Amanda’s breath faltered, her hands trembling as the words sank in. Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of years of sorrow pressing against her like a dam about to burst. She looked up at Ranna, searching her face for confirmation, a part of her too afraid to believe it could be true. When Ranna nodded, Amanda’s legs nearly buckled. Tears welled up, unbidden, as relief crashed over her like a tidal wave.

She quickly composed herself, thanked Ranna, and ran out of the house, saying, "I'll be back soon."

Leo, confused and concerned, asked, "What happened?"

Ranna sighed and gestured for him to sit down. He hesitated for a moment, feeling the tension shift in the room. The playful banter had faded, leaving a weighty silence in its place. As he sat down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something important was about to be revealed. The house felt quieter, the hum of distant farm work barely audible through the thick walls.

Her gaze softened, and she studied Leo for a moment, as if considering her words carefully. "Has Amanda ever told you how we met?" she asked, her tone now serious.

Leo nodded, the light-heartedness from earlier slipping away. "Yeah, she told me about how they saw your party almost defeated by a field boss."

Ranna nodded, "That's right," she said, her voice tinged with a sadness that made Leo's chest tighten. She took a deep breath, and the air between them seemed to grow heavier. The faint scent of the wildflowers outside seemed distant, unable to reach them in the weight of the moment. "But there's more you need to know."

He leaned in slightly, sensing the importance of what she was about to share. His mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of stories Amanda had told him over the years. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls suddenly feeling closer, the air thicker.

Ranna’s voice dropped to a whisper, but the weight of her words seemed to fill the room. Leo felt a knot tighten in his chest, a sense of foreboding creeping up on him as if the very air had thickened. He leaned forward slightly, almost afraid to hear what came next. "There’s something you need to know," she began, and in that moment, Leo knew that whatever she was about to say would change everything.

"There is a dungeon behind the hill that is called the Orc Dominion, where Amanda's party was caught years ago. They were on a quest to exterminate goblins, but they stumbled upon a Dominion instead. Her party, with your parents, Claire and Samuel, was obliterated by the Orc Lord and its minions. Amanda was the only one who survived, thanks to her race skill."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Leo listened intently, his heart heavy with the weight of the story. The light coming through the window seemed colder now, the day outside a stark contrast to the darkness of the memories Ranna was recounting. "Amanda reported it to the Guild Center, and they promised to send an extermination team, but years passed and no one came. She went to the guild every day, pleading for help, but no one was willing to take the risk. Powerful adventurers were always off on high-level quests, and no one wanted to face the Dominion."

Ranna's voice softened as she continued, "Despite all that, she never gave up. She visited the area regularly, hoping someone would come and destroy the Dominion. But no one ever did."

He felt a surge of empathy for Amanda. He could hardly imagine the pain and determination it took for her to keep going back. Ranna looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and relief. "Until today. Someone strong enough finally killed the Dominion Lord and ended her years of suffering."

He felt his heart sink as Ranna’s words hung in the air. How had he missed the signs? The sadness that sometimes clouded Amanda’s eyes, the hesitations, the way she clung to this place—everything made sense now. The revelation hit him like a wave, and he struggled to keep his composure.

This woman, who had nurtured him, cared for him, and asked for nothing in return, had carried the weight of unimaginable pain in silence. Guilt gnawed at his insides. All this time, he had been focused on his own journey, his own power—never once stopping to consider the depth of Amanda’s suffering.

How could he ever repay her for that? And now, unknowingly, he had played a part in ending that suffering. But was that enough? Could he ever truly make up for all she had lost?

Ranna’s words brought back fragments of conversations he’d had with Amanda. The way she’d always deflected when he mentioned leaving for the capital. The rare moments when her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. How had he not seen it before?

She broke the seriousness of their talk with a sudden mischievous grin. She looked Leo up and down, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Leo," she said, her voice light and teasing, "you really do look like a seasoned adventurer now. A strong one at that."

His embarrassment resurfaced, his face flushing as he realized he had been talking to Ranna in his half-naked state. He hadn't noticed it in the intensity of the conversation. "I... uh... I didn't realize..." he stammered, his voice trailing off as he quickly stood up.

Ranna's laughter echoed through the room. "No wonder Amanda was so shocked when she saw your muscular body," she teased, her laughter only growing louder as Leo scrambled to their bedside to grab some clothing.

He quickly pulled on a shirt, his face still burning with embarrassment.

Ranna’s laughter rang through the room, echoing off the wooden walls. Leo fumbled with his shirt, his fingers betraying his embarrassment as he tried to pull it on as quickly as possible. "You’re never going to live this one down," she said between fits of laughter, her eyes twinkling with amusement as Leo’s face turned a deep shade of crimson.