At dawn, Geal and her companions walk down the street, guided by Mathias. The day is calm, and the atmosphere feels welcoming. Our heroine limps slightly from the pain, but her energy remains undiminished. They're heading toward the house of the doctor who can heal her.
"So, this person's Crystal can heal my leg?" Geal asks.
"Yes! He's a very skilled doctor, and his power heals wounds. You'll see—his Crystal is one of a kind!"
"I thought healing Crystals were just made-up stories to fool gullible people," Bredgy adds, her tone as anticlimactic as ever.
"Of course not! They're absolutely real!" Mathias asserts. "Whenever I get hurt from training or fighting, I go to him. He's very effective—you'll see for yourself!"
After a good walk, Mathias and the group arrive at the house of the man in question. The home is rustic but radiates warmth. Inside is an older, massive man with a strongly built frame. His bald head is offset by a long, scruffy beard and mustache.
"Hello, Mr. Marcus! I've brought someone who needs your help," Mathias greets him.
Despite his rough appearance, the man is kind and warmly returns the greeting.
"Mathias! It's been a while!" Marcus says cheerfully, waving his hand.
"Girls, this is Marcus—the person I told you about."
"I'm Geal! My friend here is Bredgy, and this little one on my head is Uruta," Geal introduces, gesturing to her companions.
"So, you're the famous Geal, huh? You should hear how much Mathias talks about you," Marcus says. Mathias crosses his arms, pretending not to hear.
"Mathias says you can heal people with your Crystal. I'd like to see if that's true," Bredgy cuts in, her tone dry as usual.
"Doubtful? Ha, ha! I'll admit, it's hard to believe, but yes! My Crystal is unique, with special properties," Marcus responds confidently.
Marcus reveals his Crystal, a vivid, striking red. Bredgy and Geal are both amazed; it's not a color they would expect from a Crystal.
White, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black—these are the usual colors a Crystal can take. Any Crystal outside this spectrum is considered exceptional.
"I have a Red Crystal! It can heal all kinds of injuries. It's one of a kind," Marcus declares with pride.
"Marcus is known as the best healer in town," Mathias adds.
"Wow! I've seen Crystals of all kinds, but I never imagined there'd be a red one. This is completely new to me!" Geal exclaims, her curiosity piqued.
"I can heal you whenever you need it, young lady. Normally, I charge a fee for my services, but since you're a friend of Mathias, I can make an exception."
Following this, Marcus explains that in order to perform the healing, he'll need to tend directly to the wound. The group prepares for the process. Geal sits on a stool with her injured leg stretched out in front of her. Marcus carefully removes the bandage, making sure not to hurt her, though it's stained with crimson.
"Let's see what we have here…" Marcus says as he unwraps the wound.
"Ouch!" Geal winces.
"Hmm, it's a serious injury. Looks like it was caused by a very refined weapon; the wound is so clean," Marcus notes before cracking his knuckles. "But don't worry—just give me a moment, and you'll be good as new!"
Marcus's hands emit a radiant aura that lights up the room. The energy concentrates around Geal's leg, enveloping it in a swirl of power. Though uncomfortable, Geal endures it. The scar glows as Bredgy and Uruta watch in awe while the wound closes on its own.
"It doesn't hurt anymore! I feel as good as new… Thank you so much, Mr. Marcus! Thanks to you, I can take the trial without any problems!" Geal says enthusiastically.
"No problem at all. You can count on me whenever you need help," Marcus replies.
Afterward, Marcus strokes his beard thoughtfully.
"By the way, when you mentioned taking a trial, were you referring to the Trial of Perseverance? Be careful—I've heard it's truly grueling," Marcus warns. He pauses for a moment and gazes at his Crystal. "When I was a boy, my dream was to become the Chosen One, just like you. But my Crystal wasn't like the others; it wasn't meant for fighting. So I mastered its power and found a life where I could help others in my own way. That's what I always wanted to do."
Later, Marcus tends to Mathias's shoulder wound, another moment of amazement for the group. Such a power isn't seen every day, even in this world.
"Thanks as always, Marcus! You're a huge help," Mathias says gratefully.
"Not at all. There's no greater reward for my work than seeing people smile."
After spending some time enjoying local food at the healer's home, Geal decides it's time to continue her journey. At 6:00 p.m., she gathers her things and heads for the door, stomach full.
"Alright, the next trial awaits me! Thank you for everything, Mr. Marcus."
Overcome with excitement, Geal dashes out of the house toward her next destination, though she doesn't really know where it is. Uruta follows quickly.
"Wait, Geal! Don't run off so suddenly! You're so impulsive…!"
While Geal and Uruta are gone, Bredgy seizes the opportunity to satisfy her curiosity with Marcus.
"Mr. Marcus, you said your dream was to become the Chosen One, right?" Bredgy asks, genuinely curious. "Do you think Geal has what it takes? I mean, considering her Crystal."
"I don't think Geal sees her Crystal as a hindrance to fulfilling her dream. From what I can tell, she's an energetic and optimistic girl. I can't say whether she'll succeed, but I'm sure she won't give up," the old man states confidently.
"Well... I think sooner or later, Geal will realize she's not going to make it. She chases her dream with passion but never considers reality," Bredgy replies, her tone more cynical.
