After fing off the elf in front of him, he paused, raising his head toward the sky, feeling a strange unease settle deep in his chest. He had avenged his parents, hadn't he? The revenge he'd dreamed of for so long was finally complete, yet the satisfaction he expected didn't come. Instead, he felt more hollow, more unsettled than he had even during the darkest days of hunger.
But despite this creeping discomfort, he didn't stop. His sword sliced through the air, one by one, taking down the elves who stood in his path. His well-practiced swordsmanship made it almost mechanical, a routine he'd repeated in his mind a thousand times. Yet each strike left a heavier weight on his soul.
A fleeting, absurd thought crossed his mind. '"Maybe one day, their families will come for revenge. Just like I did."' He almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. And yet, beneath that thought, a deeper worry lingered; was his family, wherever they were now, watching him? Would they mourn the deaths of these elves, or would they understand? Could they still be proud of him after what he had done?
He glanced at his sword, now stained with blood but still sharp beneath the rust. It was like his heart; perhaps still capable of something good, but too covered in layers of corrosion for him to see clearly anymore. He wasn't sure he could ever recognize his own feelings again.
---
Oliver shook his head, trying to clear the haze that clouded his thoughts. He felt as if his body had gone without sleep for days, while his mind had drifted somewhere far away, resting in another world. The strange dissonance between his body and spirit made him feel nauseous, like he was out of sync with reality.
He glanced at the shattered bottles on the ground, remnants of failed magic, and sighed. His eyes moved toward the battlefield ahead. Countless corpses were scattered, some piled messily on top of each other. There was nothing they could do now, whatever hope had once flickered here was long gone.
Aegnor, lounging on his horse with an almost leisurely air, didn't seem concerned. His men, the Black Crows, were efficiently cleaning up the aftermath, tying up the barely-breathing elves and loading them into carts for transport back to the city. It was a cold, calculated operation. No compassion, no hesitation.
Oliver inhaled deeply, trying to ground himself, but the overwhelming exhaustion in his body wouldn't let him stay. He slowly limped away from the scene, every step a struggle.
Aegnor remained seated on his horse, idly watching as the Black Crows finished their task. Though he appeared relaxed, his mind was far from at ease. He still had unfinished business. But it wasn't something he could handle right now. He grinned to himself, almost smug. His thoughts drifted to Oliver's departure, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. "Those three will have their hands full now."
Without warning, and to the bemusement of those around him, Aegnor simply drifted off to sleep, his head dipping forward as the world around him kept moving.
---
Enola and Chris had noticed the large number of adventurers leaving the city that morning. Though they were still relatively inexperienced, they understood well enough what it meant. There was a plan in motion, but just as they made to follow, they were stopped by two senior members blocking their path.
"I'm sorry, but during these times, we can't allow you to move freely," Zachary said with a small, polite smile. His hand rested casually on the hilt of a dagger that hung at his waist, the subtle motion a clear warning to them. His eyes held a quiet firmness, making it clear they weren't to challenge him. Next to him, Shawn stood silently, his face impassive and unreadable.
"Fine," Enola muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling up, though she kept her tone respectful. Chris frowned but nodded as well. They knew better than to push things right now. As much as they wanted to act, trying to force their way through would only complicate matters and could drag their friends, Shao Yinghan and Rang Lanze, into danger.
With a shared glance, Enola made a mental note. 'We'll need to have a proper talk about this soon.'
---
An stared at the message left by Aegnor, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She had only been told what her teacher had instructed her to do, but not how things would begin. Now, it was clear that the time for action had come.
But first, she needed to find her sister. In times like these, thinking too much would only cloud her judgment. The situation was dangerous, and she knew her enemies would be on high alert. But Nisha? Nisha would never suspect her.
With a quiet resolve, she slipped out of the door and made her way toward her sister's residence. As she walked, an elf who had been watching her for days silently followed, keeping a steady pace behind her.
'He's so stubborn,' An thought with a hint of exasperation. He had been speaking to her, trying to sway her for two days, yet he hadn't made any progress. She shook her head slightly as she walked, wondering just how long he intended to persist.
As she drew closer to her destination, her thoughts sharpened. The time for hesitation had passed. Soon, everything would change.
