Celia’s Request

When Serea returned to the wooden house, exhausted, she collapsed directly onto the bed, ready to rest. Just then, someone walked in from outside.

Celia entered, carrying a wooden basin filled with the clear water from the Spring of Life. She had come to treat the bodily injuries Serea sustained after going through Blood Frenzy.

“Are you going to rest?”

Celia’s voice, completely devoid of emotional fluctuations, sounded as she saw Serea lying on the bed.

“Celia?”

Seeing that it was Celia who came, Serea felt a little puzzled, but after noticing the wooden basin in her hands, she understood Celia had come to treat her.

“You’ve had a long day too. It’s fine if you wait until tomorrow to help me heal,”

Serea said. She still felt some pain when moving, but overall, there was nothing serious.

“I didn’t participate in the battle, so it’s fine. But if you want to rest, I can come again tomorrow morning.”

“I’m okay, as long as you, Celia, won’t be too tired.”

“Then, excuse me.”

With that, Celia brought the wooden basin over to Serea’s bedside.

Actually, this simple treatment could have been left to Lola. After all, Lola was Serea’s nominal attendant, and her Healing Rain could substitute for Celia’s Holy Healing.

But for some reason, every time there was an injury to treat, Celia insisted on doing it herself. Perhaps the reason lay in the fact that it was Serea’s body!

“Lie on your stomach.”

“Okay.”

Wearing her pajamas, Serea naturally lay facedown on the bed. Unlike before, when she felt shy, she had become used to and even more enjoyed this “Queen-level” treatment.

After soaking the elven cloth, Celia thoroughly wrung out the water and then placed the cloth onto Serea’s clothing. The cool sensation made Serea instinctively shiver.

“Is it very cold?”

“It’s alright.”

As Serea replied, Celia used Holy Healing. Feeling the warmth spreading across her skin, Serea’s heart warmed as well. At the same time, her clothes were dried, and the Spring of Life eased her wounds.

Under the combined effect of Holy Healing and the Spring of Life, Serea’s injuries were gradually healing, and this gentle restoration left no aftereffects.

Gradually, Serea revealed a very relaxed, thoroughly contented expression…

“If someone could marry a thoughtful girl like you, Celia, they probably used up several lifetimes’ worth of luck.”

“……”

Celia did not respond, but Serea was already accustomed to her silence.

Yet underneath that silence, something was hidden in Celia’s heart. Looking at the expression of enjoyment on Serea’s face, she hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

“I have something to ask of you.”

“Huh?”

The sudden words left Serea a bit stunned, and then she asked,

“Of course, no problem! Celia, feel free to ask—aren’t we companions already?”

“……”

Hearing this, Celia pressed her lips together. She finally made up her mind and spoke about “that matter.”

“Please help me resurrect Princess Serea.”

“……”

“If you agree, accordingly, I will grant any request you make. That is a knight’s vow.”

Upon hearing Celia’s words, this time it was Serea’s turn to fall silent. Although she had long predicted Celia would make this request, she didn’t expect it to come so soon.

Seeing Serea’s silence, Celia pressed her.

“Is it very difficult?”

“In a way, yes.”

“What’s the reason? Is it a matter of ability, or something else?”

“A bit of both.”

As Serea answered, Celia re-soaked the now-dried elven cloth in the basin. After rinsing it, she continued to wipe Serea’s body.

“The method you used to resurrect Vina before—could it work for Her Highness?”

“… If I said it couldn’t, would you believe me?”

“Yes, but tell me the reasons.”

Celia continued her actions as she spoke.

“Serea’s original soul is still there, but it’s nothing more than a ‘material.’ I don’t have the power to turn something like that back into her true soul—at least not for now. And even if I could recover her soul, what about the body?”

As Serea asked, Celia’s hand paused.

Right, what about the body?

Was she supposed to let the person before her hand over the body to “Princess Serea”?

Perhaps Celia had originally come with this idea in mind, but now, she could no longer say such words.

However, that didn’t seem to be the question for now, because just as Serea said, she did not currently have the ability to resurrect her “princess”.

Before considering the body, Serea’s abilities needed to be considered first.

“You said ‘for now’—then, in the future, will you be able to resurrect Her Highness?”

Celia deflected and asked in return. Serea didn’t know how to answer, so she asked the System.

“System, do I have that ability?”

System: The Soul Altar will fulfill your wish.

“So that’s how it is. I’m really that amazing…”

Thinking this, Serea showed a self-mocking smile. Looking at Celia, who awaited her answer, Serea didn’t have the heart to lie to her.

“I can!”

Her answer was firm. Celia fell silent at this.

The two lapsed into silence again. This quiet lasted until Celia finished treating Serea’s wounds and prepared to leave.

Watching Celia about to depart, Serea could no longer contain herself and asked,

“Don’t you want to know whether I’ll help you resurrect your princess when the time comes?”

At this, Celia’s steps halted. After a few seconds, she replied,

“When that time comes, I will come to find you again. Thinking about it now is too far off. Before that, I will stay by your side and protect you until you reach that level.”

“So you’ll ask me then…”

Serea repeated. She felt a chill that pierced to her core, a chill that was inexplicable.

After answering, Celia prepared to leave.

‘Thud, thud, thud’—each step sounded like shards of ice striking Serea, and as she watched Celia depart, she only felt an emptiness in her heart, as if she had lost something essential.

All that to gain strength for herself?

At this moment, that “strength” suddenly felt unreal. Watching Celia’s departing figure, Serea gritted her teeth, making up her mind.

Slap, slap, slap!

It was another flurry of urgent footsteps, bare feet on the wooden floor. Hearing the sound, Celia turned her head—only to see Serea rushing toward her.

Thud!

Serea threw herself at Celia, knocking her against the wooden wall.

The water from the wooden basin spilled over them both, and Celia, pinned against the wall, offered no resistance.

Their gazes met, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the other’s breathtaking beauty reflected.

(To be continued)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep