Elias burst through the door of the old mill, his chest heaving, the pouch of wolfsbane clutched tight in his hand. He found Maggie Abernathy tending to Eva, her brow furrowed with concentration.

"I have it," Elias said, holding out the pouch. "I brought the wolfsbane."

Maggie nodded, taking the pouch from him. "Good. We don't have much time."

She led Elias back to the room where Eva lay, her face pale and drawn. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and the flickering light of the cauldron cast eerie shadows on the walls.

"What do I need to do?" Elias asked, his voice urgent.

Maggie began to prepare the wolfsbane, grinding the leaves with a mortar and pestle. "I need you to hold her," she said. "She's going to fight me. The potion will be painful."

Elias nodded, moving to Eva's side. He gently took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. Her skin was cold and clammy, and he felt a pang of guilt at the thought of what she was going through.

Maggie finished preparing the potion, pouring it into a small cup. She approached Eva, her expression grim.

"Eva," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I need you to drink this. It will help you heal."

Eva's eyes flickered open, her gaze unfocused. She looked at Maggie, confusion clouding her face.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice weak.

"It's a potion to help you heal," Maggie replied. "It will be painful, but it's necessary."

Eva hesitated, but then she nodded, trusting Maggie's word. Maggie put the cup to her lips, and she drank.

The moment the potion touched her tongue, Eva's body went rigid. She gasped, her eyes widening in pain. She began to thrash, her muscles convulsing.

"Hold her, Elias!" Maggie instructed, her voice urgent. "Don't let her hurt herself."

Elias wrapped his arms around Eva, holding her tight against his chest. He could feel her body trembling, her muscles straining against his grip. She cried out, her voice filled with agony.

"It's okay, Eva," Elias whispered, his voice soothing. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."

He held her tight, enduring her pain as if it were his own. He could feel the magic coursing through her body, battling the dark energy that was trying to consume her. It was a fierce and brutal battle, and Eva was caught in the middle.

As the potion took effect, Eva's struggles lessened, leaving her almost completely unconscious..

Maggie watched them, her brow furrowed with concern. "The potion is working," she said, her voice quiet. "But the magic is strong. It's fighting back."

She began to chant, her voice rising in intensity. She waved her hands over Eva's body, sending streams of energy swirling around her. The room filled with a strange, ethereal light, and the air crackled with power.

Elias watched in awe, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never seen anything like this before. He knew that magic was real, but he had never truly understood its power.

As Maggie's chanting reached a crescendo, Eva's body began to glow. The light grew brighter and brighter, until it filled the entire room. Then, with a final surge of energy, the light faded.

Maggie stopped chanting, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She staggered, reaching out to steady herself.

"It's done," she said, her voice weak. "The magic is gone."

Elias looked down at Eva, his heart filled with relief. Her skin was no longer pale and clammy. Her breathing was steady and even. She was still unconscious, but she looked peaceful.

"Is she going to be okay?" Elias asked, his voice filled with hope.

Maggie nodded, a weary smile on her face. "She'll be fine. It will take time to recover, but she'll be okay."

Elias sighed in relief, his body trembling with exhaustion. He loosened his grip on Eva, gently stroking her hair.

"Thank you," he said to Maggie, his voice sincere. "You saved her life."

Maggie shook her head. "She saved herself," she said. "She has a strength within her that I have never seen before. She is destined for great things."

She smiled, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "But be warned, boy. The magic doesn't give up easily. What you give to it comes with a price."

Elias frowned. "What do you mean?"

Maggie's eye narrowed. "She has been given a gift. A gift that she did not ask for. And that never turns out well. Now, the question is, when she wakes, will she have the strength to carry it? Time will tell." She shrugged.

The room was silent for a moment, then the mood was broken from Maggie. "I'm going to get some rest," she said. "You should stay here with her. Make sure she doesn't wake up alone."

She turned and left the room, leaving Elias alone with Eva. He sat beside her, watching her sleep, his heart filled with a mixture of love and concern.

He knew that their journey was just beginning. They still had to find the potion, to stop Lilith, and to protect the people of Ashwood. But he also knew that they weren't alone. They had each other.

He reached out and took Eva's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers once more. He closed his eyes, and vowed to protect her, no matter the cost.