Chapter 134 Silent Sacrifice
Lyra: POV
I sat cross-legged on my bedroom floor, the Tidesong Staff balanced across my palms. The silver-blue light pulsed gently along its length, responding to my thoughts as I explored our newfound connection. Since discovering its purification abilities yesterday, I'd been obsessed with understanding every facet of its power.
"If I can amplify the purification radius even further..." I muttered, watching as the runes flickered when I directed my energy through them.
Stella's presence stirred in my mind. Be careful not to drain yourself completely. Even artifacts of power have limits.
"I know," I sighed, reluctantly setting the staff aside. As I stretched my stiff muscles, a realization hit me—I hadn't seen Lilian since returning to the palace. How many days had it been? Four? Five?
My chest tightened with sudden worry. Lilian wasn't just any servant; she was the healer who saved me after my destined connection was forcibly rejected. When others gave up, she nursed me back to health with her special remedies. Later, when a void creature destroyed her home, we defeated it together, and I offered her a position at the palace out of gratitude.
The thought of her in danger now made my blood run cold.
"Stella, when was the last time we saw Lilian?" I asked, already moving toward the door.
Not since our return. Strange that she hasn't sought you out.
I stepped into the hallway, spotting a young servant carrying fresh linens. "Excuse me," I called, keeping my voice casual despite my growing concern. "Have you seen Lilian today?"
The girl bowed quickly. "The healer, Your Grace? I believe she requested leave some days ago. I'm new to this wing, so I'm not certain where she went."
"Thank you," I replied, continuing down the corridor.
I stopped another servant, a middle-aged man arranging decorative urns. "Do you know where Lilian might be? My personal healer?"
"Ah, the water dragon healer." He looked thoughtful. "I haven't seen her in several days, Your Grace. Perhaps check with the head of household staff?"
My unease deepened with each vague answer. Finally, I approached an older servant arranging flowers in an alcove. The gray in her scales marked her as a respected elder among the household staff.
"Elder Mera," I addressed her with the proper respect, "I'm looking for Lilian. Have you seen her recently?"
Her hands paused, weathered fingers hovering over a crystal bloom. "Ah, the young water healer." She hesitated, her eyes darting briefly to the window. "I believe she left for the eastern border villages, Your Grace. Nearly a few days ago now."
My blood chilled. "The eastern villages? You're certain?"
"Yes, Your Grace. A group of healers went to tend to the sick there."
I thanked her and walked away, my mind racing. The eastern villages were precisely where I'd discovered the worst void contamination. Pools of corrupted water, dying vegetation, and that poor child with purple veins spreading across her skin...
"I need to find Mother," I whispered to Stella, quickening my pace.
I found her in her private garden, kneeling beside a bed of crystal flowers. Their translucent petals caught the late afternoon light, refracting it into rainbow patterns across her silver-blue scales. Even in simple gardening clothes, Lady Selene maintained an elegance I'd always aspired to match.
"Lyra," she smiled, looking up as my shadow fell across her work. Her expression shifted as she caught sight of my face. "What troubles you, daughter?"
"Lilian," I said, dropping to my knees beside her. "She's gone to the eastern villages? Where the void contamination is spreading?"
Mother's expression softened. "Ah, yes. She volunteered to join the healing mission."
"Volunteered? But those villages—the water is tainted. People are falling ill with purple markings on their skin. It's void sickness, Mother."
"Your father asked which healers would be willing to journey to the affected villages," Mother said. "Lilian and several others volunteered immediately. She said her knowledge could help where others might fail."
I swallowed hard. "And you let her go?"
"Lilian insisted," Mother replied gently. "She has remarkable knowledge of water healing techniques learned from the aquatic healers. Combined with her natural sensitivity to water elements, she's particularly effective at easing the early stages of void contamination."
"But it's dangerous," I protested. "Even for experienced healers—"
"She knew the risks." Mother's eyes held a warmth that caught me off guard. "That young dragon has remarkable courage. Did you know she would come sit with me some evenings while you were gone? She'd bring me tea and share stories of her training with the water tribe healers."
Something tightened in my chest at the thought of Lilian keeping my mother company during my absence.
"When I missed you most," Mother continued, her voice softer now, "it was her stories that kept me from feeling so alone." She touched a crystal petal gently. "Such a thoughtful, caring soul."
Guilt washed over me as I imagined my mother sitting alone in this garden, worried about my safety while I was off with Kael and the others. I hadn't considered how my absence affected those I'd left behind.
I returned to my chambers as dusk approached, the weight of this revelation heavy on my mind. Sitting by the window, I gazed at the distant mountains where Kael and our friends had found sanctuary.
How selfish I'd been, focusing only on my grand adventures with Kael, our battles against void creatures, our mission to seal the rifts. All necessary, yes—but while I played the hero, Lilian had quietly gone to the front lines, risking her life to heal those already suffering from the void's touch.
I recalled how Lilian had stayed by my side after Arden's rejection, how she'd brought healing salves for the physical pain and told stories to distract me from the emotional wounds. Never judging, never pitying—just present when everyone else whispered behind my back.
You're being too hard on yourself, Stella murmured in my mind.
"No, I'm not," I said aloud. "As the Star-Chosen, I've been so focused on sealing rifts that I forgot about protecting the people already affected. What good is closing a void passage if everyone's already corrupted by the time we succeed?"
A soft knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. Curious—servants rarely disturbed me after dusk without being summoned.
"Enter," I called, setting the staff aside.
The door opened slowly, revealing a familiar figure silhouetted against the hallway torches. My breath caught in my throat.
Lilian stood there, her normally pristine healer's robes travel-worn and stained. Exhaustion lined her face, but her eyes widened with genuine surprise and pleasure.
"My dear princess," she breathed, her voice carrying the slight rasp of fatigue. "I heard you were looking for me as soon as I got back tonight."
My gaze dropped to her hands—slender fingers marred by faint purple streaks that spoke of repeated contact with void contamination.