Thar-Abbys a diferent city

"Blam!" a clean, sharp blow against a desk made of white august wood echoed through the large, luxurious room. Ithil stood at attention, listening to the scolding of Instructor Levanon. Young and red-haired, the man wore a ring that marked him as a "Great Zelator"; this beautiful gold and platinum ring featured a crest combined with a lens in relief.

"You were given resources, time, and people! Your little operation arrived far too late! We lost two promising squads from the academy!" — Ithil, biting his lower lip, exercised masterful restraint to keep from exploding at Zelator Levanon.

"Your game of cat and mouse cost the academy not only assets, but credibility!" — Levanon, clearly enraged, scribbled in his notebook, which featured covers made of platinum and gold with reliefs matching his ring. Using his dragon-bone pen, he marked the names of the two teams in bright, beautiful red ink with notes reading "disabled and unusable," before slamming the book shut.

"You’re lucky the Director protects you. Your minor triumph in Brodovya, in some lost village, means nothing; you’ll have to prove you’re worth more than that. To me, you are nothing more than empty medals won through questionable favors and flattery. Now leave, Mr. Ithil; you must report to escort the newcomers."

Ithil gave a sharp nod.

"Yes, sir. As ordered."
A deep urge to punch the young man, who was barely his own age, churned violently in his stomach. Taking a step back, he turned on his heel and exited the room exactly like a good soldier.

"What the hell was that?" — Inola was waiting outside, more than indignant. His gaze met Ithil’s; Ithil looked him straight in the eye and adjusted his peaked cap to hide his expression. He took a step and said, "It wasn't worth it, not yet. It wasn't the time, and we don't need that trouble yet. The Zelators have gained a lot of ground in the academy since the Nivoria incident. Let’s find Mina and Jacob; I want to see how the rookies are doing."

Inola, not quite convinced, grabbed his jacket and ran after Ithil: "Hey!... Wait, Ithil, don’t just walk away, I’m not done yet!"

The corridors of the Thar-Abbys tower are famous for being a hub of rumors, furtive conversations, and conspiracies among students and mid-tier staff. Enormous single-piece rutilated quartz plates serve as windows, creating extraordinary patterns illuminated by Geotechnic chandeliers of small "Iluminas". These are quartz formations ranging from warm yellow to pure white that emit light without a power source. Bronze and silver chains adorn the sides of the hallway instead of cloth curtains. The pitter-patter of Ithil’s formal boots matched the softer, more rhythmic steps of Inola’s leather sandals.

"Hanging out with Zelators? I’ve never even heard of them," Inola said, catching up to Ithil, slightly out of breath.

"Meh, leeches and vermin. Master Uras and Samael should kick them out. Oh, look, Jacob! Over here!" — Both walked toward the central elevator.

"Ithil! Inola! Guys, I’ve finished repairing the Guisarme; fortunately, only a few systems were damaged and... Are you okay? You look angry," Jacob held a wooden toolbox in front of him with both hands; a bit of oil smudged his nose. Lizva followed behind him carrying a folder, quietly trying to reach him to clean his face. When Jacob stopped, Lizva reached out to wipe the smudge away.

"Eh? Hehe, thanks." — Finally, Lizva could hold solid things, at least light ones, and she never missed a chance to help Jacob.

"Yeah, yeah, you have a pact spirit, I get it," Inola muttered under his breath, unimpressed.

"Haha. Oh, right—Mina said she’d be with Leonidas in the infirmary. Emelia is in surgery. Along with them, it seems there’s good and bad news." — Jacob and the others entered the elevator. Walls of brown marble with veins of gold and silver adorned the cabin. With a smooth, pleasant slide, the elevator accelerated through the shaft; small Geotechnic repulsors moved the heavy cabin with ease.

"So, how did it go with the Zelators, Ithil?" Jacob asked, sensing the anger stemmed from that meeting.

"Mmph, chewed up by cats and spat out, that’s how it went. And he didn’t even lift a finger—that’s what grinds my gears the most! You saved those kids; you should at least make that clear!" Inola looked at Ithil with anger and a hint of disappointment.

"Oh, I see..." Jacob set aside his tools. "I understand... Ithil, I know you’re trying your best, and your actions matter. Me and the others, we know—you’re a great leader." Ithil’s fist gave a small twitch; the image of Rax and Lucernia flashed through his mind. "If you have trouble with the Zelators, we could call Nana and she could talk to them. The Mahogany family has your back!" Jacob snorted, confident in his family’s influence.

"Haha, yeah, I can imagine... But are you sure you want to get Nana involved in this?" Ithil, cheered up and slightly calmer, replied to Jacob. He imagined a hellish scene with Nana at the center of the academy.

