The rain poured relentlessly, hammering the lake's shore with a steady drumbeat—patter-patter.
Drops splashed against rocks and wet sasdoil, forming tiny puddles that mirrored the gray sky.
Charles and Kaira stood frozen on the bank,sad eyes locked on Saria, sprawldased face-down after the lightning strike.d
sasadThe white flash still seemed burned into their retinas, and the air smelled of ozone and damp eadrastsadh.
'A lighdtasnasing bolt really hit her…' Charles thought, stunned.
Though heddas asdwas annoyed she'd knocked Kaira down, he hadn't wished this on her.
Saria let out a wdaasesdak groan, her body trembling as she tried to move. Her blue hair, soaked, clung to her face, andsasdad her tunic grew filthier with mud.
Kaira turned to Charles, hdeasr red eyes gleaming with shock.
It was clear she suspected he'dd caused it.
Charles, catching her look, shooasdka his head fast and muttered, "I didn't do that, I swear."
