The solemn sound of wood being chopped echoed across the desolate, ruined town, blending with the faint murmur of grief. The devastation was fresh, the air still heavy with the smoke from destroyed homes and the lingering stench of death. Vorian stood at the edge of the clearing, his gaze fixated on the pyres being constructed, each one meticulously prepared to offer the victims of the massacre their final rest. The charred remains of homes and the town's once vibrant marketplace lay in ruins behind him, a grim reminder of the disaster that had unfolded not long ago.
Beside Vorian, General Rubios was coordinating the soldiers, who were gathering wood and dry grass from both the rubble and the nearby forest. The men worked efficiently, their movements precise and driven by an unspoken need to finish the task quickly. The pyres were being constructed with a sense of urgency and reverence, the dry grass carefully placed beneath the thick logs, ready to be set alight when the time came.
Vorian sighed deeply, his eyes drifting over the numerous bodies that had been laid out for burial. The dead, victims of the creature's rampage, were covered with simple linen sheets, their faces hidden from view, but the pain of loss was palpable in the air. Family members and friends of the deceased stood a respectful distance away, their faces etched with sorrow, waiting for the final farewell to begin.
"The search has been called off," Vorian muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the general. "We've searched for miles, and there's been no sign of the creature."
General Rubios nodded grimly, his brows furrowing as he surveyed the scene. "It's strange," he said, his voice low and contemplative. "A beast that attacked so ferociously… you'd expect it to keep on killing, to hunt again. But there hasn't been a single sighting since the incident with the search squad. It's as if it vanished."
"Vanished or… retreated," Vorian added, his thoughts drifting to the possibility that the creature was hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike again. But even that didn't make sense. The creature had been aggressive, relentless, yet now it seemed to have disappeared entirely. There were no further attacks, no fresh trails of destruction. It was as if the beast had simply… stopped.
The two men exchanged a brief, puzzled glance before Rubios turned his attention back to the soldiers, watching as they continued their grim task. The pyres were growing, each one a towering testament to the loss suffered by the town. And yet, amidst the preparations, there was an eerie sense of calm—an unnatural quiet that only deepened the unease within Vorian.
"Strange times indeed," Vorian muttered, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, something more than the massacre, more than the creature itself. But without any leads, without any trace of the beast, there was little he could do except oversee the preparations for the burial and wait.
Meanwhile, inside the Inn, Selena had remained by Zeph's side ever since the attack, her maternal instincts keeping her tethered to him. The incident had shaken her to the core, and though Zeph was recovering, she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone for even a moment. She watched over him day and night, always ensuring he was safe, constantly checking on him even when he seemed fine.
Elara had been equally reluctant to leave, staying close to Zeph as well, her presence offering comfort and quiet support. She hardly said a word, but her loyalty to Zeph was unwavering. Selena often found herself quietly grateful for Elara's silent company, knowing that they both shared the same unspoken fear—that something could happen to Zeph again.
However, that day brought an unexpected visitor. Anastasia, the second wife of Emperor Solon, had arrived at the castle. Her usually regal demeanor was softened by sadness, her face pale as she entered the chamber where Selena sat by Zeph's bed. Selena rose to greet her, her own exhaustion from the sleepless nights evident, but her concern for Anastasia momentarily took precedence.
"Aunty Selena," Anastasia spoke gently, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I… I came to ask something of you."
Selena frowned slightly, sensing the heaviness in Anastasia's words. "What is it?"
Anastasia hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. "My grandfather's funeral is today. I know… I know you've been with Zeph constantly, and I understand that you don't want to leave him. But… I would like for you to accompany me. I don't want to go alone."
The request caught Selena off guard. She glanced back at Zeph, who was resting peacefully, his breathing steady. Though the worst of the ordeal was behind them, she still felt uneasy about leaving him. But when she turned back to Anastasia, she saw the sadness in her eyes—the deep grief she was trying to mask behind her calm exterior.
For a moment, Selena wavered, torn between her duty to Zeph and the quiet plea from Anastasia. She could see how much this meant to her sister-in-law. Anastasia had always been a strong and independent woman, but today, she looked fragile, burdened by the weight of her family's loss. It was that fragility that stirred something within Selena—a maternal instinct not just for her own child, but for the family she was a part of.
"I…" Selena began, her heart pulling her in two directions. But when she saw the quiet desperation in Anastasia's eyes, she knew she couldn't refuse. "I'll go with you," Selena said softly, offering a small but reassuring smile. "Zeph is in good hands. Elara will stay with him, and I'll be back soon."
Anastasia's expression brightened slightly, the sadness not entirely gone but softened by Selena's promise. "Thank you," she said quietly. "It means a lot to me."
With that, Selena rose from her chair and placed a gentle hand on Zeph's forehead, feeling his warmth. She leaned down to kiss him lightly on the cheek before turning to Elara. "Take care of him while I'm gone," she said, her voice firm but kind. Elara nodded without hesitation, her loyalty unwavering as always.
As Selena left the room with Anastasia, the weight of the decision settled on her. The funeral ahead would be a somber affair, but her thoughts would remain with Zeph.