The city streets were restless. Tensions had been rising for months, but tonight, the atmosphere felt charged with something heavier. The Sovereign Order’s influence was spreading like wildfire, and now, violence against magicals wasn’t just whispered—it was happening in the open.

  A young magical woman hurried through a dimly lit alley, her breath coming fast, glancing over her shoulder. She had sensed them following her for blocks. Three men, all wearing the insignia of the Sovereign Order—silver armbands marked with a stylized sun. She clenched her fists, ready to defend herself, when one of them stepped forward, cutting off her path.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the tallest of them sneered. “People like you need to know their place.”

  She took a step back, heart pounding. “I’m just trying to go home.”

  Another man chuckled, cracking his knuckles. “Your kind doesn’t belong in this city.”

  Before she could act, a voice cut through the tension.

  “That’s enough.”

  A non-magical man stepped into the alley, placing himself between her and the aggressors. He looked rough around the edges, a scar running across his cheek, but his stance was firm. He wasn’t afraid.

  The leader of the group scoffed. “Stay out of this, human. This has nothing to do with you.”

  The man didn’t move. “Seems like it does. You’re attacking a woman in the street. Doesn’t matter who she is—wrong is wrong.”

  One of the thugs sneered. “What, you some kind of magic sympathizer?”

  The man smirked. “No, just not a coward.”

  That was all it took. One of the Order members lunged, and the fight began.

  He got a few good hits in, knocking one to the ground, but he was outnumbered. A punch slammed into his ribs, another to his jaw, sending him stumbling back. The magical woman hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward, summoning her magic to push them back, but the man caught her wrist.

  “Run,” he said through gritted teeth. “Get help.”

  She hesitated but then turned and ran, her magic lighting the path ahead.

  Moments later, city guards arrived, forcing the attackers to scatter, but the damage had been done. The man was left bleeding, barely conscious, slumped against the wall.

  Naja’s POV

  The hospital was quieter than usual. Tensions in the city had made even the doctors and nurses wary, but I never turned anyone away. As the only healer in the hospital, my work never stopped. The moment I stepped into the emergency ward, I felt the familiar pull of magic tugging at my senses, calling me toward someone in need.

  Then I saw her—Alya. Sitting beside an unconscious man, her hands gripping the edge of the cot like she could will him to wake up.

  Her eyes lifted to mine, relief flooding her face. “Naja?”

  I frowned, stepping closer. “Alya? What happened?”

  She glanced at the man beside her, her fingers trembling as she gestured toward him. “He saved me.” Her voice shook. “He didn’t have to, but he did.”

  I took in the man’s injuries—deep bruises, fractured ribs, a busted lip. He’d taken a serious beating. But he was alive. Barely.

  Exhaling, I placed my hands on his chest, letting my magic flow through him. The silver glow pulsed as warmth spread from my fingertips. I could feel his pain, the raw damage beneath his skin, and slowly, I began to mend it.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Alya hesitated before speaking again. “They were waiting for me.” Her voice was still shaky, but steadier now. “I don’t know how long they’d been following me, but when I turned into the alley, they were already there, blocking my way. They said I didn’t belong, that people like me should leave the city.”

  My jaw tightened, but I kept my focus on the healing process. The bruises on his ribs faded slightly. “And then he stepped in?”

  Alya nodded. “I didn’t even see him at first. He just… appeared. Told them to back off, stood between me and them like it was the easiest thing in the world. But they didn’t care. They turned on him, started hitting him before he could even land another punch. I wanted to help, I swear, but he told me to run. Said to get help.”

  I glanced down at his face, still swollen from the fight. “He bought you time.”

  Alya swallowed hard. “If he hadn’t, I don’t know what they would have done to me.”

  I pressed a final surge of healing energy into his chest, watching as his breathing evened out. The worst of the damage was gone. I let out a slow breath, stepping back and wiping my hands on the edge of my coat.

