As the incantation took effect, a gentle warmth carrying a healing aura flowed from the tip of the wand and seeped into the wound on Duane's arm.
This time, the spell was far more taxing than usual.
Louis had to concentrate completely, his gaze fixed on the wound. It felt as if even the slightest lapse in focus would cause the magic to collapse.
At the same time, the drain on his body was unmistakable. The sensation was similar to sprinting at full speed. After only a few seconds, a heavy wave of exhaustion surged upward.
This was nothing like when he healed himself or small animals before. The difficulty had increased by several levels.
Frowning, Louis forced himself to stay focused.
The wound, which had been red and swollen, was indeed improving under the influence of magic. However, the change was gradual rather than immediate.
"Does healing others reduce the effectiveness?" Louis wondered silently.
He deliberately did not heal the injury completely. Instead, he only accelerated the recovery process.
After all, creating an obvious miracle would draw too much attention.
At this level, the improvement could easily be attributed to strong natural recovery or the antibiotics beginning to take effect. It was subtle enough to remain believable.
Only when a swelling pressure formed between his brows and his thoughts began to blur did Louis decisively stop the spell.
He lowered his wand and leaned in to observe.
Whether by illusion or reality, Duane's face, which had been flushed red from fever earlier, now appeared noticeably calmer.
"What causes such a drastic difference in consumption and effect?" Louis murmured inwardly.
This issue had never arisen when he practiced the Levitation Charm.
Was it because healing magic was inherently more complex? Or did spells that acted directly on another person's body face some form of resistance?
There were too many possibilities.
With his limited understanding of magic, he could not yet reach a conclusion. He committed the question to memory, planning to investigate it later.
After resting briefly, Louis judged that although his mind was tired, he was not completely depleted.
He opened The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 once more and practiced other spells on small objects around the room.
Only when his limbs felt weak and dizziness came in waves did he finally stop.
Even then, he did not waste the time.
He took out the notebook Karina had given him and reviewed the survival techniques recorded inside by the soft lamplight.
In his previous life, he had been an ordinary college student.
Now, even with magic, survival in a world full of Walkers demanded constant growth.
Early the next morning, Louis dozed at the table.
Morgan and Jenny woke first.
When they saw Louis still keeping watch beside Duane's bed, their hearts softened even further.
Not long after, Dr. Gayle arrived for her rounds.
"The fever's gone down," she said after checking Duane's condition.
"That's a good sign."
Relief spread across the couple's faces.
As they spoke quietly, Dr. Gayle also shared what she knew about Louis.
She did not mention his more dangerous exploits, only how he had been abandoned by relatives and how he had stepped forward at a critical moment to save Paul and Karina with nothing but his words.
When Morgan and Jenny heard how much this eleven-year-old had endured, yet still remained kind and courageous, they were deeply shaken.
"That child has suffered too much," Jenny whispered, looking at Louis asleep at the table with tenderness and pity in her eyes.
In a world like this, an orphan surviving alone was almost unimaginable.
Not only had Louis endured abandonment and danger, he had done so without losing his compassion.
Morgan nodded slowly, his expression heavy with thought.
That night, after Louis had fallen asleep, Morgan and Jenny spoke quietly in their temporary room.
"Jenny," Morgan said softly, holding her hand, "that boy… living alone like this is too much for him."
Jenny's eyes reddened. "He's only eleven. He's lost everything. If we hadn't met him, I don't even want to imagine what would happen to him."
"So I was thinking…"
Morgan took a deep breath.
"If we make it through this crisis, and once Duane recovers, do you think we could adopt him? Take him in as our own child."
Jenny froze for a moment. Then she nodded firmly.
"I was thinking the same thing. It's just… I don't know whether the boy would be willing."
"When Duane gets better, we'll find the right moment to ask him," Morgan said quietly.
Another day passed.
With the combined effects of antibiotics and the subtle healing magic Louis had applied, Duane's condition improved rapidly.
At noon, he finally woke from his coma.
"Cough… Mom?"
His eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened.
"Duane! You're awake!"
"My son!"
Morgan and Jenny rushed forward, overwhelmed with relief, while Dr. Gale quickly stepped in to examine him.
"The fever has completely broken," Dr. Gale said with genuine joy.
"As long as the wound doesn't become infected again, he'll be fine."
"Dad? Mom?"
Duane looked around in confusion, still groggy from sleep.
"I… I was dreaming."
"What did you dream about?" Jenny asked softly, brushing his hair back.
"I dreamed I saw God."
"What are you saying?" Morgan laughed through tears. "You're not meeting God. You're right here with us."
"No, Dad, listen to me!"
Duane sat up with effort, his expression strangely earnest.
"God said I was chosen. He said a hero from the mortal world would be sent to save this world with me."
Morgan and Jenny exchanged glances and chuckled.
"Silly boy," Jenny said gently. "It was Dr. Gale and Louis who saved you, not God."
"No! It's true!" Duane protested urgently.
His gaze swept across the room and suddenly stopped.
At the doorway stood Louis, who had heard the commotion and come to check on him, leaning casually against the frame with a faint smile.
Duane's eyes lit up instantly.
He raised his arm, pointed straight at Louis, and shouted with almost reverent excitement.
"That's him! He's the savior God told me about!"
The hospital room fell completely silent.
Morgan, Jenny, and Dr. Gale all turned toward the doorway at the same time.
Louis froze.
The smile on his face stiffened, his mind going blank as every pair of eyes locked onto him.
The savior?
Me?