章 180: Star Players, Part Nine

{Lianna}

Lianna, Enverna, and Zura hurried into the dimly lit clinic where Caroline had brought Mel, their footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor.

The air was heavy with tension as they approached the bed where Mel lay, her form still and motionless under the watchful gaze of a healer.

"What happened?" Lianna's voice trembled with concern as she addressed Caroline, her eyes flickering between her injured friend and the healer attending to her.

Caroline's expression was grave as she recounted the events of their encounter with the dangerous assailant.

"We were chasing the girl down. We pinned her down at an alley and... well, I messed up," Caroline admitted. "I got hit by something I shouldn't have. Then, the girl ran up to Mel and grabbed her. She used some sort of spell then that sucked Mel's mana out of her," Caroline's words were measured, each syllable heavy with the weight of the situation.