Stretching my legs, I slowly opened my eyes.
Warm daylight streamed through the windows, bathing the room in soft golden light. Judging by the brightness outside, it was probably late morning already. Beyond the walls, I could hear villagers moving about and going on with their daily lives.
Groaning softly, I crawled out of bed and pulled my clothes back on.
"Wow… I must've been exhausted to sleep that hard."
Then yesterday's events suddenly came crashing back into my mind.
The orcs.
Syllia.
Drinking her blood.
My eyes widened in panic.
"Shit."
People were definitely awake by now.
If anyone found out what I was—
"I need to leave. Now."
I rushed out of the bedroom and sprinted toward the front door. Grabbing the handle, I twisted it open—
Only to freeze the moment the door swung wide.
Syllia stood there staring directly at me.
"…Fuck," I muttered under my breath.
"Can I come in?" she asked calmly, never breaking eye contact.
"A-Ah… yeah. Sure."
Stepping aside awkwardly, I let her walk in before quietly shutting the door behind her.
An uncomfortable silence settled between us.
Standing in the middle of the small kitchen, I could practically feel her eyes studying me, as if searching for something inhuman beneath my skin.
Finally, she spoke.
"There's a lot I want to ask you," she admitted. "Like how you defeated that orc so easily… or how you healed me…"
Her voice faltered slightly.
A blush spread across her cheeks as her fingers lightly brushed against her neck.
"…Or what exactly you did to me."
My face immediately started heating up.
"But none of that matters right now," she continued quickly. "What I really want to know is…"
She looked at me hopefully.
"Can the magic you used on me heal diseases?"
Diseases…
That explained the herbs she had been gathering.
'System, can I actually do that?'
[ Yes. However, you will need to use the spell 'Blood Cure.' ]
[ 'Blood Mend' only heals physical injuries. ]
[ Be warned: the stamina cost will vary depending on the severity of the illness. ]
…Right.
So I could help.
But if using too much energy triggered my thirst again—
No.
I clenched my fists.
I couldn't keep losing control every time I got hungry.
I had to learn some restraint.
"Yes," I answered carefully. "I can probably heal diseases too… though depending on how severe it is, it might take a lot out of me."
I hesitated before quietly adding,
"And if it's really serious…"
Syllia tilted her head.
"…Then what?"
Unable to meet her eyes, I lowered my voice to nearly a whisper.
"…What happened between us yesterday might happen again."
My cheeks burned hotter with every word.
"When I use too much energy… I have trouble controlling myself."
The moment she understood what I meant, her face turned bright red.
"T-That's fine!" she blurted out immediately before averting her eyes. "If you can help her… I-I can deal with that."
Despite her embarrassment, I noticed the tiny smile she was trying desperately to hide.
She really is adorable.
At the same time, though, something else became clear.
Someone important to her was sick.
Sick enough that she was willing to overlook everything else.
"Well," I said gently, "if you understand the risks, I'll do everything I can."
I gestured toward the door.
"I'm guessing you want to do this now?"
She nodded instantly.
Without another word, she rushed forward, grabbed my hand, and practically dragged me outside at a run.
That guard hadn't been exaggerating when he said she lived nearby.
After barely two minutes of running, Syllia abruptly stopped in front of a small house that looked very similar to the guest house I had stayed in—though slightly larger.
She pushed the door open and hurried inside while pulling me along behind her.
The layout was almost identical to the guest house, but this place actually felt lived in.
A bouquet of orange and yellow flowers rested atop the dining table, while countless herbs and plants were scattered across the counters in labeled containers. Mortars, bowls, grinders, and basic alchemy tools covered nearly every available surface.
Everything was cluttered and disorganized.
Desperate.
Syllia must have noticed me looking around because she quietly spoke up.
"It's my mom…"
Her voice trembled.
"She's been sick for months. I've tried every medicine we have in the village. I even bought remedies from traveling merchants…"
She lowered her gaze.
"I finally found the herb I needed yesterday… but then that orc captured me before I could make it back."
When I looked back at her, tears were already running down her cheeks.
"S-She's all I have left…" she choked out weakly. "I-I can't lose her too…"
The sight hit me like a punch to the chest.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms.
The moment I embraced her, she broke completely.
Sobs wracked her body as she buried her face against my chest, trembling uncontrollably.
At first she seemed hesitant to hold onto me, but after a few moments her arms wrapped tightly around my waist as though she never wanted to let go.
Gently, I began stroking her hair.
She had probably been carrying all of this alone for months.
Trying to stay strong.
Trying not to fall apart.
And now the pressure had finally cracked.
Several minutes passed before she eventually calmed down enough to pull away.
"S-Sorry…" she mumbled softly while wiping at her eyes. "It's been a long time since I talked to anyone about this."
I simply nodded and followed behind her as she walked toward one of the back rooms.
Opening the door, we stepped inside.
The room was dark, the windows tightly covered to block out most of the sunlight.
In the far corner sat a simple cot with thin white sheets draped across it.
Lying atop the bed was a woman with the same pale blonde hair as Syllia.
But that was where the similarities ended.
Her face was gaunt and sunken. Her arms and legs looked painfully thin, as though she hadn't properly eaten in weeks. Her skin had become deathly pale, almost devoid of life entirely.
"My god…" I whispered quietly. "No one deserves this…"
Behind me, I heard Syllia choke back another sob.
Slowly stepping toward the bed, I raised my hand toward the frail woman lying there.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke.
"Blood Cure."
The moment the words left my mouth, crimson light erupted from my palm.
Unlike before, though, this magic didn't simply glow.
Thick red tendrils spread outward like twisting roots, wrapping around the bed in a massive web until a cocoon of crimson energy completely encased her mother.
Syllia gasped behind me.
Then suddenly—
A blinding red light exploded through the room.
Both of us instinctively shielded our eyes.
A few seconds later, I felt the spell finally sever itself from me.
Lowering my arm, I looked back toward the bed.
The woman still lay there…
But now color had returned to her skin.
Her cheeks no longer looked hollow, and her breathing had become steady and healthy.
It genuinely looked as though life itself had been poured back into her body.
"I'd say it worked," I said softly while glancing back toward Syllia.
She stood frozen in place.
Eyes wide.
Mouth slightly open.
Then reality finally hit her.
Tears immediately began pouring down her cheeks.
"Thank you… thank you so much!" she cried between sobs.
Before I could react, she threw herself into my arms again and hugged me tightly.
I held her gently while softly stroking her hair once more.
The relief pouring out of her was overwhelming.
After carrying that fear for so long, seeing her mother alive and healthy again must have felt unreal.
Using Appraisal discreetly, I checked her mother's condition.
"She should wake up within a few hours," I said quietly. "But after being bedridden for so long, she'll still need time to regain her strength."
Syllia simply nodded against my chest, refusing to let go.