This chapter is dedicated to @Lilli_Fiona! Thank you so much for the supergift!!
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A smile stretched across his face, but it failed to reach his eyes.
Suddenly, droplets of blood splattered across Elle's face, shocking her into wide-eyed disbelief. She stared at his arm, which he had just brutally smashed with a pointed stone. Blood soaked his arm, the wound horrific and severe.
"What... what the hell are you..." Elle stammered, utterly taken aback by the man's actions.
"Seems my hand slipped," he nonchalantly murmured, his expression devoid of pain. "At least it's a fair exchange."
"Oh God!" Elle exclaimed, reaching out instinctively to touch his injured arm, her mind racing with concern and worry. "Are you mad?!" Her frustration and worry poured out in her words, unable to comprehend why he would deliberately harm himself in this manner.
"Maybe," he simply replied, unfazed by the severity of his self-inflicted wound. His commanding voice echoed once more, leaving no room for hesitation. "Now heal it, little fae. If you can properly heal that wound from the inside out, then you will pass."
Elle's jaw dropped in shock, unable to comprehend the extent to which he would go to teach her. Did he truly have to hurt himself so severely for her to learn?
"Now stop wasting time. You know well enough that I don't have much patience for waiting," he coldly stated, his gaze sending a chill down her spine.
"You shouldn't have hurt yourself like this," Elle protested.
"Stop talking and just do it. I warned you not to make me wait, little fae," he interrupted sharply, his tone brooking no further argument.
Gritting her teeth, Elle pushed aside her shock and objections. She knew she had no choice but to comply. With determination, she reached out and placed her hands over his arm, fully aware that he had likely broken his own bone.
Elle closed her eyes, surrendering herself completely to the teachings and guidance she had received. In the depths of her consciousness, she found a place of serenity where the wisdom resonated, waiting to be channeled. As she embraced the essence of the teachings, the words flowed effortlessly from her lips, their rhythm resembling a delicate, slow-paced melody. Each syllable carried a weight of ancient knowledge, an incantation whispered with an air of mystery that seemed to infuse her very being.
Simultaneously, a subtle transformation began to unfold around her. Her lustrous locks of hair lifted and danced, defying gravity as if responding to an invisible force. They swirled and twirled, creating an ethereal aura that surrounded her like a celestial crown. Her hands, poised in front of her, emitted a gentle and mesmerizing silvery glow, casting a soft illumination upon her face.
With unwavering focus, Elle delved deeper into her concentration. The furrow on her brow deepened, reflecting her unwavering determination to channel her healing abilities. Beads of sweat formed on her temples and trickled down her neck, evidence of the intense effort she exerted in this sacred endeavor.
As her concentration reached its zenith, the radiant light emanating from her hands intensified, casting a brilliant glow that filled the space around her. The wound before her, a symbol of pain and affliction, became a canvas upon which her healing powers flourished. Like a delicate tapestry being rewoven, the edges of the wound began to mend and close, as if guided by an invisible hand.
When Elle finally opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of the healed wound. However, Gav's words shattered her momentary relief and triumph. "Failed," he stated bluntly, his tone devoid of any sympathy. "You managed to heal the surface, but the most critical part, the core of the wound, remains unhealed."
Elle's heart sank, disappointment washing over her. She refused to accept defeat, though. Determination immediately burned within her, fueling her desire for another chance. "I'll do it again!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and resolve. "Please, give me one more chance. I'll do it right this time. I won't fail."
Gav clenched his jaw.
"I promise. Just one more time, please. We've already come this far," she implored.
"Fine," Gav relented, his tone filled with exasperation. "You better do it right this time, little fae."
Elle's relief washed over her, but it was again short-lived as she watched Gav reach for the stone once again.
Elle's eyes widened in horror as Gav lifted the stone, intending to inflict harm upon himself once again. Reacting on instinct, she let out a sharp shriek and quickly grabbed hold of his arm, preventing him from carrying out his self-inflicted act of pain. Her voice trembled with concern as she pleaded with him to reconsider. "Are you crazy?! What the hell are you doing?"
Gav met her gaze with a look of impatience, as if her reaction was unwarranted. "You asked for one more chance, didn't you?" he retorted, his tone sharp.
Elle's voice trembled as she pleaded with him. "Yes, but do you really need to harm yourself like that again? Please, don't do that anymore..."
Gav's smirk deepened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're seriously worrying about the wrong creature, little fae. I'm not like you or like everyone in this world of yours. Well, maybe except for a couple of individuals. My point is, this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience to me. So don't concern yourself with such insignificant matters and just finish what you started—"
"That's enough, Gav," Zeke's calm yet authoritative voice cut through the air, halting the exchange between Elle and Gav.
Elle watched as Zeke placidly approached, his presence bringing a sense of reassurance.
"It's not enough. She's barely managing herself," Gav argued as he stood, discarding the bloodied stone onto the ground.
"No, I believe she's ready to do it," Zeke asserted.
But Gav scoffed, seemingly unconvinced by Zeke's words. "You've been watching for a while already. You saw she didn't manage to heal me properly, Zeke."
"Because you're pressuring her too much, Gav," he replied.
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