The cottage door flew open, but Esther didn't enter so much as collapse through it. She hit her knees on the hard-packed dirt floor just inside the threshold, her body wracked with silent, gut-wrenching sobs. Lyra rushed to her side. "Esther! What happened? Are you hurt?" Her first instinct was to help, but when she knelt and touched her, Esther flinched away like a wounded animal. Lyra froze, her eyes taking in the damage. Esther's clothes were in tatters. A deep cut on her abdomen seeped blood, and her shirt was ripped away, revealing a pink bra and the pale skin of her breasts. Without a word, Lyra went to the cage and grabbed a rat. Seeing the wounds weren't life-threatening, she was about to begin her own ritual, but Esther held up a hand, her face a mask of concentration. A faint blue light enveloped the rat, and the small creature died, its body riddled with transferred injuries. Then, Esther winced, taking the rest of the damage herself to ensure there were no scars. "It took everything," Esther choked out between sobs. "The sword, the shield, the money... even the last potion." Not knowing what else to do after the healing was complete, Lyra pulled her into an embrace. Esther returned it, clinging to her, the contact calming her tremors, though the feel of Esther's bare breasts against her made Lyra's heart pound.
"The Goddess does not give us trials we cannot overcome," Lyra whispered softly in her ear. "You have failed, yes. But you have not been defeated. As long as you are still breathing, the fight is not over." Esther tried to quiet her sobs, nodding in gratitude, though the humiliation still burned hot. "If I'd lost to two goblins," she lamented, "or after I'd killed one or two..." Lyra simply held her. "Get changed," she said gently. Esther nodded, shedding her torn skirt and shirt until she stood only in her underwear, the fabric of her panties wedged between her cheeks like a thong. In front of Lyra, she made no move to cover her breasts, simply pulling on a thin chemise that fell to her waist, the fabric doing little to hide the curve of her body beneath. After they ate, the food soothing Esther's raw nerves, she tried to change the subject. "You eat better now," she observed. "Your skin has more color than when we met." Lyra hesitated, not wanting to speak ill of the priests. "Life in the Temple was... very ascetic, for those not in constant service of healing."
Lyra then suggested they try a healing exercise. "I believe you can do it," she said earnestly. "It will lift your spirits. The spell is simple, even with little mana; the hard part is transferring the damage." They sat, and Lyra brought another rat. With a small kitchen knife, she made a shallow cut on its belly, its squeals sharp, and handed it to Esther. She instructed her on the words to say and how to focus her mana. Esther followed the steps, and to her amazement, the rat's wound vanished completely. Lyra's voice warmed with approval. "See? You have a natural gift, Esther. Your control was perfect." Her smile was genuine, though her hands remained steady on her lap—steady because she knew this ritual was not difficult, but steady because she wanted Esther to believe it was a triumph.. "Very few can do it perfectly on the first try. It is clear you are the Goddess's chosen." The words sank into Esther, and for the first time all day, a flicker of genuine pride sparked within her. "Are you tired?" Lyra asked. "A little," Esther admitted. "I could do it again." "There's no need," Lyra said. "After today, it's better not to be without mana. It would be too draining emotionally." She suggested they go to bed. Esther agreed. As they lay down, Esther turned to her. "Lyra... could you hold me?" Lyra's breath caught, but she whispered, "Of course." She scooted closer, wrapping her arms around Esther from beneath, her arms resting under her breasts, feeling her warmth but keeping her own hips back, terrified of the liquid heat she could feel building between her legs. Esther relaxed into the embrace. "What's the plan for tomorrow?" Lyra asked softly. "After today... I decided I need a master. We'll go to Dry Port. But I have to wait for the blacksmith's order the day after tomorrow." "Of course," Lyra agreed. "Good night." "Good night," Esther replied, falling asleep almost instantly. Lyra lay awake, a desperate ache to touch the soft weight of Esther's breasts making her hands tremble. She forced herself to be still, finally drifting off hours later.