Gael walked back to where Fortis is after killing the Brutal Bear.
" Kiiik? " Fortis asked Gael if he was okay.
Gael smiled and answered.
" I'm okay, these are just light wounds " Gael then fell down front facing.
" Kiiiiiik! " Fortis went to check up on Gael.
Gael passed out from fatigue and his wounds, but he received the most damage in his mind and internal parts of his body because of entering the mindless state, it has a heavy toll on Gael's mind and using it to increase his strength damages his body from the inside, some of his bones are fractured not because of the enemy attacks but because it cannot handle the pressure from Gael's burst of power. This is the main reason why Gael hates entering the mindless state, it makes him vulnerable after using it, and that is why he only uses the mindless state he is in extreme danger.
Fortis panicked and run around in circles, he jumped over Gael's body from time to time, after a few minutes he calms down he touched Gael's forehead he checked if he is still breathing and when Fortis confirmed that Gael is still alive he heaved a sigh of relief and sat down beside Gael.
...
Back at the unnamed village.
The three strongest hunters of their village returned with their respective groups along with the rescued villagers as well as the men who are forcefully recruited by the bandits.
" Mama! " Mary shouted in joy and excitement when she saw her mother, she run towards her mother and jumped, her mother lifted her up and they hugged, crying.
" Mama I missed you so much," Mary said while sobbing hard, her mom barely understand her words.
" I missed you too my baby, " Mary's mother said with teary eyes and a shaking voice, she was so scared that she might not be able to see her daughter again.
" Waaaaahhh! Papa! "
" I missed you "
" I am so happy you are okay "
The other rescued villagers met with their family and loved ones, they hugged, they cried, but there is a smile and relief on their faces as they reunite with their loved ones.
" Harry where is Gael? " The village chief asked the bearded hunter, his name is Harry.
" We left earlier than him, it is his orders to immediately leave after rescuing the villagers " Harry answered with an ashamed expression on his face, he is ashamed that he is hailed as the strongest hunter in their village yet he is powerless against the bandits and he cannot even help Gael.
" Then we can only pray and hope for their safe return," the village chief said with a heavy heart, he is worried for Gael's safety.
Harry nodded at the village chief's words with a solemn face.
" Mama, have you seen big brother Gael and Fortis? " Mary asked her mother, she is extremely worried for Gael and Fortis' safety.
The villagers stayed awake the whole night waiting for Gael and Fortis' safe return, hours have already passed and the sun is about to rise but even Gael and Fortis' shadow cannot be seen, and it made the villagers worried, especially Mary since she became quite close with Gael and Fortis.
" Mama will big brother and Fortis be okay?" Mary asked with teary eyes, she did her best to stay awake the whole night to wait for Gael but it is now morning and Gael and Fortis is still not back.
The sun is now completely up and most of the villagers are starting to lose hope that Gael and Fortis will come back alive but Mary and her mom along with the village chief still haven't lost hope.
" Chief let us go up the mountain and look for Gael and Fortis " Harry the leader of the three hunters said with determination.
" No need " a voice sounded behind them, they all turned around at the same time and saw a rugged and dirty figure of Gael and Fortis, both of them covered in wounds and various injuries. When Gael lost consciousness Fortis stayed beside him and waited for him to wake up before they descended the mountain together but the two of them are still extremely tired and weak that is why it took them a long time to return.
" Big brother! " Mary ran towards Gael and hugged his leg.
" I am so worried about you and you too," Mary said to Gael and Fortis.
" Gael! " The village chief and Harry said at the same time.
They approached him so that they can help him walk.
" Let us go to the restaurant so you both can have a good rest," the village chief said.
Gael and the others headed straight to the restaurant.
While the other villagers went back to their now newly rebuilt houses so that they can also take a rest and be with their families.
Gael and Fortis are sleeping soundly inside one of the rooms at the restaurant, they are both covered in bandages, they have been asleep for three days now.
