward, throwing her arms around her.
Elara flinched, caught off guard. "Wha—Mira?! What are you doing?"
"I-I was so scared," Mira choked out, her voice trembling. "I thought we were dead! Like really dead!" Her arms tightened as tears slipped down her cheeks. "The last thing I saw was that hideous orc about to split Leon in half and I thought I'd never see you and others again."
Elara exhaled softly, rubbing Mira's back in slow circles. "But we're not dead. Somehow... we made it. We're alive." She gave a small, serene smile despite the chaos they had just endured. "Thanks to her."
Mira blinked, pulling back slightly. "Her?"
She turned—and froze. "Whaaa—?! Is that—IS THAT SERAPHINA?! As in Captain-of-the-Knight-Order Seraphina?!"
"Shhh—" Elara hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Keep it down. She's the one who saved us. She's... probably resting." She tilted her head toward Seraphina, who, sitting not far from them, gave a small amused smile, clearly not asleep.
"Oops." Mira grinned sheepishly. "My bad." Her's jaw dropped. "I—I yelled at a legend…" she whispered dramatically, covering her mouth. "Please erase that moment from her memory…"
Seraphina rose to her feet, crossed her arms, and smiled faintly to herself, oblivious to the commotion around her.
Elara chuckled softly, then moved toward Arthur. She placed a gentle hand on his forehead as she began healing. "Arthur," she said quietly, kneeling beside him. "Wake up. It's over."
Arthur stirred. His eyes flew open with a start. "No! Please—! Don't—!" He jolted halfway up, panic flashing in his eyes—until he saw Elara. "Wha—Where—The orcs! The monster! Elara! Are you okay?!"
"Yes," she said softly. "We all are."
Arthur rubbed his eyes, trying to steady the shake in his hands. "I thought… I really thought I was gone… That I'd never get to see the sun again…"
"You'll see it tomorrow," Elara said, "and the next day too."
Arthur nodded, trying to swallow his emotions. "I'm not crying, okay? I'm not."
Mira plopped down beside him with a teasing grin. "No one's judging you, four-eyes."
"Shut up, Mira."
"Aw, look at you. Still got that charm."
As the others shared small laughs and caught their breath, Elara quietly made her way to the last one—Leon. He was lying still, a faint trail of dried blood at the corner of his lips. Her heart tightened as she knelt beside him.
"Leon... wake up. Please," she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead and placing a glowing hand over his chest. A gentle warmth spread under her palm.
Slowly, his eyes opened—cloudy at first, then they focused. On her.
"Elara…" he murmured.
"Yes. It's me."
She nodded. But before she could say more, he pulled her into a tight, almost desperate hug. Elara's breath hitched, caught in surprise. His grip trembled.
"Elara—I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he whispered, voice shaking against her shoulder.
Elara blinked, stunned. A blush crept onto her cheeks. But she didn't pull away. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the moment settle between them. After a pause, she sighed and whispered, "But we're alive, aren't we?"
"I… I failed you. I failed everyone. I couldn't protect you. I couldn't do anything. I should have protected you. That's my job. I'm the leader. I swore I'd keep you all safe and I—"
Elara pulled back gently. "Stop." Her hand moved to his face, tilting it so their eyes met. "You didn't fail. You fought with everything you had. You kept us going until the end. Even when you could barely stand, you stood in front of me."
"But I couldn't stop the orcs," Leon said, his voice cracking.
"You're human, Leon," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Even leaders fall. But the real failure would've been not trying. And you... never stopped trying."
"But—"
She cut him off, placing a finger on his lips, brushing it softly.
"That's not the Leon I know," she said, her voice low and steady. "Our Leon wouldn't break this easily. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to keep standing. Because if you fall apart… who's going to carry us?"
Leon stared at her, something vulnerable flickering in his eyes. Then, slowly, he hugged her tighter. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.
The moment was tender.
Beautiful.
Quiet.
Until—
"Ahem—" Mira cleared her throat loudly, raising a hand to her lips. "Would you look at that? Our fearless leader and our cool beauty. Love is truly blooming in the ashes of despair~"
Elara and Leon sprang apart like they'd been caught kissing in a library. Both of them flushed a deep pink.
"W-We're not—!" Elara stammered, pulling back instantly, her cheeks burning. She turned away. "There's nothing like that between us…"
Leon mirrored her awkwardness, his own face red. "Y-Yeah. Totally. We're just… friends. Right, Elara?"
Elara nodded stiffly. "Right. Just… friends."
Mira raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Uh-huh. I can totally feel the 'just friends' energy from here."
Arthur tilted his head and nodded slowly. "I mean… she did touch his lips…"
"Arthur, you traitor!" Leon snapped.
"I'm just stating facts!"
"Trust us. Really. It's not like that," Elara insisted, trying her best to sound convincing.
"Yeah. Yeah," Mira said, grinning. "I can clearly see that from the way you were almost fusing your souls together just now."
Arthur chuckled, his voice still a little hoarse. "Just leave them be, Mira."
Mira leaned back and sighed with exaggerated drama. "If you say so. But I'm calling dibs on teasing rights for the next three days."
"Make it five," Arthur muttered with a smirk.
Leon groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Why do I even talk…"
Elara tried to hide a smile, brushing her hair behind her ear.
The laughter lingered for a moment longer, soft and fleeting, before silence settled around them once again.
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(Chapter Ended)