Volume 3: Chapter 20 - Aina Prishilto

Returning to the Present,

"What are you thinking my silly disciple? How could he wake up in a single day."

"Although I did say that his vitality was extraordinary and a strange power was helping him recover, that didn't mean he would wake up ina. Single day."

Master Cecilia lightly flicked my forehead, looking at me with a helpless look.

"Ouch—"

I held my forehead and looked at my master with teary eyed.

"Don't give me that look. I didn't use any force."

Master Cecilia couldn't help but feel a little speechless. Her disciple was a bit too naive and innocent wasn't she.

"Also, about the Fox Girl. The reason she turned into a fox is to better recover her overdrawn energy. Compared to human form, the beast form of Beastmen is better suited for recovery."

"Do not think so much. Didn't you invite that special childhood friend of yours to play before. She should be able to help them."

"Oh right, Aina! Aina was coming today. I can totally asking her for help."

I clasped my hand as I remembered that my childhood friend was visiting the Astrea Manner today.

Aina Prishilto

She was the daughter of an ordinary commoner. However, she was also my best friend, someone who had been by my side ever since we were little.

On a certain day, after the Astrea family fell down, I met Aina while searching for herbs in the mountains.

Afterwards, I don't know how it started but we became friends before we knew it.

Since then, we had spent almost every day together.

Whether it was running around the mountains, climbing trees despite being scolded afterwards, or searching herbs in the mountains, Aina was always beside me despite me having lost the status of a Noble lady.

Even when I had to study magic, she would quietly sit nearby, waiting for me to finish before dragging me outside to play again.

Whenever I was worried about my brother, she would comfort me and use her special Holy Magic to sooth my heart.

Thinking about that beautiful face, I couldn't help but smile.

A while later,

"Young lady, lady Aina is here!"

A middle aged woman walked into the room and gently bowed before speaking.

Hearing her words, a bright smile immediately bloomed across my face.

"Really? Please let her in!"

"As you wish, Young Lady."

The middle-aged maid bowed once again before quietly leaving the room.

Not long afterward, light footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Before the person even entered, a cheerful and familiar voice reached my ears.

"Reina!"

The moment I heard that voice, I instinctively turned around.

Standing at the doorway was a beautiful young girl around my age.

Her long pink hair was tied into a simple braid, rested over one shoulder, while her clear emerald-green eyes carried a warmth that seemed capable of soothing anyone's heart.

She wore an ordinary white dress without any expensive decorations, yet her innocent temperament made her look extremely cute.

"Aina!"

I happily ran over and embraced her without the slightest hesitation.

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"E-Eh?"

A small squeak escaped her lips as she stumbled back a step

Looking at her best friend hugging her tightly, she gently lowered her hand and hugged her back, saying in a soft voice, "I-It's only been a few days... You didn't have to run over like that."

"But I missed you!"

"I... I missed you too."

Her face flushed slightly as she smiled shyly.

Seeing that familiar expression instantly made my heart feel lighter.

No matter how many worries I had, being with Aina always made them seem a little smaller.

Master Cecilia watched us with an amused smile then her translucent figure once again hide into the pendant.

The room soon became filled with laughter.

Just like every time we met, Aina and I chatted about all sorts of little things.

She told me about how her training at the Holy Church Branch in the city was going and talked about her progress in Holy Magic.

Unlike myself who belonged to a Count family and had Master Cecilia to guide me, Aina belonged to an ordinary family. So she didn't have any resources or teacher.

And since wasn't a Noble, she couldn't attend Royal Academy. So, she could only join the Holy Church and learn Holy Magic through them.

Unlike Royal Academy which could only be attended by those with status of a Noble or equivalent, the Holy Church has no such restrictions.

Anyone could join the Holy Church and become the lowest level clergy/sister and thus learn supernatural powers like Magic and Martial Arts.

Of course, I wanted to share Master Cecilia with Aina as she was my best friend. However, Master Cecilia who never denied any of my request, denied teaching Aina.

The reason was not that she was being petty but because Aina was more suitable for Holy Magic and her aptitude for other Magic Attributes were much lower.