  Turning to Alya, I gestured toward the hallway. “There’s a city guard here. Go tell them everything you just told me. The more information they have, the better.”

  She hesitated, glancing at him before nodding. “I will. But… I want to thank him when he wakes up.”

  I gave a small nod. “I’ll have a nurse bring you to his room once you’re done.”

  I wheeled his bed into a private room, my movements efficient as I checked his vitals and hooked up an IV bag. The steady beep of the monitor filled the space as I adjusted the drip, making sure he was stable. Just as I was finishing, the man stirred, his eyelids fluttering open.

  I smirked slightly. “Welcome back.”

  He groaned, trying to sit up, but I pressed a firm hand to his shoulder, keeping him still. “Not so fast. You took a serious beating.”

  He blinked up at me, his gaze still hazy but steady. “Didn’t think I’d be waking up in a place like this.”

  “You’re lucky you made it out at all,” I said, glancing over his now-healing injuries. “Why’d you step in?”

  He exhaled sharply. “Seemed like the right thing to do.”

  I frowned, pressing my hand against his chest one last time, making sure the last traces of internal damage were gone. The silver glow pulsed once more before I withdrew. He was stable now.

  “Not many would have,” I murmured.

  He gave a tired grin. “Seems like the right thing isn’t so common these days.”

  I studied him for a moment. There was something about him. Reckless, maybe. But also determined.

  Tilting my head slightly, I asked, “You got a name?”

  He blinked, still feeling the weight of exhaustion settling over him, then exhaled. “Doran.”

  His hands instinctively roamed over his ribs and arms, feeling for wounds that were no longer there. His brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced down at himself. “I should be in a lot worse shape than this. Was it… you?”

  I smirked, crossing my arms. “Yeah, that was me. You were in bad shape when they brought you in.” I gestured toward the IV bag. “You’re lucky I got to you when I did. Next time, try not to get yourself killed.”

  Doran chuckled, though it ended in a wince. “I’ll do my best.” His smirk returned, this time with something more playful. “Unless you’d rather keep saving me. Might be worth it just to see you again.”

  I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “You’re flirting while you’re half-conscious?”

  “Gotta take my chances when I can,” he shot back, flashing a lopsided grin. “Though, I’d probably have better odds if I wasn’t lying in a hospital bed.”

  I huffed, shaking my head. “Yeah, you think?”

  His eyes flicked to my hands, still faintly glowing from the remnants of my magic. “So, you got a name, or do I just keep calling you my guardian angel?”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “It’s Naja. And don’t get used to me playing guardian angel—I don’t make a habit of patching up reckless idiots.”

  Doran grinned despite the soreness still lingering in his ribs. “Well, lucky for me, I must’ve made an impression.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “What do you say we grab a drink sometime? You know, as a thank-you for saving my life?”

  I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Not a chance.”

  Doran feigned a wounded expression, placing a hand over his chest. “Ouch. That hurts more than the ribs.”

  I smirked. “Good. Maybe it’ll teach you to be more careful next time.”

  He chuckled, shifting slightly before wincing. “Who knows what I’ll do next time just to get back here and see you again?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Try not getting beaten half to death. That might be a better strategy.”

  Doran grinned, tilting his head slightly. “No promises. But if I end up back here, at least I’ll know who to ask for.”

  I sighed, exasperated but unable to hide the small smirk tugging at my lips. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”

  “And charming,” he added smoothly.

  I scoffed. “Debatable.”

  He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “You wound me.”

  “Ha, actually, I put you back together.”

  Doran grinned, undeterred. “Come on, just one drink. Strictly as a thank-you, nothing more. No strings attached.”

  I sighed, exasperated, but there was something annoyingly endearing about his persistence. “Fine. One drink. Just one. And if you end up back here because of another fight, I won’t heal you.”

  Doran’s smile widened. “Noted. But you might just enjoy yourself enough to make it two.”