I felt a chill run down my spine as I approached her. My heart was pounding in my chest. Please, don't let it be true.
I knelt beside her, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't bring myself to touch her, afraid that the vision would become a reality.
But then, she moved. Her chest rose and fell, and she let out a groan. Relief washed over me like a wave, and I scooped her up into my arms.
"Tessia!" I cried, holding her close. "Are you alright?"
She nodded weakly, her eyes fluttering open. "Brother," she whispered. "You came back for me."
I hugged her tightly, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders. "I'll always come back for you," I promised. "Wait, let me heal those wounds."
Her wounds were so severe that they needed to be treated immediately. As I started to chant the healing spell, however, I suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented.
"W...What is happen...ing?" I asked, confused and alarmed.
"Bro...ther?" Tessia asked, her concern for me evident in her voice.
Then, I remembered what Sirius had said about mana exhaustion, a phenomenon where one's ability to use magic is depleted due to overuse. What I was experiencing was likely a form of mana exhaustion.
"I'm okay, Tessia. Don't worry," I assured her, determined to do whatever I could to help her.
I summoned all my remaining strength and channeled it into the healing spell. It wasn't much, but it was enough to stop her from bleeding.
"Is it still painful?" I asked her gently.
Tessia slowly shook her head, a small smile on her lips.
"Then, can I lay next to you?" I asked, hoping to provide some comfort to her.
She nodded, and I carefully lay down on the muddy ground next to her, pulling her close. But as I closed my eyes, my consciousness slipped away into the darkness, the toll of the exhausting battle finally taking its toll on my body.
***
Elisa's POV:
As soon as we arrived, a terrifying sight greeted us. Flames were consuming our home, turning everything in its path to ashes.
"What...happened?" I questioned frantically, my mind racing to grasp the situation at hand. But my husband's attention was already focused on our children, lying on the ground with gruesome wounds on their bodies.
"Tessia! Leon!" he cried out, his voice laced with fear and concern.
My heart sank as I saw the state of our children. Bloodied and battered, they lay motionless on the ground.
"Oh no! What happened?!" I exclaimed, rushing to their side alongside my husband.
Leonelle immediately checked their pulse, his stiff shoulders visibly relaxing as he found them alive. Although relieved, my heart still ached at the sight of their wounded bodies. Despite their survival, I couldn't help but bite my lips, unable to fathom the pain and trauma my little ones must have gone through.
"No... H-How could this..." I trailed off, unable to complete my sentence.
"Elisa..." Leonelle interrupted my thoughts, pointing to something beyond the wreckage.
As I followed his gaze, I saw the devastation that had occurred. The grass was scorched and gone, as if an explosion had taken place here. Further away, a blackened figure lay burning. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a Lizardman.
"No way..." I gasped, my mind reeling at the realization of what had occurred.
"If I were to guess what happened here," Leonelle spoke up, his voice somber. "It seems like a Lizardman got inside our house and attacked the kids. Thankfully, Tessia and Leon fought back bravely and managed to slay it. If that's the case, I suppose my negligence as a father led to this. If only I were home..."
"No, Leonelle. We both share the blame here. Don't blame yourself," I reassured him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Leonelle then knelt down on the muddy ground, ruffling both children's hair, and spoke softly, "Good job, both of you. You fought well. And you, Leon. Good job for protecting your sister."
It was clear to see that Leon had done everything in his power to protect his sister, even if it meant putting his own life in danger. He had even braved going outside, despite his fear of the outside world, just to keep Tessia safe.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I came to this realization, and I spoke up, "Good job, Leon," wiping the tears away from my eyes. As the rain gradually ceased, I felt relieved that a sunny day would greet us tomorrow.
"Let's get them inside somewhere safe," Leonelle said, scooping up both children in his arms.
Concerned about our home, I asked, "What are we going to do with our house?"
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do. The fire has already engulfed most of it. I'll have to ask my fat— I mean the head of the Asura house, to provide us with temporary shelter," Leonelle responded with a hint of sadness in his voice.
***
Leonelle's POV:
I found myself standing in front of a massive house in the capital of the Acuna Republic, Lumina. Once, this was my home, but due to a huge fight with my father, I left the house and became an adventurer. The Asura house always detested adventurers and mercenaries, and as someone who desired to become an adventurer, my father was always upset with me. He claimed that my chosen profession could taint the Asura house, but I couldn't understand his deep-seated animosity towards adventurers and mercenaries.
I have to admit, being an adventurer had its fair share of risks, and danger lurked around every corner. However, the thrill of embarking on quests and defeating formidable monsters filled me with a sense of euphoria. Furthermore, my travels as an adventurer led me to meet many fascinating people, including my beloved wife, Elisa.
But when Elisa became pregnant, I knew that I couldn't continue to put her and my unborn child in harm's way. The frigid climate of the northern continent, where we were adventuring, was too perilous for a growing family. Thus, we returned to the Acuna Republic, seeking refuge and employment from my father.
I was fully aware of how much I had disappointed my father in the past. Therefore, asking for a favor from him was something that I dreaded. However, I had no other choice but to seek his assistance in finding a warm and comfortable shelter for my family.
I could still recall vividly how my father had looked at me with a mixture of disappointment and anger, his eyes piercing through me as I prostrated myself on the floor.
"Go to Runark Village. I have a house there. You can stay there for as long as you wish," he had said, his voice filled with resignation.
And now, here I stood, one step away from entering my estranged father's house.
"Why are you here?" I heard a booming voice that sounded so authoritative that I almost jumped out of my skin.
Turning around, I saw my father standing there, cane in hand, clad in his black military uniform.
"I-ah...Ah." I stuttered, taken aback by the suddenness of his appearance. Composing myself, I immediately put on a serious expression and spoke, "Head, can I ask you for another favor?"
As I looked into my father's eyes, I made a conscious effort to maintain eye contact, despite feeling somewhat intimidated by his powerful presence.
"Again? What do you need this time?" he inquired, his voice retaining the same authoritative tone that I remembered from my childhood.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to broach the subject. Eventually, I mustered up the courage to speak, "Our house, the one that you gave us, burned down recently because a monster managed to get inside."
"A monster, you say?" my father queried, his expression incredulous.
"Yes, it's true," I confirmed, my tone earnest.
He pressed me for more details, "What about the children? Are they alright?"
"Yes," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Leon and Tessia, the children who were inside, survived. They have major injuries, but they are alive. They woke up seven days ago, so if you want to visit them—"
"There is no need. I do not wish to waste my time. If it is a new home that you seek, I can provide you with the one I own in Mystara," he interrupted, his tone dismissive.
Mystara. Though it was far away from Runark, it was certainly better than having no home at all.
"Thank you, Head. I promise that I will fulfill my duties and protect my new home," I replied, bowing almost 90 degrees in respect.
My father gave a slight nod, indicating that he had heard me. However, he warned me sternly, "You better make sure no monsters enter your home again, or you won't be receiving any more favors from me."
"I understand, Head. I will ensure that my family is safe, no matter what."
As my father began to walk away, he stopped and looked back at me before continuing on his way. "Don't forget your duty as a knight," he reminded me. "Protect the people of Runark village, and do it well. You know how much I value the security of our republic."
"I will, Head. You have my word," I vowed, feeling determined to live up to my responsibilities.