I yawned while walking. We hadn’t rested for hours, and there were no other villages along the way where we could buy horses. I couldn’t say anything because I could clearly see the determination in Kaito’s eyes. I knew how badly he wanted to see his brother.
I didn’t tell him that his brother might already be gone. But I knew that thought was already at the back of his mind—he just didn’t want to lose heart. I didn’t want to think about it either.
"Kaito, here." I handed him some water, and he drank it while still walking. He passed it back to me and smiled.
"Thanks," he replied shortly, never stopping until the rain caught up with us on the road. I quickly pulled him toward the nearest tree I could find.
"Let’s rest for now. We’ll continue walking later." I handed him the raincoat I had brought. He looked at me, then at the raincoat.
"You use it. I’ll be fine," he said.
I sighed and pulled the hood over his head, adjusting the coat over his shoulders.
"If you get sick, it’ll be harder for you to see your brother. Do you want that?" I asked, looking up at him. I hadn’t noticed he was already staring at me. My face flushed, and I stepped back. "Sorry."
He placed his hand on my head and smiled.
"You’re so kind, madam."
I removed his hand from my head and looked away.
"Don’t call me that," I said, sitting on the tree root.
"Why? Isn’t that what they—"
"We’re not in Chen territory anymore."
"R-right," he muttered, scratching his head before falling silent.
We waited for the rain to stop. Just then, a carriage passed by, and Kaito immediately spoke to them. They were also heading to Poz Village, so we hitched a ride.
Inside, there was a man who looked a year or two older than us. He was dressed elegantly, as if he came from a noble house like the Chen Clan.
I couldn’t help but watch him out of curiosity, but I stayed quiet and didn’t ask anything to confirm my thoughts. Besides, whatever his business was in Poz, it had nothing to do with us.
He kept staring outside, so I stopped paying attention to him. In less than an hour, we arrived at the village.
We were greeted by destroyed houses. The people looked as if the sky and earth had collapsed on them. Smoke still rose from some parts of Poz, as if a battle had just ended.
The carriage stopped, and we thanked them, paid, and got off. The man from earlier also stepped down. Before leaving, he paused beside me.
"If I were you, I’d be careful and not trust anyone," he said before smirking and walking away.
What did he mean by that?
I blinked, staring at him as he left.
Who was that guy?
"Mira, let’s go. We’ll ask around," Kaito urged, so I followed him.
We asked if anyone had seen Kaito’s brother. He had a photo and described his brother’s build and height for clarity. But it seemed no one had noticed, and they weren’t in the mood to entertain questions. So, I told Kaito I’d ask others and observe.
The surroundings were bleak and darkened by smoke. Blood stained different parts of the area, and some bodies still lay on the ground. There were people who looked like healers and volunteers with tents in the park, treating the wounded.
I noticed a child crying in an alley with his mother. His mother… looked like she only had seconds left to live. I ran toward them and checked the woman’s pulse. It was faint…
"Mom!" was all the child could say between sobs.
I tried using a healing spell on her wound, but the stab in her stomach was too deep.
"Hold on…" I pleaded softly.
The woman looked at me and touched my cheek. She wanted to say something, so I leaned closer.
"P-Please… my… son…" Her voice was weak, barely a whisper.
I nodded, closing my eyes…
Even I…
I couldn’t do anything…
"Th-thank—" Her eyes shut completely, and her hand fell—a sign she had taken her last breath.
The child cried loudly, shaking his mother over and over, but… she was truly gone.
I looked at my hands and clenched them.
"If only I were stronger…"
I closed my eyes, waiting for the child to calm down. I knew how he felt, so I couldn’t bring myself to stop him.
At such a young age, he had lost his mother… I didn’t even know if he had a father or siblings. I knew the pain was unbearable.
I rubbed his back since it looked like he might collapse from exhaustion any moment.
He cried for several more minutes, but I didn’t leave him. His mother had entrusted him to me—he was now my responsibility.
