The Leon cub lay curled on my bed, breathing softly, its small body rising and falling in rhythm. The faint scent of singed fur lingered around it, but it was clean now, wrapped in warm cloth and safe.
I sat cross-legged again in the corner. Eyes closed. Breath slow. Trying to meditate. But I couldn't.
"Sword… Leon… Luna… Focus, damn it…"
I sighed and opened my eyes. No progress. Still a thousand thoughts in my head like swords clashing in a hurricane.
"Maybe I'm not cut out for this Sage stuff."
My eyes drifted to the sleeping cub. I hadn't even appraised it.
"Let the soul be blessed…" I whispered, raising a hand toward the Leon. "Status Magic—Appraisal."
A blue light flickered over the cub's body. And then, in shimmering script:
Name: Ash
Species: Leon
Magic Mastery: Fire
Magic Affinity: —
Skills: Blue Flare
Level:134
"Wait… 134?!"
I nearly fell over.
I was like Level 12. What in the burning abyss was this thing? A beast that could sleep on my bed one minute and probably melt half a mountain the next? Just then, the door creaked open. Emily stood there, tiny and pale, her plush rabbit clutched in her arms with her mother carrying her.
"Luna… suddenly got fever," Matilda said.
I was out the door before she finished. Inside Luna's house, I found her laid out on the bed. Her face was flushed, her body covered in sweat. A damp cloth sat on her forehead. Her breaths came shallow and quick.
Rosa sat nearby, eyes wide and worried. "Luna... how did you get sick so suddenly?" I asked.
"We don't know," Rosa said, voice trembling. Her parents—Amos and Carla stood silently over her, worry etched into every line of their faces.
Then I remembered.
Status Magic. I stepped forward and raised my arm. "Let the soul be blessed—Status Magic: Appraisal!"
Light swirled around Luna. A new screen appeared in my mind.
Name: Luna
Species: Human
Magic Mastery: Ice Magic
Magic Affinity: Air Magic
Skills: Archery (18/100)
Condition:Nephor's Poison
"Nephor's… Poison?" The words left my mouth before I could think. Everything went still.
Amos turned slowly, eyes wide. Carla staggered and dropped to her knees, tears falling silently down her face.
"What did you say?" Amos asked, voice hollow. "Nephor's Poison," I repeated. "No..." Carla whispered, hands to her mouth. "No… no no no..."
Rosa looked at them, confused. "Papa? What's wrong?"
Amos placed a hand on her shoulder, voice breaking.
"That poison... there's no cure in Sarion. It can only be treated in the Holy Yuaan Imperium. And even there, only two doses exist. They're in the hands of the Imperial Royalty. It's... impossible." "So…" Rosa began, trembling. "She'll stay like this," Amos choked, "until…"
He couldn't finish.
Carla sobbed into her hands. Rosa backed away in shock.
I stepped outside, heart pounding, words crashing in my head.
No. I refuse.I refuse to let her die like this. She was just a girl—a sleepy, giggling child who liked to nap on my shoulder. She was like a granddaughter to me. In this life, or the last, it didn't matter.
"Can the Great Sage cure it?" I asked aloud.
Amos didn't hesitate. "Of course he could… but he's just a legend…"
I stood alone outside, staring up at the moon. Its light touched the treetops, turning them silver. "Then I'll become more than a swordsman…" I turned and began to walk back toward my house. "I'll become the Lunar Sage, no matter what it takes." Because I won't let Luna die. Not while I still draw breath. No Poison shall stop me, even if it cannot be cured normally.