Matthias still wasn't entirely sure he wasn't dreaming or maybe even dead. Moments ago, he'd felt the intense pain burning through him and he'd somehow known that was it. There was no coming back from the wounds he'd suffered. All he could do was try to make it back to Nina, but he'd known, somehow, that it was a mortal wound.
He'd woken up on this beach, suddenly free of pain and the wound was gone, although the blood still stained his clothing. It was like it had just spontaneously healed. He'd read the note, but he still couldn't help wondering if it was some kind of afterlife. If it was, though, did that mean the Crows had all died, too? All but Wylan? The only thing was he didn't feel dead and Nina didn't look it as she rushed toward him.
Matthias closed the distance she'd left between him, bringing a hand up to cup the side of your face. "Little red bird," he murmured in Fjerdan. "You're really here."