The sun had begun its slow climb toward the center of the sky, its warmth broken by the trees that swayed gently with the breeze. The scent of earth, leaves, and fire bloom petals filled the clearing. Cassian had just finished placing the last petal into the makeshift cloth pouch tied at his waist.
"That's the last one," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Elen stood a few paces away, arms crossed. "Took you long enough. Let's—"
Grrawaaah
A low growl cut her off.
They froze.
From the bushes ahead, something stepped forward—massive, low to the ground, its fur like blackened iron and eyes glowing crimson.
A Steelhide Fangwolf.
An E-rank monster.
"Damn it…" Elen hissed, already reaching for the short sword strapped to her back. "It's early for one of these to be this close to the city…"
Cassian took a step back, heart hammering in his chest. "W-We should run—"
"No time," she snapped. "Stay behind me."
And then she charged.
[Elen's POV]
She gritted her teeth as the wolf lunged.
Her blade clashed against its hide, sparking as steel met something nearly as hard. The force knocked her backward, but she dug her heels into the dirt, springing forward with a flurry of slashes.
The wolf yelped as one found its mark across its leg.
It retaliated immediately, claws raking across her arm, drawing blood. She hissed in pain but didn't falter.
Behind her, Cassian stood frozen. Helpless.
Figures. I shouldn't have brought him… I just didn't want to go alone. Damn it.
The fight dragged on, her stamina waning with each swing, while the wolf—injured, yes—still growled with fury.
But finally—finally—after what felt like forever, she drove her sword into its throat, twisting until the growls turned to gurgles.
The beast collapsed.
And so did she.
Her vision blurred as she hit the ground. She felt the warm stickiness of blood all over her. Breathing… it was hard now.
Am I… gonna die?
[Cassian's POV]
She lay in front of him—bloodied, unmoving.
Cassian stared.
Then he turned.
He took a step away.
Then another.
Just go. You can't help her. You'll only die too.
But his body—his cursed, kind body—stung with sharp pain. His legs gave out.
He hit the ground, gasping.
"No… not now… just let me go," he whispered, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.
But the sting grew stronger. As if his very nerves were punishing him.
He turned his head toward Elen.
Her chest was rising—barely.
She's dying…
With shaking limbs, he began crawling.
One hand forward.
Then the other.
He reached her side, eyes wide at the blood pooling beneath her. Her breathing was faint and shallow.
"She… she won't make it," he said hoarsely. "She needs healing. Real healing."
He tore the cloth from his backpack and pressed it against her wounds, using every scrap to slow the bleeding. It wasn't enough.
He opened the holy magic booklet.
His hands trembled as he raised them over her chest.
"In the name of light… mend flesh… restore life… H-Heal."
Nothing.
Again.
"In the name of light… mend…"
Nothing.
"Please…"
He kept trying. Over and over. Each failure heavier than the last.
His body felt weaker. His arms were shaking. His head throbbed.
He clenched his teeth.
Then he remembered the line from the book:
"Feel the pain."
His eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he took the knife and dragged it lightly across his palm. Pain bloomed instantly.
He winced, but didn't stop.
He raised his hand again, this time with the pain throbbing alongside his pulse.
"In the name of light…"
He focused.
He didn't just repeat words—he felt them.
The pain, the desperation, the need.
"…mend flesh…"
A warmth sparked in his chest.
"…restore life…"
He guided it to his arm.
And then—green light.
A faint glow surrounded his palm, trembling like a newborn flame.
The light touched her wound.
It began to close. Slowly.
Too slowly.
"No… I don't believe it. I won't fail after coming this far."
"I refuse to live like a weak healer."
"I will heal every wound."
He shouted with all he had left.
The warmth surged.
A bright green glow burst from his hand.
Ding!
[Power of belief resonates with your emotions and will. Your healing will improve temporarily.]
The glow intensified—three times brighter, almost blinding.
Her wounds knit faster. Her breathing stabilized. The gashes along her arms and chest vanished like dew under sunlight.
Even his own cut healed without a trace.
He collapsed backward, panting heavily.
"Haaah… haaah… I did it," he whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. Then he laughed.
"Hehehe… Even if it's weak… I'll make it strong."
He looked at Elen—still unconscious but no longer dying.
His eyes fell on the path back to the city.
He thought of leaving her.
His body stung again.
"...Screw this cursed body," he muttered, but there was no venom in it anymore.
He bent down, lifting her onto his back.
Every step was pain. His knees buckled. His vision blurred.
But he didn't stop.
He walked.
And walked.
Until the walls of the guild came into view again.
He had no strength left. But he had saved a life.
To Be Continued…