Free Web NovelChapter 24: Shared Growth
The graduation ceremony ended with one last cheer from the crowd of students. They all attempted to funnel out of the bleachers, only to be bottlenecked by the single staircase that led to the field.
Luke just walked to the opposite end of the stage and hopped the fence down, walking towards the spot where the professors were gathered. Valeria sat by herself, watching the sea of students flood out of the building. Eventually she spotted what she was looking for, Luke, and started to wheel towards him.
She only stopped when another professor beat her to Luke.
Professor Kreiser stood in front of him. Luke hadn’t realized how short the professor was, since he’d only ever seen him on stage or from the back of the lecture hall. The man’s beer gut closed the distance between them.
He reached out his hand, but Luke didn’t like the feeling he was getting.
"It’s good to be cautious, but that could rub some people the wrong way. I just wanted to congratulate you on your new record and for surviving an awakened rift."
He paused and then snarkily remarked.
"And on your marriage to Lady Valeria."
Before anything else could happen, a few professors invited the man for drinks and he walked away with them.
Valeria wheeled up beside him moments after. She didn’t interrupt him, just let his mind analyze the scenario and come to its own conclusion.
’There is something fishy about him.’
He didn’t want to jump to a crazy conclusion, but his last comment felt more like an attack than a friendly congratulations.
’Whatever. I’m sure I am just over analyzing.’
He noticed Valeria and signed.
Hello, Valeria. Eat?
She didn’t sign back, instead having to write her question.
Are you cooking?
Yes.
Then I am hungry.
Luke pushed her through the sea of parents and students on campus. The train platform was packed, serving nearly every commoner in the city. On graduation day, it became little more than a wall of people. As they waited he continued to daydream about the promise the system had made.
The main reason he hesitated was that the system confirmed that she would lose all her spells. Although it was a small price to pay, Luke wasn’t sure if Valeria would want to pay it.
He decided to just ask her.
Not on the train, but when they entered their neighborhood.
Luke spent the whole train ride anxious. He couldn’t even think of a time when he had stressed so much. Luke twirled the communication orb in his pocket, in hopes that the rhythmic action would help him calm down.
It did, but only until the train stopped. He promised himself that he wouldn’t back down. Luke reached down and grabbed the notepad in Valeria lap and wrote.
Theoretically, if your mana core could be repaired, but you had to lose every spell you knew, would you do it?
She hesitated for a short moment, before stopping in the sidewalk and writing a response.
I wouldn’t think twice about it.
That’s all he needed, when they arrived home he would activate the ability.
The walk home seemed longer than usual. His anticipation grew with every step, even when they entered the house. Luke couldn’t wait to use the ability, not because he was excited, but because he wanted to see Valeria happy.
He got his chance while Valeria went into the bedroom to change out of her work clothes.
Luke sat on the couch, sinking into the couch cushion.
’How do I activate the ability.’
[Just like a normal spell.]
The system gave him a prompt response, as it always seemed to do in these scenarios.
"Shared Growth." He muttered it under his breath, so that Valeria wouldn’t be able to hear him.
A familiar blue hue appeared in front of his eyes.
The screen was mostly empty, only two draggable selectors were on it. One controlled Spouse Mana, while the other controlled his own mana. There was also a confirm and exit button at the bottom.
Luke dragged the Spouse Mana selector to 10, its max, and hovered his finger over the confirm button.
But he hesitated to press it.
Even though Valeria was on board with it, he didn’t know what other effects it would cause. Maybe, she would be in perpetual pain until the mana core was fully formed, or even kill her.
Luke knew the fears were unfounded, but he was still taking risk even with the systems reassurance.
Closing his eyes, his finger pressed into the confirm button. The system window disappeared and multiple others replaced it.
[Fractured Mana Core - 10/50 to Recovery]
[New Task - Regaining Mana]
[New Task - Recover Your Wife]
Luke only focused on the first screen, almost wanting to shed a tear. He was actually able to do it. He would be able to recover Valeria’s mana core.
He heard a sudden shout from inside the bedroom, Luke rushed through the door and found Valeria sitting in her wheelchair still halfway through changing her clothes, but his attention was caught by the bright smile on her face and the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
She noticed he had rushed into the door and started to frantically write on the notepad.
I can feel mana in my core. I was told I would never feel mana again.
More tears of happiness fell from her eyes as the realization set in. All it took was a few minutes before she became as composed as usual and started thinking more critically about the situation. She put together the pieces and linked them back to Luke.
You did this, right? The question back on the train was too perfectly timed. Tell me, are you able to fix my mana core.
He didn’t write back. There was no need. It was more fitting he answer her back in her own language.
Yes. Help.
She scanned his face for any imperfection that would show up during a lie, but only found his smile and warm gaze staring back at her. Then she cracked once more and began crying.
While wiping her tears, she slowly signed back to him.
Thank you.
It was the first time since arriving in this world that he felt he’d done something worthy of being here.
