After wiping the last of her tears, Lulu sniffed once, then turned her head with a devious, toothy grin already forming.

She was fully prepared to unload a barrage of insults on her father.

To call him every name under the sun for being so completely, utterly wrong while Luca had just proven himself spectacularly right.

But when she spun around, fists on hips and fire in her eyes, the spot where Julius had been standing was empty.

Lulu blinked.

"Wait a second…" She blinked, scanning the room. "Hold up. Where's that damn old man? Where did he go? And—"

She looked around again.

"—where the hell are Isaac and Doofus?!"

Nyx chuckled softly, clearly amused.

"They left. The moment Esme started speaking, all three of them slipped out. Julius couldn't bear the embarrassment, I imagine."

Lulu's mouth dropped open before she stomped her foot, growling.

"Ugh! That sneaky old bastard! He always runs when it's my turn to talk back! He acts all mighty, talks big—but the moment he's proven wrong, poof! He disappears like a coward!"

She threw her hands up in fury.

"I swear, next time, I'm chaining him to a chair before Luca starts talking! I'm so angry that—!"

But midway through her rant, she suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing. She turned sharply toward Luca, who blinked, confused by her intense stare.

"...What?" He asked warily.

Without warning, Lulu marched right up to him and shoved her hand into his pocket.

"H-Hey!" Luca laughed, startled, catching her wrist. "What's wrong with you, Lulu?! If you want lollipops, just ask! Don't rummage through me like some pickpocket!"

"It's not that!" She snapped, still searching. "I'm looking for those things you used just now—the shiny thing with the magic liquid inside!"

"If we have a bunch of them, we can give one to every sick person in the village and cure everyone in one go!"

Luca gently caught her wrist and pulled her hand out of his pocket, chuckling.

"Sorry, but it doesn't work like that."

He crouched slightly to meet her gaze.

"The booster I gave Esme is strong stuff—only for people whose bodies are truly on the brink, completely exhausted and depleted. Her condition was critical, so it was necessary."

"But for patients who haven't reached that level yet, we don't need it—and honestly, it wouldn't be safe to use it on them."

Luna stepped closer, worry creasing her brow.

"But...what about the other patients? They're still suffering. Even if they're not as bad as Esme yet, they're getting worse every day. Soon they'll be just like her."

Luca straightened, looking around at all the concerned faces—Luna, Lulu, Nyx, Leona, even little Lisa who was still clinging to her mother's hand.

"Don't worry." He said firmly, voice calm and reassuring. "I have a completely different treatment planned for them, one that will definitely help everyone recover. It won't be long before they're all on the mend too...I promise."

Relief washed over the women. Shoulders relaxed. Smiles returned.

Luca then glanced around the small, dimly lit room that was an absolute mess because of that imbecile.

"First things first." He said firmly. "I don't want the patients to stay isolated in different houses anymore."

"After all, this isn't an infectious plague—there's no reason for them to be separated and instead it'll only make things worse because of the isolation."

He folded his arms thoughtfully. "I need a single place—large, airy, somewhere that can hold all of them comfortably. Fresh air is important."

Hearing this—Leona immediately stepped forward, which was rather shocking.

"There's the old storage house a few trees from here." She said quickly. "It's large enough to fit everyone, slightly elevated from the rest of the village, and it catches a good breeze from the hills. We can clean it up and move the patients there."

Nyx's lips curved into a teasing smile.

"Oh my, Leona." She said lightly. "You suddenly sound so...cooperative. Where did all that cold suspicion go? You almost sound warm toward the Hero now."

"I thought you didn't trust him?"

Leona blinked, caught completely off guard.

A faint flush rose on her cheeks as she realized how eager she'd sounded. Everyone's eyes turned toward her, some surprised, others amused.

She coughed softly, straightening her posture. "I—well, my stance on him is still…"

She paused, then looked directly at Luca, her tone steady.

"...wavering."