"Haha, maybe not. We probably shouldn't get her involved," Jacob reconsidered, imagining the same thing.

"Thanks, guys. I know the results have been poor, but there’s a lot at stake. Even Master Samael and Uras have disappeared. Sub-director Cassandra is doing what she can, but... external powers are hitting her hard," Ithil removed his cap in a gesture of relief.

"Finally, you took that horrible thing off," Inola said, laughing heartily.

"Heh. Yeah, I heard they’re both on a mission. Uras even took his legendary Klauvra, the Tooth of the Sun God," Jacob and Inola watched the floors pass through the elevator's visor. Offices and dark hallways flickered past until they finally reached the 15th floor.

"Nana told me, a bit more than the official version, that several wealthy families and corporations are trying to decentralize Thar-Abbys. They argue that the Theosis Tharmullis and the Nivoria incident were just the beginning. The complaints about the fees to pass the adventurer exam, which were removed last year, hurt them badly; many countries and kingdoms use that rank as political currency, and that ruined many people's plans," Jacob, as always, had the precise intel.

“Sanatio corporis et animae”—these words rested on a slab of limestone with plant and fish fossils on the bronze plate in front of them. Emilia's medical and care floors were vital and heavily used lately. The floor was overwhelmed in some areas and neglected in others.

"Heavens, I didn’t think the damage would be this severe," Ithil and the others made their way through the well-lit corridors. The limestone arches with fossils of various shapes and sizes were almost part of Emilia's medical staff. An enormous ammonite with chambers like amethyst and citrine geodes rested at the end of the main hallway; its profile saturated with hematite, as if outlined, made it a peculiar landmark where people left paper ribbons wishing for their patients' recovery.

"This way! To the right, room 105," Inola took a few quick, playful steps, getting ahead of Jacob and Ithil, impatient but optimistic for news on the rookies.

"So, what did your family say, Jacob?" Ithil, keeping his eyes forward, continued walking slowly. Jacob, matching his pace, reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter.

"Well, at first, just like many other rich kids, I also had a Bronze-level title purchase letter. In fact, Nana delayed my enrollment for a year to train me." Jacob handed him a metallic scroll with the Mahogany emblem engraved on it. Inside was a parchment letter addressed to Director Uras Granada detailing the reasons why Jacob was a candidate for the Bronze Medal title in support of the Thar-Abbys cause as a "Bronze Bearer of Mercy".

"Haha, the Mahoganys, of course. Well? What happened?" Ithil rolled the parchment back into the metallic scroll, giving Jacob a light tap on the head. Lizva didn't seem to like the gesture and silently scolded Ithil with a wagging finger and a pout.

"The Klein triplets... that’s what happened. Many families sent their children because the academy handled common creatures; Theosis Tharmullis were rare, even few and far between. Usually, the kids were accompanied by bodyguards and private mercenaries. That changed with the Klein triplets: Theosis Tharmullis became increasingly varied and common. That loss of control discouraged Thar-Abbys from granting 'Bearer of Mercy' titles," Jacob stopped in front of room 105, and Ithil followed suit.

"Alright... let’s go!" Ithil stepped forward. Inola was already inside. Leonidas was resting in an armchair, half-asleep and nodding off, losing a fight against exhaustion, while Magaska slept soundly on a sofa. The fatigue of the extended hunt had left them drained.

"Look, Nesta seems to be doing better," Inola pointed to the young archer, who lay in a specialized recovery bed. Several machines hummed an electric lullaby beside her; her heartbeat danced to the rhythm of the machine blowing life into her heart and lungs.

"Ouch... will she be...?" Ithil was barely asking when a firm, experienced voice answered from behind him:

"Okay? Yes, she will be," Emilia, still in her surgical gown, emerged from the hallway at the back of the room.

"And I’ve actually finished attending to Miss Rhea," Mina came out behind Emilia, also in a surgical gown. Removing her disposable cap, both sat in the waiting room armchairs.

"Very well, Miss Mina, you may give the general report." Mina nodded and sighed; she stood up again and began:

"Nesta, the young archer, didn’t just lose a limb to Luan's ability; one of her own arrows also pierced her right lung upon impact. She’s stable for now; rest and some help with cellular regeneration stimulators here at the academy will have her on her feet in less than a month. The important part was the arm: thanks to Thar-Abbys' specialized microsuture equipment, we were able to reconnect veins, arteries, and tendons. The skin will have to grow back on its own, and the stimulators will help with that too. She may experience nerve pain in the future and it will take at least half a year to recover if she stays positive." Mina sighed as she finished reading the diagnosis. Leonidas, now awake, clapped in amazement.

"Amazing, Sister Mina. I thought her archery days were over." The diagnosis was positive and promising for Nesta.

