Chapter 222: Warm Smile

The room fell into a profound silence after. No one moved, no one breathed too loudly, and no one dared to disrupt the stillness that enveloped the entire room.

Every gaze was fixed on him, the weight of their attention palpable, not in judgment or challenge, but in a desperate attempt to comprehend the kind of resolve it took to speak about sacrificing his future with such quiet certainty.

The air felt denser, and above Mina, the healing formation pulsed slowly, casting a faint red light that flickered across the walls and illuminated the faces gathered around her bed. Each expression was unique yet bound by an unspoken tension.

Valeria’s eyes remained locked on Sage. Conflict swirled within them, raw and unmistakable, a struggle rooted not in doubt of his abilities but in grappling with the cost he had just accepted.

Her fingers twitched at her side; her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak, but no words emerged. For perhaps the first time since arriving, uncertainty clouded her features, not from fear of battle or strength but from an emotional realization that even power has its limits.

Sage, however, maintained his calm demeanor. He glanced at Cassian and offered a warm smile, so gentle it felt almost out of place amid the fear and tension in the room.

“I will do it,” he said steadily, without hesitation.

The reaction was immediate.

“Boss!” Boren exclaimed as he stepped forward instinctively.

“Guildmaster!” Lyana echoed sharply, her voice nearly breaking.

Both rushed toward him simultaneously, alarm evident on their faces as protests formed before they could think clearly. But Sage raised a hand, a simple gesture that halted them mid-step. He met their eyes with that same reassuring smile meant not to convince but to comfort.

“You don’t need to react like that,” he said softly, his tone almost lighthearted as if discussing something far less serious than splitting his own soul. “I won’t die. The worst outcome is losing my identity as a mage.”

He stated it plainly and casually as if what he said was not life threatening at all. And therein lay the pain of hearing it. Everyone understood what that entailed.

To a mage, their soul represented more than just power, it defined their path, identity, future, it was their reason for standing among knights who relied solely on physical strength. Losing it meant losing more than ability; it meant losing a part of themselves.

Sage knew this truth well.They all recognized that he did too. Yet he spoke as if it were trivial.

Lyana’s lips quivered slightly; her hands clenched at her sides. Boren briefly looked away, jaw tight as if forcing himself not to argue further. Vanthrice exhaled slowly, unable to meet Sage’s gaze any longer as she directed her attention toward the floor. The mercenaries remained silent; their respect for him deepened alongside the weight pressing against their chests.

Cassian studied Sage for a moment longer, his gaze sharp and probing, as if trying to discern whether Sage’s calm demeanor stemmed from courage or recklessness. After a few seconds, he nodded once.

“Alright,” he said. “We can proceed with the Soul Transfer.”

“But not now,” Cassian added, his tone steady and practical. “You’re injured, severely. Your body is strained, your mana is unstable, and your soul has already been pushed beyond safe limits during the battle. Attempting the transfer in your current state would not only put you at risk; it could endanger her as well.”

Sage listened quietly.

“You need time to recover,” Cassian continued. “Your wounds must heal, your mana needs to stabilize, and your soul energy must replenish. Only then can we begin the process. Otherwise, you might collapse before the transfer is complete.”

Sage nodded slowly, accepting this without argument. “How long?”

“A minimum of a few days,” Cassian replied. “It could take longer depending on how quickly you heal.”

Sage paused for a moment before asking again, “Do you have healing potions in stock?”

Cassian raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the shift in conversation. “Of course. I’m an alchemist; it would be odd if I didn’t.”

Sage nodded decisively. “I’ll take all of them.”

His request drew startled looks from those nearby.

Cassian blinked in surprise. “All of them?”

“Yes,” Sage reiterated calmly. “Every healing potion you have available, high-grade, mid-grade, all of it.”

Boren frowned slightly. “Guildmaster, that’s…”

Sage turned toward him with a faint smile. “Not just for me.”

He shifted his gaze to Lyana next. “Coordinate with Cassian to ensure every Adventurer who fought in the battle receives healing potions. Those in critical condition should get priority, no exceptions.”

Lyana straightened immediately. “Understood.”

“Make sure no one is overlooked,” Sage continued firmly. “Even those who say they’re fine; internal injuries are often harder to detect. I don’t want anyone collapsing days later because they tried to act tough.”

Boren nodded, seriousness returning to his expression. “I’ll handle distribution.”

Sage turned back to Cassian again. “And give me your highest-ranking healing potions, I need to recover as quickly as possible.”

Cassian studied him once more, a hint of approval flickering in his eyes. “You intend to accelerate your healing?”

“Yes,” Sage confirmed.

“You realize that overusing high-grade potions will strain your body further?”

“I don’t have the luxury of taking it slow.” Sage shook his head.

After holding his gaze for another moment, Cassian finally nodded in agreement. “Very well.”

The conversation concluded naturally, no fanfare or dramatics, just decisions made and progress initiated.

Sage turned slightly, his posture shifting as the exhaustion he had been holding back began to surface now that the tension had eased.

He gestured faintly toward Boren. “Come with me.”

Boren stepped forward without hesitation. Sage moved toward the door but paused before leaving, his gaze landing on Mina.

Her small frame was wrapped in bandages, her chest rising and falling gently. The healing formation cast a soft glow that danced across her face. A warm smile spread across his features, one filled with no regret, no hesitation, and no doubt. Then he turned away.

As he and Boren stepped out into the corridor, the door opened softly, their footsteps barely making a sound against the stone floor.

Inside the room, silence reigned. Everyone watched Sage’s retreating figure. Valeria parted her lips as if to call out to him, but no words came; slowly, she closed her mouth and lowered her gaze, an expression of something deeper than mere concern tightening her features.

Vanthrice leaned against the wall and let out a quiet exhale as the tension in her shoulders finally released.

Lyana glanced at Cassian and then back at Mina, tears glistening in her eyes before she blinked them away.

The mercenaries remained silent, their respect for Sage transforming into something almost reverent.

And Cassian… he lingered by the doorway long after Sage had vanished from sight. There was no doubt in his mind, the decision had been made.

Outside, the corridor felt colder and quieter; distant sounds of reconstruction echoed through the building, hammering, movement, voices of Adventurers and construction workers working to recover and rebuild, determined not to let the Guild fall apart.

Sage walked slowly down the corridor; each step was steady yet heavy as pain crept back into his body now that urgency had faded. Boren stayed by his side, silent but supportive, understanding without needing to ask questions.

After a moment of silence between them, Boren finally spoke up in a low voice. “Boss… are you sure?”

Sage didn’t break stride. “Yes.”

Boren exhaled slowly in acceptance as they continued down the corridor together. Sunlight streamed through open windows, illuminating dust motes floating in the air while visible marks of damage lingered on the walls. The light fell across Sage’s face, warm and indifferent. It didn’t know what he was about to sacrifice. It simply shone, as it always would.

The Guild had suffered losses but remained alive; people were moving about diligently repairing what they could. Life went on.

And Sage? He moved forward with it, not merely as a mage or a leader weighed down by doubts, but as someone who had already decided what truly mattered most.

Behind him lay a room steeped in silence; ahead awaited recovery, and somewhere between those two points…

A decision that would change everything was already set into motion.

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