Ilya was most aware of the consequences of her last attempt.
Be that as it may, the range of possibilities for her was narrow.
'Considering that they haven't approached me yet, they might be in a perilous situation themselves. I can't even hear their voices. I can't wait for Count Schatten and Commander Halkias to come to my aid.' Ilya thought as she tried to stabilize her breathing.
Because of the myriad of spells currently protecting her body, she was able to regain her composure. Though she was far from returning to her normal state, Ilya wasted no time in planning her next move.
She closed her eyes tightly and began to take deep breaths. At her first attempt, she stopped immediately when a prickling sensation hit her chest. She resumed after a few seconds, making sure to not overexert her lungs.
Ilya found it difficult to continue being on all fours, hence she laid her body flat on the ground. In that manner, she started regathering her strength.
The most unfortunate disposition that Ilya had as a healer was that she couldn't heal herself. She had done several attempts, but they all ended up with her wounds and sickness worsening after a period of slumber.
Knowing that, Ilya utilized her healing powers at that moment in time. She was prepared to face her tomorrow as long as she managed to live for today.
As she looked at the dark heavens, Ilya felt the urgency to recover immediately. She tilted her head to the side and looked at the place where she last saw her two companions. However, only the cottage was there.
As strange as it might seem, the cottage seemed as if it was restored. Even if it was dilapidated, there were no signs of it being swallowed by an unholy fire. The wooden door was slightly opened, showing the darkness of its interior.
Ilya didn't bother being surprised. The Bacharoths were capable of phenomena that even the sorcerers deemed as miracles.
What made Ilya apprehensive was the fact that Commander Halkias and Count Schatten were nowhere to be seen.
She had known the two for the longest of time, hence she was also sentient of the power they possessed. In terms of magical and physical abilities, the two men never faltered in the face of most enemies. If anything, she should be worried about herself rather than the two.
Regardless, it was not just any other enemy that they were going to confront.
It was a Bacharoth -- the nightmare of the world.
Ilya rolled over her front, planting her face in the ashes. The coldness and stickiness of the ashes woke her with disgust, sending shivers to every single one of her nerve endings.
Although she didn't count the time, Ilya believed that her recovery was more belated than she had expected. Soon, she rose from the ground, covered with ashes and her bodily fluids. Her desperation bore fruit when she was able to be on her feet before a minute passed by.
She gulped a mouthful of air as she maintained her balance. Her limbs were still quivering to such an extent that, every time she tried to move them, ripples of an electrical sensation hit her bones and muscles.
Since it was excruciating for her, Ilya simply stood in place for a while. She then raised her head and, once again, peered at the surface of the lake.
To defy her fear, Ilya let out a scoff under her breath. She found herself laughing in the next second, albeit one that only she could hear. Her eyes became ensanguined and soon shed blood.
If not for the protection spell she had placed over her eyes, the sight of the Bacharoth alone would be fatal to her.
Floating an inch above the water was the skeleton of a human aged around three to four years old. It was currently postured akin to a monk in meditation. On its head was the signature crown of the Bacharoths, its luminescence still dull. It only meant that the Bacharoth was yet to fully awaken.
The Bacharoth occupied the lake all alone. The debris from the fire and the corpses of the animals were long gone.
Ilya wiped the blood off of her cheeks with the back of her hands. She went on and spat blood on the ground.
'I doubt that the Obelisk Sorcerers haven't noticed the presence of the Bacharoth. The question is, can they even enter its domain? They should know better than enter without reinforcements. At the very least, they should bring the Crown Pr--'
Ilya immediately dismissed her thoughts. Without any delay, she took a step backward. The corners of her eyes crinkled, feeling the pain of that one step.
'I have to think of a way to hide myself. I should not cross paths with that man. Besides, I'm not powerful enough to deal with the Bacharoth along with the other sorcerers.'
To her relief, she now had the liberty to control her legs. She first distanced herself from the lake. After several steps. she then turned around and began to run towards the entrance of the estate. Before she could even cover half of the distance, Ilya tripped on a small stone that was hidden by a pile of ashes.
She was able to put her arms forward, saving her head and torso from a bad impact with the hard ground.
For a long while, she struggled to run, stumble, and go back on her feet a myriad of instances. Her entire body was covered with scrape wounds, but Ilya chose to leave them as they were. If she used any more of her Rahichna, she would certainly lose consciousness in the middle of her attempt to escape.
Despite her worsened state, she reached the entrance of the estate with her life intact. She didn't hesitate and traversed the ruined gates.
But nothing really came easy for Ilya.
As she fronted the opening, her eyes landed on the last thing she wanted to see at that moment