Chapter 12 - The Magic of Her Story

Valerie lay in her bed quietly, the stillness of the room broken only by the soft sound of Chloe’s breathing. Chloe was slumped in the chair beside her, head tilted awkwardly against the armrest. For the last eighteen hours, she had barely moved except to check on Valerie—making sure she had water, food, and blankets tucked around her shoulders. No wonder she had finally given in to exhaustion.

Valerie’s chest rose shallowly, each breath a reminder of the lingering ache the poison had left behind. The sensation of her lungs tightening, of air refusing to come when she needed it, haunted her even now. That panic—the moment she thought she wouldn’t be able to breathe again—echoed sharper in her memory than the pain itself. But worse than any of it was the gnawing anxiety that filled every quiet moment. Not about her own wounds, but about Aiden.

Three days had passed since the fight. She had woken after a day and a half, the poison leaving her weak but not broken. Aiden, though…he hadn’t stirred once. Not a flicker of consciousness, not a word. Every morning when she opened her eyes, she half expected someone to tell her he was gone. And every time that thought crept in, she had to fight back tears.

A soft knock rattled the door.

Chloe jolted awake with a flail of arms and half-formed words, fumbling to her feet. “Huh? What—who—oh.” Her bleary eyes landed on the door as it opened.

Gloria stepped in, her presence warm as the sunlight spilling across the floorboards. She carried a smile that seemed to ease the weight in the room. “Chloe, dear, you look ready to topple over. Why don’t you get some real rest? I’ll take it from here.”

Chloe rubbed at her eyes, yawning. “Are you sure?”

“Go on,” Gloria said gently. “Valerie and I will be just fine.”

Chloe gave Valerie a small, reassuring squeeze on the hand before shuffling out, closing the door behind her.

The silence that followed was different—lighter, less heavy. Gloria crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, her healer’s robes rustling softly as she adjusted herself. “How are you feeling?”

Valerie winced, pressing a hand against her ribs. “Still some pain. My chest…it feels tight, like I can’t breathe deeply without it burning.”

Gloria nodded knowingly. “Poison tends to linger, but we’ll ease it out eventually.” She lifted her hands, the faint shimmer of water magic curling around her fingers like threads of blue light. She placed her palms gently against Valerie’s chest, the cool energy sinking into her skin. Valerie gasped softly as the ache dulled, replaced with a soothing clarity that spread through her lungs.

As she worked, Gloria spoke softly. “I have good news. Aiden’s awake.”

The words struck Valerie like a lightning bolt. Her breath caught, her heart leapt so hard she thought it might burst. Tears pricked her eyes before she could stop them. “He...he’s really awake?”

Gloria smiled, her magic steady. “Yes. He’s resting now. Physically, he’ll be fine. The wounds weren’t as deep as they looked. But his mind…” She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “…that’s where he hurts most.”

Valerie’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“He feels guilty,” Gloria said simply. “He worries you won’t want him anymore.”

The statement stunned Valerie. Anger sparked, tangled with hurt. “What? Why would he think that?” She shook her head, tears spilling freely now. “I’ve worked too hard to be with him,” she added with a shaky laugh, half-joking through her tears. “I’m not giving him up now—not ever. He’s the love of my life, my best friend…I can’t imagine my life without him.”

Gloria’s smile warmed, clearly amused by Valerie’s half-joke. “Does he know that?”

Valerie blinked at her, a playful grin breaking through her tears. “Of course he does. Why wouldn’t he?”

“Because men,” Gloria chuckled, “aren’t always the best with feelings. What’s obvious to us often isn’t to them.”

Valerie pouted, folding her arms. “You’ve got that right.”

Gloria pulled a chair closer, sitting beside her now. Her gaze softened, but her tone shifted. “But that’s not really what’s bothering you, is it?”

Valerie froze, the pout crumbling as her lips trembled. Tears welled again, spilling faster than she could wipe them away. “When we came here,” she whispered, voice shaking, “I was terrified. Everything was new. Strange. Dangerous. But Aiden was there, and I thought…as long as I had him, I’d be okay.”

Her shoulders shook. “But the deeper we went into this world—the guild, the magic, the fighting—the more scared I became. Not just of monsters, or dying, but of losing him. Of him choosing all of this, the power, the adventure, over me. And then… with the issues in the dungeon, the bet with Zachary and Everly…” She choked on the words, covering her face with her hands. “It only made that fear worse.”

