A blazing golden javelin appeared in Eliaria's hand. The light illuminating her pale features, her lips pressed together into a determined frown.

"No," I shouted, pushing open my bedroom window, "Don't."

"I got it," she yelled, throwing her arm back, her expression grim.

The prowler stepped out of the shadows, its tail flickering like a wisp of dark energy. It looked like a panther, the size of a horse, with claws and fangs that could disembowel you before you could even blink.

Eliaria hurled the weapon with all her might. The divine javelin flew straight and true, but just before it hit the prowler, the beast leapt out of the way, the missile soaring through the gap where it had been standing.

It was fast, faster than I expected, and as the javelin shot past it, it turned sharply, and flew right at Eliaria.

"Maker protect us," she said, diving out of the way as the prowler landed on the wall behind her, its claws scratching against the stone.

I jumped out the window, spinning in the air and launching [Toxic Barrage] at the prowler, the globes of venom missed, but distracted the beast, allowing Eliaria time to dodge its attacks.

I landed hard on the ground, and the impact knocked the wind out of me, but I was up in an instant, my dagger drawn.

Eliaria was backed up against the side of the house, the prowler looming over her.

"Get back," I yelled, running towards the beast, my mind racing with fear for Elia's safety.

I threw myself at the creature, swinging my dagger wildly.

It turned and hissed at me, its jaws snapping as it tried to bite me.

Eliaria scrambled away, a second golden javelin appeared in her hand and she hurled it at the beast. She was still inexperienced with the weapon, and her aim was off, but the javelin grazed the beast's side, drawing a line of crimson.

The prowler shrieked, leaping forward, its claws outstretched.

I managed to cast [Sky Shield] in time, and the prowler crashed against it, its claws scratching uselessly at the barrier.

"Get behind me," I yelled, holding up my dagger, keeping the shield between us.

Eliaria scrambled back, her breathing ragged, her eyes wide with terror.

The prowler circled us, its tail twitching.

I kept my dagger raised, waiting for it to attack. The moment [Sky Shield] vanished, the prowler shot forward, its jaws snapping at my throat.

I cast [Shroud Form] I'd only tested the ability once before just to see what it would do, but now, under pressure, the skill worked perfectly.

Shadows burst forth from the surrounding buildings and coalesced around me, and my body shifted, turning into a creature of darkness. I could see the prowler, its jaws open wide, its eyes glowing red, its body moving with unnatural speed.

It attacked, but as it tried to clamp its jaws on my shoulder, I slipped through its grasp, leaving behind a shadowy image of myself.

My skin rippled, and I moved in a blur, my form changing with every step, the shadows moving around me.

I heard a scream of terror coming from an adjacent building. It seemed that my spell had caused a bit of a panic.

I dismissed [Shroud Form] and reappeared in solid form behind the beast. It tried to spin around to attack me, but it was too late. My dagger stabbed into its neck, and I twisted the blade, making sure to inflict as much damage as possible. The creature hit the ground, its body already starting to fade.

It was a summoned creature, and as the last traces of its being disappeared, I aimed [Toxic Barrage] in the direction where I'd heard the voice coming from. I was certain it had been the summoner, and I was eager to make them pay.

My spell soared over the houses and into the alleyway, exploding in a burst of green smoke.

"Stop! Stop!" a familiar voice yelled, his voice hoarse with fear.

A young man staggered into view, his hands raised in surrender.

I froze as recognition dawned upon me. "Gus..." I murmured, my voice catching in my throat. Gus, the boy who had tormented me endlessly in my youth, stood amidst the wreckage, glaring at me with accusing eyes.

"You! You're the reason this happened!" Gus shouted, his face twisted in anger.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"The day you left town, all this shit started," Gus snarled. "It's your fault that Trisha died, your fault that everyone is gone!"

"Trisha's dead?" I asked, my mind reeling.

I should have known she'd have died, I should have expected it, ninety percent of the village was dead. Of course, that would include people from school.

"Yeah, she's dead, and it's all your fault," Gus growled. "We buried Sylvia a week ago and you already have a new girl? Who is she? Some fancy rich bitch?"

"Don't talk about her like that," I snapped, "she has nothing to do with this."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Gus stepped towards me, his fists clenched.

"I don't want to get into a fight with you," I said, my heart hammering in my chest.

"No, because you're a bloody coward, always have been," Gus said. He ran forward and swung his fist at my face.

He was slow, and it was easy to dodge his blow, but the rage in his eyes made me pause.

"I didn't abandon anyone," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

His fist caught me on the cheek, his [strength] was so low that I barely felt it.

"Screw you," Gus spat. "I'll show you how much of a coward you really are."

He threw another punch, and I just stood there as he rained blows on me, none of them doing any real damage.

"Fight back," Gus demanded.

"No," I said, taking a step back.

He continued his assault, the fury in his eyes only growing as his attacks grew more frantic.

I let him take his frustrations out of me, the truth was I had caused all this. I'd thought I was a hero, and the village had paid the price for my mistakes.

"Please," Gus sobbed, his attacks slowing. "Fight back."

