"You're kidding, right?"

"No, I do not kid."

I looked unsurely between the muddy liquid and the stony-faced healer, "What even is this?"

"It is made of lillius herbs and sverus-"

Holding a hand up, I pinched the bridge of my nose after, shaking my head, "Don't tell me. I won't know."

"It'll restore your power. Drink."

Oxford walked in the room, poking his head in, "That's made of the lilies of Avillion, it has a special healing power for Valiants whose powers have been drained."

I pulled a disgusted expression and held out the cup full of mucky liquid to him, "Have you smelt this thing? It's bloody disgusting."

His face contorted into a grimace, "Trust me, I've had experience. I'd rather not repeat it."

"Ugh," I muttered as I brought the cup to my lips, "Pray I won't retch soon after."

Draining every last drop from the cup proved to be the hardest thing I've ever done. It tasted horrible, just like it's appearance, if not even worse. The healer took the cup away from me and handed me some water, which I gladly downed, trying to rinse the revolting taste from my mouth.

Although, I guess it did work. My previously limp fingers regained some strength, and my bones no longer felt like deadweight. Heaving a sigh of relief, I placed the cup of water on the table beside the creaky wooden bed. I felt like passing out from exhaustion, but Oxford wouldn't let me.

"Hey, Avery, don't sleep. You have to fight off the aftereffects."

My eyelids were getting heavier, a wave of calmness and tranquility rippling through me, lulling me to sleep.

"W-what happens if I," I paused to yawn, "What happens if I sleep?"

"You might not wake up for a long time."

That shook me up a little. I can't slip into a coma. "How long is a long time?"

"16-18 hours."

I laughed. "Pfft. It's just 16 hours. It just means I'd be well rested."

"Well, I wouldn't know," Oxford replied, dragging a chair for him to sit in, "I've never slept a minute over four hours."

I looked at him incredulously. "Never?"

He shook his head. "Never."

"That explains the dark circles."

My giggling felt foreign. "When I met him in the Alvere palace, I knew he was unpleasant. Such a douche. Well, um, if I may, I think I'm pretty good at reading people."

"Oh," Ford blinked profusely, "you are?"

Giggling again, I sighed, "It comes with the job. You try to tell if the client would be easy to manage or not, if they'll be worth the trouble or just let them get to another agency."

"Who on Valiron are we talking about?" I ignored him.

"From the very first time I met Zev, he was just... Cold."

There wasn't even a gust of wind, but I shivered, imagining the Azurelle lord's stony blue eyes behind my half-shut eyelids, "Zevlin isn't a bad person. He just learns how to hide his emotions well. I've seen him around people, you know. No amusement in his eyes, no spark, nothing. As if he's hiding every single part of him from everyone he meets. But sometimes, I see a-a sliver of emotion pass through his eyes. Sometimes..."

Not able to hold off the exhaustion anymore, I closed my eyes, and my body felt relieved. I could hear Oxford's heavy breaths joined with a new one, along with soft footsteps.

"Ford, don't you have a class to get to?"

Zevlin. His voice was faint, as if I was hearing him from another behind a closed door.

"Yes, yes. Someone has to stay with Avery to make sure she wakes up," Ford sounded hesitant, "Maybe you should call one of the twins or Lana."

"I'll stay."

"Lord Zevlin, frankly, you're not the best companion for Lady Avery."

Zevlin sighed, "It'll be fine. She's asleep anyways, right?"

Am I? My body was heavy, I could hear my own heavy breaths. My chest heaving steadily.

Oxford left the room and I heard the steady rhythm of Zevlin's breathing. In and out, in and out, in and out. A never ending cycle. Then I felt a warm hand tucking my hair behind my ear. He sighed and I heard the chair creaking under his weight.

"Alveriana Lei-Larkos Val Helions," He muttered, "What a wonderful storm of a woman you are."

"I know you can hear me, and you're probably fuming," Zev said, sounding amused, a hint of laughter teasing at his lips.

"You're... refreshing. I've never had anyone tell me anything about myself."

He sucked in a breath. I could hear his heart, and his attempts to steady it.

"When you asked me to train you, I didn't know what to say. I never expected you to be so gutsy. I do hope you forgive me for pushing you to your limit out there in the field. You have a long way to go but I must say you're full of surprises."

Zevlin paused again. I could sense his hesitance, the way he was controlling his tone, choosing his words. A well trained lord, raised a noble, is having difficulty talking to an unconscious woman.

"That armour suits you really well, and so does its name. I hope you listen carefully to what I have to say."

I could feel my heart skip a beat, my breathing hitched for a moment and my finger twitching.

"Valiron isn't what it seems. Heildam has started to worm his way into the outermost layer of our world, breaking in slowly, making his way to our core. So whatever you do, I hope you don't back out."