"That’s only if she doesn't develop future infections. I take pride in my work, and Miss Mina has proven very capable, but there could be issues if she becomes careless or depressed," Emilia added, closing Nesta's file. Ithil felt a bit of relief, but the others were still missing.

"And the other girl? The pregnant one?" Emilia sighed and prepared the file.

"Very well. First, young Rhea does show signs of early pregnancy. Mina noticed, while assisting her, that Rhea used her Protection ability to create multiple defensive barriers around her womb and chest." Emilia read Mina's report aloud.

"I see, so that’s how you noticed. You’re incredible, Mina, I never would have known!" Jacob, amazed by Mina's perception, couldn't help but marvel.

"But she completely neglected her head and neck, leading to the situation we have now. Miss Mina, while it’s true Rhea is in her first month of pregnancy, it’s still too early for it to be a high-risk situation. What Rhea is carrying is not yet a baby, Miss Mina."

"Yes, I got carried away by the positive result; I made a mistake in diagnosing her," Mina slumped into an armchair.

"Don’t be discouraged, young Mina; you did the right thing. In the field, there’s little time to verify such things. Young Rhea was treated for a large wound in her neck; the cut missed the artery, and despite losing a lot of blood, she is in the process of recovery—her life is not in danger." Emilia closed the file. Rhea lay bandaged in her bed, her face showing a comforting relief.

"But... what happened then?" Leonidas asked, intrigued.

"Well... if young Rhea decides to proceed with her pregnancy, she can; Mina's intervention gave her that chance. However, she’s still delicate and anything can happen. For now, she’s stable; she’ll need the support of her team and family to decide." Emilia adjusted her glasses as she took the third file. "This brings us to young Rax..." Emilia sighed once more.

"...Erm..." Ithil faltered; part of him dreaded the results for Rax.

"How... how did he do?" Inola asked for Ithil, who remained speechless, lacking the courage to ask.

"It was very difficult... Rax suffered a jagged laceration from a Ferruginous feather, famous for their saw-like edges," Mina looked down at her hands. "The wounds were hard to treat; a lot of debris that could cause infection was embedded in the wound, bones, and marrow. We had to remove parts of the bone entirely, as well as tissue; the cut was diagonal below the knees. It will take time, but he will have to relearn how to use his legs; his journey is just beginning, so to speak." Closing Rax's file, Emilia looked at Ithil out of the corner of her eye, recognizing the signs of an impending breakdown, and added: "By no means are these wounds the end. His worth isn't just in that; it’s in many things and in how he faces the future. I’m sure young Rax will find the courage in Rhea and his friends to move forward and succeed. Anyway, there’s always someone to talk to, right, young Ithil?" Emilia smiled slightly and opened the next file.

"Luan! Young Luan is the least physically damaged... but the one who concerns me most. Young Luan arrived not long ago with a Silver Bearer of Mercy application, which was rejected. The boy is from a family of great wealth, possibly from Brodovya or some family from Llyntia or Iphenor. The boy is consumed by guilt; I haven't been able to reach him," Emilia told them, while Jacob thought for a moment and, acting on a hunch, said:

"Luan Rosewood. Of course, the last of the Rosewoods must still have plenty of influence around White Port." Jacob searched through his rabbit-skin notebook.

"Rosewood?" Ithil asked, as if the name were familiar to him as well.

"‘Rosewood Imports and Shipping,’ here it is. They’re a family dedicated to transport and cargo movement all over the world, so the kid has money." Jacob looked back at Emilia.

"Luan is highly traumatized; in fact, I haven't discharged him yet even though he’s healthy. He must be by the chapels. The boy offered to pay for Rax, Rhea, and Nesta’s treatments. Right now, we’re doing what’s necessary to transfer them to a private hospital right here in Thar-Abbys." Emilia looked at her floor’s logistics papers, where she tracked discharges and admissions. The rental of the specialized equipment used to treat Nesta was charged to adventurer Luan Rosewood, rented for the next two years for the benefit of any adventurer who might need it.

"Wow, two years? That’s a ton of money." Mina looked at the receipts for consumables, covered monthly maintenance services, and certified technical use training.

"It’s almost an entire wing! They didn’t have this equipment a week ago." Inola looked at the receipts even more surprised than the others; it was the first time he’d seen that much money at once, even if only on paper.

"Master Emilia, where is Luan?" Ithil asked, stunned.

"He’s in the chapels. He doesn't have an appointment with me scheduled for now, but he does tomorrow. If you talk to him, I’d like to know a bit about what you manage to discuss." Emilia packed her small bag and left the files on a shelf in the waiting room.

"Master Emilia, are you here?" A red-haired girl with dark skin knocked at the entrance; her expression seemed urgent.

