Weeks passed quickly after their return to Windfield.

Emma remained in a deep, almost comatose sleep from the moment her mother, Vivian, carried her into the village. She hadn't stirred once, and though Vivian’s strong arms had held her, her worry was palpable. Derrick, her father, had rushed to meet them, his face a mask of concealed fear. They wasted no time in taking her to the village primary hospital, a grand structure of glimmering white stone and glass that reflected the vibrant hues of the bustling streets outside.

Inside, doctors bustled around with magical instruments, their hands glowing faintly with healing energy. One of them, an elder mage with dark silvery hair and a reputation for unparalleled expertise, stepped forward after conducting a thorough examination. His solemn expression deepened the lines on his face as he spoke to Vivian and Derrick in the dimly lit corridor outside Emma’s room.

"The damage to her Ki Core is severe," he began, his voice carrying both sympathy and gravity. "While it may not permanently affect her ability to use magic, her recovery will be slow and delicate. Remarkably, her core shows signs of stabilizing on its own. If she fully recovers, she will fully awaken with a nearly natural affinity for magic. However,"... his tone grew cautious, "we could not trace the cause of the forceful awakening that caused this damage. It's unlike anything we've seen before."

Vivian clutched Derrick’s arm, her grip tightening. "Will she wake up?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her attempt to appear composed.

"Yes," the doctor assured her. "But her body requires time. Weeks, perhaps months. She must stay here for further treatment to ensure her Ki Core continues to heal."

For Vivian, those weeks became a blur of vigil and prayer. She barely left Emma’s bedside, her silver-white hair falling disheveled around her weary face. Ellie, Emma’s elder sister, defied her mother’s insistence to rest and stayed by Emma’s side whenever she could, often falling asleep in the chair next to the hospital bed after her school day ended.

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Derrick visited after work, his presence steady and reassuring, though he often stayed silent, his worry evident in the furrow of his brow. Ethan, Emma’s twin brother, always accompanied him. The boy’s face was a mix of worry and curiosity as he shared stories of his private magic lessons, an endeavor he had begun a week earlier after signs of his Ki Core awakening emerged. Though his mastery was far from complete, the promise of his potential brought a glimmer of hope to the family amidst the uncertainty surrounding Emma.

And then there was Anna. Despite her frail frame and confinement to a wheelchair, Emma’s best friend visited almost every day, ready to keep vigil alongside the family. Her delicate hands trembled as she adjusted the blankets around Emma, her worry etched into every movement. "You'll wake up soon," she whispered one afternoon, her voice both hopeful and pleading. "You have to."

A few days later, the hospital room was quiet. Vivian and Ellie had stepped out to buy lunch from a nearby vendor, leaving Anna alone with Emma. Sunlight filtered through the enchanted glass windows, casting soft rainbows across the pale walls. Anna sat in her wheelchair beside the bed, meticulously arranging an empty bowl on the bedside table.

Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket as she glanced at Emma’s face, searching for any sign of movement. The silence pressed heavily around her, broken only by the faint hum of distant voices in the corridor.

And then, in the stillness of that moment, something shifted.

A faint flutter of movement drew Anna's gaze back to the bed. Emma's eyelashes trembled, and then, slowly, her unique white eyes opened, their soft glow catching the light.

Anna froze, her breath hitching. "Emma," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

When Emma’s gaze met hers, Anna's heart leapt. The bowl she had been holding clattered onto the table as she clasped her hands together, her lips trembling with joy.

"Emma!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with relief and elation.

Emma blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the light. The faintest smile tugged at her lips as she registered Anna’s presence.