CHAPTER NINE — Between Life and Death

The forest was silent.
Elen held Ivan’s body tightly, her tears dripping onto his pale cheeks. Her breath trembled with fear and hope.
Then—
His fingers twitched again.
Barely. Weakly. But undeniably alive.
Ivan’s eyelids fluttered open.
Elen gasped, voice breaking.
“Ivan… you’re awake…”
He blinked slowly, confused and dazed.
“…Elen…? What… happened?”
She hugged him desperately, burying her face in his chest.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re alive. That’s all that matters.”
But Ivan’s body was limp—unable to move. His chest burned with pain, every breath shallow and strained.
He tried to sit up—and nearly collapsed.
His voice was faint.
“My body… I can’t move… I feel healed, but… empty.”
A cold voice echoed behind them.
“Because his body is only barely stabilized.”
Elen froze.
Standing on the shattered earth— Eiden, Adrien, and Elara watched in stunned silence.

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Eiden stepped forward slowly, eyes fixed on Ivan’s wounds.
“A slash like that should have killed him instantly. The fact that his heart is still beating… is a miracle.”
Elen’s voice was sharp, trembling.
“Don’t you dare touch him.”
Eiden raised his hands calmly.
“Listen, Elen. His organs are damaged. His body is failing.”
She shook her head fiercely.
“No. No, he’ll recover. He has to—”
Eiden’s voice lowered.
“Not without help.”
Silence.
Then he continued:
“There is one thing—one medicine in the Upper World—that can heal him completely. A legendary elixir.”
Elen’s breath caught.
Hope. Fear. Pain.
All at once.
“Then… give it to him.”
Eiden’s expression darkened.
“I will. But only under one condition.”
Elen’s voice cracked.
“…What condition?”
Eiden met her eyes with quiet finality.
“You come with us.”
The forest fell silent.
Adrien looked away. Elara lowered her head in sympathy.
Eiden continued:
“If you remain here, higher demons will come. Stronger than the one you fought. Dozens. Hundreds. Ivan won’t survive the next attack.”
Elen trembled violently.
Eiden’s tone softened—not cruel, but heavy with reality.
“You live far longer than humans. If you stay with him here… he will die sooner or later.”
Her eyes widened in horror.
He finished quietly:
“If you love him… you must think of his future too.”
Elen stared at Ivan—broken, vulnerable, alive only by a thread.
Her heart shattered.