Chapter 21. Evaluation of the Heart

"I see so that's what happened. All right, get her home immediately to rest as soon as she is discharged. Make sure that she is given the VIP treatment. Don't worry about the expense. The government will pay for them."

Sir Tanori brought down his phone and sat. Amethyst came and set down his coffee on his table. If the others had their day offs, Sir Tanori and Amethyst didn't have any. The ones who were in their office were also week-end shifters so they were a lot more healthy and lively looking than those who work from Monday to Friday. Sir Tanori and Amethyst had no choice but to work seven days a week because the moon has no day off as well.

"Was it really a good idea that we let her on a mission that involved a pure human?" he asked as he sipped his drink. It was his third coffee and it was just past lunch time. 

"Sir, I think it's not really such a big problem. You know that women tend to be soft-hearted. As long as she doesn't do the same when fighting nightspawns, I think she's good," Amethyst answered.

"No, no, that's not my point. Human or nightspawn, she should be aware of what will happen if she pauses to think even if it's just for a second. You heard the report of Magnus. She hesitated. And that hesitation of hers almost cost her life and Orion a moonmage."

No one will deny that Regina had great potential. She was the youngest but she could perform on par with the other experienced moonmages, with Magnus as the exception. Despite being part-time, she was so passionate in doing her work that sometimes he forgot that she wasn't a full-timer.

But she also possessed something in her nature–something that all of them had discarded when they entered Orion. Regina retained her gentle heart even if she was already a moonmage for quite some time already. Was she that nice and attached to the human world that she still thinks of things such as compassion and kindness even while fighting?

"Sir, don't you think that it's good that she is like that? That we have a moonmage in our midst that will remind us of being human? Although I agree that Regina has to upgrade her game or else it will be her death," Amethyst slyly said.

Tanori sighed.

"I just hope she will finally accept the reality and realize that she can't save people all the time. She's just a moonmage, not a savior that can change hearts. I hope she will learn from Magnus' quick decision-making."

"Oh,sir, speaking of Magnus, he has a request for you."

"Hm? Magnus has?"

"Yes, sir. It's quite rare for him to say such things so I was also surprised."

Magnus was a young lad who didn't speak for himself. He always agrees to everything that Tanori says and gets all of his job neat. For someone to suddenly ask for a request, it must be something big.

"Let's hear it, then."

***

When Raii Shin was transferred to the best hospital found in that town, Minus still couldn't let his mind rest. The doctor advised him to get out and catch some fresh air but with him knowing that her wounds that she got from fighting the pseudo-Belua two weeks ago hadn't fully recovered yet, it was hard to relax.

They had sedated her to sleep and it has been seven hours since the incident. The criminal was successfully handed over to the police and he wished the government would never free him. That man was dangerous. To think that Raii Shin was no match for him and that Minus himself had tapped on his moonmage powers for help to circle around him and take him down, that criminal was one of the proofs that there are humans out there who were on par with them when it comes to combat fighting.

He was only able to breathe a sigh of relief when Raii Shin finally woke up at seven pm, looking sturdy already.

Minus called for the doctor and they examined her one last time. Both of them smiled when the doctor gave a thumbs up. Minus processed the papers and she was discharged.

As they got out of the hospital, both of their stomachs were grumbling in hunger. They weren't able to eat lunch and dinner because of the incident.

"Let's go. It's my treat, remember?" Raii Shin said.

Good thing they were located near the harbor. If it was a coincidence that they were supposed to go out for seafood but were directed beside the sea for a mission, then both of them were in luck. All's well that ends well.

They found a local restaurant and stuffed themselves good. They feasted on fried fish, shark fin soup, baked sushi, stuffed puff fish, among others. They ate to their heart's content and it was their way of awarding themselves for a job well done. It was one of the pleasures of being a moonmage–to enjoy after coming out of a mission alive.

"You did well today," Minus said.

But it seemed like Raii Shin didn't hear it because as Minus drove them home, she suddenly blurted, "Are you mad, Minus?"

"For what?"

"For hesitating, even though I said I knew the drill that it was kill or be killed."

Minus didn't reply immediately. He was choosing his words.

"Look, it's not that I'm mad. It's just that…I'm afraid, you know. Like if another mission like that will be given, I will really consider not taking you with me."

He didn't know if he said the right words but it was what he felt. He didn't dislike Raii Shin's kind nature. If that was her, then he gladly accepts her. Kindness is not a weakness that she needs to overcome. She could just leave the nasty stuff to him, since his body was born for it.

His request to Amethyst was timely then. Minus hoped Sir Tanori would get his point especially on what happened earlier. If it is granted, Minus could live forever happily and could die without regrets.

It was Raii Shin's turn to be silent.

"Well, are you mad at me? If that is what I think of you?" asked Minus.

Raii Shin gave a soft but genuine chuckle.

"What? Oh, come on. If that's what you want, I will gladly stay at home and leave the mission to you while I sleep," she said with glee.

"Ha-ha. Funny," he said with sarcasm.

They had a good laugh after that. It didn't look like they both came from a tiring mission and that one of them almost died.