“Oh, look. You’re still alive,” Phisola said as soon as Eric had returned from the adventurers’ camp.

“Did you really doubt my abilities?” He responded with a cocky smirk on his face.

“We all know how your previous encounter with them went.”

“Aww … were you worried about me?” He teased.

“Yes, I was.”

He actually stopped to take a good look at her.

“What?” She continued, “You didn’t expect that?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so blunt about it. Not that I mind. Not at all!”

“I used so much blood to bring you back. Had something happened to you, I’d go absolutely berserk.”

“And it’s just because of blood?”

“It’s how I rationalize it. I’d feel like a complete fool otherwise.”

With a sigh, Eric stopped in front of her, “You know, saving people’s lives is not a bad thing. Being selfless doesn’t make you a fool. Quite the opposite, you should feel proud about it.”

“You’re mistaking me for some idealistic hero.”

“Well …” He placed his hand on her shoulder, “to me, that is exactly what you are. Sure, you have many flaws. You can be violent, impatient, disrespectful, or outright mean. But I recognize that I’m only alive thanks to you. Not just with healing me and bringing me back, I don’t think I’d last more than a week or two if not for you. So yeah … maybe you don’t like being called a hero, but how else am I supposed to call someone who is constantly saving my life?”

“That’s actually a very good point,” Phisola nodded her head in agreement, “So, how about you start calling me mistress from now on?”

That drew a chuckle out of him, “You know, after everything we’ve been through, I can’t even get mad at you for saying stuff like that anymore. This must be what long-time married couples feel like.”

“You’re giving yourself too much freedom if you think you’re good enough to be my husband.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he pulled his hand back, “The point is, they are ready to cooperate.”

“Oh? Really?” Her surprise showed on her face, and she didn’t bother hiding it, “They aren’t worried about an evil devil stabbing them in the back?”

“They are. Which is why they insist you should make a blood contract with that pig.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Phisola said while giving him an exaggerated facial response.

“That’s right. If you agree, they will have no qualms with fighting by your side. And they will let us collect the guardian’s blood.”

“What about transporting the blood and healing you fully?”

“Yes, they agreed to that, too. They have a skilled dwarven artisan with them, and he will make something for us to carry the blood around. Although, we will have to help them gather the materials if we want him to build it fast.”

“And their healer has also agreed to heal you fully?”

“Yes. There will be no issues with that. By the way, can a demon be healed by a magical healer? I remember pig-faced commenting how it won’t work.”

“Of course they can. We aren’t undead.”

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“I see …”

“What, are you thinking I would ask them to hurt you?” She asked while grinning in amusement.

“No, I was just hoping it could be a good chance to prove I’m not a demon. I thought that maybe you wanted them to try it and see if I’m a demon or not.”

Phisola’s eyes almost shone upon hearing that, “Oh … is that so?”

Seeing her reaction made Eric shift uncomfortably, “Yes. I mean … that would be a good way to show you I’m not a demon.”

“Hmm … that really would be a good way, wouldn’t it?”

He stared her in the eyes for a while before continuing, “Are you sure healing magic can heal demons?”

“Magic can heal demons. Why would I learn healing magic otherwise? How else would I bring you back from the dead? And didn’t you see me heal a severed vein right before your eyes? Have you lost your memory or something?”

“No, that’s not what I was trying to say. Are there … different kinds of magic used to heal people? Like … one that works on demons and another that doesn’t?”

“Of course there are different kinds of healing magic! It all depends on the creature you’re supposed to heal. Healing a demon, an undead, and a godly person requires three completely different kinds of magic.”

“A godly person?” Eric’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“I’ve already told you about godly people. Seriously now, did you lose some memory when I resurrected you?”

“But why would you need different kinds of magic to start the same process? Let’s say, heal a cut.”

“Because you are not starting the same process. Animals have their own. Godly people have their own. Demons have their own.”

“Isn’t the process of healing the same? I mean, it all comes down to stopping the bleeding and having the cells regenerate themselves.”

“No, it’s not. While the effect might be the same, the stimulating process is completely different. Now, I’m not a healer. I’ve only learned enough to heal myself. Yet even I know that the kind of magic I’m using wouldn’t be able to heal that porky bastard. Ask him about it if you want. Don’t trust me, ask him and see what he says. You can walk back into their camp right now and ask him about it if you want.”

Eric’s eyes widened a bit as the realization started forming in his head, “So … the healing magic you know wouldn’t work on people like porky …”

“That’s correct.”

“Would it work on the other adventurers?”

“No. They are not as godly as porky, but they’re not demons either.”

“Yet … you’re saying it worked on me …”

Seeing the confused look on Eric’s face made Phisola smile twistedly, “Yes, it did. It worked perfectly.”

“… no … you’re just messing with me again …”

“And that’s why you need to get treated by their healer. If you’re not a demon, you have nothing to fear.”

“But how did you … do you know how to heal … wait, wait … I think I get it.”

“Oh? You do?”

“You said it yourself: you need different kinds of magic to heal different kinds of people. It depends on their nature, right?”

“That’s what I said.”

“So, let’s say that their healer can’t heal me. That just means I’m not godly, which I’m not. I’ve never claimed that I’m a godly person.”

Phisola nodded her head slowly, “That’s true.”

“So, if they can’t heal me, that doesn’t mean I’m a demon. It just means I’m different than them, which I am.”

“Then how do you explain me healing you?”

Eris paused, choosing his following words carefully, “… you saved my life. You’ve healed me well enough to bring me back from the dead. But you will be the first to say you didn’t heal me properly. Am I wrong?”

“Oh, dokurca!” She lowered her head while facepalming hard.

“What?”

It took her a while to straighten her face, “Is that the logic you’re going to run with?”

“You yourself are saying that you didn’t heal me properly. Why wouldn’t I think that’s because you aren’t using proper magic?”

“I already healed you properly once before. When I took some of your blood for the cauldron. Remember?”

“Ah yes, I remember. You also moved my blood around.”

“Exactly! But you know what?” She threw her hands in the air, “Let’s forget all of this! None of this matters, right? You have no issues with their mage healing you, right?”

“Well, if them using the wrong type of magic on me can’t have some serious consequences …”

“Technically, you could get a tumor, but I’m absolutely confident it won’t come to that.”

Eric’s eyes widened in surprise, “What?”

“Do your people know what a tumor is?”

“Yes, we do. It’s a severe medical condition that has a high mortality rate if malignant.”

Phisola shrugged while spreading her hands to the side, “There. There’s your proof. And mine. Because only demons can get a tumor. That’s what happens when you lose the protection of the divine, and your imperfect body has to fend for itself.”

“No … that … as far as I’m aware of, animals can get tumors too!”

“Only in a world where gods don’t exist anymore. Only in hells. But hey, don’t trust me. Ask the porky about it. Have him tell you all about the demons, hells, and tumors. I bet he will do it with great joy and enthusiasm.”

Passing Eric by and turning her back to him, she started walking towards the adventurer’s camp, “Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. Their healer will stop healing you as soon as they start. I want you to see the looks on their faces once they realize their godly magic isn’t only unable to heal you but is also causing you pain. Now, let’s move on and get this over with.”

“Wait … wait!” He ran after her, “Are we going back right now?”

“Right now.”