Using [Blink], I moved over to Grey's location. The others had gotten him out just before the fight started becoming severe. He was near the town wall, resting as the others protected him. As I got close, they parted, allowing me to get a good look.
Grey was doing better than when I first saw him. His breathing had stabilized, and his internal injuries were healing. In theory, my magic should have already healed him, but the wound along his body wasn't budging.
It was a wound left by one of the beams. The attack burned Grey's pristine coat, and a long streak followed his side. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but it was not healing either. I knelt and looked closer but could not find anything unusual.
My wounds had healed quickly, and Grey's should have been the same. Unable to diagnose anything correctly outside, I picked up the sleeping dog. I signaled the others to accompany me as we quietly flew back to headquarters.
I flew slower so as not to disturb Grey. He had earned his rest. My fight with the cultist was only a couple of minutes long, meaning it hadn't been long since he passed out. We arrived back to the slums in a minute, and then it was another to get a space situated inside the house.
Oshan was sleeping, so I didn't bother to wake him up either. I examined every aspect of the wound and Grey for the next hour. Even in that time, I couldn't find a single wrong thing. Feeling defeated, I laid back in my seat, brainstorming.
As I brainstormed, I thought back to the cultist. I raised my hand with the small stone in it. I'd picked up the artifact the cultist was using before burning his body.
It was small, around an inch in diameter, but it was a pristine white and perfectly smooth stone. It felt like a giant marble in my hand. I examined it with mana and soul sight but found nothing.
After it stopped helping the cultist, I thought something was wrong with it, but it was ordinary: no cracks, nothing.
Feeling helpless, I draped myself over the table, facing Grey's sleeping face. He looked peaceful. I pet his fur slowly, enjoying his chest's soft rise and fall.
I also pet the wound, wanting to soothe the pain at least. It would be irresponsible to pet the wound directly, so I just hovered over it, spraying on some medicinal painkillers and antibiotics.
As I did, I saw a slight change. It wasn't physiological but something to do with the world. It was as if the wound had warped before, but now it was fixed.
I sat up again, observing closer. I moved my hand over the other parts of the wound. I still didn't see anything but 'felt' a change in the world, like something snapping into place.
After I finished going over half of the wound, I tried healing magic again. This time, the wound slightly budged. It didn't heal but closed a smidgen.
I stood up now to get a better look at the whole thing. This time, I used my right hand for the rest of the wound.
The moment my fist hovered over the other half of the wound, a resounding snap echoed out. It wasn't a sound but something that shook me to my core—vibrating my very being.
I swiped my hand over the entire wound. I then tried healing magic again. It was much more effective this time, closing half the wound in seconds.
I sat down, amazed by this revelation, and opened my fist. Inside was the very marble that created the wound. I looked closely and, just for the slightest of seconds, saw the light within.
-----
I woke up in the morning in the same position I slept in. I slumped over the chair, looking over Grey.
Since I was 13, this was the first time somebody close to me got this hurt. Thankfully, Grey would be fine now, but I was still scared.
He was my first true friend. He was there before Rex and even Garth started as my business partner. While our beginning was slightly rocky, Grey opened up to me the most.
Whenever I went on a hunt, he would come with me. He mentored me and showed me the ways of the wild. He was the best friend a man could ask for.
I was scared of losing another loved one—especially one so close. Even during the Duchy attack, I was preoccupied and then immediately got transported away.
It felt almost like a dream. But with Grey, it would be reality. I wouldn't be able to run away. It wouldn't just be a bad memory, but something now.
I wasn't sure if I could take that. I'd experienced loss, but I had never dealt with the aftermath—In this life and from my memories. I knew that this feeling of loss wasn't just one I felt in this lifetime. I could feel the emotions from my last lifetime, the suffering I went through back then.
And never once did I feel the actual aftermath. Grey would be different. His death would crush my soul. Maybe not immediately, but the funeral. It would be my first funeral that I would know. If there were funerals in my past life, I didn't know about them.
Overall, it was good news for everyone that Garth healed. Outside personal emotion, he is desirable as a rank-seven powerhouse with even more significant potential.
Greyhound is powerful, but it only has around 20 rank sevens: eight faction leaders, eight magical beasts, and four miscellaneous. Garth is the ranked eight, and I am ranked nine.
Along with our eagle allies, we're the only forces to walk outside the village comfortably. The heartland is vicious to the point any ranked sixth or below will almost certainly die immediately.
-----
It was only around noon Grey woke up. Oshan had woken up before, and I explained everything to him. Rex, Arion, and Vesper all stopped the rebounds of the fight from reaching the city, so no one knew what had happened.
The destroyed terrain was still apparent but would point to me, so I didn't need to worry.
Grey woke up slowly, stirring from his sleep like he had been put under anesthetics. Seeing his ears droop over his face as he recovered his memories was funny. His ear perked straight up as if on high alert when he did.
Only after seeing me silently laughing at his did he perk down. He half tilted his head and looked at me in confusion. Resisting the cuteness, I settled down and recounted the battle.
The others were out doing their things, and we were the only ones in the house. Arion, Rex, and Vesper were outside the city, doing their things, and Oshan was training by doing quests at the guild.
After recounting the battle to Grey, I was going to leave with him to check out the cult's headquarters, but that plan got cut short. A knock came from the door almost immediately after I finished recounting to Grey.
I checked to make sure it wasn't dangerous before opening the door. Outside was a young man, a bit older than me. He had the aesthetic of a hero: blonde, pretty, a charming smile, and a pleasant demeanor.
"Hello, how may I help you?" I asked the man.
"Is this the Greyhound Mercenary Guild?" He asked enthusiastically.
'They got that out already?'
The guild worked fast, to be sure. I was surprised at having our first recruit so early, but it was better sooner than later.
"Yes, if you're here for the application, you're in the right place." I nodded.
"Sorry if I interrupted you, but I just saw the flier in the guild and thought it was too good to be true. I wanted to check it out immediately. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to even have the chance of joining a B-rank group." He even explained enthusiastically.
"Well, then come on in and have a seat." I beckoned him into the living room. Nothing was set up yet, so I'd have to improvise. I did like this guy, so I wanted to do my best to rope him in.
"It's a bit of a mess. I wasn't expecting somebody so soon." I led him over to the coffee table.
"Oh no, don't worry about it. People have told me I'm a bit overenthusiastic. I came here as soon as I saw the poster."
He was a bit overenthusiastic, but I liked that about him. Sitting on the couch, I beckoned him to sit across me.
"It's a bit impromptu, but to start things off, we'll just have a quick interview. Typically, the vice-guild master would see you, but he's out right now. You'll have to make do with me." I flashed a smile.
"Nice to meet your acquaintance. I'm Nord Flasher. I don't think I caught your name?" Nord introduced himself.
"Ah, my bad. I'm Alexander, you can call me Alex. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, Nord?"
"Sure, I'd be happy to. I'm a new adventurer, so I don't have much experience, but I am rank C and a rank 6 warrior. I don't know much about the adventuring world, but I'll try my best!"
Seeing this guy so enthusiastic made me feel a bit warmer on the inside.
"Thank you, Nord. Now, I don't really have any questions for you, but before I let you into this group, I want to do a practical examination, how about it?"
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes!" Nord proclaimed.
"It's nothing that serious, Nord, but I appreciate your enthusiasm." I chuckled.