Chapter 11: thank you

****Liam P.O.V.

I couldn't believe what was happening in front of my eyes. I could feel her circulating mana perfectly fine.

" You..you are fine!! This is amazing. Ruby, you could circulate mana while being perfectly fine." I told her as I finally hugged her after getting out of my shock. I was afraid that this was all a dream.

" Yes *sob* *hic* *sob* yes, I could." She broke into a crying mess as she returned my hug. To be honest, I was not that far away from her condition as I too started tearing a bit.

After so many years of just watching her suffer while smiling for us so that we won't feel more guilty, I could not control my tears as I felt a massive weight lifted from my shoulders.

She was the sweetest and kindest member of my family even when our parents were alive and yet she had to suffer the most among all of us. Even though she was the most talented among us siblings, She couldn't use that talent because of the blocks in her vessels.

Things took a worse turn as she grew older, her lower body stopped responding because of chaos on her mana. I had seen my brother who was more like a parent to us after our parents passed away cry whole nights in his room because he felt that if he was more capable, he could somehow give our dear sister the life that she deserved.

It was not like there was no cure for her, there was an obvious way which was to have an operation that would cost millions of cols before the disease increased to her upper body.

'I couldn't wait for him to know about this.' I thought as I kissed her on her forehead before getting up.

I turned to the guy that I had only known for a few days and yet he accomplished what I or my brother couldn't.

"Thank you, thank you. " I kneeled before him as I thanked him. Before I could say anything else he quickly put his palms on my shoulders and made me stand up again.

" What the hell are you doing, dude?" He asked me as he shook me a little.

" This is the only way I could describe how much debt I'm in towards you. " I sincerely told him as I still didn't know how to repay this favor.

"This is not a favor", He said as he forced me to look into his eyes.

" No, This is a debt I must repay. " I shook my head as I replied determinedly.

He shook his head before he continued his earlier sentence, " Look, that herb's only use was to clear blocks in mana vessels. It might be rare and I could have sold it or exchanged it for something that I wouldn't be able to obtain easily but keep this thing in mind, I didn't give it to her because I felt pity for her. No, I had my reasons too for that and I would receive consideration for it from someone. "

" I don't care if you did it for something or not. what is important for me is that whatever the reason might be but you fulfilled my lifelong wish and I must repay it somehow. " Everyone had their reasons for doing things. For example, many influential people donate money to avoid taxes but that didn't mean that the people whose life improved by that money would not feel gratitude toward them.

"Very well then, you want to repay the debt, is it? He sighed as he asked me while turning toward the left and walking a few steps.

" How about we make a deal then?" He asked as he looked at the sky.

"What sort of deal? " I calmly asked as I looked at my sister that stayed quiet as we conversed.

" In exchange for curing your sister, I want something from you. " He asked as he turned back toward us and looked at Ruby who was calmly watching the events play out.

"What do you want? If it's in my power, I will give it to you as soon as I can, and even if it's not in my power. I will try to get it for you. " I asked him as I gave my promise.

" Your lifelong friendship. I want you as my friend through thick and thin of my life. I want you to be there when I need you and I also want you to warn me and try to reason with me if I ever move to the wrong path. Could you do it?" I asked calmly as he finally looked into my eyes with full sincerity.

"I- " There were no words to describe how speechless I was as I stuck rooted on my spot. After a few moments, I walked toward him and hugged him.

" Through thick and thin, I would be your shield and sword to the best of my ability. " I promised to him as I also took an oath to myself that I will keep this promise to death if he desires.

**** Steve P.O.V.

It didn't sit well with me to ask him for anything else as I didn't do it for charity. I would be receiving what I wanted from his brother and my system. But I could see that he was as much as stubborn as me when he decided on something and I would not be able to change his mind so I asked for something that might be not looked at as precious as monetary gain but it was equally important.

I needed someone to spend time with and share my thoughts with. Liam thought that he needed to pay this debt and because of it, he would remain a loyal friend to me if my judgment of his character was right and I didn't make a mistake.

I want to not be lonely in this world too. Now that I got another fresh chance at life, I want to experience what it is like to have friends. That was why I asked him to be my friend rather than my follower.

I took a step back after he released me from his hug. Now all three of us had that black tar-like substance on our clothing, I looked at Ruby's leg as I remarked.

" Now you should leave. This is the time for celebration and I think it would be better if your brother learns of this as quickly as possible. Now that the blocks are gone, she should be able to walk too once the muscles on her legs recuperate from sitting in the wheelchair for years. I have to leave too as I have work tomorrow morning. " I said to them to which Liam nodded and when he was about to tell ruby to return home, she moved the wheelchair in front of me.

I looked at her confused as she looked at me for some moments in silence before remarking, " You were right while I was wrong. Santa really does exist and I am looking at him currently. Thank you, Santa. " She told me before turning around and operating the wheelchair to leave the park.

After a few moments later, Liam too followed her after giving me a thankful smile.

I just shook my head as I smiled while observing them leaving before returning to my room.

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Author's note: Do share what you feel about the fiction until now so I could at least be reassured that people are reading it.

Beware: Sun is 8 light minutes away from us and It is made up of hot caramel.