It took Yuna and Yori merely half an hour to get back to the first stronghold. During this time, Yuna gave him constant glances to check up on his condition and applied additional pressure on his large wound. Only few words were spoken.
"How did you even know I was here, Yuna?"
He asked weakly.
"Noboru told Kei and he told me when I last visited him."
Yori remained quiet once his curiosity was satisfied, fighting to stay conscious. After the battle, all of the previously accumulated adrenaline in his body had left and he had used up almost all of his essence.
He was extremely close to dying now. Only one person could surely save him.
As they arrived at the southern gate of the first stronghold, Yuna screamed commandingly and urgingly at the guards on the other side.
"Open the gate this instant!"
The guards, recognising Yuna's voice, immediately flung open the gate and bowed as they cleared the path for her. She, accompanied by the dying Yori, were gone and out of sight before any of the guards could give her a singular glance.
In a matter of seconds she had already rushed him to the central building.
All of the mortals these two passed felt nothing but a short and strong burst of air hit them. None of them could even comprehend the speed of a rank 5 Enlightened.
She dragged Yori into the hospital, in search of one specific woman. If she would hand him over to just a measly doctor, it would mean certain death for him. Even rank 1 and 2 Enlightened with primary elements that could heal would not be able to save him.
The receptionist screamed loudly and in shock as she witnessed the condition that Yori was in. She knew that Yuna was searching for one person in particular and not just any healer or doctor. Silently but without hesitation, she pointed in the direction and whispered with a shaking voice.
"T-the third last room on the right side."
Yuna dashed there and arrived in a few milliseconds. She kicked the door open and screamed loudly.
"Hana, Yori needs help Immediately!"
A gorgeous woman knelt besides a sick mortal, blessing them with her gentle and caring smile.
Her dress was elegant and beautiful. Her face was smooth and her body short. She looked young, barely any older than Kei.
Her pink eyes shone with energy and her pink, shoulder long hair that she wore in curly curtain bangs gave her a graceful and warm appearance.
It was Hana Kaida. She was referred to as 'gentle flower' more often than by her actual name. She was the fifth strongest Enlightened in the first stronghold and a rank 3 just like Yori. Her primary element was plants. She, unlike most who chose this primary element, focused on healing abilities and quickly rose in ranks, becoming the strongest healer in the first stronghold by far.
She, just like Yuna, is a young prodigy and will most likely become the third or even the second strongest Enlightened in the first stronghold eventually.
Hana spun around immediately upon hearing the door slammed open and Yuna entering. She internally went through a multitude of emotions in just a few seconds; her face showed every single one of them.
First she seemed confused and got startled by her sudden entry. As she saw the condition Yori was currently in, her face went pale and she covered her lips with her hands, letting out a screech of shock. Her eyes went wide and she practically jumped up and dashed towards him.
"W-what happened?! Y-Yori, please hold on for just a bit longer! D-don't die please!"
She took him into her embrace and placed him down comfortably on the ground, removing the stone from his wound.
"Don't talk, Hana…you can ask me every detail later…heal me please."
Yori answered quietly, wheezing with each breath. His consciousness was fading rapidly.
Hana's hands emitted a green light as they hovered over Yori's dying body.
She put all off her focus into her healing abilities now, trying to save Yori no matter what.
Her essence flowed gently from all over her body into her hands. She commanded it to flow from her body into Yori's and thanks to her primary element, she was able to give her essence a healing effect. All of that was done with merely a few simple thoughts.
As her essence flowed through Yori's body, it hastily repaired destroyed cells, replenished his blood and filled the huge hole in his abdomen.
Once she was done healing him, she got up, and gazed at him hopefully. Yuna did the same.
For a few more seconds, Yori layed there, unmoving. Then suddenly, he stopped wheezing and slowly got up, letting out a few pained groans in the process.
The injuries may be gone but the pain won't be for a few more days to come.
"Dammit…that's why I rarely ever leave the first stronghold."
Seeing his full recovery, Yuna, who stood alone in one of the corners of the room, heaved a relieved sigh and the tension in her body finally cleared.
Hana hugged the old man tightly and took a few deep and shaky breaths, trying to calm herself down.
Yori spoke up once she released him from her grasp.
"Thank you dearly, Hana. I owe you one."
Yori, in a less weakened state and able to return to his usual behaviour, smiled gently at Hana and bowed slightly.
"Of course, Yori. I would never let you die prematurely!"
Her smile was joyful and full of life as she gazed at him. Her voice was sweet like honey. Soon after, she started gazing curiously at him.
"So what happened to you, Yori? I mean you almost died just now. Surely this was not just a normal monster attack or a random rogue Enlightened that tried robbing you, right?"
"It certainly was not such a harmless event, no. A few days ago…"
Yori went on to explain all of the events leading up to this very moment.
As Yori finished his speech, Hana's face contorted with anger and hatred, her voice turning enraged and disgusted.
"They want a war, huh? I'm glad. After they attacked one of us I would HATE to let them live. In these moments I wish I wouldn't be a healer but a fighter so that I could personally massacre these worthless monsters! They all deserve a humiliating execution for what they did and I'll happily laugh at them as they slowly die to us! Even if a single one of them survives I'll hunt them to the end of the world and destroy-"
"Hana! Calm yourself already. Your anger won't fix anything."
Yori interrupted Hana before she could continue speaking. The more she spoke, the angrier she got. It would lead to nothing but meaningless screaming and an impairment of Hana's ability to think clearly.
Upon hearing Yori, Hana composed herself and got back to her graceful and gentle self, blushing slightly.
"Oh! Yes, you're right, Yori. I sincerely apologise for my outburst."
She bowed apologetically for a short second and her blush slowly dissipated.
"But…what should we do now?"
As Hana spoke these words, both Yori and her started to gaze at Yuna who still stood quietly in her chosen corner.
"Yori, you have the ascender stone for your apprentice. Let him ascend in these next few days and teach him the basics. He has great talent. His power would be of great use and he could support you greatly even as a freshly ascended Enlightened."
"I will notify all of the other 10 strongest Enlightened as quickly as possible. Hana, prepare yourself for war alongside the others."
"We will take the fight to them and strike before they can mobilise their forces. That way, we will suffer the least consequences for our city. We will definitely succeed either way so we mustn't worry."
Without another word said, Yuna walked out of the room. Both Hana and Yori nodded at her and got moving as well to fulfill their part of the plan.
The sick mortal looked flabbergasted as he observed the scene that just unfolded before him. This would be a great story to tell once he comes home to his family.