Chapter 45: The Waiting is Over

"They’re ready!" Master Tridon announced, setting the twin blades down on the forge table with a thud.

Resting on the cloth was a pair of curved twin sabers. They were made from the light blue Glacial Wyvern dragon-bone, with sharp edges that glowed with a faint frosty mist.

Amber stepped forward and picked them up by the handles.

The blades were light and perfectly balanced in her hands. The grip felt natural, just like she had asked for.

"Go ahead, Lady Amber," Tridon grinned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Give them some mana!"

Amber took a breath and channeled her mana into the hilts.

As she did, a sharp hum echoed through the workshop. The blue dragon-bone lit up with bright golden and red light, acting as the perfect conductor for Amber’s mana.

Ever since she was paralyzed six months ago, Amber had lost the ability to summon her innate Crimson Valkyrie wings. But now, with her mana veins fully healed and the twin blades guiding her energy, two large wings made of golden-crimson frost energy spread out from her back, blowing a cool breeze across the room.

Amber looked down at the glowing blades, her face lighting up with a big smile.

"They feel amazing, Evren," Amber said excitedly. "The mana flows right through them without any resistance. I can finally summon my wings again."

"They belong to you now," Evren said with a smile.

—

They got back to Imperial Crest Manor around 4:30 PM.

Once they were out on the wide grass lawn of the courtyard, Amber couldn’t wait to test her wings in the air.

She channeled a light pulse of mana through the twin blades. Her golden-crimson wings flared behind her, and with a light jump, she lifted off the ground and flew into the sky.

She circled smoothly thirty feet in the air above the garden. With a quick swing of her arms, she slashed through the air, sending small arcs of frost flying before they faded into tiny snowflakes.

Up on the second-floor balcony of the East Wing, Zephyra stood watching. She held the warm mantle around her shoulders as her hands could allow, staring up at Amber in shock.

Zephyra knew who Amber was. Everyone in the Awakener world knew the famous Crimson Valkyrie had lost her legs and was dumped by her guild months ago.

Yet now, Amber was flying freely in the sky, looking stronger and healthier than ever.

’He didn’t just help her walk again,’ Zephyra thought, her chest tightening. ’He completely restored her...’

Down on the grass, Amber landed softly on her feet.

She looked up at the East Wing and saw Zephyra standing by the railing. Seeing the quiet girl all by herself, Amber put the wings away and slid the twin blades into the sheaths at her waist.

—

A few minutes later, Amber went into the kitchen.

She scooped hot chicken and ginseng soup into a ceramic bowl, placed it on a small tray with a spoon, and walked down the hallway to the East Wing.

Reaching Zephyra’s room, Amber knocked lightly on the door. "Zephyra? It’s Amber. Can I come in?"

After a short pause, a quiet voice replied from inside. "The door is open."

Amber pushed the door open and stepped in.

The room was warm and quiet. The medical droid stood in the corner in silent mode, and Zephyra was sitting on the edge of the couch, watching Amber carefully.

Amber walked over with a gentle smile and placed the tray on the low table in front of her.

"I brought you some hot chicken and ginseng soup," Amber said softly, taking a seat in the chair across from her. "It’s light on the stomach and helps soothe tired muscles."

Zephyra looked at the steaming bowl, then looked up at Amber’s clean clothes and the twin dragon-bone blades on her belt.

"Why are you doing this?" Zephyra asked in a low, raspy voice. "I’m just a stranger from the slave pits... why bring me food?"

Amber looked at her with soft, understanding eyes.

Instead of answering right away, Amber reached down and pulled the fabric of her pants up past her knees.

Along both sides of Amber’s legs were long, pale scars left behind from when her mana veins and nerves were crushed.

Zephyra stared at the scars, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Six months ago, I couldn’t even stand up," Amber said in a calm voice. "My family told me I was useless and threw me away to avoid paying my medical bills. They signed papers to get rid of me and dumped me in a hotel suite like trash. I couldn’t even get out of bed to get a glass of water."

Amber leaned forward slightly, looking straight into Zephyra’s eyes.

"When Evren took me in, I thought he would get tired of taking care of a cripple after a few days," Amber continued. "But he never gave up on me. Not once."

Amber pushed the warm bowl a little closer to her.

"You don’t have to be afraid here, Zephyra. No one in this house is going to hurt you or throw you away."

Zephyra’s throat felt tight. A warm tear ran down her cheek, landing on her sleeve.

For four months in the underground cells, people had only treated her like an object to be beaten or sold. Having someone sit down, show their own scars, and offer genuine warmth hit her right in the heart.

Her fingers were still stiff and weak from the necrosis, but without the proud shame that had held her back earlier, Zephyra reached out.

Using both of her trembling hands to steady the porcelain spoon, she lifted a small sip of the warm broth to her lips.

The heat spread through her chest, making her whole body feel relaxed.

"Thank you... Amber," Zephyra whispered quietly.

Amber smiled back and gave her a small nod.

—

Out on the terrace of the main house, Evren was leaning against the stone railing, watching the evening sky when suddenly, the ground shook hard under his feet.

The glass doors rattled, and the stone floor vibrated.

Far across the city, the sky above Sector 4 turned a dark, toxic purple. A giant crack tore open in the air, and city emergency sirens started blaring loudly in the distance.

Right then, a bright golden screen flashed in front of Evren’s eyes:

[DING!]

[SECTOR 4 S-RANK SHADOW RIFT: ACTIVATED / BREACHED!]

[EMERGENCY QUEST: ZEPHYRA NIGHTSHADE — STAGE 1 PURIFICATION (1/4)]

[DIAGNOSIS: Grade-5 Shadow Necrosis (Vein Calcification)]

[REQUIRED ITEM: 1x S-Rank Abyssal Shadow-Lotus]

[LOCATION: Sector 4 Shadow Rift (Depth 55)]

[TIME LIMIT: 6 Hours before Rift collapse]

[COMPLETION REWARD: Stage 1 Alchemical Purification Formula + 1x S-Rank Sovereign Reward Spin]

Evren stared at the floating screen with a smirk.

The waiting was over.