Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1681 - 123 : A Healing Touch

*Kryzen*

I guided Briella through the marbled halls of the healing center, my heart pounding with a rhythm of frustration and concern. The scent of medicinal herbs hung heavy in the air, but it couldn’t mask the bitter tang of regret that I had waited this long to bring her there.

But what was I supposed to do? Carry her kicking and screaming? Trick her? Drug her and drag her to the healers, hoping it wouldn’t harm the baby and that she would forgive me?

She resisted me every step of the way until now. Even as we walked side by side, I could feel the stiffness in her posture and reluctance in her steps.

"Kryzen, this is unnecessary," she muttered for what seemed like the hundredth time, her voice laced with a mix of irritation and something else I couldn’t quite place.

"You need to see a healer, Briella. This stubbornness won’t help you recover." My words were firmer than I intended, but the sight of her pale complexion and dark circles under her bright green eyes fueled my worry. “Think about the baby. Even if you’re completely fine, the lack of sleep is not good for an expectant mother, Briella. Please.”

She shot me a glare, though the effect was lessened by the weariness etched on her delicate features. "I’m fine," she insisted, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

We reached the exam room. I turned to face her, taking in her petite frame that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "Why were you so against coming here? Are you afraid of healers or their methods?" I asked, trying to keep my tone gentle despite the turmoil inside me.

Briella looked away, her dark wavy hair falling like a shadow across her face. "No, it’s not that. It’s just..." Her voice trailed off. She wrapped her arms around herself as if to ward off a chill only she could feel.

"Is it because you think it unnecessary?" I pressed, searching her face for clues. Why would she resist something that could bring her relief?

"Maybe," she conceded with a shrug, avoiding my gaze. "Or maybe I don’t want to be poked and prodded when they’ll likely find nothing wrong."

I sighed, running a hand through my black hair in frustration. "Briella, you’ve been through a lot. The battle against Tian, the strain of your training, your sudden ascension, and this unexpected pregnancy... It’s taken its toll on you. Let the healers do their work."

She finally met my gray eyes, and there was a vulnerability in hers that I’d seen only a few times before. "I’m used to being strong, Kryzen, and showing no weakness. But you’re right. Something’s off, and I hate feeling this powerless."

"Then let’s find out what’s wrong and fix it," I said, offering her a reassuring nod. "Together."

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she nodded back. "Together," she echoed. For the first time since we entered the healing center, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe we were on the path to mending more than just her physical ailments.

It faded quickly.

The chill of the sterile room seeped into my bones, but it was nothing compared to the icy grip of fear that I sensed in Briella. The chair was hard against my back, the silence between us a tangible shroud. She sat rigidly beside me, her hand in mine. It was cold. Her warrior’s strength did little to stifle the tremble that coursed through her fingers.

"Hey," I whispered, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I’m here with you."

She nodded, her eyes fixed on the blank expanse of the opposite wall. Her jaw was set. A silent battle raged within her, fighting the urge to flee from this vulnerability.

"Remember when we were kids?" I murmured, trying to coax a smile from her. "You’d fall, scrape your knee, and bounce right back up, ready for the next adventure."

A faint, wistful grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Yeah," she breathed out. "Nothing could keep me down."

"Same fierce Briella," I affirmed. "Just with a few more questions now."

Her grip on my hand tightened. She finally turned to look at me, her bright green eyes searching. "Do you think they’ll find something? What if they find something, Kryzen?"

"Whatever it is," I said firmly, "we’ll handle it like we always do."

Before she could reply, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped into the room. Tarellis, the healer, had the air of Lumina Mountain around her—calm, composed, and brimming with quiet energy. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back neatly, framing a face that held both the wisdom of the ages and the kindness of a nurturing soul.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesties," Tarellis greeted us, her voice as soothing as the mountain breeze. "Thank you for waiting. Let’s see what we can do to help you feel better, shall we?"

Briella nodded, a silent acquiescence, but her hand remained clutched in mine. Tarellis smiled warmly, pulling over a stool to sit closer.

"Tell me everything," she encouraged gently, "and leave nothing out."

As Briella began to recount the strange dreams and the fatigue that haunted her days, Tarellis listened intently, nodding along, her presence soothing the unease that had been gnawing at us both. Her words were simple, and her explanations clear, as she walked us through what the examination would entail.

"Your bravery is not unappreciated here," Tarellis said, her gaze soft but unwavering. "It takes strength to seek help and admit when the weight becomes too heavy to bear alone."

