Damian rose wearily, his eyes catching sight of a long stick in the room, prompting him to walk over to it.
Taking the stick, he looked at Ragnar and suggested, "Why don't you use this for support, Ragnar?" with a smile.
Ragnar nodded in agreement as Damian approached him.
Damian extended the item to Ragnar with a gesture of reverence, maintaining eye contact as Ragnar acknowledged the offering.
"You may all leave this room, so I will close it," he pronounced, the lance poised at his side.
"We may," Lady Ana murmured gently. "Let's go, Ragnar," she suggested, striding towards the door and casting a meaningful look at Ragnar.
As her gaze met Ragnar's, the wind outside tousled her hair, causing it to sway gracefully. Her eyes shimmered in the sunlight as she fixed them on Ragnar.
Ragnar slowly made his way to the door, using the long stick for support.
"Don't be so slow; walk like a man," Lady Ana quipped in a jesting tone.
Ana chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her delicate hands.
Ragnar took a step and then another, pushing through the pain. His next step was shorter, and he glanced back at Lady Ana, who wore a sly smile.
'It hurts; how deep were the ghouls biting into my flesh? '
"You can do it; I'm here to support you," she reassured him with a gentle and kind tone.
Her soft voice reverberated through Ragnar, echoing in his mind, fueling his determination to reach the door as if his life depended on it. With each painful step, he pressed forward, feeling a stinging sensation throughout his body.
'I will reach the exit of this room! I will walk through this pain despite the demons trying to bring me down,' he vowed.
Struggling with each step, it felt as if unseen forces were pulling him down, hindering his progress.
With his face flushed and sweat glistening, Ragnar took the final step, reaching the door.
"You're quite tired, aren't you?" Lady Ana inquired as she strolled outside, allowing Ragnar to follow.
Surprisingly, Ragnar managed to keep pace with her. As he gazed outside, a breathtaking view unfolded before him. Taking a deep breath, he felt a sense of relaxation wash over him in that moment.
As they emerged outside, a gentle breeze swept through the air, carrying birds and eagles across the expansive blue sky. Perched on a grand mountain, the structure offered a breathtaking view for Ragnar, with the vastness of the landscape unfolding before him.
Advancing slowly, Ragnar approached the wooden railing, revealing that the entire structure was nestled in the middle of the mountain. Houses and structures dotted the way to the mountain's peak, culminating in a grand castle adorned with a fluttering blue flag.
Lady Ana paused, allowing Ragnar to take in the breathtaking view. She observed his emotional response, meeting his gaze with a sly smile.
"Why don't we work on healing your body so you can explore this place freely?" Lady Ana suggested kindly.
Ragnar quickly looked back at Ana with joy and approval written across his face.
"If you want to, then let's go," Ana said with a mischievous glint in her eye as she started walking, leaving Ragnar behind.
"Remember, I won't wait for you," she taunted, her voice carrying a playful edge.
Ragnar took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. Gripping his long stick firmly, he set off after Ana, his footsteps steady and resolute. The breathtaking view and the promise of healing spurred him on, despite the lingering pain.
Lady Ana came to an unexpected stop, her gaze fixed on Damian as he diligently moved all the chairs from outside the structure to the inside.
"Should I wait for you, Damian?" Ana inquired, her tone a blend of seriousness and gentle concern.
Damian paused his activity, meeting Ana's gaze with a warm smile. "It's alright, Lady Ana. Both of you should go on ahead," he said, his hand absently scratching the back of his head.
Lady Ana smiled back, her hair gracefully swaying in the wind as she continued walking, Ragnar catching up to her.
"If you say so," Lady Ana responded, her gaze distant and her thoughts seemingly elsewhere as they made their way towards their destination.
Both Ragnar and Lady Ana continued their descent down the mountain, their steps steady and purposeful. To their left, houses and structures lined the path, while to their right, the breathtaking view unfolded, captivating them with its natural beauty.
Redwood trees, Cedar trees, Yew trees, and Fir trees towered on their sides, creating a lush and vibrant forest. Among the majestic trees, mythical creatures like the Wolpertinger, Peryton, and Hippocorn added an air of enchantment to the surroundings, blending the beauty of nature with the magic of folklore.
"Where are we heading?" Ragnar's gaze remained fixed on the breathtaking view as they continued their descent down the mountain.
