Elira’s group stepped cautiously into the neighboring village, their footsteps faltering as the devastation around them came into focus. The settlement lay in ruins, its once vibrant heart now a picture of despair. Broken carts and scattered tools littered the streets, fences lay shattered, and smoldering debris painted the air with the sharp tang of burnt wood. A woman knelt beside a fallen man, clutching his lifeless body as she sobbed, her cries breaking the oppressive silence. Nearby, a child crouched in the dirt, her tiny frame trembling as she clung to a half-charred doll, her wide eyes staring blankly at the chaos around her.
Elira froze, her breath catching in her throat. The raw grief, the anguish etched into every face, seeped into her like a rising tide. Her hands clenched at her sides as she tried to steady herself, but the weight of it all pressed down too heavily. A single tear rolled down her cheek, catching the light before it fell. She took a halting step forward, her vision blurring, her breath uneven. The world around her seemed to slow, the noise dimming to a muffled hum as something deep inside her stirred—a raw, unrelenting sorrow mingled with a fierce resolve.
And then, something changed.
A faint green glow radiated from her chest, soft at first, but growing stronger with each passing moment. The light spread outward, casting her figure in an ethereal aura. Berry, who had been surveying the destruction, felt it before he saw it—a surge of mana, pure and powerful, unlike anything he had sensed before. He turned sharply, his eyes widening as they fixed on Elira. “Elira?” he murmured, his voice filled with awe.
Elira’s feet lifted from the ground as the light enveloped her, her hair floating gently as if carried by an unseen breeze. Small, glowing motes of light began to drift outward from her body, like fireflies released into the night. They spread through the village, moving with a purpose, seeking out the grieving, the wounded, the lost. Wherever they landed, they brought a warmth, a quiet reassurance, as if Elira herself were embracing the villagers, lending them her strength.
A woman clutching a child to her chest let out a soft gasp as the lights surrounded her, her weary expression softening. An elderly man, hunched and trembling, straightened slightly as the glow touched his shoulders. The child with the charred doll blinked, tears spilling down her cheeks as she hugged the toy tighter.
One by one, the villagers began to rise, their movements slow at first, hesitant, as if testing the strength they thought they had lost. But as the warmth spread, their resolve grew. They turned their eyes toward Elira, drawn to her like moths to a flame. Slowly, they gathered around her, their battered spirits steadied by the presence of this strange, glowing figure.
Elira descended gently, her feet brushing the ground as the light began to fade. Her body swayed, her strength momentarily spent, and Berry was at her side in an instant, steadying her with a firm grip.
“You…” Berry’s voice was barely above a whisper. “You’re incredible. That mana—Elira, do you even know what you just did?”
Elira gave a faint, tired smile, but her attention was already turning back to the villagers. Eric stepped forward, his expression grim but composed. “Who’s in charge here?” he asked, his voice cutting through the silence.
A man near the front of the crowd stepped forward hesitantly. “There’s no one left,” he said quietly. “The leaders… they didn’t survive the attack.”
Elira straightened, exhaustion still tugging at her, but her voice steady. “Then I’ll take responsibility,” she said firmly. “I’m sorry for what you’ve endured. I can’t undo what’s been done, but we can’t stay here. Your safety has to come first.”
The villagers exchanged glances, their faces etched with both fear and hope.
“We’ll take you back to our village,” Elira continued, her voice carrying over the murmurs. “It’s fortified, and we’ll protect you there. Gather what supplies you can carry. We leave tonight.”
----------------------------------------
Under Eric’s direction, the villagers formed into a large, disciplined formation. Berry positioned himself at the center, surrounded by the children and elderly, while the able-bodied men took their places along the perimeter, armed with torches, farming tools, and makeshift weapons. Eric led from the front, his sharp gaze scanning the path ahead, while Felix brought up the rear, his stance resolute despite the tension in his eyes.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
The journey through the night was agonizingly slow. Every rustle of leaves, every distant snap of a branch, sent ripples of unease through the group. The silence of the forest pressed down on them like a heavy blanket, broken only by the steady shuffle of their footsteps.
As the hours passed, the group’s vigilance waned, their nerves fraying. Berry, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly stopped in his tracks. His posture stiffened, and his head snapped up, his eyes scanning the darkness.
“It’s coming,” he said sharply, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Get ready.”
The group froze, their breath hitching as a low growl echoed from the shadows. The sound wasn’t loud, but it carried a chilling weight, like the promise of violence. The growl came again, closer this time, circling the formation. The unseen predator moved with an eerie patience, its footsteps silent, its presence a heavy, suffocating force.
