IV. The Impact of Her

~ Thirty-Four ~

Elizabeth grabbed onto the wall and spread out her shield; a desperate attempt to save the room.

As the commotion died down, Elizabeth let go and fell limp.

"Elizabeth!" I panicked as I caught her in my arms.

Elizabeth groaned as her nose bled. I pulled out my handkerchief and wiped the red liquid off her face.

"Why would you use too much of yourself?" I scolded Elizabeth.

Elizabeth coughed as she held the cloth in place. "If I didn't do that, then all of us would have perished. And this room would have exploded," she argued amidst her groans. "And besides, I've meditated for years, cultivating myself. I am well-prepared for these kinds of situations."

A loud thud came from the centre of the room. We looked and saw James, with Mother in his arms, lifeless on the cold floor.

Immediately, we rushed towards them. We shook them both in an attempt to awaken them. I wiped off any blood that dripped from their noses and mouths. Meanwhile, Elizabeth checked them for their pulses.

"Are they alive?" I asked.

Elizabeth ignored my question. Instead, she used her magic once more and conjured an orb.

I grabbed onto her arm. "Elizabeth, don't!"

"If I don't do this, they will either die or be stuck in limbo," Elizabeth argued as she shook off my hand. She created another orb and continued, "I still have enough left in me. Right now, they need this the most."

"But, Elizabeth–"

My plea was unheard once again. Elizabeth submerged each orb into James and Mother's bodies. And she continued the process until both adults gasped for air. Elizabeth stopped her magic and fell right back into my arms.

Elizabeth coughed blood onto the floor whilst she gasped for air. And all I could do was to rub her back and remove her hair from her face.

James jolted up and got on all fours as he coughed. After that, he crawled back to Mother, who was still unconscious. "Amelia," he murmured as he checked her pulse.

James finally turned to Elizabeth and I. And instantly, his eyes widened as he saw Elizabeth. "Elizabeth?" James called out to her as he crawled towards us.

Elizabeth groaned as she laid back on me.

"What happened here? Why is she in such a state?" James asked frantically.

"She shielded the entire room after the explosion. She then transferred some of her cultivation onto you and Mother," I explained. Elizabeth was still coughing.

James froze before he looked at Elizabeth. Gently, he held her hand and asked, "Why would you do that?"

"It is my duty... to protect this family... and the kingdom," Elizaeth replied, faintly.

"I never required you to use so much of yourself for your responsibilities," James' voice cracked as he clenched his jaw. Holding back his tears, he continued, "Your life means everything to me. Depleting yourself for the sake of our kingdom is not worth it."

Elizabeth let out a soft smile. "At least... I know... I did... a job well done."

James slowly his hand out and cupped Elizabeth's cheek. "In everything that you do, you always do a great job. There is no need to prove yourself to this extent," he replied.

I couldn't help but to stare at James as he worried for my sister. Emotions flowed throughout my body. There was guilt because I couldn't do anything to help. I couldn't even stop Elizabeth from doing the unthinkable.