Mary went inside their room with her mother carrying a small bowl of water and a wet towel, she sat down beside Gael and Fortis and slowly and carefully wiped their faces and arms with the wet towel.
Gael slowly opened his eyes when he felt the cold wet towel on his face.
" Huh? " Gael mumbled.
" Big brother you're awake! " Mary said excitedly.
" Kiiiik? " Fortis said, he is woken up by Mary's loud and excited voice.
" Fortis! " Mary exclaimed and she run up to the small Goblin and hugged Fortis tightly.
Gael sit up and saw Mary's mother looking at him. Gael bowed at her to greet her.
Mary's mother took a seat at the side of Gael's bed looking at Mary and Fortis.
" I would like to thank you for saving me and the others " Mary's mother turned her head towards Gael and she bowed deeply expressing her gratitude.
" No need to thank me I only did what I am ordered to do, " Gael said with a hoarse voice, his throat is extremely dry because it has been days since he last has a taste of water.
" Here drink this " Mary's mother handed Gael a glass of water. Gael accepted it and devoured it in seconds, he is extremely thirsty, Mary's mother smiled sweetly when she saw how Gael devoured the glass of water.
" I'm sorry," Gael said embarrassed.
" You want another glass? " Mary's mother asked with a smile on her face.
" Yes please " Gael handed her the glass in his hand.
She quickly poured another glass full of water which Gael quickly devoured.
" I will go out and tell the village chief that you guys have woken up, I am sure he will be happy, " Mary's mother said and she exit the room and left Mary inside.
A few minutes later the village chief along with other elders and Harry entered the room with smiles on their faces, then suddenly all of them lowered their heads at the same time which extremely surprised Gael.
" We are extremely grateful to you for helping our village, I know that you hate this kind of thing but this is the only way we know to show our gratitude towards the hero of our village, " the village chief said continuously not giving Gael a chance to say something because he knows that Gael will stop them.
" Okay okay you guys can now stop, I accept this gratitude of yours, but please don't call me a hero, " Gael said with a weird expression, he does not like being referred to as a 'Hero' it makes him feel uncomfortable.
" That I cannot do, you are the hero of our village and you always will be, " the village chief said sternly not accepting no as an answer.
Seeing that he cannot stop the village chief and the others Gael sighed in defeat.
' I will not stay here for long so I will just let them do what they want ' Gael thought to himself, looking at the villagers and the others with an uncomfortable smile on his face.
" Now that everything is sorted out we will now leave so you two can get some more rest because we will have a celebration later, " the village chief said and the others nodded happily.
"I and the others will go out to hunt for more meat since we heard from Mary that your Familiar loves roasted meat," Harry said with his chest out.
" Kiiiiiik kiiiiiik " Fortis exclaimed when he heard the word roasted meat.
" Hahahahaha haha "
" Hahahahaha " the room was filled with laughter when they heard Fortis.
" Mary come, let them continue their rest " Mary's mother called her and she nodded and left with the others.
" Big brother, Fortis, get well soon okay? " Mary said before she leaves the room.
" Okay " Gael shortly answered, and then the group left the room leaving only Fortis and Gael.
" Kiiiik! " Fortis said and Gael quickly stood up in surprise.
He saw Fortis glowing in green colored and his aura is starting to get stronger, Gael can still clearly see Fortis despite the bright glow.
Fortis' body slowly gets bigger and his sharp teeth and nails became sharper and visibly stronger, the muscles on Fortis' body also got bigger he can now see more muscles bulging.
After a few more minutes the glow covering Fortis slowly disappeared and it revealed Fortis' new form. He grew a few inches taller and his body grew more muscular and his overall appearance is now more mature and his skin colour became darker.
" You became stronger again," Gael said and Fortis jumped down from the bed he is now full of energy, his injuries and wounds have completely healed.
Gael felt something and he smiled.
He just felt a surge of soul energy inside his body it indicates that he is now ready to advance to Adept Tamer.