The Family Precepts of Crowfell Need Updating

A body transformed into undeath.

A living, breathing body.

These are two entirely different experiences.

The sensation of fabric brushing against skin, the lightness of fingers trailing through the air, the reassurance of footsteps meeting solid ground, and the damp coolness of water trickling through one's palms—

After a thousand years of absence, these simple pleasures made Servia beam with childlike joy.

"The Wizard's hand..."

"It's just as I imagined—warm and safe..."

Her newly restored flesh still felt unfamiliar.

And so, Xu Xi led the girl by the hand, guiding her into the light, allowing her to see the tower she had long inhabited through the vibrant lens of the living rather than the dull gray of the undead.

All the while, Servia held his hand tightly.

Very, very tightly.

Her platinum-blonde hair was tied back, though a few loose strands framed her face, barely concealing the faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Perhaps the overwhelming emotions of returning to life had taken hold of her.

"Servia, is anything uncomfortable?" Xu Xi asked with concern, wary of potential side effects from the restoration spell.

In the corridor, Servia shook her head gently. "I feel wonderful, Wizard."

"I can see clearly, hear every sound, and there's no pain anywhere."

"Your spell worked perfectly. Truly... thank you."

She smiled again, radiant as a water lily in full bloom—

Clear, luminous, untouched by flaw.

"That's a relief." Hearing her answer, Xu Xi conducted his own examination, confirming what was already evident: her health was flawless.

Preparing for this day of flesh and blood restoration had demanded much.

First, he had dedicated a spell slot to mastering a sorcery otherwise useless to him.

Then came the gathering of bones—countless specimens, each tested to ensure Servia's revival would leave no scars.

Data, experiments, meticulous calculations—

Only then had he begun the true restoration.

The process was tedious, time-consuming.

But seeing the radiant smile of the Hero before him, Xu Xi knew it had been worth it.

"Wizard... have I troubled you too much?"

"Not at all. If anything, I'm the one troubling you. After all, it's always been you aiding my research."

Leaving the room, stepping beyond the corridor, their footsteps finally halted at a platform.

This was the higher reaches of the Tower of Salvation, bathed in golden sunlight, caressed by a gentle breeze—an ecosystem crafted to mimic the living world, a sanctuary for those who dwelled within.

"So beautiful..." Servia murmured.

Before her, the dawn stretched across the sky in soft hues of blue, silent and serene.

Sunlight slanted across the edges of leaves and petals, setting them aglow.

Irregular shapes shimmered as light spilled over greenery, cascading to the ground in scattered, dazzling patterns.

A sight so ordinary, yet in this dying world of sorcery, it was a rare treasure—a fleeting dream of beauty.

"Wizard... thank you."

The Hero spoke again, gratitude woven into her voice. "Because of you, I can feel this warmth once more."

Her left hand remained clasped in Xu Xi's.

With her right, she reached forward, hesitant yet hopeful, and caught a handful of golden light.

...

[The Hero, restored to her true form, possessed a beauty uniquely her own.]

[You had seen elves before.]

[Elves were purity, grace, beauty incarnate.]

[Yet you believed the Hero, in her renewed state, held a splendor surpassing even theirs.]

[It was a beauty tempered by malice—]

[Cracked, yet still shining with unbroken radiance.]

[Eager to experience more of her reclaimed life, the Hero proposed exploring the tower further.]

[You agreed.]

"You—you're Servia, aren't you?"

"Your face... it's healed?"

Before, Servia had hidden behind the excuse of fire-scarred ruin.

The people had pitied her, grown accustomed to her marred visage.

But today—

Every assumption was overturned.

They clamored in excitement, offering blessings and cheers.

"I knew it! I just knew it!"

"Lady Servia deserves this happiness!"

"By the heavens—Lady Servia is breathtaking! Is this what a saint looks like?"

Wherever they went, Servia's appearance stirred murmurs among the crowds.

Yet the people restrained themselves, keeping a respectful distance, watching with quiet contentment as she and Xu Xi walked hand in hand.

What were they thinking?

Servia had a guess.

Her cheeks burned like summer fruit.

Shyness, anticipation, a quiet joy—all of it made her grip that warm hand even tighter.

Father...

Mother...

The Clawphire family teachings hadn't covered what to do in situations like this...

Ahhh...

The girl's flustered thoughts came and went like the wind, a passing breeze cooling the heat in her cheeks.

Before she knew it, Servia's attention was captured by the tower's wonders—

Now seen through the eyes of the living.

Many familiar things burst forth with dazzling colors, so stunning that they seized one's gaze, making it hard to look away.

It wasn’t until half an hour had passed—

after visiting several key locations within the tower—

that Servia finally stopped her leisurely stroll. She turned to gaze back at the colossal structure and said, "Lord Wizard, let’s stop here."

"Don’t want to continue, Servia?" Xu Xi asked.

His hand still held hers, steadying her in case she stumbled.

Bathed in the warm sunlight, Servia’s features softened, her skin pale as snow, her deep green eyes bright and luminous.

"No, Lord Wizard," she replied with a smile. "For the remaining half hour, I’d like to do something else."

Xu Xi frowned. "Servia, you don’t need to worry about time."

The effective duration of flesh regeneration was one hour.

A short span, indeed.

But the spell could be recast.

As long as the required mystical materials were prepared again, and Xu Xi intervened, Servia’s physical state could be prolonged.

Yet, Servia declined.

"Thank you for your kindness, but this one hour is enough for me…"

The young maiden, clad in a pristine white dress, appeared serene and radiant under the sun’s glow.

Her right thumb and forefinger

lightly brushed against the emerald-green ring on her left hand,

caressing its cool surface.

A verdant shimmer swirled within, silver glints dancing alongside.

"Lord Wizard, casting the spell repeatedly would trouble you too much."

"And—"

"Didn’t you always say that the value of time isn’t measured by its length?"

One hour was indeed brief.

But because it was spent with Xu Xi, it felt fulfilling.

Even after time passed and her body reverted to bones, the lingering warmth and joy would keep the Brave One happy for a long, long while.

She smiled.

Her jade-like eyes were breathtaking.

"Lord Wizard, for the remaining time… could we have something to eat?"