As the minutes stretched on, Liam remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow and uneven. His skin had grown clammy, and sweat trickled down his forehead despite the cool breeze rustling through the dense woodland. The group hovered around him, their anxiety growing with each passing moment.
Sophia knelt beside him, gripping his cold hand tightly. "Come on, Liam... wake up," she whispered, her voice trembling. She wiped away a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek, frustration and helplessness clouding her mind.
Eleanor, having done all she could with the herbs and makeshift medicine, bit her lip. "This isn't working fast enough. The poison might be deeper in his system than I thought..."
The merchant, watching the group's distress, finally spoke up. "There's a healer in the next city," he said. "A damn good one, renowned for dealing with poisons. If we hurry, we can get Liam there before it's too late."
