The atmosphere inside the house was charged with tension and fear. Miguel and the soldiers were completely focused on the sound coming from under the floor, ready for anything they could find. The small opening in the dark wood looked like a portal to an unknown and dangerous world. The air was heavy, and every second seemed to stretch into an eternity of uncertainty.

With slow and cautious movements, the soldiers began to lift the planks from the ground, revealing little by little the darkness that lurked beneath. The sound, which had previously been only a slight scratch, now seemed more urgent and closer. Miguel felt his heart beat hard, each beat echoing in his ears like a war drum.

Suddenly, before they could clearly see what was inside the opening, an invisible force threw them back. Miguel and the soldiers were pushed against the walls with surprising force, and a shrill scream filled the air. It was the scream of a little girl, emerging from the darkness of the floor.

The soldiers, out of reflex, raised their weapons, ready for any threat. The confusion and fear in their eyes were evident, and the situation seemed on the verge of chaos. Miguel, still recovering from the impact, raised his hand firmly.

"Put down your weapons!" he ordered, his authoritative voice cutting through the panic. "Put down your weapons now! She's just a little girl."

Ricardo, recovering next to Miguel, looked at the scene with wide eyes. "She's a magician," he muttered, surprised. "She must have used telekinesis to push us."

The little girl was now visible in the opening of the floor, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She was dirty, with torn clothes, and looked like she had been through hell. Her hair was matted, and the terror in her eyes was almost palpable. Trembling, she looked around, clearly frightened and not understanding what was happening.

Miguel, seeing the girl's fear, stepped forward, with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Calm down," he said softly, his voice charged with empathy. "We won't hurt you. We are here to help."

The soldiers, obeying Miguel's orders, lowered their weapons and took a few steps back, creating a safe space around the girl. The air was tense, but the looming threat seemed to have subsided.

"Let's all step back a bit," suggested Miguel, looking at Ricardo and the soldiers. "Give her space. She's scared."

Ricardo nodded, his eyes still fixed on the girl. "Magician or not, she's just a child," he said, almost to himself. "We need to find out what happened here."

The little girl continued to look around, her eyes full of dread. Miguel kept his posture calm and gentle, trying not to scare her anymore. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "My name is Miguel. We're here to help. You're safe now."

He took a few more cautious steps towards the girl, trying to convey security. "What's your name?" he asked, keeping his voice low and reassuring.

The girl, still trembling, looked at Miguel with a mixture of fear and curiosity. "I... I'm Lila," she replied, her voice almost a whisper. "They... they came and..."

Miguel realized that she was about to break down emotionally. "It's okay, Lila. We are here now. No one will hurt you. I promise."

Lila's eyes, large and haunted, met Miguel's. He could see the pain and terror reflected in her eyes, and it made his heart ache. Miguel has never seen so much death and destruction before, and the sight of such a traumatized child struck him deeply.

"We'll take care of you, Lila," he said, reaching out to her. "You're safe now. We're here to protect you."

Lila hesitated for a moment, but then she took a wobbly step toward Miguel. Miguel felt immense relief when she accepted his hand, although her small hand trembled violently.

Miguel looked at Ricardo and the soldiers, all still visibly shaken, but now focused on the task of protecting the girl. "We need to find out what happened here," he said, determination firm in his voice. "But first, we need to make sure Lila is safe."

The soldiers nodded, ready to follow Miguel's orders. As they walked away from the ransacked house, Miguel carrying little Lila, everyone knew that the journey was just beginning and that many questions still needed answers.

Miguel was deeply impressed by the manifestation of magic he had just witnessed. Ever since he had come to this world, he had heard only distant stories about magic, always treated as something rare and almost mythical. He knew that magic manifested itself in only one person out of a hundred, and usually, it was the nobles who possessed such an ability. His own father and older brother were fire mages, able to command flames with a simple gesture.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

To see a little girl like Lila demonstrate telekinesis was surprising and disconcerting. He had never imagined that he would find someone with such powers outside the restricted circle of the nobility. The idea of such a young mage, and in such a desperate situation, shook him conceptions of who could possess and control magic in this feudal world. The rarity of such an ability made Lila not only a survivor but also an exceptional figure in the midst of the horror that surrounded her, he needed to find out what happened in this village.

***

The winding road stretched ahead as Miguel, Ricardo, the soldiers, and little Lila made their way toward the kingdom of beast men. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon, casting long, ominous shadows along the way. The group was immersed in a heavy silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the horrors they had left behind.

Lila, exhausted and still trembling with fear, slept on Miguel's horse, wrapped in a cloak to protect her from the cold. Miguel felt the weight of responsibility increasing. Taking the girl with them had been a difficult but necessary decision. Leaving her behind, alone and vulnerable, was not an option.

Ricardo, riding alongside Miguel, broke the gloomy silence. "We need to find out what happened in that village," he said, his voice low but firm. "We cannot ignore this. When we return to the barony, we must investigate thoroughly."

Miguel nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I agree. Something very wrong happened there. That carnage... We need answers. And we need to make sure that doesn't happen again."

John, the young soldier, looked at Lila with a worried expression. "Sir, what shall we do with the girl? We cannot leave her alone, but take her with us to negotiate with the beastmen... Is it safe?"

