The heat still hung in the air. Around Regulus, a perfect circle of burned ground glowed softly.
He stood alone, barely holding himself up, clothes torn, his hand still glowing faintly with magic.
The whole battlefield fell silent.
Regulus dropped to his knees, breathing heavily. Every breath burned inside his chest.
Pain was everywhere. He couldn't think clearly. But then he noticed something.
He was on the ground.
He could move. The strings were gone.
Slowly, he raised his trembling hands. They moved. His arms ached, but they obeyed. He stared, not sure if it was real.
He glanced down and tried twitching his toes. A sharp jolt ran through his foot. The pain was intense, but it moved.
Then he shifted one leg slightly. The ache shot up to his hip. Most of his bones felt like they were cracked.
Even a small motion made his whole body burn.
But still, he could move.
He didn't know how, or why. But he was free.
"I... I did it?"
But then...
His body snapped upright.
