Chapter 13. No More Escape

“Yawn!” I stretched, patting my mouth, eyes still half-closed. Throwing off the blanket, I shuffled out of bed, lazily heading to the washroom.

“Achoo!” I rubbed my nose, wondering if someone was talking about me.

Suddenly, Wei’s goofy grin and drawn-out “I missed you” flashed in my mind, making me shudder. I splashed water on my face to snap out of it.

“Phew!” So sluggish… something’s got me all restless. I stared at the basin, smacking the water to break up my mopey reflection, then headed out.

“Slept like a rock,” I muttered, glancing at Mira, snoozing peacefully on the bed. With her here, Bear had to move to another room. I hadn’t seen him much lately—he came back late, when I was already asleep.

I stretched my arms, feeling a bit perkier. Stepping onto the balcony, the early morning air was cool. I loved this vibe—the sun not fully up, everything quiet, a gentle breeze lifting my mood.

“Ow!” I rubbed my temples as a headache struck.

Since that day, I must’ve used my divine gift. I don’t remember it, but these sudden headaches and aches started popping up.

They’d only been mild a few times over the past two months, but lately, they’re hitting harder. Guess it’s almost time…

I’ve got a ton on my plate, but thinking about it makes my head throb—listing it all would fill a page. Yesterday, I meant to sort things out, but after eating, I forgot everything, slept like a log till evening, ate again, and crashed till now. Since coming here, I’ve been sleeping way more, sometimes half the day.

“Ugh, keep this up, and I’ll turn into a pig beastfolk,” I sighed, exasperated.

Right, what kind of beastfolk will I become? Almost three months in the beast realm—won’t be long before I transform. Whatever it is, fine, as long as it doesn’t ruin my appetite.

I stood there a bit longer, breathing in the morning air, then turned back inside.

But as I stepped through the door, a sharp pain stabbed my temple, like a needle piercing deep. I froze, vision darkening, the room warping around me. The balcony breeze turned into a roaring hum, drowning out all sound. I grabbed the doorframe, but the pain spread, like fire racing down my spine to my feet. Each step felt like dragging stones.

“Ugh…”

I bit my lip, stifling a groan, but my head spun, the room blurring into patches of light and shadow. My heart pounded, cold sweat beading on my forehead, dripping down my cheeks. I braced against the wall, nails scraping paint, but my trembling hands gave out. My knees buckled, slowly, as if my body wasn’t mine anymore.

“Ami!”

A familiar voice cut through the fog in my head, urgent. I looked up, vision hazy, catching Wei’s figure, his eyes strange—worried, yet heavy with something unspoken.

“Why… are you here, Wei?” I mumbled, voice frail, like it came from another world.

My vision sank into darkness, eyelids too heavy to hold open. The last thing I saw was Wei’s puzzling gaze, like a riddle I’d never solved. Had I seen that look before?

“Ami! Ami!”

Wei called softly, patting her cheeks. Seeing her still, he slumped, collapsing onto the floor, head tilted back with a heavy sigh.

“Ami…” he muttered, eyes distant, lost in some far-off memory. He stayed like that, fingers unconsciously gripping his shirt. Looking down at Ami, her faint, steady breaths stirred a restless ache in him. He hugged her tightly, whispering, “What’s the right thing to do, Ami?”

——

“Ugh!” I clutched my head, a dull throb crawling from my temple to my neck, making me wince.

I sat up slowly, eyelids heavy, like I’d slept for a century.

“Huh?” I blinked groggily, the room hazy, my mind still foggy.

“Ami, you’re up,” Mira’s voice chimed, clear, holding a gleaming jewelry box.

I forced a smile, but my lips barely moved, exhaustion clinging to me.

Looking around, maids bustled about, pausing to bow neatly when they saw me awake.

“Morning,” I said, trying to sound cheery, but my throat was dry, my smile lopsided.

Weird—I woke up early, stood on the balcony, so why am I here, like I passed out? I tapped my head, each touch stirring the dull ache, like distant drums in my skull.

My hand touched my chin, pondering, trying to piece together memories.

“Wei!”

I gasped, a flash of his strange, heavy gaze from this morning hitting me. But after that… nothing.

