An Unexpected Act of Kindness

The terror she had endured still haunted her expression, a ghostly imprint of the abuse she had suffered.

"It's over now," I said, keeping my voice low and steady. "No one is going to harm you again. How do your wounds feel? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she whispered, though the pain swimming in her eyes told a different story. "It still hurts a little, but I think I'll be okay. See?" To prove her point, she attempted to push herself to her feet, but her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed back onto the bench with a soft cry of pain.

"You are not okay at all!" Ms. Latina exclaimed, hurrying to the girl's side as a fresh wave of sobs wracked her small body. The rest of us gathered around, our faces etched with concern.

As they helped her get settled again, I turned to Farhan, my eyes falling back on the girl's heart-wrenching condition.

"Aetrium crystals can heal injuries, can't they?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

"That is true," he replied. "However, if you are considering using your own, I would strongly advise against it."

"And why is that?"

"Because your crystal is not the healing type. Healing crystals are typically crimson, the color of blood. Yours is purple, a crystal of serenity. While their functions might sound similar, their properties are vastly different. Using your crystal for healing would consume at least fifty, possibly even a hundred times more Aether than using the correct type."

"That doesn't matter, does it?" The thought struck me with a sudden, undeniable clarity. "We have money to spend. And what better purpose for it than to save a life?"

Caelus and Farhan could only stare at me, their faces a canvas of shock and surprise.

"Very true!" Kyoto added with infectious enthusiasm. "Saving a bunny-eared loli is money well spent!"

"You're surprisingly kind," Ms. Latina observed, the faintest hint of a smile gracing her features.

I managed a small smile of my own. "Well, you're surprisingly gentle yourself." She seemed far more approachable in that moment.

Old Voktah simply grinned, giving me a nod of silent, unwavering approval.

With the matter settled, I handed the amethyst-hued Aetrium Crystal to Farhan. "Please," I urged, "use this to heal her."

"Alright," he agreed with an understanding nod.

He positioned himself before the small bunny girl, cradling the crystal in both hands. "I command you, Seraphis Enial, to surge forth and return my subject to her original form!"

As he recited the incantation, a slender beam of pure purple light flowed from the crystal. Halfway to the girl, the light miraculously transmuted, shifting to a brilliant red that enveloped her in a soft, crimson aura.

In less than a minute, the glow faded. Where bruises and cuts had marred her skin, there was now only a healthy, flawless complexion. She looked completely restored.

"That cost 30 million Aetris!" Farhan exclaimed, his voice thick with astonishment. "That must be more than a hundred times what it would have cost using a proper healing crystal."

"That's great, isn't it?" I said, a wave of relief washing over me. "It seems we had more than enough to heal her completely. How are you feeling now, little one?"

"So much money..." Her body trembled as fresh tears welled in her eyes. "For a complete stranger to go to such lengths for someone like me… Kind sir, I don't know how I can ever repay you. I have nothing of value to offer in return."

Ms. Latina, who stood beside her, instinctively drew the girl into a comforting embrace.

"It's alright," Ms. Latina reassured her softly. "You don't need to worry about any of that. The only thing that matters is that you're safe now."

Just as the girl seemed about to break down completely, the younger child began to stir.

"...Big sis?" she mumbled, her eyes fluttering open as she looked around for her sibling.

The older girl quickly wiped her tears and turned to her little sister. "I'm here, Elira," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "Everything is okay. These kind people helped us."

"Ooo…" the little one cooed in a sweet, innocent voice, one of her long rabbit ears folding down in a cute, curious gesture.

"Uwaaa, so adorable~ whoops," Kyoto murmured, compulsively beginning to shuffle closer until I seized the back of his shirt and yanked him to a halt.

"The Golden Rule, Kyoto! Remember? NON-TOUCH!" I reminded him. That guy had the strangest turns of phrase sometimes.

The older sister, Elara, gently prompted Elira. "You should thank these kind people for saving us."

"Tha—" Before she could complete the word, a soft growl from her stomach interrupted her.

"This is… I'm so sorry," Elara stammered, bowing her head in a rush of mortification.

Then came another roar, this one considerably louder.

GROOOWL!

We all turned in unison toward the source of the noise.

…It was Voktah, the old man! He was patting his stomach, that wide, unshakeable grin still plastered across his face. The man’s timing was impeccable.

"When are we eating, boss?"

There he goes with the 'boss' thing again. Please stop. You're far older and more intimidating than I am.

Geez, this old man. "Alright, then! Caelus, Farhan, lead the way to that eatery you recommended. We're all going to lunch. My treat!" I declared with a flourish.

After a brief stop at an apothecary to purchase some ointment for 30,000 Aetris, our entire party headed for lunch. Along the way, Farhan and Caelus explained that the spell to transfer Aetris was called Aetrium Senaris, while the incantation for receiving it was Aetrium Rivaris. They promised that with a little practice, anyone could learn to cast them.

