BENEATH THE GLOW OF HEALING

The intensity of the glow intensified, bathing the room in its radiant luminescence, a beacon of hope amidst the surrounding despair. For a moment, the chaos of Agatha's infirmary faded into the background as I focused all of my energy on the task at hand, channeling the power within me with unwavering determination.

As the glow began to fade, I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, my heart pounding in my chest with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. The patient lay before me, his labored breathing steadying into a calm rhythm, a faint glimmer of color returning to his pallid cheeks. It was a small victory in the midst of overwhelming darkness, but it filled me with a sense of hope and purpose that I desperately needed in that moment.

My reverie was abruptly shattered by the sound of the infirmary door swinging open, drawing my attention away from the patient lying before me. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see Dr. Volkov striding into the room, his expression a mix of concern and relief. Behind him, Adam followed, his presence a reassuring anchor in the midst of chaos.

Before I could process their arrival, Adam surged forward, enveloping me in a tight hug. "Liv, I'm so glad you're okay," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Jess told us what happened."

My gaze remained fixed on Dr. Volkov, and I couldn't help but notice the way his jaw clenched tightly at Adam's words. His expression was inscrutable, a mask of calm authority that barely concealed the undercurrent of tension beneath the surface.

Adam released me from his embrace, and I took a step back, my eyes flickering between him and Dr. Volkov. "Thank you, Adam," I said softly, my voice tinged with gratitude. "I'm okay."

As Adam moved to stand beside Dr. Volkov, I felt a sense of unease settle over me. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

"What's the situation here?" Dr. Volkov's eyes shifted to Sarah, his voice sharp and authoritative as he surveyed the scene before him.

Sarah stepped forward, her gaze meeting Dr. Volkov's with a mix of relief and apprehension. "We're overwhelmed, Dr. Volkov," she replied, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "The outbreak has spread rapidly, and the patients...they're in critical condition."

Dr. Volkov's jaw clenched tightly, his expression darkening with concern. "How many patients do we have?" he asked, his voice clipped and urgent.

Sarah hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. "Dozens," she admitted, her words hanging heavily in the air. "And more are arriving by the minute."

Dr. Volkov's brow furrowed in dismay, a sense of grim determination settling over him. "We need to do everything we can to contain this outbreak," he declared, his voice tinged with urgency. "But first, we need to focus on stabilizing the patients and preventing the spread of the virus."

Sarah nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. "Yes, Dr. Volkov," she replied, her voice filled with determination. "We'll do whatever it takes."
As Sarah stood before Dr. Volkov, a sense of urgency weighed heavily on her shoulders. "Dr. Volkov," she began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion, "there's something you need to know."

Dr. Volkov's gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing in concern. "What is it, Sarah?" he asked, his tone grave.

Sarah took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to reveal. "It's Alivia," she explained, her words coming out in a rush. "She...she healed one of the patients."

Dr. Volkov's brow furrowed in confusion, and his eyes shifted between me and Sarah, "What do you mean, Sarah?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of apprehension.

Sarah took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say. "There was a patient," she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. "He was in critical condition, barely clinging to life. But Alivia...she healed him."

Dr. Volkov's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written clearly across his features. "Healed him?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah nodded; her gaze unwavering. "Yes," she confirmed. "She placed her hands on his chest, and this...this green glow emanated from her palms. It was like nothing I've ever seen before."

Dr. Volkov's jaw clenched tightly as he absorbed Sarah's words, his expression a mixture of disbelief and concern. His gaze flickered to me, his eyes searching mine for answers, but I could offer him none.

"Where is the patient?" Dr. Volkov's voice cut through the tense silence, his tone firm and commanding. His gaze bore into mine, demanding a response. My heart raced as I struggled to find the words to answer his question.

"He's...he's over there," I stammered, gesturing towards the corner of the infirmary where the patient lay, still and silent amidst the chaos.

Without another word, Dr. Volkov strode purposefully towards the patient, his expression unreadable. I followed close behind, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for his reaction.
As we reached the patient's side, Dr. Volkov knelt beside him, his hands moving with practiced efficiency as he examined the wounds that marred his battered form. His brow furrowed in concern as he assessed the extent of the injuries, his jaw clenched tightly with determination.

"What happened here?" His voice was low, a barely restrained undercurrent of anger simmering beneath the surface.

