"I think this is the first time..." A voice softly permeated the Fairy's ears.
As she hovered in the air—above the clear floors, luxurious bed, and the one who was laid atop it—she could feel an overwhelming emotion overtake her.
"... The first time I've seen you cry." The soft voice contained hints of sadness, but his words were intended to tease her.
This Fairy was Jane Ursula. The being who was on his deathbed at that moment was none other than Lewis Griffith—her best friend.
His grey hair, shriveled body, and wrinkled face made him look like a stranger compared to the man she knew decades ago. Still, he was one and the same.
He had just grown old.
"I'm sorry, Jane. I truly wanted to explore more with you." He smiled.
Out of everyone who was supposed to come for Lewis' last moments, she was the first to arrive.
Due to the kind of man he was, several important people would be arriving. Still, Jane wanted to have her private moment with him.
Seeing Lewis like this, though, was too much for her little heart to bear.
"You... you idiot. Then don't die! Don't die!" She cried even more.
Jane was an oddball through and through, but she was also a tough cookie.
Nothing seemed to faze her except for Magic. Even when Dom—one of their comrades—had died decades ago, she wasn't particularly shaken.
Sure, she really respected him as a comrade, and they were also trustworthy friends. However, she still viewed his death as part of the inevitable cycle of life.
It couldn't be avoided.
But... why was this case different?
Her heart felt like it would burst—hurting beyond what she had the capacity to bear.
Jane was an expert on Soul Magic, so she could clearly tell that he didn't have much longer.
Even though Lewis was fortunate to have lived a full life—even knowing where and when he would die—Jane Ursula couldn't accept his death.
She just... couldn't!
"I... can't live past this point. You know that, Jane." Lewis said with a soft smile.
He was seeing such a delicate side of his friend. Watching the tiny fairy make cure expressions as she cried—Lewis felt like it was more than good enough for a farewell present.
Though... his heart was also pained. If it was only for the sake of his friend, he would have loved to live a bit longer.
But, they both knew the truth.
"I don't have Magic. There's no way to surpass my physical limitations."
One of the things the both of them worked together on was how to lengthen the lives of the Races that didn't have long spans of life.
Elves lived very long, the same as Fairies. In contrast, humans had short lives. The average lifespan ranged from 80-100 years.
For Beastfolk, it was even worse.
Dwarves lived a bit older, but ultimately, none of them could cross 150 years.
For Lewis Griffith, a regular human, to live to the ripe age of 120 years, he had indeed reached his apex.
There was nothing that could be done.
Even though he and Jane had worked on this project together—achieving a breakthrough—they realized that it could only apply to those who had Mana Cores.
By utilizing one's Mana Core as a secondary heart, as well as using the Mana within to strengthen the body, it was possible to lengthen a person's lifespan.
Lewis Griffith was Inept. Such a principle didn't apply to him.
And so, his death approached at a fast rate.
"You know... if I were to use human terms, I've only known you for like....a month?" Jane said, slowly trying to cheer herself up.
Still, sobs escaped from her.
"You never did tell me your age," Lewis responded with a slight smile.
"And I never will!"
Fairies lived far longer than Elves did. Some lived beyond a thousand years and were referred to as Grand Fairies. I was certain Jane was among the longer-lived ones.
She never confirmed my suspicions, though.
"Even if I've known you for a short while—considering how long I've lived—I..." She stopped herself from saying any more.
Then, just as Lewis was about to tell her to proceed, the doors opened and more people entered.
That was the end of their conversation—at least, the ones that ears could hear.
But, Lewis heard a voice within his soul. It was soft and warm. The comfortable feeling that permeated his insides made him smile softly at her.
And she did the same.
What were the words he heard within him? Lewis Griffith could never forget them.
~I... liked you most of all—second only to Magic. You mean the most to me, Lewis!~
Even as he finally fell into eternal slumber, surrounded by those around him whom he loved and cherished more than anything else, the Great Sage never let go of those words.
They were the sum total of his relationship with her.
Fortunately, just before he died, he also responded.
~You were my best friend. I'm happy... that we were the Insane Duo. Have a full life, Jane.~
Then, death took the man.
The Soul Brand dissipated along with Lewis Griffith's soul, and he vanished beyond what Jane could sense.
That was their final farewell.
BUT—
"No! Not like this. Not ever again."
—The Mad Witch didn't forget the despairing feeling that assailed her that day!
And so, she trod a path that even dwarfed her other crazy endeavors of the past.
This was truly the path of insanity.
She dedicated her years to curing the source of her greatest grief. It was what every living creature desired, but none were able to achieve.
—Immortality!
Despite the impossibility, Jane never gave up. The voice of her best comrade was with her every step of the way.
"Magic makes the impossible possible."
Internalizing that principle, she pushed on.
And so, after nearly a century of such a tasking endeavor, the brilliant Jane Ursula finally arrived at the answer.
Body Swapping!
By creating an organic body through cutting-edge technology and intricate Mana, she was able to construct an exact replica of a Fairy's body.
And then... using her Soul Magic—alongside what she learned from The Hanged Man Arcana, she was able to transfer her Soul to a new, younger body.
As a result... she attained immortality!
