"DON'T COME NEAR MY BROTHER!"
The voice cuts through the haze in my mind, sharp and filled with anger. It feels distant, echoing through the pounding in my head.
Before I can react, something strange happens. The air shifts around me, cold and sharp like a sudden storm rolling in. A shimmer appears in front of me, rippling like glass bending in the wind.
What... is that?
I blink through the fog clouding my vision, struggling to stay conscious. The shimmering grows stronger, and then I see it—water.
Water rises from the ground, swirling upward in smooth, elegant arcs. It moves unnaturally, almost alive, coiling into a protective barrier around me. The liquid gleams faintly, a swirling wall of defense separating me from the wolf in front of me.
The wolf stops dead in its tracks, growling low, unsure of what it's seeing. Its glowing eyes narrow as it paces back and forth, watching the barrier.
What... is this?
My head is pounding, my breaths shallow, but I can barely think past the sound of the rushing water. The barrier feels solid, humming with an energy I can't explain.
The wolf takes one last step forward, baring its teeth. It growls, its muscles tensing as if it's about to leap—but then it stops.
It hesitates, its ears twitching toward the forest.
Then, with a sharp snarl, it turns and bolts.
I watch through blurred vision as the beast disappears into the trees, its dark figure melting into the shadows. My body feels like it's floating, my limbs too heavy to move.
The sound of rushing water fades slowly, replaced by the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears.
Thud-thud. Thud-thud.
I try to focus, but everything is spinning. My legs tremble beneath me, and I drop to my knees.
"What... just happened?"
The world tilts as I struggle to keep my eyes open. The dirt beneath my fingers feels cold and damp, and I can hear muffled voices—shouting, maybe? It's hard to tell. Everything is muffled, like I'm underwater.
My head drops, and the last thing I remember is the faint sound of footsteps running toward me before everything goes black.
"Is he okay?" I asked, my voice trembling as I ran toward Elara.
My legs burned, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. I had heard the scream—Elara's desperate cry—and my heart hadn't stopped racing since. The forest blurred around me as I pushed my body to its limit, the sound of my boots pounding the ground merging with the hammering of my heartbeat.
I had barely caught sight of the wolf when I acted. There wasn't time to think, only react. Grabbing the largest rock I could find, I hurled it with everything I had, channeling my strength-enhancing skill into the throw.
The wolf didn't stand a chance.
The rock struck its head with a sickening crack, and it crumpled instantly, lifeless before it even hit the ground.
But there was no relief.
I turned and saw Orion collapsing, his body swaying before falling hard onto the dirt. My chest tightened as I sprinted toward him, every muscle screaming in protest.
When I reached him, the scene was worse than I could've imagined.
Elara knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling as water magic swirled faintly around Orion, forming a protective barrier. She had saved him—at least for the moment—but he looked...
Gods, no...
"Please be alive," I whispered under my breath, the words escaping me before I realized it. "Please…"
I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands shaking as my eyes scanned his body. The damage was horrifying.
Torn flesh stretched across his back, deep claw marks still oozing blood. His arm hung limp, swollen and covered in dirt, the bite marks raw and jagged. His leg—damn it, his leg—was twisted unnaturally, broken in a way that made my stomach churn.
Each injury was a story of pain, of struggle. My hands hovered over him, unsure of where to even start.
How did he survive this?
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as panic clawed at the edges of my mind. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mixing with the damp smell of dirt and the faint tang of magic. I forced myself to focus, to push the panic aside.
"We need to get him to a healer. Now," I said, my voice firm, though my insides were twisting.
Elara nodded, her face pale and stricken. She was trying to hold herself together, but I could see the fear in her eyes. Her magic was still active, the water shimmering faintly, but her hands were trembling, her strength fading.
"Stay with me, Elara," I said quickly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You've done well. He's alive because of you. But we must move now."
I slipped my arms under Orion, careful to avoid his injuries as best I could. His body was heavier than I expected, limp and lifeless in my grip. The blood soaked into my clothes as I lifted him, but I ignored it. He was still warm.
That meant there was still time.
"Hold on, Orion," I murmured, my voice low and steady, though my heart felt like it might burst. "You're not leaving us. Not like this."
"Stay close to me," I told her as I began to move. My legs felt heavy, but I forced myself forward, each step deliberate and steady. The healer wasn't far—he just had to make it until then.
