[Lily's condition is far graver than you imagined.]
[It's not a mortal illness or injury but an internal collapse, her body deteriorating, nearing its limit.]
[You can't fathom why or pinpoint the cause.]
[You exhaust every resource, but even the Academy's grand elixirs only delay her decline.]
[You strive relentlessly, like a bird caught in thorns, seeking hope.]
[Despite your efforts, pleading with everyone—including Eldrin—you find no answers.]
[You can only watch her weaken.]
[You can only see her grow frail.]
[You're powerless. Reality defies your will, unlike heroic tales where resolve rewrites fate.]
[In true despair, human strength feels insignificant, crushing you.]
[Every morning greeting, every nightly farewell, reminds you death looms.]
[For four years, you bear this weight, failing. At 20, you're helpless as Lily, 14, lies bedridden.]
[The vibrant girl who trailed you, calling you brother, is now a fragile beauty, like porcelain ready to shatter.]
[Her pale, sickly look might seem ethereal to others, but to you, it's a despairing, hateful sight.]
[For you, seasons are stuck in an endless winter, joyless.]
[Lily sees your toll. Guilt fills her eyes; she apologizes, more concerned for you than herself.]
"I'm sorry, brother…"
In the Azure Spell Peak cave, little has changed. The same furniture, Lily's flowers, their faint scent linger.
Lily lay on the bed.
Her long, dark hair flowed like a river.
Her once-bright eyes were dull.
Her lips pale.
Fragile as glass, she seemed ready to break.
"No need to apologize," James said softly, shaking his head. He gave her a potion. "Here's today's Moonwell Draught. Take it and rest."
Lily nodded, swallowing it.
She smiled—a radiant, pure smile, like dawn's light, despite her frail body. Like when younger, she asked for a reward.
"Brother, Lily's been good and took her medicine~~"
Her playful voice clashed with her weak frame, filling the air with silent sorrow.
"Yes, Lily's a good girl."
James forced a smile, hiding his pain. He gave her a candy, which she savored like a treasure.
Was candy that good?
James recalled how happy Lily looked with each one.
This time, she didn't sleep after the candy. She asked to go outside.
James agreed.
Skystaff flight was too harsh for her, so he supported her gently.
They strolled Azure Spell Peak, bathed in autumn's golden hues.
Their pace was slow—slower than seasons, slower than life's ticking clock.
Lily's face glowed faintly amid fallen leaves.
But the short walk overwhelmed her. She stopped, clutching her chest, face white as snow.
"Don't push yourself," James said softly.
As in her childhood, he carried her on his back.
"I know, brother," she whispered.
On his sturdy back, she felt safe, drifting into drowsiness. Before sleep, she asked:
"Brother, will Lily die?"
"No, I'll save you," James said firmly.
"Mm… Lily believes you… You wouldn't lie…"
Her voice faded. Blood trickled from her mouth, staining her lips. She pressed against his shoulder, fighting to stay awake.
But the blood drained her strength.
By the time James noticed, she was unconscious.
[You joined the Celestial Academy, a revered prime apprentice with unmatched Celestial Affinity. Your future shines, hailed as a prodigy.]
[But Lily's illness darkens your path. At 14, her condition worsens in autumn.]
[You undertake missions, study potion-crafting, and scour pharmacology. Grand elixirs, prized by sorcerers, only delay her decline.]
[In your fifteenth year, at 21, Lily is 15. You reach late Arcane Foundation. Ordinary Adepts no longer faze you. You gather elixirs faster, but her condition deteriorates. She's bedridden, unable to walk.]
[In your sixteenth year, at 22, Lily is 16.]
[Obsession drives you to find a cure, scouring all resources.]
[Before her life fades, you find an ancient tome from distant lands describing her condition.]
[Heaven's Curse.]
[The tome explains only those with affinities can wield magic—a known truth. Yet, rare mortals absorb mana without affinities.]
[Without affinities, their bodies break under mana's weight.]
[This curse, Heaven's Curse, afflicts Lily.]
[The Academy's rich mana hastened her decline. Learning this, your heart sank into despair.]
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