Asher was still immersed in his research when Alix entered without knocking.
"Have you found anything?"
"Not yet," he answered in an exhausted voice.
Alix crossed her arms.
"Why not just turn her? It would be simpler and faster."
Asher snapped, his voice hoarse with anger and pain:
"Enough! Why doesn't anyone understand? I want to do things right. I don't want to condemn her to immortality without her truly understanding what it means."
"By letting her suffer until she dies?" Alix retorted, exasperated. "She's agreed, Asher!"
"She doesn't know yet what it's like to watch the people you love die one after another while you… keep going."
Alix shook her head.
"Need I remind you that I'm half-vampire and half-witch. I've seen members of my family, my friends, die. Yet I'm not unhappy. It was my choice."
Asher remained silent. Alix was about to continue when there was a knock at the door. Katrina entered.
"May I?" she asked.
Asher, surprised:
"Katrina… yes, of course."
Alix discreetly left and closed the door. Once they were alone, Asher began:
"Katrina, I swear I won't do it. I'm looking for—"
"You can turn her into a vampire," Katrina interrupted in a firm voice.
Asher froze, caught off guard.
"What…?"
On the other side of the castle, in Miria's room, the situation was worsening. Miria, drenched in sweat, writhed in pain on the damp bed. Marlie and Kira were desperately trying to ease her suffering. Marlie kept changing a cool cloth on her forehead while Kira used her magic to soothe the convulsions.
"It's not working!" Marlie cried, panicked. "Her condition is getting worse! Why is Asher so stubborn about not turning her?"
Kira lowered her head, tears in her eyes.
"I wish I could do it… but the decision isn't ours. It's between Miria and Asher. We can't interfere."
Marlie dropped to her knees, lost and powerless.
The atmosphere was heavy with drama, despair, and growing tension.