“Ugh, my brain’s such a mess lately,” I mumbled, voice fading, as if speaking louder would spark the pain again.

“Breakfast, sis?” Mira asked, standing by the table, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

I nodded, dragging myself over, each step like hauling a boulder. The ache spread from my back to my legs, like my body was protesting every move.

“Aethel dropped off the guest list earlier, said Orson wanted you to know. Wanna hear it?” Mira held a thin sheet, her voice gentle but curious.

“Sure!” I said, trying to sit up straight, though my head buzzed. Telling me now—what can I even do?

Mira read, voice clear. “Besides our Caelan Alliance, there are three main guests: Beast King Tiger, the Zephyr Legion Leader, and the Thalassian Bloc Leader. Each brings a companion and key figures from their groups.”

I grabbed a grape, popping it in my mouth, then froze.

Those names hit like a punch, making me swallow hard, choking.

“Zephyr? Thalassian? The Winged and Fish tribes?” I asked, voice pitching up, eyes wide.

Mira nodded, lips curling slightly, waiting for my reaction.

Holy crap, unbelievable! Lion invited both the Winged and Fish tribes at once? Is he joking? Not afraid they’ll wreck the palace?

A headache surged, like a hammer to my forehead, making me cough, eyes watering.

Mira rushed over, patting my back gently.

“You okay?” I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and forced a laugh.

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“Fine, haha, sorry for the trouble.”

But inside, my chest felt heavy, like the pain wasn’t just in my head but squeezing my heart.

The Winged and Fish tribes sound like they’d mind their own business, but everyone knows their feud is massive.

Caelora’s research says it didn’t start when they were celestials—it flared after their beast transformations, like their animal instincts naturally clash. Unlike the general beastfolk-celestial tension, these beastfolk from the celestial realm, like them, are usually less hostile than purebreds.

Hmm… maybe that’s why inviting both isn’t a big deal? I rubbed my temples, trying to shake the lingering ache, but my head spun.

Tonight’s feast… will it go smoothly? Or just pile on more trouble.

Normally, I’d be buzzing with excitement, eyes sparkling, ears perked, eager to gossip about juicy stuff like the Winged and Fish tribes glaring at each other across a feast table.

But now, the throbbing pain hammered my head, sapping every ounce of enthusiasm. Each time I tried to think deeper, my mind spun, as if the world was tilting.

I bit my lip, fingers digging into the table’s edge, trying to stay sharp, but exhaustion was swallowing me bit by bit.

“Ami! Are you listening?”

Mira’s urgent voice snapped me out of my haze. She gently shook my shoulder, trying to grab my attention.

I looked up, eyelids heavy as lead, voice weak.

“Yeah… what’s up…”

But before I could finish, a searing pain surged, like a sledgehammer slamming my chest. My body swayed, hands gripping the table, nails scraping wood, desperate to stay upright.

But it was useless—my legs trembled, as if my bones were slowly freezing, stiffening, joints creaking like rotten wood snapping.

“Ami! What’s wrong? Ami!” Mira’s voice rang out, now close, now distant, like an echo from another realm.

Damn it, Ami, what’s wrong with you? Snap out of it! I scolded myself, pressing my hand hard against my forehead, trying not to collapse.

But the pain didn’t relent—it spread, no longer a burning fire but a chilling frost seeping into my bones, locking every joint.

“Crack… crack…”

I heard a sickening sound, like my own bones splintering, tiny fragments grinding inside me. Each heartbeat fueled the pain, like a dull blade sawing through flesh.

I bit my lip harder, blood’s metallic taste flooding my mouth, but a faint groan escaped my throat.

My body slumped onto the table, cheek smacking the cold wood, yet I could still sense everything—the maids’ frantic footsteps, their panicked whispers, the dim light filtering through the window.

But my body wouldn’t obey, like a statue frozen solid, only my wide-open eyes staring blankly, unable to blink.

Mira shouted something, voice breaking, then bolted, probably to get Orson. Before leaving, she barked orders at a maid, voice rushed. The maids crowded around, dresses rustling, but none dared touch me, hovering nervously, as if afraid I’d shatter.

Ugh, causing trouble for everyone again. You’re a real mess, Ami, I thought, but even that faded, swallowed by the pain.

