Mikoto raised his right hand, hovering inches above the head of an injured woman. Like the rest, she too was outfitted in a bleak white uniform. Her injuries consisted of a missing right eye and two missing fingers on her left hand, along with various small gashes and marks littering her body. He wanted to take time to heal everyone, meaning getting rid of infection and making sure the missing eyes and limbs he restored functioned properly and were well adjusted.
So he was given a room, which barely had anything in it. He healed most one by one, sometimes more if they were not too injured. For now, he focused on the woman kneeling in front of him, a green light radiated from his palm. Engulfing the woman in a warm and comfortable feeling, the gashes and marks disappeared from her body, mending. Her right eye was next, each part of the eye slowly coming into existence.
"Choroid, Ciliary Body, Cornea, Fovea, Iris, Lens, Macula, and Optic Nerve, check," Mikoto noted as he moved onto her missing fingers, the bone structure taking place first and then the network of veins and eventually the flesh.
Honoka, the Lepus woman from before, stood to the side and watched in wonder. The light began to die down, and the injured woman seemed like a completely different person. Full of vigor almost, she looked up at him, gazing at him as if Mikoto were some divine being. Slowly rising to her feet, her right eye twitched slightly, trying to adjust to the room as she glanced at her hand that used to house her missing fingers.
"You... this..." She flexed her hand, looking at it in wonder. "T-thank you! I-I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Don't worry about it," Mikoto waved off, "Just happy I could help." He would have smiled to ease her, but his face was hidden.
Honoka stepped forward, a pile of neatly folded clothes in her hands, which she gently handed to the woman. "The members of our church will show you to some proper accommodations."
The woman nodded as she took the clothing, "T-thank you two," She gave a small bow as she turned on her heel, walking towards the room door and pushing past it.
"Truly, your healing is phenomenal to witness, Yukio-kun," Honoka praised, "Even the most skilled sorcerers would take a while to restore entire missing body parts. You coming here today was divine intervention."
"You're gonna make me blush," Mikoto joked, at the same time a soft knock rang on the room's door.
"Enter," Hanoka urged, and immediately someone pushed past the door. This time it was two people, one a woman with short black hair and green eyes, at least in her early twenties. Along with her ragged white uniform, her body was decorated with scar tissue, tainting her face and exposed arms and legs. Next to her was a small girl, Mikoto could not help but grimace at the sight of her missing an arm. Her short blonde hair was in disarray, and her pale gray eyes had a flicker of fear in them as her remaining hand clutched the older woman's hand like a lifeline.
Mikoto noted how the girl slightly shrunk at the sight of him, hiding behind the older woman.
("I guess if there were ever a time to use transmogrification magic it would be now, I'll just copy Guinevere's color scheme.") Holding the transformation would be like actively tensing a muscle, a bothersome plight, but he'd rather not scare the girl further. "Relax, I'm not that scary." Mikoto reached for his helmet, taking it off. His usual wild shoulder-length snow-white hair was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the room was graced with his head of silky raven hair, and now lilac eyes sat on his heart-shaped face. Mikoto gave a smile, "See?"
"W-whoah..." The little girl looked at his face in a trance, the other woman much the same. "Y-you're so pretty." Mikoto wanted to correct her by saying he was 'handsome,' but he let it slide just this once.
"My, why would you hide such a face behind such a crude helmet?" Hanoka teased with a smile as the little girl and the woman approached Mikoto slowly.
"G-greetings, I am Evelen, and this is Jeanne," The woman introduced herself before gesturing to the small girl. They still seemed too enthralled by his face, he did not think he looked that good for them to be staring this much. But he shrugged it off as he kneeled to Jeanne's level.
"Jeanne's a nice name," She blushed at the compliment as he continued, "Like Jeanne d'Arc, she was a great woman. You probably don't know her, but she inspired people around the world, serving as a reminder of the power of faith, courage, and the fight for one's homeland. You have the look of someone who can accomplish much in their life."
"R-really?"
"Yup! But first, let's get you fixed up," She nodded rapidly, seemingly having grown less fearful of him. Removing his helmet seemed to be the right call at least. He raised a hand and placed it gently on the edge of her stump.
"It'll be over in no time," he said softly, letting the words wrap around Jeanne like a comforting blanket. The air began to shimmer between them, a flickering of golden light that moved rapidly. The golden light brightened, illuminating the edges of Jeanne's stump, where the skin began to shimmer like the surface of a pond reflecting the sun. Mikoto visualized the arm materializing, cells fluttering and dividing, recreating the network of veins and muscle. Slowly, the faint outline of fingers began to emerge, tendrils of mana weaving together like thread. The shape deepened, and the light enveloped it like a cocoon.
Jeanne's eyes widened, reflecting the brilliance of the golden glow as the arm took form. Mikoto guided the mana into place—first the bone structure, stitching itself together. Tiny fractures blossomed in her newly formed radius and ulna, knitting together. Soft muscle fibers rippled into existence next, layering upon one another, creating the sensation of movement. He could feel the individual fibers battling for space. Finally came the tendons, sinewy, coiling together like strands of silk. They anchored within the arm, readying themselves to connect to the subtle signals of Jeanne's nervous system. The skin began to envelop the arm, a soft, petal-like covering emerging. It was a gentle pink, flushed with the innocence of childhood, appearing almost velvety in its texture.
