—
Episode 9
Gone was her usual indecisiveness—Sabina now had a terrifyingly calm look in her eyes.
At the same time, magic began to flow from her fingertips.
More delicate than anything she had shown just moments before.
The magic absorbed into Adrian’s body flowed toward the heavily cracked aura heart.
‘Slowly, don’t rush…’
Sabina’s magic began to mend the cracks in his aura heart.
Handling such a sensitive aura heart was no different than holding someone’s life in your hands.
Naturally, Sabina had no choice but to be extremely cautious.
That’s why, when she had offered to heal Adrian in the past, she had—uncharacteristically—spoken with care.
> “If you’re uncomfortable, you can refuse my treatment.”
But his reaction had been completely unexpected.
Instead, he had frowned and asked back:
> “What? Why would I refuse?”
“…But still.”
“You’re an incredibly talented mage. Do you know how rare it is to be treated by someone like you?”
Thanks to that, Adrian continued to receive treatment from Sabina.
Before she knew it, she had followed him all the way to the capital.
And Adrian—he always entrusted his life to her, without hesitation.
That unwavering trust he had in her… somehow felt strangely fresh to Sabina.
‘The only person in the entire empire who trusts me like this… is probably Adrian.’
The thought made her happy, and yet… left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Looking at him, she couldn’t help but feel a faint, foolish hope.
‘No…’
She shook the thought away.
Sabina tightly closed and opened her eyes again.
Returning to her usual blank expression, she declared in a calm voice:
> “It’s done.”
The treatment was finally over.
Lifting her hand from Adrian’s chest, she added flatly:
> “Try circulating your aura through your body. How does it feel?”
At the same time, a faint golden glow shimmered across Adrian’s body.
It was aura.
> “Oh, this definitely feels better.”
Adrian looked at Sabina with sparkling eyes.
> “It’s much easier to control than before.”
> “Still, don’t overdo it. Your aura heart hasn’t completely healed yet.”
Sabina replied coolly, but her face was visibly bright.
His recovery had gone better than expected.
‘Though placing my hand on his bare chest is a little embarrassing…’
Still, it was just part of the treatment.
> “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Sabina forced a calm demeanor as she stood up.
> “Then please rest a bit. I’ll just…”
But the problem was—just as she was getting up, Sabina tripped.
> “Kyaa!”
A short scream escaped her lips.
One of Maybel’s fuzzy toy balls was rolling around on the floor.
Sabina had accidentally stepped on it.
‘May, I told you to clean up your toys!!’
But there was no Maybel to scold at the moment.
And Sabina ended up falling—right on top of Adrian’s bare chest!
She could feel Adrian go stiff beneath her.
‘W-wait.’
‘Isn’t this… kind of a weird position?’
Sabina quickly lifted her head.
And then her red eyes widened in shock.
No wonder—she was practically sitting on his lap!
And right in front of her was Adrian’s slightly flustered face…
‘Eeeek!!’
Sabina let out a silent internal scream and scrambled to get up.
Only to be struck by a voice just then:
> “Sis, what are you doing?”
> “…”
Sabina’s shoulders flinched.
She turned to see Maybel, eyes wide and curious, staring at them.
Sabina forced a smile.
> “Treatment! I was treating him!”
> “Aha.”
Maybel nodded—then smirked slyly.
> “Then why do you look so surprised?”
> “…”
Her gaze flicked between the two, strangely pleased.
As if she fully understood the nuance of what just happened between them…
‘No way. She can’t.’
May was only six years old, after all.
Sabina tried to shake off the awkward feeling.
—
* * *
After Adrian’s treatment was over,
Sabina said she needed to go check the potion storage and left the room.
‘Alright, now’s my chance.’
I tiptoed over to my brother.
Then, putting on my best sulky face, I spoke up.
> “Hey, I’m hungry.”
Adrian’s eyes went wide as he turned to me.
He’s not the kind of person who could ignore a hungry kid.
With a serious look, he asked:
> “You’re hungry? Should we have a snack?”
> “Yup!”
He picked me up and strode toward the kitchen.
But then—
I suddenly flinched.
Beyond the neatly arranged cooking tools, I saw the stove and oven.
Gray smoke billowing up…
The rush of hot air…
> “May?”
Adrian tilted his head at me.
> “What’s wrong?”
> “…Nothing.”
I quickly turned away from the stove, fear in my eyes.
I knew in my head that I couldn’t avoid fire forever.
I understood that my fear was irrational, and if I prepared myself mentally, I could stay calm.
…But I still couldn’t help the way my body reacted.
Trying to distract myself, I hugged Adrian’s neck tightly and turned my gaze away from the stove.
‘It’s okay. It’s all in the past now.’
The memory of the flames devouring my sister.
The sheer despair of that moment.
To make sure that tragedy never happened again…
‘I have to do well.’
Swallowing hard, I forced myself to smile and pointed to the pantry above the stove.
> “Open that for me.”
> “May?”
> “I’ll make you a snack!”
I said it cheerfully on purpose, and Adrian moved without much suspicion.
But the closer we got to the stove, the stiffer my body became.
I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again.
‘I’m fine.’
Doing my best to ignore the burner beneath me, I reached for the pantry.
I managed to grab the handle—
> “Nnggh…”
But why was it so heavy?!
I kept struggling with the door for a while.
Oh, and what was Adrian doing while I was busting my butt?
Watching me with a face like he might burst out laughing if I so much as nudged him.
This guy!
“Oh no, our
little May is so weak!”
Unable to hold back, Adrian chuckled.
> “You’re gonna have to eat lots of snacks and meals from now on! Gotta get strong!”
Then he reached up and easily opened the pantry door.
At that moment, with a bright smile still on his face—Adrian suddenly froze.
> “…What is this?”
