The jade dust trickled between my fingers like sand through an hourss. Each grain represented a second of Isabelle''s life slipping away. My heart hammered against my ribs as panic wed at my throat.


    "This can''t be happening," I whispered, staring at the remains of the protective talisman I''d crafted for her. "The pendant should only shatter if..."


    I couldn''t finish the sentence. The implications were too terrifying to voice.


    Mariana''s face hardened as she studied the dust in my palm. "A protection talisman breaking this violently indicates immediate danger. Whatever is happening to Isabelle, it''s life-threatening."


    "I have to go to her. Now." I clutched the teleportation token she''d given me, ready to activate it immediately.


    Mariana grabbed my wrist, stopping me. "Your cultivation core is fractured, Liam. In your current state, you''d be walking into your own execution."


    "I don''t care!" I yanked my arm away, fury and fear making my voice shake. "She needs me!"


    "And what good will you be to her dead?" Mariana''s tone cut through my panic like a de. "The Ashworthpound is one of the most heavily guarded estates in Veridia City. You''d never make it past the front gate."


    I paced like a caged animal, desperate for action. Every second felt like an eternity. "So what am I supposed to do? Just let her die?"


    Mariana''s eyes narrowed with determination. "I''ll go."


    I stopped pacing. "What?"


    "I''ll go to Veridia City myself," she repeated firmly. "As Pavilion Master of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, even the Ashworths can''t deny me entry without serious political repercussions."


    Hope flickered in my chest. "You''d do that?"


    "Isabelle Ashworth paid for your membership in my guild when no one else would give you a chance," she said simply. "I owe her this much."


    I wanted to argue, to insist on going myself, but my rational mind knew she was right. In my current state, I''d be more liability than help.


    "Thank you," I managed, my voice rough with emotion.


    Mariana nodded curtly. "Stay here and focus on healing your core. I''ll send word as soon as I know anything."


    She pulled another teleportation token from her robe—identical to the one she''d given me—and activated it without hesitation. A sh of blue light enveloped her, and then she was gone, leaving me alone with my fear and shattered hopes.


    I sank to my knees, clutching the remains of the jade pendant. "Hold on, Isabelle," I whispered into the empty air. "Just hold on."


    ---


    In the Ashworth familypound, Isabelley motionless on her bed, her skin ashen and slick with sweat. Her breath came in shallow gasps, each one morebored than thest. Two maids hovered anxiously at her bedside, periodically dabbing her forehead with cool cloths.


    "Her fever''s getting worse," one whispered. "Should we call for the doctor again?"


    The other maid shook her head fearfully. "Master Corbin said no one enters without his permission. He''ll return soon with his private physician."


    The door burst open, and the maids scrambled to their feet, bowing deeply as Corbin Ashworth strode in, followed by a thin, bespectacled man carrying a leather medical bag.


    "How long has she been like this?" Corbin demanded, barely ncing at his niece.


    "Since early morning, sir," the braver of the two maids answered. "Miss Ashworthined of dizziness, then copsed during breakfast."


    Corbin turned to the physician. "Dr. Pierce, examine her thoroughly."


    The doctor approached the bed with clinical detachment. He checked Isabelle''s pulse, peeled back her eyelids, and pressed his palms against various points on her body, channeling diagnostic energy into her meridians.


    After several minutes, he straightened and adjusted his spectacles. "I can find no physical cause for her condition, sir. Her meridians are clear, her organs functioning normally. ording to all standard medical indicators, she should be perfectly healthy."


    Corbin''s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you suggesting she''s faking it?"


    "I wouldn''t rule out the possibility," Dr. Pierce replied carefully. "Youngdies of good family have been known to feign illness to avoid... undesirable situations."


    A cold smile spread across Corbin''s face as he looked down at his niece. "Like an arranged marriage, perhaps? How convenient that she falls deathly ill just weeks before her wedding."


    Even in her semi-conscious state, Isabelle could hear the contempt in her uncle''s voice. She wanted to protest, to tell them that the burning pain spreading through her body was very real, but her tongue felt like lead in her mouth.


    The door opened again, and Harrison Ashworth, Isabelle''s grandfather, entered the room. Despite his advanced age, he carried himself with rigid dignity.


    "I came as soon as I heard," he said, his voice gravelly with concern. "How is she?"


    "ording to Dr. Pierce, there''s nothing wrong with her," Corbin replied dismissively. "It seems your precious granddaughter is quite the actress."


    Harrison frowned, studying Isabelle''s pale face. "She doesn''t look well to me." He turned toward the door. "We have a visitor who might be able to help."


    A woman stepped into the room, her presence immediatelymanding attention. Tall and elegant, with prating eyes that missed nothing, Mariana Valerius moved to Isabelle''s bedside with purposeful strides.


    "Pavilion Master Valerius," Corbin acknowledged stiffly. "What brings you to our home?"


    "I sensed disturbance in a protective talisman I gifted to Miss Ashworth," Mariana lied smoothly. "I came to investigate."


    Dr. Pierce bristled at her presence. "I''ve already examined the patient thoroughly. There''s no medical cause for her symptoms."


    Mariana gave him a look that could freeze fire. "Is that so, Doctor? And your qualifications in mystical ailments are...?"


