As the weather cleared and the storm's fury subsided, Bane carried Mia back to the caves where the villagers had taken refuge, with Sylvie walking alongside them. The once-terrified villagers were now emerging from the safety of the caves, their faces weary but filled with gratitude. Among them, the little girl Sylvie had saved spotted her and ran forward, wrapping her small arms around Sylvie in a tight hug. Sylvie smiled warmly, kneeling down to return the embrace.
The guards approached the trio, their expressions filled with relief and admiration. They couldn't stop thanking Bane, Sylvie, and Mia for their bravery. The lead guard, speaking on behalf of the group, voiced the question on everyone's mind. "How did you all do it?"
Bane gave a modest smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "It wasn't just me. In fact, it was the guards who had the answer all along."
Confusion spread across the faces of the guards and even Sylvie as they looked to Bane for an explanation.
*Before the battle...*
"Any suggestions?" Mia had asked, her voice tinged with urgency as the trio faced the impending Slorde horde.
Bane nodded, his mind piecing together the puzzle. "We've been trying to figure out why the Slordes haven't attacked yet. The answer has been right in front of us this entire time." He pointed to the sky, where the rain was pouring down in sheets. "As the guard mentioned, it doesn't rain often here, especially this time of year. The Slordes aren't attacking because the rain is overwhelming their senses, throwing them off. We can use this rain as cover to take them out."
Mia and Sylvie exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with realization. How had they not noticed it before?
Bane continued, outlining the plan. "Mia, the rain is immobilizing them for now, but we don't know how long that will last. If you're as accurate with that bow as I think you are, you can use your magic to freeze them from a distance. Sylvie and I will go in for the strikes. The more we can take out, the better."
Mia grinned, a thrill of excitement running through her. "This plan sounds insane—I like it."
---
Back in the present, the guards looked at each other in amazement. Who would have thought that a simple observation could turn the tide and save them all? The village chief, having overheard the conversation, stepped forward and promised to reward the guards handsomely for their efforts. He glanced over at Mia, who was still unconscious but resting peacefully in Bane's arms. He nodded, knowing she would recover with a good night's rest and a mana potion.
Bane, however, couldn't shake the memory of what had brought them to this point. "It's just a shame we couldn't make Gram pay for his idiocy," he said, his voice laced with frustration.
Sylvie smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, don't worry about that. Hex Release!"
Suddenly, Gram appeared out of thin air, bound by the same tendrils Sylvie had conjured earlier. He was unconscious, his mana drained by the tendrils' special ability. He was in far worse shape than Mia. Sylvie smiled as she sank him back into her magic's void. "He will pay."
---
The next morning, the excitement had died down, and Mia was back on her feet, feeling refreshed. Bane shared his theory with her—that she had potentially increased her grade during the battle. Mia was thrilled by the possibility, though she had no clear memory of what had happened. She recalled feeling her core react during the fight, almost as if the battle itself had fed her power, leading her to instinctively know the move she had used. The idea that she might now be an Upper Epic grade filled her with excitement and anticipation. They would only know for sure once they returned to Mordell.
As they prepared to leave, the villagers bid them farewell, their gratitude evident in every word and gesture. The trio, now more bonded than ever, began their journey back to Mordell.
---
Upon arriving at Mordell, they found Melody waiting at the guild's gates for Mia. As the three approached, Melody immediately noticed the shift in their demeanor. The tension and animosity that had once been present between them had melted away, replaced by a newfound camaraderie. Melody smiled inwardly, pleased to see her daughter walking with such confidence. 'I see I was right in choosing those two,' she thought.
As she started to greet them, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Mia wasted no time, cutting in before Melody could speak. "Sorry, Mom, no time to chat. We have a report to make to Serena. You may want to come along as well." The disgusted looks on all three of their faces piqued Melody's curiosity. Something had clearly happened during their mission, something that had unified them but left them deeply disturbed.
"Well, my lovely daughter, when you're looking so serious, how can I refuse?" Melody said, her tone light but her curiosity now fully engaged.
As the four of them made their way to the Palace to find Serena, none of them could have anticipated the chain of events they were about to set in motion. This single action would ignite a series of events that would ultimately change the very fabric of Mordell itself.