Mage Manual

Chapter 1630 - 1197: Taking Care

They fell ill.

Felix carried a wooden bucket filled with hot water to the master bedroom. All the curtains were drawn in broad daylight, yet it didn’t feel stuffy or murky, thanks to the new ventilation system running at full capacity. Ash gently helped Sonia sit up, carefully taking off her clothes while Felix wiped her down. During this time, Ash quickly changed the sheets, bedding, and pillowcases with freshly washed and dried fluffy ones to ensure her comfort in bed.

Sonia kept her eyes closed, her face flushed, her breathing quick and shallow, her body drenched in sweat yet shivering uncontrollably. Once Felix dried her off and helped her change into new pajamas, Ash supported her head, allowing her to slowly lie back down. Suddenly, Sonia opened her eyes and asked softly, "How do I look?"

"Very weak, like a deflated balloon." Ash chuckled as he tucked her in, "I’ve been waiting for this chance for a long time. I still remember the first time we met in the Void Realm, you tried to hit me with a wooden sword... Now’s the time for reckoning; I’ll count your past deeds and punish you!"

"Petty, how do you still remember such trivial things..." Sonia pulled the covers over her mouth, her eyes curving into a smile despite her weakness, "Get lost."

Ash dimmed the lights and followed Felix to the second and third bedrooms, helping Diya and Vishi clean up. The Witch’s condition was more severe, remaining in a deep sleep the whole time. Vishi appeared to be in pain, her breathing heavy, brow furrowed, but this showed she was in the best state, at least able to maintain consciousness against the abnormal soul body status.

However, Vishi was the most restless, twisting and turning, refusing to accept care, insisting she didn’t need help to change clothes or get cleaned up. Ash understood her embarrassment of needing care, perhaps because the ailment drained much of her mental resources. She instinctively wanted to uphold her dignity as the Ghost Prophet without realizing how childish this behavior was, like a kitten entering a rebellious phase.

Ash had a plan for this: "Vishi, do you remember your own name?"

"Yes."

"Do you feel any significant abnormal pain?"

"No."

"How are you feeling at the moment?"

"Very cold, very tired, heavy head, light feet, weak limbs, and my whole body feels weighed down like lead..."

Although her mind was still foggy, Vishi quieted down immediately, clearly stating her condition, forgetting this conversation occurred several times last night. Ash took the opportunity to hug her from behind, allowing Felix to wipe her sweat. Once her body was clean, Vishi relaxed her furrowed brows, her spirit slackened, and she fell asleep in Ash’s arms.

Felix watched as this woman, often like a venomous serpent, curled up obediently in Ash’s embrace, shedding all hostility and caution, even starting to make uncomfortable sounds like an ordinary person, completely exposing her weakness and vulnerability. It might be normal for the Sword Witch, but for Vishi, it was challenging—Vishi was the first to awaken and immediately react violently, even nearly mistaking Weiser, who cared for her, as her enemy.

Perhaps due to some affinity, Felix always felt she had a good relationship with Vishi, even saying Vishi’s only female friend in this group was her. Yet when trying to help Vishi back to her room, Vishi pushed her away without hesitation... In her dazed state, the Ghost Prophet viewed the entire world as an enemy.

Finally, Ash returned after comforting the Sword Witch, held Vishi’s hand, patiently soothing the Ghost Prophet for ten minutes, coaxing the rebellious serpent to retract her fangs and quietly be led back to her room to rest.

Unexpectedly, this trash bin wasn’t entirely useless... Since last night, he hasn’t rested, always monitoring their status, attempting various Wonders and using healing or weakening measures for their ailments... Whoever called out, he immediately rushed over, offering help if needed, or simply observing for a while if not... He seemed to hear their unspoken needs; sometimes, the Sword Maiden and others would just make indistinct sounds, yet Ash understood what they wanted.

Caretaking was both boring and exhausting. Felix, dazed, fell asleep while keeping watch until midnight, later waking to find a blanket draped over her, and herself sleeping on the sofa. Ash stayed vigilant all night without a hint of impatience, checking the status of the three every ten minutes while watching a drama. Felix didn’t know whether he felt anxious or not, but believed when the Sword Maiden and others opened their eyes to find Ash unchanged, they’d feel assured.

