Chapter 527: Going over the limit (1/2)

Looking in the direction where the noise came from, Captain Don, Crone, and the girls as well looked with shock and horror at the blood-drenched woman that pushed its clearly tired, wrecked body to its limits to get back to his captain.

Her attire was mangled, ripped, and shredded apart, with a mixture of different types of blood oozing from her orifices as well as her horrific gashes. Even from just a single, quick glance, it was obvious that she had suffered through some incredibly tortuous, horrific ordeal.

”C-cap… W-we… T-they…” She heaved, stumbling in front of the group gathered in front of the large tent before falling face-first onto the ground. Before she could finish whatever she was about to say, she succumbed to her strenuous injuries and fainted.

Shocked by what happened, the elder Captain jumped ahead and rushed over to the unconscious body of the girl. His face showing great pain, he was also pushing himself to show the strong front that would be expected of a leader.

Still, seeing one of his girls in such a dire state, the 'old clock' was hard for him to keep calm and restrained.

Worried about the girl's health, Don frantically looked around, in search of the medic in the team, only to realize that he was still out and have yet to return. Yet before his worry could transform into hysteria, the black-haired girl of the duo that he was just talking to akin to a father would to her mischievous children, stepped forward and leaned down at the opposite side of the girl.

She stretched out her hands, palms facing down at the back of the girl, and began to mutter some incomprehensible-sounding, gibberish, shreds of words. Along the line of her chanting, her palms, just like her eyes slowly began to emit a warm, milk-white shade of light. The warmth radiated downwards as rhythmic waves, submerging into the body of the poor blood-drenched woman.

Looking at the marvelous sight, Captain Don was first taken aback and wanted to interrupt, but then as he felt the comforting rays coming from the girl, he finally recalled the scene back at the training grounds of the mansion. He remembered how the girl had this inexplicable miraculous powers that seemed to be capable of restoring even the grievest of damages in the span of what was mere minutes that for them felt like hours at the time.

He pulled his hands back, cracked his knuckles nervously as he looked at the little girl who have by now, shifted into full focus, losing her senses as her chants went on.

The warmth, bright white rays kept on entering the woman who was sprawled out on her back, ignoring the shredded, bloodstained attire she was still wearing. Her injuries were grave, she was barely clinging to her life. Even the fact that she somehow returned was akin to a miracle. Driven by her willpower to at least report back, she somehow pushed herself over what should have been the limit. In the end, she couldn't escape the reality, and as soon as her heart eased by the sight of her captain, her consciousness succumbed to the continuous pain.

…

The trio, the two men, and Lily looked at the scene with worry. For Crone and Captain Don, it was as if they were looking at their dear family member, a sister, a daughter as if she had just been pulled out from the wreckage of a gruesome disaster, a horrific accident. For Lily, she was just as equally worried, not just for the girl, Aina but also for her sister, Galina. She was aware of how hard the toll was on her every time she tried to bring someone back from such injuries.

Contrary to general belief, there were no miracles or 'free food' in this world. Everything had a cost, a trade-off. For Galina, though her powers were still as much of a mystery, she could see the strain, the exhaustion she withstood after each session. Though Lily wasn't completely aware of what the actual trade-off was, the growing weariness, the fatigue she kept building up, wasn't a good sign.

Unable to hold herself back, she walked over, taking the girl's side as she crouched down at her right side. Not wanting to disrupt her focus, but also unable to just stand and do nothing, Lily reached, gently touching the back of the concentrating girl, and gently began to rub it, whilst she began circulating her mana according to the mantra for the [Meditation] she was taught by Number 3.

As her reserves began to flow inside her body, Lily focused, concentrated its flow towards her hand. As her hand began to glow with a faint colorless hue, she kept massaging her sister's back, allowing the energy to revitalize her, even if just slightly.

Her action was spontaneous, she wasn't completely sure that what she planned would work at all. Regardless, she at least wanted to try. Even if she would only be able to help ever so slightly, and transfer only a minuscule amount, it was still acceptable, she would still be ultimately helpful.