Chapter 41

"Ah~ thank goddess that went well~," Quincy sighed in relief as she glided into the fighters' waiting area, stretching her wings slightly before folding them back.

"As well as it could, given the circumstances," Zeva remarked, her tone measured.

Quincy turned to her and gave a grateful nod. "Thank you two for your ideas. Who knows how bad this could've gotten without them," she said, shifting her attention to Xain and Even.

"I mean, I didn't do much. Just did some math, that's all," Xain said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, well, I'd like to take all the credit then," Even declared shamelessly, placing a hand on his chest.

Quincy chuckled. "By the way, what happened to Mellow? How come he isn't here yet?" asked Gurion, arms crossed. It wasn't something that had really been on anyone's mind—none of them particularly liked or cared about him.

"Him? Oh, well, he's in the Healing Springs," Quincy answered with a casual wave of her hand.

"Healing Springs?" Ulrich echoed, raising a brow.

"It's something fighters who paid five hundred gold get access to. It heals their wounds before their next match," Quincy explained.

Xain winced slightly. "Just how injured is he?"

Quincy rubbed her right wing, thinking for a moment. "From what the doctors told me—his spine was busted, his ribs were fractured, multiple concussions… and various other injuries."

Xain stared at the ground, fingers grazing the back of his head. *I think I went overboard in the fight,* he thought, a flicker of guilt creeping in.

*Ask her more about the Healing Springs,* Ercale's voice intruded, firm and insistent. *Can it bring people back from the dead? And what happens when you drop a body part into it?*

Without questioning him, Xain hesitated only for a second before asking, "Um, could you tell me more about the Healing Springs? Can it, like… bring back the dead? Or what happens if you drop a body part into it?"

Quincy blinked, visibly caught off guard. "I... don't know. We've never tried either of those things before. Why do you ask?"

Xain let out an awkward chuckle. "Just curious, you know?"

*Why did you make me ask those questions?* Xain wondered, his thoughts directed at Ercale.

But there was no answer. Instead, Ercale simply hummed to himself, his tone distant, contemplative.

*Maybe… maybe it could work. Maybe it can bring her back…*

Xain frowned. *What is he talking about?*

Before he could dwell on it, another voice broke through the moment.

"So, what now? Do we all just leave?"

The question came from one of the fighters, a man in his thirties with tanned skin and sharp black eyes. His brown hair was slightly unkempt, and he wore a weathered duster coat, its edges frayed from years of wear. Perched on his head was a wide-brimmed hat, its crown slightly dented, the fabric creased and sun-bleached from time spent under harsh daylight. Two steam-revolvers rested against his hips, the metal gleaming faintly under the room's light.

"I suppose most of us don't have plans since we were expecting this to take longer," Calvinel remarked, glancing around at the gathered fighters.

"I wonder~" Quincy mused, tilting forward slightly, her wings shifting with the motion. "Do you all truly have nothing else to do?"

The fighters exchanged glances before various responses filled the air.

"Not really."

"No."

"Nada."

"Not this early."

"Well, I have Dirk and Lia, so I'm fine," Even said with a careless shrug.

"Same goes for me," Mae added, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "I've got my little sister to pester some more."

Xain suddenly raised his hand. "Um… if you all don't have anything else to do, then I have a suggestion."

He turned toward Quincy. "And you can come too if you want."

Everyone's attention shifted to him, curiosity piqued.

"Oh? And what do you suggest, Xain?" Quincy asked.

Xain gave a simple smile. "Why don't we all just hang out?"