We also learned the older girl's name was Elara, and her younger sister was Elira. They were Lagomorph Demi-Humans from a village on the surface. Caelus speculated that their impoverished hamlet had likely sent them to the capital to find work, but Elara vehemently denied it, insisting her parents were loving and would never do such a thing. Caelus gently clarified that it was a common practice for rural families to send their children to the city, simply to have fewer mouths to feed.

He continued, describing their species. Lagomorphs were a type of Therian distinguished by their large ears, a short, fluffy tail, and patches of fur. The females also possessed a pouch on their bellies and were capable of incredible leaps. The description painted a picture of a cross between a rabbit and a kangaroo, but Caelus shattered our cute mental image by mentioning that male Lagomorphs were typically robust and brawny.

He reckoned that since the siblings retained so few of their ancestral traits, they must be no more than a quarter Therian. Elara confirmed this, explaining that many in her generation had more human-like appearances. As we walked, we observed a variety of other Demi-Humans—some resembled animals from Earth, some were a fusion of several, and others were entirely alien to our eyes.

Our conversation flowed until we reached the restaurant Farhan and Caelus had recommended in the Merchant District. It was situated on a wide side street, bustling with traffic. The eatery, they informed us, was run by the family of a childhood friend.

We stepped inside the combined pub and restaurant. A sign hanging above the bar proclaimed its name: "The Golden Dawn," a fitting title for a place where one could begin the day with breakfast or conclude it with a hearty dinner. The establishment was cozy, neither too large nor too small, and despite the lunchtime rush, there were still a few open tables.

"Mona, a table for eight, please!" Farhan called out to a waitress.

A feline Demi-Human with sharp, cat-like eyes, a tail, and matching ears approached us with a cheerful grin. "Right this way!" she chirped, her movements brisk and efficient.

She led us to a large, round table with ample room for our entire party.

The moment we were seated, Mona asked, "What can I get for you all?"

The two sisters, huddled beside Ms. Latina, shifted uncomfortably, looking far too timid to speak up.

"It's alright, you can order anything you—"

Braak!

"GYAHAHAHA, I WISH TO DEVOUR THE UNBORN!" Voktah's sudden roar shattered the tavern's ambiance as he slammed a fork and spoon down on the table.

"Nyaaaa!" Mona shrieked, her ears and tail shooting bolt upright. She leaped back, clutching her notepad to her chest like a shield.

"!" The rest of us were just as startled. Elara and Elira trembled, instinctively hugging each other for safety. In an instant, we had become the focal point of the entire restaurant.

An awkward silence descended as every eye in the room remained fixed on Voktah.

This crazy old man… I sighed internally, wrestling with his antics.

"Eggs…" I said, turning to Mona, who was now regarding our group with a wary curiosity. "He would like some eggs, please."

"Eh? Eggs?" she asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.

"Yes, eggs, please," I confirmed wearily.

"MASH THEM, BURN THEM, AND TEAR THEM ASUNDER!" Voktah snarled, pinning Mona with a menacing glare that made her flinch again.

"Scrambled eggs," I translated, exhaustion creeping into my voice. "He wants scrambled eggs. Please, old man, just try to speak normally."

The commotion eventually subsided, though not before we became the subject of whispered conversation throughout the establishment. I bought a round of drinks for everyone as a silent apology, an act which ended up breaking the ice and getting us chatting with some of the other patrons.

Mona took our orders, and the food arrived shortly after. Most of our party opted for the daily special, but Kyoto had adamantly requested a meat-only dish, hoping to encounter some exotic fantasy-world steak.

I had to admit, the food looked incredible. The special consisted of grilled bird thighs and wings, served alongside what appeared to be mashed potatoes and a side of steamed vegetables. The meat glistened under a sheen of savory oil, its alluring aroma causing Elara and Elira to salivate as they stared at their plates. Kyoto's order was a thick slab of steak smothered in a vibrant green sauce. Mona explained that the grilled meat was from a local wingless bird, while the steak was from a Grokk.

Kyoto, however, was poking at his steak with a disappointed fork. It didn't look bad, but I could smell the sharp, spicy scent of the green chili sauce even from where I sat.

Voktah's generous portion of scrambled eggs was served with a side of the same potato-like mash. The only difference was that his eggs were blue. Not a pale, off-yellow, but a genuine, vivid blue. I couldn't tell if it was their natural color or the result of some peculiar seasoning.

He dug in as if nothing was out of the ordinary, clearly unfazed by the color. It was now proven beyond a doubt: the old man definitely had a few screws loose.

As I lifted a glistening, fragrant piece of grilled bird to my lips, I heard a distinct sound from directly behind me.

Gulp. "That looks… delicious."

I glanced back, wondering who had spoken, and my eyes widened in surprise.

A single, delicate bead of drool was being wiped away from the mouth of the floating beauty. I had completely forgotten she had been silently tailing me this entire time.

Our eyes met.

"Ah," she uttered, another soft, melodic sound escaping her lips. Her voice was so enchanting I almost missed the significance of what had just transpired. She spoke!

It turns out she was quite the conversationalist. After all my attempts to engage her had been met with absolute silence, the one thing that could finally compel her to speak was food. The delicious-looking meal right here, in my hand.