Lyra dropped to her knees suddenly.
Her body rejecting the divine energy overload.
Kael caught her.
"You're still here," he said softly.
Her voice trembled:
"I can't feel him."
Meaning the stranger.
Rylan swallowed.
Neither could he.
But he refused to say it.
Lyra whispered:
"I felt him disappear."
Kael answered gently:
"Then we find a way to bring him back."
Lyra shook her head.
"Even gods can't revive the truly gone."
That was the first time she called herself something like that.
Rylan grabbed her hand.
"Then be something better than a god."
That sentence stayed with her.
Suddenly…
A tiny spark of dark energy pulsed in the stranger's chest.
The spark came from his forbidden pact.
But it was fading.
Fast.
Lyra immediately understood.
"Something is trying to claim him."
The stranger's contract entity.
Kael asked:
"Can you stop it?"
Lyra answered honestly:
"Yes."
Pause.
"But it may cost me my god state."
Rylan didn't hesitate:
"Do it."
Kael nodded.
"Power isn't worth losing him."
Lyra made her decision instantly.
Without hesitation.
She placed her hand over his heart.
She transferred balance energy directly into him.
Her aura shrank.
Her divine form weakened.
But his chest rose again.
Breath returned.
Barely.
His eyes opened slightly.
And he whispered her name.
The stranger slowly regained consciousness.
Weak.
But alive.
Lyra almost collapsed from relief.
"You idiot," she whispered softly.
He gave a faint smile.
"I had it handled."
Rylan laughed in disbelief.
"You literally died."
Kael added:
"Try not to make that a habit."
The emotional tension broke slightly.
Lyra rested her forehead against his.
"I thought I lost you."
His answer:
"You didn't."
Simple.
Powerful.
Enough.
But Seraph wasn't finished.
He attacked again while they were vulnerable.
This time Lyra fought without her full god power.