When Ankh saw Porlyusica's disgusted look, his first feeling was displeasure.
But then he remembered that this lady had a unique temperament: she intensely disliked the smell of humans.
Although it sounded quite absurd, it seemed to be true.
Even the Master was winking at Ankh from the side, telling him not to offend this grumpy old woman.
Ankh still had important matters on his mind, so he quickly led Porlyusica to the infirmary.
Porlyusica frowned slightly when she saw the three unconscious people on the bed. She walked to the bedside, took out her portable medicine kit, and examined them one by one.
Ankh and Makarov waited patiently for news.
After a short while, Porlyusica put away the bottles and jars containing strange potions. With a cold expression, she looked down at Makarov and said, "Cana is fine; she just has too many worries. Let her sleep a little longer."
"Erza's magic power has been almost completely drained. I've already replenished her magic power. Her condition is quite dangerous and requires regular check-ups. As for Laxus... he has all kinds of damage. The person who injured him probably didn't intend to kill him, so he'll recover in a few months."
Makarov breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her words. Ankh, who was standing by, quickly tugged at Ms. Porlyusica's cloak and said, "Ms. Porlyusica, could you help us one more time?"
Ms. Porlyusica shivered and unceremoniously slapped Ankh's hand away from her cloak, shouting angrily, "I hate humans! Don't touch me!"
Ankh cooperatively took his hand away. Ms. Porlyusica, the old woman whose words didn't match her feelings, snorted and said, "What help?!"
Makarov pointed at Erza on the bed and explained on Ankh's behalf, "He wants to ask you to give Erza a thorough examination, including her abnormal physique and bloodline."
"Erza?" Porlyusica frowned, didn't ask further, and picked up her tools, walking towards Erza again.
Before long, Porlyusica used a magic tool to extract a bit of blood from Erza, held it up, and examined it for a good while before saying, "Nothing is wrong."
Nothing?
Ankh hastily said, "Is there nothing strange about Erza's bloodline?"
She had looked carefully herself; could she still be wrong?
Porlyusica's face immediately darkened. Makarov quickly jumped in to smooth things over:
"Because Erza can use Magic Fusion with Ankh, he suspects Erza's physique is a bit special. Don't mind him~"
It was indeed strange that Erza and this new S-Class Mage could use Magic Fusion.
In Makarov's heart, although the relationship between Ankh and Erza was good, it wasn't close enough to achieve the level of tacit understanding required to use Magic Fusion and unleash a combined attack.
Moreover, their magic was one of re-equip and the other of gravity; they were completely unrelated... As Ankh and Makarov were still wondering, Porlyusica's sharp eyes fixed on Ankh's face, and a strange thought suddenly popped into her mind.
"That boy, give me a sample of your blood too," Porlyusica said, looking at him seriously.
Ankh paused, then obediently held out his hand, allowing her to prick his fingertip and draw blood.
His physique and bloodline were indeed special, but they shouldn't cause any commotion.
Besides, everyone here was on his side.
Makarov shamelessly sidled up to Porlyusica, grinning like a child, "What's wrong, Porlyusica? Is there something wrong with Ankh's body?"
"Heh." Porlyusica's chuckle sent a shiver down Makarov's spine.
"Nothing is wrong. His magic power is terrifyingly strong, and there's even a special, mysterious energy nourishing him within."
Makarov didn't pay much attention after hearing this; after all, none of it was bad news.
Then he asked, somewhat puzzled, "Then why were you laughing just now?"
Ms. Porlyusica looked at him, her mouth opening and closing, delivering even more shocking news: "Ankh and Erza are related by blood; they are biological siblings."
Makarov's mustache bristled, and he shouted in horror, "What—"
Ankh was so shocked he couldn't even close his mouth: "Holy crap—"
What kind of melodramatic plot is this?! A family reunion?
Seram inside him was even more disoriented, furiously roaring in exasperation:
"Impossible! You're talking nonsense! How could a god have siblings in a place like this?!"
Porlyusica held up the two blood samples and stated concisely:
"They are very likely direct relatives."
"And with a bloodline bond, Magic Fusion to unleash a combined attack is no longer impossible."
Ankh's expression was a bit grim, and he forced a smile, saying, "Um... Ms. Porlyusica, could you really be mistaken? We're not siblings, are we...?"
Ms. Porlyusica glared at him and said, "Although the current technical level for this kind of test is crude, it can at least clearly show that you two have a blood relationship."
"If not siblings, then are you her father?"
Ankh paused, then quickly said, "But I..."
Makarov finally managed to calm the turmoil in his heart, then smiled kindly and said to Ankh, "Isn't this good too? You both have another family member in the world."
Ankh gave a wry smile and said, "But I have no memory of Erza."
"That's easy to explain," Makarov said, shaking his head seriously as he analyzed, "Erza said she was abandoned in a village. Perhaps you two were separated before you could remember?"
But the problem was, he had an adult soul inside him; how could he not remember anything... "Could people with divine bloodlines be detected as relatives? I've never heard of it..."
Seram was muttering to himself in Ankh's mind, full of self-doubt, and Ankh was afraid he might go mad.
Ankh couldn't tell the two elders the truth, so he just nodded at the Master, indicating that he knew what to do.
When Makarov saw Ankh nod, he assumed he had accepted his sister and was greatly comforted.
In his guild, his beloved children had unexpectedly found their true relatives; nothing could make Makarov happier than this.
He looked at Ankh and then at Erza with a kind, grandfatherly gaze, and he couldn't help but feel, perhaps due to psychological factors, that they looked more and more alike.
Ankh sat by Erza's bed, tentatively reaching out to gently stroke her head.
Erza, whose magic power was depleted and who felt very uncomfortable, had her eyebrows tightly furrowed.
In Erza's pitch-black mental world, a warm light suddenly shone in, and even the pain was greatly dispelled... Watching Erza's brows gradually relax, Ankh wondered in surprise: Could a head pat also have the function of calming and soothing someone?
Mirajane had calmed down as soon as he patted her head before, and now Erza immediately fell asleep obediently with a head pat.
Goodness, if he were to open a psychological clinic with this skill, he would surely make a lot of money!
The two elderly people, one tall and one short, with a comical height difference, watched Ankh, who was lost in thought by Erza's bed, and quietly exited the room.
Makarov's old face was full of smiles, his voice filled with relief: "Erza is a lonely child. With Ankh, her biological elder brother, by her side, perhaps things will get better in the future."
Porlyusica looked behind her with a complex expression and sighed, "After being separated for so many years, even if they are biological siblings, what difference is there from strangers?"
Makarov stared at her with a solemn expression and said seriously, "I believe that human emotions will not be severed by time!"
"And she is a child of this guild, a child of fairies! None of them will remain lonely forever!"
Porlyusica stared at the unusually serious Makarov for a long time, then shifted her gaze and whispered, "You haven't changed."
Makarov playfully made a V-sign with his fingers and smiled, "If I stay with these children forever, I believe I will never change!"
Porlyusica smiled faintly, saying nothing.
What Ankh didn't know was that just outside the infirmary today, the radiant second spring of two elders was slowly awakening...