    "I trained at the Imperial Academy of Medicine for fifteen years," he retorted, offended. "I''m well-versed in both physical and spiritual diagnoses."


    Without warning, Mariana flicked her wrist. A barely visible thread of energy shot from her finger, severing Dr. Pierce''s index finger cleanly at the knuckle. The digit fell to the floor with a soft thud. <b ss="ref-a302e3">This content is presented by *.</b>


    The doctor howled in pain and shock, clutching his bleeding hand to his chest. "You—you madwoman! You cut off my finger!"


    "Did I?" Mariana said calmly. She waved her hand again, and the severed finger flew back to the doctor''s hand, reattaching itself seamlessly. "It seems perfectly intact to me."


    The color drained from Dr. Pierce''s face as he flexed his finger cautiously, finding itpletely functional. The demonstration had made her point clear—her medical skills were beyond anything he couldprehend.


    "Now," Mariana continued as if nothing unusual had urred, "would you like to revise your diagnosis, or shall I examine the patient myself?"


    Dr. Pierce stepped back hastily, clutching his hand. "By all means, Pavilion Master. Examine her."


    Mariana sat on the edge of Isabelle''s bed and ced her palm on the young woman''s forehead. Her eyes closed in concentration as she sent tendrils of diagnostic energy through Isabelle''s body.


    After a long moment, her eyes snapped open, and she looked up at Harrison Ashworth with grave concern. "This is no ordinary illness. Miss Ashworth has been targeted by a specialized spirit-draining technique. It''s slowly consuming her life force."


    "Impossible," Corbin scoffed. "Who would dare attack an Ashworth in our own home?"


    Mariana ignored him, keeping her attention on Harrison. "She needs immediate specialized treatment. Without it, she won''t survive more than a day or two."


    Harrison''s weathered face paled. "Can you help her?"


    "I can," Mariana confirmed. "But I''ll need privacy and specific resources. And time—at least several hours of uninterrupted work."


    "Done," Harrison said without hesitation. "Whatever you need, just name it."


    "Wait a moment," Corbin interjected sharply. "We can''t simply hand Isabelle over to the Celestial Apothecary Guild based on some dramatic finger trick. Dr. Pierce is our family physician, and he found nothing wrong with her."


    "Your physician," Mariana said coldly, "couldn''t diagnose a splinter in his own palm. This is a sophisticated spiritual attack that requires equally sophisticated treatment."


    Corbin stepped closer to Mariana, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "I don''t know what your real purpose is here, Pavilion Master, but let me be clear: Isabelle Ashworth is the future bride of Dashiell ckthorne. Her marriage secures a critical alliance for our family."


    "And she''ll be a very poor bride if she''s dead," Mariana replied evenly.


    The tension in the room crackled like lightning before a storm. Harrison looked between them anxiously.


    "Corbin, if the Pavilion Master can help Isabelle, we must allow it," he insisted.


    Corbin''s jaw tightened, but he recognized he was outnumbered. "Fine. But Dr. Pierce stays to observe the treatment."


    "No," Mariana said tly. "What I do requires absolute concentration. Any disturbance could prove fatal to the patient."


    "Then how do we know you won''t harm her?" Corbin demanded. "For all we know, you could be working with that criminal Liam Knight!"


    At the mention of my name, Isabelle stirred slightly, a soft whimper escaping her lips.


    Mariana''s eyes shed dangerously. "I am Pavilion Master Mariana Valerius of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. My reputation for healing exceeds even the Imperial Physicians. If I wanted to harm your niece, I wouldn''t need to sneak into your home to do it."


    Harrison ced a restraining hand on Corbin''s arm. "Enough. The Pavilion Master will treat Isabelle alone, as she requests." He turned to Mariana. "Please save my granddaughter. Whatever you need, it''s yours."


    Corbin shook off his father''s hand, his face twisted with fury. "This is a mistake. We know nothing about why the Pavilion Master has suddenly taken such interest in Isabelle."


    "My interest," Mariana said coolly, "is in preserving life. A concept you might not fully appreciate, Corbin Ashworth."


    The barb hit its mark. Corbin''s face flushed with rage. "Watch yourself, Pavilion Master. With onemand, I could ensure you never leave Veridia City."


    Harrison looked appalled. "Corbin! You forget yourself!"


    But Mariana merely smiled, the expression never reaching her eyes. "Is that a threat, Mr. Ashworth? How fascinating."


    The air between them seemed to vibrate with unspoken danger. Mariana didn''t flinch, her posture rxed yet somehow radiating lethal capability.


    Isabelle moaned again, her body trembling as another wave of pain washed through her.


    "We''re wasting precious time," Mariana said, turning her back on Corbin to focus on her patient. "Everyone out. Now."


    Harrison nodded grimly and began ushering the others toward the door. "You heard the Pavilion Master. Out, all of you."


    Dr. Pierce needed no encouragement, practically running from the room. The maids followed quickly behind him. Only Corbin remained, his eyes locked on Mariana''s back.


    "This isn''t over," he warned quietly.


    "For Isabelle''s sake," Mariana replied without turning around, "I sincerely hope you''re wrong."


    After they finally left, Mariana ced both hands on Isabelle''s forehead and closed her eyes, channeling healing energy into the young woman''s body.


    "Hold on, Isabelle," she whispered. "Liam''s waiting for you. Just hold on."