CHAPTER 22: THE HEALING EMBER

"Helena Zaryen... The healing witch," Damien said as he turned to look at the woman in front of him. She had flame-like hair and eyes. Her hair reached her waist. Mature body adorned with various jewellery, she had donned a red, flame-like gown which fit her body perfectly.

"If it isn’t the Maestro of Space himself," Helena said with a small smile. After a pause, she added, "I prefer to be called The healing ember.. But whatever"

"Who am I looking at here?" She questioned as she pointed towards Anna, who was lying on the bed like a log.

"An unawakened," Damien answered with indifference.

"Hmm? I meant who is she to-"

"Helena... Don’t try to know more than you should," Damien warned. Hearing that, Helena’s body began to tremble as she remembered why he was given the moniker of the Maestro of Space.

"Y-yes, you are right...Hah," Helena said, heaving a sigh as she walked towards Anna and grabbed her wrist.

Helena began to move her star essence in Anna’s body to check for any injuries. Soon she stopped and turned to look at Mars with a bitter smile on her face.

"Mars.. I know that you find others hard to trust... but you don’t have to lie to me like that now, do you?" Helena said, a bitter smile still tugging her lips

"What are you talking about?" Damien asked in a confused voice

’What is she trying to say? Is Anna’s condition worse than I thought?’

"I get it that you don’t want others to find out about her talent, but..." Helena stopped and paused before continuing, "You don’t have to lie about her awakened rank to me."

"About her what?" Damien was now even more confused

’What is she even saying? Is she the healing witch? Well... not like I am seeing her for the first time but still..’ Damien thought that maybe Helena, before him, was a fake.

"That she is a Refined-Seeker?" Helena said while tilting her said

"She is a what?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?!"

When the third voice came, both Damien and Helena turned to look at White as he continued.

"H-how is that possible?"

"What do you mean?" Helena questioned

"Miss Anieal was unawakened before the incident," White answered.

"What?" Helena questioned with shock and confusion

Damien moved towards Anna and held her wrist, and began to move his star essence in her body... Soon he spoke

"H-how is this possible?"

"Why are you acting like that? Isn’t that a good thing?" Helena questioned

"Anna isn’t supposed to awaken..." Damien said in a low voice

Helena, however, still heard him and spoke with a shocked voice.

"W-what? How is that possible? Isn’t she awakened now?"

"She is but... According to the awakening appraisal, she shouldn’t be able to awaken at all..."

"Then.. How did she do that?" Helena asked with confusion and excitement as she looked at Anna, who was still lying on the bed like a log

"It doesn’t matter," Damien said in a cold voice.

"Huh?"

Damien walked towards Helena and stood eye to eye with her. As there was a height difference between them, Helena had to look up to look into his eyes.

"Just do what you were called for.. Helena."

"I-i know," Helena trembled like a wet cat when she saw Damien’s cold eye.s

Helena once again moved towards Anna and began to spread her star essence in her body.

Fifteen seconds later...A frown replaced her small smile.

Another fifteen seconds later... The frown deepened.

Soon she put Anna’s hand back on the bed.

Damien, who was seeing her reactions throughout the check-up, walked forward and asked.

"What’s wrong?" His voice was tense as he questioned her.

"She is fine.. Too fine."

"Isn’t that a good thing?" Damien asked, his tone even. He thought Helena was just confused.

But her next words shattered that illusion.

"It’s like she’s dead..."

"W-what?" Damien asked in a shaky voice

"She’s breathing, yes --- but it’s too even, as if she were a machine. Even when we sleep or lose consciousness, there are always small irregularities. But her breathing... It’s too perfect."

"Is that bad?" White asked instead of Damien

"No.. that’s not the issue," Helena continued.

"It just doesn’t make sense for her to be lying for that long."

"Do you know why that is happening?" Damien, who had regained his composure, asked in a calm voice; however, one could still sense a bit of anxiety from his tone

"The state she is in... is only possible when someone is within their Mind plane," Helena concluded.

"Mind plane? What’s that?" White asked in confusion

"What are you saying, Helena? Mind plane? How could a seeker ever walk in their mind plane?" Damien stated

"Well.. I have never heard about a lowborn to awaken either," Helena said, as this completely made sense in her mind.

"But only Assimilation level beings can walk in their mind plane..." Damien said in an irritated tone

"HAH! How would I know, Mars? It’s not like we see monsters like her every day!" Helena yelled at Damien

Damien turned silent on her sharp remark. He knew he was being rude. But he didn’t want to accept her words. After all, if what she said is true, then Anna is a once-in-a-millennium genius. No, even that would be an understatement.. A monster. Yes, that’s what she is

A Monster. An anomaly,

And Damien was not ready to believe that.. After all, to him, Anna would always be his cute little sister.

Helena looked into Damien’s eyes as she spoke.

"You care a lot about her," she said, pausing before continuing. "Too much... Your care might make her weak. You have to let go, Mars... otherwise, when you finally realise it, it might be too late."

Damien stood there silently as he continued to look at Anna.

"I can’t..." Damien said in a soft, helpless tone

Footnotes:

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Awakened Ranks till now:

Seeker → Ignited → Adept → Assimilation