Her sobs filled the room, raw and unrestrained.

Gloria reached out, her hand wrapping gently around Valerie’s. Her grip was steady, grounding. “Valerie,” she said softly, “do you know what I hear in your words?”

Valerie shook her head, unable to answer.

“That your love runs deep. Deeper than fear. The more you fear losing him, the clearer it is how much you love him.”

Gloria’s tone softened further as she sat back, her expression thoughtful. “Can I tell you something personal? Something I don’t often share.”

Valerie sniffled, wiping her cheeks. “Of course.”

Gloria folded her hands in her lap. “I didn’t have a father growing up. He left before I was old enough to even remember him. But that absence… It left a hole in my heart. It left me always searching for something I thought I lacked. And when I met Robert, I leaned on him too heavily. I wanted him to fill that hole in my life so I followed him everywhere, did everything he wanted, afraid that if I wasn’t at his side every moment, he would vanish too, just like my father had.”

Valerie’s tears slowed, her eyes wide as she listened.

Gloria’s voice grew quieter. “And then Robert’s pride led us into battle against that ferocious beast in the dungeon...we almost died, my fear only grew stronger. Being trapped there, buried under stone, I thought my worst fear was coming true. That he would be taken from me, and I would be left behind again. But after we were rescued, some close friends of mine reminded me of something important. That I was branding Robert with the sins of my father. My father had abandoned me, not Robert. Yet I was treating him like he would.”

Valerie’s breath caught. Her sobbing stilled, replaced with a hush of awe. “So… how did you stop feeling that way?”

Gloria smiled softly, her eyes misty with old memories. “I haven’t entirely. Even after thirty-four years, sometimes that fear creeps back. But I fight it with memories, precious reminders of our relationship. I remember the kindness Robert has shown me, the ways he’s loved me faithfully, all the little things that prove he’s here to stay. That’s how I silence the lie.”

Valerie’s heart swelled as images of Aiden filled her mind. The birthday surprises, the nights he stayed up when she was sick, the silly requests he never complained about, the way he always tried, even if he stumbled. She smiled through her tears, but then her mind darkened. The dungeon. The battle in the square. The reckless fireball. The poison. Fear clawed at her chest again.

“How…how did you forgive Robert for what happened in the dungeon?” Valerie asked quietly.

Gloria exhaled, thoughtful. “At first, I was angry. I had begged him to retreat. But I tried to look at why he had done it. I realized his pride came from love, he wanted to prove he could protect me. Misguided, yes. But rooted in love. And I realized I could help guide that strength instead of resenting it.”

Valerie’s mind spun. The memory of the car crash surfaced, the desperation on Aiden’s face in her final moments. She realized with a jolt: everything Aiden did now, every reckless move, was to make sure he never felt that helpless again.

Gloria’s voice broke through her thoughts, calm but firm. “That doesn’t make him blameless. Aiden has his flaws, just as Robert did. But if you both choose to open your hearts, to speak honestly about the pain, the pride, the fear, you’ll grow stronger for it. And when you do, Heartlink magic will flow easier than you’ve ever known.”

Valerie breathed out slowly, Gloria’s words sinking deep. A warmth spread in her chest where fear had been. She smiled faintly. “When can I see him?”

A knock tapped gently at the door. Robert stepped in, nodding in greeting. “Hello, Valerie.” He shared a glance with Gloria, who rose to her feet.

“Not yet,” Gloria told her kindly. “He needs a little more time to rest. We’ll let you know when.” She moved toward the door, then paused. Turning back, she met Valerie’s gaze. “Be patient with him. When he opens up, it may be difficult for him. He’ll need your support.”

Valerie nodded softly, tears threatening again but for different reasons.

The couple left together, the door clicking shut behind them. Silence returned, but it felt lighter than before. Valerie lay staring at the ceiling, Gloria’s words echoing in her heart. She decided, then and there, that whether or not Aiden spoke first, she would tell him everything. Her fears. Her love. All of it. The thought made her cheeks warm, embarrassment fluttering in her chest. Even after all these years, he still made her feel like a lovestruck girl.

Her tears finally dried, replaced with a quiet determination. For the first time since the dungeon, she let herself breathe deeply, and the air no longer felt so heavy.