It took three days for the storm to pass. Once I confirmed the sky was completely clear, I flew at top speed toward the gate to Lumis. It took half a day to reach the Gate. Fortunately, time in Lumis passed slowly compared to Zindor, so I hoped that by the time I finished everything, the sky would still be clear.

Crossing over, I nearly fainted—the heat was at least 40 degrees, with humidity thick in the air. Breathing felt almost impossible, and I was melting. I’d experienced hot days in Lumis before, but this was one of the worst. I flew at top speed to Crystalspire, but unfortunately arrived after dark, just as the bazaar was closing. The mage’s guild was also shutting down, so I had to book a room at a skyrest and wait until the next day.

Morning sunlight filtered through the streets as I headed straight for the Mage Guild, not wanting to waste any time. Inside, the place had that familiar scent of dusty parchment and faint herbs.

Before I could take in much more, a young man in an apprentice’s robe walked over, giving me a polite bow. His gaze shifted to me with a hint of curiosity, though he kept his tone carefully composed. “How may I assist you, esteemed healer?” he asked, sounding like he was trying to keep it professional.

“Good morning,” I replied, nodding slightly. “I’m looking for Minor Heal. And if you’ve got anything similar to it, that’d be great.”

He nodded, muttered something like “one moment,” and darted off to the display at the left of the room. A minute later, he came back holding three scrolls, looking slightly out of breath but managing a quick smile. He handed them over, and I felt the slight weight of them in my hands, wondering what they could do.

Minor Heal

Mends small injuries and alleviates common ailments like cuts, bruises, and minor illnesses. A staple for adventurers, it provides quick relief and slightly improves with the caster’s skill.

Refresh Vitality

Restores a bit of energy and reduces minor fatigue, easing sore muscles and stabilizing low mana. Ideal for boosting endurance, it’s a simple but essential spell for long journeys.

Soothing Touch

Eases mild pain and encourages natural healing, helping prevent minor injuries from worsening. It offers quick comfort, making it a favorite among both novice and seasoned healers.

I glanced at the scrolls in my hands and asked, “How much are they?”

He folded his hands, his expression growing more serious. “Thirty gold each.”

I hesitated, then took out a handful of Earth coins. “Do you take these?” I asked, holding them out. His eyes lit up as he looked at the coins, clearly surprised—and thrilled.

“Oh, yes,” he said, nodding eagerly. “We’ve seen these before, and they’re quite popular.”

I placed a medium wooden box on the counter, filling it with the Earth coins. He took the box, bowing quickly before disappearing into the back. After what felt like a good ten minutes, he returned, handing me back the box, now lighter but with a few coins still inside.

With a quick nod of thanks, I headed out to the bazaar. The magical area was packed, with stalls overflowing in every color and size of scroll. I went straight to the single-use scroll sellers, making the rounds and dropping Earth coins into eager hands, watching the numbers in my inventory shrink. By the time I was done, I’d taken over a hundred kilograms off my coin supply, but added hundreds of scrolls.

Satisfied, I slipped into the nearby forest. A quick invisibility spell cloaked me, and I shot into the sky, racing back toward the Gate.

As I flew through the skies over Lumis and Zindor, my mind drifted to ways I could still lend a hand without diving headfirst into their tangled political landscape. Below, the lands stretched wide and endless—mountains fading into valleys, towns blending into greens and browns in Lumis, and ruined desolation across Zindor. I weighed my options carefully, searching for something that could make a difference without pulling me into their struggles. The wind whipped past, carrying my thoughts like scattered leaves, and by the time the city came into view, I’d settled on one more idea.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I wasn’t certain if she’d ever use what I had in mind, but that decision was hers to make. Her conscience would have to bear it, not mine. With a quiet resolve, I turned my attention to Cloud’s gift. I reached into my storage and pulled out a pendant I’d collected from a silver dungeon in Lumis. The pendant gleamed, its runes faintly pulsing with the promise of improved mana regeneration. I had two of them, untouched and unused, and it seemed fitting that Cloud should have one.

I carefully packed a box, placing the notebook I’d written for Cloud inside—a collection of medical basics she could use to help others. Next went the scrolls, the pendant from the silver dungeon, and a quick note reminding her to channel mana into the scrolls to learn the spells. It took two days of hovering over the city, waiting, until I finally spotted her rushing down a narrow street. Quietly, I landed in a shadowed corner and became visible, stepping out just as she passed.