"Yes, just a moment! What’s wrong, Dr. Valeria?" Emilia addressed the young woman politely.

"There was an accident in a kitchen oven in the commercial sector; two people are burned, we need your help!" Valeria gave a polite but brief nod to the others.

"What? Quick, let’s get the injured to the ER!" Emilia rushed out with Valeria, leaving the others behind without another word.

"Are you going to see Luan?" Mina asked, sitting in the armchair. Hours of work saving Rax's legs were taking their toll on her.

"Mhh, but I don’t know, I don’t think I’m the right person," Ithil said, scratching his head. The others looked at each other; finally, they looked at Jacob.

"Eermh... I feel like I’m being chosen for some mysterious reason." Jacob looked at them all, unconvinced. Taking a step back, he tried to retreat: "What could I even say to him?!" Jacob replied nervously, while Lizva imitated his concern, trying to defend him.

"Hmm, you have a point, but of all of us here, I think you’re the one. First, because you’re an Evoker, and second, because you’re from the same social class as him. None of us could know the pressures and obligations of a boy like him." Inola replied, while Mina joined in:

"Inola and Ithil are right, Jacob. None of us here can know what a boy like him feels. Besides, Ithil will be the one to talk to Rax—he’s almost awake—and I’ll talk to Rhea." Mina stole a quick glance through the room's curtains, slowly turning up the lights.

"Aaawww, alright... but I don't know what to say to him..." With tears in his eyes, Jacob headed toward the chapels while Lizva encouraged him as best she could.

Jacob walked back through the sterile corridors adorned with varnished limestone, arriving at the giant ammonite where some were already hanging paper ribbons. One of them bore the name of Lucernia, the girl they managed to rescue a week ago along with her team members Moltan and Varian; and another for the eternal rest of Shigure, the archer.

"What could I possibly say to him?... Haaa, let's go, Lizva."

The silent words of prayers peeked out from the edges of the hallways; nascent wishes rose while seas of tears and promises were offered in exchange for medical miracles. Jacob walked past the chapels representing the most important religions in Khuarhya.

The Bimetists, with their altars painted in contrasting red and royal blue, and white candles. Their sacred symbols: the arrow and the blade—both to kill evil and excess, both to regulate and issue judgment, both to honor the word of the sister goddesses Enrya and Triariz. Composure and restraint. As was custom, a mirror on the floor at the entrance of their temples was present to leave the selfish self behind. Jacob peeked politely into this place full of twin images and found opposites, but not Luan.

Further on, a screen carved in mother-of-pearl, shimmering with a multicolor glow, guarded the entrance to the temple of the Matron Effigies. Metallic mirrors and stained-glass windows reflected and projected the beautiful, iridescent rainbow of the Chromatic Mother, guardian of the Drakoorias and their families. Peering through the holes of the carved screen, Jacob didn't see Luan there either. That only left two places: the Room of the Ten True Laws or the General Reflection Chapel.

"Alright, I don't think Luan is in the True Laws room; he’s probably in the General Reflection Room." Jacob headed to the room at the end of the chapels.

At the end of the hallway was a room painted in pure white and lit with candles. The place, clean and lacking religious icons, presented itself as a comforting space of rest away from even one's own dogmas. The Iluminas flickered in a warm amber color and the scent of damp stone brushed against the skin. Crouched at the back, as if hidden from the world, was Luan, sitting in the corner furthest from the entrance. His Klauvra, leaning against the wall, bore its usual gray cloak. This time Luan didn't cling to it as usual, as if setting aside his profession as a Magicer wrapped in the armor of the cloak; he meditated in silence, as if viewing his own future as an adventurer from the outside.

"...How... how are Nesta and Rhea, Master Jacob?" Jacob stopped for a moment; the word "Master" took him by surprise. He touched his own medal resting over his heart; the cold metal reminded him of his current rank. Not wanting to waste the advantage presented to him, he walked over to the boy.

"May I sit?" Jacob left his gear outside, including Lizva, who wasn't very happy about it and stayed outside pouting.

"Yes, yes, of course, Master Jacob." Luan stood up as quickly as possible, revealing a bottle of Rebril liquor that had fallen on its side by his feet.

"Oh! Silly me, excuse me, I didn't mean to... haaa, up... up... up... ghaaa." Luan, clearly stressed, leaned over several times to pick up the bottle. Failing by a few millimeters, he finally managed to pick it up on the fourth try.

"I just... ha... I just want to get out of here." Luan looked at the bottle in his hand. The cold liquid condensed water droplets on the surface; staring at the reddish tint of the container, the drops looked like blood to him. Panic seized him again, and he quickly used his sleeve to wipe them off the bottle. An ephemeral spirit of guilt slinked behind Luan. Jacob chose to pretend he couldn't see the spirit, which only looked at him timidly while whispering in Luan's ears.

