"Wait! Ugh~it hurts!"
I could barely see. Only the colors of life reflected back to my eyes. Though I could not see, it felt like I was being blinded.
I thought after leaving the darkness. Everything else would be fine. That magically, everything else would have been sorted. But that was the farthest thing that happened.
"What's… happening?!"
A sharp pain assailed my eyes.
My eyes hurt so much that it was like someone had dropped burning charcoal inside. I was doing my best to not gouge them out just so that I could be relieved of the pain.
I pressed on them to try. I scratched them. I bashed my head on the wooden floorboards. All so that I could find something that could settle the pain I was feeling.
But nothing I did helped.
"Fay!"
"Ma…mom? Where are you? Whe–" scurrying around like a rat, trying to endure the pain.
"I'm here, Mama's here."
I held onto Mama. Tightly clutching to her clothes, her hands, trying to find support. Even when the pain did not subside. By her side it felt like I would be able to endure the pain.
"Mom… it hurts… it hurts so much… what's happening to me?"
"I don't know, dear… but, Mama's here. I'm here, my darling. I'm here."
I was crying and even my tears felt like lava going down my face. No matter what I did, I would be cornered to a dead end.
"Ilia! How is Fay!?"
"Old Hag!" Mother shouted.
'Old Hag? Does she mean Grandma Tel?' I can hear people rushing from the outside. Their footsteps all hurried and heavy.
"Who are you calling, Old Hag! Watch your words around your daughter, you fool." Grandma Tel's audible grievance echoed.
Mother's always been mindful of her words around me. But, when she's agitated or angry, her words would change in accordance to her emotions. Hearing her call Grandma Tel an Old Hag was new to me. But, I suppose it was a testament to their closeness.
"Aish, you foul mouthed brute. But, I'll let it go for now. Tell me what's happening to her."
"I do not know. But, her eyes must still be in the in-Between World."
What does that mean? The Between World, does she mean Ystavious? Dammit, I knew it, this is his doing!
That mother, fucking giant piece of doo-doo shit is the reason why I am suffering right now. Just, what did she do to me!?
"fault—"
"What is it, Fay? Tell Mama what's wrong. What is it?"
"Ysta…Vious's fault… this is Ystavious' fault!"
"His Holiness!? Wha—what do you mean!? Did you meet his Holiness?"
"Giant… six arms.. eyes… gave me… his eyes! Now… hurt. What… is happening to me?"
"Eyes? Oh no, Old Hag! Fay is in a Chrysalis State!"
Why is Mother so worried? What is this Chrysalis? Why are they panicking? Did they know this would happen already?
"What!? Already!?! Oh no, Ela, inform the Chief. Tell him what's going on! That Fay's undergoing Chrysalis! Lisa, go
"Yes, Teacher!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
The way Grandma Tel ordered Sister Ela and Sister Lisa — her students — reminded me of when Uncle Braum arrived at our Village's doorsteps.
When Uncle's Braum's arm was severed by the sword of an undead. He was on death's door, protecting his wife.
From their words alone, I know how dire my situation is. But, unlike what happened to Uncle Braum. Mother wouldn't be able to retrieve my eyes.
"Mama? What is… happening… to me?" I trust them. But, not knowing what's going on, makes me afraid.
"Shh, I know you're confused. But, I'll answer your questions later, okay, Fay?"
"Ma… I'm scared… I don't… what's happening to me."
I died once. But that doesn't mean I am no longer afraid of dying. On the contrary. I am more afraid of dying now than ever.
"It's going to be okay, Fay. Mama will take care of you. The Village is here, for this very reason. Don't worry, you'll be fine. So don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. I'm here, I'm here."
"Ilia, I'm back! Fay, here, drink this."
The bitterness of the medicine filled my mouth. A drowsy feeling soon came, competing with the pain.
"Don't fight it, Fay. Sleep for now. When you wake up, everything will be fine."
"I…okay…."
A few words were all it took.
My fears. My worries.
All of it washed away. My mother's voice became my strength.
'Am I going back to where Ystavious was? I hope so… I'll beat him up… for… this.'
From here on, I was incapable of moving.
===
The Frontier Village was the name of a small settlement built nearby the river due east and the Dark Forest that was further north.
The number of people living in this Village were meager, and their position was surrounded by dangerous variables.
