They took their time grieving. Nobody wanted to talk about what happened, but they had to do something. More specifically, Dawn had yet to exhaust her theories on how to restore Cythrel's arms. They went to the academy on the same day. She took Sora and her male half with them.

"I don't think the ritual will work if the spell version of Soul Restoration didn't work," Astromelicus gave his opinion.

Dawn wanted to use the ritual room and attempt to restore Cythrel's arms. But Kazuya's attack changed her on a fundamental way. It was like her arms ended there naturally, just like people don't have a third articulation on their fingers. She burned through both her entire mana pools casting the spell and there was no reaction. And to add another stone to her dismay, the other girl seemed fine with that.

"I still want to try," She replied to the Headmaster. "We would only lose time and a few golds on the materials. What do you think, Cythrel?"

The elf was using a heavy cloak that closed fully around her body. As long as she didn't try to raise her arms, no outsider would suspect. But they knew. She rose from her seat to look at them and answered.

"If you want to try, we can try. As you said, we'd only lose time and a few golds. But you have to promise me you won't blame yourself if nothing changes."

And that was grating at her heart, even more, the fact that she was calm. Contemplative even.

Astromelicus stood up. "I'll give you youngsters time alone to talk. I'm sure you need to put several things into words. And you are the one that should start, cadet Aidan."

He left, leaving them alone.

"Cythrel, how are you feeling?" Dawn asked. "About yourself."

"I am fi..."

"No, you are not," Sora cut her in. "Nobody can be fine with such a wound. You can play the tough girl, you can say that you are glad that Aidan wasn't hurt or killed by that shitty attack like..." Sora stopped mid-sentence. She looked away, but it was all too recent.

"Like Gurf, you mean?" Cythrel completed Sora's phrase. "Yes, I am glad. I'm glad that at least I was use..."

"Don't." Aidan cut her this time. "Don't even think of completing that phrase. We want you to stop bottling up your own feelings. Drop that mask. Trust us."

"I will. But only if you answer me one question. Can I ask it?" She was scanning his eyes, hopeful.

"Of course you can ask. And I'll answer to the best of my knowledge. Go ahead." He answered without breaking eye contact.

"I won't even mention that the princess would've died with you. But who is more important to the world? A magicless elf orphan or the..."

She didn't get to finish. Aidan covered her mouth.

"I don't like it. I know that if you didn't do that it would be me bleeding to death like Gurf. But it is too hard to face that truth. It was my weakness that caused this."

Kazuya paralyzed Dawn twice, knocked Sora unconscious. They were losing that fight. Despite all training, despite their magic, Kazuya was going to kill them. Worse yet, he was only able to exploit an opening because he seemed to care for Cythrel.

"You didn't answer me," She pointed out, frustrated.

"I won't. Because the 'magicless elf orphan' is important to me. I don't care about what the world thinks. All I care is that someone important to me is gravely hurt."

Aidan hugged her and set the girl on his lap. He ran a hand through her hair, and without thinking went to scratch her ears, just like he always do with Sora.

"Oh, no! You scratched my ear. In the laws of my people, when a man scratches an elf woman's ears, he must..." She trailed off when she saw his surprised face and put the tip of her tongue out. But suddenly she couldn't keep her teasing. Something was coming up.

"I'll do it if that is what you want."

"Actually, I want." She glanced up with a concerned face. Bashful even. "I kinda need it now."

The brazen honesty got him by surprise. "Now? Here?" He could feel her legs twitching.

"Yes. Dawn. I want Dawn to do it. I cannot wait." She seemed to barely contain it.

 "Oh," And it clicked in their mind. Dawn picked up the elf saying, "Come with me." And left through the door.

Aidan was left massaging his temples, while Dawn navigated the academy laboratory building to find the special room Cythrel needed. Sora approached and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and sighed, "She'll need help for even the basic things."

"I know. What are you intending to do?"

"I'll try the ritual anyway, it won't be a loss because we need to finish restoring Kamak. Maybe it has enough power to break through the block Kazuya's attack caused. I can't believe the otherworlder can just change a person's template with a single blow like that. It is unfair. This world doesn't need summoned heroes, Sora. Our own is more than enough to deal with the threats. So why do they still summon them?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"It is a sudden power boost. It can tip the scales of conflict. And a good deterrence against others sporting dreams of invasion."

"It is never worth it. And from what I've seen on Pearl's soul, there's more to it than what they let out. But there is nothing we can do now. We need to get stronger. Strong enough so nobody needs to sacrifice themselves."

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They performed the ritual on Cythrel and Kamak, they even used two charged cores out of the six Aidan still had. It was unsuccessful for Cythrel. After that, an academy guard took Kamak away and Dawn led Cythrel to a separate room to wash the dried herbs from her body.

"You are correct. That attack changed her on a fundamental level," Astromelicus commented "What do you think we can do? I think trying blindly will only hurt her feelings."

"There must be something, somewhere that can help her." He replied. Their minds were running several scenarios, and some were less savory than others. He knew that one path he'd never take would be grafting limbs through necromancy. The path of the abomination and elves don't match.

"That might be true, but everything has a price. Would you go out on a wild search for something you don't even know if exist or what shape it has?" Sora asked him.

"You must get your reasons straight, cadet Aidan. You are washing the girl right now in that room, take a good look at her. Are you doing this for her sake or just to wipe your guilt?"