As they walked, children played on the path, their laughter echoing through the air as they ran in the opposite direction. "Be careful, little ones," Lady Ana cautioned, offering a warm smile and a wave of goodbye to the children.
"Well, we are heading to Lowfire District," Ana explained, her gaze shifting towards Ragnar as they continued their journey downward.
"The place is teeming with criminals and Grimiores," Ana said with a gentle tone, while Ragnar's expression betrayed a hint of fear.
"The existence of dark essences in this village is almost surreal, yet there are documented cases of individuals falling victim to these malevolent forces, particularly the homeless. Just the other day, a family fell prey to a Twilight Phantom, their fate a grim reminder." Her gaze shifted to Ragnar, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
"This is why we must eliminate you if you are indeed a dark essence." Her smile lingered, her words hanging in the air with an enigmatic weight.
Her gaze returned to its usual focus, fixed straight ahead. A new path branched off to the left, with carriages clustered in that area.
"Look, we're close to the district," Ana exclaimed, pointing ahead with excitement.
Ragnar also turned his gaze in that direction and spotted a new area of structures opening up to the left, while the path continued deeper.
The district's entrance was adorned with numerous decorations and intricate designs. Laughter filled the air as people ran and played.
"This place is beautiful; how could it be so dangerous?" Ragnar asked, perplexed.
"You'll see," Ana replied with a mysterious tone.
As they approached the district, a group of people warmly welcomed them, particularly Lady Ana, who received their care and respect with kindness.
Ragnar looked up at the imposing sign "Lowfire District," adorned with intricate designs. Only a few greeted him due to his imposing stature and the bandages covering him.
"See you next time; I'll miss all of you." Lady Ana waved to the people as she continued into the district.
"Let's go," Lady Ana said to Ragnar, who seemed confused. However, Ragnar stopped and gazed at the vast size of the entire district.
The district sprawled expansively despite its narrow entrances, clinging to the mountainside in a diagonal arrangement. The tightly packed clusters of houses created a sense of suffocating closeness throughout the entire area.
As Ragnar entered with Lady Ana, they found themselves enveloped in a claustrophobic and crowded space. Continuing on, they passed through a labyrinth of structures, each one a dimly lit house or shop, casting eerie shadows and adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
The district was overrun with drunken and belligerent individuals brandishing weapons. As they descended further, the surroundings grew increasingly perilous and repulsive, with rats and corpses littering every corner.
"Are you sure we'll be alright?" Ragnar asked, clearly worried.
"We may not be, but I can protect us," Lady Ana replied with unwavering confidence.
"We're close to our destination, so you can rest now."
They turned left and approached a small, dilapidated structure with the sign "Arawn's Cabin" perched on top. The old building featured dusty windows and a broken door.
Ana cautiously pushed open the already-damaged door, with Ragnar following closely behind. Upon entering, they were greeted by an old man with a bushy beard standing behind a counter, clad in metal plates and a metal mask.
"Lady Ana, it's been a long time since you've visited me. Falco has been very excited to see you." Arawn greeted her warmly, quickly removing his metal mask upon seeing her.
"Oh, Falco. He has been maturing. I'll see him after my request," Lady Ana replied with a gentle tone.
Arawn noticed Ragnar standing silently and covered in bandages. "Who may this be? And what is your request?"
"My request is quite simple. I just need you to fix him with that ironclad of yours," Lady Ana stated as she took a seat.
"It's a straightforward request," Arawn replied, gazing at Ragnar. "You may take a seat," he added kindly to Ragnar.
Arawn swiftly removed his metal plates and hurried to other rooms in search of the Ironclad.
Ragnar and Ana waited in silence in the main room, but soon Ana's laughter filled the space.
"It'll be easy; nothing will happen to you with that ironclad," Ana chuckled in a light-hearted tone.
Ragnar felt puzzled by Ana's sudden laughter.
At last, Arawn arrived with a box filled with metal armor and placed it on the table, catching his breath.
"Here it is, Lady Ana," Arawn said, still catching his breath. "You may put it on, sir," he continued.
Ana stood up and began helping Ragnar put on the Ironclad. Her smile was menacing to Ragnar, and as she put on a piece of the Ironclad, she chuckled quietly.
Finally, Ragnar wore the entire Ironclad, and the armor was surprisingly huge for Ragnar, leaving him still unable to stand or talk.
Arawn stood up and said, "Be careful; it might feel painful, so say when I should start it," in a worried tone.