"Yeah... Nesta and Rhea, mm, well there’s good news for both of them." Jacob smiled and approached the young Magicer, who slumped back into the armchair where a finely made blanket lay, sighing in relief. At that moment, Jacob acted: moving his hand furtively, he pretended to pick a couple of pieces of lint off Luan's shoulder, and as he did, he detached an arm from the ephemeral spirit. The spirit was so surprised that, enraged, it tried to lash out at Jacob. Lizva interrupted, ringing a beautiful wind chime that hung in the middle of the room.

"Haha, did what I did at least accomplish something?" Luan, sad but relieved, asked Jacob. Annoyed, the ephemeral spirit tried to reclaim its territory, but Jacob silently used all his power to push it back with every word he exchanged with Luan.

"Yes, it did, and it won't just serve them—it will serve others too... You know, when I arrived at the academy, I was also a Bearer of Mercy." Jacob smiled, a bit embarrassed.

"Eh? Seriously? Where are you from, Master Jacob? From how you talk, you seem to be from Brodovya." Luan relaxed a bit; the spirit was losing its grip on the young Magicer.

"Haha, well, I’m from Ghillin." Jacob showed the scroll of his old rank letter. Beside it, the discreet threads of the Rosary of Domination used by Jacob to exorcise spread through the room.

"Ma... MAHOGANY!" Luan, shocked, leaned back. For a moment, he forgot the weight of his situation, allowing Jacob to seize what appeared to be the spirit's chest. Lizva grabbed the threads and began to pull, separating the young Magicer from that spirit bloated with Luan's grief and fear.

"Shhh, there are still patients." Jacob put a finger to his lips, lowering his voice, as he tucked away the scroll with the Mahogany emblem.

"Luan Rosewood at your service, Mr. Mahogany." Luan stood at attention and gave a deep bow. Jacob, nervous, froze for an instant.

"Up, up, Luan! Right now, we’re adventurers!" Jacob urged him to stand; his abrupt movement further separated the ephemeral spirit, which tried to cling to the boy in anger and desperation.

"That’s the beauty of this place, Luan... Here in Thar-Abbys, we aren't Rosewoods or Mahoganys, we’re just adventurers... and comrades. I’m proud you didn’t run away; if you’d just paid and fled, you’d probably have more problems, especially with your family... I know what it’s like to carry all that: the names, the suits, the manners." Jacob spoke from experience, remembering hostile family parties and gatherings.

"The horrible guests! The snotty, spoiled daughters of daddy..." Luan continued the list.

"The table manners!" Jacob replied. The ephemeral spirit choked on light and gasped desperately, disintegrating into dust.

"Who needs six forks?" "Who needs four knives?"—they both said at the same time.

"If only..." Jacob looked up at the beautiful chandelier of metallic tubes and Iluminas. "I just need to know that at the end of the day..." Luan continued. "Your family will support you and... that among all of them, at least one... just one! Just one of them cares about you because you’re you, and not because of your last name..." Luan took the liquor bottle and emptied its contents into an empty marble-carved water basin.

"Luan, the enemy was strong, and even though they were defeated, they can move forward if they want to." Jacob stood up and straightened his clothes, patting him on the back.

"Thank you, Master Jacob, I feel better. And I think I’ll stay here at the academy... Haha, I was thinking of quitting, you know?... I’ll take responsibility for my mistakes... Thank you!" Luan fell asleep right after saying that.

"Hehe, looks like you hadn’t slept at all, kid. Get some rest." Jacob took Luan's gray cloak and noticed he was wearing it inside out, so he shook it out and placed it over the boy. A wine-red lining and the Rosewood emblem in gold thread on the button were visible. Jacob took his things and returned to the others.

"Lights?... Ah, my hand!" Nesta woke up startled and, remembering the horror of her encounter, put her hand to her shoulder. Finding her arm, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. Her room was lit by the warm Iluminas coming from outside, from the waiting room where unknown people waited.

"Who... who are they? Rhea! RAX! LUAN! Where are they?... Rhea... where are you?..." Tears began to well up. Suddenly she felt a painful sting, like a hot knife, when she tried to pull back the blanket with her hand.

"Aaaaa, what is it?... Gaaaaaaa, my arm hurts... it hurts so much... sniff... help... someone..." Nesta grabbed her arm; it wouldn’t respond and its color looked strange to her.

"Nesta’s awake! I’ll go talk to her, it’s my turn." Mina stood up. The dark circles under her eyes were more than evident; continuous sessions in the healing room were long and took their toll in exhaustion.

"Stay strong, Sister Mina. If you like, I can talk to young Rax." Leonidas covered Magaska with a checkered blanket; she was completely exhausted from the mission.

