As it turned out, Rosha had been bedridden for over a week. Of course, she would likely need to remain so for some time longer.

“Hmm…”

After shining a light into Rosha’s eyes and confirming her pupils weren’t reacting, the elderly doctor slowly shook his head, seeming to choose his words carefully.

However, his expression seemed to say ‘there is no hope’, judging by the somber atmosphere among the few people gathered in the room.

“…Let’s step outside for a moment, young master.”

The doctor and Cedric left, and Berri, the one who had initially discovered Rosha’s condition and was aware of the details as her maid, sobbed softly:

“What are we to do? She’s still so young, how will she live out her long life like this? Our poor miss…”

Hey, don’t lament so openly like that.

As if hearing her inner voice, Berri wiped her tears and said she felt foolish, deciding to step out briefly to compose herself. Listening to her heavy footsteps, Rosha thought.

‘Well, this isn’t the first time I’ve lost my sight.’

[The Guiding Lantern] was an ability closely tied to her eyes, so overusing it would sometimes cause her vision to suddenly go out, like a blown fuse.

Of course, it wasn’t that her optic nerves were damaged, so her sight would return after some time.

Hence, Rosha didn’t panic too much. It was just inconvenient.

‘…I won’t be able to see info windows for a while?’

She wouldn’t be able to check the upgraded sacred relic or receive rewards for clearing the trial and would have to postpone proper rehabilitation exercises.

She fidgeted with her flabby arms, the muscles having atrophied from disuse.

At that moment.

“…Couldn’t your eyes be healed with an elixir?”

Cassis, who had apparently remained in the room, spoke up after some contemplation. Having experienced the elixir’s potency twice during the last trial, he seemed remarkably composed.

“How much did you say it costs to bring goods from the secret shop to the outside? A hundred times the selling price?”

He seemed ready to enter the next trial right away just to ransack the secret shop. Of course, having an elixir in the real world would be nice, but it was a pointless concern.

“Yes. But this ability’s side effects can’t be cured by elixirs.”

“Ability? You use your eyes for your ability? I thought you shot fire from your hands or something.”

“…That’s magic.”

Cassis knew nothing.

Well, how could that be his fault? This world had yet to properly establish even the basics of magic.

‘Unless magic families like the Lycaon share their knowledge, it will take a long time.’

As she was pondering whether she should write a book like ‘The Fundamentals of Magic’, Cassis strode up to her.

Then, staring intently, he asked in an earnest voice:

“But there is something, right? That’s why you’re so calm about this?”

“…”

Seeing him like this suddenly reminded her of when his abdomen had been pierced in the maze, and she had calmed his heart.

She considered dragging out her response for a bit, but given the circumstances, she decided to promptly reassure him instead.

“Yes. My sight will return after some time.”

“Really? When will it come back?”

“That… I don’t know.”

It could be as soon as tomorrow or as late as a month.

In any case, it would return. It always did.

Hearing her answer, Cassis finally seemed relieved as he plopped down beside the bed.

“Ah… In any case, that’s a relief.”

“Now you understand how uneasy I felt when my brother was nearly killed.”

“…So that’s why you hesitated before telling me?”

Recalling her brief hesitation before speaking, he let out a belated laugh.

At that very moment.

“You’re laughing now?”

Cedric’s chilling voice suddenly rang out.

Silently closing the door behind him, a cold aura emanated from him as he approached. He didn’t even embrace Rosha, who had just woken up after a week.

‘He seems really angry.’

Well, it was only natural, considering she had gone to clear the second trial despite his vehement objections, returning in this state.

Standing before her, Cedric spoke in a voice heavy like lead.

“It’s an immense relief that you’ve regained consciousness. But… I told you after the nobles’ council not to go because it was dangerous.”

“…”

“And now look what’s happened. What are you going to do?”

Speaking slowly, word by word, he didn’t seem to want to believe this situation itself.