The boy lowered his head, thinking. "Are you asking me if I would do everything even if she hadn't jumped in front of a blade meant to take my life? I would." He reached a hand for Sora, she took it.

Astromelicus suppressed a chuckle. "As long as you have your reasons straight. Doing it for yourself will only hurt her, if I may repeat myself. And if you are weak, you need to train more. Hammer out that weakness. Reforge your strength. We are here to help you."

In the other room, Dawn was silently washing Cythrel. The two didn't exchange words. She took a white one-piece dress and slid it over the elf's head. Combed her hair and bound it with a nice ribbon. Tied her shoes.

"I never thought I'd have a princess servicing me." Cythrel broke the silence.

"Then you will have to wait for a little longer. Maybe we can convince Pearl to fulfill your dream." Dawn joked. "But if I am enough, here you have your own blue-blood maid."

"Yeah, I don't think I can be so demanding." She smiled, but it was a mask. It hurt Dawn deeply.

 They came back to the laboratory after washing. Aidan spent that time thinking. There were alternatives, other paths they could take. Astromelicus served them coffee, the bitter raw beverage a blessing for their sore bodies after ten hours of channeling mana. They drank in silence until Aidan spoke his thoughts out loud.

"I can't stop trying. I need to do something for you. I can't let you stay that way, broken."

"I have always been broken!" He was startled by the comeback. "There is nothing you can do to fix that, I was born broken. An elf without magic, without any affinity. And then the slavers broke me again when they murdered my family. And now this," She raised her arms, showing the stumps. "This is just another leaf falling from a dried autumn tree."

She crossed the room and hugged Aidan. "Why do you keep trying?" She asked him.

"You are worthy. I am not ready to give up on you." He ran a hand on her hair but refrained from going for the ears.

"Will you ever?" She spoke with her face buried in his clothes.

"Only after you do. Until then I'll keep trying. Does it bother you?"

"Who would ever be bothered to be cared after by the one they love?" She froze after letting it out. "I'm sorry, Sora. I'll break our vow."

Her confession was the catalyst to bring out everything she kept bottled in. Cythrel broke a little bit more. But like an old wound, it had to be opened to heal. The girl clung to Aidan and let it out. How was she supposed to live without hands? She'd need help for every little thing. From feeding herself to cleaning.

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After Cythrel calmed down they returned to the dormitory and secluded themselves in Lumina's chambers. Her mental fortitude was impressive. Aidan didn't let go of her all the way. But right after they locked the door, he demanded an explanation about their deal.

After a rather long and convoluted explanation with a lot of stuttering by the two co-conspirators, Aidan was using all the willpower he had to avoid doing something really improper, like laughing.

"I can't believe that was the secret deal you two came up during the Gala." Aidan chided the two rather contrite girls. "I really appreciate that you planned to arrange long-term care for me this much, but maybe I should be consulted? And worse, things changed since then."

"Things like I'm here to stay," Completed Dawn.

The super-secret deal Cythrel and Sora agreed to during the Royal Gala was simple. Cythrel would stop making passes at Aidan but she would take over after Sora died of old age. Unless Aidan took the initiative, then it was fair game. Elves and their twisted sense of time. A 'Hey, can I have him after you are done using it in a century?' kind of thing.

"And that is why I am dissolving your deal. Nobody is going to steal me away, Sora. And you, little naughty elf, I decided what to do with you."

Cythrel raised her hand and spoke after Aidan nodded. "Are we doing the harem route?" She asked, using some of the otherworlder terms that seeped into their culture over the centuries.

"No. I'm not doing the harem route." He glared at her.

"You already got three girls, I think it is too late for that." She pointed.

"No. I got Sora, Dawn doesn't count and you are on probation." He corrected.

"Probation?" She inquired on his verbal slip with a coy smile.

Dawn cut in. "Changing the subject, I think I have a gift to help you, Cythrel. Yes, it might work."

"A gift? Like magical gloves?" Cythrel asked, waving her arms.

"Actually that is a good idea. We might work on that too. However, it is not magical gloves. First, you must promise me you won't refuse it."

"Why would I?" It piqued her curiosity to high levels.

"Because it is a very valuable and rare gift. I really want you to have it." Dawn answered.

"Fine. I promise. I won't refuse your gift. Now, show me." She bounced on the bed.

Dawn took a mug of water, mortar, and pestle, went to the vanity, took something out of a drawer and started to crush it while Aidan did the job of blocking the overexcited elf's line of sight. And holding her in place so she wouldn't run to see what Dawn was doing.

After several minutes she returned with the mug. A glistening silvery liquid was swirling inside. "Drink this. Make sure to drink everything and don't spill."

Cythrel looked at the mug and found the drink inside very alluring. "Can I know what is this? Looks so pretty!" She wanted to go at it right away.

"After you drink. Go slowly but don't stop once you start."

"Don't mind if I do." She took the mug and drank the liquid, slowly at first but then in large swigs. She licked her lips and the border of the mug. "It was delicious, what was that?"

Dawn smiled. "How are you feeling? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. I'm just feeling a little hot inside. Like having warm milk in the winter. Oh. It is getting even hotter." Her cheeks were flushed. "Too hot! What did you give me?" She asked, tipsy and dazed.

"Elder fairy wings." Dawn answered, and Cythrel's face turned from amused to very worried.

"Oh, no." She uttered and fainted.