Pluvia: "Huh, where am I?" 

Waking from her coma-like state, Pluvia drearily opened her eyes. Feeling her eyes burn as an intense white light pervades her eyes sockets, she quickly slammed her eyes shut. Jolted awake by the stinging pain, she quickly lost her drowsiness from waking up. Slowly peeking her eyes open, she let them grow accustomed to the bright white light. With her level of power, it didn't take long for them to adjust. Regaining her most important sense, she looked around at her surroundings. Seeing a wall of white in every direction, she became nervous. 

Pluvia: "Is anyone there? Solomon, are you there?!" 

Acting on her instinctual impulse, Pluvia called out for help. Though she at first didn't specify anyone, when no one replied she called out for Solomon. But when her own voices echo was the only thing that came back to her, Pluvia fell silent. Taking a moment to calm her heart, she soon grew embarrassed. Without even thinking about it, she'd called out for Solomon. In her moment of panic, the first person she'd thought of was him. 

Pluvia: "Agh, whatever." 

Shaking her head from side to side, Pluvia tried to erase the embarrassment from her mind. Taking a more serious attitude, she started investigating her current situation. The first thing she noticed was the energy spread throughout her body. Startled, she was about to try and force it out. But she hesitated. If the energy had been in her body while she was asleep, it could have easily killed her at any time. So, why hadn't it?  

Pluvia: "Oh, this is!" 

Investigate the mysterious energy more, Pluvia soon discovered more details about it. Looking at the energies properties, and what it was currently doing, she easily recognised it. Watching it sink into her muscles and bones, as well as revitalise her Qi pool, she quickly placed the energy in her mind. This energy, was the systems healing energy. 

Guild bot: "A guild war has been initiated. Due to the difference in guild ranks your whole team has been healed to their state at the beginning of the mission." 

Hearing the Guild bot's soulless voice in her mind, Pluvia knew her thoughts were correct. With the new information she'd just gotten, she started to put the pieces together. In order to confirm it, she sent a tendril of Qi into her eyes. Using her Qi empowered vision, she managed to see through the wall of light. Though it was still a little blurry she could now look around at her surroundings. What she saw was the slightly familiar cavern where she'd fought the Queen. Seeing the littered corpses and deep scorch mark, she was certain it was the same place. 

Pluvia: "It, it really is." 

Mumbling out some words, Pluvia felt a warm tear streak down her face. In her heart, a deep worry that had nestled there vanished. By this point, she'd mostly figured out the situation. When she'd fought the Queen, Pluvia had drawn out the power of her true self. in exchange for that burst of power, there was a very severe consequence. As the power was taken from her soul, the cost to use it was to damage her own soul.  

Luckily, she hadn't needed to burden her soul for long, so the damage was quite light. But even so, it was a very deep wound. It was because of that wound that she was stuck in a coma-like state. The worst part was that state would persist until her soul had fully healed. For that to happen naturally would take several years. But that wasn't to say she was stuck in a coma for that long no matter what. In reality, it was a very simple matter for the system to heal her souls. As shown by her awakening now. Yet if Solomon had tried to do this after the mission by paying the system, he'd have found that it would cost over 100,000 points. It just went to show how precious and important a person's soul was, especially the soul of an S rank elder dragon. 

But even when she knew what it would do to her, she didn't hesitate. If it was her from years ago, before she was locked in Dragons fire, then she wouldn't have even considered doing such a thing. if her enemies from that time heard about this, their draws would drop out of their mouths.  

Pluvia: "I've really gone soft huh?" 

Thinking back to her past self, Pluvia couldn't believe how much she'd change. As she wondered about how she'd become so different, a certain person popped up in her mind. 

Pluvia: "Argh, forget about him." 

Embarrassing herself again, Pluvia put all her thought about that person into the back of her mind. Refocusing on the present, Pluvia felt thankful felt extremely lucky. If it wasn't for the guild war that had been declared on them, she didn't know how long she would have been unconscious for. But even if that was lucky for her, it was only a silver lining for her teammates. The fact that she was healed showed that whatever guild was attacking them was a lot stronger than they were. Knowing that a whole team heal meant the other guild was at least a rank stronger than them, she worried about who was attacking them. Though she suspected the capitalist mages, she didn't want to jump to conclusions. either way, it was too late to do anything about it now. she decided to just be happy that she was healed.  

Pluvia: "Hah, this is really too lucky." 

Basking in the knowledge that she'd avoided a disaster, Pluvia Rejoiced. To think that she'd had the good fortune to heal completely even after pulling off such a risky move gave her shivers. But before she could enjoy the feeling for very long, her joy was cut short.  

Solomon: "Aaaarrrrggghhh."  

Hearing a distant agonised cry, Pluvia almost wanted to bash her head against a wall. Recognising the voice, she thought she'd started hallucinating.  

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Pluvia: "Don't tell me I'm hearing him in my head now." 

Knowing that she shouldn't be able to hear anything in the light, Pluvia was convinced she was hearing things. But when she looked towards the source of the cry, she couldn't believe her eyes. Standing only a few meters away from her, outside the confines of the light pillar, was Solomon. With half glazed eyes, he was repeatedly throwing punches at the barrier between himself and her. But how could he have the strength to break through it. Even With her vast experience, Pluvia had never heard of anyone breaking part of the system. Even the fabled ZZZ ranks who'd spent aeons in Domain didn't purport to have accomplished such a feat. The light, no matter how feeble looking, was a genuine part of the system. If even ZZZ ranks couldn't destroy, how would a lonesome G rank have any hope? 

Pluvia: "Agh, what an idiot." 