Miguel sighed, feeling the tension in every fiber of his being. "We have no choice. Returning to the barony and then resuming the journey would cost us precious time that we cannot afford to waste. In addition, keeping her with us will allow us to ensure her safety personally."

Ricardo looked at Miguel, his expression showing both concern and support. "What if the beast men react badly to her presence? They are already suspicious of humans. A young mage can complicate things."

Miguel frowned, pondering this. "We need to be careful. But for now, our priority is to keep it safe. We will keep her out of sight during the negotiations if possible. We can't risk more than we already are."

The group continued to ride in silence, the gloomy atmosphere reflecting the weight of their responsibilities. Night was beginning to fall, and the surrounding forest became a place of shadows and unsettling whispers. The sounds of nature, which usually brought comfort, now seemed ominous and loaded with omens.

Finally, Miguel raised his hand, signaling for the group to stop. "We're going to set up camp here for the night," he said. "We need to rest before continuing our journey."

The soldiers nodded, beginning to dismantle and prepare the makeshift camp. Miguel carefully got off his horse, holding Lila so that she wouldn't wake up from her restless sleep. He gently placed her on a blanket, making sure it was comfortable.

"We need to be on the lookout tonight," Ricardo said as he helped prepare the camp. "We don't know who or what might be lurking."

John, still visibly shaken, looked around suspiciously. "That village... I have never seen anything like this, my lord. Hopefully we can find out who did it and why."

Miguel nodded, his expression serious. "Me too. And when we find out, we will make sure justice is done. But for now, our mission is to trade with the beastmen and secure supplies for the barony."

While the soldiers pitched tents and lit a fire, Miguel sat next to Lila, watching her sleep. He felt a deep responsibility for her, a need to protect her at all costs. The sight of that village in flames, the bodies scattered on the ground, the children brutally killed... all of this still weighed on his mind.

"I don't know what awaits us, Ricardo," said Miguel, without taking his eyes off Lila. "But I know that we need to be prepared for everything. And we need to keep this girl safe."

Ricardo nodded, sitting next to Miguel. "She is special, my lord. Magic is rare, and to see it manifest so powerfully is something... astonishing. We need to find out more about her and what happened."

Miguel nodded, his face lit up by the light of the campfire. "Let's do it, Ricardo. But first, we need to survive this mission. And we need to make sure Lila gets to the barony safely."

With these words, the group finished setting up camp, night falling completely around them. The darkness was oppressive, and the silence only broken by the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the forest. The feeling of imminent danger did not leave them, but they knew they had to continue.

Miguel looked at the soldiers, all alert and ready for any eventuality. "We're going to take turns watching shifts," he said. "We need to be ready for anything."

The soldiers nodded, and Miguel lay down beside Lila, trying to find some rest. His thoughts were still filled with the horrific images he had witnessed, but he knew he needed strength for what was to come.

As the night wore on, the group remained vigilant, the shadows around them appearing darker and more menacing. The fate of the barony and Lila's safety depended on her determination and courage. And Miguel was determined to face any challenge, no matter how dark the road ahead.

***

The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a soft, golden light over the forest. Miguel was the first to wake up, still feeling the weight of the responsibilities and horrors of the previous day. He stood up silently, taking care not to wake Lila, who was sleeping soundly next to him. His movements were smooth and calculated, reflecting the tension that still hung in the air.

Not all the soldiers were asleep. John, the young soldier, was on his last guard shift. He watched his surroundings with watchful eyes, but the fatigue was evident in his posture. When Miguel stood up, John gave a brief wave, indicating that the night had passed without incident.

Miguel began to prepare a simple porridge with the limited supplies they had, stirring the mixture over the small fire that was still crackling. The smell of the porridge slowly spread through the camp, awakening the others. Ricardo and the soldiers began to stand up, their faces marked by fatigue and worries.

"Good morning," murmured Ricardo, running his hand through his disheveled hair. "We need to feed ourselves and dismantle the camp quickly."

Miguel nodded, dividing the porridge into portions and handing them to each one. He also took a piece of stale bread, breaking it into smaller pieces to make it easier to chew. Lila woke up to the smell of the food, her eyes still wide with fear.

"Good morning, Lila," said Miguel, offering her a plate of porridge and a piece of bread. "Let's eat and continue our journey."

The girl picked up the plate with trembling hands, but ate slowly, gratefully. Miguel watched her for a moment, making sure she was comfortable and safe.

He knew they needed to move on, but he also needed to make sure Lila was well taken care of.

The soldiers and Ricardo began to dismantle the camp, working in silence. Every move was meticulous, reflecting the need for speed and efficiency. In a short time, the camp was tidy and the horses ready.

John approached Miguel, handing him the last report of his vigil. "Nothing unusual during the night, sir. But we better remain vigilant."

Miguel nodded, acknowledging John's effort. "Good job, John. Let's get ready to move forward."

Miguel helped Lila get on her horse, holding her firmly to make sure she was safe. "Let's go, everyone. We need to move on. Every moment is crucial."

With the rising sun in front of them, the group mounted their horses and began riding down the road. The shadows of previous events still hung over them, but the determination propelled them forward. The sound of horses' hooves resounded through the forest, breaking the oppressive silence and marking the beginning of another day in their journey.