The room fell into a silence, as all the elders stared at Luca.
Even Sigrid, who had grown somewhat accustomed to his casual miracles, could only turn her head and gape at him with her mouth slightly parted.
And Luca...Luca simply grinned back at them like a man with a plan.
It was, depending on one's perspective, either deeply reassuring or mildly infuriating.
Agnes was the first to snap back into focus.
"If this is really true...if you can truly do what you claim..." She paused, and her composure cracked, just for an instant. "We would be more than grateful. It would be a favor so immense that I don't know how we could possibly repay it."
Another elder with silver-streaked auburn hair named Helena shook her head in lingering disbelief.
"Agnes isn't exaggerating, Hero. I had resigned myself to this years ago. I thought for the rest of my life I would be limping, shuffling, barely able to get from my bed to my front door without help."
She let out a bitter laugh.