They were near the battlefield of two warring Kingdoms and a land where undead are born and mutate. But, despite this, the Frontier Village was created.
"Oh ho, I can feel that tonight is going to be really long.."
It was an old man with white robes who spoke.The hair on his head was all white. His beard was almost touching the ground.
This old man's name was Null, the Chief of the VIllage. He was in charge of managing the Village's money and budget.
He was very good at telling fortunes using the stars and the world. Observing the skies and the blow of the wind, it was easy to draw a conclusion, "We 're in for a long night."
"Is Fay going to be alright, Chief?" Leah asked from the side.
"She's going to be okay. Fay is a strong child. She won't fall to this kind of trial." Null was very confident in Fay's ability to hold on and face hardships, "What we should be worried about is, what will come from this storm. We're in its eyes and many creatures would not miss out on this delicacy."
"Gramps!" suddenly a voice echoed as a man came running into their direction. It was Braum, and he was holding a spear in hand as well as a longbow on his back.
"Dear!" Leah reached out to her husband and held his face as he arrived. He was covered in sweat, "Are you okay?!" She was worried about him.
"Yes, I am. You don't need to worry about me, dear." Braum thanked Leah and turned to Null, "Chief, I did what you said and scouted around the Village… you were right. More and more Undead as well as Magical Beasts are gathering. Rina's barrier is holding them back, but I don't think she'll be able to hold on if they pile up any more. We need to consider facing a Horde. I say create a single opening to lead them in an upfront fight. We can't have them surrounding us."
Rina was one of the people living in the Frontier VIllage. She moved with her twin brother a few years ago. However, she's unable to move from her house because of health issues.
But, not too long ago, a massive barrier was erected around the Village. This was Rina's doing.
She had been holding up this barrier for three hours and doing so was not easy. Null knew this and hearing Braum's reports and opinions, he inwardly agreed, "I agree with you. And I would like to help you fight them, but my presence is needed here. I cannot waste our strengths."
"Then, I will—" Braum was ready to fight them alone. But Null raised his hand and stopped him from talking.
"Do not finish those words, boy. You are the last person who can fight against the Undead.. Not only are you not fully recovered, you are mismatched against the undead." Null explained.
"Then, what do we do? Sister Rina cannot do this for long. Are we going to wake up Leo, then? But if we do that Rina will be the one who will fall asleep." Braum was becoming more and more worried.
"Do not worry, no one is fighting other than me." From inside Granny Tel's abode Ilia walked out.
She had long black hair and had a beautiful unblemished face. But, her one open eye… was the opposite of lovely.
It was pure black. From her pupils to her sclera. It was the same eye as her daughter.
But, she only had one eye left. Her left eye was missing and was covered by an eyepatch.
"Sister Ilia! How is Fay!?" Leah quickly asked.
"She's resting right now and Granny Tel is looking after her. She's about to begin the operation. That said, Gramps, we're sticking to the plan. I'll deal with this. Where's Granda Daval?"
"Do not worry, Daval will finish them." Null assured Ilia, "I will begin soon as well. So, go out there and make sure no one can approach the Village."
"Don't worry. Braum, can I ask you to have Rina open a path to the northern entrance?" As she said those words, Ilia started walking away. She did not look back as she simply started cracking her joints and tying her hair to a ponytail.
Braum watched her walk away and felt conflicted. And then he suddenly took a step forward.
"Where are you going Braum? Rina's house is in the opposite direction." Null stopped him, "Are you actually willing to go against my advice and Ilia's request?"
"Sister Ilia cannot possibly do this on her own. I know she's strong, but I need to help her."
Null smirked and shook his head, "Stop it. Your concern is not helping anyone. It's touching, but, if you go to the same battlefield as her in your current state? You're only going to get in her way."
Null was not the kind of person who would lie.
Braum was also well aware of how strong Ilia was. After all, she was the one who retrieved his severed arm when he lost it to the Undead.
But... outside, there's a horde. No an army of undead and magical beasts.
Yet for Null to say he would not be able to do anything to help Ilia, was a simple testament as to who Ilia was.
"Is she really that strong?"
"...She's not as famous as you. But, maybe you'd know if I say that that Ilia was once the Sole Vanguards of the Death-Eye Clan."