Celia's Request
When Serea returned to the wooden house, exhausted, she collapsed directly onto the bed, ready to rest. Just then, soone walked in from outside.
Celia entered, carrying a wooden basin filled with the clear water from the Spring of Life. She had co to treat the bodily injuries Serea sustained after going through Blood Frenzy.
"Are you going to rest?"
Celia's voice, completely devoid of emotional fluctuations, sounded as she saw Serea lying on the bed.
"Celia?"
Seeing that it was Celia who ca, Serea felt a little puzzled, but after noticing the wooden basin in her hands, she understood Celia had co to treat her.
"You've had a long day too. It's fine if you wait until tomorrow to help heal,"
Serea said. She still felt so pain when moving, but overall, there was nothing serious.
"I didn't participate in the battle, so it's fine. But if you want to rest, I can co again tomorrow morning."
"I'm okay, as long as you, Celia, won't be too tired."
"Then, excuse ."
With that, Celia brought the wooden basin over to Serea's bedside.
Actually, this simple treatnt could have been left to Lola. After all, Lola was Serea's nominal attendant, and her Healing Rain could substitute for Celia's Holy Healing.
But for so reason, every ti there was an injury to treat, Celia insisted on doing it herself. Perhaps the reason lay in the fact that it was Serea's body!
"Lie on your stomach."
"Okay."
Wearing her pajamas, Serea naturally lay facedown on the bed. Unlike before, when she felt shy, she had beco used to and even more enjoyed this "Queen-level" treatnt.
After soaking the elven cloth, Celia thoroughly wrung out the water and then placed the cloth onto Serea's clothing. The cool sensation made Serea instinctively shiver.
"Is it very cold?"
"It's alright."
As Serea replied, Celia used Holy Healing. Feeling the warmth spreading across her skin, Serea's heart ward as well. At the sa ti, her clothes were dried, and the Spring of Life eased her wounds.
Under the combined effect of Holy Healing and the Spring of Life, Serea's injuries were gradually healing, and this gentle restoration left no aftereffects.
Gradually, Serea revealed a very relaxed, thoroughly contented expression...
"If soone could marry a thoughtful girl like you, Celia, they probably used up several lifetis' worth of luck."
"......"
Celia did not respond, but Serea was already accustod to her silence.
Yet underneath that silence, sothing was hidden in Celia's heart. Looking at the expression of enjoynt on Serea's face, she hesitated for a mont, then finally spoke.
"I have sothing to ask of you."
"Huh?"
The sudden words left Serea a bit stunned, and then she asked,
"Of course, no problem! Celia, feel free to ask—aren't we companions already?"
"......"
Hearing this, Celia pressed her lips together. She finally made up her mind and spoke about "that matter."
"Please help resurrect Princess Serea."
"......"
"If you agree, accordingly, I will grant any request you make. That is a knight's vow."
Upon hearing Celia's words, this ti it was Serea's turn to fall silent. Although she had long predicted Celia would make this request, she didn't expect it to co so soon.
Seeing Serea's silence, Celia pressed her.
"Is it very difficult?"
"In a way, yes."
"What's the reason? Is it a matter of ability, or sothing else?"
"A bit of both."
As Serea answered, Celia re-soaked the now-dried elven cloth in the basin. After rinsing it, she continued to wipe Serea's body.
"The thod you used to resurrect Vina before—could it work for Her Highness?"
"... If I said it couldn't, would you believe ?"
"Yes, but tell the reasons."
Celia continued her actions as she spoke.
"Serea's original soul is still there, but it's nothing more than a 'material.' I don't have the power to turn sothing like that back into her true soul—at least not for now. And even if I could recover her soul, what about the body?"
As Serea asked, Celia's hand paused.
Right, what about the body?
Was she supposed to let the person before her hand over the body to "Princess Serea"?
Perhaps Celia had originally co with this idea in mind, but now, she could no longer say such words.
However, that didn't seem to be the question for now, because just as Serea said, she did not currently have the ability to resurrect her "princess".
Before considering the body, Serea's abilities needed to be considered first.
"You said 'for now'—then, in the future, will you be able to resurrect Her Highness?"
Celia deflected and asked in return. Serea didn't know how to answer, so she asked the System.
"System, do I have that ability?"
System: The Soul Altar will fulfill your wish.
"So that's how it is. I'm really that amazing..."
Thinking this, Serea showed a self-mocking smile. Looking at Celia, who awaited her answer, Serea didn't have the heart to lie to her.
"I can!"
Her answer was firm. Celia fell silent at this.
The two lapsed into silence again. This quiet lasted until Celia finished treating Serea's wounds and prepared to leave.
Watching Celia about to depart, Serea could no longer contain herself and asked,
"Don't you want to know whether I'll help you resurrect your princess when the ti cos?"
At this, Celia's steps halted. After a few seconds, she replied,
"When that ti cos, I will co to find you again. Thinking about it now is too far off. Before that, I will stay by your side and protect you until you reach that level."
"So you'll ask then..."
Serea repeated. She felt a chill that pierced to her core, a chill that was inexplicable.
After answering, Celia prepared to leave.
'Thud, thud, thud'—each step sounded like shards of ice striking Serea, and as she watched Celia depart, she only felt an emptiness in her heart, as if she had lost sothing essential.
All that to gain strength for herself?
At this mont, that "strength" suddenly felt unreal. Watching Celia's departing figure, Serea gritted her teeth, making up her mind.
Slap, slap, slap!
It was another flurry of urgent footsteps, bare feet on the wooden floor. Hearing the sound, Celia turned her head—only to see Serea rushing toward her.
Thud!
Serea threw herself at Celia, knocking her against the wooden wall.
The water from the wooden basin spilled over them both, and Celia, pinned against the wall, offered no resistance.
Their gazes t, and in each other's eyes, they saw the other's breathtaking beauty reflected.
(To be continued)
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