The Safe Zone was left behind as the group advanced into an open clearing, where weak monsters wandered among dry shrubs and uneven stones. The gray sky filtered the light, creating the perfect setting for training without extreme risks.
Ethan gestured for Emanueru to take position.
"Alright. Try to repeat what you did inside. Focus the mana in your chest… move it to your hands… and let the grimoire react."
Emanueru took a deep breath. The grimoire glowed — faint, but steady. A small spark of light condensed in the palm of his hand.
"It worked again," Elenya said, excited. "Now try shaping it. Like you want to turn it into something."
The light trembled. Then… it stretched, forming a thin, translucent blade, almost like a divine sword.
Sienna whistled, impressed.
"Well look at that… the light-baby is learning how to play with swords."
Emanueru threw the blade. It flew fast but curved, nearly hitting a low-level monster — a shadow rabbit.
"Okay, not bad for a beginner," Sienna commented. "But try aiming before releasing the spell, genius. The system will help you with aim assist."
Emanueru tried again. The light appeared faster this time. He shaped the energy into a simple, vibrant luminous arrow.
He fired.
It hit — barely.
Sienna crossed her arms.
"Now that's more like it. You're learning."
They continued. While Marcus and Jay eliminated creatures emerging from the trees, Emanueru practiced. He launched several blades. Some hit. Others vanished into the air. But the progress was clear.
Then Elenya pointed upward.
"There! A shadow bird!"
It was small, fast, and aggressive — perfect for testing accuracy.
Emanueru shaped the blade of light, planted his feet on the ground, and took a deep breath.
He threw it.
The blade grazed past. The bird dodged easily. It twisted in the air and came straight toward Emanueru.
Fast. Too fast.
Jay stepped in front like a wall of metal.
"WATCH—!"
The bird struck the shield, but its claw slipped and opened a cut along the side of Jay's forehead.
"Jay!" Ethan ran forward.
The warrior brought a hand to his head, blood running down the side of his face.
Emanueru froze for an instant. The sight of blood, the blow, the pain hit him all at once. He snapped back to himself and rushed to Jay, holding the injured spot.
"I—I'm sorry. You got hurt because of me!"
As he spoke, he involuntarily opened the grimoire.
The light responded immediately.
But it wasn't the green light used by common healers. It was a white light, warm and vibrant, almost tangible — as if the grimoire were reacting on its own.
It flowed into his hand. And from his hand into Jay's wound.
The cut closed far too quickly, as if time itself had been rewound.
Jay blinked, stunned.
"I… I barely even felt it."
Ethan was left speechless.
Elenya covered her mouth, amazed.
Sienna took a step forward, eyes wide.
"What… what kind of healing is that?"
Emanueru was trembling. Not from fear — from shock.
"I… I don't know. I just saw you get hurt and—"
A second light glowed in the grimoire. Soft. Steady. Proof that it hadn't been an accident.
Marcus let out a slow breath.
"He has… two affinities. Offensive light… and healing."
Ethan answered without taking his eyes off Emanueru.
"I didn't know it was possible to have two affinities like this. He can attack and heal?!"
Emanueru looked at his own hands, still faintly glowing. He had arrived on the Third Floor without a name, without a past, and without an icon. Now he had at least two undeniable truths: he could attack with light, and he could heal with it as well.
Back in the city, the group headed to Taiga's workshop. The place was in its usual chaos — sparks, metal, the smell of oil — but she looked up the moment they entered.
"Alright… what did you figure out this time?" she asked, adjusting the goggles on top of her head.
Ethan began to explain.
"We found out that Emanueru can conjure offensive light. Light blades. Stable and direct."
Taiga whistled.
"That's really good!"
Ethan continued.
"But the most important part came after that. A bird dodged the attack he launched and went straight for him. Jay stepped in front."
Taiga followed every word without blinking.
"The strike grazed Jay's head…" Ethan went on, "…and that's when we discovered that Emanueru also has healing magic. He closed the wound completely."
Taiga started to process it — and then stopped.
"Wait. You said 'wound'…?"
She turned toward Jay.
And saw it.
A thin line of dried blood ran down the side of his face. Some of it had pooled on his armor near the shoulder. No open cut — but it was recent.
Taiga rushed over without thinking.
"Jay…" Her voice dropped, firm, heavy with concern. "You were hurt."
He tried to reassure her.
"I'm fine, Taiga. Emanueru healed everything. There's nothing left."
But she was already holding his face carefully, turning it toward the light, searching for any sign.
"The blood…" she murmured, touching the metal of his armor. "That was a head hit?"
Jay looked away, a little guilty.
"It was just a graze."
She stopped cleaning for a moment — not because she was done, but because she needed him to listen. Her tone changed, honest and deeply worried.
"Jay… I know it's your role. I know you'll always put yourself in front of everyone. I respect that." She raised her eyes to meet his. "But you also need to take care of yourself."
He remained still.
Taiga continued, now blending logic and emotion.
"If you go down, the whole group becomes vulnerable. You're the front line. If you fall… everyone falls."
Jay swallowed hard.
She went back to wiping the blood from his armor, slower now, almost as if she needed to reassure herself that everything was truly fine.
"Just think before throwing yourself into a blow like that," she said more softly. "It's not about stopping protecting others. It's about making sure you can keep protecting them."
Jay met her gaze. For a moment, no words were needed.
Sienna, of course, couldn't resist.
"That's right. Don't go making your girlfriend a widow before the wedding."
Taiga spun around instantly.
"Sienna! Mind your own business!"
Sienna raised her hands innocently.
"Sorry, little Taiga. Sorry."
Jay was red to the core, but his expression was different — he looked… seen.
Emanueru watched in silence, awed by something he still didn't fully understand.
At last, Taiga gave Jay a light tap on the shoulder. It wasn't a slap, but a touch that said more than any words.
"There. Now you look whole again."
"Thank you… really," Jay murmured.
She looked away, hiding an involuntary smile.
"Just don't scare me like that again. Dealing with this place is already enough."
Ethan raised his staff.
"Alright. Let's head back to the Third Floor."
The portal lit up. Before activating it, Taiga spoke softly, just for Jay to hear:
"Take care, okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Always."
The light enveloped them.
They were back on the Third Floor.