The next morning, Eirlys seemed to feel better. My mother's healing herbs and rest had somewhat removed the pallor from her face. When she came to the area where we trained with the clan's youth, her posture was more upright.
"After what your mother told me last night, I would very much like to train with you," she said, with sincere respect in her voice. "I was raised as a warrior princess but your technique... it's unlike anything I've seen before."
"Well, well, a warrior princess," Null said, the sarcasm in her voice diminished, replaced by curiosity. "That's interesting."
"Of course," I said. "It would be an honor to work together."
We began training. Eirlys was talented. Her stance was solid, her movements sharp. But after a while, I noticed something strange. She would pause mid-sentence, her eyes seeming to catch on something that wasn't there.
"There's a fluctuation in the Edgium flow in her aura," Null's voice said, suddenly becoming serious. "Be careful, Aetron."
"Princess?" I asked gently.
She blinked, as if waking from a trance. "Forgive me, what were we saying?" Then her expression suddenly hardened. In her eyes was something cold and sharp instead of the earlier courtesy. "I don't want your pity."
The change was so sudden that for a moment I didn't know what to say.
"I'm... not pitying you," I said in surprise.
"Then don't look at me like that!" she snapped. She brought her hand to her temple. "I don't need your help—" She couldn't finish her sentence. That harsh expression in her eyes gave way to momentary confusion. "I... what did I just say?"
"There it is," Null's voice said in my mind. "Did she just... act like me?"
"It's okay," I said, trying to change the subject. "You must just be tired for a moment."
But in that moment, the expression on Eirlys's face changed again; she swayed slightly, bringing her hand to her forehead. "I... I..." she murmured, losing her balance as her eyes slowly rolled back.
I instantly lunged toward her reflexively, carefully catching her to prevent her from falling to the ground. "Mother! Mother, come quick!"
Her eyes rolled back, her body grew heavy. In my arms, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, she slowly lost consciousness. I held the light weight in my arms tightly, as if the very possibility of losing her was unacceptable. Where was this feeling coming from? I'd only just met her, but...
"And here we are... The princess you called 'just a guest' is fainting in your arms," Null's voice said in a tone mixed with pain and wonder.
"Null, this is a serious matter. She's truly ill."
"Yes, yes. Very romantic," Null replied, full of sarcasm and jealousy.
Niyara came with quick steps and began carefully examining Eirlys. "Let's carry her to the tent immediately," she said in a determined voice.
As I carried Eirlys in my arms, I noticed how light and delicate she was. She was truly sick, fragile.
"Be patient, love," I thought, my heart growing a bit heavier. "She's just a sick girl."
Null's voice softened, but underneath there was still a strange jealousy: "Yes. A sick, beautiful girl who likes you. Not dangerous at all."
Aetron sighed deeply. This was just the beginning; there was much ahead of them that needed to be resolved.