Damned Healer-Chapter 120: Second Chance

Leander slowly opened his eyes... until his mind caught up and he jolted upright in shock.

"What? Where’s my mom and my brother?!"

He realized he was somewhere else—not the courtroom anymore—and then noticed how the people closest to him looked away.

"It’s over, Leander," Darian was the one to speak up first.

Leander swallowed hard, his face twisting. He immediately understood—they’d knocked him out so he wouldn’t see it.

"Just hold on a second, okay?"

Darian continued, then pulled out a cheap little artifact. When he activated it, a faint blue barrier spread across the room, sealing it off from the rest of the house. That way, the twins wouldn’t see or hear anything.

With a deep sigh, Darian began to explain what he’d asked the Judge to do.

Leander clenched his fists, trembling. He heard it all, but it wasn’t really sinking in. The pain was just... beyond words. Nothing could dull it.

"You... you kept... their souls?" That was all he could say, his voice shaky.

Darian held up the needles in his hands so he could see them.

Then he looked at the four people in front of him. "As you can see, the rest of the clan is gone. Are you really staying?"

They all sighed, looked Darian in the eye, and nodded.

"I’ve got no home, and I turned my back on everything in my past. I chose to dedicate my life to Rhea. She’s gone... so I’ll take care of her son," Harper said firmly. freёwebnoѵel.com

Veyle glanced sideways at Leander and Darian. "I feel like this is the safest place to be. And I can be useful here. I don’t want to leave."

Matteo spoke next. "I don’t need much. I just wanna live near people I can trust. If I go join some big clan, I’ll be surrounded by all kinds of crap... plus, I want to help Leander."

Darian gave a small nod while Leander stayed quiet, just staring at them. The real reason the three of them stayed was to support him.

But there was another reason too.

"You hid what really happened after that explosion, didn’t you?" Harper said, and the others turned to Darian.

"Yeah, bro... you’ve got some pretty weird skills for a healer," Matteo said what they were all thinking.

Veyle added thoughtfully, "Darian... do you think we can rebuild the clan, with you leading us?"

In the end, another big reason those three were staying was because they felt like, with Darian, they could actually pull off miracles. He’d already flipped the odds more than once. And more and more, they were sure he hadn’t shown everything yet.

Darian answered without hesitation, "We’ll do it together."

He wanted to believe he could trust them. So he nodded, and a faint white light began to glow.

Everyone focused on him—and then, a small white rune appeared in front of him.

Darian had learned how to create the new runes perfectly. Meru had modified the technique and even altered Darian’s rings so he could form them.

After creating it, Darian turned to Leander. "I know it’s hard to believe... but I can bring your mom back."

"WHAT?!" Leander practically roared.

Darian sighed. "She really did die. But since she’s a Spiritual Guardian, her soul’s strong enough. I can make her exist just as a soul... Look, it’s easier to show than explain. I just need you to accept being her Summoner."

Leander didn’t know how to respond. Summoner? That didn’t make any sense.

"Just accept the light rune. Let it connect to you without fighting it," Darian said gently, looking him in the eye.

Leander nodded without hesitation. If there was even the tiniest chance, he’d take it.

Darian gave a small nod and picked up the needle holding Rhea’s soul. As he opened it, Leander’s—and everyone’s—eyes went wide.

Suddenly, they saw that white rune move, like it was being drawn toward the needle.

A brilliant, blinding white light filled the room.

Everyone activated their ring’s eye power, and with it, they could see what was happening.

First, the rune floated in front of Leander. He felt it trying to link with him—so he accepted it without resistance.

A short while later, the contract was sealed. Darian nodded, and the light rune floated toward him. He closed his eyes and focused.

Everyone’s heart was pounding like drums.

The rune pulsed.

"!"

They saw Rhea’s silhouette begin to form right in front of them. She had her back to them, her figure slowly becoming clearer.

Within seconds, her eyes came back into focus. Standing right in front of her was Darian, who had just opened his eyes and was staring at her.

The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds.

Then she looked down at herself and let out a small sigh.

"Hmm... I really died, huh... that’s weird, it kinda feels like I’m in that other universe again, like some kind of summon."

Darian nodded. It was pretty similar. But the only reason she was still "alive" was because of his power, even though she now had a contract with someone else.

The feeling Darian got...

Meru had explained it earlier—he was turning into something like a Heaven’s Will. He had influence over Rhea, but she and Leander still had the freedom to act however they wanted, within certain boundaries.

His master didn’t know exactly what this would become. She gave him some ideas and suggestions, but in the end, Darian would have to figure it all out on his own.

"This is your power?" Rhea focused on Darian, clearly sensing that he was the center of her new existence.

He gave a small nod. "Just learned how to use it. It’s kinda complicated..."

Everyone there was in shock as they listened. They didn’t know why, but Rhea couldn’t see them at all. Even though her soul was badly wounded, she had regained her consciousness thanks to the rune’s power—and now, it was like Darian was the only person who existed to her.

"I’m gonna make sure Leander stays by your side, but the future’s gonna be rough. You still have a choice, though. I can release you—and then you’ll be taken by the laws of this world and get to reincarnate normally," Darian said calmly.

"Or... we can fight together. You’ll live kinda like... well, similar to the Spiritual Guardians from that other universe. Some stuff will be different—we’ll figure that out later."

"Oh, so my son’s gonna be my Summoner? I can get stronger and fight too?"

She asked quickly, and Darian nodded.

"Yeah, but... my mission is pretty much a suicide mission. Getting this power came with a heavy price. I could die really soon and in a really lame way. Everything tied to me is at risk of being destroyed—and Leander’s obviously gonna be dragged into it too."

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

"My son, Leander..." She could feel the connection with him, but he felt distant right now.

"He’s safe for now. I plan to rebuild his clan with him," Darian replied immediately.

Rhea looked into his eyes. "I see... Darian, I do want to fight. But there’s someone I need to get revenge on. Someone really dangerous. I failed... and ended up killing myself... and my own son..."

She trailed off like she was choking up.

She remembered the scene in the courtroom.

She placed a hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and a muffled groan escaped her lips. A spirit couldn’t cry, but the pain was crushing. No mother could bear seeing her child die like that right in front of her.

"One more enemy doesn’t matter. If you want someone dead, then I do too—and I’ll help you," Darian said seriously.

She looked at him, dead serious. Then, after a few seconds, she smiled.

"That’s so strange... not long ago, I was the one who recruited you and was teaching you everything." She looked deep into his eyes. "I want to fight. I’ll support you in whatever way I can. And thank you... thank you so much for giving me a second chance to fight."

Rhea could feel it clearly... the magnitude of his power was terrifying. From her perspective, since she only existed because of his power, it was like Darian was this massive divine being. He was literally the one who created and kept her alive—following him felt instinctive.

And he’d already said it: for something that amazing, the price was extreme. But if she could take revenge—on her husband and even her dead son—she’d go to the end without regret.