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Chapter 24 - Aftermath

Arlayna closely monitored her daughter in all matters, including her interactions with others. She was constantly anxious about her daughter's well-being, especially when she saw her being harassed by a repulsive being.

However, she was unable to immediately assist her daughter due to the presence of a sleeping titan nearby. She was hesitant to disturb it, as it could have catastrophic consequences for the people of Dal'ieth if the titan was awakened. 

When her daughter's friend arrived and led her away to receive treatment, she began to relax. Breathing a sigh of relief, she contemplated how she could assist her daughter without drawing the Titans' attention.

Returning to the conflict, the protectors emerged victorious, as the battle became significantly less challenging after defeating the troll. The town echoed with the sounds of celebration and triumph. 

The happiest people in the town were the guards, who were embracing their spouses and shedding tears of relief at still being alive despite thinking their days were numbered a few days ago.

However, happiness was not the only emotion felt. Following Ayaka's instructions, they immediately sprung into action to assist the wounded and retrieve the corpses of their comrades. Every single member of the vanguard had their armor damaged or destroyed, and all of them had sustained injuries.

After issuing commands, Ayaka hurried to the location where Kaylessa was recuperating. Upon spotting her, Ayaka approached and gently grasped Kaylessa's hands. Kaylessa's injuries were severe, and it would be a while before she began to recover from them. 

Laurelena approached Ayaka and Kaylessa, then gently touched Ay's shoulder.

 "Let's bring her to my home and lay her on my bed instead of leaving her on the ground."

Laurelena whispered to Ayaka.

Ayaka agreed that a bed would be more comfortable and that a peaceful, secluded place would be best for Kayelssa's recovery. Therefore, she lifted Kay and followed Laurelena to her home. 

Laurelena's home was quaint and intimate, featuring a spacious bed and a compact kitchen, along with a tiny bathroom. Ayaka gently laid Kay on the bed before tending to her injuries and cleansing her wounds using water provided by Laurelena. 

Following the completion of her treatment, Kaylessa awoke and gazed at the two girls with her beautiful eyes. "Have we emerged victorious? And if so, what extent of damage did we sustain?" Kay softly inquired about the battle.

Laurelena was the first to respond, stating that out of the 40 town guards, 24 are wounded and 15 have perished. She then revealed that among Lady Kaylessa's squad, there have been 23 fatalities and 18 severe injuries. 

As Ayaka replaced the wet cloth on Kaylessa's forehead, Kay let out a sigh and shut her eyes. She couldn't help but dwell on the soldiers who had lost their lives, wondering if things could have been different if she hadn't been so reckless and fallen victim to the troll. 

Laurelena decided to give the girls some space and headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal for dinner, as it was getting late and she wanted to show her gratitude to those who had assisted her and her village.

"Ay, can you return to the soldiers and instruct them to assemble patrol teams to ensure the village's security? Also, send a few town guards to retrieve our wounded comrades in the forest."

She said with a gentle smile as she delegated the tasks to Ayaka.

Ayaka gently kissed Kaylessa's forehead before getting up from her seat and making her way to the door. Once outside, she directed the soldiers and guards with her commands. 

The guards returned with the wounded and Kaylessa's squad's wagons. Ayaka then approached the wagon filled with weapons and chose a gun flare crafted by the dwarfs. This flare had three different colors of bullets: red, signifying immediate danger, yellow, indicating the need for reinforcements, and green, representing a successful mission. 

The flaregun was adorned with mystical runes that revealed the affiliation of the squad or army it was linked to. Ayaka fired the yellow bullet into the sky, illuminating the dark night with a stunning yellow glow. All that was left to do was wait for the reinforcements to arrive. 

"Let me know when the frontline reinforcements arrive."

Ayaka commanded a soldier stationed outside Laurelena's home. Alongside the soldier was a thunder militian who had sacrificed its arm holding a shield in a previous battle against the troll, yet it continued to proudly guard its master.

The soldier gave a gesture of acknowledgment and respect to Ayaka before she entered Laurelena House. Subsequently, she approached Kay and settled down by the bed to care for Kaylessa, unwilling to leave the side of her beloved while tending to her injuries. 

Laurelena finished cooking and began setting the table after a short while. She then invited Ayaka to join her for a meal while Kaylessa napped. Despite Ayaka's hesitation, Laurelena insisted that she needed to eat in order to stay strong enough to care for Kaylessa. 

In the depths of the woods, the mysterious being observing the fight and its aftermath concluded that it was too risky to continue attacking the village, opting instead to withdraw and seek out a different target. 

The races of this world were not yet ready to discover the unknown threat that lurked in the darkness, ready to strike and spread fear and suffering to those who were different from her. 

In the sky, three large machines could be observed flying towards the village, accompanied by flying beasts and their riders as protectors. While they did not move quickly, their consistent speed allowed them to travel without needing breaks, making it a dependable and secure method of transportation. 

In one of the aircraft, a dwarf was seen conversing with a small purple light that remained visible for quite some time. The dwarf appeared to be upset initially, but suddenly, his mood changed to one of joy as he enthusiastically leaped while raising high into the air a barrel bigger than himself.