Max nodded, acknowledging her emotions. He then shook his head and smiled, "You shouldn't say that, elder. You have a beautiful life awaiting you."
"Yes, Mother. Please don't speak such words ever again." Maria sobbed with tears in her eyes. Her mother and Father were the people she loved the most. So, it pained her whenever they spoke such ominous words.
The old woman smiled and gently wiped her tears, "Alright, alright. Now don't go crying in front of young sir and behave like a proper lady." She laughingly lectured her.
Hearing this, Maria snuck a glance at Max, who was smiling at them. She blushed and shyly looked away.
...
After half an hour, Maria's father completely calmed down. However, the nerve-racking pain he experienced exhausted him in both body and mind. So, he passed out.
Phew!
Little Arya exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat off of her forehead. Using her abilities for more than half an hour without break drained her quite a bit. Her face had turned pale white.
"Thank you, saint girl, for helping my father." Maria bowed toward little Arya and expressed her gratitude.
"Hehe, big sister. It's al..." Little Arya chuckled happily as she stood up and tried to walk toward Rima. However, after taking a step, she wobbled and fell down.
Swoosh!
Leticia reacted instantaneously and moved like a gust of wind. She prevented her from falling and gently lifted her and worriedly asked, "Are you alright, little Arya?"
After spending so much time together and coupled with the fact that little Arya was such an adorable girl, she liked and cared for her a lot. The same was true for everybody in Max's group.
"Hehe, big sister. I'm... alright. Just a little exhausted..." After saying this, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"I'll take her to rest in the other room." Leticia said and walked off.
...
Maria's mother was happy and full of gratitude toward Max as she examined her husband's condition.
Now that the poison affecting his vitality was gone, although he was still feeble, he no longer looked like an old man at his doorstep.
She took the bottle of antidote from his grasp and looked at it with much desire. This half full bottle was the solution to her sickness that had been tormenting her day and night. The sickness that her dear daughter to suffer from a tender age.
Thinking that all the suffering, problems and difficulties they had to suffer because of their incurable illness would vanish after she drank it made her want to weep in joy.
This seemed like a dream to her. Never had she thought there would be a day when she could be cured. As she looked at the bottle of antidote, the despair enveloping her aged figure slowly faded away and her hands holding the bottle started trembling.
She opened the cork and was about to drink its contents when Max called out, "Elder, please wait until little Arya has recuperated. She will help you mitigate the pain."
The old man was comparatively healthier than her. So, when even he couldn't endure the antidote's cleansing, how would she be able to do it? Max worried she might die because of the pain, so he advised.
The old woman felt a cold chill run down her spine when she recalled how much pain her husband was in.
However, she shook her head, "Young sir, the saint girl is just a child. I can't bother her with this."
Hearing their conversation, Maria panicked and hastily said, "Mother, you can't drink that medicine. You won't be able to withstand the pain. Please let the saint girl help you."
The old woman hesitated for a moment and then sighed, "Okay."
"Wait." Suddenly, Belen called out.
"Hm? What is it?" Max curiously asked.
"I've something that might help the elder with the pain." Belen said and took out a red pill.
"This is a grade two pill. It can numb the sensory nerves so she won't feel any pain if she takes it before drinking that medicine." Explaining what it was, she handed it to Max.
"Thanks." Max smiled. As always, Belen was quite resourceful. Belen nodded and faintly smiled.
Max glanced at Maria's mother, who was looking at the pill in his hand. Before he could say anything, she spoke, "I can drink this now, right?"
Max smiled wryly and gave her the pill. "Take this before you drink that bottle."
"Yes. Thank you." She immediately threw the pill in her mouth and then drank the antidote.
Max wasn't too surprised by her hastiness. If someone at their death door finds something that can save their life, they definitely wouldn't want to wait even a second, just like her.
Max told Maria to help her mother comfortably lie down on the bed.
After five or so minutes later, the antidote started working. She was trembling just as furiously as the old man did, but thanks to Belen's pill; she wasn't feeling much pain, so the process was a lot smoother. However, after half an hour, she also couldn't maintain her consciousness and passed out.
Maria was concerned about her parents and wasn't willing to move away from them, so Max, Belen, and Rima also stayed with her.
After two hours, little Arya and Leticia also came out and stayed with them.
Time continued to pass. The sun sat, and the evening came.
"My... my lord, why aren't my parents waking up?" Maria worriedly asked.
"They were too weak and their illness was quite serious. So, the healing process took a lot out of them. So, they will need some time to recover. Don't worry." Max calmly consoled.
"Mm." Maria calmed down after hearing this.
...
After half an hour, the old man opened his eyes.
Maria was immensely relieved to see this and helped him sit up.
"Father! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
The old man smiled reassuringly and nodded. "Don't worry, little girl. I'm completely fine."
He then glanced beside him and noticed his wife sleeping and let out a breath of relief.
With Maria's help, he stood up and bowed toward Max and emotionally said, "Although you said not to, but please let me thank you for helping us. We will be eternally grateful to you."
"It's alright, elder. Please sit down." Max nodded in acknowledgement.
After a while, Maria's mother also woke up and, just like the old man, she also thanked Max.
Maria was also very grateful that he cured her parents and ended their suffering. She knew he wouldn't like if she also thanked her. So, after thinking for a moment, she walked up to him and shyly whispered, "My lord, why don't you stay here tonight? I-I'll tend to your needs."
*****
Happy new year everyone!
As a new year gift, I'll release 3 chapters tomorrow. Moreover, for the whole month of January, there will be 2 chapters daily. If you want more chapters, I've set targets. Please check them out in Author's thought section.