"I was attending to other patients," I began, my voice quivering slightly as I recounted the events, "when he started breathing heavily. Sarah and I rushed to his side, and blood started to gush out of his mouth." My words hung heavy in the air, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a leaden weight. "I just... I couldn't stand by and do nothing."

Dr. Volkov raised his hand in the air, stopping me from saying any more. His face was stoic and cold, and I couldn't read his expression. "Alivia, can I speak to you alone?"
A knot formed in my stomach as I nodded silently, my heart pounding in my chest. I exchanged a worried glance with Sarah before following Dr. Volkov out of the infirmary, the weight of his silence heavy on my shoulders.

As we stepped out into the corridor, the air seemed to thicken with tension, wrapping around us like a suffocating shroud. Dr. Volkov's silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. Each step we took echoed off the cold, stone walls, our footfalls reverberating in the silence. Finally, we reached a secluded corner of the infirmary, away from prying eyes and curious ears.

Dr. Volkov turned to face me, his expression unreadable as he regarded me with a piercing gaze. "Alivia," he began, his voice low and measured, "what you did in there was reckless and dangerous."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. "But isn't this what you and Seraphine have been training me for, what the council members want, for me to help heal the town of the virus?"

Dr. Volkov's brow furrowed in response to my question, his gaze unwavering as he considered his response. "Yes, Alivia," he conceded, his voice softening slightly, "but healing magic is not something to be wielded lightly. It requires precision, control, and a deep understanding of its consequences."

As Dr. Volkov's hand rested on my shoulder, a surge of defiance coursed through me, pushing against the weight of his expectations. "But Dr. Volkov," I began, my voice tinged with frustration, "what was I supposed to do? Just stand by and watch him die?"

Dr. Volkov's brow furrowed, his grip tightening slightly on my shoulder. "No, Alivia," he replied firmly, his voice edged with frustration, "but there are proper protocols to follow in these situations. Healing magic is not to be used recklessly, especially without consulting with a senior practitioner. This was your first patient that you healed."

I felt a pang of guilt as Dr. Volkov's words washed over me, mingling with the lingering sense of defiance that still burned within me. "But there wasn't time!" I protested, my voice rising with indignation. "He was dying right in front of us. You were gone! And I couldn't just wait around for permission to act!"

Dr. Volkov's expression hardened, his jaw clenching tightly as he struggled to contain his simmering anger. "I understand your impatience, Alivia," he said sternly, his voice laced with frustration, "but your actions could have had dire consequences. What if something had gone wrong? What if you had inadvertently made his condition worse?"

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders as a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. "But I didn't, Dr. Volkov," I argued, my voice trembling with emotion, "I saved him. Doesn't that count for something?"

Dr. Volkov's nostrils flared with barely contained anger, his gaze piercing through me like a blade. "Yes, Alivia," he conceded wearily, his voice tinged with frustration, "you saved him this time. But what about next time? What if you're not so lucky? Healing magic is a powerful tool, but it must be wielded with caution and responsibility."

I clenched my fists at my sides, the weight of his words bearing down on me like a heavy burden as a swell of guilt washed over me. "I understand that, Dr. Volkov," I said through gritted teeth, my voice barely above a whisper, "but I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. I had to try."

Dr. Volkov's gaze softened slightly, a flicker of understanding shining in his eyes, "I know," he said gently, his voice tinged with frustration, "and I admire your compassion and your courage. But you must also learn to temper that passion with wisdom and restraint."

I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me as I met Dr. Volkov's gaze with a mixture of guilt and determination. "I'll try, Dr. Volkov," I said quietly, my voice tinged with remorse, "I'll try to be more careful in the future. But I can't promise that I'll always be able to stand by and do nothing."

Dr. Volkov's jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to contain his emotions. "Just promise me that you'll think before you act," he said sternly, his voice tinged with frustration, "and that you'll always prioritize the safety of yourself and others."

I nodded in agreement, a sense of determination settling over me as I met Dr. Volkov's gaze with a mixture of guilt and resolve. "I promise, Dr. Volkov," I said solemnly, my voice tinged with remorse, "I'll do my best to be responsible with my magic from now on."

With that, Dr. Volkov and I shared a tense moment of understanding, our differences set aside in the face of a common goal. But beneath the surface, I could still sense the simmering anger that still lingered.