There was a sense of lamentation, dejection, and despair over how things had ended up like this.

‘I’ve never seen Cedric act like this before.’

She couldn’t bear to face him. To the point where she almost felt fortunate to have lost her sight.

Unconsciously brushing aside the hair that had fallen over her face, he seemed to realize he was getting angry, abruptly turning his head towards Cassis.

“Cassis. What were you doing while Rosha ended up like this?”

“Eek.”

“You were supposed to protect your sister. You said as someone trained in the sword, you should stand at the front. And yet how did you return with this result? You have no face to meet our departed parents.”

Strictly speaking, Cassis had suffered far greater injuries, though the elixir’s effects had since erased even the scars.

After a brief silence, he said in a defensive tone:

“But she said her sight will return after some time.”

“Who said that?”

“Rosha.”

She could sense Cedric glancing her way. He asked quietly:

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“But what if her sight doesn’t return?”

“…It will.”

Rosha deliberately answered firmly. His doubtful retort seemed to be suppressing some lingering hope.

After a momentary silence, Cedric spoke in a slightly softened voice.

“…If you say so, I’ll believe you for now. There’s more than one thing I’m curious about with you, but recovering takes priority for now. But Rosha, you need to keep thinking about the things you’ll tell me. Organize them clearly.”

“…Then so should you, brother.”

Turning her head towards where she sensed Cedric’s eyes, Rosha said:

“You have to tell me too.”

About the things he had been hiding from them for so long.

“…”

Letting out a faint sigh, Cedric silently sat down beside Rosha. Then, brushing her hair aside with his hand, he caressed her gaunt cheek.

“Your face is quite bruised.”

Although she couldn’t see, she could clearly sense his complex feelings.

What must he be thinking right now?

After gazing at her face for a while, Cedric softly advised:

“Just in case, I’ll look into ways for you to regain your sight too. But only the people present in this room today know you’ve lost your vision. I’ve strictly instructed everyone to keep silent about it, so remember that. Cassis, that goes for you too.”

Cedric was adamant about not compromising on this. She had to listen to him, especially at times like these.

“And Rosha, you must not leave this room for the time being. If you need anything, have the maids attend to you.”

“Not leave? Why?”

“To conceal that you’ve lost your sight. Because…”

Unconsciously continuing, Cedric swallowed his words. Then he firmly drove the point home.

“Anyway, you can’t.”

* * *

Although Cedric had told her not to leave the room, she likely wouldn’t have been able to on the first day due to her weakness. In fact, the second day was fine too.

However, by the third day, some boredom had set in.

‘I wonder when I’ll be able to go out?’

Due to Cedric’s stern instructions, she didn’t leave, but simply opening the window for some air had its limits.

Her inability to see made her feel even more restless.

“Wow, what a fortunate life.”

As Rosha sat up in bed, Koko, who had been lying sprawled beside her, spoke.

“They bring you food when it’s time, snacks too, read books to you, keep you company, turn off the lights when you sleep… Ah, but you can’t see.”

He even teased her.

Of course, as he said, it was indeed a fortunate life without much inconvenience, since there wasn’t much she could do anyway.

‘Not being able to see really means I can’t do anything.’

She couldn’t even practice mana cultivation for fear of triggering mana backflow symptoms.

All she could really do now was mentally plan ‘The Fundamentals of Magic’ book or meditate.

Letting out a long sigh, she lay back down and closed her eyes.

Without her sight, her other senses did seem to sharpen. Koko’s movements, the cool night air, the sound of crickets from outside – she could perceive them far better than before.

Feeling these sensations, she pondered how to write the opening passage of ‘The Fundamentals of Magic’.

At that moment.

‘…Huh?’

Even though she hadn’t opened the window, a faint breeze suddenly wafted in, carrying a cool fragrance.

A scent she felt she had encountered somewhere before. She had a sense of whose it might be.

Froy’s.

“…”

…Perhaps that was it.