Awakening and Revelation

Three days had passed since the intense battle at the Broken Cliffs, and the atmosphere within Akarios Base had settled into a tense calm. The Demon Lord's retreat had granted them a brief reprieve, but everyone knew it was only the calm before the next storm. Inside the medical wing, the steady beeping of monitors and the soft rustle of nurses tending to patients filled the air.

In a dimly lit room, Duchess Elinalese lay still, her face pale but peaceful, as if she were simply lost in a deep sleep. IV drips and monitors surrounded her, the rhythmic beeping providing a reassuring counterpoint to the sterile silence. Vincent sat by her bedside, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion, yet unwavering in their vigil. He hadn't left her side since that night, taking only short breaks to strategize with Marcus and review reports from the field.