Several staff members responsible for maintaining order and providing medical assistance in the Fontaine Court of Justice reacted the fastest.
They immediately hurried over and carefully crouched beside Clorinde, intending to check her condition.
However, none of them dared to touch her recklessly.
After all, Clorinde was Fontaine’s most powerful Champion Duelist.
If even she had suddenly collapsed unconscious, then there might truly be something seriously wrong with her body.
Furina was stunned as well.
The joy on her face instantly disappeared, replaced by surprise and concern.
She subconsciously released Toki’s arm.
Standing on her toes, she looked toward Clorinde and asked uncertainly, “Toki…
Did you make Clorinde pass out from anger?” “Pass out because of me?” Toki also looked toward Clorinde.
He didn’t approach her immediately, merely observing her from a distance.
His gaze fell upon Clorinde’s pale face and the bruises left behind by the repeated blows he had landed on her.
Then he chuckled and explained, “That’s not why she fainted.
“She’s injured, completely exhausted, and on top of that, she suffered a major emotional blow.
“We fought at full intensity for over an hour, and she spent practically the entire time launching relentless attacks.
“Her stamina was already almost completely depleted.
“Then she lost the duel and had her undefeated record of many years broken.
“With both her body and mind taking such a heavy blow, she finally couldn’t hold on anymore and passed out.” As Furina listened to Toki’s explanation, the worry on her face only deepened.
She hesitated for several seconds before turning toward him with a pleading look.
“Toki…
Could you heal her?
“Clorinde has always treated me very well.
She’s been quietly protecting me all these years.
“So many times, when I found myself in danger and was on the verge of having my secret exposed…
“She was the one who stepped in and helped me out of it…” As she spoke, sincere pleading filled her eyes.
She knew how powerful the healing effect of Toki’s Bolstering Bubblebalm was.
As long as Toki used it, Clorinde would definitely recover and wake up soon!
“You haven’t even asked me what using Bolstering Bubblebalm costs me.
“You see someone injured and immediately ask me to heal them?” Toki shook his head and smiled.
“Huh?!” Furina visibly froze.
Panic quickly spread across her face.
“I-I’m sorry!!!
“I can’t believe I never even considered that!
“I heard Sigewinne can only use this ability after a long interval.
“And that it puts an enormous burden on her body.
“You…
must be the same, right?” “It’s nothing serious.” Toki sighed and spoke in a gloomy tone.
“Using it once only takes a few years off my lifespan.” “What?!
“Using that ability consumes your life force?” Furina froze completely upon hearing that.
Hydro already seemed ready to spill from her eyes again.
“You’ve healed me so many times…
“Doesn’t that mean…
“I-I’m sorry…” Furina’s reaction became increasingly intense.
Some of the Fontaine citizens nearby were beginning to notice what was happening.
Seeing this, Toki realized that he had taken the joke too far.
He immediately leaned closer to Furina.
“Don’t cry.
I was lying!
“Using this ability doesn’t cost me anything at all!
“I can use it as much as I want!” “Y-You’re lying to me now!
“Even Sigewinne has a Vision, and using it still puts such a huge burden on her.
“You don’t even have a Vision…
so surely…” As Furina spoke, Hydro was already beginning to gather around her eyes.
Toki frowned and hurriedly reminded her, “If you keep this up, people are going to start getting suspicious!
“You’re the Hydro Archon.
“You can’t just burst into tears whenever you feel like it.
“Do you really want that prophecy to…” Furina jolted awake the instant she heard that.
Five hundred years of performing her role allowed her to switch personas in a single second.
The guilt-ridden girl who had been hanging her head moments earlier instantly transformed back into the proud and dignified Hydro Archon.
“Claiming that it consumes my life force is just the explanation I give outsiders.” Toki leaned toward Furina’s ear and continued quietly, “I don’t have a Vision, so I need some kind of excuse for why I can use elemental power.
“Besides, do I really look like the kind of self-sacrificing saint who would throw away his own life for other people?
“I’m nowhere near that noble.” “I-It really…
doesn’t consume your life force?” Furina asked uncertainly.
“Relax.
If this ability cost me even the slightest bit of mental energy, I’d already be charging people for every use.
“Never mind something as valuable as my lifespan.” Toki waved his hand before turning toward Clorinde again.
“I’ll go give her a Bubblebalm.” In truth, even if Furina hadn’t asked, he had already planned on healing Clorinde.
Clorinde’s combat strength needed no explanation.
If he could bind her as a “partner,” his own combat strength would undoubtedly rise another level.
And right now was the perfect opportunity.
Healing Clorinde would earn him Furina’s gratitude.
At the same time, it could crack Clorinde’s aloof and stubborn exterior, allowing her to lower her guard toward him and laying a solid foundation for eventually binding her as a “partner.” With that, Toki began walking toward Clorinde.
At Furina’s signal, the surrounding staff members moved aside and opened a path for him.
Furina hurried after him, worry still written across her face.
Toki reached Clorinde and slowly crouched beside her.
Seen up close, Clorinde’s complexion was extremely pale.
Her lips were completely drained of color, and the sweat on her forehead had yet to dry, droplets sliding down her cheeks before falling onto the floor.
Her brows were slightly furrowed.
Even while unconscious, she still carried a trace of stubbornness, as though she were unwilling to accept her defeat even in her dreams.
The bruising on her arms was severe.
As for the rest of her body…
Even the areas protected by a thick layer of cushioning were probably in much the same condition.
Against someone as formidable as Clorinde, Toki hadn’t held back at all during their fight.
Every punch from his Flowing Martial Art had landed solidly.
Toki took a slow breath.
Gentle Hydro began gathering around his fingertips.
With a light motion of his fingers, a crystal-clear Bolstering Bubblebalm formed.
The Bubblebalm emitted a faint blue glow and carried a warm, healing aura as it floated above his fingertips.
Everyone nearby held their breath, their gazes fixed firmly on the Bolstering Bubblebalm.
Earlier, they had only seen Toki use the Bubblebalm to restore his own condition.
They had never seen him use it on someone else.
Everyone was curious to see exactly how powerful the healing effect of this miraculous Bubblebalm truly was.
Toki carefully pressed the Bolstering Bubblebalm against Clorinde’s chest, his movements gentle.
Cool Hydro immediately spread outward, slowly flowing across Clorinde’s body until it enveloped her completely.
Under the nourishment of the Hydro, the severe bruising on her arms began fading at a rate visible to the naked eye.
A faint trace of color gradually returned to her previously pale complexion.
Even her furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Standing beside them, Furina watched Clorinde’s condition closely.
The worry on her face gradually faded.
She knew it!
Toki’s Bolstering Bubblebalm really could heal Clorinde!
Toki watched as Clorinde’s condition steadily improved, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
He could clearly sense the healing power of Bolstering Bubblebalm continuously nourishing Clorinde’s body, repairing the damage throughout her body and replenishing her exhausted stamina.
It wouldn’t be long before Clorinde woke up.
Meanwhile, Toki was already making plans in his mind.
Once Clorinde woke up and realized that he had healed her, even if she was still unwilling to accept the outcome of their duel, her opinion of him would inevitably improve.
After that, he could slowly guide things in the right direction.
Binding her as a “partner” shouldn’t be particularly difficult.
(End of Chapter)