As Isolde worked to heal Mixarnt, Sunshine stood nearby, her arms crossed and her eyes flickering with worry. She couldn't shake the image of Mixarnt lying broken and bloodied on the ground, his body pushed to the brink of death. Her heart ached with a mix of emotions—anger at his recklessness, fear for his life, and a deep, unspoken affection she had tried to ignore for so long.
Eclipse, who had arrived shortly after Sunshine, stood at the edge of the camp, her Lunar Eyes filled with guilt and regret. She had watched the entire fight from the viewing box, her heart breaking as she saw Mixarnt sacrifice himself for the sake of his team. She knew she had played a part in pushing him to this point, and the weight of her actions was almost too much to bear.
As Sunshine exits the tent, she noticed Eclipse standing there and walked over, her expression hard. "This is your fault," she said, her voice low but filled with accusation. "If you hadn't pushed him away, he wouldn't have been so reckless."
Eclipse didn't respond. She knew Sunshine was right. She had let her jealousy and pride get in the way, and now Mixarnt was paying the price. "I'll make it right," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise."
Sunshine sighed, her anger fading slightly. "You'd better. Because if anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you."
As the two women stood there, their shared concern for Mixarnt bridging the gap between them, Isolde finally stepped out of the tent. "He's stable," she said, her voice calm but tired. "His arms and legs will take time to fully heal, but he'll live."
Sunshine and Eclipse both let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding. For now, Mixarnt was safe. And as the sun set over the Eternal Forest, the two women vowed to stand by his side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
A few hours earlier, during the 4th Trial, the audience in the colosseum was filled with tension and worry. Mika, Alyssia, and Elyssia sat together, their eyes glued to the magical screen displaying Mixarnt's battle. Alyssia, in particular, was deeply traumatized by the sight of Mixarnt getting hurt so badly. She covered her face with her hands, unable to watch any longer. Elyssia, though equally worried, stayed strong for her younger sister, comforting her while keeping her own eyes on the screen.
Mika, sitting beside them, clenched her fists in frustration. "This isn't like him," she muttered. "Mixarnt isn't reckless. He's always so careful and calculated in his fights. Something's wrong."
Elyssia nodded in agreement, her voice steady but filled with concern. "You're right. He's not smiling at all. It's like... he's hurting inside. This isn't how he usually fights."
The two women exchanged worried glances, both wondering what could have caused Mixarnt to act so recklessly. They had never seen him like this before, and it was clear that something was deeply wrong.
Back at the plaza, Kara, Nessa, Poppy, Jena, and Misa were also watching the trial with growing concern. "Guild Master! Elara! That's not how Mixarnt fights!" Kara exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "We've seen him in action before. He's not reckless! What's wrong with him? Why is he acting like this!?"
Orion, the guild master, shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know, Kara. He seemed fine yesterday. Something must have happened."
Elara, standing nearby, sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, girls. We have no idea what's going on. He was cheerful yesterday when he asked Moon to have dinner. I wonder if she's part of the reason he's acting like this."
The girls exchanged worried glances, their hearts heavy with concern for their friend. They had always admired Mixarnt's strength and determination but seeing him so reckless and self-destructive was heartbreaking.
After a few days, Mixarnt finally woke up in the medical wing of the royal palace. His arms and legs had been healed by Isolde's powerful magic, but the pain still lingered. He groaned as he tried to sit up, his body aching from the ordeal. "Agh... hurts," he muttered, his voice weak. "I was so reckless..."
"Yes, you were," a stern voice replied. Mixarnt froze, turning his head to see Elyssia sitting beside his bed. Her icy blue eyes were filled with a mix of relief and anger, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at him. "You idiot! Did you forget your promise!? How can you fulfill it if you're already dead!?"
Mixarnt's heart sank as he saw the pain in Elyssia's eyes. Behind her, on the sofa, Alyssia was sleeping, tear marks staining her cheeks. The sight of the two princesses, both so worried for him, filled Mixarnt with guilt. He had been so consumed by his own heartbreak that he had forgotten about the people who cared for him.
"I'm sorry..." Mixarnt said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I promised not to be reckless again..." He looked down, ashamed of his actions. His broken heart had clouded his judgment, and he had put himself and his team in danger because of it.
Elyssia's expression softened, and she reached out to gently touch his hand. "You scared us, Mixarnt. Alyssia couldn't even watch the trial after seeing you get hurt. And Mika... she's been worried sick. You can't keep doing this to yourself."
Mixarnt nodded, his eyes filled with regret. "I know... I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again."
Elyssia sighed, wiping away her tears and embracing him. "You'd better not. Because if you do, I'll freeze you solid myself."
Mixarnt managed a weak smile, the first genuine one in days. "I'll keep that in mind."
As Mixarnt began his recovery, he was visited by many of his friends and allies. All came to check on him, their relief evident as they saw him awake and recovering. Even Sunshine and Eclipse stopped by, though their visits were brief and filled with unspoken tension.
Mixarnt knew he had a lot to make up for. His reckless actions had hurt not only himself but also the people who cared about him. But with their support, he was determined to get back on his feet and fulfill the promises he had made.
As he lay in bed, surrounded by the people who mattered most to him, Mixarnt realized something important: no matter how much his heart ached, he wasn't alone. And as long as he had his friends by his side, he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.