Chapter 161: The Distance Between Them
Previous Day...
Elena watched worriedly as her master fought the Mid-Golden Knight alone.
Yet she could do nothing.
’Why...?’
’Why am I so weak?’
Her golden eyes became moist as the same thought surfaced once again.
Because after the day her master had summoned her. He had only relied on her once.
After that, he never came to ask for her help again.
That fact always left a strange emptiness inside her heart.
So she devoted herself to helping the people of the territory instead.
Healing every wounded knight and injured soldier to the best of her ability.
But when she heard that Master was about to leave for the Count’s territory.
She suddenly felt alone.
Alone, despite being surrounded by her nine mage friends and the maids.
Unlike Aurora, she never openly asked to stay beside her master.
But deep inside she always wanted to spend more time with him.
She always wanted to remain by his side.
So whenever she saw Lady Aurielle, Master’s wife, clinging to him and rarely leaving his side.
A faint jealousy would unknowingly rise inside her heart.
Lady Aurielle could stay beside Master whenever she wished. While she was always left behind.
Elena didn’t know whether she alone felt this way.
But no matter how hard she tried. She simply couldn’t stop those emotions.
"Master!" Her face turned pale after seeing him groan in pain as he returned to his human form from his Titan transformation.
The sight made her heart ache. So without hesitation.
She poured every last drop of mana from her body into healing him.
’Please...’
’Never do something like this again, Master!’ She cried those words inside her heart.
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to say them aloud. Even she coudn’t understand why.
After being healed. Master didn’t return to rest.
Instead he immediately headed back toward the battlefield.
To rescue everyone still fighting there.
Even though she knew Master was right. And she also felt heartbroken seeing so many people dying on the battlefield, especially Master’s own subjects.
But a selfish part of her still wished. That Master had chosen himself. That he had stayed safe.
But she also knew. That was impossible.
Because Master had to go. As he was the strongest person in the territory.
Stronger than anyone else.
’Why...?’
’Why am I so weak?’
Once again, the same question echoed inside her heart.
Her friends had noticed her expression earlier and even asked if something was wrong.
But she couldn’t say anything. Not a single word.
After arriving at the battlefield, the scene before her made her breathing stop.
Bodies covered the ground. Many soldiers had already lost their lives.
Others lay crying, screaming, or groaning in unbearable pain.
Seeing that her heart ached once more.
Even though her body hadn’t properly recovered after exhausting all of her mana healing Luke.
Elena pushed herself to her limit again. Because she wanted to save everyone.
She didn’t want a single person to die.
"Save me!"
"Please... save me!"
"I can’t hold on!"
"I... I’m dying..."
One desperate cry after another reached her ears.
The moment she landed on the battlefield, she rushed toward those in the most critical condition.
Healing. Running.
Healing again.
Again.
And again.
She managed to save many lives.
But...
Many more slipped away before her eyes. Some whose bodies had been crippled cried in despair.
Others whose organs had been pierced or shattered slowly died while enduring unimaginable pain.
She watched every one of them. Yet she could do nothing.
"WE WON!!" Suddenly, cheers erupted across the battlefield.
Elena instinctively turned toward the center.
There her Master stood surrounded by everyone.
He had defeated the enemy Golden Knights. Victory belonged to Blackstone.
Seeing him safe, a faint smile finally appeared on her exhausted face.
But when she turned back. The soldier she had been treating...
Had died, with his eyes wide opened.
Seeing this, something inside Elena. Quietly broke.
The brilliance in her golden eyes dimmed slightly as she lowered her gaze.
Her hands were covered in blood.
After several long moments. She slowly looked toward her master once again.
Then...
A terrible thought entered her mind.
’What if one day, I couldn’t even heal master?’ Her breathing became unsteady.
’Will Master... die as well?’ With every passing thought. The light inside her eyes grew dimmer.
Beside her, the doctors of Blackstone Territory kept calling her name.
But Elena couldn’t hear them anymore. Her entire world had become silent.
And only one thought remained.
’Will Master really... die?’
Slowly she turned toward the doctor calling her.
The moment he saw her eyes. He instinctively stepped backward in fear.
Her pale golden eyes had almost completely lost their warmth.
Yet Elena paid no attention to his reaction.
Instead she quietly looked toward Luke.
He was smiling while talking with Lady Aurielle.
"Why...?"
"Why am I so weak, Master?"
She whispered beneath her breath, hoping to get an answer.
But that whisper Luke could never hear. Because he was nearly one kilometer away.
After watching him for several more seconds. without getting any answer.
She slowly stood up. With vacant eyes. And turned around before silently walked back toward the territory.
Back to the Time Chamber.
Back to the quiet lake beside the mages residences.
...
While Luke remained busy conquering Windmarch Reach.
Upon returning home. The other mages immediately noticed something was wrong with Elena.
Luna, Mira, Tara, and the others hurried over with worried expressions, asking what had happened.
But Elena simply shook her head. Without saying a single word.
She dragged her exhausted body into her house. Then quietly lay down on her bed.
...
That entire night. She couldn’t sleep peacefully.
Every time she closed her eyes. The same nightmare returned.
Master was covered in blood.
Calling her name.
Reaching out toward her.
Yet. No matter how desperately she healed him...
Her magic accomplished nothing. His wounds wouldn’t close. And his heartbeat slowly faded.
Until he died before her eyes.
"NO!"
Elena suddenly sat upright with a terrified scream.
Her breathing was ragged as cold sweat soaked her clothes.
She hurriedly looked around. The room was silent.
"It... was only a dream..."
Just as she tried calming herself. A sharp itching sensation spread across her upper back.
"Ugh..." She winced in pain. And trying reach her hand behind herself and felt two swollen bumps beneath her skin.
As though something was trying to emerge from inside her body.
"Elena!" The door suddenly burst open.
Luna, the Nature Mage.
Mira, the Water Mage.
Tara, the Earth Mage.
Along with the remaining six mages, rushed inside with worried expressions.
"What happened, Elena?"
"Are you alright?"
Their voices were filled with concern.
Then each of them noticed her eyes.
The warm golden radiance they were familiar with. Had become noticeably dimmer.
But Elena didn’t seem to notice their worried expressions.
Instead, she simply forced a weak smile and gently shook her head.
"I’m fine..."
"It was just a bad dream."
Even as she said those words. Her dull golden eyes betrayed her.
They had lost much of their former brilliance, as though the light within them was slowly fading.
The nine mages exchanged worried glances.
None of them believed her.
But seeing the exhausted smile she was forcing onto her face, none of them had the heart to press her any further.
Although they didn’t believe her words, they respected her wishes.
Each of them reminded her to take care of herself and told her not to hesitate if she needed anything, before leaving her room.
Still Mira chose to remain behind.
Even though Elena insisted she was fine, Mira still stayed beside her.