Matt woke up, greeting the darkness of the night with a strained moan. His muscles ache all over the place, pressure overly weighing on his mind.

"I-it's okay, we're safe now."

Little Kaira's voice calmed Matt's nerves. Her presence alone confirmed their safety. Matt remembered running nonstop, only to faint because of exhaustion.

The night of the full moon shines beautifully, and within the tree's shade, Matt lamented how far he has come.

He may not have walked a long distance, but it was a long journey indeed. Time could only tell.

Now, a new journey begins.

In Kaira's little hands are berries. She wanted to share it with Matt. As a show of consideration, Kaira put one in her mouth and then swallowed.

It's not poisonous, she wanted to say but chose not to. Though Matt is her savior, Kaira remains fearfully wary of the stranger. She literally saw such a person go toe to toe with the Silver Demon! He may as well be a god in her eyes.

"Little girl, my name is Matt. What is yours?"

"I-I-I..."

Kaira stuttered, which Matt fully understands. He doesn't want to scare the child, but it is necessary that Matt push on the conversation. This little girl should be with her parents.

Matt thought of the killing machine he recently fought. It was not really a fight, but more of a daring rescue. Still, in Matt's eyes, it was something worthy to be shared as tales.

His mentor, Kahowzki would surely marvel at Matt's story. Little Kaira squeezed as much voice as she can muster.

"I am Kaira." She twiddled her thumbs considering whether she should ask the accumulating questions in her heart.

"Are you god? Why do you speak the ancient tongue so much? How can you fight the Silver Demon? Why do you look so average, yet capable? Can you heal my mom?" Kaira said in one breath. Her outburst confounded Matt but most of all gave him ideas of when in the world is he. It's not an accurate guess, but he has an idea.

It has been a long time since that day. A lot of changes happened. And Matt doesn't have any clue about what he should do.

Time can do many things to you.

The fading memories of the past certainly haunt him, but he persists not forgetting them. Even Len, sometimes in his mind felt like a dream to him. There were many times he almost forgot her.

If not for Kahowzki's last words to him, Matt would have succumbed to forgetfulness.

Sigh... Turbid breath escaped from Matt as he funnily looked at the curious little Kaira.

"I am not god, I am just a guy..." Matt held his tongue, not sure how he should continue. Kaira's eager look is urging him to continue, so he did...

"I may look average, but I am quite the capable guy. Do you know why? It's because of magic."

Kaira's eyes brightened aware of what magic is. Hopefully, this Matt can save her mother. Too bad, Matt has to douse her enthusiasm.

"I am not a healer though."

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"..."

It's as if Kaira's world is torn apart. She sought a cure only to be met with danger and nothing to show for it. If her mom knows her folly, she can't imagine the pain her mother has to endure. The fear itself may accidentally kill her ailing mother.

"But I can still try."

Seeing Kaira's sad look pinched Matt's conscience. Somehow, Matt's heart goes limp whenever he sees Kaira's weak form.

Matt's long solitude numbed him to a lot of things. This explains his arbitrary coldness to the slaughter being afflicted among those men. Only when he realized that demise is about to befall something as small as Kaira, did Matt finally move.

It's as if he was compelled to do so. Matt has difficulties explaining it, but Matt felt his survival instincts kicking at that exact moment of Kaira's brush with death. It was a protective instinct.

Those men are strangers to Matt, and so is Kaira.

Kaira is cute, sure. Matt is not a pervy lolicon though. It is as troubling as it can get. Matt can only attribute it to some mystical phenomenon. But there is really nothing mystical about compassion. It's just that Matt has grown estranged from human contact.

The two of them chose not to sleep the night, and continue their journey. With Kaira's guidance, they easily crossed the forest, leading them to a lone hut.

Along the way, Matt inquired Kaira about the old tongue she speaks of. Apparently, her father is a historian who miserably died in the red plague.

Kaira learned of the old tongue from her father. Matt is surprised by Kaira's talents, for she is able to speak a lot of languages. English, German, Spanish, Chinese, and so on.

She was rather talkative along their journey given the hope that Matt represents.

Matt frowned at the sight of the hut. It was desolate, and there was only silence. As they approach, Matt smelled a filthy stench.

Kaira hurriedly went inside, lit a lamp, and spoke in a cheerful voice.

"Mom, we have a visitor. He knows magic. He can cure you!" Her mother remained silent, but Kaira didn't mind much of it.

Matt saw the pale lady in the likeness of Kaira. He was frozen in his place for the fear is getting the better of him.

"Sorry about mom, she stinks. I washed her with a damp cloth before I left for the ancient city. Mr. Matt. Please, can you heal her?" Kaira's voice shook Matt to reality. From a distance, Matt can see the signs of lifelessness. More than once did Matt visit the hospital, visiting his mother in the morgue in his youth. Matt knows a cold corpse when he sees one.

Matt walked in steady steps hoping for the best. He places his index and middle finger to feel for the pulse.

There was nothing.

There was only the cold corpse in front of Matt. He doesn't know how to break it up for Kaira. Matt can only settle with a white lie. He should at least show Kaira that he did his best.

Matt plans to carry the cold corpse outside and do a ritual of a sham. It's not really a sham, given that what he is about to do is similar to the religious rites commonly practiced back in his time. His mentor, Kahowzki thought Matt the significance of such rituals, enabling the hearts of people left behind by the dead to a calming peace is just one of its functions.

He yanked the blanket only to freeze once more. There were worms, a lot of them. Little grubs that looked like rice. They seem harmless but their sight alone can induce fear.

Kaira's mother is wearing thin and slim clothing. Matt easily spotted them. He hurriedly tries to cover them with the blanket but it's too late.

"No, mom! Why are you still dirty? These dirty little buggers just can't leave you! They always come back no matter how much I clean you." Kaira's innocence is endearing but not this time around. Matt can feel his sorrows amplified by the sights in front of him alone.

Hope is truly a luxury.

Matt used his fingers to pry Kaira's mother's eye expecting the dilated pupil that suggests death.

Just maybe, Kaira's mom still has hope.

Just maybe, the problem is purely magical, like the curse that once imprisoned Matt in his petrified form.

It was red.

Matt can feel the little girl behind him jolting. Matt felt a sliver of hope, and it is in his responsibility to relay the good news to Kaira.

The red replaced the whites in Kaira's mom's eyes. This maybe is a sign of a magical affliction. Matt only needs to find a way how to lift this curse!

But alas, Matt is simply falling into his own delusions.

When he looked back, he was met with Kaira's moist eyes overflowing with a river of tears.

"Hik.huuk... waaaaaaaa! It-it's-its the red plague. Mooom! Mommy! No! Don't leave me!"

Kaira scampered forwards, rushing to her dead mom's side. It was grief, true unmeasurable grief. To see it in an eight-year-old made Matt... unutterable.

There was no good news to share.

There is only grief.