A Z R I E L (A Freenbecky Fanfiction)

CHAPTER 12

It was all a blur, Kalliste didn't know what happened. One thing she knew is that she can't let Aelia die. Not on her watch.

The car tore down the road, the usual forty-five-minute drive from the city to Ravenwood Academy sliced down to barely twenty. In the back seat, Aelia clung to Eirene, gasping for air, her body trembling from the pain radiating out of the wound on her arm—the mark left by the harpy's talons.

It was torturous watching her, but they couldn't do anything about it.

When they arrived on campus, they were greeted by the stares of curious students gathering at the sudden commotion. Kali didn't care. Her focus was solely on Aelia. She didn't even hesitate—ripping the door open and lifting the unconscious girl into her arms. Thankfully, Aelia was light.

Kali and the rest ran to the infirmary where Ms. Galena, the school healer looked up in alarm.

"What happened here?" She asked as Kali lay Bella on one of the beds.

"Her arm's injured." Blair answered. "A harpy attacked them."

"A harpy?" With that information, Ms. Galena paled. 

Without another word, she ran to the shelves, grabbing a mix of ingredients with trembling hands. She combined them swiftly, pouring the glowing liquid into a small vial and rushing back to Aelia. Supporting the girl's head gently, she parted her lips and poured it down her throat.

"That's only gonna slow down the poison from spreading, it won't stop it completely." 

Everyone froze.

"A harpy's poison is lethal," she continued. "The only known cure... is unicorn horn."
Her voice cracked. "And we don't have any."

Just then, Ms. Lim burst into the infirmary, clearly alerted by the commotion. Her sharp eyes immediately fell on Aelia's still body.

"What happened to Ms. Fireheart?" She asked.

"We were at a café in the city," Celestine began, quickly explaining. "A woman came in, looking for someone—Anwir Tyrion, I think. When he wasn't there, she lost it. Started throwing fireballs, caused a panic. Then she grew wings and claws—turned into a harpy. She grabbed someone and flew off. Me, Eirene, and Bella followed her. She attacked Bella. And then—" Celestine paused, still breathless. "A wooden stake hit the harpy in the chest and brought it down."

"Ms. Galena?" Ms. Lim turned to the healer, worry etched on her voice.

"I'm sorry Ms. Ammara, Only a unicorn horn has the power to cure a harpy's poison, You know we don't have it." She regretfully said.

"Why?" Kali's voice cut through the room like a blade.

"Why don't you have it? This is an infirmary. You're supposed to save students. Why don't you have the one thing that can help her?" Her voice rose with emotion, trembling with fury and helplessness, tears already falling.

Ms. Lim's face was grim. "Unicorns are nearly extinct. Once hunters discovered the magical properties of their horns, they slaughtered them. Sold the horns for outrageous prices. Now, they're only found in the Enchanted Forest. And even then... they're nearly impossible to find."

I'm sorry, Einar. She called out in her mind.

"What?" Kali's voice cracked. "You're all just giving up?! You're not even going to try?!"

Blair wrapped her arms around her, trying to calm her down, but Kali was inconsolable.

"Ms. Neredr-" Ms. Lim started gently.

"There's got to be another way, Ms. Lim." She cried. "please" and she begged dropping to her knees, she don't want to believe it.

Aelia has to live.

"Ms. Galena," she turned to the healer. "You're a healer. You have magic. You can save her, right?"

Galena looked heartbroken. "I wish I could. But this is beyond me. My powers can't neutralize harpy venom. I'm so sorry, child."

The room fell silent except for the quiet sound of crying.

Kali sat on the floor, broken, Blair beside her, gently rubbing her back. Eirene was in Celestine's arms, silent tears running down her cheeks as her girlfriend held her close. Ms. Lim stood in the corner, her expression dark with guilt and sorrow.

And Aelia—Aelia was slipping away.

Then, just as the last bit of hope seemed to flicker out...

A voice rang out from the doorway.

"I can."

Everyone turned.

"I can save her."

AELIA'S POV

Pain.

That's all I could feel.
An excruciating, searing pain, radiating through every inch of my body. My lungs burned. My limbs were heavy. It felt like the world was getting farther and farther away.

I didn't know where I was. Couldn't see, couldn't move.
I was scared.

Is this it? am I gonna die? I've only been training for a month. Is this what weakness costs?

I'm sorry dad. I failed you. 

You're a hero, and here I am dying because of a scratch. 

I should be ashamed.

I'm sorry, mom. I should've visited you and told you I'm sorry for leaving.

The darkness crept in slowly. It wasn't just the absence of light—it was silence. Emptiness. Cold and endless, And I feel like falling deeper and deeper into this dark abyss, were silence is deafening.

Just as I was already accepting my fate and the last bit of life in me is getting drained. I saw a bright light and heard a voice calling out to me.

"Breath, Aelia." It said. It echoed through the void like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

"It's not your time yet."

"Just breath."

"Breath!"

I felt a glimmer of hope as I feel my lungs functioning again and my heart beating.

I gasped out a huge breathe and my body jerked up.

"Bella!" I heard someone call my name as I felt arms wrapped around me. It's Kali.
"Oh my God! You're alive." I quickly placed my arm around Kali as I feel and hear her sobs.

"I'm alive."

*****
Here's a short update. Sorry for the wait, I got busy.