Vario sat on the couch, still pale and twitchy from his ordeal with Overflow. The room was dim, the tablet pushed aside, and a faint aura of anxiety lingered around him like a stubborn fog. Bella and Nyx had long since stopped teasing him—for now—but Garruk occasionally peeked over his shoulder with that grin that promised trouble was never far away.
Seraphine appeared, floating in softly, carrying a small bottle of sparkling cider in one hand and a worn hymnbook in the other. Her expression was calm, almost serene.
"Vario," she said gently, "you've been through a lot. The mind needs cleansing as much as the body."
Vario groaned. "I don't think cleansing is strong enough for this…"
Seraphine smiled. "We'll start small." She set the cider on the table and opened the hymnbook, humming softly. The sound was soothing, filling the apartment with a warmth that made the tension in Vario's shoulders slowly melt away.
"What… what are you doing?" Vario asked, still wary.
"I'm helping you recover," Seraphine said. "Consider this… spiritual therapy. A method to realign your energy and calm your mind after… extreme experiences."
Vario blinked. "Spiritual therapy? You mean church stuff?"
"Exactly," Seraphine said, floating closer. "Hymns, meditative prayers, blessings. Even a little sparkling cider—it helps with grounding." She handed him a small sip. Hesitantly, he drank. The sweetness hit his tongue, and a strange, calming sensation spread through him.
Bella peeked in, arms crossed. "You're actually letting her do that?"
Vario gave her a weak thumbs-up. "I… don't have the energy to argue. Just… please, let me heal."
Seraphine began chanting softly, her voice rising and falling like gentle waves. She traced small, glowing sigils in the air around him, weaving the essence of calm and reassurance into the room. Vario felt the tension in his chest loosen, the lingering dread of what he had seen finally starting to dissipate.
Minutes passed, and Garruk wandered in, curious. "Whoa… it's like a church in here."
"Yes," Seraphine said, still focused on her healing. "A sanctuary for recovery. Some things require faith, Vario."
Vario let out a slow, shaky breath. "I… I think it's working…"
Seraphine smiled warmly. "The trauma may linger a little, but with time and care, you'll find yourself whole again."
For the first time in hours, Vario leaned back and closed his eyes. The fear, the embarrassment, even the regret—all of it seemed a little lighter.
Bella shook her head and muttered, "Never thought I'd see the day… Vario getting healed by church."
Nyx grinned from the doorway. "Hey, if it works, it works."
And as Seraphine continued her gentle hymn, the apartment felt less like a chaotic battlefield and more like a haven. A place where even the most ridiculous, traumatizing mistakes could be soothed… at least for a while.
Vario finally dared a small smile. "Thanks, Seraphine… I really needed this."
She simply nodded, letting her calm aura wash over him. "Everyone needs a little guidance sometimes. Even heroes."