Chapter 27: Mana Recharge at Midnight? Rain Check!

The first rays of dawn kissed my face, pulling me from unconsciousness. I shook my dizzy head, relief flooding through me. If I hadn’t put on the Star Absorption Gloves to wipe Monaluna’s tears back at that crooked tree, I’d probably be kicking the bucket right now. Nope. Next time, I’m adding a safety lock to the Wingside Breeze magic runes.

"Hello? Water, please! Anyone there?"

*BOOOOM—* A deafening blast shook the window.

I jolted upright. Raiders attacking? Gotta warn the commissar!

*ZZZT—KABOOM!—ZZZT—* The explosions never stopped. My spiritual energy had mostly recovered. I stretched out my senses to scan the chaos outside.

Two hundred meters away, in the village clearing, two figures clashed. Swirling wind magic and crackling lightning auras distorted my perception—but I didn’t need magic to guess who they were.

*Oh crap.* One’s a clumsy sweetheart, the other just recovered from near-death. One swings without restraint; the other’s reborn with a vengeance. They’ll level the village! Where’s the Old Mage? Why isn’t he stopping them?

I scrambled into my clothes and kicked the door open. Gloves on. A flick of my right index finger—*whoosh*—the mid-tier wind buff "Cloudstep Arrow" launched me to the clearing’s edge. There they were: Monaluna and Cindira locked in fierce combat, evenly matched.

Monaluna, clad in light armor shimmering with cyan runes, wielded Wingside Breeze like a swallow dancing on air. Her blade flickered—thrusting, slashing, sweeping—sending razor-sharp wind blades slicing at Cindira from impossible angles.

Cindira, armored in ancient yet elegant plate armor (War God Clan craftsmanship, no doubt), moved with zero delay despite the weight. Her double-edged greatsword glowed violet, spitting arcs of lightning. She stood immovable as a mountain. When that sword struck, it meant death—each swing forcing Monaluna to retreat.

Their duel grew wilder, every move life-threatening. My heart hammered. If either got hurt, their families wouldn’t let it slide. Suddenly, Monaluna leapt back to a safe distance. Both hands gripped her sword as dense wind energy swirled into Wingside Breeze. Cyan aura flared around her—she was merging magic with martial skill, prepping a massive Chaotic Cut.

Cindira slammed her greatsword into the earth, knelt on one knee, fist pressed to her chest. Her energy felt weak, yet radiated lethal danger.

"Elemental Armor—MAX!" I activated my ultimate defense, cranking the power to maximum. A thumb flick—*thud*—the "Unmoving Mountain" and "Ironskin" buffs locked on. I lunged between them.

Too late. Both had finished charging. Swords flashed toward me!

Trapped at the epicenter, even inside my Zaku armor, dread clawed at my throat. No time to think. Right palm flipped up—index finger snapped—a stone wall erupted, intercepting Monaluna’s Chaotic Cut. Left hand swept down—wind summoned water, engulfing Cindira’s unknown lightning technique.

The stone wall shrieked under Monaluna’s oversized Chaotic Cut, grinding like metal on metal. It trembled but held, shattering the endless wind blades. Cindira’s lightning skill got trapped in the whirlwind, then bled harmlessly into the damp earth through the water channel.

Simple? Hardly. That stone wall—"Frostiron Bulwark"—was a fusion spell: earth for structure, lightning to magnetize hidden metal, water to flash-freeze it solid. The other trick demanded insane precision: maintaining the "Tornado" spell while weaving water into it, keeping the droplets cohesive and grounded like a lightning rod.

They both leapt back, putting distance between us. Monaluna’s sword tip aimed at my throat. "Who are you?!" she demanded. Cindira glared, muscles coiled to strike.

*Damn it.* Neither had seen my Elemental Armor before. This flashy suit boosted my power but hid my face completely. I dismissed the Zaku armor, revealing my exhausted face to the two hyperactive girls.

"Morning workout? Shouldn’t you be catching up on beauty sleep?"

"Oh. It’s just you." Monaluna scowled, clearly annoyed.

*My fault?* I nearly got sliced in half because of you!

"Forgive this humble one, Benefactor!" Cindira flushed with shame. "I failed to recognize you."

"It’s fine, I survived. But what’s this nonsense? Where’s the Old Mage? How’d he let you tear up the village?" I waved it off. *Benefactor? Me? And ‘this humble one’? Don’t rewrite your character bio!*

"Grandpa took those rowdy boys to town. I stayed to watch over you while you were out cold."

"Oh? I’ll *thank* him properly when I get back." Leaving the person who knocked me out to ‘care’ for me? Did he want me dead? ...Though honestly, my big mouth was the real culprit.

"What’s your deal?"

