ZATHRIAN

To see her in front of me was such a dream. It took me three agonizing years to meet her this way. My Runathea.

“Runa…” I called but my voice would not come out. In quick, heavy steps, I walked towards the large opening of the ruined church with my arms reaching, when the ground rumbled, followed by a gush of harsh winds coming from inside. Runathea could be seen striking the broken floorboards with her floral staff and Eternalis flowers started growing out of its cracks, her favourite kind since we were children. The staff’s emerald gemstone began to glow, summoning a beacon of light that could reach the spirit garden in the skies.

Is she attempting to put the whole village to rest by herself? How powerful has she become since she departed from our hometown?

All of a sudden, the blonde guy with a huge claymore blocked my way. “Runathea!” He called her. “Stop! It’s dangerous!”

How did he know about her? Since when?

I had so many questions I needed her to answer. Why did she think of disappearing on me, what did she do in these past years and who is he to her?

This is the same man who I found with Lilivienne in this very place.

Lilivienne… she slipped my mind for a bit.

I attempted to turn around to find where I left her, but aggressive ghostly screams filled my ears.

“Runa!” I assumed Runathea couldn't hear me or anyone outside the church. The beacon was attracting the weaker spirits to send them to the heavens while the stronger ones were fighting back to stay in this realm.

I didn’t know the history behind Goulcrest Village but it seemed that the stronger souls had been heavily corrupted and that they would rather be in this world than rest in the spirit garden.

Countless humanoid apparitions were formed in monstrous flesh before our eyes. Each one of these ghouls was marching towards where Runathea was. Not to touch the beacon to accept their fate but to end her life.

Rage and fear consumed me.

A familiar flow of energy enveloped my body, enhancing my physical strength. Alasdair cast each one of us Shield Of Divinity before the anticipated fight.

Not wasting any more time, I wielded my sword to slaughter the ghouls that were getting close to the cracked opening of the church. Flames and frost would mix in the atmosphere with every slash of my blade. I used the mana I’ve been conserving to gather enough electro elements to strike the ground and immobile their movements.

To learn two elements as a swordsman was a huge advantage in battle. At a very young age, I was able to master the flow of agni and its sub-element of electro. During my time at the academy, I mastered aqua and glacio.

The blonde guy took his turn as he entered my line of sight. For someone specializing in claymore, his attacks were impressively keen and rapid, leaving afterimages after another as he took them down one by one. He slayed the ghouls I temporarily paralyzed using the aero element while the paladins dealt with a few other ghouls.

He almost missed a ghoul coming from behind him. I sprinted and jumped over the flat of his blade to kill it before it could blow an attack.

“You’re not that bad, huh? Thanks.” He said.

I turned my back to him. I still have to protect Runathea. “I am a knight.”

“So am I. From Yuria.”

I flashed a smile, the kind that pisses Lilivienne off. “I didn’t ask.”

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A screeching noise from the skies interrupted the whole ordeal. A humanoid ghoul resembling a harpy eagle was flying over the village in unpredictable patterns, trying to claw at anyone it could capture. I waited for the right chance to hit it with my revolver but its real objective was to capture the girl inside the church. Its trajectory changed to a straight pattern to slip inside the large opening. I pulled the trigger to shoot.

“Runathea!”

The blonde guy took action to prevent the ghoul from getting inside the opening. Elemental bullets would change on every roll of my revolver and every one of them failed to pierce its thick skin.

“Shit!”

I unsheathed my blade and followed the guy in an attempt to attack the ghoul at short range.

Each second of that moment was painfully long-lasting. My blood was running cold. To lose Runathea was to lose a piece of me. I will never be able to handle it if something bad happens to her.

Yet before the harpy ghoul could step inside the opening, long golden ropes bound its body from behind. My eyes followed where it was coming from.

From Lilivienne.

“Y-You’re not… touching her!” Both her arms were fully extended and her whole body was shivering. Blood trickled her nose and her skin was sickly pale but she prevailed with all her might. By clasping her palms tightly, the ghoul was stabbed with hundreds of golden thorns from the inside of its body.

“Lilivienne! Don’t push yourself!” I yelled. “Enough!”

“D-Don’t mind me…” She uttered, looking me in the eye with a faint smile. “Go on. She needs you.”

“Let’s finish it!” Declared the blonde guy. The paladins charged to help. Light rain poured to wash the ashes of what was once the Goulcrest Village.

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure of one thing. Where should I go? Who should I choose?

Lilivienne was pushing herself to her limits but I wanted to see Runathea.

I closed my eyes tight shut and chose to listen to her words. But Runa, does she really need me?

The moment I faced Lilivienne away to see the girl at the church, I heard a loud thud. My body turned around on its own. To my horror, I found Lilivienne collapsed on the ground.

“Lilivienne!” I didn’t hesitate to run back towards her. I laid her head on my lap and towered over her with my frame to prevent the rainwater from soaking her further. Her face was covered in dirt and mud. “Wake up, Lili…” But she wouldn’t respond. “My lady, hey…”

To think that leaving her in this state, fuck. I’m a piece of shit.

“What happened?” Alasdair arrived on his horse.

“She pushed her body to her limits.”

The cleric was quick to treat her with healing magic. She was already exhausted from casting multiple Healing of Divinity to support the whole party. “I managed to heal some of her injuries, but it’s best to bring her to the temple for further examination.”

Alasdair muttered a curse under his breath. “That flying fucker’s already dead. Time for us to leave.”

“I’ll carry her to the carriage.” I volunteered.

The beacon of light coming from the church has faded away. The rain miraculously stopped and the sun shined like a brand new day. Grass and flowers grew at a fast rate on the dried ground. Vines have covered the church walls and the village ruins, as though it was returning to nature.

“Runa!” I turned to the opening of the church. Runathea was in an unconscious state as well, in her favourite dress and leather boots. Both women had pushed their bodies to their limits. The blonde guy and his pet immediately attended to her.

“Priestess, please heal the girl.” I turned to Alasdair. He was looking at the church. “Lilivienne asked us to protect her whatever it takes.”

I looked at Lilivienne’s sleeping face. She may not be as powerful as the mages I’ve met before but her heart has the will to save those in need outside of her ability. That’s what makes her just as strong.

I wanted to check on Runathea but I’m afraid Lilivienne needed me more, even without her saying it. She’d rather stay silent than speak of her feelings. Besides, Runathea already has those two… I suppose.

“I wish you could tell me more about yourself,” I whispered to her ear, hoping Lilivienne could hear me.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“Are we going to leave them?” One of the paladins asked their commander. Everyone turned to the three people left at the ruined church. From afar, Runathea woke up and was already laughing with the blonde guy. In the past, I was in that position. I didn’t want to leave this place yet—I still wanted to talk to her—but I believe this wasn’t the right time for the both of us. She seemed fine and that’s what matters, but the woman in my arms was not.

“They’ll decide where they want to go. For now, our priority is to return in one piece and report everything that happened.” Said Alasdair.

I glanced at the village for the last time. The three were already standing at the front of the church. The blonde guy nodded his head to me, his pet waved its hand, and Runathea smiled at me sweetly—the kind that never changed at all.

Until we meet again.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

After laying Lilivienne safely in the carriage, we crossed the Goulcrest Forest with our horses. My eyes observed the woods. Alasdair noticed it.

“What do you see?”

I believed we were being watched.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Nothing. A wild boar perhaps.”

The village might have found its peace but not this forest.