The Great Fire Of Lakisen (2)

It was the bakery boy who had come to her very first Healing Gathering.

The burns covered most of his lower body and part of his chest, his eyes closed without the slightest movement. His small body as a child had likely worsened things. His condition was so terrible it was hard to look at directly. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

Beside him, Jack’s mother, holding a baby, sobbed.

“Jack… he went to get his sister’s toy and got trapped underneath… ugh…”

“Wake up, Jack! Stay with me! Jack!!!”

His father desperately shouted his name and slapped his cheeks, but there was no response.

Cordelia rushed over and, without hesitation, began pouring every ounce of Holy Magic she had into him. Instantly, invisible blazing flames attacked her. The pain Jack felt flowed back into her. The agony of her insides burning drove a groan from her lips.

(But Jack hurt even more than this. This much…!)

Holding back her tears, she continued pouring magic with single-minded focus.

Slowly, slowly. As she persisted, the cells infused with Holy Magic regenerated one by one. The charred red-black skin gradually revived into soft white skin, as if purified.

— By the time Cordelia withdrew her hand, his skin had completely regained a healthy color.

His closed eyelids lifted slowly.

“…Mom…? I…”

“Ah, Jack! Thank goodness! Truly… thank goodness…!”

Cheers rose around them at Jack awakening. His parents, faces crumpled, sobbed as they tightly embraced him. Seeing it, Cordelia wiped the corners of her eyes in relief.

(…Thank goodness. I was able to save him.)

The Water Mages capable of healing burns like this, including Isaac, had all been dispatched to firefighting. If Cordelia and the others had not come… he likely would have died.

“Cordelia-sama, thank you! We cannot possibly express our gratitude…! We will never forget this…!”

Jack’s father wept and pressed his head to her feet like a worshiper offering prayer. Gently helping him stand, Cordelia smiled.

“I am the one relieved. Being able to save Jack will be my pride. You must still be in shock, so please stay by his side rather than worrying about me. …I must treat the others.”

Though not many, some were in worse condition than Jack. After offering a few comforting words to his parents, she moved to treat them.

Even as Cordelia and Hina rushed around healing, the boom of collapsing buildings echoed somewhere. Extinguishing the fire seemed extremely difficult.

(I hope His Highness hasn’t been hurt… There are many Water Mages near him, so he should be fine… right?)

After finishing treatment of the severely injured and wiping her sweat, a bright white massive figure landed softly beside her — Fenrir.

‘A small child is buried over there. If not rescued quickly, they will die.’

“Where!?”

When she asked in alarm, Fenrir sprinted off — clearly telling her to follow. With no choice, Cordelia lifted her skirt and ran. Wearing boots had been the right decision.

“By the way, if you found them, you could rescue them yourself, Fenrir-sama!?”

‘That is… handling children requires delicate strength. I might accidentally bite them apart while trying to help.’

“I deeply regret asking! Understood — I’ll rescue them!”