Three days after Aron's fever broke, the atmosphere in Hellyasa Mansion had completely changed. The suffocating panic had been replaced by a fragile relief. Aron, though still very weak, could now sit up and eat thin porridge, his eyes clear for the first time in ages.
Kenzo had spent most of his time in the library, letting Prometheus absorb every text on magic and history he could find . He was forming a clearer picture of this world when a commotion in the front hall interrupted him.
A luxurious carriage had just pulled up. Servants ran out anxiously.
"It's the Baron!"
A middle-aged man, weary but dignified, stepped inside. His face was etched with worry. This was Baron Hellyasa, the head of the family, just returned from the capital. He had spent the last week trying to negotiate a massive loan from wealthy merchants, using the family's last remaining asset, their Lazly stone mine, as collateral.
He rushed to his wife, preparing to deliver the bad news that the loan wasn't enough. "Reisya, I..."
"My husband," Lady Reisya cut him off, but her voice wasn't desperate. For the first time in a year, she was smiling. "You don't have to worry anymore. Aron... our son... he's safe."
The Baron's confusion lasted only a moment. He was taken to his son's room and saw what he could only assume was a miracle: Aron, awake, and smiling at him. "Father... welcome home."
After hearing the full story from Keysa and Reisya, the Baron turned to face Kenzo, who stood quietly by the door. The man who had led troops and negotiated royal contracts walked over to the disheveled, white-haired youth and, without hesitation, knelt on one knee.
"Master Kenta," Baron Hellyasa's voice trembled with emotion. "I... I don't know how to thank you. You have saved my son. You have saved this family from ruin."
Kenzo, unaccustomed to such reverence, felt incredibly awkward. He quickly stepped forward. "Please, Baron, stand up. I only did what I could."
Just as Kenzo was helping the Baron to his feet, a servant ran in, his face pale with nerves. "My Lord... My Lady... The Church. They... they are here for Young Master Aron's scheduled healing."
The air in the room instantly turned cold. Baron Hellyasa's face, moments ago filled with relief, now hardened. "Let them in."
A moment later, five white-robed "Healers" from the Church strode into the main hall with an air of arrogance. Their leader, a middle-aged man with a false smile, spotted the Baron.
"Oh, what a coincidence, meeting the Head of the family just as he's returned from the capital," he greeted with overly friendly familiarity. "We will begin Aron's healing. Don't forget to prepare the payment. Oh, and," he added as if just remembering, "the price has gone up to 20 gold coins now."
Baron Hellyasa clenched his fists. "What? Wasn't it just 15 gold? You just raised it from 13 to 15 not long ago, and it originally started at only 5 gold! Why does it keep rising!" Unconsciously, the Baron's voice grew louder.
The healer clicked his tongue calmly. "Come now, Baron. Healing Aron is very exhausting. The five of us must rest for over a week afterward; it expends a great deal of mana. It's only natural that the price is high."
"That won't be necessary," the Baron cut in coldly. "We no longer require the Church's services. Aron is already cured."
The healer's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! How could he be cured? Only we, the Church, can heal him with God's revelation! How could Aron possibly be cured if God did not will it!"
Baron Hellyasa smiled faintly, his first genuine smile in months. "And yet, here is the proof." He gestured behind him. "Thanks to our family's savior, Kenta." He pointed directly at Kenzo, who stood silently with Lina.
"He didn't even expect gold, unlike you," the sharp barb hit its mark.
The healers' gazes shifted to Kenzo. Their false smiles vanished, replaced by cold, hostile stares.
"You've grown old, haven't you, Baron," the lead healer hissed, "to be so easily fooled by a mere brat."
"In that case," a soft voice came from the stairs, "see this 'trick' for yourself."
Lady Reisya appeared, supporting Aron, who was slowly walking beside her. He was pale and thin, but he was walking, breathing the fresh air of the main hall for the first time.
The healers' eyes widened in horror. This was living proof that their monopoly was broken.
"Look at that," the Baron said, his voice brimming with pride. "He can even walk now."
The Church leader was speechless. His face flushed red with shame and anger. He could only turn his face away. "Hmph, it's just a trick. You'll see."
He spun around, his robes whirling. At the doorway, he stopped to give one final threat.
"When you come begging for the Church's help again, Baron, the price will not be so easy."
The healers left, leaving a tense silence in their wake.
The silence was broken not by anger, but by a choked sob.
Aron, still leaning on his mother, looked at his father. "Father... the Lazly stone mine... did you mortgage it?"
Baron Hellyasa was surprised his son knew of it, but he nodded. "That's not important."
"It is important!" Aron's voice broke. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "It's all because of me... I've burdened this family. You sold everything for me."
The boy who had just escaped death was now crying from guilt. "I... I'm sorry... I promise... I'll train hard, I'll help the family return to its glory!"
Keysa, usually so stoic, felt her own eyes water.
Lady Reisya immediately knelt in front of her son, cupping his thin face. "Aron, listen to me," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Don't you ever say that. The Lazly stone mine is meaningless compared to you."
She pulled him into a tight embrace. "You just being healthy is enough. You being healthy... is all that makes me happy, my son."
Baron Hellyasa stepped forward, placing his hand over his wife and son. Keysa joined them, hugging her brother and mother. For the first time in a very long time, the Hellyasa family was whole again, united in an embrace in the middle of their great hall.
Kenzo and Lina stood a short distance away, watching in silence.
Watching the family weep with happiness, Lina's usually empty eyes also began to well up. The scene reminded her of her village, of Kael, her lost father. A small sob escaped her lips.
Kenzo felt the small hand next to him tremble. He looked down and saw Lina crying. His heart ached. He immediately knelt, matching the little girl's height, and pulled her into a tight hug.
"It's okay, Lina," he said softly, his voice gentle and warm. "Big brother is here. I will always be your family."
Lina gripped Kenzo's robes, her sobs muffled in his chest.
Kenzo held Lina tightly, looking over at the Hellyasa family. He knew he had made the right decision. He had saved them. But looking at the door the Church had just slammed, he also knew he had just dragged this family into a much larger conflict.