“Crack… crack…”

The sound of fracturing bones echoed clearly, like my body was crumbling from within. The pain flared, thousands of needles piercing my marrow, making me want to scream, but my throat only let out a weak whimper. My mind fogged, like being dragged into a black hole, yet my eyes stayed open, staring, seeing the maids’ blurry figures like ghosts in mist.

Then, everything sank—I lost awareness, though my eyes remained open, as if my soul had left, leaving an empty shell.

——

Thud!

Mira burst into the room, footsteps pounding the wooden floor.

Her breathing was ragged, face pale, eyes wide with panic. She pointed toward Ami’s room, voice breaking, each word dragged from a tightening chest.

“Quick… Ami… something’s wrong!”

Before her stood Bear, Eagle, and Hyena, papers scattered on a table, as if they’d been discussing something serious.

At Ami’s name, Bear froze, his sharp gaze turning to alarm. Without a word, he bolted, feet moving so fast his cloak flared like wings.

Eagle and Hyena paused, exchanging a glance, then rushed after, pulling Mira along, who trembled.

“Calm down, Mira!” Hyena said, trying to sound steady, but his voice wavered with tension.

“Ami, please, please don’t leave me…,” Bear muttered, voice a desperate whisper, like a prayer.

His face paled, sweat beading on his forehead, eyes locked ahead as he raced down the hall. His boots echoed on the stone floor, mingling with his pounding heartbeat. At Ami’s door, a maid stood, face ashen, lips trembling but unable to speak.

“My lord, Ami, she… she…” She tried, voice quaking, hands clutching her skirt, as if her words could worsen things.

Bear pushed past, not waiting, shoving the door open.

The sight stopped him cold, like time itself froze.

Ami lay slumped over the table, cheek pressed against the wood, head tilted toward the door.

She was still, unmoving, like a statue abandoned in a storm. Her eyes were half-open, pupils dull and gray, lifeless, as if her soul had fled, leaving only a hollow shell.

“Ami!”

Bear rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside her, hands trembling as they touched her shoulder, trying to rouse her.

He patted her cheek, but her skin was icy, like touching frost, numbing his fingers and squeezing his heart.

“Ami, wake up!” His voice broke, almost a shout, echoing in the silent room, blending with the maids’ rustling dresses behind him. They didn’t dare approach, exchanging panicked glances, hands clutching each other.

Ami stayed silent, unresponsive, eyes staring through Bear into a void.

He pressed his fingers to her wrist, trembling, feeling for a pulse.

Cold as death.

One second, two… he held his breath, eyes wide, frantic.

“No pulse?”

His voice cracked, as if the world crumbled beneath him.

“Impossible!”

Bear stiffened, sweat streaming down his face, eyes scanning Ami’s still form for any sign of life. His grip tightened on her wrist, as if he could force a heartbeat back. His mind raced, scrambling for any knowledge, any way to save her, but her gray, lifeless eyes, cold as stone, screamed she was teetering on the edge of life and death.

Mira ran in, followed by Eagle and Hyena.

She stopped at the door, clutching her chest, eyes red, voice choked.

“Ami… what’s wrong with her?”

Eagle stepped forward, hand on Mira’s shoulder, trying to stay calm.

“Orson, how is she?”

But his eyes glinted with worry, betraying his tension. Hyena stood back, hand gripping his sword hilt, gaze flicking from Ami to Bear, waiting for an answer.

Bear didn’t respond, leaning closer, gently lifting Ami’s head, her skin still freezing, as if life was draining away.

The maids lingered, dresses rustling, exchanging fearful looks, too scared to approach, as if touching her would break something fragile.

At that moment, a fierce gust tore through the window, flooding the room, sending curtains flapping wildly, papers scattering from the table, and objects rattling as if stirred by an invisible hand.

The already tense air grew chaotic, maids flinching, one letting out a small cry, hands clutching each other.

Mira stepped back, eyes wide, as if the wind carried an ominous warning.

“She’s still alive—step back,” a calm, steady voice cut through the chaos.

Wei stood behind Bear, unnoticed until now, cloaked in shadow, face hidden except for his sharp, cold eyes.