"No, Leo, I’ll talk to him. You helped us so much driving without rest for those weeks—you’ve earned a good rest." Ithil gave Leonidas a couple of pats; he nodded slightly and fell asleep next to Magaska.

"Hello, good afternoon, Nesta. I’m Mina, I treated you in the field and I’m following your treatment here." Mina entered with a smile, wearing a white lab coat over her usual gear. Her gold medal shone among her clothes.

"M...ina, you’re the girl I saw over me on the... uh!... BLEEEEERGH!" Nesta tried to remember what happened, reliving that stone path. Dizziness accompanied by a wave of vomit hit her; trying to move her arm, Nesta fell to her side, nearly sliding to the floor, but Mina caught her.

"RHEA! WHERE IS RHEA? Haaa, my arm, why does it hurt so much?... Why won’t it respond?" Nesta was a whirlwind of ideas; her mind was in several places at once—remembering, aching, shifting here and there with an unexpected chaos for Mina.

"Nesta, calm down, you’re safe. You and Rhea, your whole team—everyone made it. There’s nothing to fear." Mina hugged Nesta. She just stared at her arm, almost on the verge of anger; Nesta pushed Mina away.

"Master Mina... this... this isn't my arm... it belongs to someone else!" Nesta, squeezing her reattached arm, repeated it over and over, curled into a ball on the furthest edge of the bed, burying her nails in it and hitting it with her hand.

"Nesta, you’re hurting your arm... Nesta, listen to me... Nesta, your arm was dismembered; we fought to save it and succeeded, but you have to let it heal." Mina calmly approached.

"And... and... Rhea... sniff, is she okay?... Do you swear it... sniff." Nesta stopped, only squeezing her arm until it left white marks on her skin.

"Yes, she’s fine, I swear. She’s actually in the room next door, look." Mina pulled back the curtains of both rooms, revealing young Rhea sleeping peacefully.

"That’s good... That’s good... Rhea..." Tears streamed down Nesta's face for a few minutes. Mina sat beside the girl and looked at her medal, sighing; Nesta's words like "Master" echoed in her mind.

"By the way, today is Tuesday. I heard there are extra-delicious meat buns in the cafeteria... would you like me to save some for you?" Mina, smiling at the girl, spoke with complete honesty.

"Yes, Master, please... Will my arm be okay?" Nesta stroked her palm; the feeling of the touch didn't register—it was as if the arm belonged to someone else.

"We’ll help you, but you’re the only one who can make that happen." Mina left the room and headed to Rhea’s.

"Thank you for saving us, Master Mina." Nesta gave a clean smile, hugging herself. Mina responded with a smile full of relief and joy.

"Mmmhh... Mhhh... la, la... Mmmh..." Rhea was humming a soft, quiet song. The peach tone of her skin was almost absent; paleness covered her completely in its place. Blue nails and lackluster eyes rested on the bed.

"Oh... come in..." Rhea could barely speak, but she made an effort to receive Mina nonetheless.

"Hello, Rhea... I’m Mina, I treated you on the stone path... How do you feel?" Mina tried to ask a simple question.

"...I’m cold... and... thirsty, so thirsty... Could I ask for... something hot... Master Mina? Right?..." Rhea scratched her cheek, asking in a soft, thin voice.

"Well, in a way I am a Master—my medal gives me authority, though... hahahaha, I’m starting to doubt it. Sure, would you like a hot chocolate? We can prepare it in the waiting room and I’ll bring it to you." Mina opened the door to prepare the drink when Inola arrived quickly with two prepared cups.

"Oh, thanks, Inola!" Mina took the tray and returned to the room.

"La, la... mmhhh, mh, mh..." Rhea was shaking uncontrollably while she sang; the smile on her face was betrayed by the tears falling down her cheeks. Her hands moved along her neck dressed in bandages and medicine, down to her body, tracing it as if confirming everything was still there.

"Mmmhhh... ta... sniff... hic... hic... la... sniff... la, la..." Humming a beautiful song, Rhea cried. Mina, frozen in place, could barely think of what to say or do.

"How... how is Rax? Is he okay?" Rhea didn't stop touching her body, rubbing it as if trying to regain the heat lost on that path.

"Yes, but he’s also injured. My partner Ithil is attending to him." Rhea laughed twice secretly, swallowing her tears.

"Nesta... how is she?..." Her voice broke along with her cracked lips.

"She’s also injured. You’re very close friends, right? The first thing she did was ask about you." Mina struggled to string together what to say; the signals she was getting from Rhea were confusing and scared her a bit.

"Haha... yeah... heh... she’s very cheerful... she’s a sun..." Rhea scratched her cheek continuously; her nail was soon joined by two other fingers until she tore her skin.

