The medicine was failing.
Marron could feel it the way you feel ice melting in your hands—the cold barrier in her chest thinning, warming, giving way to something that wanted to burn through. The Blade's call was getting louder with every step, and beneath it, like a bassline she couldn't ignore, the Slicer's answer.
Closer. So close. Almost there.
She'd been walking for twelve hours. The Thornwood pressed close on all sides, branches scraping against the food cart's canvas covering. Her legs were shaking. Her vision blurred at the edges. But stopping meant thinking, and thinking meant feeling the joy creep closer.
Aldric walked beside her, checking his pocket watch for the dozenth time. "The medicine—how much longer do you think—"
"Hours." Marron's voice was hoarse. "Maybe less."
The System flickered in her vision, numbers she didn't want to see:
[CRITICAL ALERT]
Moonlight Medicine Efficacy: 18%
Estimated Duration: 2-4 hours
Blade Resonance: 79% and rising