Briella’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. I felt a swell of pride for the warrior beside me, who was learning that some battles weren’t meant to be fought solo.

“Let’s take a look, shall we?”

Tarellis stood, her hands weaving through the air in a delicate dance. Streams of shimmering water that defied gravity flowed from her palms. The liquid ribbons swirled gently around Briella’s body, hovering as if alive with their own curious spirit. I watched, captivated by the spectacle as the healer’s deep concentration etched lines of focus onto her brow.

"Relax, dear," Tarellis murmured, her voice soft as the waters twined around Briella, casting a soothing glow over her. "This will help me see beyond what is visible to the eye."

I felt Briella squeeze my hand, a silent plea for reassurance. "It’s alright," I whispered back, although a part of me echoed her trepidation.

The magic water pulsed, its dance becoming more intricate. Tarellis’s face shifted from concentration to puzzlement. She hummed a low note, a sound that seemed to resonate with the water’s flow. Just as quietly as it had begun, the water receded back into her hands. She sighed, looking at Briella with a gentle concern.

"Your body appears to be in good health, Briella," Tarellis finally spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. "Your organs are functioning as they should, and your mind... there are no traces of dark magic at work."

"Then what’s wrong with me?" Briella’s voice was a mix of relief and frustration, her bright green eyes searching the healer’s for an answer.

"Stress," Tarellis said simply, yet her tone carried weight. "You carry a heavy burden within you, one that is not borne of physical ailments but of the mind and heart."

"Stress?" It sounded so trivial compared to the fears that had been haunting us, but the way Tarellis said it made it feel significant.

"Indeed." Tarellis gave a small, understanding smile.

Tarellis leaned back, her gaze softening as she studied Briella. "The battle against Tian was harrowing for all," she said thoughtfully. "Such events can haunt us, creeping into our dreams and unsettling our nights."

Briella’s eyes met mine, a silent plea within their depths. She had mentioned the nightmares, how they clawed at her peace. I squeezed her hand, a silent vow to help chase them away.

"Could that be it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "They’re just nightmares?"

"Quite possibly," Tarellis replied, her tone carrying the weight of experience. "Dreams have power, especially for those sensitive to the world’s echoes. They can be reflections of our fears and stress, an echo of the battles we’ve endured."

"Then what do we do?" The question hung in the air, heavy with the hope of finding respite for Briella.

"You must find time for joy amidst strife. Do something that lifts your spirits and engages your passion. These are not merely niceties but necessities for well-being."

Briella looked at me, questions swirling in her gaze like the magic water around her moments before. I nodded, encouraging her to consider the healer’s words.

"Will that really help?" she asked, skepticism lacing her tone, though I could tell she yearned for some kind of solution.

"More than you might imagine," Tarellis affirmed. "Take time for yourself, for the things that make your heart sing. It’s not indulgence. It’s vital. Just as warriors train their bodies for battle, so too must they care for their inner selves."

"Sounds easy enough," Briella replied, though the crease between her brows betrayed her doubt.

"Sometimes the simplest remedies are the most powerful," I added, trying to instill confidence in her. "We’ll find something that helps take the edge off. But maybe it’s time for a little fun, huh?"

"Fun," Briella repeated, a flicker of her usual fire sparking in her eyes. "I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try."

"Good," Tarellis said with a satisfied nod. "And remember, healing is not always found in potions and spells. It often lies in laughter, love, and life itself."

“But sometimes a potion can do a bit of good,” she continued.

Tarellis didn’t hesitate. From a shelf lined with bottles of various shapes and sizes, she selected one filled with a liquid that shimmered like captured moonlight. "Take this," she said, handing me the potion. "It will help calm Briella’s mind and offer her the deep, restful sleep she needs."

"Will it stop the dreams?" Briella’s voice was small, almost lost in the expanse of the healing center.

"It should ease them," Tarellis assured, her smile warm yet tinged with empathy. "Dreams are slippery things to hold, but this potion quiets the spirit and soothes the subconscious."

"Thank you," I murmured, feeling the weight of the bottle in my hand. It seemed such a simple thing, but if it could grant Briella peace, it was more valuable than the rarest gem.

"Rest now, both of you," Tarellis advised as we turned toward the door. "And remember, strength isn’t just forged in battle. It’s also nurtured in the quiet moments of healing."

"Quiet moments," Briella echoed, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

"Exactly," I agreed, my heart lighter than it had been in days. We stepped out of the healing center, the cool air of the evening wrapping around us like a comforting embrace. That night there would be sleep, and with it, a hope for dreamless skies and tranquil minds.