"Rhea...!" Mina rushed to stop her, holding her hand.

"Eh?... Again?... Oh, no... I’m sorry... I did it again..." Rhea looked at her hand; as if a bit of sparkle suddenly returned to her eyes, she stopped her hand.

"You know... before... I used to hurt myself... I used to scratch my cheeks until they bled..." Mina could see old scars on Rhea's face hidden by makeup. She used gauze and removed two small soft rubber pads; beneath them, deep scars on her face, like furrows, ran from top to bottom.

"I see... I’ll wash these and place them next to your bed." Mina, impressed by what she saw, took the soft fillings and washed them with medical soap.

"Thank you... Master? I’m horrible... aren't I?... In our village, the other kids used to hit me a lot, I had no one and... Rax helped me... his... warmth... helps cheer me up. And then I came to the academy with him... and I met Nesta... and Luan... suddenly... I had so many reasons to smile... sniff." Rhea looked down, ashamed, but too tired to cry.

"Every day... it was so beautiful... I was so loved... and then... that night happened... between Rax and me... and that gave me even more strength." Rhea grew a bit embarrassed; like a budding flower, her feelings spoke for themselves.

"So... you already know?" Mina asked, sitting in front of her.

"...Mhm, I had a feeling... like a small pearl in my womb... I still feel it... I think I owe it to you." Rhea slowly reclined, nodding her head.

"Very well, Rhea. You’re in the early stages of pregnancy, you saved the situation as best you could and Master Emilia helped us stabilize you... But we have two important points: first, your pregnancy is still very early, and second, you will be in critical stages with anemia in the coming months..." Mina paused; the true blow was coming.

"You can tell me, Master Mina, I’ll be strong." Rhea, lying back, placed her hand over her face covering her eyes.

"You’re a true shield maiden, Rhea... As a warrior, I respect you. True Law Number Two." Mina took Rhea's hand; she smiled with her scant strength and they both said aloud:

"The decision to fight, the strength to live, living is fighting, decisions with strength. The warrior does not fight to sacrifice themselves; the warrior fights to survive and to help others do the same." Mina, happy with Rhea's response, let go of her hand.

"The coming months will be decisive. You aren't carrying a baby yet—it’s too early to call it that; if the situation dictates, we must choose between you or continuing your pregnancy. What do you decide?" Rhea placed her hand on her womb and then on her cheeks.

"Yes, Dr. Mina... if the time comes... I choose to live... but I will fight before deciding... Rax... he’s stubborn... but he’s a gentle boy... and warm... tell Master Ithil not to be hard on him..." Rhea gradually fell asleep. Mina took the cups and dimmed the lights. Nesta stepped out of her room with effort and walked cautiously toward Mina.

"Is Rhea pregnant?" Holding back tears and joy, Nesta asked in a low voice.

"Why don't you ask her? For now, she’s tired..." Nesta, with tearful and wide eyes, looked deeply at Mina.

"Ah... yes. Yes, you can sleep with her; just don't disturb her and let her rest. If the nurses see you bothering her, I’ll have to send you back to your... room." Nesta, tucked in beside her friend, curled up like a cat and took Rhea's hand.

Mina walked out of Rhea's room, looking back at the two young girls; keeping each other company, they seemed calmer now. Standing before her now was Ithil, staring at the back of the room.

"Is... Rax... awake?" Ithil looked at Mina, incredibly depressed and nervous.

"Yes, Ithil, he’s awake... Do you want me to go in with you?" Mina set the cups on a table near where Magaska and Leonidas were sleeping.

"No... no, I want to do this myself... Alright, here goes." Ithil straightened his uniform and prepared to take a step, pausing outside Rax’s room.

"Holy Enrya, Ithil, he’s a boy who needs support, not an angry general. Go on, just go in as you are."
Tap, tap, tap! Ithil’s martial steps entered the room. With a rigid and defiant face, he looked at Rax, who was in bed staring at his exposed legs.

"I’m Ithil, leader of the rescue squad." With a noisy squeak, he dragged a metal chair in front of Rax's bed. Sitting with the backrest in front of him, he faced the boy; removing his cap, he placed it carefully on the table and turned it slightly. His movements were martial and slightly intimidating.

"Yeah... yeah, I heard." Rax pulled his arms in and covered the legs he had been staring at.

"Your teammates are..." Ithil decided to give him the good news about his group, but he was interrupted by Rax.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!" Rax shouted at the top of his lungs.

"..." Ithil, with a somber gaze, fixed his eyes on Rax. Mixed feelings of disappointment and contradiction besieged him; trying to weigh a valid response, he tried to speak again: "Rax, I..." but was interrupted again.

