As she hummed her song, I must have forgotten all the pain in my body because when she asked me, "Right?" I remembered what had happened. Luna looked at me. "I must look awful," I thought. She was probably around my age, maybe older, I don't know. What I do know is that while watching her, I couldn't even open my mouth. She turned her head to the side and called out, "Auntie! The boy's awake!" While this was happening, I examined my surroundings. It was a small wooden hut. I was lying in a bed. Despite being freezing, the small wooden hut was spotless, and there were a few more beds. A woman entered. At first, I flinched at what I saw, but it didn't take long to understand. The woman was short. No, very short. She was plump. She must have been shorter than me. She had pale skin and a middle-aged appearance. She had blonde hair and a mole on her chin. Yes, she was a dwarf. She came up to me and started shouting in a shrill, crow-like voice.
— "Hey, kid, you're awake, huh?!"
I tried to speak, but I didn't have the strength. I could only blink.
— "Hmm, Luna, stop the pain-relief spell."
I looked at Luna, then at her hands. Her hands were holding mine. My hands were covered in wounds. It seemed they were trying to heal me. I hadn't felt her holding my hands, probably because I couldn't feel my body. Luna said, "Okay, master!" and let go of my hands. The first few seconds were fine. I could feel my body. I thought I could speak. "A-" Then something "clicked." My entire body started aching. It felt like every bone was broken, every muscle torn. The pain was so intense I couldn't even scream. The woman continued.
— "How did you manage to get this injured, kid? All your muscles are torn, and two of your ribs are broken. I'm not even counting the various fractures! Now we move to the second phase! Luna, numb him from the neck down."
Luna placed her hands on my neck. The pain stopped instantly.
— "Speak."
I deigned to respond.
— "Thank you for saving me."
She gave an angry reply.
— "Hold on, we haven't saved you yet. The treatment fee is two silver coins. With that, you can stay here for two days. We only found two silver coins in your pockets. With normal treatment, it's impossible to recover in two days. After two days, we'll throw you out on the street, and you'll die there. Or I can heal you to get you back on your feet in two hours. But you might die from the pain during the procedure."
What, am I going to die? My father…
— "Wait, my father is the High Priest; he'll give you as much money as you want!"
The woman laughed.
— "Kid, I'm the queen then! Don't lie. What would the son of someone that rich be doing here?"
No matter what I said, it would be pointless with this woman. It was hard for these poor people to believe who I was. Was life this cruel? I had to accept it. After all, there's no difference between dying and living.
— "Then I accept the treatment…"
— "Heh… This kid thinks dying is like fainting! Luna, stop the anesthesia! I'm starting the procedure!"
Luna looked at me with worried, pitying eyes and pulled her hands away. The pain returned. The woman pointed her hands at me. And she began to chant.
— "Close your eyes, weary soldier
Close them for brighter tomorrows
Close them for the Great Michael
Close them to reunite with your loved ones"
Bandages in the shape of rolls began to extend from her hands and wrapped around my limbs.
— "I who bury the martyrs
I who heal the veterans
I am the Devoted Bandage!"
The last thing I saw as I lost consciousness was Luna's face. The last thing I heard was Luna's words, "Everything will be okay."
I woke up. Among the buzzing, I picked out a voice.
— "Master! Master, his fever's gone down!"
— "Huh? You're not dead?"
I felt a hand on my forehead. I felt relieved.
— "He's passed the critical point. Well done, Luna! You succeeded for the first time!"
I felt a weight on me. Then warmth. I opened my eyes. Luna was hugging me with her skinny arms, crying with joy.
— "You did it! You did it! You didn't die! Thank you!"
She lifted her head and looked at me. Our eyes met. Her face turned red, and she pulled back. I felt my face heat up too. She spoke hurriedly.
— "M-master, I-I'm going to clean inside!"
She ran off. The dwarf woman came to my side.
— "Good morning, kid. What's your name?"
— "Guren… Thank you for saving me."
— "Pfft… We're just doing our job. I'm Lira. As you can see, I'm from the dwarf race. I'm a healer here. Luna is my apprentice."
— "Nice to meet you. How long have I been lying here?"
— "24 hours. When Luna brought you to me, you were in terrible shape. I thought you were dead."
