The Lion’s Mane courtyard was alive with laughter and joy as the children played with King Sun and Princess Sixhonia. The Red Lion Guards stood at a respectful distance, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. Goldmane, Shadowclaw, and Stormheart lounged nearby, their massive bodies relaxed but alert.

  The children, full of energy, ran around the courtyard, their laughter echoing through the air. Mustard Leo, the youngest, tugged at Sun’s sleeve. "Your Majesty, play with us!" he said, his eyes wide with excitement.

  Sun smiled, though his injured arm throbbed with pain. "Alright, but take it easy on me," he said, his voice light. He joined in their games, his movements slow and careful to avoid aggravating his wound.

  Princess Sixhonia watched from the sidelines, her face softening as she saw Sun interact with the children. She stepped forward, joining in the fun, her laughter blending with theirs. For a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had lifted.

  --

  As the afternoon wore on, Goldmane suddenly stood up, his golden eyes fixed on the woods beyond the courtyard. With a low growl—*GRRR*—he bounded off, his massive form disappearing into the trees.

  "Where’s he going?" Ruby asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

  Sun frowned, his eyes following Goldmane’s path. "I don’t know," he said, his voice tinged with concern. "But he’ll be back."

  A short while later, Goldmane returned, but he wasn’t alone. Behind him were two lionesses and four cubs, their eyes wide with curiosity. The children gasped, their excitement bubbling over.

  "Look! Cubs!" Mustard Leo shouted, running toward the newcomers.

  "Wait!" Sun called, his voice sharp. But it was too late.

  The lionesses, protective of their cubs, immediately reacted. With a snarl—*SNARL!*—they lunged at the children, their claws extended. Chaos erupted as screams filled the air—*"AHHH!"*—and the children scrambled to get away.

  Goldmane, Shadowclaw, and Stormheart sprang into action, their roars—*ROAR! ROAR!*—shaking the ground as they charged at the lionesses. The Red Lion Guards rushed forward, their swords drawn, but the lions were faster.

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  Sun tried to stand, his heart pounding, but his injuries flared up, sending a wave of pain through his body. He stumbled, his vision blurring as a fever began to take hold. *The arrow… it must have been poisoned,* he realized, his mind racing.

  Before he could react, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground—*THUD!*—his body heavy and unresponsive. The courtyard erupted in panic.

  ---

  "Sun!" Princess Sixhonia screamed, rushing to his side. The Red Lion Guards formed a protective circle around him, their faces grim.

  "Get the royal physicians!" Queen Lana shouted, her voice trembling with fear. "Now!"

  The children were ushered away by the maids, their faces pale with shock. Goldmane and the other lions stood guard, their eyes fixed on the lionesses, who had retreated into the woods with their cubs.

  Sun was carried into the palace, his body burning with fever. The royal physicians were summoned, their faces filled with concern as they examined him. "The poison is spreading," one of them said, his voice grave. "We need to act quickly."

  ---

  As the physicians worked, Sun’s mind raced. He wasn’t unconscious, but his strength was fading fast. *I can’t die like this,* he thought, his determination flaring. *I have to fight.*

  Using the last reserves of the Spineless Brain’s power, he focused his mind on Goldmane. *Find the herb,* he commanded, sending a mental image of a plant he had learned about during his studies on the continent of natural sciences. It was a rare herb with powerful antibodies that could counteract the poison.

  Goldmane’s golden eyes glowed faintly as he received the command. With a roar—*ROAR!*—he bounded out of the palace, his massive form disappearing into the woods once more.

  ---

  Goldmane moved swiftly through the forest, his senses heightened by Sun’s mind hack. He sniffed the air—*SNIFF SNIFF*—and followed the scent of the herb. The forest was dense, the shadows long and dark, but Goldmane pressed on, his loyalty to Sun driving him forward.

  Meanwhile, back in the palace, Sun’s condition worsened. His breathing grew shallow, and his skin was pale and clammy. The physicians worked tirelessly, but the poison was relentless.

  "Hold on, Sun," Queen Lana whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, hold on."

  --

  Hours later, Goldmane returned, a bundle of the rare herb clutched in his massive jaws. The physicians took it immediately, grinding it into a paste and applying it to Sun’s wound. They also brewed a tea from the leaves, forcing him to drink it.

  Slowly, the fever began to break. Sun’s breathing steadied, and the color returned to his face. The physicians let out a collective sigh of relief.

  "He’s going to make it," one of them said, his voice filled with gratitude.

  ---

  As Sun drifted in and out of consciousness, he felt a deep sense of gratitude for Goldmane and the Spineless Brain. *I can’t rely on it forever,* he thought, his mind clear despite his exhaustion. *But it saved me today.*

  The palace was quiet, the tension slowly easing as the news of Sun’s recovery spread. The children, the maids, and even Princess Sixhonia waited anxiously for him to wake up.

  When he finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Goldmane’s golden mane. The lion let out a soft growl—*GRRR*—and nuzzled Sun’s hand, his eyes filled with loyalty and affection.

  "Thank you, my friend," Sun whispered, his voice weak but filled with gratitude.