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Authors Note:

Warning: there will be some grotesque imagery in this chapter.

Also, thank you once again for continuing to read this story! Im so happy that youve stuck with me all the way up until now.

As expected, there are lots of people lying on the ground in the plaza. I walk around them quietly so as not to wake anyone up as I make my way over to the fountain.

.The water is disgusting. I cant use this. But Ill for sure end up drawing attention if I use magic to purify it.

What should I do..? Is there some other way I can help her?

Ithu..rts

I dont have time to be hesitating like this. Alicia, get ahold of yourself. If you fail to save this woman, then youll be disqualified from being a villainess.

The strong must help the weak.

As gently as I can, I lay the woman down next to the fountain. And without worrying about the consequences, I snap my fingers, the sound reverberating like a gunshot in the quiet plaza. In moments, the water is engulfed in a glittering aura and begins to purify with tremendous speed.

From around me, I notice that the people sleeping on the ground have started to wake up.

I take off my cloak and dip it into the now crystal clear water.

Alicia!? I hear Gilles call from nearby. What are you doing? he asks while rushing over to my side.

Glancing his way, I see that Grandpa Will is not far behind him.

Youd better get out of here! Quick! Theyre waking up! Gilles cries loudly.

But I have no intention of abandoning this woman now.

What are you trying to do? Grandpa Will asks, finally making it over to me after weaving around all the people on the ground.

Im going to save this woman, I say looking directly at him and Gilles. No matter how much they might be opposed, I wont yield on this.

Then save her.

Huh?

Gramps!? What the hell are you saying?

Hurry up and save her, Grandpa Will says again, looking right at me, sightlessly.

Id expect nothing less from Grandpa Will. It seems that after spending all these years together, hes come to understand my personality quite well.

I wring out my now sopping wet cloak, gripping it hard and admiring the way the water streams from the fabric.

My arm muscles really are amazing.

The waters clean someone murmurs as the people who were sleeping start to groggily drag themselves up off the ground and towards the fountain.

It will become a problem if they get in my way.

With magic I enact a barrier around the fountain. The spell creates a transparent wall with dark, geometrical patterns interlocking on its surface.

I read about this in a book before, but it seems that the type of barrier that you can make depends on which element of magic you use. Incidentally, a wall of fog like the one that surrounds this village is how water magic manifests when a barrier spell is cast.

I check to make sure that my spell is successfully keeping the surrounding people out, and then I return to my task. I start by wiping the woman down with my damp cloak.

In almost no time at all my already dark cloak starts to become black with grime. But even as I continue to gently scrub, the clumps of dirt dont seem to want to come off.

No, wait. Thats not dirt. Its her skin! Its black and festering.

In shock, my hands freeze.

Alicia, are you okay? Gilles asks, carefully examining my expression. This is normal here, you know. And shes not even that bad. There are lots of people who are in worse condition than her, he continues with a straight face while looking over at the woman.

Shes likely a victim of arson. She was probably left behind after her house was burned down, Grandpa Will adds with a somber expression.

I I cant save her. Darkness magic isnt capable of healing wounds. All of its spells are so useless.

Not knowing what else to do, I slowly start to wipe down her body again. I gently rub the skin on her face, neck, and arms. And then I move to the exposed skin on her legs for a moment before I freeze in horror.

..The area below her right knee is completely necrotized. It was probably burned too severely in the fire; its completely dead.

To be honest, just looking at the blackened flesh is making me feel woozy. This is the first time Ive ever seen something like this. What can I even do to help her?

I know that I need to calm down, but I cant. Im panicking and I cant think straight.

I thought I could help her Im such a fool. Ive been thinking too highly of myself.

Ali, are you okay? Is there anything that I can do? Gilles asks looking at me in concern.

I cant think. I cant think! I know Im breathing too fast, but I cant to stop it.

Alicia, calm down. Everything is fine. Just focus on your breathing for a second. Take in a slow, deep breath.

I do as Im told and very consciously take in a huge, deep breath. As I do this, Grandpa Will pats me on the back.

I continue to just focus on my breathing for a few minutes, slowly getting myself back under control.

Magic will be able to help. No matter how meaningless a spell seems, it can be incredibly useful under the right circumstances.

I dont know about that, I say a bit huffily.

Alicia, youre extremely intelligent. I know youll be able to help this woman.

Dont say that! You have no way of knowing that!! Saving a life is too much for me. Its impossible! I shriek. I know I should be happy, hearing such encouraging words, but I cant help it. His words grate on me, shoving my powerlessness back in my face.

Ive never encountered anything like this before.

I have no idea what to do. What I even can do. My mind is blank. Ive read so many books, learned so many things, and yet when I need that information most I cant remember a single thing.

I have no ideas.

As I stand there, tears start to leak involuntarily from my eyes.

Alicia.. Gilles stares at me intently.

The tears continue to flow incessantly and I dont have the willpower to stop them. They stream down my cheeks faster and faster.

Dont you dare give up.

Grandpa Wills words resound throughout my head.

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T/N: Wow, this chapter really got to me. I love chapters like this because I can really feel the emotion while Im translating. I feel frantic right now lol. I hope I was able to convey at least some of that energy to you guys!! In a non-triggering way.