The night stretched like a dark veil over the room.
Brighid, unable to use her healing magic, dedicated herself tirelessly to Colin's wounds.
Only cloths and water were her instruments, but every delicate movement she made, gently pressing the damp fabrics against the bruises, was imbued with concern and care.
Colin repeatedly insisted he was fine, but Brighid couldn't help feeling a sense of helplessness. Each bandage applied, each wound treated, was a painful reminder that she was without magic.
Before Brighid touched Colin's face again, he held her hand.
"That's enough," he said.
"But Colin, I still—"
"It's all right." He opened a smile. "Go rest, both of you. We faced a demon, didn't we? A human isn't going to kill me."
Without saying anything more, Brighid nodded.
Finally, they went to sleep.
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The next morning, every movement Colin made with his mouth was accompanied by a searing pain that ran through his sensitive gums.
Every attempt to eat or drink became an agonizing challenge, leading him to give up in the face of the intensity of the discomfort.
The sensation of weakness and debilitation haunted him, constantly reminding him of the beating he had taken.
In the city markets, true cauldrons of people where dreams and coins mix in an uncertain dance, the famous healing potions were displayed on their counters and shelves.
But the price...
Vendors, with their colorful robes and mysterious gazes, offered essences distilled from rare herbs and fairy tears.
"Guaranteed cure!" they proclaimed, while counting coins with eager hands.
And the buyers? They were mostly students, with fragile hopes and empty pockets, who looked at the flasks and hesitated.
The powerful magic of the Repair Tree.
A resource as rare as a pearl at the bottom of the sea, reserved for the privileged, like gold coins hidden under a king's mattress.
Small groups of humbler students, with bright eyes and brave hearts, found an alternative.
They didn't have gold, but they had something even more valuable: magical abilities. And so, in the shadows of the academy corridors, they recruited the talented, the gifted, those who could channel energies from their tree.
These magic users became the unlikely healers, the bearers of hope for the unfortunate.
They treated wounds, sutured broken souls, and restored the health of their teammates.
Some think that true magic lies in the coffers of the rich, but those who had faith said it was in the hearts of the brave.
Although it wasn't as efficient and instantaneous a solution as a healing potion, the healing power of these repair users was a viable and more accessible alternative, but Colin refused potions or to be healed by third parties.
Brighid was the only one he trusted for such a task.
As the morning progressed, Brighid felt a subtle return of her magical power. A familiar sensation of pulsing energy began to manifest within her, as if a vital connection was being reestablished.
Placing her hands on her companion's chest, Brighid struggled to heal him. Her mana had partially returned, making the healing process long and exhausting.
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
Brighid raised her eyebrow, her green eyes fixed on Colin.
The firelight danced in her pupils, revealing a mixture of concern and fatigue. She brushed away a strand of hair that stubbornly fell over her forehead.
"Humpf!" she sighed, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. "How do you feel?"
Colin felt his own face. No pain. No wounds.
He blinked, confused, and then his fingers found the cold surface of a silver tray. His reflection stared back at him, and he could barely believe what he saw.
He was perfect.
"Thank you, Brighid..." Colin murmured, his voice hoarse. "Forgive me for worrying you both..."
Brighid waved one of her hands, as if brushing away the gravity of the moment. Her eyes, however, remained serious.
"It's all right..." she said, with a sincerity that crossed centuries. "I'm happy to see that you've recovered."
Colin always thought he was good at fighting, but he took a beating where he couldn't even scratch his opponent.
If I could fight to kill, I would win. That's what he thought.
He didn't feel anger, but was anxious for a second round; however, he needed to get stronger for that.
The great tournament was approaching, and with it, the promise of even more merciless combats.
Only six days separated Colin from another atrocious combat. They didn't have time.
"Fairy!" Colin called, sitting up in bed. "Can you summon us to some dimension where we can train? Or is there some secret, some magic that can accelerate our learning?"
Brighid pursed her lips and looked away, as if contemplating secrets hidden in the room's shadows.
"There is, yes..." she murmured, her voice laden with mystery. "A shortcut... But its risks cannot be underestimated... There's a limit to where I can take you, and you crossed it long ago..."
"Will it put you in danger?" Colin inquired, and Brighid shook her head, her greenish hair falling over her shoulders.
"It's dangerous for both of you."
"We'll do it!" Safira declared, as if courage were armor she wore with pride. "Won't we, Mr. Colin?!"
Colin nodded, a sincere smile curving his lips.
Observing that comforting smile, Brighid let out a relieved sigh.
The chair beside the bed, once a post of constant vigil, now seemed less heavy. She rose, moving with grace.
"Give me half an hour." Brighid looked at both of them. "I'll prepare everything."
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
After half an hour of absence, Colin and Safira returned to the room they had left moments before. Upon entering the space, what they found before their eyes was an unexpected sight.
The room was now covered with scribbles and drawings made with chalk. The walls, furniture, and even the ceiling had been taken over by crooked lines, abstract shapes, and vibrant colors.
Every inch of the environment seemed to have been transformed into an improvised work of art.
Colin and Safira exchanged perplexed looks and, for a moment, were speechless.
It was quite an impressive sight.
"You two!" said Brighid. "Go change!"
"Change?"