The shimmering arm pulsed gently, almost alive, and for a moment, the golden light died down. Jeanne lifted her gaze to her new arm, awe-stricken. A flicker of hesitation passed across her face, but it was soon replaced with a radiant smile. She reached out, her fingers wavering as they adjusted to the sensation of movement. Mikoto felt a wave of relief wash over him as he witnessed her joy, pure and overwhelming—as she flexed her fingers, clenching and unclenching the air, Mikoto couldn't help but beam back at her.
"There all-oof!" He was cut off as the girl all but rushed him in a bear hug, her grip like a lifeline.
Jeanne's eyes teared as she buried her face in his chest, not minding the armor. Mikoto looked surprised, but a small smile graced his delicate features as he gently wrapped his hands around the girl, patting her back. Evelen watched appalled, her mouth agape, Hanoka was much the same. It was not every day that you see someone so easily heal an entire missing arm. It was nothing short of phenomenal to witness, a miracle.
"T-thank you," Jeanne sniffled as she pulled back slightly, "You're like an angel, just like that other mister!" She declared, a bright smile adorning her face once more.
("A biblically accurate angel maybe,") Mikoto internally joked as he stood back up, patting Jeanne's head gently.
Helping people really did feel good, he would admit. Seeing their expressions light up as he healed the worst of their injuries put a smile on his own face as well. Maybe this was his calling.
-------------------
"I cannot thank you enough, Yukio-kun," Hanoka gave him a bow, he merely waved her off. He had finished healing everyone, so his presence was unneeded. Currently, the two were outside the building housing all the previously injured people, his helmet back on his face.
"It was no skin off my back, just happy I could help," Mikoto insisted.
"Still, you truly are an angel, you merely show up from nowhere and did what not even a large group of healers would be able to," Hanoka smiled, "These people and I owe you a great debt. Take care, Yukio-kun, and may the Gods watch over you." With another bow, Hanoka turned on her heel and entered the building once more.
("I've been here quite a while, hope that court mage isn't pissed,") With that thought, Mikoto walked through the city once more, though immediately he noticed a small commotion centering around a woman. Clad in a blue and white striped dress that flared at the hem, the fabric swayed with each jubilant movement; each stripe, a blur of color, accentuated the vibrant red bow nestled perfectly atop her ample bosom, decorated with a myriad of polka dots—red, white, and blue—stitching together the fabric of her persona.
Her long pink hair, cascading in glossy waves down her back, was accentuated by an array of sparkling highlights that caught the dying light in a riot of colors, twisted into two large, exaggerated bows that bobbed enthusiastically as she danced beneath the wide, arching sky. The jester's face was painted with care; each feature equally exaggerated, her forehead had on it two perfectly symmetrical blue hearts that seemed to flutter when she moved. A rounded button nose sat prominently amidst her painted face, with red lips that formed an infectious grin, leading to striking yellow eyes that sparkled, reflecting the wonder of the diverse onlookers whose varied races and appearances ranged from curious catfolk with twitching tails to stalwart dwarfs and adventurers with gleaming armor.
("That mana pattern seems familiar,") Mikoto noted, his eyes narrowing as she began her performance, twirling into the center of the cobblestone plaza, drawing the attention of the diverse assembly around her. With a flourish of her arms, she summoned a burst of shimmering confetti from thin air, its glittering fragments catching the waning rays of the sun, forming a collection of colors that danced around her like fireflies. The crowd gasped collectively, their expressions a blend of awe and delight as the confetti almost formed a curtain behind her; every particle glittered as it drifted through the fading light, creating an enchanting background.
("Guess that little display would be quite the sight for a non-sorcerer, still that refined mana... I swear I know someone with a signature like that.") Mikoto's head raced for an answer, but his mulling was promptly interrupted.
"Mikoto," A familiar voice cut in, as he felt a hand on his shoulder. "You've been gone quite a while now. Is aught amiss?" He turned slightly to see Astrid.
"Yeah, I just had something important to do, is all. I'm done now, though." He informed. Astrid opened her mouth to speak, but her eyes were immediately drawn to the crowd and the colorful gesture. Her expression brightened as a smile graced her face.
"Oooh, a show! Come, this looks exciting!" Before he could get any words in, the princess grabbed him by his hand and dragged him closer to the center of the show. They got a good enough spot to see all the tricks the jester performed. Mikoto glanced at Astrid, she seemed like an excited child.
The jester, meanwhile, gave a swift pirouette—her dress flaring out—she propelled herself into a series of tricks, her feet hardly touching the ground. She conjured a series of brightly colored balloons, each with a unique animal shape—giraffes, elephants, and even fluttering butterflies—each balloon twisting and popping into existence with the grace of an artist. The balloons floated upwards, trailing ribbons that seemed to elongate and coil in the air, leaving a colorful trail in their path, wrapping around the drifting confetti. The demi-humans laughed and cheered, their animal features betraying their delight, with a rabbit-eared girl clapping her hands excitedly while a burly wolfman flashed a toothy grin.
