With a resigned sigh, Mav gave in to her request. He quickly opened his status and scrolled until his focus landed on the skill Ana wanted to see:

Skill Name: Dark Blue Miracle (Maximum) lvl. 5/120

Description: Conjures a soothing dark blue flame that heals any injury, no matter how grievous, dispels curses, and cures any illness or disability, restoring the target to perfect health.

Manacost: 115

Ana’s eyes darted across the description as she read it rapidly, her expression shifting between disbelief and confusion. She blinked, pulled back for a moment, staring at the ceiling as if searching for answers.

"This can’t be right," she muttered, shaking her head before leaning back in to read it again, this time more slowly, as if the words would change under scrutiny.

"Mav," she said after a long pause, her voice filled with wonder, "this skill... it's far more powerful than I originally thought. It’s... unreal."

She turned to him, her eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and fear.

"Something like this shouldn’t exist. It’s impossible! But I’m seeing it with my own eyes."

She hesitated, guilt flashing across her face. "I owe you an apology, Mav. When you first told me about it, I brushed you off. I didn’t take you seriously. But this... this could revolutionize healing as we know it."

She paused, her brow furrowing in concern. "If the wrong people found out about this skill, they’d do anything to control you. You were right to keep it hidden."

Mav’s stomach churned at her words, an icy tendril of fear wrapping around his chest. The truth of what she said weighed heavily—power like his was both a blessing and a curse. His throat tightened, and he barely managed a reply. "R-Really?"

"Absolutely," Ana nodded firmly. "Who else knows about this?"

Mav glanced up, thinking carefully. "My parents, the village chief, Head Priest Organos, the King, and maybe the royal family. And you," he added, his voice lowering slightly.

"Kastanos saw me use it once, but I don’t think he realized what it really was. He assumed it was just an advanced healing skill," he thought.

Ana considered his words, her face thoughtful. "Hmmm... what do you think about telling our guild leader? The head of the Blue Flame Guild?"

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Mav frowned, uneasy. "I’m not sure... I don’t want to spread this around too much. Can we trust her?"

Ana smiled softly. "Yes. She's the kindest, most selfless, most trustworthy, person I know. If she knew about this, she’d be ecstatic. You’d have nothing to worry about with her."

Mav hesitated, weighing his options. "I’ll think about it," he finally said, his voice cautious.

"Fair enough," Ana replied, though her tone remained hopeful. "But what about joining our guild as a start? You could officially become my assistant, and I could help you get a healing license. You’d be able to take on commissions and earn a little extra income. Plus, you could level up that skill while getting paid. Two birds with one stone, right?"

Mav sat down, resting his chin in his hand, considering the offer. "That’s... not a bad idea."

Ana’s face lit up, a grin stretching across her lips. "See? I knew you’d come around."

"But..." Mav's voice turned doubtful, "don’t guilds check affinities before they let people join? If they see my Blue Flame affinity, they’ll just laugh at me."

Ana let out a smug chuckle, crossing her arms and puffing up her chest. "Tsk, tsk. My dear assistant, have you forgotten who I am? I’m the second-best healer in the guild. And, in case you missed it, I’m close friends with the guild leader. Convincing her would be a walk in the park. Just leave it to me."

Mav sighed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Alright, you’ve convinced me. But you're not hiding anything, right? No ulterior motives here?" He squinted, his tone half-joking.

Ana laughed heartily. "Not at all! Although, being the master of a future legend wouldn’t be too shabby, would it?"

Mav rolled his eyes, a chuckle escaping him. "Alright, alright. Just let me know when we start."

"I’ll make some preparations and let you know when everything's ready. Oh, and feel free to bring that costume again, Azure," she teased, reaching out her hand.

Mav shook her hand, nodding. "I'll be waiting, master."

Ana’s expression softened as her curiosity returned. "I’m still fascinated by your skill. How did you even acquire something like this? Our leader, with her maximum Blue Flame affinity, only has Blue Heal and Blue Creation."

Mav hesitated, unsure how much to share, but after a moment, he sighed. "Alright, I'll explain."

He raised his hand, and in a low voice, and said, "Dark Ascension."

The familiar black flames surged from his palm, their eerie glow casting flickering shadows across the room. The sudden appearance of the flames made Ana jump back, bumping into the counter behind her.

"W-What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It’s a skill I gained from my affinity with the Dark Flame," Mav said calmly. "Haven’t you heard of it?"

"I’ve heard of it, yes, but I’ve never seen it in person. That color... it’s mesmerizing," Ana replied, still staring at it.

Mav clenched his fist, and the flames vanished as quickly as they’d come. "For now, all you need to know is that I combined it with Blue Heal, and that’s how Dark Blue Miracle was created."

Ana blinked, stunned. "It’s really that simple? For such an incredible skill?"

Mav nodded, though his expression darkened slightly. "Simple, yes. But the process... well, it comes with a cost." He didn’t mention the excruciating pain that followed every time he used it.

"And you’ve only tested it on yourself?" Ana asked, stepping forward again.

"Mostly, yes. Though I did use it on the Head Priest, Organos during a test. But he wasn’t using any flame skills at the time."

Ana turned away, pacing behind the counter for a moment before stopping in front of some empty bottles. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes filled with a sudden intensity. "Can you try using it on me?"

Mav froze. "Come again?" His heart skipped a beat.

"I want you to use it on me while I’m casting Blue Creation," Ana repeated, her voice steady.

Mav stared at her, taken aback. "Are you serious? What if something goes wrong? Don’t blame me if this backfires."

"I won’t. Just do it," Ana insisted, stepping forward confidently.

Mav shook his head, but a flicker of curiosity lit his eyes. "Alright then. Prepare to cast your skill."