The daemons' invasion lasted for a mere few hours throughout the night. At midnight, when all should be cold, even when surrounded by the ice and their breath fogged as they exhaled, the little Apostle's light brought forth untold warmth.
The sensation in their skin came about to be truly divine, as though hope descended for them. Slowly, and eventually, the light began to dissipate and disappear with the daemon's descent to the only human right below her.
The Scorch Hero, as they called her, raised her hands.
"Are you all right, Apostle?"
"I am, thank you, Mirsha."
Mirsha accepted Lilith into her arms; the fear she previously had to the little daemon was still present. The image of the loli transforming into a four-legged beast that devoured her arm in the Scorching Forest remained.
The fear she felt that day was immense, something that made her wake up during the night drenched in cold sweat multiple times. But in this instance, with the relief of the Gargankong's assault ending mixed with her appreciation to the Apostle for healing her Husband and the hope of "reverting" Will to normal the darkness had long been overshadowed by Lilith's light.
"MOM!!" from the hangar came running, a child not even in her teens. She was small, but Lilith was smaller. Her tear-filled eyes blocked her vision, but it did not stop her from reaching out to her Mother.
"Is she your daughter, Mirsha?"
"Yes, Apostle."
"I see." Lilith smiled, seeing the little girl running up to her mother, "Bring me down and welcome your child in your arms—a mother's embrace is far more comforting to a child than my divine powers'."
"…thank you, Apostle."
Mirsha carefully helped Lilith down on the ground and then opened her arms to welcome Lucia in her embrace. The mother and daughter reunited amidst the chaos.
All the while the tearful reunion stole everyone's attention away, she covered her face with the loose and baggy hem to cover her face drinking a mana potion.
[This is the last of the mana potion — we can't buy a Mana Potion anymore… oh, we are so not winning right now—wait a minute, I'll try to strike a deal above and see if we can get some points back. We bought so much today that we must at least get some goodwill points, right? I'll make sure to take back a discount voucher. Oh yeah, I already set the path with the most human life that we passed earlier.]
'Neat—good luck with the haggling.'
[I'll be back—Aria, my friend~]
Lilith recovered her mana and approached the mother and daughter, embracing each other.
"It is good to see that the two of you have reunited."
Lilith said from behind Mirsha.
"AH!"
Lucia jumped back from fright.
"Lucia, do not act in such a way; she's our family's benefactor—Apostle." Mirsha feared for her daughter's life. Just as she was glad that Lilith saved her Husband, of course, the still existing mark of the past would still surface with specific triggers, "I-I am sorry for how my daughter behaved, ple-please, do not pun—"
"I do not mind." Lilith stopped Mirsha from lowering her head, "Back in my Village, we also have children, as feisty as she."
Lucia's eyes were wavering; her emotions were complicated.
Even after experiencing Lilith's warm light, Lucia was still afraid for obvious reasons.
Lilith did not mind her doubts.
Doubts were sometimes good to have; that meant Lucia was not easily manipulated, and that meant she's smart.
"She has the blaze of a great Warrior in the Making—Oh?" wind lifted Lilith from the ground for a few feet to reach Lucia's eye level. Lilith reached out to Lucia…
The child was taken aback, and Lilith momentarily stayed her hand, her eyes now reflecting soft concern, reminiscent of a mother's, "Child, you are bleeding."
A cut remained unhealed on Lucia's head.
"Do not move; I shall heal your wound—"
"I-I, don't need it." Hearing her, Lucia quickly shook her head.
"Luci—"
When Mirsha was about to say something to her daughter, Lilith once again stopped her by raising her dainty little hand.
"Why? It will not hurt one bit. Like the Goddess' love, it is soft and could only bring warmth to you." She explained with an amiable tone, hiding the irritation with a perfect, sunny smile.
In Mirsha's arms, Lucia looked at Lilith, her sight wavering, "I—I saw you… you were pale earlier, a sign of Mana Drain. You must already be exhausted, I don't need to be healed; I can take the pain—"
"—Solar Healing—"
A soft voice echoed, and Lucia already felt her pain lifting. When she turned to look at Lilith, what she saw was a pleased smile.
"Brave and thoughtful, truly a Great Warrior in the making. The Goddess of Letza is pleased to have you as her child." Lilith reached out to Lucia, and unlike before, the elusive child now did not evade the hand, "I appreciate your words, but I am fine—"
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"Look out!"
"Little daemon!
"Glowing Chibi!"
"God!"
Suddenly, Lucia, Mirsha, and the others who gathered around Mirsha and Lilith collectively cried out of concern as the little daemon suddenly staggered, almost falling—Thankfully, Lucia caught her before the Apostle could fall.
Glowing with concern, Lucia grew warry of Lilith's health.
Mirsha brought down Lucia, and Lucia helped Lilith down, "See? I told you that you are already drained of mana…."
With trembling hands, Lilith held onto Lucia's arms for support.
The loli helplessly raised her head to look Lucia in the eyes. The Apostle held a bright and unwavering smile despite her tired expression, "It is because healing the ones in pain and injured is simply the right thing to do."
Lilith retreated her hand from Lucia, she cupped her hands, and a speck of light appeared in the middle.
"But it is a shame that I cannot heal all pain. The fear you carry to daemons such as myself… is an injury I cannot heal—I apologize for not being able to erase the harshness the beings of Chaos brought forth into you and your family." Lilith looked around, "I apologize to those who had suffered from Chaos."
"No… you don't have to apologize, Apostle—I am thankful for what you have done already."
"I see... thank you *sniffle*. Is that so." Lilith looked around her, seeing the humans could hear; she spoke, "Does anyone else need to be healed?"
No one answered. None of the soldiers or the survivors stepped up to be taken care of by a little daemon. Though fear was a variable, it was meager compared to the emotion they felt of shame asking such a tiny creature to heal them while she was weak.
"I am glad that everyone is well—"
Lilith landed on the ground and turned her back on everyone.
"Apostle, where are you going in such a state?" Mirsha asked, concerned.
Without turning back, Lilith just said, "There are many who needs my help, the soldiers, those who could not evacuate, my people who fought the Gargankong, I need to heal them and save their lives—"
And so, Lilith began her steps, unhurried and tiny.
She stumbled on the way, but she did not care.
The tiny frame, ready to work her body to help and heal others. Her mission was clear for all to see.
She was weak yet was the strongest.
Suddenly, Lilith's body was lifted from the ground.
"Ah! Mirsha? What is the matter?"
"Please, let me help you."
"Me too!" Lucia energetically raised her hand.
"M-me as well!"
"I want to help too!"
"Count me in!"
"Come on, everyone! Many need our help! Do not let the lass do it on her own!"
Lucia reached out to Lilith's still shaking hands, "You don't have to do it alone, Apostle."
The child was smiling as she spoke.
Lilith looked at them with widened eyes, amazed, "Tha—thank you... *sniffle*."
Every human who heard her shaking words could not hold back a smile and gratification.
Lilith covered her face, her body shaking…
[System: You have gained a new Title.
[Saint's Facade: +10 MAG (Soft Light (Passive), Soft Touch (Passive), Divine Aura (Passive Skill).]
'Hehehe...Hahahaha...GUHAHAHAHAHAAH~' Lilith began snickering to herself.