I stop the rampaging mana and heal the mother but I know it isn’t enough. The fetus is still undeveloped, its mana vasculature incomplete. It has no defense from the assault of my mana or its mother’s. I let the solar attribute mana flood into both sides of my body.
The light from my hands is blinding as I place it over her womb strengthening the healing spell as much as I can. I keep the spell going as the seconds pass by slowly, praying that the tiniest spark of life still remains in the fetus.
I see it, like the flame of a candle flickering in the breeze, but it is still there. I continue the spell with one hand while I use the other to feed the solar attribute mana into the fetus’s incomplete mana vasculature.
The solar attribute is unique to the solar phoenix and has powerful healing properties that can even revive recently killed cells. Still little is known about the solar attribute and how it actually works. One thing is for certain, it is the most ferociously rejected mana. Trying to mix it with any other mana attribute would cause immediate and permanent death of the host.
Since the fetus has not yet formed a full mana vasculature it does not have an attribute yet. That is the only reason I am willing to try something so dangerous. Still the result is far beyond my expectations. As the mana circulates through the incomplete vasculature, flooding the tissues, the baby begins to grow.
My mana seems to take on a mind of its own as it continues pouring into the fetus against my will. Child continues to grow as the mother’s womb begins to bulge. When the fetus has reached the third trimester, the mana vasculature fully formed, it stops pulling mana from me. The solar attribute mana still swirls within the baby’s completed mana vasculature healing any damage it might do the mother or child.
I have no time to question what had just happened, or the ramification of my actions. I separate my solar attribute from half my body again as I move onto the next maid. All in all, it takes 6 minutes to heal all 40 maids that had been on the property.
Luckily there are no more surprises. Leaning against the frame of the main door I feel a thousand times more tired then on my way here. I sense Jeramiah’s approach more than I see it not having the energy to look up. What ever I was expecting I did not think he would bow.
“Thank you.”
I notice how gray his milky skin looks, how his hands are shaking. His thanks sound heartfelt but I cannot meet his eyes as he straightened up. My nails dig into my palms.
At the sound of feet pounding against the marble floor I work up the energy to raise my head. I see a fiery head of wavy hair marching towards me. Claire is Jills and Jeramiah’s second cousin. When Jill had still been weak from her illness, Claire had decided she would be Jills defender. We had butted heads plenty back then. Her emerald green eyes are angry as she marches towards me, yet even angry her sharp features are beautiful. I wish I could pull that off then maybe my eyebrow wouldn’t bug-
SMACK
I am not sure why I wasn’t expecting the slap, but I feel the tears building in my eyes as my hand goes to my cheek.
“Its that what you want!” Claire yells into the silent room. she slaps me again this time on the other side. “You want someone to blame you so you can hate yourself for what happened. The Giean I knew was not nearly so pathetic.”
Despite being a few inches shorter than me Claire pulls me into her embrace pressing my head into her shoulder.
“It doesn’t matter how strong you are or that you are an SS rank adventurer. You’re still 16 and you’re still a kid in the eyes of most people here. One forced to grow up far too fast perhaps but still a kid. You are allowed to make mistakes and thanks to you no one was killed or even injured. Many of these girls will likely experience awakenings thanks to this something they would pay a fortune for in the outside world. So… this may be your fault, but thank you.”
I want to blame the sleep deprivation, the exhaustion from so much detailed mana use. The shock from realising what I had almost done. I don’t want it to be the smell of her hair, the memory of a time before Bu evolved. Before I became a contender to be the next head of the house, before it was made official. A time when I could freely play with the other kids, when training had been fun, not a matter of life and death for the entire family. I don’t want it to be because Claire saw through me.
My tears run freely as I mumble into Claire’s shoulder over and over, “I’m sorry.”
When I finally get control, I sit down and lean against the door frame.
“not very fitting behaviour for the next head of the Beastlord family.” I say only mustering a half smile.
“I’ll say,” Claire teases, her tone sarcastic. “I thought I would have to hit you a few more times before I got you to break down like that. When was the last time you slept? I can pack all of Jeramiah’s summer outfits into those bags under your eyes”
I chuckle, partly at her joke, partly that me breaking down was her goal. “4 days, a boy formed an unequal pact, today I finally managed to balance it out.”
It must be obvious that is all they are getting since they just nod instead of trying to ask questions. I slowly get to my feet, almost everyone has gotten up and the colour has returned to the Suntouched servants.
No harm no foul I think, but my heart rejects the idea. Claire must have read my thoughts, as she places her hand gently on my arm.
“Just don’t beat yourself up too much.” She says before turning her back to me and going to help out the others.
Jeramiah looks at me again, I can see the gears turn in his head before speaking, “I will admit to having conflicted feelings about what happened. All of these people here almost died because of what you did. I am sure you had your reasons for releasing your mana and I don’t really care what they were. But what I am deciding to focus on is this,” he points to the pregnant maid who is walking with Claire’s help. “The baby is mine; you saved the life of my fiancé and my unborn child. I still want you to be there at the wedding next month so, thank you.”
Now that he mentions it, I vaguely remember getting the invitation last year, since Gerald takes care of my schedule I forgot.
“I will be there.” I say blushing slightly.
Jeramiah smiles and nods before rushing over to his now very pregnant fiancé. I feel a little bad as I turn away, I hope they will have enough time to get the dress resized. Before I leave the building, I lock eyes with my father. He just nods, I feel a little disappointed but not sure why. I nod back before I step through the doors.
Once I have left the garden I start running towards the edge of the cliff.
“Soran! I am coming in hot.” I shout into his mind as I jump off the edge of the cliff letting gravity take me.
Bu dives next to me while I feel Soran’s panic. I watch as the green leaves of the deciduous forest that rim the beast crater grow closer. I let out a scream of exhilaration as the wind whips at my face.
The world grows dim as a shadow blocks out the sun, the next moment I am no longer falling. My hands grip Soran’s feathers as his powerful wings lift us up into the sky gaining altitude.
“That was too risky Giean,” Soran says as he plateaus.
I let my amusement flow across the pact as I roll onto my back. I think Claire was right the first time, I want to be blame, I don’t want to be let off scot free. That is why Jeramiah’s words helped a little. Still, I will be more careful in the future. I Cannot let the same mistake happen twice.
“I am going to have a nap on the way back,” I say into the pact, “Be gentle with me.”
Soran’s annoyance floods into the head along with Bu’s amusement, yet neither objects so I closed my eyes and let the whistle of the wind lull me into much needed sleep.
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