Alright, I know I said I wasn't gonna upload a chapter, but I had some free time and wrote a lil sumtin sumtin lol The chapter is also longer :D I didn't proofread again so it might be horrible :( dedicated to akitodbd (u da real mvp)

Ares could hear the disappointed voices of those around him as he made his way to the stairs. The girl shouted something towards him, but by that time he had lost all focus on her. He could only see Rachel’s pained face and hear her irregular breathing.

As Ares made his way towards Ryner’s room on the second floor with Rachel, he was tugged rather violently. She kept looking back at him as if he would disappear once she let go, her forehead showing soft lines of anxiousness.

Ares suddenly stopped. “Calm down, Rachel.” He said his eyes pleading with hers. Seeing her frantically trying to pull his unmoving body, he placed her on his head. “Tell me where to go.”

Rachel was but a child. And she was aware of it. Though she acted immature, most, if not all, of the time, she was grateful for Ares. When ‘that’ happened to her mother, nobody bothered to help, even when Effari begged as she kneeled to the side of her motionless mother. Until Ryner came, but it was too late. That feeling of helplessness rushed her. She pulled him thinking he might be able to help, someway somehow. But mainly because she didn’t want to feel helpless again. If she couldn’t do anything, she brought someone who can that she trusted. Ares complied with Rachel even though she pulled him selfishly and that made her feel a boundless gratefulness that clashed with her anxious face. She pulled his hair in the direction she needed to go and eventually arrived to a closed door.

Opening it delicately, he found Effari spawled across the bed, her dress ripped to her navel. Her breasts laid atop her body beautifully, and the waitresses that brought Effari up the stairs were soaking a piece of cloth in a murky liquid within a clean basin over her bare chest. Ryner stared intently at her face, not even attempting to look lecherously at Effari. Seeing Ares’s arrival as he cracked the door slowly, Ryner quickly stopped it from opening completely.

“What are you doing here?” Ryner said, giving Ares a questioning glare.

“Rachel brought me.” Ares said calmly, not responding to his threatening tone. Ryner narrowed his eyes at Rachel. She flinched, but didn’t break eye contact and held her ground, clutching Ares’s hair more tightly than ever. Seeing her unrelenting, he sighed and returned it back to Ares after Rachel blunted its edge before speaking in a respectful tone.

“I’m sorry, but this doesn’t concern you. Watch over Rachel downstairs and I’ll be with you shortly.” Before he could slam the door in his face, Ares threw his foot forward, stopping the door in its tracks. Seeing Ryner’s glare come back in a flash, Ares quickly spoke before the situation got any worse.

“… I can help.” Ares said hesitantly. He looked straight into Ryner’s eyes. The deep, calm blue of Ares’s eyes devoured his anger, seeing no sign of malicious intent.

“Very well.” Ryner said in resignation. “But If you try anything, I’ll kill you.” He said seething. Even Ryner doubted himself and he would surely be unable to defeat Ares in battle as he demonstrated earlier, but it was not an empty threat to say the least as he gleamed into Ares eyes without so much as budging an inch.

He bowed to Ryner before arching his back a little as to not let Rachel’s forehead take another blow ss he enter the room. Ryner closed the door and Ares’s eyes met the waitresses. They looked at Ryner and he gave them a nod before backing away from Effari, allowing Ares to approach her. As he looked at her panting and her chest rising erratically, The waitress took on a grim expression as her eyes darted back and forth between Ryner and Ares.

“… The magic powder isn’t working.” She said as her voice trailed off.

“…” The other waitress stood there quietly with an angry expression similar to Rachel’s.

“What do you mean it’s not working!?” Ryner asked, knowing the answer. He had spent a large amount of money for that powder, given to him by an obscure mage. No other reputable mage claimed to have a cure for this rare illness, they weren’t even sure how it affected the body as healing magic brought the order of the body to its natural state.

His last hope, wanting to believe would work, shattered to pieces. Rachel began breathing in disparate breaths unable to process the whole situation, but knowing the ensuing outcome from the situation.