She nodded.
"You need to feel one with your body, without discomfort from outside things, so change clothes and wear something lighter."
Uncomfortable, Colin sighed and scratched his neck.
"Right..." He withdrew to the back, going to the bathroom.
Facing the mirror, he undressed from his shirt, allowing his gaze to wander over the reflection of his body.
Every detail that revealed itself before his eyes showed a remarkable transformation, the result of the intense training and efforts he had dedicated since arriving in that unknown world.
His physique, now more sculpted and toned, displayed a defined abdomen, revealing firm lines and evident musculature.
His shoulders, now broader, gave him a more imposing posture, as if his presence had gained a new dose of power and confidence.
As he admired himself in that mirror, a sensation of satisfaction and pride filled his chest.
After the brief pause before the mirror, Colin decided to return to the room, wearing only shorts. Upon entering the environment, his eyes met Safira and Brighid, who wore tight tank tops and short shorts.
Their presence there, so close, awakened a certain discomfort in him, who chose to avoid direct looks, seeking to maintain a respectful and discreet posture.
Safira and Brighid felt the same. Each of them tried to disguise their own uneasiness, while Colin struggled not to give in to the temptation of staring at Brighid.
"We'd better sit down..." said Brighid, looking away. "I'll begin the ritual soon..."
And so they did.
Sitting cross-legged in the lotus position, Colin, Safira, and Brighid immersed themselves in the practice of meditation.
With their eyes closed, they followed the fairy's guidance, concentrating on their breathing. They breathed deeply through their noses, feeling the air fill their lungs, and released the air gently through their mouths, allowing tension to leave their bodies.
While Brighid's words echoed softly, Colin was surprised by the melody and fluidity of those expressions that he didn't even know could be pronounced by any person.
Each word seemed charged with hidden power, intertwining in the air and enveloping the room in a mystical aura.
Gradually, white light began to spread, enveloping everything around. The chalk traces, previously scribbled throughout the room, now came to life and brightness, immersed in that intense luminosity.
The room transformed into a sacred space, where the divine and human seemed to meet.
The immensity of white that surrounded them began to change, giving way to profound darkness.
From the shadows emerged luminous points, small points of light that shone intensely. One by one, these points multiplied, transforming into celestial constellations, suspended in the vast ether of the universe.
"You can open your eyes."
As their eyes opened, the constellations expanded, forming entire galaxies.
The darkness was swallowed by an infinite sea of stars, enveloping Colin, Safira, and Brighid in a cosmic and transcendental atmosphere. The sensation of insignificance before the grandeur of the universe was overwhelming, but at the same time inspiring.
In that moment, the room's limits dissipated, and the three traveled through time and space, witnessing the majesty of distant galaxies.
While Brighid sighed, her tranquil and gentle countenance transformed before Colin's eyes.
A powerful aura seemed to emanate from her, enveloping her like a mist. It was as if her presence became imposing and immeasurable, transcending her physical appearance.
Colin suddenly felt diminished before the grandeur that Brighid radiated.
Her features remained the same, but now carried an ancestral weight. Every strand of hair, every trace on her immaculate skin hid stories that were lost in the mists of time.
And her eyes... ah, Brighid's eyes were portals to dimensions that mortals only dared to dream of.
She is not a common creature, Colin thought.
Safira, always curious, observed Brighid with wide eyes. She didn't understand completely, but felt the gravity of the fairy's presence.
It was as if Brighid were a link between worlds, a bridge between the visible and invisible.
Brighid remained there, serene as an ancient tree.
"It's all right!" she said in a gentle tone. "This is the dimension of Tyeryuilio, it's the only one capable of making you reach the Lithium."
"Lithium?" Colin murmured.
Brighid nodded.
"Pay attention, the Lithium is more than a simple atom of words. It's a cosmic encyclopedia, a scroll that embraces the beginning and end of all known things. Imagine it as a library that transcends the limits of space and time, where each shelf guards secrets that make the wise go mad and fools become prophets."
She raised her index finger.
"They say the Lithium is a catalyst of events, a key to understanding the universe. But what will I see when accessing this power? Ah, no one can say. Let's say the pages change form and meaning according to the reader. Each being interprets it in unique ways, as if the book itself adapted to the soul of whoever unveils it!"
"And what's the price of this quest?" Colin inquired.
"It's not cheap... They say that eyes that gaze upon the Lithium see beyond the veil of ignorance, but also face the vertigo of absolute knowledge. Minds can shatter and lose themselves in madness."
"And if... we don't go mad," Safira commented. "What will happen?"
"Well... your bodies will become receptacles of magic. Like ancient vessels, they will adapt, absorbing the secrets of the cosmos. In summary, your understanding of magic will advance abruptly. You will evolve five... no... maybe ten times faster than a common person, but this can..."
"What?" Colin raised an eyebrow.
"No one stays normal gaining so much power so quickly... honestly, I don't know what might happen... We can still stop..."
Colin and Safira exchanged looks, aware of the seriousness of the situation.
"We're ready."
Brighid sighed. "All right... Now, close your eyes and concentrate. This process may take hours, maybe even days, but don't give up at all. Do you understand?"
They swallowed hard, but showed themselves willing to move forward.
"Yes, we're ready!"