Eric’s voice rang out, clear and commanding. “Eyes sharp! Hold the line! No one moves without an order!”
The growl shifted positions again, circling slowly, probing for weakness. The men along the perimeter gripped their weapons tighter, their faces pale but their resolve hardening under Eric’s steady commands.
And then, a child broke free.
“My doll!” she cried, darting toward a small, charred toy lying just beyond the safety of the line.
“No!” Felix shouted, lunging after her. He grabbed her at the last moment, pulling her back into the formation just as the monster burst from the shadows. Its glowing violet eyes locked onto Felix as it snarled, its massive form illuminated by the flickering torches.
Felix turned, raising his wooden shield with trembling hands. But his voice was steady, strong. “You won’t take another step!”
The creature lunged, its claws slamming into the shield, splintering it into pieces. Felix was thrown backward, crashing into the line, but the men caught him, their hands steadying him as he rose shakily to his feet.
Inspired by Felix’s courage, the group stood firm, their fear giving way to a quiet determination. The monster snarled again, but its eyes flicked over the line, assessing the growing resolve. It growled low, then retreated into the shadows, its steps fading into the distance.
Berry closed his eyes, his senses reaching out. “It’s gone,” he said finally. A wave of relief swept through the group, and quiet cheers broke out, though Eric quickly silenced them.
“We’re not safe yet,” he said sharply. “Stay focused.”
----------------------------------------
When they finally reached Elira’s village, the guards at the gates stared in shock at the sheer number of people approaching. Recognizing Elira, they quickly opened the gates, allowing the exhausted group to pass.
Inside, the villagers collapsed where they stood, their energy completely spent. The devastation of their home, the harrowing journey, and the constant threat of the monster had left them physically and emotionally drained. Some wept quietly; others simply sat in silence, their eyes hollow.
Elira, however, did not rest. She moved tirelessly among the newcomers, tending wounds, offering soothing words, and lending a steadying hand. Her relentless efforts did not go unnoticed, her compassion leaving a deep impression on those she helped.
Her steps grew heavier as the hours wore on. She stumbled slightly as she bent to place a salve on an elderly man’s wounded leg, her hands trembling with exhaustion. The villagers murmured their thanks, but she barely heard them. Her vision blurred, and her breaths came shallow. Still, she pushed forward, moving to the next person and the next.
“Stop,” a familiar voice whispered, cutting through the haze of her thoughts.
Elira froze, her hands pausing mid-motion. The voice was unmistakable. “Kael?” she whispered, her lips trembling.
“You’ve done enough,” the voice said, calm and steady. “Let go. Rest.”
A faint warmth spread through her chest as a phantom sensation—a gentle embrace—wrapped around her shoulders. Her vision blurred further, and for a fleeting moment, she saw Kael’s face, his expression firm yet kind.
“You can’t save everyone if you don’t save yourself,” the illusion murmured.
Elira exhaled shakily as the vision faded. Her knees buckled, and she swayed dangerously. Just before she hit the ground, strong hands caught her. Berry’s voice cut through the fog in her mind.
“Elira! I’ve got you,” he said, lowering her carefully onto the soft earth.
Berry glanced over her, his sharp eyes assessing her condition. Her skin was pale, her breathing shallow, and her entire body trembled with exertion. He placed a hand lightly on her forehead, frowning. “You’re completely drained. Physically and magically. You’ve been pushing yourself too far.”
Elira’s lips moved faintly, forming words he couldn’t quite hear, before her eyes fluttered shut. Berry looked over his shoulder and called out, “Felix! Get over here!”
Felix rushed over, his face etched with worry as he knelt beside them. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s exhausted,” Berry said, his voice sharper than usual. “Completely. And she’s suffering from mana depletion. She needs rest—immediately.”
Felix nodded and slipped his arm under Elira’s shoulders, helping Berry lift her. Together, they carried her back toward her annex. She stirred faintly, her head lolling against Felix’s chest.
“Easy,” Felix said softly. “We’ve got you.”
They reached her home, easing her onto the bed with care. Berry adjusted the blankets around her, his usual sarcastic demeanor replaced with a rare gentleness.
“She’ll recover,” Berry said, mostly to himself, as he glanced at Felix. “But she needs to stop trying to carry the entire world on her shoulders.”
Felix nodded silently, his gaze lingering on Elira’s peaceful face. “She just… she doesn’t know how to stop.”
Berry exhaled, leaning against the wall. “Then maybe it’s time we make sure she doesn’t have to do it alone.”