10 hours later after the detonation of the dragon heart on Elkana's capital, under the starry sky lit up by the two moons ,at the centre of the tragedy that occurred today
"Come on"
" Right here, mages use telekinesis and healers, get ready to tend to the survivors "
The disaster, after a few hours as the people who departed for their mission returned to salvage what was left of their homes, friends and families in despair was finally getting contained to an extent
Rangers started scouting the area for survivors, mages and warriors began rescue works and the healers got their hands full with hundreds of patients whose numbers kept increasing by the minute
The atmosphere was grim ,cries of innocent civilians who were mangled up with bruises and injuries, some lost their limb ,some got paralysed and some were in a state of complete coma while millions were dead, or still missing
And from the higher officials out of 309 nobilities that resided in the capital 234 were confirmed dead ,39 crippled beyond repair and 2 have lost their sanity from head injuries and 4 were in a coma ,and the remaining 30 also did not escape the explosion unscathed, they were all injured to an extent ,some with heavy injuries but we're concious and not mortally wounded while the others were currently given intensive care in seperate tents prepared in haste.
Elkana's lords of the countryside territories and villages already deployed relief squads to the destruction site and even other kingdoms sent some help.
" Not here " { Where are they? }
Currently walking around the disaster area, mainly at the place where the guild would be ,I sat down and put my palm on the ground spreading mana underground as I searched for any life signs using mana sense and all my other senses heightened and focused to their extreme
But even after the 6th attempt in the area nothing, no signs of life beneath the area
{Well it was near the area closest to the epicenter of the explosion}(grips his fist) " Is this it? "
I trembled, on the verge of giving up ,99% of me had already given up though, it's just the thought of the 1% chance ,that 1% chance of their survival made me move despite the bones in my arms and legs screaming at me to rest, even with this superhuman body of mine and even after consuming middle grade potions from the healing team ,bones cracked from the insides don't easily heal it seemed, my internals were all but healed now but the bones were still a mess, and I feel utterly drained but it was bearable
" Just... one more area "
I dragged myself back up and moved onto the next area to search through on my right at about a kilometre away
" You guys better not be dead I swe- "
" Chhaan!!! "
Stopping my sentence short Shizela came and grabbed my head from behind ,panting for air from all the running she did looking for me she began to complain
" What the hell are you doing here?!! I told you to stay at our tent ,you need rest for god's sake!! "
She looked rugged and tired, a hint of frustration and sadness could be seen in her red eyes ,her auburn hair was messy and her usual cheerful and optimistic air was replaced with sadness and frustration
I looked back at her but didn't answer back ,I simply continued to walk away but
Grab
She grabbed on my leather armour's collar with a tight grip
" They are dead "
"...."
" Just accept that "
" Don't say that "
My voice sounded shaken
Shizela also seemed to have sense the vulnerability of my current state as she let her grip go remained quiet for a while
" ....Where are you going then? "
" To search and rescue, ...go back ,you are an assistant healer aren't you? "
With that I continued to walk ahead towards the designated spot where the fountain where Gwen and I sat on the day when we got a bit of fame from the Owlbear incident
If memory serves this was the last place in the guild's vicinity there was a sewer exit ,my hope was that somehow they would make it in the sewers and survive the blast from there but even I know how unrealistic that would be, honestly the rational and logical part of my mind was mocking my heart for having such ridiculous hopes but
{ Maybe ,just maybe }
Step step step
" Shizela , go back "
" No I won't "
" The Healers are understaffed you know "
I got a bit annoyed
" What? You don't want me to see you break down and cry when you confront reality"
" (ROARED) YES!! "
RUMBLE!!!
BHOOM!!
" AACK!! "
A fierce aura filled with heavy magic pressure jetted out of my body pressing down Shizela and all the debrises in the ground a bit before it vanished, Shizela fell on her knees from the sudden burst of magical pressure
" ....{What am I doing? } Go back"
With that I left her on the place she stumbled on
Step
" ... "
This time I didn't turn around tor even talk to her anymore, even though I knew she was still a bit shaken from the abrupt pressure I released, I simply let her follow me as she usually does
And a minute later Shizela watched me standing back up looking at the sky with a lonesome gaze
I stood at the place where the fountain used to be ,I felt lonely, I hadn't felt lonely in a while with the three ever since I moved in with them ,so knowing that I would never see them again
Drip drip
" aah { Are they really dead? }( tried his damnedest to stop his tears ) {But I just saw them in the morning, Gingko , Richard, Snakeblade ,guys are you all really dead? Just like that? } "
Lost in denial as I went through a series mental dilemma with a heart filled with grief and loss ,I stood still looking at the night sky with an empty eyes that formed a blank stare,I would've cried of not for the warmth behind me , it helped a lot to endure this through the first minute of this painful call of reality for me , that I was sure!
" Hey... Shizela "
" Yeah? "
She was currently hugging Chhan from the behind
" I'm sorry about earlier, thanks "
" Mmm "
End of chapter