“No. That thing wasn’t human. I assume what I destroyed is a homunculus he made. The real person is likely comfortably sitting back at the Demon Lord’s castle.”
WHAT?! We were talking to a homunculus all this time?!
“In any case, Elle, you are in no position to worry about others. You are losing so much blood.”
I lift my head at the nearness of Julius’s voice. His handsome face is right before my eyes. Worry colors his features as he assesses my arm, and it’s making me feel oddly embarrassed.
“I-I-It’s n-n-not that big of a—” D-Deal! I tried to say, but another wave of dizziness strikes first. I can’t feel my legs, and I’m pretty much only standing because of Julius’s arms around my waist.
Oh no. I can’t…muster any strength.
“Um, I can heal your injured arm if you like?”
I hear a timid voice offer assistance while I’m thinking I’ve only got about five more seconds before the spinning world blacks out and I lose consciousness. I jerk my eyes to Aela’s concerned face.
Oh yeah, Aela can heal me. Or rather, she’s the only person who can help me now. If things go well, even the burns on my arm will be cleanly repaired.
“Please…do,” I request, leaning against Julius.
Aela smiles and steps toward me. And I retreat a full step backward. Actually, I was dragged back a step. BY JULIUS!
Why are you withdrawing from her? Weak, I look up at Julius, the question in my eyes.
“I can’t trust someone whose objectives are unclear,” he says.
So he’s not willing to let her help me because he doesn’t trust her yet. I totally get why he doubts her. But I want her to heal my arm if it can be done!
Sheer willpower is helping me anchor my consciousness, but that’s a feat only possible because I used to be one of the Four Grand Magi. Anyone else would’ve blacked out from the pain by now. I’ve been doing my best to stay afloat in spite of the agonizing pain and lack of blood, because I’m Elle!
I muster a modicum of strength to grab a fistful of Julius’s shirt and pull it to me. “Julius…it’s…okay. Aela is a good…girl,” I insist between short breaths. Skepticism plows his brow.
There’s no way for him to know that, because he doesn’t have the same knowledge of the manga that I do, and I don’t have the leisure of explaining why she’s good to him right now.
I’m seriously at my breaking point! I’m in pure agony! I use that agony as the last push to stagger a step closer to Aela. Julius hesitates when he sees my stubborn move, but he assists me closer to her rather than stop me.
“That’s a horrible injury. I know it must hurt, but you can relax now. I will heal you right up. All you have to do is lift your head,” Aela instructs, sympathizing with my pain as she looks at my disfigured arm.
When I lift my head, Aela’s pretty face is there, and she knocks her forehead against mine. I immediately feel the blood circulate through my body, and warmth spreads to my cold, throbbing arm.
So this is the power of Aela’s healing magic!
I give myself over to the comforting warmth for a few moments until I feel it fade away. Aela has stopped pressing her forehead against mine. I kind of wish we could stay that way a little longer. And then I remember my bandaged arm.
Ah! I’m no longer in pain! I can’t believe it, so I unwrap the bandage, revealing a perfectly normal arm without a single cut or burn.
“Amazing,” I utter in awe. I mean, how could I not be after witnessing this miracle?
“You healed an injury that severe in a second…,” Julius murmurs, astonishment glimmering in his eyes as he focuses on her. Then he smiles so softly, so sweetly; it’s an expression he never once used in Elle Village or Analia.
Julius, the Prince of Glacial Beauty, has graced Aela with a warm and tender smile…
“You have my utmost gratitude. Thank you, truly.”
There’s no woman who could hear those words from his beautifully smiling lips and not blush. Crimson stains Aela’s white cheeks.
I can’t stand seeing the two of them sharing this silent moment, so I cast my gaze to the ground and pretend to check on my healed arm by opening and closing my fist.
Wh-What if they fall in love now? It was the moment that Aela healed Julius’s wounds and showed him her healing magic for the first time that he took an interest in her in the manga. Seeing her use such a rare ability attracts him to her, and that attraction eventually turns to love…
I wonder why I’m so agitated. Why does my heart feel like it’s dropped from the sky? Why do I feel this way?
“P-Pardon me, l-lady, but could I impose upon you to l-look at my arm too…?” As I’m coping with my antsy feelings, I hear a voice that sounds like it’s at death’s door. I look over and find Regulus collapsed on the ground.
Oh yeah, I forgot about him. Regulus’s arm was blown off, too.
“I-I’m sorry. I will be right there!” Aela exclaims and rushes over to him. Upon seeing his missing arm, she mutters, “This injury was caused by…” Sadness weighs her brows down at the corners.
“C-Can you heal him, too? Will he get his arm back?” Sereniel asks, worry lacing her tone as she helps Regulus stand.
Aela whips her head up from the injury with a start. “Y-Yes. I can…I think. It should…heal if I use all my remaining magic. I’m going to touch you, okay?” she says, asking for permission, and with a nod from Regulus, she places her forehead against his.
And then Regulus’s arm regrows before our eyes!
Uwah! Arms grow out this way? Aela’s awesome! Too awesome! Though seriously, watching the bone jut out and then be covered by muscle and skin is grotesque!