But as I carried Orion through the trees, the image of his broken body wouldn't leave my mind.
Every torn muscle, every wound… The thought of how much pain he must've endured made my stomach churn again. But he was alive, and that was all that mattered.
"You're strong, Orion. You made it this far. Just stay with me a little longer."
I pushed forward, faster now, the weight of his survival driving me.
The gates loomed ahead, their iron bars creaking faintly in the wind. Every step felt heavier, but I pushed forward, Orion's limp body weighing against my arms.
"Elara, Aira," I called out, my voice strained, "go! Get Anara and bring her to the church immediately!"
They nodded without hesitation, their faces pale with worry, and ran off in opposite directions. I didn't stop to watch them go.
I have only one focus now.
The church.
My legs burned as I forced myself to move faster, each step pounding into the cobblestones as I neared the tall, white structure at the heart of the village. The sound of my boots echoed in the quiet path, but it wasn't enough to drown out the words racing through my mind.
He'll make it. He has to make it.
As I reached the church doors, I didn't slow down.
"Father! FATHER!" I shouted, my voice raw as I shoved the heavy doors open. The old hinges groaned in protest, and the sound echoed through the vast hall.
The air inside was cool and still, lit only by the soft glow of enchanted candles lining the walls. At the far end of the room, I saw him—Father Eldric. He turned sharply at the sound of my voice, his robes swaying as he stepped forward.
"Father!" I called again, my voice breaking as I hurried toward him, Orion's lifeless body in my arms. "Heal him. Now! He was attacked by a wolf pack."
I reached the altar, lowering Orion carefully onto the smooth stone surface. My arms trembled, not just from the weight, but from the fear gnawing at my chest.
Father Eldric froze for a moment, his weathered face paling as his eyes fell on Orion.
"By the gods…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The sight of Orion—his torn flesh, his bloodied body, the broken leg twisted unnaturally—left even the seasoned priest momentarily stunned.
"Please," I said, my voice firm but shaking. "He doesn't have much time."
The father snapped out of his shock, his expression hardening with resolve. He stepped forward, his hands already moving in practiced motions.
"Step back," he commanded, his voice steady and calm. "I need space to work."
I stumbled back, my chest heaving as I watched him place his hands above Orion's broken body. His fingers glowed faintly, a soft light gathering at his palms.
"Lux vita circulorum, vita lumen. Sana vulnera, redde robur!" (Light of life, circle of vitality. Heal the wounds, restore strength!)
As he chanted, a series of glowing circles began to form beneath his hands. The first was faint, barely visible, but as his voice grew stronger, more circles appeared, each one more vibrant than the last. By the time he finished the spell, four intricate magical circles hovered above Orion, spinning slowly and glowing with a golden light.
The air grew heavy with power, crackling faintly. The light from the circles bathed the room in a warm glow, and the sound of Eldric's voice echoed like a hymn.
Sweat beaded on the father's brow as he continued, his hands trembling slightly from the effort. Middle-class healing spells were not easy to cast, especially at this level, but Eldric didn't falter.
The light from the circles grew brighter, flowing downward like streams of gold. The magic seeped into Orion's wounds, and I could see the change almost immediately.
The jagged claw marks on his back began to close, the raw edges smoothing into scars. The swelling in his arm faded as the mangled flesh knitted itself back together. Even his broken leg shifted slightly, straightening as the magic worked its way through his battered body.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my chest heaving as relief started to seep in.
But then, Eldric staggered.
"Father!" I stepped forward instinctively, but he held up a hand, stopping me.
"I'm fine," he said through gritted teeth, though his face was pale and his voice strained. "This… spell is nearly complete."
The golden circles pulsed one final time before fading into the air. The glow disappeared, leaving the room dim once again.
Eldric stepped back, breathing heavily, his hands trembling at his sides. Orion's chest rose and fell steadily now, his face no longer twisted in pain.
"He's stable," Eldric said at last, his voice quiet but firm. "But he'll need time to recover fully. The damage was… severe."
I sank to my knees, my body finally giving out as the weight of the moment hit me. I leaned over, my hands pressing into the cool stone floor.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Eldric placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch steady despite his exhaustion. "You got him here in time. That's what matters."
I glanced at Orion, his face peaceful now. He was alive.
And for the first time that night, I felt like I could breathe again.