"Ah, Andrew, you're awake?"
A small figure squeezed into the tent—it's little Sophie.
Andrew looked over and found that the young girl hadn't suffered particularly serious injuries. Was it his timely rescue, or was it her own physical resilience?
Hmm, maybe that piece of cloth he used worked...
Little Sophie didn't look like the black soot ball as when she first emerged from the fire; although Wildfire Town was very short on water, Aunt Sofia seemed to have washed her daughter's face thoroughly.
The young girl's skin wasn't exactly fair, nor was she exceptionally beautiful, but she was lively and healthy, with a cute little nose and bright, spirited eyes.
Lively and healthy, little Sophie saw Andrew wake up, and after the initial surprise, her eyes turned red.
She rushed in and flopped onto the bed: "Waaa, Andrew brother, even though you're awake now, you're still going to die soon. Waaa..."
Andrew thought that, according to the norms of this world, he indeed should die from lung failure within seven days, if not sooner.
Fortunately, he had the "Water Spirit Technique"!
Thinking of this, Andrew suddenly froze.
The Water Spirit Technique could heal lung burns...
Extinguishing fire could unlock the Tear of the Water God...
Andrew vaguely felt as if he had grasped something!
Seeing Andrew's silence, little Sophie cried even more sadly; suddenly, she gritted her teeth and said, "Since Andrew brother saved me, then... I belong to you."
Andrew was trying hard to capture that faint but crucial thought, and answered casually, "There's no need for that."
But little Sophie lifted her small face, her big eyes full of determination, "Though I can't save you, I can preserve your bloodline's ember. Before Andrew brother dies, I... I'm willing to become your wife and bear your child. No time to lose, let's—ouch!"
Andrew lightly tapped her on the head, thinking what kind of strange girl he had rescued.
Sophie, you know you're still a minor in my original world, right? Just touching you would get me jailed!
But seeing little Sophie holding her head with a wronged yet serious look in her eyes, Andrew sighed and said, "Don't worry, I won't die."
Little Sophie clearly didn't believe him, raising her tear-filled eyes, "But Grand Mage Humboldt said, Andrew brother, you..."
Andrew said, "Grand Mage Humboldt is wrong. Andrew brother is not like others. Others in the fire got their lungs damaged by smoke and magic elements, they might not survive, but Andrew brother definitely has no issue—ah!"
Suddenly exclaiming, Andrew's eyes showed a mix of joy and surprise.
He finally grasped that vague but inherently important thought:
The Water Spirit Technique could heal his lung damage.
Could it then be used to heal others in this world who are dying from lung damage?
Firefighting... rescuing fire victims... in theory, it should be considered broadly as firefighting too?
—Simply put, if he healed a lung-damaged fire victim now using the Water Spirit Technique (of course secretly), would his "Tear of the Water God" potentially unlock more and stronger abilities?
This thought excited Andrew's heart!
Little Sophie said skeptically, "Andrew brother isn't like others and won't die from lung damage? Then... after seven days, when Grand Mage Humboldt finds Andrew brother hasn't died..."
Andrew felt a chill in his heart.
This was indeed the top issue right now: he wouldn't die, but seven days later, once Grand Mage Humboldt found he hadn't died, he would certainly find it odd.
By then, either he'd have to play dead or escape, or he'd need to gain the strength to confront the old mage!
And his time was only seven days!
"Where's your mom?" Andrew asked little Sophie.
The immediate task was to ask Aunt Sofia how many patients with lung injuries were in Wildfire Town.
If he could enhance his power by healing others through the "Water Spirit Technique" within seven days, it would be ideal.
If he guessed wrong and couldn't enhance his power through that path, or if it wasn't enough to face that old mage, then it would be wise to consider evasion as the last, worst choice.
Wildfire Town was surrounded by desert. The extreme environment of the desert was one thing; on the other hand, the desert also harbored "Desolate Beasts," possibly more terrifying than that old mage Humboldt.
Being a child after all, little Sophie didn't delve deeply into whether "Andrew brother would die within seven days," and her attention was quickly diverted.
She replied, "Mom went to Uncle Ivan to trade for food."
Trade for food?
Andrew thought for a moment and understood.
With their home burned down, they could only temporarily reside in this makeshift camp, and food was especially scarce.
Aunt Sofia going to trade for food was perfectly understandable.
As for this Uncle Ivan... Andrew searched his memories and didn't find particularly much information.
Sophie laughed and said, "Uncle Ivan used to be the strongest 'Desert Hunter' in the town; later, he injured his lungs and stopped hunting Desolate Beasts outside the town. But Uncle is really nice, though, very good to me and Mom, giving us food every month."
Andrew's eyes lit up involuntarily at this.
Whether Ivan was truly a good person or not, Andrew didn't know or care.
The key was what Sophie said: "Uncle Ivan used to be the strongest hunter in the town, and later 'injured his lungs.'"
Injured his lungs!
A strong Desert Hunter who had injured his lungs?
Andrew squinted slightly.
After a bit of thought, Andrew got up and ruffled Sophie's hair: "Little Sophie, stay put in the camp. Brother Andrew will be back soon."
"Ah? Andrew brother, it's not good for you to leave now. Where are you... going?"
Little Sophie hesitated slightly, instinctively grabbing onto Andrew's hand.
"It's okay, I'm just going for a stroll, I'll be back soon."
Andrew gave the little girl a reassuring look while gently patting her little hand's back.
After saving little Sophie from the fire last night, she'd naturally developed some attachment to him.
But there were some things that were impossible to explain to little Sophie...
No, it should be said, it was impossible to explain to anyone but himself.
Andrew ruffled little Sophie's hair again, then turned, lifted the tent flap, and hurried out.
Little Sophie watched Andrew's departing figure from the camp, always feeling that the slightly frail back seemed... different from her impression of brother Andrew?
As for how he was different, the little girl tilted her head and thought for a while, but couldn't quite explain it.