You don't need to apologize for something you have no control over. [ He might have aggravated his injury while holding onto Sion during the King's fight with the darkness but it's worth it. Between injury that would heal and a life lost, there's no doubt which he will choose.

Allowing Sion to search for his injury, he remains holding the King in his arms, never once breaking the mana link between them. The relieve of having him back, safe and sound, helps make what used to be uncomfortable physical contact becomes something tolerable. He could feel his bones mending, fixing themselves into their rightful place and restructuring back to good health. It still feels strange to be healed, that he would be able to pick out how muscles loosen to allow healing and snaps back into place once it's completed. In some way, it feels oddly inhumane and yet it keeps them alive. ] Thanks.

[ Watching Sion falls asleep, he too becomes acutely aware of how tired he is. From the naval war to now, so much has happen, so many fights took place and too many battles fought, Tieria has resisted rest until he found Sion. He knows the King would never care for himself as much as he thought he does, and no matter how many times Tieria reminded him, Sion would still remains stubbornly so. And he's right.

But now, exhaustion creeps upon them both, lures by the comfort of their mana link. ] It's fine even if you do, I'll have your back. [ Pulling Sion closer, not that he understands why, it simply feels like the right thing to do, he continues to smooth over his hair and back in gentle motion. He wonders, for the first time, if the darkness is the reason why Sion keeps everyone at arm's length, never allowing anyone close to him. ] Sleep, Sion.

[ I won't let you fall into that darkness. I will rip it out of you. Absolutely. ]