Noticing the girl's outlook, Marcus approaches and places a gentle hand on her head, smiling kindly.
"Miss Bredgy, chasing a dream doesn't mean denying reality. It means that, despite understanding it, you do everything in your power to achieve what you want," Marcus says. "Not everything in life can be achieved through sheer willpower. That's true. But living with a positive attitude often brings its own rewards. Whether Geal succeeds or not, she'll be happy she tried."
Reflecting on his words, Bredgy lowers her head slightly.
"I see… well, if that's the case, then I suppose there's nothing more to be done," she says before heading toward the door. "Thanks for everything. I need to catch up with Geal for the next city."
And with that, Bredgy leaves, feeling somewhat defeated.
"I'll be off too, Marcus. I want to say goodbye to Geal before she heads off on her adventures," Mathias says, moving toward the door.
"Hey, hey—when are you planning to tell her how you feel, huh?" Marcus teases with a grin. Mathias freezes, glances around nervously, and then lowers his head, his cheeks turning red.
"Well, I… I don't know how to do it," the boy admits.
"Just tell her how you feel. If your feelings are genuine, they'll reach her. If you don't do it now, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. It's better to say it while you can," Marcus says, giving him a couple of firm pats on the back. "Now go! This is your chance."
Mathias exhales deeply, lifting his gaze with a slightly furrowed brow. Nervous—but determined.
*
The orange and purple hues of the sky signal the arrival of dusk. Geal and Bredgy stand before Uruta on a hill outside the village. The bird has grown to an enormous size, and they are getting ready to depart.
"Are you ready to fly, Uruta?" Geal asks, adjusting a few straps on her backpack.
"First, make sure all your belongings are in order," the bird replies.
With nothing left to do in the village, the girls and the bird prepare to leave. However, a breathless Mathias runs up the hill, ready to face his destiny, followed closely by Marcus, who offers him words of encouragement.
"Wait, Geal!" the boy exclaims.
Geal and Bredgy turn to look at him. The young man is trembling, his face completely red, his breath ragged, and beads of sweat glisten on his forehead. His body is bracing for a revelation.
"Mathias, thank you so much for everything. I had a great time with you!" Geal says as a farewell.
"Th-This… Geal, I need to tell you something before you go…" Mathias murmurs, his toes nervously scraping the ground, his gaze fixed on the grass.
A small silence lingers until…
"I like you!!" he blurts out, bowing abruptly.
The confession is out! Bredgy and Uruta exchange genuinely puzzled looks, while Marcus grins in the background. Mathias, meanwhile, stands as firm as he can. Geal freezes, her cheeks flushing as she takes a couple of steps back.
"Whaaaat…?"
"Since we lived together in the village, I've been in love with you! I've felt this way since the day I met you. You're such a kind and amazing person, I've always thought you were incredible." His voice shakes as he continues, bowing deeply again. "I've wanted to say this for so long… I want to be with you!"
Marcus smiles knowingly, proud of the boy's courage. Mathias, on the other hand, steels himself and takes a step closer to Geal, who is now fully red-faced, her hand over her chest as she struggles to catch her breath.
"Geal… would you… would you be my partner?" he asks shyly.
The tension is palpable in the air. Both are visibly nervous, unsure of what to do next. Geal takes a deep breath, her heart pounding so hard it feels like it might burst. She holds it in for a moment, then exhales slowly, calming herself. Finally, she bows deeply in return.
"I'm so sorry! I can't…" she replies.
At her response, Mathias takes a couple of steps back, his calves trembling slightly.
"I'm sorry. I can't stay with you right now. I-I have to become the Chosen One first. T-That's my dream! If I stay with you now… I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to continue my journey."
Mathias's lips tremble, but soon he shifts into a melancholy smile. It's hard for him, but he begins to accept and understand her decision.
"It's okay. I understand. Thank you for hearing me out," the boy mutters.
Geal straightens back up and looks at Mathias, unsure of how he'll react, feeling a bit broken inside. Then, the boy clenches his fist and extends it forward with a broad smile. His voice quivers as he speaks, fighting to hold back his emotions.
"Geal, remember our promise! O-One of us will become the Chosen One! Don't forget that, no matter what… we're still rivals!" Mathias exclaims.
"Of course!!" Geal replies a few seconds later.
After a farewell hug and a few awkward moments, Uruta takes off into the sky with Geal and Bredgy on his back, heading toward the next city. Meanwhile, Mathias and Marcus watch from the hill as they disappear over the horizon.
Marcus steps closer to Mathias and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Well done, boy. You did what you had to. It might hurt now, but from now on, your heart will be at peace," the old man comforts him.
"Now that Geal knows how I feel about her…" Mathias smiles faintly, clutching his chest. "I can finally feel at ease…"
The old man keeps his hand on Mathias's shoulder. Shortly after, a tear slides down the boy's cheek, then another, until he starts crying uncontrollably. Marcus gently pats his shoulder in support.
After a long journey, Geal and Bredgy successfully completed the Trial of Wisdom. Now, they are heading toward Sketch City, where the next trial awaits. Everything seems peaceful for now, but… what schemes are the villains plotting in the shadows?