"No... I don’t want to... I don’t want to know... just... let me disappear... I just want to dissolve into the floor and not know anything." Rax held his head with both hands.

"Is that how you want your teammates to remember you? Look up, Mr. Rax," Ithil said in a loud voice.

“Small and miserable,” Luan's voice echoed in his mind.

"What do you know! What do you know about trying to live like I do! We found you alone and wandering without a group; if I hadn't accepted you, you’d still be begging for missions. If it weren't for Rhea!" Rax looked up, but he was confused: finding no Luan, he saw Ithil instead, staring at him without expression.

"Your teammates are improving, Rax. What about you?" Ithil kept his gaze steady; Rax stayed there without saying anything.

"What? Don’t you see me?... Look, look closely at the amazing results of your mission." Rax pulled the sheets back from his legs; they weren't in place, just two bundles of bloodied bandages.

"You’re no different from those new guys shouting orders and making everyone else fight for them. I bet you haven't even fought. Why are you there... I SHOULD BE THERE GIVING ORDERS!"

"You say everyone is improving? BULLSHIT! Rhea... how can she be okay?! How can Nesta keep going?! Luan didn't even get his hands dirty! And me... EVERYTHING IS DESTROYED! HOW CAN YOU SAY IT’S OKAY?!" Rax didn’t look at Ithil once.

CRACK! A sharp blow to Rax's jaw made his gums bleed. Ithil, with one strike, shut Rax's mouth before he could say what was coming next.

"For your own sake, I have to shut your mouth. I can tolerate your insults because I know my responsibilities and the results of my work, but out of respect for your comrades and your partner, I must act." Ithil placed his hand in front of Rax and, slowly, removed the red leather glove Jacob had made to protect his prosthetic. Rax stopped, stunned, and bit his lower lip.

"Rhea is safe; her incredible ability to defend herself saved her from a quick death—her and your teammate Nesta. You should listen to her more. What follows is her decision, just as it is Nesta's; their conviction to move forward is as solid as the trust and affection those girls have for each other. Their recovery will be difficult but not impossible, and Luan is more scarred than you think, and he values you more than you know. You, Mr. Rax, are their leader; they love you enough to consider you one." Ithil moved the fingers of his prosthetic hand and paused. Thinking three times about what came next, he said: "I take pride in my comrades every day and I gave everything I have for them. This arm... is the proof. More than this medal, more than any rank I hold."

Rax opened and closed his mouth; there was a clear attempt to argue, but nothing came out.

"How... how is Rhea? She really didn't die?" Rax asked, as if clarity were returning to his body, on the verge of tears.

"Mina is an excellent medic and Emilia is a prodigy. Rax, Wood-grade adventurer! In the name of Thar-Abbys and by the authority this medal gives me, I apologize... for not arriving in time." Ithil gave a deep, rigid bow, like a soldier before Rax.

"Eh... no... no, Master Ithil, I’m the one who owes an apology to my teammates... Can I go see them? Do you think they still want to see me? Rhea... will she still want me?" Rax hugged himself.

"She’s been waiting for you for a while." Ithil put his glove back on.

"I can't go see her... not after all the things I said... I can't." Rax covered his face with his hands.

"I don't know what you’re talking about, Rax. In this room, there was only a crazy guy and me, and I took out the crazy guy with one punch." Ithil looked back at Rax.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Jacob was waiting outside with a box.

"Hi, I see Ithil already talked to you. My name is Jacob, and I brought something that might help. Humm, it’s not like Ithil’s prosthetic, it’s just a mechanical pair, but it can help." Jacob pulled out a pair of prosthetics he made himself. "Nesta has one too; it’ll help her with her arm's movements. They’re still in the testing phase, so you’ll have to visit me so I can calibrate them and eventually show you how. They aren't like real legs... but they’ll help." Jacob closed the wooden box.

Rax, silent, looked at Ithil.

"Thank you... truly. Will I be able to fight with these?" Rax asked.

"Eh... well, it’ll be hard for you to learn to fight with these; I only designed them for walking. But... it might work if we change this assembly and if..." Ithil placed his hand on Jacob’s shoulder, who excitedly began planning the changes.

"Oh! Yeah, yeah... Rhea is looking for you too... hahahaha." Jacob and Ithil helped Rax into the wheelchair.

Luan, Rhea, and Nesta were waiting for Rax in the waiting room. Ithil and the others stepped out after handing over some papers. Mina looked inside the room once more: the kids were hugging and crying together.

"Everyone went, and everyone came back, right Ithil?" Inola said as Leonidas carried Magaska, who was still asleep.

"Yes, everyone came back." Ithil hung a ribbon with Shigure’s name on the ammonite, and Mina hung a ribbon with the names of Nesta, Rhea, Luan, and Rax, praying for their swift recovery.