"Hold on," I urged, my pace quickening as I carried the woman in my arms.
Hannah matched my speed, shouldering the weight of Sam on her back.
"Damn it... This is my fault. I should've just pushed through," Hannah admitted, her voice laden with stress. "Now we've lost track of the other two."
"Take a breath, Russ is far more capable than you're giving him credit for," I reassured, encouraging her to have faith in our robotic dog.
The mothership's entrance lay before us, its massive doors fully ajar. The protective turrets encircling the ship were poised for action, while the jets stood ready for flight.
"We're almost there," I murmured softly, trying to comfort the woman in my arms.
"The... village... not... safe," the woman managed to whisper, her voice growing weaker with each word.
"No, we'll ensure it's safe," I affirmed, my tone resolute. "One way or another."
At last, we reached the mothership, just as Gustav and Juliette emerged from the corridors.
"How the hell did this happen?" Gustav's voice reverberated with anger. "We can't gain access to the village."
"First, we need to save her" I stated, bypassing them and making a beeline for the sickbay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The woman's body emitted a radiant light as Juliette cast her magic, allowing me to witness the enchantment in action. Her hands hovered over the woman's body, and intricate runic symbols illuminated in a vibrant green hue materialized on her arms, shoulders, and palms as she performed the spell.
"She's in a moderate condition now," Juliette reported wearily, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "I've expended quite a bit of mana in just one day."
"Don't worry, you did your best," I reassured her, offering a comforting tap on the shoulder.
"It was after you had gone further away," Gustav interjected, his brow furrowed in thought, "That the village fell into an eerie silence."
"Why would that happen if they were under attack?" I pondered aloud, trying to make sense of the situation. "They should have sent a distress signal."
"But here's the twist," Hannah added, her tone contemplative, "This woman seems to have been injured for quite some time. Her bruises were healing, but it was only after the Aswang attacked her that she became significantly weaker."
"It's possible that the village deliberately cut off communication," Sandra suggested, sharing her insights, "Maybe something or someone has taken control and is creating a false appearance of normalcy."
Gustav nodded solemnly, his expression serious. "There's no doubt about it. The village chief wouldn't have stopped contact unless something was wrong."
Gustav appeared to have realized something, his complexion turning pale.
"No... This could be caused by a..." Gustav's voice was serious, yet beads of sweat trickled down from his forehead, "Cursed Veil."
"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback. "But that's impossible; there should have been some indication if it had occurred."
"If it's a weak one, there would be signs," Gustav responded in a solemn tone. "A perfectly executed cursed veil can go unnoticed."
"Wait, is it similar to Domain Expansion?" Hannah inquired.
"Not exactly... Well, it can vary," I explained, pondering the comparison. "Veils have a wider range and target a specific area."
"You can't enter unless..." I trailed off, my thoughts racing. "Unless you're allowed to be within its bounds and be vulnerable."
Gustav snorted, his expression skeptical. "In the case of a mist-type veil, your visibility wouldn't extend beyond 2 meters."
"Wouldn't the goggles work?" I asked, a glimmer of hope in my voice.
"They would, undoubtedly," Gustav replied with a sigh, "but unfortunately, yours are damaged. It will take at least a week to repair and produce more."
"The only ones capable of fighting effectively are me, Sam, Hannah, and you," I strategized, considering our options. "Excluding those stationed in the control room."
"What about Venidith?" Hannah inquired, her brows furrowing in concern. "She's a demon, just like you mentioned."
"We can't rely on her, she's still weak," Juliette explained, her tone weary. "Her appearance might be deceptive, but her abilities are mostly inactive."
"Furthermore, charging into the situation without any information wouldn't be wise," I chimed in, trying to inject reason into the conversation.
"Let's plan for tomorrow. For now, head to the cafeteria," Gustav suggested, making his way toward the exit. "The robots can attend to her. Her condition isn't critical."
"Again... In a battlefield....," Hannah mumbled to herself, her voice tinged with a touch of sadness. "But this time, I'll see it through."