Healing

The party’s return trip to the surface was more peaceful than their way down. It took them two days to reach the cave’s entrance. Maybe it was because of the previous massacre, and dead bodies still strewed around the labyrinth. The monsters shied away from them, and only the biggest ones dared to block their way. The demon, who had returned to female Succubus form, took care of them easily.

After staying in the sunless labyrinth, the party was mentally tired. Thankfully, with cleaning spells, they were not filthy.

When they stepped out of the dark cave, The sun’s rays hugged them like a warm sanctuary.

“I never knew I would miss the sun so much,” said the Scholar, who was accustomed to researching indoors for long hours.

The Fleur only sighed blissfully and closed their eyes, letting the sun suffuse her.

Having rested for three days while the Scholar and the Fleur had been collecting the mana plant materials, the Witch didn’t look as pale as the Succubus thought she would. The demon’s tense shoulders relaxed.

When they returned to the Red Witch’s forest-dwelling, the Red Witch smiled brightly.

“I’m so glad to see you all made it back safely,” the Red Witch said.

She hugged them, but the Succubus shied away. The Red Witch was not offended, and she gave the Succubus a gracious bow instead.

The party looked at Blue from the doorway to ensure she was safe and stable. Bluejoy looked relieved to see them back. Her spirit perked up. Then, they cleaned up before assembling in Blue’s room again.

The Blue Witch looked better than they expected. Without the curse eating away at her, it helped to boost her morality and mentality. However, mana still leaked from her body.

The Scholar took out a bottle from his bag. The clear liquid swirled gently as Bluejoy and Red watched with hope.

“This is the liquid that will help to repair your mana channel,” he said, showing the bottle to the Blue Witch. “Unfortunately, The only person here who has enough micro-control over mana is White.”

The Succubus stepped forward and knelt next to Bluejoy. “The White Witch has sustained some injury in the labyrinth. I think giving her some rest would be more beneficial to you both. I’m afraid she’ll be prone to careless mistakes in her current condition.”

The Blue Witch looked at the White Witch with concern. “What happened? I feel stable. I can wait.”

“I fell into a trap,” the White Witch said. “I’m feeling better, but some rest would help. I’m sorry to delay your treatment.”

Blue shook her head. “Your body is just as important as mine,” she said warmly. “Please rest well. I’m sorry that you were injured because of me. I promise that someday, I’ll pay you back for everything.”

After a day of rest, even though the White Witch hadn’t regained all her mana, she was well enough to start Blue’s treatment.

It was detailed work, like a fine craftsman sculpting a figurine. Some parts of the mana channels were as thick as a pinky finger while some were as thin as a strand of hair.

“Please let me help,” the Red Witch said. “I might not be as good at manipulating mana, but I can work on the thicker areas.”

“I’ll help as well,” the Scholar said.

“Can I help, too?” the Fleur asked.

The White Witch nodded. “I appreciate all the help I can get.”

The Succubus, of course, helped her mistress without needing to be asked.

Blue, moved by their generosity, welled up with tears. However, as soon as it happened, her mana spun out of control with her emotions. Mana leaked out of her in a frenzy, causing everyone to panic.

“Calm down, Blue,” the Red Witch said, quickly pouring mana into Blue from a mana stone. Red held her hand to calm her down.

The White Witch swiftly placed her hand on Blue’s stomach to stabilize her mana.

“I’m sorry, the thought of so many people willing to help made me so happy,” Bluejoy said. She took a deep breath, and her mana calmed down.

After Blue’s condition returned to normal, they moved her bed out from the corner so the helpers could work on both sides of her bed.

Once again, the poor Paladin was left with nothing to do since he’s not an arcane artificer. Instead, he cleaned the house and prepped for the upcoming meal.

“Please feel free to pick the vegetables in the garden,” the Red Witch said to the Paladin.

The Scholar lined up the mana elixir bottles on the table in Blue’s room and placed some next to the bed where they would work.

The White Rose and the Succubus lined one side of the bed and the Red Witch, the Scholar, and the Fleur on the other.

“I’ll heal the thin mana channels,” the White Witch said.

The others nodded.

“I know having this many people’s mana enter your body is unpleasant, but please bear with it,” the Red Witch said to Blue.

Blue nodded. “I’ll do my best to make it as easy as possible for you all.”

They looked at each other, each person taking an area closest to them, and readied themselves.

White was the first to inject her mana into Blue’s body. She watched Blue closely. Even though Bluejoy’s face contorted with discomfort, she nodded for White to continue. As Blue’s body acclimated to White’s mana, slowly, one by one, the others began their work. The room fell into a concentrated silence.

Inside Blue’s body, the Witch evenly mixed the mana elixir with Blue’s mana. If Blue wasn’t so short on mana, they could have mixed it inside the bottles first.

It was like stirring two different types of creams together. Not only were they different colors, but they were also different in consistency. All the while, she had to make sure that her own mana didn’t get left behind in the mix.

She worked on the hair-thin parts of the mana channels. Carefully, she applied the mana elixir mix over the chipped or torn areas like plastering holes on a wall. It would be easy if she could pour it all over. However, the elixir would clog the channels. Therefore, she had to be careful and constantly check if she had let any of the elixir mix enter the channels by accident.

She alternated working between areas that needed greater attention and places that were easier to fix. Even so, she couldn’t work for more than two hours at a time. Just like a person’s eyes strained from reading words that were too tiny, the White Witch strained on her mana control if she worked for too long.