But her gaze softened a fraction as she continued,

"However, what I do know is that you're capable of saving this village. And as its Matriarch, it's my duty to protect everyone here. So if that means trusting you..." She took a deep breath. "...then so be it."

She hesitated for a heartbeat before adding, in a low but sincere voice.

"And if necessary, I'll even bow my head and get down on my knees to apologize for my earlier behavior, for how rudely I treated you."

Luna's eyes widened. Lulu's jaw dropped. Even Nyx's teasing smile faded into quiet surprise.

"I don't mind doing so since I don't want any grudges you have towards me to bother you when you take of of the villagers."

"So, just say so and I'll be on the ground for you."

She finished with a look of conviction on her face.

No one had expected this—not from proud, aloof Leona, who always seemed carved from ice and unyielding stone.

She, of all people, offering to kneel? Admitting fault so openly?

But then Nyx remembered that this was how Leona used to be in the past, willing to do anything to help others and she realised that Luca was actually bringing that Leona back to her pleasent surprise.

Meanwhile, Luca blinked, momentarily stunned, then smiled warmly.

"There's no need for that, Leona." He said gently. "I'm just glad you're willing to work with me now. Forget the apology—I'd much rather you focus on helping me."

He stepped forward and gave a small, respectful nod.

"So instead of bowing, how about gathering the villagers? Have them move every patient to that storage house. Once everyone's there, I'll begin the treatment immediately."

Leona met his gaze, then nodded firmly. "Consider it done." She said.

She didn't waste a single second after that

She strode out of the house with purpose, her long blonde hair catching the evening light as she stepped into the central clearing of the village.

Raising her voice—clear, commanding, and impossible to ignore—she called out to the gathered elves who had already begun to cluster curiously nearby.

"Everyone! Listen carefully!"

Heads turned. Conversations hushed.

"Every family with an afflicted member—bring them to the storage house in the East immediately. Carry them gently, use stretchers if needed, but move quickly."

"The Hero has begun treatment, and we are centralizing all patients there for proper care."

A ripple of gasps and whispers spread like wildfire.

"The Hero…?"

"He's really going to heal them?"

"Lady Leona herself is giving the orders…"

But no one questioned her twice.

Within moments, the village erupted into organized motion.

Elves hurried toward their homes, calling to neighbors.

Groups of four or five gathered around each ill villager, lifting them carefully onto improvised litters or supporting them between strong shoulders.

The sound of hurried footsteps, soft encouragements, and shocked murmurs filled the air, as the procession began winding up the wide wooden stairs that spiraled around the massive central tree toward the storage house.

Inside, Luca listened to the commotion with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He then looked at Nyx and asked,

"How strong are you?"

Nyx immediately understood what he meant.

"Strong enough to carry Esme." She replied confidently.

"Good." Luca said simply.

Without hesitation, Nyx went over to Esme's side.

With the ease and grace of someone far stronger than she appeared, she slid one arm under Esme's back and the other beneath her legs, carefully lifting her.

Lisa scampered alongside, holding her mother's hand as they joined the organised event.

Luca then looked at the twins.

"How many friends do you two have?"

Lulu puffed out her chest proudly.

"So many! You couldn't even count them all! Literally everyone wants to be friends with me!"

Luca chuckled.

"Good. I need you, your sister, and every single one of those friends to head to the storage house right now. Clear out anything old or dusty. Sweep, wipe, scrub—make it as clean and fresh as possible."

"We're turning it into a proper recovery ward."

"Yes, sir!" Lulu snapped a dramatic salute.

She then bolted out the door, already shouting.

"Come on, everybody! Move it, move it! We've got cleaning duty! Hero's orders!"

Meanwhile, Luna looked at Luca and asked, "What about you, Luca? What are you going to do? Do you want any help!"

"I'll be preparing the supplies we'll need for treatment." Luca said, already opening a small glowing portal beside him. "I'll have to fetch some things from my world—medicine, tools, and all the equipment we'll need."

