"Granny Paly! Are you there, Granny Paly?!"
"What is it now, Lowell-boy? Making such a racket!"
The moment we escaped the dungeon, we rushed straight to Pearl’s house. When Lowell shouted from outside, Pearl poked her head out, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Honestly, you’re a nuisance to the neighbors. Have some—"
"Granny Paly! It’s Spira!"
"...This. Did she use her power?!"
Pearl’s expression instantly darkened as she checked Spira’s condition. Even after a long examination, her face didn't brighten. It was clear the situation was dire.
"It’s not good. Her Spirit Essence is nearly bone-dry..."
"We secured dragon materials!" I interjected.
"Is that true?!"
I showed Pearl the scales and meat we had harvested from the Evil Dragon. I’d been a little worried about them since they came from a corrupted beast, but my appraisal results had identified them as Blue Dragon materials. Indeed, the scales were a vivid, brilliant azure—nothing like the blackened armor of the creature we had fought. They would likely be fine.
Pearl stared at the materials and fell into deep thought for a moment before giving a firm nod.
"With these, we can make the medicine. Tort, you’re the one who's going to brew it!"
"Me? But I..."
"Just listen, will you?"
Pearl explained that when Forestfolk undergo spiritification, they need to absorb a massive amount of Spirit Essence into their bodies. Ordinary Forestfolk—or rather, any race with a physical body—can't normally absorb Spirit Essence like that, but Forestfolk in the process of spiritifying have a special aptitude for it. Apparently, Spira’s current state of half-spiritification was a precarious balance where her intake and the consumption required to maintain her spiritual body were barely breaking even.
The medicine we were about to make would drastically enhance her ability to absorb Spirit Essence. If she took in enough and fully transitioned into a spirit, she would be able to draw in Spirit Essence almost limitlessly. The threat to her life would vanish.
The problem, Pearl said with a bitter tone, was that it took time for the medicine to settle in. At her current rate of decline, there was a high probability Spira would run out of strength before the medicine could take hold.
"That’s why I’m betting on your Luck Value. I told you before, didn't I? If your Luck Value is high enough, you can create an 'Exceptional Work.' A Magic Potion like that would have its effects greatly enhanced. Whether it results in immediate efficacy or just raw potency, it's the best chance we have of saving Spira."
So that was it. But I was a complete amateur at Medicine Making. Could I really create a high-grade Magic Potion...?
To be honest, I was terrified. Taking someone’s life into my hands was a weight I wasn't sure I could carry. Part of me wanted to bolt, scared that a single mistake on my part would mean the end of Spira.
However, looking at Lowell’s pleading eyes, I knew I couldn't run away.
Besides, Spira had sacrificed her own life force to save us. Now, it was my turn to save her.
"...I understand. If it's something I can do, I'll do it!"
"Well said! Don't you worry, my Medicine Making skills are the best in the Royal Capital. I'll be the one supervising you. With me here, there won't be a failure in a million."
Pearl gave me a fearless smile.
I wasn't doing this alone. If Pearl was helping me, I had to believe the medicine would turn out right. I would give it everything I had.
"Now then, don't rush. Spira looks like she's at death's door, and she is, but she's not going to pass away in the next hour. What you need to do is focus on completing the medicine perfectly. Keep your head on straight."
Her words gave me a little more peace of mind. Of course, the sooner we finished the better, so we set to work immediately.
I processed the materials following Pearl's strict instructions. Every ingredient required a different kind of preparation, and Pearl taught me the techniques one by one. My job was to execute her orders as quickly and precisely as possible. Some of the materials naturally repelled each other due to the properties of their mana, so I had to perform delicate repulsion control while mixing them.
Hours ticked by. Outside the window, the world was swallowed by darkness. It would have been reckless to jump straight into the real thing, so I had spent a significant amount of time practicing each step. Between the drills and the time-intensive processes like extraction, the night dragged on. But our efforts paid off. Finally, we had Spira’s Magic Potion.
"...Alright, this looks perfect. Now it’s just a matter of whether it takes. Lowell-boy!"
"Yeah."
After checking the potion, Pearl handed it to Lowell. It was a topical type, meant to be applied like a poultice. Lowell carefully pressed it against Spira’s forehead. We watched her breath held, until her ragged gasps gradually smoothed into a steady, calm rhythm.
"Pearl, how is she?" I whispered.
"She’s going to be fine. In fact, the effect is even better than I expected. It looks like she’s going to undergo spiritification right away."
As soon as Pearl gave her guarantee, Lowell lowered his head and whispered a shaky, "Thank goodness." I could hear the tears in his voice. He had been so desperately worried about her.
"Ah, Spira’s body is...!"
“Hmm? It’s all sparkly. What’s happening?”
Halfa and Shiroru both cried out in surprise.
Particles of light began to flutter around Spira’s body. They grew in number until the glow enveloped her entirely.
"Granny Paly, what's this?!"
"No need for alarm, Lowell-boy. Spira is just being reborn."
It was exactly as Pearl said. The light soon pulled inward, and in its place sat a girl who looked a few years older than me. She stirred in Lowell’s arms, then blinked her eyes open wide.
"Spira... is that you?"
"...Mm? Big brother? What’s wrong?"
"What do you mean, 'what’s wrong'...? You..."
"...Wow! My body! I’m big!"
The girl responded to Lowell’s call with an innocent smile. There was no mistake; it was Spira. It seemed that upon spiritifying, her body had caught up with the growth that had been stagnant for so long. Her old features were still there, and despite becoming a spirit, her personality seemed exactly the same.
"Spira!"
"Whoa!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lowell lunged forward to hug her—only to pass right through her body. Spirits were essentially spiritual bodies, after all.
"Honestly, big brother! You'll give me a heart attack if you jump at me like that."
She teased him, but her form quickly solidified as she activated her materialization. Spira reached out and wrapped her arms around Lowell for real.
"I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused. And... thank you."
"It’s okay... none of that matters... as long as you’re safe..."
Lowell hugged her back, tears streaming down his face.
He had spent so much of his life focused solely on making this medicine ever since Spira became a half-spirit. All those years of suppressed emotion were finally coming out.
The threat of a death that could strike at any moment—they had both lived with that shadow, even if they tried not to show it. I suspect Lowell, in particular, had felt a crushing sense of powerlessness. He probably hadn't had the luxury of simply enjoying his life. But finally, he was free from that pressure.
I hoped that from now on, both of them would finally be able to enjoy just being alive.