Bear spun around, gaze piercing with suspicion, as if trying to unravel Wei’s intent. But in a split second, he stepped aside, instinct warning that hesitation could cost Ami forever.

Wei knelt, one leg braced, pulling a small vial from his cloak, its cap clicking open.

A pungent, sharp herbal scent filled the air, carried by the wind, making Bear instinctively cover his nose, eyes stinging.

Thud! Thud!

Noises echoed as Bear turned, stunned to see Mira, Eagle, Hyena, and the maids collapse one by one, eyes closed, as if the scent had knocked them out.

His mind reeled with doubt, eyes locked on Wei, who tilted the vial toward Ami’s mouth.

“What are you doing?” Bear shouted, lunging, grabbing Wei’s arm like a vice, eyes blazing with distrust.

Wei struggled, but Bear’s grip was iron, unyielding.

“Let go! There’s no time!” Wei snapped, voice sharp, eyes flashing with resolve.

As they grappled, a sudden sound pierced the air, like wind whistling through a crevice.

“Hhh!” Ami gasped, a deep, desperate breath, as if swallowing the air itself.

“Ami?” Bear and Wei said in unison, eyes wide, freezing mid-struggle, hands still locked.

Ami stirred, breaths raspy and urgent, shoulders jerking, then leaning as she coughed violently.

“Cough, cough! What… the hell…” She pounded her chest, voice faint and broken. One eye was shut tight, unable to open, the other blurry, barely seeing.

After a few seconds, Ami steadied her breathing, each inhale now even, strong.

She looked up, eyes bright, no trace of haze or strain. Her face flushed with color, as if the excruciating pain—the sickening “crack” of bones in her mind, the icy chill of her skin—had never happened.

She glanced around, brows furrowing as the wind calmed, curtains swaying gently.

“Why’s there a storm inside?” she mumbled, voice clear, brimming with life, like she’d just woken from a good nap.

Then she turned, “Whoa!” she yelped, eyes wide with mischief, spotting Wei and Bear staring, hands gripped in an awkward tussle, like they were wrestling.

“What’re you two doing?” She tilted her head, squinting, gaze flicking between them, one hand on her hip, radiating her usual playfulness.

Wei flinched, yanking his hand free, shoving Bear with a thump, stumbling back, nearly tripping over a chair.

“N-No, it’s not what you think, Ami!”

He waved his hands frantically, voice rushed, face red, like he’d been caught doing something shady.

Ami eyed him, lips curling, her look half-teasing, half-suspicious, as if daring him to spill.

Bear, meanwhile, sat still, eyes never leaving her, deep and calm but shimmering with unspoken awe. He slowly reached out, touching her cheek, making her jump and turn, brows knitting.

“What’s up?” she asked, voice light, puzzled by his stunned expression. His fingers paused on her cheek, feeling vibrant warmth, a stark contrast to the icy cold from moments ago that had numbed his hand.

Bear didn’t answer, just stared, eyes trembling, as if confirming she was truly back, unharmed.

Seeing him frozen, she opened her mouth to question, but her gaze darted to the corner, and she gasped, shocked.

“Mira? Aethel? Hyainos… the maids too… What’s going on?”

Her voice pitched high, bewildered, like she’d stumbled into a bizarre prank.

On the floor, Mira lay slumped, hand on her waist, beside Eagle, Hyena, and the scattered maids, dresses disheveled, as if felled by an unseen force.

Ami sprang up, moving nimbly, no hint of weakness. She knelt by Mira, touching her shoulder, voice anxious.

“Mira, wake up!” But Mira didn’t stir, breathing steadily, lost in deep sleep.

Ami spun around, eyes blazing but panicked, scanning Wei and Bear for answers.

Wei stood slowly, brushing off his clothes, approaching her calmly.

“Don’t worry, they’re just sleeping. They’ll wake soon.” Ami relaxed slightly, gently setting Mira down and standing. Then she whirled, glaring at Wei, demanding an explanation.

Wei looked away, scratching his head awkwardly.

Ami’s gaze flicked from Bear to Wei, gesturing for him to step outside. Wei nodded, heading out first.

“I’m stepping out. Keep an eye on them,” she told Bear, then left. Bear watched silently, his gaze thoughtful, no response.