She might look normal, but fatigue accompanied every one of her actions.

Her mana had been supplemented by the mana juice that the Scholar made. Still, the sudden depletion of mana was like a sudden blood loss of 95%. She might have been unawares because she fainted while she was underwater, but the sudden loss of mana shocked her body.

Perhaps she could have worked faster and lasted longer if she had been at her peak. However, she was still suffering from her condition. After two hours, her skin grew cold, signaling she had to rest.

Each day, Blue’s complexion improved, and her body’s health saw visible improvements. Her wrinkly skin saw youth again, and her pale complexion regained its glow. Her eyes, weak with fatigue, glittered with vitality. It took almost a week to repair Blue’s mana channels and observe her recover.

Meanwhile, the days inched towards the Gate’s closing. The Succubus grew quieter as time went by. However, she did not interrupt White’s work, supporting White after the treatment sessions.

At the end of each day, the Succubus and White get to spend time with each other. In a room that the Succubus and the Witch shared, the demon and the Witch slumped into their chairs from the day’s work. Only when they were alone did he show his true self. He didn’t want to alarm the Red and Blue Witch more than necessary.

“Let me help you with that,” Dephinicus said. He took her hand gently.

Elaiya sighed. She looked forward to this every day when Dephinicus would give her a mana massage. He sat in the opposite chair of her and held her hand in his. As his mana enveloped her gently and kneaded her mana, the tension in her spirit and body started to melt away. Before long, she slumped into her chair, her eyes closed, her mind halfway drifting toward sleep.

Dephinicus tugged her hands. “No sleeping until after dinner and shower,” he said.

“Just a little,” she replied.

“Dinner is almost ready. You won’t be able to wake up if you fall asleep now,” he said, encouraging her kindly.

Elaiya groaned and forced her eyes open.

Before her, Dephinicus showered her with a smile full of praise. “That’s my girl.”

“Not girl. Old lady,” she said.

“You’re still a girl to me.”

She groaned again, this time for a different reason. He chuckled.

However, his face grew serious. “The Gate is closing. We won’t be able to use the one in the forest if we don’t go soon.”

“It can’t be helped,” she said.

“Every day you remain here in your condition, I worry,” he said, pulling her to him and hugging her.

“I’m not worried,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. “You’re here.”

“I’m still worried,” he said, giving her a rueful smile.

At night, the White Witch was so tired that she fell asleep right away. The demon could do nothing but watch over her. Under Dephinicus’s gentle eyes, inside his warm embrace, the Witch wandered off into the land of dreams.

☄⚝☄⚝

I often dream of a demon. I know him. He is Dephinicus… Dephinicus… Dephini… … .. . Dephinicus carries me in his arms. Out of a rose-dotted house, through a forest, we come to a lavender field. He lays me down gently. The cool breeze musses my hair. Dephinicus lies down next to me and softly brushes my hair back in place. His warm fingers tracing my face. His loving eyes catching every single detail. He leans down for a—

☄⚝☄⚝

The Witch startled awake. Dephinicus’s arms wrapped around her in the darkened room, his soft scent calming.

She touched her lips, remembering the warmth. A small smile played on her face. She snuggled closer against the demon.

As she drifted into slumber, she couldn’t help but feel like her contentment was just an illusion, a dream that would not last.

Everyone gathered next to Blue’s bed. White, who had been sitting and healing Blue, helped the young witch to sit up. Next to the bed on the bedside table, an orange flower bloomed, its healing fragrance perfuming the room.

“You think you can stand up?” Red asked.

“I want to try,” Blue replied.

The Paladin came forward and offered his hand. “I’ll make sure you don’t fall,” he said.

“If what the Fleur said about this flower is true, that its scent can heal a person, then she should be able to walk without too much trouble,” the Scholar said.

“I have a feeling that all will be fine,” the Fleur said with a shy smile.

With so much encouragement, Blue’s face flushed red with determination and excitement. She held onto the Paladin, her fingers stronger and steadier than she could imagine.

Slowly, she slid her legs to the side, her weak muscles barely obeying her commands. After weeks of not moving, she felt like her body was not her own. It had become a distant friend that she was reconnecting by exchanging letters.

After a few minutes of trying, her legs moved easier. As Blue breathed in the bloom's floral scent, strength entered her body. When she finally managed to let her feet fall off the bed, her soles pressing against the cool wooden floor, a wave of emotions swept through her. She never thought she’d be so happy to feel the solid ground. She would never have imagined having so many friends here encouraging and supporting her.

She looked up at them—at the Paladin with his steady arm; at the Witch who spent days healing her; at the Scholar who offered up his knowledge; at the Fleur who made the healing-scent plant bloom; at the Succubus who was willing to go into the labyrinth; and last but not least, at her mentor who had stayed by her side all this time and never gave up.

A streak of hopeful tears spilled out from the corner of Blue’s eye, and a smile spread on her face. Under everyone’s encouraging gaze, she pushed down her legs and strengthened her grip on the Paladin’s arm. Slowly, Blue rose from the bed.

Weeks of not using her muscles had made them sleepy. It took several tries before she could stand up straight. She felt dizzy and tired even from such a simple movement. Planting her feet firmly on the ground, she straightened up, standing as tall as she could. They clapped for her with warm smiles, and the Succubus nodded in satisfaction. Bluejoy couldn’t help but feel the most alive she had felt in a long time.