"Are you alright?" Vardy asked, rushing to Elyra as she stumbled slightly, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Elyra clutched her chest, shaking her head weakly. "I... I'm losing breath due to the chains I was locked in," she sobbed, her shoulders trembling as though the mere memory of captivity was enough to drain her strength.
Vardy's expression softened. He reached out, steadying her with a firm grip. "Don't worry, you'll be fine," he assured her, his voice gentle.
Elyra nodded, sniffing dramatically, leaning into his support just enough to make her seem fragile but not weak. "Thank you," she murmured. "You don't know what this means to me."
Ferah, standing nearby, watched with narrowed eyes, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her fingers tapped against the hilt of her blade, suspicion clear in her gaze.
Selene, leaning against a rock, scoffed. "I don't trust her."
