Damned Healer-Chapter 465: Seemed Unstable

Darian watched the process in the forge closely. Haruto worked with total focus; he’d just read the theory of Immortal Cores but lacked the practical experience, so he had to do everything very carefully. Still, his talent and skills were highly refined — after a little trying, he understood how to do it.

The days dragged on, each one slower than the last, a countdown to the return.

With less than twenty-four hours left before the scheduled return to the training universe, Haruto finally finished creating the core.

The three daggers lay on the anvil, radiating pure, intense fluctuations.

Darian stepped forward, then felt those cores inside the metal.

They had two energies intertwined — draconic power and natural elements. Everything about those daggers had always been supreme and unbelievable, never letting Darian down. Now, with these cores in them, in theory, the control and power their spirits would gain could bring out an even greater potential... 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The crucial moment had arrived.

Darian concentrated and pulled the three sealed souls from his inventory. They were small spheres of pulsing light, already healed from their wounds and kept in a waiting state.

He took the dagger that radiated the wind element. Gently, he moved Awel’s soul slowly toward the core, starting the connection attempt with the utmost care.

Feeling that fragile soul, Darian’s mind drifted into memories. He remembered the long conversations he’d had with Awel, how she’d get lost in her stories about Earth, other universes, and everything he’d lived through.

Listening closely, her excited smile and the light in her eyes were pure enthusiasm. It was like she was hearing the most amazing legend in the world; her fascination broke Darian’s guard and made him tell absolutely everything she wanted to know.

Over the years, Awel already knew all of Darian’s details, even about Niara and his deepest thoughts.

In the last year, even without fully understanding the complexity of that relationship, Awel seemed to have a new sparkle — like she understood a little more about life through his perspective every day.

When the small greenish sphere clicked into the core, Darian stopped and left the dagger on the anvil. Now it was a matter of adaptation. In a normal core, a Heavenly Elemental Spirit would fuse immediately, but this was unique. They could only rely on fate.

Then Darian took Tir and moved him to the next dagger. A deep sigh escaped his lips before starting the process.

He remembered Tir’s honesty and unshakable will. For Tir, his two sisters were everything; he’d do whatever it took to protect them.

That dedication mirrored Darian’s old self, which made him feel an instant familiarity. Over time, Tir absorbed his teachings like a sponge, essentially becoming his disciple.

The process was completed. Finally, Darian moved Eleri. A light smile touched his lips — he could almost see the girl’s annoyed face at being last.

At first, Eleri was impulsive, like an untamable current. She didn’t measure consequences, she just flowed. Tir and Awel were her map and protection, letting her live free.

That reminded Darian of Lucy’s childhood. The two were quite similar. So he couldn’t stop caring for her like she was really his sister.

But Darian needed to teach her properly. Life was too cruel for someone to be "just cared for." Awel and Tir also needed her strength and protection. Being free wasn’t the problem, as long as she knew the right moment to use that freedom for those she loved.

With the three souls in the cores, Darian waited.

Minutes passed, and anxiety began to grow. He’d only made the initial connection and couldn’t force the rest; they’d have to do it themselves. But...

...the three remained unconscious, and the connection showed no sign of advancing.

Long minutes dragged on with no change.

The situation was like planting a rare seed in soil that only half matched the original. In theory, everything it needed was there, but in different proportions and mixed with something much larger. All they could do was hope the seeds had the instinct to adapt and grow.

An hour went by — nothing.

Darian clenched his fists, desperation bubbling in his chest. Haruto, beside him, watched with the same anguish. He’d done his absolute best. The only solution now would be to destroy the cores and put the souls into simpler weapons.

But if Darian accepted that, they’d be trapped forever to a weaker power. Darian had higher goals. If they were linked to simple weapons, they’d soon be left behind and replaced.

He waited without hesitating, but with every minute his hope drained.

’They look like they’re sleeping, stuck in a very heavy dream,’ Niara said in his mind, light and simple.

Darian let out a sigh. After the torture they’d gone through at that King’s hands, he had restored their mental power first, so they could stabilize smoothly — like falling into a deep sleep.

But now, everything was already healed, and they should’ve woken up by now...

’Dan, why don’t you try calling them directly? Maybe you can make them react.’

Darian took a deep breath, accepting that waiting in silence wasn’t going to work. He picked up the daggers with a worried look. It might take a long time before he found another way to bring them back to life... or he could just revive them in a simple way and let them live safely.

But knowing them... he was sure that wasn’t what they wanted. The three weren’t the kind to stay quiet while others worked and solved everything for them. They had the drive to fight and to help. Reviving them only to abandon them later because of their limits would be the worst thing Darian could ever do.

He sighed deeply, "I’m sorry... I failed. I’ll find another way to bring you back... I promise."

Darian muttered, his voice heavy with guilt and self-blame.

*Bzz...*

"!"

Suddenly, a faint and subtle tremor ran through the three daggers.

Darian’s eyes widened. He focused on the cores but couldn’t detect any visible change.

’Talk to them! Tell them to wake up and connect to this new place!’ Niara urged quickly.

Darian swallowed hard. Then he murmured, a thread of hope trembling in his voice:

’Tir, Eleri, Awel... this is the new body I prepared for you. I know it’s hard, but if you can merge perfectly, we can all be together again. I need you to wake up and try.’

*Bzz...*

Another soft vibration was felt. Then, the next second...

*BZZ!*

The third one came stronger, unmistakable.

The three daggers pulsed with a synchronized elemental glow.

Darian noticed a massive change in them — their souls trembled. Inside the cores, elemental power stirred, fusing with their essences.

The draconic power was still the great obstacle, but they needed to at least connect with it.

’They’re giving it their all... they’re good kids...’ Niara whispered.

Darian just watched, completely focused, unable to do anything but hope.

The minutes slipped away... until suddenly, everything stopped.

Darian grabbed one of the daggers and analyzed it carefully with his senses. Inside the core, he saw a little girl floating, radiating an overwhelming power... then, her eyes slowly opened.

"!"

In that instant, the entire forge was flooded with a bluish light. The temperature dropped, and a faint mist covered everything. Haruto felt his body completely surrounded by a crushing water aura.

Darian was overtaken by a wave of uncontrollable excitement. Those small eyes opened just a little, noticing him staring back.

In his mind, he heard a soft, sleepy voice: ’Big brother... I’m so sleepy... I just want to sleep a little longer... okay?’

After saying that, Eleri’s eyes closed again.

Darian picked up the other two daggers and realized — they had all fallen into a state of exhaustion. But... the cores were now one with them. The connection was complete, though the core energies still seemed unstable.

"You can... sleep as long as you want..." Darian could only murmur, his voice trembling with emotion — pure relief.