"For now, just help your sister with the cleaning."

Luna's face lit up with purpose—a spark of excitement she hadn't felt ever.

She nodded firmly and dashed after Lulu.

Luca lingered at the threshold a little longer, watching the village come alive.

Elves worked side by side: four carrying a litter bearing an elderly woman up the broad stairs, another group hauling buckets and brooms, children running ahead to clear the path.

No one argued.

No one hesitated.

There was a sense of unity—a shared hope that hadn't existed hours ago.

He felt it deep in his chest.

"This...This is what it looks like when people believe again."

With a quiet smile, he opened a portal and stepped through.

Meanwhile, Luna and Lulu reached the elevated storage house first.

The large semi-circle room wrapped around half of the the upper trunk of the great tree, its walls lined with wide arched windows that let in golden shafts of late-afternoon light and constant fresh breezes.

Old crates, forgotten tools, and dusty sacks lined the edges.

Lulu took immediate command.

"Okay, teams! Group A—start hauling crates! Group B—brooms and rags! Group C—windows and floor! We're making this place shine!"

Her friends—dozens of young elves who had gathered at her call—jumped into action with giggles and enthusiasm.

Crates were carried out in synchronized lines.

Sacks were emptied and folded.

Cobwebs were swept from high beams.

The wooden floor was scrubbed until it gleamed.

Luna directed traffic calmly, making sure no one overexerted or dropped anything heavy.

After a while, one of the girls glanced over at Luna curiously.

"Hey, Luna." She asked while sweeping. "Is it true what everyone's saying? That the Hero's going to heal everyone in the village?"

Luna paused, her hand brushing against the window frame.

Then she turned, smiling brightly—the kind of smile that made others feel hope ignite in their hearts.

"Yes. It's true." She said confidently. "Just like the savior he is, he's going to save everyone. You'll see it yourself soon enough."

The words spread like wildfire.

The girls smiled, whispering excitedly to each other.

"Did you hear that? He's really going to save everyone!"

The mood shifted instantly, and they worked even harder—scrubbing, sweeping, and laughing as they cleaned.

Soon, the entire storage room looked completely different. Dust no longer hung in the air; the wood shone from being polished, and the open windows let a pleasant breeze flow through.

That was when the portal reappeared and Luna turned just in time to see Luca step through.

He looked around and smiled approvingly.

"Good job, both of you."

He said warmly, his eyes falling on Luna and Lulu before sweeping over the rest of the girls.

"And you all, too. You've done excellent work."

The girls grinned proudly, a few even clapping for themselves.

But Luca raised a finger and said, "However...the work isn't done yet."

"Huh?" Lulu tilted her head. "What else is left?"

Luca's smile widened slightly.

"Beds." He said simply. "We're going to need a lot of them."

"Beds?" Luna echoed, puzzled. "But how are we going to carry…"

Before she could finish, the portal behind him shimmered and to everyone's astonishment—

—several large hospital beds began rolling out one by one, their wheels gliding across the floor as if pushed by invisible hands.

The girls gasped.

"Wha—How—" one stammered. "Where did those come from?!"

Luca chuckled. "Trade secret." He said, giving a playful wink. "Now, let's line them up. Make it even and orderly"

Without another word, the group moved into action again. Under his guidance, they arranged the beds in neat rows along both sides of the room.

After that came IV stands, medical trays, and racks of supplies that rolled out through the portal one after another—everything gleaming, clean, and ready for use.

The girls worked tirelessly under Luca's instruction, placing blankets, smoothing pillows, hanging IV fluids, and stacking medicine bottles in order.

By the end, the storage hall looked unrecognizable—a perfect field clinic with every bed ready and waiting for a patient.

Luca stood at the entrance, surveying the result with quiet satisfaction. A soft smile curved his lips as he murmured,

"Now...this where the real healing starts."

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