Recovery and helping others

Yuri gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her heart sinking as she noticed the missing piece from her ear. Her ears drooped low as she realized that her meticulously designed body now had an unintentional flaw. All the time and effort she had put into crafting her current form seemed wasted, and a sense of despair washed over her.

Without warning, Hephaestus, sensing Yuri's deepening distress, pulled her close, wrapping her arms around the girl and drawing her onto her lap. She whispered reassurances while gently stroking Yuri's hair, a maternal instinct taking over as she comforted her. But amid these nurturing feelings, another thought crept into Hephaestus's mind, one that she tried to push away—a realization that this might be what it feels like to hold the one you love.

As Yuri began to regain her composure and Hephaestus grappled with her inner conflict, Lilly was grappling with her own emotions. Despite her relief that Yuri was safe, she couldn't shake off the chilling thoughts of what could have happened. She envisioned worst-case scenarios, each one more distressing than the last, contemplating a future where Yuri suffered life-altering injuries or worse, lost her life due to Lilly's inability to act quickly or fight by her side.

Once a semblance of calm settled over the group, Hestia could sense that Yuri wasn't completely back to normal. With a reassuring smile, she urged the others to leave the room and get some rest. Before she exited, she made sure Yuri knew she would be just outside if needed.

Several days passed before Yuri was given the green light to return home. To her surprise, she discovered that she had been recuperating in Hephaestus's bed, which was situated in her room in the tower. It turned out that when she was brought out of the dungeon, Hephaestus adamantly refused to let her stay in what she referred to as "the deathbed," the guild's infamous medical facility with a grim reputation for being a place of last resort.

Yuri was touched by Hephaestus's care and concern, a warm feeling spreading through her. Ordinarily, this would have been a positive revelation, but Yuri's mind was clouded by negative thoughts, convinced that her appearance had been irreparably marred. Unbeknownst to her, those around her found her newfound vulnerability endearing, igniting a protective instinct. To Yuri, however, she convinced herself that Hephaestus treated all her familia in the same manner, refusing to believe she was special.

Once she was allowed to leave she didn't return straight home. Instead, she just wandered around aimlessly lost in her thoughts. Before she realized it she found herself in a run-down area of the city. Just as she was planning on returning from where she came she heard crying coming from around the corner.

Curious Yuri peeked around the corner and noticed a young girl around the age of six or seven. She was wearing dirty clothes and one shoe was broken. Upon looking closer Yuri also noticed that her ankle was swollen.

Putting the pieces of the puzzle together Yuri figured out what may have happened. The girl was probably on her way somewhere when her shoe broke causing her to fall dirty up her clothes and hurt herself.

Yuri felt bad and couldn't leave the girl sitting there. Stepping around the corner she spoke " are you alright? If you want I can help you get somewhere whether it's your home or where your family is." the girl hearing someone speaking instead of responding like Yuri expected just cried harder.

At a loss and believing she was more hurt than she thought. Yuri pulled out a potion that she kept stored away and asked if she needed this while holding it out to the girl. The girl seemed wary of the potion in yuri's hand though as she drew back and made herself as small as she could.

Just as she was about to try another approach someone shouted behind Yuri. " hey you there what are you doing to Yuki?" Hearing this Yuri turned around and noticed a boy around ten with orange hair and a bandage on his knee standing like he was ready to pounce. Yuri not wanting any trouble started explaining that she got lost and when she was going to go back she encountered the girl now known to be Yuki. She went on to tell how apparently the girl seemed injured but wouldn't respond when she tried to help her get home.

The boy seemed to believe her but then he noticed the vial of potion in Yuri's hand and immediately went back into a defensive stance again. He then questioned again "While your story sounds believable what is that that you are trying to give to Yuki?"

Noticing he was looking at the potion and not knowing what it was the boy seemed to think it was something bad. Yuri explained that it was a potion that healed minor wounds and cuts or scrapes. Seeing the mistrust still evident on the boy's face Yuri picked up a small rock that was on the ground next to her. Using a pointed edge Yuri cut into her leg enough to draw blood.

The boy seeing what she was about to do tried to stop her but she moved too quickly. Seeing her bleeding the boy was about to admonish her for injuring herself but before he could Yuri drank the potion. Seeing her actions the boy looked back at her leg and to his amazement it was healing at a visual rate.

After proving the effects of the potion Yuri managed to convince the children to use one on the girl. As the girl drank the potion slowly Yuri found out that the two children were orphans and were told not to take strange things from people they don't know.

After the girl was all healed up Yuri looked at her shoe and noticed there was no fixing it. Seeing this she picked up the girl and following the boy escorted the two home to the orphanage.

They only walked for about ten minutes when they stopped in front of a rather large building. While it was indeed big it also seemed really run down. Seeing this Yuri felt a pang of sadness run through her as in her mind every child deserved a warm and happy home to return to.

As they approached the door it swung open revealing an older woman with black hair tied at the top of her head. She had a kind face but a stern expression before anyone could say anything she asked where the children were with a cold tone that sent chills down Yuri's back.

After calming everything down Yuri learned that the woman's name was Maria Maateru and she was the caretaker of Maria's orphanage. She took care of the children who lost their parents usually as victims of the dungeon who had nowhere else to go.

Maria seeing the young girl in front of her with no guardian in sight thought she was a lost child or was abandoned on Daedalus Street. After asking where Yuri's parents were she was shocked to find out the small girl was in fact eighteen.

Seeing Yuri's pitiable expression Yuki who was now standing next to Maria didn't even try to hide it when she burst out laughing.

Seeing the young girl laughing made Yuri's heart happy. But instead of showing it with her outward appearance, she lowered her ears and drooped her tail making herself look sad. Seeing this the girl worried she hurt the kind lady who helped her couldn't think of what to do and became slightly anxious.

Seeing the anxious girl Yuri couldn't keep up the act and scooped the girl up in a hug. Noticing that the girl was tricking her Yuki wanted to be mad but the hug felt too nice and she could only feel content.

After meeting the other children and playing with them for a while Yuki left while a sleeping Yuki was carried in Marias' arms. Before she left though she left Maria with a donation of over 100,000 valis. So that she would be able to get the children some new clothes. As she walked away Yuri made a promise in her heart to make a donation to the orphanage as often as she could.

Unknown to Yuri but someone watched as she left the orphanage with a look of intrigue.

Yuri finally arrived home around dinnertime and walked into her home only to see worried faces staring at her. Wondering what was wrong Yuri asked only to find out they had been waiting all day for her return only for her to disappear. Hearing this Yuri managed to calm everyone down and explained that she wanted to walk around. She continued on telling them about the orphanage and the girl she helped and she even let Hephaestus know that she wanted to donate money to the orphanage at least once a month if not twice. Hearing this everyone could tell that the old Yuri before the juggernaut was starting to show through. Making them all smile.