The trio instilled fear in the citizens of Hope, while Ravi bore the brunt of their menacing glares. He shrugged off their hostility, fully aware that his explanations would only fall on deaf ears.

No one in Cathel had a good day, let alone a decent life. Envy poisoned every interaction, with each person coveting what others possessed and resenting them for it. Ironically, even the trio, within the security of the walls and surrounded by the opulence of the affluent, voiced complaints about perceived injustices. Meanwhile, the majority struggled with basic needs, yearning for a single daily meal, and regarding two as a rare feast.

Ravi slid his hands into a pocket and gripped a handful of sand, a collection he had gathered after Uvrodon tossed him around like a rag doll. It wasn’t comprised of the remnants of his fellow mages, but rather a random heap of sand he had amassed as a tribute to remember all of them by.

“From earth—to earth,” he muttered, yearning for a reality where at least the semblance of equality could be found, where their journey might lead to a better life.

His eyes widened as he observed people in a jovial mood after their group had crossed. The disdain directed at them never seemed to reflect on their own circumstances or lifestyle. ‘Was it because of the mist disappearing?’ he wondered briefly. Yet soon disregarded the idea, knowing that the impending doom always returned sooner or later. Anyone who set foot in these accursed lands fervently cursed their lives more than anyone.

What has changed since then? Have they finally accepted their fate and laughed until doomsday, or could it be connected to the healer?

Many questions filled Ravi’s mind as he trailed the trio, pushing aside thoughts of the previous incident. It might seem cruel, but fate continued to amplify their pain, and the people of Cathel had developed a tolerance for the impending events of a cruel destiny.

If not for one pathetic reason, they would have faced death for another. Perhaps in the days to come, even he could find the strength to smile in the face of death.

Uvrodon detested the mood filling these tear lands. He had endured one devastating blow after another, squandering money on those fools first, and having to grovel to the nobles before their arrival—some of whom he could snap like a twig might he add. Meanwhile, these worthless trash around him laughed, exacerbating his wounds with their happiness.

“The mist may be gone, but you still have me to worry about,” Uvrodon growled, his expression darkening with a scowl.

“They have one proper house, yet none of them stay close to it,” Claude remarked, pointing at a group as he chuckled.

“Is the rumor hiding in there?” Bart wondered aloud, his suspicions confirmed by their palpable fear.

“Guess so,” hissed Uvrodon, a devious smile playing on his lips.

“No one is allowed—,” a child yelled before being swiftly scooped up by an elder who covered her mouth, silencing her abruptly.

“Sh...” He warned the child.

“But Mother said not to enter until she said so,” the child protested softly, her voice muffled by the elder’s hand.

Uvrodon snickered at her. “I don’t listen to my meals, child,” he remarked coldly, shifting his gaze toward the open compound.

“Next time, at least build some walls if you want to stop us,” Bart said, cracking his neck.

“Not that it will help,” bellowed Claude with a confident tone.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“We’ll leave him behind if you like,” Uvrodon pointed at Ravi. “He just takes one’s lifespan as payment.”

The trio erupted into wild laughter, while Ravi clenched his fists as he averted his gaze, wishing the probing stares would relent. He only looked up when the trio’s laughter was abruptly cut off, replaced by a child’s snicker echoing in his ears.

“Is she mad?” Ravi turned to find the same child from before pointing and laughing at the trio. The elder accompanying her didn’t even attempt to stop her, bewildered by the situation himself.

Ravi shifted his stance to find a gobsmacked trio, sweat now covering their backs as they gaped with mouths wide open, large enough to fit a watermelon.

He attempted to discern the situation, but all they faced was an empty two-story townhouse devoid of doors or windows. One expansive entrance lay twenty meters from them, with three additional exits on the sides and back. In truth, all of them resembled entrances with a roof to protect people from rain. The impoverished residents of the area were too destitute to concern themselves with theft or safety, so the layout made a strange sort of sense. Yet, despite this, the trio froze with fear as soon as they stepped into the compound.

They signaled for him to stay back and entered with caution as if a demon resided within the house. Ravi defied the order out of curiosity, stepping into the compound himself. Yet nothing changed, and he couldn’t help but wonder with every step. What did they see that he couldn’t?

— — —<>|*|<>— — —

The trio stepped inside the compound with varying agendas in mind.

Claude stepped into the compound, determined to shatter the sorry excuse for a house with a single punch. The sight before him was an atrocity that hurt his eyes.

Eager to return to his drink, Bart urged the others to hurry, striding alongside Claude.

Uvrodon, for the first time since making the contract, offered a prayer to the mighty snake. Hoping the rumors were true, he stepped inside the compound intending to recruit a healer.

But once they breached the compound, they were met with the same sense of dread.

A blinding light enveloped the trio, transforming insolence into devotion. They stood in the presence of a god, a towering tree of light that seemed to transcend life itself, while they, in comparison, were mere specks in the vastness of existence. They understood they were among the millions who relied on the supreme being’s root for survival. On a whim, the tree might sever one of its roots, condemning countless lives to starvation.

“Illusion,” Uvrodon muttered, biting his tongue to distract himself from the pain, and the burdens he carried. Yet, in an instant, the light healed him. His life wasn’t his to squander. Until the entity desired, he would live, and once it grew bored, it would watch him beg for more before ending his miserable existence.

The trio found themselves at the mercy of the light, paralyzed with fear as they dared not move until it passed judgment.

After what felt like an eternity, they cautiously moved, sensing that the supreme being had lost interest in its new toys.

Uvrodon snapped out of the illusion, closing his colleague’s mouth and directing a glare toward the source of the snicker. The girl scurried away and Uvrodon, fueled by the desire to hunt her down, was stopped by Bart, who insisted on finishing the task at hand before addressing anything else.

The trio were well aware of Mary’s invincible shield. Who hasn’t heard at least one of the countless stories of defiance?

They came here to confirm the latest rumor. None of the previous stories had been substantiated, but they were convinced it was all a mix of illusion and trickery. Stepping inside, they reassured themselves that nothing is mightier than King Arthur’s sword.

The deceitful illusion shattered their fundamental beliefs, revealing a power that surpassed even the mightiest man’s strength by tenfold. They witnessed that man’s might firsthand during the wars and no being can compare, let alone surpass him. If this nun truly possessed such strength, why would she run instead of ruling over the mightiest kingdom?

“Such illusory tactics can’t intimidate us,” they all agreed, though they toiled to hide the sweat covering their backs, a testament to their unease.

The townhouse lacked a door. Not that anything these miscreants constructed would stand a chance against the trio. After the illusion shattered, they entered, covering their backs from each other.

Claude walked sideways for the first time, intending to shield his back but was astonished to find his mobility increasing tenfold. As he pondered the technique responsible for this boost in speed, Bart kept a safe distance from them both by spreading his wings wide. He appeared to be inspecting them for wear but was attempting to dry them at the same time.

Finding his companions preoccupied, Uvrodon took the opportunity to slither in first, hoping that the breeze or a nearby fan would help dry his scales.

═─┈─{═E═}─┈─═