Oliver stumbled through the streets like a drunkard, his body heavy and sluggish, but his mind was sharply aware. Every step felt like a battle, but he had no choice, he had to make it to Nisha's residence. She was the only one who could help him now.
Time slipped by, and even though he moved painfully slow, he should have arrived already. The house was just within sight when he heard shouting; a male elf's voice, loud and angry.
"What's going on?" he muttered, squinting his eyes to focus through the dizziness clouding his vision.
Up ahead, a group of male elves stood at Nisha's door, kicking it with violent force, their curses and insults filling the cold air. They were relentless, pounding at the wooden door, determined to break in. Oliver's heart raced, but his body protested against any sudden movements. His condition was too fragile to confront them directly. Asking nicely wasn't an option.
He slowly raised his bow, hands trembling from exhaustion. His right hand could barely pull the string, and his left hand struggled to aim. But he lined up his shot, ready to release the arrow at the three intruders. Just as his fingers began to loosen, someone blurred past him at an incredible speed. It was as if the person had flown, though their feet were still on the ground.
Startled, Oliver nearly let go of the bowstring, but a firm hand grabbed his wrist, stopping him. He turned, dazed, and saw the familiar face of the pharmacist who had treated him earlier. Relief washed over him as he recognized her.
But before he could speak, he realized the person who had sped past was the one he thought it might be; someone who didn't need his help.
With a shaky sigh, Oliver lowered his bow and covered his ears with his hands. He knew what was coming next. He had heard stories about what happened to people who dared to mess with Nishi. There was a time when someone had tried to harass her, and the rumor was that they were almost buried alive. Over time, her methods had only become more refined, more terrifying.
Sure enough, a scream cut through the air, sharp and high-pitched, like someone being thrown into molten lava. It was the kind of scream that made you want to look away, made you feel the pain in your own bones. The sound was so intense that it almost made Oliver wince, even with his ears covered. Moments later, the screams faded into nothingness. The intruders were gone, vanished without a trace.
Oliver let out a breath and turned to the pharmacist, who had been holding his arm steady. "Thanks," he muttered, handing the bow back. He limped away, still shaken but grateful the chaos had ended.
He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "What's going on with these people? Nisha and An are legitimate heirs to the royal bloodline. Who in their right mind would dare cause trouble for them?"
The pharmacist gave him a quick, dismissive glance. "Not one of ours," she replied curtly, showing little patience for his questions. She knocked on the door anxiously, calling out, "Sister, it's me! I'm here, don't worry."
Oliver realized he wasn't going to get much more information from her, so he glanced at the other person nearby. They simply shook their head, indicating they didn't know any more than he did.
Nisha eventually opened the door, confirming that it was indeed her sister, An, waiting outside. An rushed in, immediately comforting Nisha with soft words and gentle reassurances.
Oliver moved to follow them inside when someone beside him spoke up, interrupting his thoughts. "Have you been hit by holy water?" The voice was curious, puzzled, as if this situation was something they hadn't seen often.
"Uh, yeah," Oliver responded, suddenly realizing that the person talking to him was another pharmacist. "What's wrong?"
The pharmacist's face softened a little. "Come inside. You should sit for a while. I'll get you some medicine."
"Alright," he nodded, grateful for the offer. He stepped inside the house, his body aching for rest.
Inside, Nisha didn't appear shaken by the earlier confrontation. She seemed calm, but An stood nearby, visibly upset, tears streaming down her face. The sight caught him off guard: An wasn't the type to break down easily.
"Brother, were you shocked by holy water?" Nisha asked, her voice filled with sudden concern. She reached out, her eyes searching his face for any signs of lingering harm.
"Yeah," he admitted, shrugging, though it was clear he was still affected. "It exploded out of nowhere."
Standing to the side, An cursed under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear. "Why didn't the damn explosion kill you?"
Oliver smirked slightly, catching the edge of her whispered complaint. "I heard that," he replied casually.
An glared at him but said nothing more, letting out a small, irritated huff. "Damn," she muttered before turning her attention back to Nishi.
Despite the tension, the strange calm that followed reassured Oliver. At least for now, they were all safe, and whatever questions lingered would have to wait.