"I'm fine… Just tired that's all. You don't have to worry about me, Emma."

"Are you sure?" Emma lightly patted on the bandages that were wrapped around s.h.i.+n's chest, careful not to apply excessive force to the injured boy's body. "You were unconscious for four full hours! There's no way that you're completely fine."

"No, really… I know my body the best. The injuries that I sustained can be healed within a few days."

"Is that so?" Thinking back on the beating that s.h.i.+n had received under Danroy, Emma honestly questioned s.h.i.+n's self-diagnosis.

"The boy's right, young la.s.s." Before s.h.i.+n could rea.s.sure Emma once more, an old voice echoed through the s.p.a.cious ward snapping all of the students' attention towards the door. An elderly man, possibly in his late seventies, entered into the room with a dazed expression. Seeing the white-haired man, the teenagers in the room opened a clear path for him, so that he could quickly reach the side of s.h.i.+n's bed.

"s.h.i.+n, this is Registrar Escfortin. He was the one that treated you." Elrin cheerfully introduced the elderly man to the injured youth in bed.

"Registrar?!" As a former healer, there was no way that s.h.i.+n wasn't familiar with that term. One level above a Senior Healer, a Registrar, typically was responsible for one entire region and had the authority to command and withdraw medical troops from any battlefield. Other than the Elder and Divine Healers at the headquarters of the Healer's a.s.sociation, a Registrar was possibly the highest rank of physicians that a regular person might meet in their lifetimes.

"Thank you for taking the time to treat me!" s.h.i.+n attempted to get out of bed so that he could formally express his thanks. However, the aged man instantly appeared next to the youth and gently pushed him back up.

"Don't get up, boy. Even though there are no life-threatening injuries, you still need to rest. Speaking of which, let me examine you once more..." Registrar Escfortin placed his right palm on s.h.i.+n's chest and sent a large amount of mana into his body. Relaxing his body, the young teen closed his eyes and allowed the Registrar's mana to flow effortlessly through. s.h.i.+n was all too familiar with this procedure. The elderly man was simply scanning and examining the condition that s.h.i.+n was in.

"Hmmm… Peculiar… This is peculiar indeed..."

"What is?"

"Boy, have you taken any treasured herb? Or perhaps have your body enhanced by external means?" Instead of giving his honest a.s.sessment, Registrar Escfortin asked s.h.i.+n a series of questions.

"No, I haven't?"

"Then that's odd… How are you able to heal that quickly?!" The elderly man exclaimed. "When you first came here, your body was in shambles. Although there was no threat to your life, you at least needed a few days to completely recuperate from that mess. Yet, you're almost ninety per cent healed up! Don't you think that's peculiar?"

"..." Hearing the Registrar's a.s.sessment, s.h.i.+n thought back on the incidents that had defined his first six months in the Capital.

By training every single day, and using his Healing Water frequently on his body to mend his broken wounds, s.h.i.+n's body must have grown accustomed to the rapid healing process and had adapted accordingly. Furthermore, with the overpowered ability, Heal, in his a.r.s.enal, s.h.i.+n's body might automatically apply continuous treatment even without s.h.i.+n's knowledge. Now that he was reflecting about it, s.h.i.+n realised that after every training session, his recovery period had shortened significantly since he first began his spartan-like workouts.

'What? Am I some sort of unkillable machine now?' s.h.i.+n mentally joked. "No, I just have grown accustomed to getting hurt I guess?"

"Hmmm, I'll just take it as that. However, let me do one final probe if that's okay with you?"

"No, of course! Please do!" s.h.i.+n spread his arms open like an eagle so that the elderly man could complete his duties.

"It's nice that you're so understanding. Looks like Elrin has found yet another gem."

"Hehe, you're making me blush, Registrar." The white-haired girl cheekily grinned before sending a playful glance at the black-haired beauty that had been at s.h.i.+n's side this entire time. No words had to be shared between the two, but they clearly understood each other's intentions.

Ignoring the silent war between the two proud daughters of the heavens, Registrar Escfortin summoned out a golden needle that possessed a carving of an immortal python of myth. Gently poking s.h.i.+n's chest, the elderly man sent a torrent of mana down his patient's way as he cast one of his strongest healing spiritual abilities.

"*Resplendent Harmony!*." A divine light shone from the depths of Registrar Escfortin's soul and instantly soothed the ailments that s.h.i.+n was suffering from. The elderly man had used this ability on s.h.i.+n the moment he arrived and was doing once more to check how much his patient has recovered in the few hours since s.h.i.+n was first treated.

"Really peculiar… Your body is a piece of work! So much so that I want to bring you back to conduct experiments on."

"..." Suddenly, s.h.i.+n felt as if he was a piece of meat and the sickbed was his chopping board. 'Why are all top healers so weird when it comes to experiments?'

Lady Seph frequently carried the same expression that Registrar Escfortin would right now. Whenever an exciting research topic or subject would reach their path, they would do their best to examine every detail of it, sometimes even disregarding the feelings of those involved entirely.

"Registrar! You can't harm him!" Elrin retorted with puffed cheeks.

"I know, I know… I don't want to get fired by Terlus after all. Alright, if there are any other issues, Elrin, you know where to find me."