“M-My shister’s gonna die.” Her voice trembling and tears rolling from her eyes. The feeling of helplessness that was pushed back by Ares’s calming words rushed towards her again. She tried to wipe the tears, but they wouldn’t stop.

Ryner gave in to the dread as he assumed a similar pose to his father when he left him on Diatie. Even Ares couldn’t contain his solemn expression, but he quickly took control of the situation before it got worse.

He didn’t have time to diagnose her condition formally and didn’t have any of the medical tools he practiced with from Vi. Heck, he didn’t even think they were made yet. He asked questions in rapid succession. His voice took on a commanding tone and his eyes furrowed in nervousness. He had never tried Vi’s techniques on real, living people, just soulless flesh.

So, he used his advanced physical therapy knowledge and began touching her body. Ryner screamed at Ares, venting his frustration on him.

“What are you doing!?” He shouted.

“Helping.” He simply stated. There wasn’t a lecherous glance coming from eyes. Like Ryner. He simply took his words at face value. Ares questioned him to his surprise. “Is this the first time this situation has risen?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.” Ryner stammered, simply staring as his hand traversed the maiden’s body.

“Is this hereditary?” Ares asked plainly, taking a shot in the dark. He noticed an odd flow of mana around her heart.

Ryner, seeing the boy somewhat knowledgeable in the healing arts, stopping his questioning looks and answered his question as quickly as possible. “Yes, her mother began having short breaths, and clutched her chest before fainting and dying.” Rachel’s gasped for air at the sudden as if waking from a bad dream and expecting the next, but he continued. “Effari said she would often get dizzy randomly as well.”

‘Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy’ Ares thought, his hands stunned for a moment. He remembered Vi’s lecture on it and recited it from his mind. ‘Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease of the heart muscle. HCM can cause the wall of the heart muscle to thicken. When the walls get too thick, the heart muscle functions inefficiently, causing some patients to have obstruction to blood flow from the heart. HCM is also associated with abnormal heart rhythms, which can sometimes be life threatening.’

He remembered Vi talking about an ancient method to manipulate the mana within the body to heal itself. The heart was the source of mana and could not detect changes within the body that were inherent since birth, leaving those who relied on healing magic stumped on genetic illnesses. This method could be achieved faster with the ability to control another’s inner mana, but it was genetic mutation as well and the clan that had it died off long ago, Vi the only survivor.

Luckily, it does not require mana, but the effort tripled as a result and the margin for error was extremely low. He had to force the heart to recognize itself as out of order. He had to slightly cause damage to it and split the mana directed for recovery between the wound and the ‘imperfection’ forcefully. He needed full concentration.

“Everyone leave, except Rachel.”Ares commanded. Out of options, they had no choice. Only the angry waitress left reluctantly. Though they left the room, they stood outside the door and didn’t move. Ryner slumped down against the door and clutched his hair, before calming down and leaving Effari’s life in Ares hands.

As Ares begun, Rachel would wipe the sweat off from his forehead before it reached his eyes. She was glad that she was being useful. Ares could have done it himself, but hoped that this experience would help Rachel overcome what she was dealing with.

Three hours later, Rachel seemed to nod in and out of consciousness and tried her best to keep awake. But her small body couldn’t keep up with her determination and she suddenly fainted rather than slept. Ares was happy, as it was difficult redirecting the mana flow in rapid succession with one arm.

Once sure she was asleep, Ares activated the king’s constitution and bared the pain of the horns protruding from his head, whilst gritting his teeth, and the darkness enveloped his body. Thankfully it only slightly nudged Rachel.

His senses heightened, he could see the flow of the mana more intensely than before. This was the first time his transformation affected his natural abilities, aside from regeneration. Thinking of his dream on the wagon before, he dismissed the thought, thinking of it as a blessing and focused on the bare-chested girl in front of him. He continued manipulating the mana within her body, pressing special points on her body.

Two hours later, he finally saw Effari’s expression lighten. Seeing this technique actually saving a human life, he was glad he paid more attention to Vi’s lectures, though he didn’t neglect Astercoth’s either. Seeing him now, he knew Vi would be proud and a slight smile left his lips for the remainder of the operation.