Her head jerked up, eyes widening. She took a quick step back, instinctively raising her hands as if to defend herself, her posture rigid with alarm. “Please—don’t hurt me,” she whispered, voice shaky, her gaze darting to the street behind me as if weighing an escape route.

“Cloud, it’s okay,” I said gently, keeping my voice calm and holding up my hands in a non-threatening gesture. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

She blinked, studying my face, the suspicion in her expression fading to something closer to relief, though her shoulders remained tense. Slowly, she let her hands drop to her sides, exhaling a shaky breath.

“I… I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she murmured, casting her eyes down, guilt flickering in them. “After… what happened…”

I gave a small nod, feeling the sting of her actions, but I pushed it aside. “We’re leaving,” I said simply, then reached into my Storage and took out the small wooden box. “But I wanted to leave you with this.”

Her gaze locked onto the box, brow furrowing as she stared at it. “What’s… what’s in there?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper, her hand hovering uncertainly above it.

“Just a few things I thought you might need,” I replied, holding it out to her. “The notebook has some basic medical knowledge I wrote down. It’s not everything, but it’s a start. And there are a few spell scrolls—things that might come in handy.” I paused, cracking the lid to show her. “And this pendant,” I added, nodding to the silver pendant nestled among the items. “It boosts mana regeneration. I thought you might find it useful.”

Cloud’s eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as she took in the contents. Her gaze shifted back to me, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in her expression. “I… I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Why would you give me this? After everything…”

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “This isn’t about rewarding or punishing you, Cloud. I’m giving this to you because I know you care about the women in the slums. You want to help them, don’t you?”

She nodded slowly, her eyes misting with tears. “Yes,” she murmured, barely audible. “I do… but…”

“But nothing,” I interrupted gently. “I can’t stay here to help them myself. That responsibility falls to you now. It’s not about whether you ‘deserve’ this. It’s about what you can do with it.”

She stared at me for a long moment, her lips pressed together, and then, finally, she reached out, her fingers brushing the edge of the box. “Thank you,” she said, voice cracking. Her hand trembled as she took it from me, cradling it as if it were something fragile.

A tear slipped down her cheek, and then she gave a broken laugh, covering her mouth with her free hand. “I’m sorry… for what happened with the Mothers. I… I thought…”

“I know,” I said softly, my voice gentle. “You did what you thought was right. Your loyalty isn’t to us, and I understand that.”

Without warning, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me, her shoulders shaking as the weight of her emotions finally broke free. “Thank you,” she whispered again, voice muffled against my shoulder. “Thank you for trusting me with this… I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t,” I replied, giving her a reassuring squeeze. As she pulled back, she wiped her cheeks, offering me a shaky but genuine smile.

With a last nod, I stepped back, giving her space, and watched as she clutched the box close, gave me one last smile and left.

The slums were quiet under the moonlight as I flew over to the house of the mage from the Council of Mothers. Her place was tucked away, quiet and dark, as I landed softly by an open window. Extending my mana sense field, I picked up the slow, steady rhythm of her sleep from the next room.

Moving silently, I pulled four scrolls from my Storage, and placed them in a neat line on her table.

Fuse Stone

For 50 mana, fuse two stones together into a single, solid piece.

Bind Timber

For 50 mana, join two wooden beams together seamlessly without nails or fasteners.

Lift Block

Gently raises a stone or wooden block into position, hovering until it is set down. Mana cost is determined by the size of the block and the height it is lifted to.

Reinforce Bedrock

Fortifies the bedrock, making it denser and more stable. Mana cost varies depending on the condition of the bedrock.

As a final touch, I added a quick note on top:

Channel mana into the scrolls to learn the spells. I hope you’ll use them to help your people—not just to gain power.

I couldn’t help myself—I signed the note with a flourish: John, the healer who came here with good intentions until the lot of you botched it.

I hadn’t let my new fiery side out much; truthfully, I was still wary of unleashing it fully. But sometimes, a little of it had to slip through.

With one last look at the scrolls resting on the table, I turned and slipped back into the night. The shadows closed around me, and I took to the skies, the cool air calming the last edge of my temper.