Chapter 197: Thera's Perspective

Chapter 197: Thera's Perspective

In the days she’d been helping her aunt Lux at the hospital, she’d been forced to push her life magic in ways she never had to back at Stonewall or during any of their hunts, doing things with the magic she wasn’t even aware of until her aunt had taken the time to explain the spells, and it had just paid off in to form of her level raising.

Considering it wasn’t even the magic her job was focused on it felt extraordinary good, and given the work her father was putting her through she was sure she’d get that one soon enough, but before she could share the good news with her aunt, she was taken off guard by the little hands of their last patient of the day trying to give her a hug.

“Thank you very much,” The small incubus, a child of no more than four or five, told her as he stared up at her with a big smile on his pudgy little cheeks and it was enough for her heart to melt.

“You’re welcome, but you really should be thanking Lux, not me,” She told him gently as the child turned to the great spirit to give her a hug as well.

Thera really felt she hadn’t done much for him, she had just been in charge of helping to suppress his symptoms while Lux cured the root of his ailment, an issue that couldn’t be properly treated without an awakened magic to use, but seeing the child so happy left her feeling good in the part she played, no matter how minor.

As one of the other healers went to take him away, bringing him to his parents, she and Lux found themselves alone in the now empty room, all of their patients for the day fully healed.

“Doesn’t it just warm your heart,” Her aunt asked her with a smile.

“It does feel a bit nicer when they aren’t scared of you,” She admitted, finding herself happy to be able to not only help but feel appreciated while doing it. It was nice and gave her a sense of fulfillment she typically only got when leveling her magic or completing her job. As she looked to her aunt though, wearing the happy little smile that came to her face whenever she looked down at her pregnant belly, she found herself wanting to give voice to a question that couldn’t help but come to her mind. One she’d been avoiding for a while now.

“Um, aunty Lux, you mind if I ask you something a little personal?”

“Of course not Thera, what’s on your mind?”

“Why did you decide to have a child with Writ?” She knew it was a bit of a rude question, but her aunt only laughed it off like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Because I love him of course, it does tend to be the sort of thing two people do when that happens.”

Memories of her own time in the wildlands flashed through her mind. It was where she’d gain life magic and where she’d almost watched Ben die. It was surprising that anything could have happened close enough to whatever gate they’d gone through that they’d be able to make it back, even if injured, but no matter how cleared out the closer areas were from the constant stream of adventurers and soldiers going through it for their training, it was just another thing that showed the lack of stability in the world.

Lux squeezed her hand before leading Thera around, directing her on how she could help. They didn’t know just how many would need treatment, but it didn’t seem like it would be quick.

By the time they were done the day had long since ended. It seemed almost fifty of the city's adventurers had gone through the gate for a training exercise, only for it to have ended in disaster as a herd of giant insectoid monsters passed by, leaving the group to act to defend the gate and keep them from passing through. They’d managed to get away without any death at least, but the injuries were numerous and Lux handled most of them as Thera assisted, leaving what spare healers were available to help as well but letting the rest focus on the patients that were already there. It was physically and mentally exhausting, but it was done.

With the both of them needing a break they went straight to the living room when they got there, looking to lounge and relax. A desire that failed to come to being as Thera saw just what was going on in there.

Her parents were there, though that fact barely crossed her mind as her eyes were drawn not only to Ben, but the woman behind him running her tongue along his neck.

She didn’t know why it brought such a strong reaction to her, but without even meaning to she felt her mana move, briefly shaking the house and catching everyone's attention as Lux took her hand and whispered to her.

“Why don’t we see what’s happening before you let yourself get too upset, alright?”

She took a breath. She wasn’t upset, why would she be upset? Ben could do what he wanted. Well, maybe she would be a little bothered by the fact that he knew that so many of the people getting their braces done were sent there specifically to seduce him, to fall for it anyway would show a tremendous lack of judgement, but she definitely wasn’t upset about that, if anything she was just surprised.

Still, she found it was helping to focus on the feeling of Lux’s hand as she spoke in what was meant to be a calm voice but ended up coming out far colder than intended. “So what exactly is going on here?”

She was immediately able to pick up on her mom's amusement which was enough of an indicator that she’d misunderstood something as she entered. If Ben had been discussing breaking off their engagement to pursue this woman then she didn’t imagine her mother would be in a laughing mood.

Not that it would matter because the engagement is a shame and I’m not bothered by anything. She told herself as Ben answered.

“Well, it’s a bit complicated but Thera, meet Mercy, a vampire I ran into.”