The young girl, now seated on a library bench, breathed more calmly. Her leg, carefully immobilized and partially healed by Adrien's mana, allowed her to move without excessive pain. Her eyes shone with a mixture of relief and gratitude.
She took a deep breath, her voice slightly trembling:
"Thank you… truly. My name is Lyra Valen," she said humbly. "I… I don't know how to thank you."
Adrien, slightly surprised by the spontaneity of her gratitude, felt a familiar warmth in his chest—a blend of satisfaction and curiosity. Instinctively, he replied:
"My name is Adrien," he said simply. "I'm glad I could help."
The silence that followed was gentle, almost suspended. Lyra looked at him, her eyes sparkling with a light Adrien had not expected to see after such a traumatic event. He perceived in her a quiet strength, a sincere appreciation that went beyond words.
In a corner of his mind, Adrien felt a subtle euphoria, a kind of wonder mingled with gentle excitement. Even in such dark circumstances, this encounter created an unexpected bond, fragile yet promising. He realized that sometimes the strongest moments arose from the most difficult situations, and that this first interaction might mark the beginning of a friendship or an alliance significant in this world.
"You have… an incredible talent," Lyra added after a moment, almost admiringly. "You saved my leg… and perhaps more than that."
Adrien offered a slight smile, humility and pride intertwined:
"I'm simply doing what I can. But thank you, Lyra. Your courage inspires me as much as I hope I have helped you."
Their eyes met, and an almost inexplicable feeling of mutual euphoria passed between them. Despite the tragic circumstances that had brought them together, there was an implicit promise: this was not the end of their story, but the beginning of a connection that could prove crucial in the days to come.
In the quiet that followed, Adrien reminded himself that he needed to continue progressing, to understand this world and master the flow of mana in all its subtleties. Yet he also knew that every human encounter—every bond forged—could be as powerful as a spell or a remedy. And in that sunlit library, Adrien felt the kingdom beginning to reveal its first secrets to him, both through magic and through the hearts of those he met.