Chapter 51

Several Aether Spire team members carefully lifted Eryndor onto the metal stretcher. His head tilted slightly to one side as golden hair cascaded down. Elara watched as one of the security officers reached out, reverently gathering the silken strands and gently placing them over his pale, elegant body before sealing him beneath the airtight glass cover. Frowning, she asked, "Won't this suffocate him?" The officer gave no response, only methodically locking layer after layer of security clasps along the edges of the glass. Through the transparent barrier, Eryndor remained motionless. His eyes were still closed, and he was unaware and unresponsive, like a beautiful puppet. Elara turned to the officer again. "Whose experiment is this merman?" His expression remained calm. "Not sure. Our only directive is to take him away." It was a contradiction. On one hand, they handled him with extreme care, almost reverence, while on the other, they spoke as if he were insignificant. She press