Although the Mayor's explanation was probably intended to alleviate my fears, it only reinforced them when I heard his last line. Before I could process what he meant by her 'essence being dormant', the next question left my mouth spontaneously,
"So, if you can't help then how strong do I have to be to help her?"
It looked like that question crossed some boundaries of disrespect because as soon as I was done asking it, my father lashed out at me,
"TIFFANY! APOLOGIZE!!"
Uncle Manto was also looking at me in a weird panicked manner, but the Mayor only had a minor change in reaction.
Before I could begin to apologize, he raised his hand to stop me and told my father, "It's alright. Her question is valid. I'm truly helpless to some extent here."
Then, he turned towards me again and answered with a stiff smile on his face, "If I was a Nobilis Class Hunter, I would've been able to purge the curse out of her system, but bolstering her lacking 'spirit' and dormant 'essence' would require additional external help.
I can suggest a lot of ways to help with that, but they would need to be tried and tested over time, the resources needed for that are monumental, and would even make me a pauper in a few days. Therefore, to answer your question, you would need the help of a strong and influential Nobilis Class Hunter, or become one yourself, to be able to have a chance of waking her."
Just like how my father had been last when I had asked him that, the Mayor was also realistic and presented an answer wrapped in uncertainty to me. It did solve my doubt, but it made me feel crushed internally.
Seeing me scrunching my face, the tall man crouched in front of me at my eye level and said frankly, "It's good to have hope in life kid, it takes you far. Everything and everyone that you'll meet will try to take it away from you, but you must not lose it all."
With that, he nodded his head at my panicked father and uncle and prepared to head off but I still had one last question,
"Can you… awaken me?"
He didn't turn around and answered as he kept walking, "Sorry kid, I don't do that anymore."
He was the one to say that I shouldn't lose my hope, but he also became the first one to show me how it'll keep getting crushed.
Both of my seniors accompanied him to the gate as I was left behind, alone in the room with Sister Hin, who was smiling peacefully as well.
Perhaps, she was struck in a long and beautiful dream that she didn't wish to get out of. If that was the case, then unfortunately for her, I was determined to bring her back to the real world.