"Hehe! Thanks for coming! You're the best!"

"Don't mention it..." Waving his hands, the elderly man dismissed Elrin's praise before promptly exiting the ward, leaving the teenagers behind to mingle with each other. Relieved that s.h.i.+n was ultimately fine, the twins took a step back and observed the vibe of the room. For some reason two of the most influential freshmen in the entire school were accompanying s.h.i.+n, even though they barely interacted with the black-haired youth.

Kanari was adamant not to leave s.h.i.+n's side, as if she were a lion protected her prized prey from the pack of hyenas that surrounded her. Or in this case, the one.

"s.h.i.+n, I do believe that we weren't formally introduced to each other. My name is Elrin." Not willing to wait any longer, Elrin struck first by extending a handshake to s.h.i.+n. "I hope that you would forgive me for not intervening in the duel earlier."

"No, I was the one who was stubborn. I should have thrown in the towel when I had the chance. Besides, I have yet to thank you for bringing me here to get treated."

"That's nothing. To get into the good graces with the number two freshman in the year, it was a small price to pay." Elrin used her years of experience as a merchant's daughter to charm the youth, causing Kanari to frown in displeasure. "If you need any a.s.sistance, whether it be school related or otherwise, please feel free to contact me! I can help you with anything that you need!"

"... Thank you?" s.h.i.+n was confused with Elrin's sudden generosity. School had begun weeks ago, and this was the first time that the white-haired girl had ever approached him of her own volition.

"Hehe, no problem! I'm always open to having an additional friend to rely on. So please rely on me, okay?" The one thing that Elrin excelled at that Kanari couldn't hope to match, was her interpersonal skills. Instead of directly telling s.h.i.+n what she wanted from him, the white-haired girl opted to first form a cordial relations.h.i.+p with the youth. After a few more interactions, where they had opened up to each other a little more, then she would strike like a falcon diving for its prey.

"For now, you should take this time to rest here. The Eastern Zedcris building has fantastic facilities for you to enjoy! I have already informed the faculty of your injuries so that you could take the day off."

"No! It's fine… I just need to rest for a bit, and I can return back to the pink of health! I can attend school tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely. Please, bring me back!"

Elrin rubbed her chin and fell deep into thought. Taking to account s.h.i.+n's wishes as well as Registrar Escfortin's opinion about the matter, the young girl finally relented. "Fine… I'll take you back before midnight. However, you are to rest here for the time being! Actually, why don't I wheelchair you around the facility?"

"Ah… You don't have to..."

"No! It's settled! Wait here! Let me get the wheelchair! Oh, and I could call over the other two of your friends that aren't here yet."

s.h.i.+zen and Isadore were currently out exploring the vast building, that contained over twenty stories worth of items. s.h.i.+zen especially. As a hermit that has never explored anything outside of the Dundlewoods, everything that was foreign to him was a marvel that had to be investigated.

"She sure is a hyper person..." Ella remarked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hehe, well Elrin is a nice person!" Emma giggled.

"..." While the twins were praising the white-haired girl to the seventh heaven, Kanari had furrowed brows as she stared blankly into the air. Evidently, she wasn't too pleased that Elrin had taken a march over her, even though she had clearly realised s.h.i.+n's potential first.

"Miss Kanari… I have yet to thank you."

"Hmmm?"

"No… How do I put this? Didn't you accompany me when I was unconscious? It really helped me." Having been through h.e.l.l once more, it was helpful to have a helping hand nearby to catch him when he woke up. If he had awoken to this unfamiliar place, there was no doubt in s.h.i.+n's mind that he would have gotten a panic attack.

Not willing to elaborate the details of the nightmare that he just had, s.h.i.+n sent the black-haired beauty an earnest gaze, one of the likes that resembled that of an adorable puppy. "Thank you for helping me."

"Ah… Don't mention it." Due to s.h.i.+n's 'suprise attack,' the ethereal beauty was tongue-tied for words for a moment. However, she did manage to mutter out a few words.

"Miss Kanari. I'm sorry for being so rude back then. I was just taken aback that's all." Recalling the time where s.h.i.+n simply ran away from Kanari, the boy felt abashed by his actions and felt the need to rectify his mistakes. "If possible, I hope to form a friendly relations.h.i.+p with you as well. It's just I really don't have any plans on joining any sort of organisation."

"No… I understand that I was too hasty back then. I too want to form friendly relations with you." Kanari reflected as well. Even though she did not know everything about s.h.i.+n and had yet to form a good relations.h.i.+p with the boy, the black-haired beauty had decided to rush things, forcing s.h.i.+n to cower away for the longest time. "No hard feelings?"

"Of course!" s.h.i.+n accepted Kanari's handshake with a sparkling smile on his face.

"Oh, but I definitely want the Fairies of the Hail on my side." Taking the opportunity to tease the twins that stood alongside s.h.i.+n, Kanari showed her most chummy expression since arriving at Imperius Academy.

"Miss Kanari! You know we hate that name!"

"Hahahaha!" Loud laughter bellowed through the empty hallways of the ward as s.h.i.+n and the twins had added a new friend to their clique. It was the start of the formation of one of the most legendary teams in history, but of course, none of them knew about that just yet.