Actually, Ash is quite good. If only he were good to just one person, that would be even better.

Felix glanced at the bedridden Vishi, a thought suddenly striking her: although she wasn’t sure why they fell ill, given it’s a trial, they likely wouldn’t recover quickly. They’ve ceased to be the team’s backbone, now requiring Ash to deplete considerable energy to care for them...

At this critical weak point, Ash faced his darkest hour, the already perilous adventure further strained by the three falling ill. Only the Silver Lamp remained as his supporter, and only Lena and herself could offer assistance...

So essentially... if... perhaps...

"Felix."

Felix lifted his head as if waking from a dream: "Huh?"

"Could you wash the sheets and pajamas?" Ash took the wooden bucket from her hand, "I’ll change the water and apply a cold compress to their foreheads."

"Oh, sure."

"And thank you," Ash smiled, "I’m really grateful for your and Dedarose’s help. Otherwise, I’d be all over the place. After all, I’m usually the one needing care as a patient..."

Felix: "It’s what I should do, I’m part of the team too."

"But they’re not just my teammates, they’re my precious treasures." Ash shrugged, "Though you might hate me saying this, I’m thanking you as their lover."

"We’ll have to keep troubling you, hope you don’t get tired of it too quickly, actually, they’re quite cute this way... Let’s be a bit more patient with them." Ash winked at her and headed off with the bucket to prepare the ice packs.

Felix went to the bathroom, stuffed the sheets into the washing machine, poured in some detergent pods and set the preset, then sat down watching the sheets spin and foam in the drum. She stared blankly for a while, suddenly drooping her head in frustration, feeling like she was the soiled sheet in the washing machine, her despicable thoughts being scrubbed clean by a wave of powerful shame.

*

Ash mixed a whole bucket of ice water, made ice packs, and placed them on their foreheads, changing them every 15 minutes. He sat by the Sword Maiden’s bed, watched the red-haired girl lying there more obedient and quiet than ever, and reached out to remove the hair from her mouth.

It looked like a fever, felt like a fever, but everyone knew it couldn’t be a fever. Forget Demigod Mages, even ordinary Mages rarely fall ill. The general consensus in academia is that when Mages communicate with the Void Realm, it automatically purifies their bodies, not strongly enough, but sufficient to deal with all natural bacteria and viruses.

Once in the Holy Domain, a Mage’s physical constitution is far superior to ordinary people’s, immune to all diseases. As for the soul body of a Demigod Mage, while it still has internal organs, that’s merely a manifestation, like jewels on a crown, a display of identity. For instance, even if Ash lost his heart and his head exploded, he wouldn’t die, though it would take a long time to recover.

The core of the demigod soul body is the soul; as long as the soul is intact, the soul body is unharmed. It can be understood as the soul body being a reflection of the soul; even if the soul body is battered, it can validate the soul’s integrity and recover. Therefore, the Sword Maiden and the others are definitely not sick; they are cursed.

But... Ash looked at the dazed and ill Sonia, as if lying before him wasn’t a half-god of swordsmanship, but an ordinary mortal girl.

Does the Trial Curse make them fall ill, or turn them into mortals?

If this is indeed the Six-winged Trial, how can Ash help them?

As Ash pondered, he suddenly felt a tug on his clothes. Looking down, he saw Sonia’s hand reaching out from under the blanket, her slender fingers hooked on his sleeve.

Removing the ice pack from her forehead, Ash wiped the moisture away with a towel, lifted her head slightly to give her water, and asked, "Want something to eat?"

Sonia shook her head, reached out her arms to him, her face full of drowsy cuteness, "Hug me."

Ash smiled softly, took off his jacket, and slipped under the blanket, holding the Sword Maiden in his arms. She wriggled around until she found the most comfortable position, nestling against his chest like a little bear. Despite the sweet warmth in his arms, Ash’s mind drifted to the days they braved the Sea of Knowledge together.

A stubborn, lively girl from the moment we met, a companion who’s fought by my side since the Sea of Knowledge... You are the light that dispels confusion, the color that brightens the world, and the earthly dream in the burning star river.

I’ve waited so long for this day, Ash affectionately nuzzled Sonia’s cheek, finally, it’s my turn to take care of you.