Knowing that her words wouldn't reach him, Pluvia didn't even try. Watching on silently, she witnessed him relentlessly attacking the barrier of light. Looking at the splatter of blood that would shoot out every time he hit it, Pluvia's heartfelt tight in her chest. Luckily because of the healing properties of the wall, all the damage he was doing to himself was instantly healed. Looking at his repetitive actions, Pluvia could almost feel the iron like will emanating from his body. To be able to damage himself so much more than showed how determined he was.  

Pluvia: "He really is an idiot." 

Feeling the Salty water streak down her cheeks again, Pluvia stopped trying to suppress her emotions. Looking at Solomon going so far for her had touched her heart. Even in her long life, there had been exceptionally few people who would go this far for her. She could count the amount on two fingers.  

Solomon: "Argh!" 

Hearing Solomon's voice again, Pluvia became surprised. As far as she'd known, no-one had ever been able to project noise in and out of the healing light. Even telepathy and similar powers wouldn't be able to break through it. Yet Solomon had somehow done it. Though she suspected it had something to do with their connection to Dragons fire, it was still an unbelievable impressive feat. Though it was only minor, it was a violation of the Systems laws. To Pluvia who'd always worked within the system, it was an amazing achievement. 

Pluvia: "To think I'd be bound to such a talented person." 

Looking at the man standing only a few meters from her, Pluvia started to truly see how special he was. Though she'd seen his feats before, she'd never thought he'd grow beyond her. she'd considered him her equal in terms of talent but had always thought his attitude to things would hold him back. But thinking about that now, she started doubting herself.  

Solomon: "Argh." 

Hearing Solomon grunt, Pluvia brought her attention out of her own head. Looking at him, she made a worrying discovery. His punches were getting even stronger. At first, his punches were ripping the skin off of his fists. But now they were dislocating his wrists and breaking his fingers. Luckily the healing of the light could still keep up with him at the moment. but looking at how his strikes were still getting stronger and more damaging, she doubted that would stay the case for very long. It seemed like his frustration at not being able to help her was spurring him on to push himself even further. Though Pluvia would normally be happy that he was pushing himself, this was too much even for her. Looking at him trying so desperately to reach her, Pluvia felt the warmth in her heart grow stronger. As that feeling grew, the already complex mix of emotions in Pluvia's heart became even more jumbled. It had been a very, very long time since anyone had gone so far for her.  

Pluvia: "It can't be."  

Feeling her heart flutter, Pluvia surprised herself. Denying the thought that came into her head, Pluvia tried her best to ignore it. But how could someone as experienced as her so easily disregard such an obvious sign? Was she really developing feelings for him? Thinking about her own feeling, Pluvia only grew more confused. Deciding to put it aside for now, she brought her attention back to the present. Looking down at Solomon, she realised he was beginning to take his self-damaging attacks to the next level. Not only was he breaking his hands against the light, but he was also now breaking his arms. Unlike his wrists that would heal instantly, it was taking a few seconds longer for the arms to heal. During that time Solomon would have definitely felt the excruciating pain coming from his arms. Yet he still threw his fists forwards unceasingly. Like a mad man, he was gradually destroying his own body.  

Seeing that, Pluvia's heart felt pained. Wanting to stop him from hurting himself, she unconsciously stretched her hand out towards him. Luckily just as she did, her healing came to an end. As the last wisp of energy sunk into her body, Pluvia gently landed in front of Solomon. Expecting him to calm down, she went to walk towards him. But instead of stopping, he punched out again. Though it didn't come anywhere near her, Pluvia was still surprised by it. Watching his forehead crinkle, she knew he was confused by the missing resistance. He would have undoubtedly noticed the barrier was gone by now. Yet he continued punching the empty space over and over again. looking at his glazed over eyes, she realised he was stuck in a trance. It wasn't surprising he'd become like this. The soul-shattering pain he must have felt probably made him like this. In order to cope with it, he'd shut off a lot of his bodies normal functions. 

Feeling the pain in her chest grow stronger, Pluvia didn't know what to do. Even with her knowledge, she didn't have a huge understanding of people's minds and bodies. Seeing him like this she didn't have a clue how to help him. Unable to bear the sight, she acted. Before her brain could process her actions, she had jumped towards him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she used her strength to hold him still. Surprisingly, he didn't resist her at all. He didn't try to push her off or punch out again. He just stopped moving completely. Bringing him into her embrace, Pluvia felt the worry in her heart settle a little.  

Solomon: "Pluvia."  

Hearing Solomon call her name, a shock ran up Pluvia's spine. looking down she saw that his previously glazed over eyes were now completely clear. Looking up at her, his face clearly showed his complex mix of emotions. Having fallen out of his trance, he regained control of himself. Feeling Something holding onto him, he was confused. But his eyes had been burned by the searing light. Even with them being completely open, he couldn't see a thing. Luckily the remaining healing light in his body easily fixed that. As his vision returned to him in less than a second, the face that was only a couple of inches away from his own became clear. Looking at Pluvia's sparkling white eyes, he could only mutter out a single word.  

Pluvia: "Uhn, it's me."  

looking at Solomon's bright red pair of eyes, all of the confusing emotions Pluvia had disappeared. Like smoke in the wind, they drifted away. All that was left behind was one extremely clear feeling. Though she didn't want to acknowledge it, she was falling for him. An elder dragon who'd seen the limits of S rank was falling for a G rank newbie who couldn't stop trying to help everyone. Laughing to herself, Pluvia muttered a sentence under her breath. 

Pluvia: "Hahaha, I guess Alice's gonna have to share."