Even if Master Cecilia were to teach Aina, Aina wouldn't gain much.

Besides, Master Cecilia also said that her existence must be kept secret as much as possible. As for the reason, she didn't say it. But i believed her.

Listening to how Aina happily talked about the little things that had happened over the past few days, I couldn't help but smile.

"Mother Mia taught me new Holy Magic yesterday. Reina chan, maybe I can heal your brother this time."

When she said this, I could see the overflowing concern in her eyes.

"Brother..."

Thinking of my brother who had been in coma since a long time ago, the smile on my face dimmed slightly.

"Reina-chan, are you worried about your brother. Don't worry everything will be alright."

Aina seems to have noticed the troubled look on my face. She gently held my hand and comforted me.

Her soft and gentle words soothed my heart.

"Haha, I am not worried about my brother. I believe he will definitely wake up one day."

I laughed and tried to mask my worry.

Was I that obvious? I can't let Aina worry about me.

Thinking of this, I decided to change the subject.

"By the way, Aina... something unexpected happened yesterday."

"Hm?" Aina tilted her head curiously.

"While I was gathering herbs in the mountains, I found two injured unconscious people."

"Two people?"

I nodded then continued, "One was a boy around our age, and the other was a Beastmen fox girl."

"A Beastmen..." Aina's emerald eyes widened slightly.

Looking at her cute pink eyes showing a surprised look, I couldn't help but smile again.

My best friend is so cute, Kawaiii!

I slowly recounted everything that had happened yesterday, from discovering the two heavily injured people in the forest to bringing them back to the Astrea Manor.

When I mentioned the fox girl suddenly turning into a small fox, Aina opened her mouth and eyes in surprise.

"S-She turned into a fox?"

"Mm."

"I read a few Ancient book. It is said that Beastmen recover more efficiently in their beast form after exhausting too much of their energy."

"I see... So what does Reina-chan want me to do?"

"As expected of Aina, you really understand me."

"Ehehe..." Aina bashfully scratched her cheek.

"I-I just thought... if Reina-chan suddenly brought it up, then you probably wanted my help with something."

"Actually, I was hoping you could try using your Holy Magic to heal them."

"My Holy Magic?"

"Mm."

I looked toward the room where the two unconscious guests were resting.

"I already tried using my Light Magic yesterday. But it didn't work. Their injuries are more like corruption and erosion of something evil than just a simple injury."

"Compared to simple Light Magic, Holy Magic will work better on them."

Though both Light Magic and Holy Magic belonged to the Light Attribute, Holy Magic was far more specialized when it came to dealing with curses, corruption, and evil-attributed magic, including powers originating from Evil Gods.

The reason lay with the Goddess of Light herself.

According to the teachings of the Holy Church, Holy Magic was not merely another branch of Light Magic.

It was a divine miracle bestowed by the Goddess of Light upon those who possessed unwavering faith and received her blessing.

Because of its divine origin, Holy Magic possessed an innate ability to purify darkness and suppress evil far beyond what ordinary Light Magic could achieve.

"I understand..." Aina nodded seriously after listening to my explanation.

"I'll do my best. But... I don't know if my Holy Magic will be enough."

She clasped both of her small hands together in front of her chest, her expression becoming unusually earnest.

"It's alright, I only want you to try." I smiled reassuringly while holding her hand.

"You don't have to put too much pressure. Although saving strangers is considered a good deed, it's fine if we can't save them. To me, you're more important."

"R-Reina-chan..."

Aina lowered her head shyly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

"If... if I can help them, I really want to."

"If someone is suffering in front of me and I have the ability to ease their pain, I don't want to pretend I didn't see it."

Looking at her pure and determined expression, I couldn't help but smile.

"Aina is Aina after all! "

Ever so naive and ever so innocent like the most innocent flower blooming in the spring.

Never calculating gains or losses, never caring about status or race. As long as someone was suffering, she would instinctively reach out her hand.

Perhaps that was precisely why the Goddess of Light had blessed her talent in Holy Magic.

"Then let's go. They're resting in the guest room."

"Mm!"

Aina nodded obediently.

The two of us left the room side by side and headed toward the guest room.

...