"Benefactor, this humble one awoke yesterday to find my battle aura fully restored! Overjoyed, I met Monaluna—such a valiant sister! We bonded instantly. This morning, we agreed to test our skills, to rediscover forgotten techniques after so many years—"

"Plain. English." My brain itched. Goosebumps prickled my skin.

"My aura’s back. Got itchy hands. Needed to spar with little Nana!" Cindira grinned, all military-brat bluntness.

"Exactly! We were having fun until *you* butted in," Monaluna huffed.

"...Glad you’re happy. Truly." No arguing with girls who casually fire supermoves. Time to handle village business. "I’m changing clothes. Gather everyone for a town meeting. We need a real plan—not this fly-by-night chaos."

"Yes, Benefactor. This humble one obeys."

"Klath, I’m coming with you. You just woke up—you need supervision!" Monaluna declared, all righteous concern. *Conveniently forgetting why I passed out.* Still... her worry warmed me a little.

"Also, lend me that cool armor to play with."

*Spit it out!* Spit out that warm feeling!

***

"Everyone! I called this meeting because our survival—and this village’s future—hangs in the balance!" I stood at the hall entrance, addressing the crowd. "As the chief’s trusted strategist, I’ll draft survival strategies! Many of you tilled terraces yesterday. With autumn planting season here, I’ll bring seeds from the lowlands—and enough grain to last until next spring’s harvest!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Plus! I’ll buy livestock from farmers—mountain goats, animals that thrive here. That solves most meat and milk shortages!"

The murmurs swelled to excited chatter.

"Within five years, I vow: no one goes hungry or cold! I call this the ‘First Five-Year Plan’! Strive for it!"

*CLAP-CLAP-CLATTER!* Wild, uneven applause erupted, mixed with cheers that wouldn’t fade. *All those politics textbooks finally paid off.*

"Of course... your chief suffers from years of overwork. I must take her for long-term treatment. So—we’ll hold an election now. Choose a respected elder to act as chief."

"Wait! I never agreed to go with you!" Purple Judas protested, panic flashing in her eyes.

"For your health! I won’t let you out of my sight." Leaving her here? Even Marx couldn’t save these villagers. I remembered the two wooden signs at the mountain gate—my chest tightened. This fierce little soldier couldn’t stay to plague the countryside!

*Why’s Monaluna staring at me like I’m scum? Why did the noisy crowd go dead silent?*

***

We returned from the mountain at nightfall—too many details to settle. Villagers escorted Cindira and me far down the path. Little Purple Judas might’ve caused chaos, but three years of effort earned real affection. Monaluna wasn’t thrilled about bringing Cindira home, but held her tongue. *Women are weird. One minute ‘sister-sister,’ the next...*

At home, I introduced Cindira to the Old Mage. He frowned at sheltering War God Clan blood. I insisted she’d been disowned—and kept her anyway.

The real scare was Helle. She said nothing. Asked nothing. Just stared at me for a long, silent minute. Then she huffed, led Cindira upstairs to the room beside Monaluna’s—*Wait, there’s a spare room on the second floor? Why’d I get the attic?! Gender bias!*

Exhausted, I barely escaped Little Bobo’s demands for another *Legend of the White Snake* bedtime story. Back in my room, I collapsed fully clothed.

Half-asleep, something tickled my nose. I blinked open gritty eyes. Two bright moons hung above me. *Must be dreaming...*

I rubbed my eyes. Blood rushed to my head. *Those weren’t moons.*

Cindira straddled me, clad only in undergarments. Purple hair spilled over bare shoulders, swaying in the night breeze. Moonlight glistened on skin like polished jade. Her smile was playful.

"W-What does Lady Cindira need... at this hour?"

"Benefactor," she murmured, "after this morning’s duel, my energy vortex slowed... I fear I need your healing again."

"*Midnight mana recharge?*" I recalled my old laptop’s F-drive folder—*Joystick Driver Tutorials (Theory)*. Only difference: I still had clothes on.

"Mm. ‘Mana recharge’? Such a fitting term." She shifted her hips. My eyes followed the hypnotic sway.

"Then... trouble you for a recharge, Benefactor."

"Too tired tonight. Rain check!"

I flopped back down. *Monaluna and Helle are upstairs! If they catch us, you’ll be saying good morning to tomorrow’s bun filling!*

Cindira lay down behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Don’t squirm. I know you’re just a normal guy without those weird gloves. Big sister’s trained—I’ll keep you still. Be my cuddle bear."

I almost struggled—then felt dampness seeping through my shirt. Even the unbreakable Purple Judas had cracks.

"*Sigh*... You."

"Alright, just for tonight!" I surrendered.

"Hee-hee," Cindira tightened her arms around me.

"Cough! Cough! Quick, loosen up a bit! My neck!"