"I'm sorry," I said, the words catching in my throat.

His attack faltered, and I reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"I'll fix it. I swear."

Gus looked up at me, tears streaming down his face.

"I found Trisha hiding under her bed," he sobbed. "She was so scared that death would find her… she was begging me to protect her, but I couldn't, I didn't have the power... I was useless."

"You did what you could," I said.

"She was so scared," Gus sobbed, collapsing to the ground. "Everyone was dying, nobody knew why."

"I'm sorry," I whispered again. "I'll make this right. I swear."

Eliaria knelt down beside Gus, the boy looked up at her, his eyes full of despair.

"I'm not here to hurt you," she said softly. "I'm a healer."

He looked down, noticing for the first time how bloodied and mangled his hands were.

"Here," Eliaria said, taking his hand. "Let me help."

She placed her hand over his and a golden glow emanated from it, enveloping his hands.

I knelt down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's going to be ok," I said, gently squeezing his shoulder.

Gus flinched away from me, but then relaxed, the pain in his eyes easing.

"I'll take you to the others," he said. "There are a few of us still alive. You can explain yourself to them."

***

Protector Alden, the last Protector, sat across from me. Dark rings hung beneath his pale eyes, his kithara quills lay flat on his scalp and his shoulders were slumped with weariness. He'd seen better days, and he was definitely not the hero I remembered him to be.

Eliaria left with Gus to tend to the injured villagers, while I told the Protector about everything that had happened since leaving Misty Hollow. I left out the parts about me inadvertently killing everyone and the whole immortality thing, but I told him the rest.

"So, you've made it to the second floor," Protector Alden said, his voice a rough whisper. "That's impressive. It is a pity that we cannot use the waystone to escape this village."

"But you've activated the second floor's waystone," I said. "You could leave."

"Yes, but my place is with the villagers of Misty Hollow," he said, his voice heavy with sadness. "I could not flee while they still remained."

"What happened to Patches?" I asked, leaning forward.

The Protector's face darkened. "Patches," he said, his voice barely audible. "Is that what you call him? He left after he had gotten what he'd come for."

"The card he took from Protector Evelyn," I said.

Alden's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, how did you know about that?"

"I saw it happen," I replied. "I’m sorry I couldn't stop him. I tried, but he was too powerful for me."

Alden nodded slowly but remained silent.

"What was the card?" I asked, having spent countless night's asking myself that very question. "Why would Patches kill for it?"

Just as Alden opened his mouth to respond, footsteps sounded from down the hallway. He looked up and a moment later the door opened. Eliaria stepped inside, followed by Father Baragad.

"The survivors are well," Father Baragad said. "The injuries were not serious, and Miss Eliaria's healing card is truly a blessing."

"Thank you, Father," Protector Alden said, rising stiffly to his feet.

"You're looking well," the Father said, smiling at me. "I must admit, I am surprised to see you return."

I didn't know what to say, so I just smiled and nodded.

Gus entered the room, his face drawn. "Greta and Penny are missing," he said, addressing Protector Alden. "They were last seen this morning when they went south to check the traps."

"Then they must still be out there," the Protector said, his quills standing on end. "We must go look for them."

Gus looked down, "Blight fiends have been spotted in the south fields," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"How many are there?" the Protector asked.

"At least thirty," Gus replied. "And that's just what we've seen."

"What can we do?" I asked, looking at the Protector.

Alden ran a hand along the quills on his head, pressing them flat again, "Nothing," he said. "I will cast barrier again, but without Evelyn, the spell will not last as long, all we can do is pray that the blight fiends leave before the spell runs out."

"But what about Penny and Greta?" I asked. "We can't just leave them out there."

"There is nothing we can do," the Protector said, his face grim. "We cannot risk the lives of the remaining villagers for two missing people."

"But-" Gus began, but the Protector held up a hand.

"The Protector is right," the Father said, putting his arm around Gus's shoulders. "We must put the lives of the many before the few."

I felt sick. How could I stand by and do nothing while they were out there, trapped by the blight fiends?

"We could search for them?" Eliaria said, glancing at me.

"It is too dangerous," Alden said. "But if you are willing to stay here, your help would be appreciated. I have sent my prowler to patrol the village, but we could use two more card mages like you."

So the summoned creature had been his. I had wondered how Gus had gotten his hands on a spell card.

I looked between the grim faces of the three men. I knew that this fight didn't matter, whether the village won or lost, it wouldn't make a difference in the long run. We all knew that the blight fiends would keep coming, and eventually, the village would be overrun. But I couldn't stand back and do nothing.

"I'm going after Penny and Greta," I said, without hesitation.

Eliaria looked at me from the corner of her eye and when I met her eye, she nodded.

"I'm with you," she said.

I smiled, she was a better friend than I deserved. She was willing to put her life on the line to save people she did not know for reasons she didn't even understand. If we survived this, I'd tell her anything she wanted to know, even if it meant she'd leave me forever.

"We will find them," I said. "I promise."

Protector Alden stared at us for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

"Be careful," he said. "May the Maker guide your steps."

***