Chapter 13: A Resolve to Grow Stronger
The group returned to the orphanage, their bodies exhausted and their minds shaken. The bustling noise of the town greeted them as they passed through the gates, a stark contrast to the chaos of the forest. The town's guards, assigned by the local baron, rushed to meet them after Lady Emma had sent word ahead, explaining the terrifying events that had transpired.
Inside the orphanage, safety finally enveloped them. The familiar surroundings offered a sense of peace, but the weight of the day's horrors still clung to everyone. Lady Emma, despite her broken arms, spoke with the guards, recounting the attack by the mana beasts, the strange behavior of the creatures, and the mana leopards that had almost taken their lives.
Raven sat quietly in the corner, his arm heavily bandaged from where it had been impaled. The sharp sting of the injury was still fresh, but he ignored the pain. His thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the scene in his head—the moment when the barrier shattered, the instant he made the decision to save Elara, and the helplessness he felt despite his abilities.
A soft sniffle broke through his thoughts.
Elara stood in front of him, her eyes puffy and red from crying. She took one look at his injured arm, tears welling up in her eyes once again. Without warning, she rushed forward, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. Raven stiffened for a moment, not used to such open affection, but then he relaxed, letting her hug him.
"Thank you, Raven," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You saved me."
Raven looked down at her, feeling a strange warmth spread through his chest. He wanted to say something reassuring, to tell her it was nothing, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he placed his good hand gently on her back, giving her a small, comforting pat.
I wasn't strong enough, he thought bitterly, his mind drifting back to the battle. The mana leopards, the shattered barrier, the helplessness he felt as he watched Lady Emma struggle. If I was stronger, maybe I could've protected everyone...
Elara finally pulled back, wiping her tears away with her sleeve. Her gaze lingered on his bandaged arm, her face filled with concern.
"You're hurt because of me," she said softly, guilt flickering in her eyes.
Raven shook his head. "No, Elara. I did what I had to do."
But even as he said the words, he couldn't shake the feeling of weakness gnawing at him. His wind manipulation had barely been enough to protect Elara. He had been lucky—nothing more. If those mana leopards had been a little stronger, or if more had appeared, he might not have been able to protect her or anyone else.
I need to become stronger. Much stronger.
Raven clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. His system, the Ancient Celestial Evolution System, gave him limitless potential. His abilities would evolve with time and effort, but that wasn't enough anymore. He couldn't wait for power to come to him gradually. He had to push himself beyond his limits, force his abilities to evolve faster,it was an uncertain world he could easily die before becoming strong.
"I won't let this happen again," he whispered under his breath, his eyes darkening with determination. "I'll protect them. All that I want to protect ."
As the guards continued speaking with Lady Emma, Raven's mind was already planning. His injuries would heal and once they did, he would train harder. He would push his wind manipulation to its limits, test his stealth abilities, and even experiment with his body's mana absorption.
No more hesitating. No more doubting.
The memory of the beast tide and the mana leopards served as a reminder of what was at stake. If he didn't grow stronger,himself and more people could be hurt. He wouldn't let Elara, or anyone close to him, be in danger because of his weakness again.
From this moment on, Raven vowed to grow in the shadows, to train in secret until he was powerful enough to protect the ones he cared about.
Because next time, he wouldn't just survive—he would be ready.