24 hours? Did I waste 24 hours? I was in the middle of the exam. I had 72 hours. 48 remain. I need to hurry. I tried to get up. Then the faces of the men I killed came to mind. Blood… and a leg. Before I could stand, I fell and started vomiting. Did I really kill those three people? Am I a murderer now? Are my hands stained with blood now? But if I hadn't, those men would've done terrible things to me. I didn't want this, I didn't… Why did I kill them? I felt so good when I activated my Divanitas. Did I enjoy killing them? Did I not realize I was killing them? Why didn't it cross my mind until now? What did I kill them for? What difference would it make if I died? A slap to my face pulled me out of the dreamworld.
— "Kid! Snap out of it! You just came back from the brink of death! If your body wasn't suited for mana exchange and Luna hadn't stayed by your side, keeping your fever steady until you healed, you'd be dead!"
— "I have to go! If I don't, I'll be late. I'll fail the test again… And what I did— Urgh!"
I vomited. I was a pathetic sight, kneeling.
— "Zura! Come here!"
The woman called out. A tall young man came in.
— "Take him to the dining room, let him eat something."
The man picked me up. He carried me in his arms and started walking. He took me out of the room. Though the sun blinded me, I could look around. We passed through a large door and arrived at the dining room. It wasn't as cold as the other room. The fireplace was burning, and it was warm. There were a few tables with strangers sitting at them. The room was spacious. Wooden tables and chairs, sick and weary-looking people. Luna was sitting at the corner table. The man set me down there, across from Luna. I sat. In front of me were soups with vegetables. I looked at Luna.
— "I guess you took care of me while I was healing. And I guess you saved me from that guy. Thank you!"
— "Hm? No big deal. We're healers! It's our job. Since you're the first person who didn't die from my treatment, I should thank you."
I took a sip of my soup.
— "What, you healed me?"
— "Yes, with my Divanitas. The old lady only did the basics. But you're the first one to survive!"
I was shocked. So I really could've died.
— "If it's not rude, can I ask a question?"
— "Sure."
— "How old are you?"
She got a bit angry and furrowed her brows.
— "Don't you know you're not supposed to ask girls their age? But since you're curious, I'll tell you, I'm 7 years old!"
I sank. Just one year older than me, and she has a Divanitas! I don't even know if I have one or not!
— "I see, sorry. You must be really talented to use your Divanitas at this age!"
Her face took on a sad expression.
— "No. I'm not that talented at all. Because of my incompetence in using my power, I caused the deaths of five people."
Five? Is she like me? I asked without thinking.
— "Did you ever feel guilty?"
— "Of course I did. I've been working here for two years. The first time it happened, I hated myself. I refused to use my magic. The second time, I thought about killing myself. The third time, I ran away. I wondered what I was striving for. The fourth time, my master slapped me. That's when I understood everything. I hadn't killed anyone on purpose. I wanted to help everyone. So I worked harder. I tried to learn, to control it, so those four souls wouldn't go to waste. I did it for them. Then the fifth person became a victim. I was so devastated… While wandering the streets in that grief, I came across you. Covered in wounds, fighting someone three times your size… I thought I had to save you. And you survived. Thank you! Please don't die either…"
Tears streamed from her eyes.
What an idiot I am. I thought it was easy. I thought if I ignored it, brushed it off, it'd be better. The men I killed and what the angel said… What does it matter? It's done. I defended myself against those men. I was the weak one, and that's all I could do. What an idiot I am… Are dying and living the same? I looked at the girl who said, "Don't you die either," her eyes full of tears. To hell with my father and his angel! I will live. I will live for myself. I will live for those tearful eyes! I will protect the eyes that gave me hope again! I will get stronger for her!
— "I will live!"
We laughed.
— "You sang me a song, didn't you?"
She got embarrassed.
— "You heard that?"
— "Yeah, your voice was beautiful!"
She went quiet, her face red.
— "Now it's my turn to sing a song!"
— "Your turn?"
I started singing a poem I read in a book like a song.
— "Your skin took its whiteness from the moon
Your hair's color from the night
Hence my love for the night
As you cover your heart with mine
Take my feelings like my mind
Take them, for I am longing"