Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

The sun was still rising when the lone elf healer arrived at the outskirts of Kyle's village, cloaked in robes of living bark and woven silk, mana pulsing gently at his fingertips.

He moved with quiet urgency, his sharp eyes scanning until they landed on the ancient ruins nestled at the edge of the settlement.

Without hesitation, he advanced toward them, his fingers glowing faintly with controlled magic.

He extended a hand toward the stone wall, murmuring an old elvish incantation.

A glowing green glyph appeared under his palm, tracing out a doorway with magic. The stone beneath responded with a faint hum, as if stirred from slumber.

Just as the magic began to sink deeper into the ancient walls, a voice cracked through the air like thunder.

"Stop that right now!"

Sasha's voice rang out as she landed atop the ruins, her mana flaring around her like a flickering flame. Her staff was already in hand, its crystal head pulsing blue.

The elf turned, hands still glowing with spellwork.

"I am here as an envoy of the Chief. I have no wish for conflict—"

He said.

"You're not just here, you're breaking in! You think because you're an elf you get to waltz into any ruin you want? Not on my watch."

Sasha snapped.

"I have no time for this. I was told the path would be open."

The elf muttered.

"Yeah, it's open if you knock on the gate like a normal person!"

Sasha shouted, leaping down between him and the stone.

The elf's stance shifted. His left hand glowed with healing light, but his right hand pulsed with a sharper, golden magic—defensive, but potent.

"I am not here to fight, but I will defend myself."

"Then defend this!"

Sasha lunged, staff spinning forward in a swift arc. A wave of kinetic mana shot forward.

The elf sidestepped, deflecting the blast with a conjured ward, but the force sent him stumbling back a few paces.

"You attack a healer?"

He asked, genuinely incredulous.

"You're a trespasser!"

Sasha responded, vaulting toward him with remarkable agility. Her staff came down again, but this time the elf caught it between glowing palms, locking them in a clash of will and magic.

The air shimmered from the friction.

The elf's brow furrowed as roots burst from the earth, curling toward Sasha's legs. She gritted her teeth, planting her staff into the ground to pulse a burst of raw energy.

The vines withered away in an instant, burned by her mana.

"You're better than I expected. But I don't want to hurt you."

The elf admitted, stepping back with a hint of respect.

Sasha wasn't listening—her focus was absolute. She adjusted her grip, preparing another strike.

But before either of them could escalate, a familiar voice rang through the tension.

"That's enough. Both of you."

Kyle stepped into view, calm and composed. His presence alone brought a halt to the brewing battle.

The elf dropped his guard instantly, recognizing Kyle from the description he'd been given. Sasha hesitated, panting slightly, her mana still thrumming beneath her skin.

"He's a guest."

Kyle said, walking between them.

Sasha blinked, stunned.

"He is? I would appreciate if you tell me these things beforehand."

"He's the healer the Chief promised."

Kyle said.

Sasha groaned, lowering her staff but not her glare.

"You should have told me! I thought he was an intrude when he refused to answer my questions earnestly.!"

"I didn't expect hostility. I was told the ruins were part of the village. I meant no offense."

The elf said coolly.

"Yeah, well, around here you ask first,"

Sasha grumbled, stepping back.

"Seriously, Kyle. You need to tell your guests to come through the actual gates. I'm tired of chasing people off."

Kyle smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"You're doing a great job, Sasha."

Sasha's eyes widened, and she swatted his hand away.

"Stop that! I'm not a kid!"

But her cheeks betrayed her, flushed a deep red. She turned her face away, trying to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.

The fight still echoed in her blood, but Kyle's touch made her heart skip.

He didn't mean anything by it—she knew that. He treated Melissa the same way, even Silvy sometimes.

And yet, part of her wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was something different in how he smiled at her. Something more.

'Don't be stupid. Don't fall for him. He's not someone you can have.'

She scolded herself, clutching her staff tighter.

And yet, her heart was already halfway there.

Kyle led the elf healer through the village's narrow paths, the quiet buzz of daily life surrounding them.

Chickens clucked in the distance, children ran past with wooden swords, and villagers nodded in polite greeting as they passed.

The healer glanced around, clearly taking in the foreign sights with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

"I'm Kyle. This territory is under my protection."

The young lord said simply.

"I am Seloise. A humble healer from the Greenblood Glades. The Chief sent me as repayment for the support you gave our people."

The elf said, offering a short bow.

He paused.

"I will do what I can to aid you, though I ask you not to expect miracles. Mortal healing has its limits."

Kyle gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

"That's fine. Just do what you can. My people don't need miracles—they need consistency."

Seloise looked relieved at the reasonable request.

"Then we are in agreement."

Kyle led him toward the clinic, already thinking about who might benefit most from the elf's expertise. Silvy would likely be annoyed, but she'd understand eventually.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the ruins, Sasha returned to her work. With the elf gone, she focused her attention on the crumbled eastern wall she had been stabilizing with her own spells.

Stones floated under her command as she laid them back into place, humming softly under her breath.

But her concentration was broken when she caught a flash of movement from the corner of her eye.

Rachael.

Sasha squinted, watching the girl sneak out from the side path that led toward the forest.

She carried no tools or supplies—just a cloak hastily wrapped around her shoulders and a nervous look on her face.

Sasha sighed, lowering the floating stones back to the ground.

"Idiot girl…"

She hesitated. She really should get back to rebuilding the ruined sector, but something about Rachael's demeanor made her uneasy.

The girl had been acting strange lately—distant, distracted. Sasha didn't need to be a mind-reader to know something was off.

Grumbling to herself, Sasha dusted her hands off and quietly followed after her student, keeping a healthy distance. Rachael might've been able to sneak past the villagers, but not Sasha.

Her training with Kyle ensured she moved like a shadow.

"She's too soft. Too easy to sway. She doesn't think with her head—only her heart."

Sasha muttered under her breath.

The path Rachael took wasn't toward the farms or the hunting trails. It was headed further… toward the old chapel at the village's edge.

One that had recently been visited by a priestess of the goddess.

Sasha's eyes narrowed. The pit in her stomach deepened.

She sped up, determined to find out what Rachael was up to—before the girl did something she couldn't take back.