Thin, comfortable pants that made feel like I was wearing sweatpants.
A simple black T-shirt that was a bit baggy.
A thin black glove that covered my entire right arm, almost as if it was one with my skin, and did not feel uncomfortable at all.
And a gray cane given to so that I could walk without limping.
I felt strange looking at myself in the mirror, as if I was looking at soone else and not at myself, but I didn't think too much about it.
My lips curled up slightly as I turned around, smiling at the five dwarfs waiting just in front of .
"I can be discharged now, right?"
The dwarves were... too careful. Literally too careful.
If I hadn't specifically insisted otherwise, they would have wanted to keep in this room almost indefinitely. Despite the fact that I had already spent two weeks confined here.
I an, it's not that I don't understand why they behave like this. After all... I'm literally a hero to them. They're worried about my safety, and rightly so.
But I have a life.
And as much as I have a life, I have things to do. Really important things.
"I reckoned ye might stick 'round a bit more."
My smile widened as I turned to the dwarf who had spoken. This was the sa man I had fought alongside for most of the war, Rulhan, after all.
And next to him, Durvan, who was usually, and still is, silent.
They were not normally allowed to co near as they were not much more than normal soldiers, but as they were almost the dwarves I was closest to, they could co and go from ti to ti. And now... they were here to say goodbye.
"There's nothing to do. I... would be lying if I said I didn't miss my ho, my sister, and my friends. I have to go back now."
Rulhan said nothing while Durvan nodded.
"Don't be forgettin' to drop by every now 'n then."
I smiled without holding back.
"Of course. Why would I forget? My work here isn't done yet."
Besides... they were no longer in danger of death.
After all, the war was over. Now... they were simply working in the na of security. They had a much more comfortable life than the soldiers who had to spend every day fighting.
I approached them, leaned a little, and the three of us hugged each other in a circle at the sa ti. And then we stepped back. In the end... the smile on my face only widened.
"Thank you for always being there for ."
"We be thankin' ye."
They both stood in a military salute as if I were their commander... But I didn't care, I saluted briefly in the sa way. Then I turned to the one in the middle of the three dwarves who were watching what was happening.
"Then... shall we go now, Dorhud?"
Dorhud nodded his head, making way for as the doctors on either side of him stepped slightly to the side.
I took one last look at Rulhan and Durvan before leaving the room. They would be leaving after I did, so this was where we parted ways.
"See you later, guys."
They responded in the sa way. It was an emotional goodbye for , but I had no intention of prolonging it. So, after this final goodbye, I turned around and... for the first ti since I woke up, I actually walked out of my room.
*******
I moved my cane to the side and slowly sat down in the cozy armchair. Inside the rather gigantic office, my lips curled upwards as I looked at the man with his usual flat, cold expression.
Although... he didn't look so cold anymore.
What did they call it... a tsundere?
Anyway...
"Hello, President Houdhin.
How is your day going?"
For the first ti, I saw Houdhin's lips curve upwards a little, as if he wanted to prove wrong what I had just been thinking.
"Fine, our 'hero' Aiden. And yours? I guess you're looking forward to going ho."
The 'our hero' thing was so... weird that I couldn't stop my eyes from twitching for a mont, but I still kept a straight face.
"I'm fine too... And yes, I'm eager to go ho, but... unfortunately, the fact that I'm eager to go ho doesn't change the fact that I have things to do."
I saw Houdhin's eyes narrow slightly, his lips curled even higher. As if he was waiting for to say sothing like that.
"I feel like this is what you've been aiming for all along, Aiden Tenebra. To be the hero of the Holar, to achieve that status. But... even if that's the case, I can't say anything, I simply can't. Because... you succeeded. You have indeed beco a 'hero'. So..."
He held out one hand slightly towards , opened his palm as if to give sothing, and brought the other hand to his chin.
"What do you want? Don't be shy, say it. Not , but directly this whole country is ready to do anything you ask. Tell us what you have been aiming for all along."
I leaned back, the smile on my face was just like his.
"I... want more than one thing, actually."
Houdhin didn't seem surprised at all, so I continued.
"First... I'm going to create a company in the future, and it would be nice if I could get funding for it. Of course, I also have a goal of becoming a noble when I return to Cevilian... so I think it's only right that I ask for your support."
He nodded without changing his expression as if these were all things he could easily afford.
"Oh... and a new sword would be nice. A good quality one. Even better than the one I have."
He nodded again, not at all surprised. He must have already heard that despite the state of my body, I could use caora to fix myself.
"There are a few other small things I'd like, and I'll ntion them, but... the last of my big requests is an artifact that can suppress the S charm statistic in the system we use, and if possible even higher. A ring, bracelet, or necklace would be nice."
This was the only thing that raised his eyebrows slightly, causing him to actually look a little surprised.
"That... might be a bit of a difficult request. But we will do our best."
I felt a little relieved to hear that he didn't refuse. I don't know why, but... I had a tiny suspicion that they might not be able to fulfill my request. But I had worried unnecessarily, apparently.
"Then... let's move on to other things. You can be sure that these will be much simpler, so don't worry..."
And we did.
When it was all over, it was finally ti for to leave the room.
But... President Houdhin was not finished.
"Before you go, let tell you a few things."
His eyes were sharp this ti, his expression particularly serious. He wanted to focus on him, to pay attention to his words.
"There are a few things you need to know, at least... about your own situation. About this purple energy you're using, and about those who use a similar but opposite blue energy."
My eyebrows furrowed quickly.
So, the Order is finally on the move… huh?
*******
I've never been on a more comfortable plane in my life. In every sense... the seats, the interior of the plane, the view outside... Everything is perfect.
And it's all thanks to an extrely advanced technology.
'You give the sa look every ti...'
A turquoise glow suddenly appeared in the space in front of , then a tiny spirit floated slowly in front of .
"Because I'm more and more intrigued every ti."
I smiled back at the Sith, and he returned it.
We hadn't spoken much since the mont I woke up, we had nothing to talk about except for his company in my hospital room.
Now... we were in a more convenient place.
'You are not normally so happy and optimistic in such situations. Did sothing happen that I don't know about? Is it because of these two skills you've acquired?'
"Ah, no."
I an... they have an effect, of course. Because they're both really useful, really excellent skills.
Saturated with Mana is a skill that I got because my body was exposed to excessive, really excessive, amounts of mana. And it basically increases my mana reserves by a lot, and it supports Mana Efficiency by relaxing the flow of mana in my body.
Well... that last part wouldn't be of much use if I couldn't heal myself temporarily. But with caora, the trump card I was able to use despite my crippled body, this skill was really perfect.
Durandal's Aura was even more perfect. So much so that even though I had read it dozens of tis, I couldn't stop my lips from curling upwards.
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