Eventually, he calmed down. His eyes were red and slightly swollen from crying. I touched his hair.
"Where’s your father? Or any siblings? Do you have relatives?" I asked.
He shook his head, sniffling.
So, it was just him and his mother. But now, he had no one left to lean on.
"What’s your name?" I asked again.
"L-Lestro," he answered. I could see in his eyes that he didn’t trust me yet, but he clearly needed help.
I nodded and stood up.
"I’ll call my friend. After that… we’ll bury your mother." I bit my lip. I didn’t know if I should say it, but I knew he’d understand.
He was young, but I had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"M-Mom…" he said, on the verge of tears again. I blinked, waiting for what he’d say next. "M-Monsters stabbed her…" He sniffled, sounding like he was confiding in me, so I could only hug him.
"You can tell me later, or in the coming days. Whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to force yourself."
"Mmm," he said, trying to hold back tears.
I ruffled his hair and held his hand before calling Kaito. But before I could, a massive explosion happened. I immediately hugged the child, and we both fell.
When the smoke cleared, I saw the monsters clearly. Some were flying, while others were swiftly moving toward the people around.
"MONSTERS! RUN!" a woman screamed.
People scattered in panic, and I quickly helped Lestro up.
"We have to run, Lestro!"
"But Mom!"
"I’m sorry!" I pulled him away as a monster chased us.
While running, I tried hitting the monster with fire, but my attack seemed to have no effect.
"K-Kaito?! Kaito!" I shouted into the energy stone—our only means of communication—but there was no response.
What the hell?!
Why were there so many monsters here?!
"T-They’re coming!" Lestro screamed.
I turned and saw a massive monster just meters away. Its eyes were red, its body violet, and blood dripped from its mouth.
It was almost on us!
I pulled Lestro behind me and formed a bow out of fire. I shot an arrow at the monster, but it extinguished the flames upon contact as if it were nothing but a tiny insect.
"I-It didn’t even affect him," I muttered.
"We’re gonna die…" Lestro trembled.
I clenched my fists.
"Run, Lestro!" I yelled.
Shaking, he obeyed, but before he could get far, the monster was just a meter away. My eyes widened as I tried a time spell—everything seemed to slow down for me.
But before the monster could reach me, a gust of wind passed by, and in an instant, the monster’s head was severed.
I blinked, watching the monster collapse. Then I turned to the figure. That hair…
"Z-Zeid…"
He looked at me, and I nearly stepped back from the intensity of his glare—as if he could kill me at any moment.
I swallowed but quickly looked away, turning to Lestro, who was still trembling in fear. I rushed to him and stroked his hair.
"I-It’s okay now. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you properly…" I murmured.
He looked at me and shook his head.
"Th-Thank you."
I smiled faintly and took his hand.
"Let’s get out of here."
"And where do you plan to go?" Zeid asked coldly, stepping closer. His sharp gaze bore into me. "You really want to die, don’t you? Or are you just completely stupid? Running away from home… You should know that if you do something stupid, it will aff—"
"Affect my family’s reputation? I know that. But I won’t turn my back on a friend in need. If he needs me, I’ll be there for him."
I didn’t know where I found the courage to say that, especially as his expression darkened further.
"Him? But is he here for you?" His blunt question silenced me.
"It doesn’t matter. I’m not expecting anything in exchange. I’m doing this because—"
"Because you love him?"
"What?" I asked, stunned.
"Did I guess it right?"
We stared at each other. I didn’t know how, but I held his sharp gaze.
Our moment was interrupted when another monster appeared, rushing toward us. But Zeid swiftly killed it as if it were nothing.
T-The captain’s strength is on another level.
I bit my lip and held Lestro’s hand.
"Let’s go."
We quickly left, leaving Zeid to deal with the incoming monsters.
W-Why is he here? Wait…
Does that mean Captain-Commander dispatched them here?
That’s the only possible reason.
Ah, never mind. I need to find Kaito.