"Whoa..." Astrid too looked at the scene, all but entranced. Mikoto did not seem all that interested. His focus was more so on the jester's mana. For a mere entertainer, her mana pool seemed much too refined and calm. Far more refined than even his own, though her quantity was lacking.
The colorful jester meanwhile dropped into a low crouch, her hands touching the cobblestones as she spun, creating a small cyclone of leaves and debris that circled around her. The air thickened with the scent of earth and magic as she drew her arms in, beckoning the swirling storm of color. She leaped from the ground, propelling herself into the air in a series of graceful flips, each movement punctuated with loud gasps of astonishment from the growing crowd. Each spin was met with precise timing, her arms outstretched as if she were dancing, her bows bouncing delightfully with each rotation.
As she landed gracefully, the crowd erupted into applause. The jester, undeterred by the praise, beckoned for more. Drawing energy from the space around her, she flared her long fingers, summoning spectral ribbons of light that twirled around her limbs like playful snakes. With an exaggerated wink, she choreographed her next trick, sending the ribbons soaring above her, mixing and floating as if possessed by an unseen force. They formed a bright display amidst the blue sky, casting rainbows down on the thrilled audience, while cheers erupted from the diverse crowd.
With one grand sweep of her arms, she summoned all her creations—balloons, ribbons, and confetti—together into a swirling vortex above her head, bending light into an iridescent display that lit up the street like a festival of colors exploding from her presence. It was a moment of vibrant jubilation. As she struck a final pose, arms outstretched and head tilted back, her bright eyes sparkling, cheers erupted, and at that moment.
Astrid clapped her hands at the entertaining display, she seemed a bit too excited. "That was incredible! Such a colorful display, Val would have loved it."
"It was fine,"
"Oh come now, it was extraordinary!" Astrid corrected with a big smile, "I usually don't get to see such displays back in the castle."
"Thought castles had their own jesters and whatnot, what do you usually do most of the time?" Mikoto questioned.
"Training and studying, at every waking moment." Astrid shook her head with a wry smile, "As the crown princess, my father thinks it wise that I not waste time on anything but that. It's a rarity when I am allowed to go outside the castle and have some fun."
"Sounds like a pain," Mikoto related, he glanced at her face. A small smile still present as most of the crowd around them began to dissipate. "You should tell your old man to piss off."
Astrid gave an involuntary snort at that, "If his 'perfect precious' oldest daughter were to use such vulgar language, then he may get a heart attack." She joked.
"You're a big girl, right? You should do your own thing." Mikoto advised, though another question suddenly popped into his head, "Hold on, how old are you?"
"Twenty winters old," Astrid answered with an innocent tilt of her head, her braided hair swishing.
"Damn, you're old." Mikoto blurted out.
"Wha-Twenty years is not that old!" Astrid reasoned with a slight blush, "Is it?"
Mikoto patted her shoulder, "It is, grandma." He broke the news for her.
"I can see why my sister gets so riled up in your presence now," She sheepishly noted.
"Eh, I'm like this with all my friends."
"You consider me a friend?" Astrid questioned, her eyes lighting up at the prospect.
"Of course, you may be an old woman, but you're cool." Mikoto joked, Astrid shook her head as she playfully punched his shoulder.
"I can't say I dislike it," She chuckled with a spark in her eyes, "You're a vast improvement from the folk I usually interact with. Mostly nobles, they're so stuffy and full of themselves. And they shower me with pointless compliments to get on the good side of Galadriel's future ruler, honestly it's quite vexatious."
"What about that Lukas guy, he seems to hover around you," Mikoto remarked.
"Lukas... he is a fine knight. He has a sworn duty to oversee the protection of me and my sisters," Astrid mumbled, a small frown playing at her lips, "But I would not say we share a deep friendship. Do not get me wrong, I do appreciate all he has done for me, and we have shared some good moments, but... I cannot see us forming a lasting connection." She admitted.
"Nothing to feel bad about, princess. Can't force yourself to like someone," Mikoto insisted, "My old man used to force friends onto me. He only wanted me to associate myself with high-status people, honestly, it was annoying, and he'd get super pissed when I was friends with people I just genuinely liked. What I learned is to just do what I truly wanted, no matter the consequences. How I see it, you don't truly live your life if you only go based on the whims of others. Freedom is not a given, you should take it."
Astrid's eyes widened slightly at Mikoto's words, they resonated with the princess. Simple words yet the meaning was as clear as day, "For someone so young, you're wise, Mikoto." Astrid smiled, "I suppose you're right, but with my duties, it seems more and more difficult to seize my freedom."
"As the crown princess, that's probably a given. My advice would be-"
"Ah! Two lovebirds out in the open, how romantic.♥" A sickly-sweet voice suddenly chirped. "You make little ol' me feel soooo lonely♠." Mikoto glanced to the side, slightly annoyed at being interrupted. Astrid followed his gaze, it was the jester woman from before. She leisurely approached them, her hips swaying, and her eyes locked onto him, almost hungrily, "But please do not stop conversing on my account, dear♪."
Mikoto found the woman irksome.