An Unexpected Act of Kindness

Her face was still etched with a terrified expression, a ghostly reminder of the abuse she had endured.

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

"I'm fine," she whispered, the words a stark contrast to the pain in her eyes. "It still hurts a little, but I think I'll be okay. See?" She tried to prove her point by forcing herself to stand, but her legs gave way, and she stumbled back onto the bench with a soft cry.

"You are not okay at all!" Ms. Latina exclaimed, rushing to the girl's side as fresh sobs wracked her small frame. The others gathered around, their faces clouded with concern.

They helped her settle back onto the bench. I turned to Farhan, my gaze falling back on the girl's pitiable condition.

"Aetrium crystals can heal injuries, can't they?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"True," I replied. "However, if you're thinking of using your own, I would advise against it."

"Why is that?"

"Because you don't possess the healing type. Healing crystals are typically crimson, or blood-red. Yours is purple, a crystal of serenity. While their functions may seem similar, their properties are vastly different. Using your crystal for healing would cost you at least fifty, perhaps even a hundred times more Aether than using the correct type."

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

Caelus and Farhan stared at me, their expressions a mixture of shock and surprise.

"Very true!" Kyoto chimed in enthusiastically. "Saving a bunny-eared loli is money well spent!"

"You're surprisingly kind," Ms. Latina remarked, a hint of a smile softening her features.

I offered a small smile in return. "Well, you're surprisingly gentle yourself." She seemed much more approachable now.

Old Voktah simply grinned, nodding at me in silent, steadfast agreement.

Putting the matter to rest, I handed the amethyst-colored Aetrium Crystal to Farhan. "Please," I said, "use this to heal her."

"Alright," he nodded in understanding.

He stood 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 chanted the incantation, a thin, pure purple light emanated from the crystal. Halfway to its destination, the light transmuted into a brilliant red, enveloping the girl in a soft crimson aura.

In less than a minute, the light dissipated. Where the bruises had been, now there was only healthy, flawless skin. She looked completely restored.

"That cost 30 million Aetris!" Farhan cried out, his voice laced with astonishment. "That must be over a hundred times the cost of using a proper healing crystal."

"That's great, isn't it?" I said, relieved. "It seems it was more than enough to heal her completely. How are you feeling now, little one?"

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

Ms. Latina, who was standing beside her, instinctively wrapped her in a comforting embrace.

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

Just as the girl was about to break down in tears, the younger child began to stir.

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

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

"Ooo…" the little one replied in a sweet, innocent voice, one of her long rabbit ears folding down cutely.

"Uwaaa, so adorable~ whoops," Kyoto cooed, compulsively inching closer until I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him to a halt.

"The Golden Rule, Kyoto! Remember? NON-TOUCH!" I reminded him. Sometimes, that guy says the strangest things.

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

"Tha—" Before she could finish, a soft growl from her stomach cut her off.

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

Then came another roar, this one considerably louder.

GROOOWL!

We all turned toward the source of the sound.

…It was Voktah, the old man! He was patting his stomach, a wide grin still plastered on 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 quick stop at a pharmacy to buy some ointment for 30,000 Aetris, we all headed for lunch. On the way, Farhan and Caelus explained that the spell to transfer Aetris was called Aetrium Senaris, and the one for receiving it was Aetrium Rivaris. They assured us that with a little practice, anyone could learn to cast them.

We also learned that the older girl's name was Elara, and her younger sister was Elira. They were Lagomorph Demi-Humans from a surface village. Caelus suggested 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 common for rural families to send children to the city, simply to have fewer mouths to feed.

He went on to describe their species. Lagomorphs were a type of Therian with distinctive large ears, a short, fluffy tail, and patches of fur. The females also had a pouch on their bellies, and they were capable of incredible leaps. The description sounded like a cross between a rabbit and a kangaroo, but Caelus shattered our cute 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 features. As we walked, we saw a variety of other Demi-Humans—some resembling animals from Earth, some a fusion of several, and others entirely alien to us.

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

We stepped inside the pub and restaurant. A sign above the bar read "The Golden Dawn," a fitting name for a place where one could start the day with breakfast or end 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 tables free.

"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 enough room for our entire party.

As soon as we were seated, Mona asked, "What can I get for you all?"

The two sisters, sitting beside Ms. Latina, shifted uncomfortably, looking too timid to order.

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

Braak!

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

"Nyaaaa!" Mona shrieked, her ears and tail shooting straight up. 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. We had managed to capture the attention 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 at his antics.

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

"Eh? Eggs?" she asked, bewildered.

"Yes, eggs, please," I confirmed, my tone weary.

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

"Scrambled eggs," I translated tiredly. "He wants scrambled eggs. Please, old man, just try to speak normally."

The commotion eventually died down, though not before we became the topic of conversation for the whole establishment. I bought a round of drinks for everyone as a silent apology, which ended up breaking the ice and getting us talking with some of the other patrons.

Mona took our orders, and the food arrived shortly thereafter. Most of us went with 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 was grilled bird thighs and wings, served with what looked like mashed potatoes and a side of steamed vegetables. The meat glistened under a coat of savory oil, and its alluring aroma made Elara and Elira salivate as they stared at their plates. Kyoto's order was a thick slab of steak topped with 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, poked 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 my seat.

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 seasoning.

He dug in as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Clearly, the color didn't faze him in the slightest. It was now proven: 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 behind me.

Gulp. "That looks… delicious."

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

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

Our eyes met.

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

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