Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 6

"N-Nathan...I...I c-can't forgive y-you, o-okay?" Kira murmured hesitantly. "But...e-everyone d-deserves another...another ch-chance, so..."

"I don't... want to be forgiven." Nathan murmured. "I... just... wanted you to know..."

"I'm sorry."

Kira sighed, letting go of Nathan. "Y-You need t-t-to st-stop saying th-that," she stated, trying to bring a bit of lightheartedness to the situation. She kept remembering the garden, and she didn't want to remember that.

Nathan hung his head. "I'm sorr-" He cut himself off before he could say it when he remembered she wanted him to stop. "I just wish I could go back and stop myself..."

"Y-You can a-a-always t-try t-t-to m-make th-things better n-now..." Kira mumbled, before pushing a smile onto her face. "D-Don't look s-so gl-glum, wh-where's th-the Nathan I-I was f-friends with?"

"I know... I'm trying to... that's why I'm saving everyone..." Nathan responded as he wiped his tears. He stood up and put up an unconvincing half smile that was similar to the ones he used to do in the tournament.

"I... I've still got people to make things' better to..."

Kira sighed at Nathan's efforts, though the smile remained on her face. "Y-You promised m-me that...y-y-you would v-visit, s-so stay f-for a little while... I-If you st-start th-the f-f-fire, I'll make u-us a cup of tea," she offered.

"...Okay." Nathan nodded. He focused on letting calming emotions go through him before quickly gathering some wood and setting it down where Luke's usual fire was.

"How has looking after the forest been?" He asked, trying to make conversation. Sparks cackled along his index finger and with a flick they struck the wood and caused flames to burst into existence.

Joey carried the girl, following Sage back to her house., currently worried if Heidi was going to be ok.

"Paul, I got him!" Sage called out once they reached her house, she opened the door. "Place her on my bed, second floor. While you help Paul, I'll try to heal her."

Joey nodded, quickly taking Heidi upstairs, before heading down to help Paul.

Paul blinked at Heidi's broken form. His eye twitched. "Joey, I need Percival. Now. Afterwords I'd like to have a talk with you."

Sage had grabbed her staff before passing Joey on the stairs. Once she was up stairs, she knelt down beside Heidi, speaking words in Latin as her circle appeared underneath her. When she finished her speaking, Heidi's cuts closed, her bones snapped back into place.

Sage on the other hand, was blown backwards from her staff, blood dripping from her hands.

"It...worked..." the girl muttered, her vision getting dark.

Joey nodded, letting Percival take over, who proceeded to activate his flow.

Melaney shuddered and broke down crying, her shadows fading nothing but themselves.

"Thank you Percival," Paul said.

Kira shrugged, putting a pot of water on the fire to boil. "Luke's b-been staying w-with m-me... But I-I guess y-you knew th-that..."

---

Heidi's shallow breathing slowly started to regulate itself.

"She's going to be fine..." Sage muttered, head fallign forwards as she blacked out.

"Yeah, I'm glad that he's been staying with you." Nathan said calmly. "It's good that the two of you have each other."

"Don't mention it." Percival said, before turning to go up and check on Sage and Heidi.

Once Percival got up, he would see Heidi fully healed, bones back to normal. Sage's staff was down near the bed, while the girl herself was against the wall, far away from Heidi. In a sitting position, with her head forwards, hands red from blood...

"Wait wait wait," Paul stopped him, "I need a word with Joey."

"H-He gives me th-things t-to do," Kira smiled happily.

"...You do realize that Heidi was trying to kill him right." Percy replied. "There will be no excuse, for attacking a man who used self-defense."

He then stared in the room, and saw Sage, before quickly running over. "Hey, are you ok?"

"That's good." Nathan said as he tended to the fire. "Have the two of you ever thought of leaving the forest to maybe see what else is out there?"

Sage...couldn't respond since she was out cold.