"...I don't know what kind of burdens you're carrying. But... even if you feel that way now, you never know where life will take you."

"...That is―"

"Even I didn't achieve the dreams I had when I was young. But now, I'm doing okay and having fun. There are so many ways to live. Someday, you'll be able to laugh from the bottom of your heart too… Maybe you'll meet someone or something that will make you feel that way."

"..."

"...I'd like to see your future like that. So...why don't you try living a little longer?"

Fana was deeply moved by those words, as she reflected on his life up until that point.

He must have also struggled in his own way until now, differently from her.

Even so, seeing him now, living for someone else, stirred the "I don't want to give up" feeling that had been buried deep within Fana's heart.

"...Alright. Could you give it a try?"

That's what Fana said.

"Thank you… However, my healing magic is a bit special. I need to touch the affected area directly. Let me know if it hurts."

The word touch brought a slight question to Fana's mind.

(Touch magic... I've never heard of that… Well, forget it. If it could heal even a little bit of the nothingness I am now, it would also fill this man's heart… I want to repay this man, who has done so much for me, at least that much as a small token of my gratitude.)

Christophe's hand touched her disabled left arm.

At that moment, a powerful yet gentle magic coursed through Fana's entire body, unlike anything she had ever felt before.

(Wh-what is this magic...!? It's like life force is overflowing, a sacred... a power that's too sacred...!)

A faint light emanating from his hand envelops her arm. The nerves that should have been dead reconnect, the muscles regenerate, and the numbness and pain vanish as if they were a lie. Fana cautiously tries to move her left arm of her own volition.

―It moves. Freely, like it used to.

"I'll treat your eyes too."

"Oh, yes."

Christophe's hand reached out towards Fana's scar on her right eye.

When the same warm light shines upon it, light once again floods back into the vision she thought was lost forever.

The continuous miracles that have been happening since earlier. All Fana could do was stand there in a daze.

"Something like this. I think this should have healed the eye injury. Do you want to check?"

When Christophe brought the mirror and Fana saw her reflection, she was speechless.

The scars had disappeared, and both eyes had regained their former powerful brilliance.

"...Could it be, that it's―"

"And then, the magic circuit, right? It seems the cause of the injury is near the heart. I will touch your chest... is that okay?"

"...P-please."

By now, Fana had no hesitation. She undressed, ready to receive Christophe's treatment.

And then, Christophe's hand slowly reached towards Fana's chest.

His hand moves. As magic flows from it, something miraculous happens again.

The tattered magic circuits were repaired, and power surged throughout her body. Fana could feel the magic circuits, which were even more refined and strengthened than before.

(...Is his recovery magic activating my body...?)

Having regained everything she had lost, Fana immediately deployed wind magic.

As before, or even faster than before, the magic that could instantly lift nearby objects and return them to their original positions was deployed.

With the magic now fully usable, Fana shed tears.

"...No way, not again... I can use magic again..."

"That's good. It's an injury I can handle with my own strength."

Wiping away her tears, Fana smiled at Christophe, who was also smiling.

It would be rude to stand here frozen in place in front of him.

She knelt at his feet.

"...Hey? What is it?"

After seeing Christophe looking bewildered, Fana raised her voice.

"This debt of gratitude cannot be expressed in words... Master. I am truly grateful. You have given me back my lost power, and above all, the meaning of life."

"W-wait, Master...? No, just a moment. You can't possibly be doing that to an old man like me..."

"From this moment forward, my life, my soul, and all the power within this body are dedicated to Master... I am prepared to offer everything. Master! Now, what commands do you have? I will do anything! What? You want to whip me?! Yes, of course. Master! Come on! Do as you please!"

"...Um. Yeah. Let's calm down for now. I'm not going to whip you, so..."

"Huh, you're not going to whip me...?"

"I won't hit you. If you want to, go ahead and do it yourself."

"You want me to do it alone?!"

"...Anyway, you don't have to worry about me. You're free to live your life."

Christophe's cheeks twitched slightly as he slowly opened his mouth.

Fana took his words to heart and thought about it again as if it were her own.

And then, the answer came quickly.

"...My freedom is primarily to serve. This Fana wishes to serve you for the rest of her life… However, first, I must gain the strength to repay this debt of gratitude, mustn't I? ...Indeed, as I am now, I am not worthy to serve Master."

"No, it's not about strength or anything like that..."

"I must gain as much durability as I can, enough to withstand any amount of whipping."

"I think we're aiming in different directions."

"I can't just stand here. I will go on a journey. I will surely gain enough power to be worthy of Master, and I will definitely return here again. At that time, Master, you can put a collar on me and whip me as much as you like!"

"Hey... It's okay if you don't worry about me... Haa. That, as long as you're doing well, that's fine, I guess. Actually, it seems like a lot of young people these days... haa, they don't really listen to what others have to say... yeah, well, as long as you're doing well, I guess...?"

Hearing Christophe's voice, Fana started running powerfully.

With absolute loyalty to Christophe in her heart.

―I will become Master's sword and shield. To do that, I must become stronger. And to protect and support Master, I need a foundation for my life.

In other words, she must be able to fulfill any request from her Master.

With that determination, Fana left Greenbear Village that very day and took a job at the guild. All for the sake of one day again providing for her Master, Christophe.

As she returned to the Labyrinth City, Fana thought about her encounter with Christophe.

And at the same time, she also burned with anger.

"Sylvia...! Master, I will definitely save you... and then, the reward...!"

At Fana's lust-filled roar, the horse she was riding flinched slightly.

Chapter 23