The three strangers shot quick glances over their shoulders, their eyes widening as they caught sight of Lia, before they bolted down the alley, footsteps echoing off the narrow walls.

“Hey, wait!” Lia’s voice rang out as she took a step forward, then hesitated, her gaze flicking to Mav. Her shoulders sagged slightly, and she clicked her tongue. “Tsk. You're lucky I'm with someone right now!” she muttered, the echo of her words chasing after the strangers long gone from sight.

A soft sound of sobbing caught Mav’s attention. He turned to see a girl kneeling inside the house, cradling a small boy in her arms as tears streamed down his face.

“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Lia asked gently, stepping closer.

Mav followed behind her. The faint smell of mildew clung to the air as he stepped inside. Dust motes floated lazily through the sparse light that filtered in from a broken window, the floorboards groaning beneath his weight.

The girl’s posture tensed instantly, her arms darting out to shield the boy behind her, her voice sharp and shaky. “I told you to stay away!” But then her gaze landed on the cape Lia wore, and her rigid stance softened, confusion etching lines into her brow. “Guild members? Why would...?”

“We’re not here to hurt you,” Lia reassured her, raising her hands in a calming gesture.

The girl’s gaze flickered to Mav, her eyes widening in recognition. “You’re with the Blue Flame Guild? Please, we need your help!”

Her eyes, wide and brimming with desperation, locked onto Mav’s, a silent plea he knew too well. Her trembling fingers latched onto his arms, nails digging through the fabric of his sleeves, as though she feared he might leave them.

He knelt down, meeting her gaze. "Calm down, alright? I'm not going anywhere," he said softly, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Just breathe slowly, okay?"

His voice was calm, and he deliberately slowed his own breathing, hoping she'd follow. After a few moments, the girl’s ragged breaths began to steady, color returning to her pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, looking down.

"It's alright," Mav reassured her. "What's your name?"

"Marie," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"And this boy? Is he your little brother?"

"Yes, his name is Max."

Mav looked at the pair more closely now. Marie, the older one, was gaunt, her face pale and her cheeks hollow. Strands of her unkempt hair fell across her face, partially hiding her weary eyes. Max, still clinging to her, stared at Mav with a mix of curiosity and fear. Both of them were thin, their limbs frail, their clothes tattered and dirty. They looked as though they hadn't eaten in days.

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He considered asking where their parents were but stopped himself, fearing it might bring more pain.

"Alright. Marie, Max," he said softly, "how can I help you?"

"Our sister," Marie began, her voice trembling. "She’s been sick for so long. Now she won’t even wake up."

Mav’s heart sank. He had heard similar words before. This was the third time he’d encountered this strange illness in this world. Was it really that common here?

"Take me to her," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

Marie nodded, standing up shakily. But before following her, Mav turned to Lia. Opening his item box, he retrieved a gold coin and called out to her.

"Hey, Lia, I assume you're pretty proficient with your Yellow Flame?"

"Yep. My affinity with it is Advanced," she replied confidently.

"Good. I need a favor. Can you run to the market and get us all something to eat? With your advanced level, it should only take a few minutes, right?"

Lia glanced at the two children, then back at Mav. "Sure. I’ll be quick. We don’t know if those guys from earlier will come back after all," she said, taking the coin from his hand.

"You brought a gold coin here?" Lia hissed in a whisper, eyes wide.

Mav shrugged. "It's not like anyone saw."

Lia let out an exasperated sigh. "Don’t flash that kind of money around here, especially not in the slums. You’ll get swarmed by thieves in no time."

"Noted," Mav said.

Lia knelt in front of the children, gently placing her hands on their heads. "I’ll be fast, alright? And if those guys come back, don’t worry—I’ll beat them up," she said with a grin, flexing her muscles playfully.

Then she headed out the door, activating her Yellow Enhancement and sprinting toward the marketplace.

Mav turned back to Marie and Max. "Sorry for the delay. Now, show me where your sister is."

Marie nodded and led him into a dim, cramped room where the weak flame of a single lantern flickered, casting trembling shadows on the cracked walls. The girl lying on the bed looked like a ghost of her sister, her skin nearly translucent, her breaths shallow and raspy. The staleness of illness clung to the air, while a threadbare blanket barely covered her frail form.

"How long has she been like this?" Mav asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Two weeks now," Marie replied. "Me and Max have been doing what we can to care for her, but we’re too weak to carry her to a healer. And even if we could, we don’t have the money to pay for help. We haven’t eaten in days. The others in the neighborhood won’t help—they say it’s hopeless, that people die from illness all the time here."

Mav clenched his jaw, his heart aching at their plight. He wanted to ask about the three strangers from earlier, but the child came first.

He knelt beside the bed and gently brushed the sweat from the unconscious girl's forehead with his sleeve. He took out a mana potion from his item box and quickly drank it. Hovering his hand above her, he whispered, "Dark Blue Miracle."

The soft, ethereal blue flame flickered to life in his hand, enveloping the girl in its soothing glow. The room, which had seemed so dim and lifeless, briefly lit up, revealing broken furniture, cracked walls, and the full extent of the siblings' squalid living conditions.

As the flames faded, the girl stirred. Then, slowly, her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and dazed, like someone waking from a long, deep slumber.

"May!" Marie and Max cried, rushing to her side, wrapping their arms around her in relief.

“Marie... Max...” The girl’s voice barely rose above a whisper, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as her siblings threw their arms around her.

Marie turned, her tear-streaked face breaking into a shaky smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.

Mav gave a small nod, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The skill had once again almost drained his mana. But this current sight before him, made it worth the cost.

Just then, a knock echoed through the house, followed by Lia’s cheerful voice. "I’m back!"

"Perfect timing," Mav said, standing up. "Why don’t we all eat first?"