After one more grueling hour, he deactivated the king’s constitution and woke up Rachel from his head by shaking it back and forth, waiting to see her glow return to her face.

Realizing slept, a wave of guilt swept her adorable face, only to be washed away by her sister’s peaceful expression.

“… Wake her up.” Ares said with a full smile. Rachel knew he wasn’t the type to lie, but it was too good to be true.

“… shister… Shister!” Rachel finally shouted at the top of her lungs. Only Ryner was still awake and rushed inside the room.

Effari’s eyes slowly opened. She saw Ryner with Ares, and her sister with relieved expressions. Puzzled, she found herself in Ryner’s bed and slowly raised herself with both hands, yawning before speaking.

“What happened? I remember Ares about to fight and then—“

“Shister!” Rachel jumped and wrapped her arms around her neck.

“W-What—“

“Effari!” Ryner gave them both a bear hug, so tight Rachel coughed.

“She’ll need to stay in bed for a few days.” Ares interjected, happy that he was able to preserve a family’s happiness. ‘It’ll take a while for her mana flow to regulate itself.’ He thought before trying to escape the awkwardly giddy atmosphere. As he tried to leave, Ryner placed his hand heavily on his shoulder as if daring him to. With a serious expression he finally spoke.

“How can I repay you?”

“Free lodging and food as long as you’re in business.” Ares said with a tinge of hesitation. He was about to humbly decline. But he needed food and shelter and without money, those weren’t going to be easy things to come by. Now wasn’t the time to be a homeless hero.

To Ares surprise, Ryner also agreed without hesitation. “Of course, anything for—“ He paused, looking at Effari and Rachel before continuing “family.” His wide grin accompanied by his bravado couldn’t help but make Ares chuckle. As he was about to leave, Effari shouted out to him.

“W-Wait!” Effari screamed, grabbing the covers on the bed to cover her chest. Ares also turned to protect her modesty though he had seen it already.

‘… Quite the gentleman as well.’ Ryner thought quizzically, thinking what it would be like to have Ares as a son-in-law, before giving a nodding approval.

“T-Thank you. I o-owe you my life.” Effari stuttered and bowing towards him. After hearing what happened from Rachel, who also bragged about her part in saving her life, she knew she was at death’s door. She didn’t want to leave her only blood relative alone, especially a sweet girl like Rachel. Afterall, Ryner was going to be a father soon and wouldn’t have time to take care of Rachel.

“You’re the besh.” Rachel said, latching onto his knee like the first time they met.

“Well, it’s no big deal.” Ares said with a reserved smile, slightly blushing with a tone of slight arrogance. He triumphantly put his hand on his hip too pleased by their praise and turned away from them, a trait of his that would arbitrarily appear when those he had affection for gave him accolades. He noticed it himself and thought of it to be a side-effect of starving for love as a child. He tried not to think about it too hard as it seemed pathetic even in his eyes at this age, especially coming when it came from a small child. His eyebrow twitched in dissatisfaction at himself and it clashed with his curling lips.

He tried to hide his smile from forming, only to purse his lips with its ends pointing up in a cat-like manner. Effari imagined a tail sticking out of him wagging fervently at the compliment. She couldn’t help but laugh, only to be interrupted by an angelic tone.

“I’m glad you’re okay now.” His usual calm demeanor returned. This was the Ares she had initially known. She was expecting him to stammer at the statement like when he apologized to Rachel during their first meeting since he blushed, but that all gone now.

His mature smile and soothing gaze blew against her like a gust of wind and her hairs stood up. It wasn’t a dazzling look, but it was devastatingly charming.

“C’mon Ares, you just healed her heart.” Ryner spoke slyly, elbowing him in the ribs repeatedly.

Ares gave him a quick grin, and ruffled Rachel’s hair before leaving the room. Before he could close the door, Effari gathered up her courage and raised her voice. “W-Where are you going?” She stuttered, surprising herself as she said it.

“I’m going to meet my father.” He said cheeks reddened, then gave a smile that showed all his teeth. After ten years, he still felt the warmth from the word.