Novels2Search

chapter 69

Without saying anything else, the bear leaves along the same path from which it came, the forest resumes its silence again, which is only interrupted by the footsteps of something approaching Ezer.

“You're safe, at least for now.”

This time Ezer manages to distinguish the figure from which that voice that saved him came. A deer stood next to him with an aura of majesty that forced him to look down, however, he does the opposite and observes the eyes of that being. These were black reflecting a clear power and wisdom that made it impossible to see them anymore.

“Who are you?” Ezer couldn't help asking that question.

“I? Good question... A beast? Someone who likes to meddle in other people's business? A guardian? I just don't know, your question casts doubt on the very existence, a very difficult question to answer.” She begins to walk toward the creek and with a small shake of her head tells Ezer to follow her.

When her front legs touch the water, it solidifies into ice thick enough for her and Ezer to walk on until they reach the other shore. He decides to follow her knowing that if she had bad intentions, she would not have saved him earlier.

“Oh! Your friend is in a worse state than expected.” The deer approaches Lyaria and sniffs at her wound, speaking those serious words with a sweet voice that please the hear. Not out of sarcasm, but because that was the tonality and grace that it possessed. “She has a serious infection in that leg, the circulation of his blood is hampered.”

Ezer immediately removes Lyaria's boots and notices how her toes turn dark purple. His leg was very serious, he could tell even though his medical knowledge was almost nil.

Feelings of guilt and self-hatred are born within Ezer. Thoughts flood him that he could have done better or quicker so Lyaria wouldn't be in the situation she's in now.

But at that moment, a feeling of warmth that was impossible in the middle of such a dark autumn brings him out of his bitter thoughts. Ezer watches in amazement as small grasses and flowers grow around where the deer soft breath caressed. Although this was a secondary effect as the deer was focusing all its concentration on Lyaria's leg, after a few seconds, she retreated, taking a few steps backwards into the newly grown grass.

Ezer's face changes from disbelief to happiness when he notices how the natural color returns to Lyaria's fingers. He rushes to unwrap the rest of the bandages on the wound hoping for a non-existent miracle. The deep holes were still blackened as well as their surroundings showing their gangrene, however, the infection did not spread from that place.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“It's the most I can do for her, the rest depends on your efforts.” As the deer moved away the grasses on the ground that grew thanks to its breath began to wither and disappear just like the ice they used to cross a few moments ago.

“Thank you! May I ask why you help us?” Ezer must say it raising his voice due to the distance that began to separate them.

“It was a sign of respect for the former owners of these lands. Don't count on a second time. And now, thanks to this… someone owes me a favor…” Even as she walked away, the doe's voice was still clear.

“That girl needs urgent treatment, but if you take her to that town you will not be received with open arms, even more so in the situation they are in now.” Even though Lyaria had left behind her childlike features to replace them with those of a woman, the deer took her as a child.

"I'll take her anyway." Ezer doesn't hesitate for a second in his answer.

“Well said. One last piece of advice, humans are not welcome in these places, whether they carry elven blood or not. Remember that in the future.” For the first time, Ezer feels danger in the look the deer gives him as it stops and turns.

Ezer continues to watch the deer until it is lost among the tree lines, at the end, he seems to see another deer that joined her and then both disappear from his sight.

"Humans are not welcome? I knew it from the first time.” Ezer says it in his mind as he re-bandages Lyaria's leg, then picks her up and continues walking to the village.

The night was in its fullness, but the full moon and the clear sky allowed him to continue on his way, in addition to the column of reddish smoke on the horizon guiding him.

It didn't take him long to reach the outskirts of the town, being at the edge of the forest that bordered it, having stopped following the creek because it veered off in another direction.

“Is awesome.” He couldn't stop those words from escaping his mouth when he saw how hundreds, or maybe thousands of bodies lay static in the place where the planted fields should be.

In the distance he could be seen the remains of what had once been a wooden wall that was now destroyed in many parts. Within it, isolated plumes of smoke rose and the glow of a few fires was still present. If Ezer concentrated he could hear the shouts of men bellowing orders and the cries of some children.

"I can only take my chances and enter, perhaps in the midst of chaos..." Ezer had initially thought of heading to the cave where he himself was treated, but getting there would only give him some medicine, not the knowledge to treat her.

Ezer begins to walk through the sea of bodies of beasts that he had never seen in his life. Among the arrow-riddled bodies there were still some that moved slightly breathing in agony, huge bears, smaller bears, some with blood-colored fur, wolves that possessed a tail that parted until it ended in two, titanic beasts whose fangs bent forwards, above or on the sides, all different, although similar at the same time since they were characterized by having a dense coat to be able to withstand the temperatures of these lands.

Although Ezer could not see any body of any person, he was able to notice the footprints and marks of someone being dragged, as well as the remains of shields and some weapons scattered on the ground. At every step you could perceive the blood that bathed the earth that even generated reddish puddles which only served to increase the smell of iron in the air.

The door was already visible without problems and also its destruction, six guards were taking care of it and many of them still had fresh blood somewhere in their body. The plan to go unnoticed vanishes at that moment.