Deborah's POV
We finally reached the lake and set up camp there.
The werewolves split into two teams—one team stayed back to guard the camp, while the other went nearby to gather berries for everyone.
The children watched the adults eagerly and wanted to help, so Matthew assigned a few werewolves to lead them on their berry-picking adventure.
A light mist cloaked the lake at dusk.
The water was crystal clear, reflecting the golden glow from the setting sun, bringing a touch of life to this barren land.
Cora and I stayed behind to sort through the children's belongings.
Her little Isla was fast asleep in her arms, a sweet smile on her face.
Cora chatted happily with me about our future once we reached Tirfothuinn: "Once we're in Tirfothuinn, we could open a daycare together and continue caring for the Tirnanog children."
I forced a smile and stayed silent.
Tirfothuinn might be their future, but it could never be mine.
I knew deep down that I could never enter that blessed new home, forever marked by the label of "Demon."
But why?
My family had been priests for generations, never tainted by any demon influence.
Before this, I hadn't even heard of the word "Demon."
Maeve and Mary came to mind—witches, yes, but they were never treated as I was.
Just then, David approached, carrying a bunch of berries. Truthfully, he was here to see Cora.
His affection for her was clear.
From their first meeting at my house, it was clear David had a soft spot for her.
However, Cora seemed to lean toward someone like Mark—gentle and refined—rather than David, whose energy was boundless.
After a few words, David left to assist the elders around the camp.
"David's not bad," I couldn't help saying.
Cora sighed softly. "I know. But… you understand, my father just passed away, and Mark only recently… I'm just not ready."
I forced a smile and nodded.
"And what about you? Are you and Matthew going to keep this distance?" Cora asked cautiously.
A bitter sadness fell over me. "He hates me, as he should. After all, Mary was his mother."
"So all those private talks with Mary were about breaking the seal?" Cora asked softly.
"Yes." I pressed my lips together before continuing, "She asked for my help in breaking the werewolf seal. I thought long and hard about it. We'd lost so many already. In the end…"
Cora gently patted my shoulder, comforting me. "It's not your fault. For Murias, you and Mary are both heroes. It's just… werewolves…"
She didn't finish, but I understood what she meant.
Werewolves are sensitive and highly loyal, their hatred of betrayal rooted deep within. Nothing could change their nature.
The children came back, delighted, piling the berries together.
Each child pulled up their shirt to carry the 'treasures' they had gathered to share with us.
Sol, beaming with pride, held up a large red berry and ran over to me. "Deborah, look! This is the biggest one! Matthew picked it from high up! He said it's an apple!"
Smiling, I took the apple and bit into it.
The sweet, tangy taste filled my mouth, but deep inside, a pang of bitterness remained.
Knowing that Matthew had picked this berry himself was like biting into my own hidden pain.
As night fell and the moon rose quietly, the children gathered around the fire, singing softly:
"Apocalypse past, hope in our hearts still stands.
Ruins' edge, where woods and lakes expand.
Moonlight glows, the night breeze softly lands.
New shoots rise, trust in tomorrow's command.
The sun will rise, as we believe and understand."
Everyone was exhausted from the day's journey, and soon the singing faded as they drifted into sleep.
Cora and I tucked in each of the children and then lay down to rest.
The air by the lake was chilly and damp, with silence blanketing the darkness, broken only by the gentle sound of the lake lapping against the shore—a peaceful lullaby.
Half-asleep, I felt a child stirring nearby, something wet pressing against me.
Before I could open my eyes, sudden screams pierced the darkness, one after another.
***
In the faint moonlight, I vaguely saw dark shapes slithering on the ground in the distance, their outlines glistening with a wet sheen.
Sensing something was wrong, I quickly cast a spell: "Ignis Ardens!" Flames sprang to life, illuminating the true nature of the shadowy mass.
"Catfish!" an elder shouted, his voice filled with an unmistakable fear.
Shouts erupted all around us: "Mutant catfish! Mutant catfish!"
These giant mutant catfish crawling from the lakeshore were over two meters long, each with four stubby legs, dragging themselves awkwardly forward in a grotesque, terrifying way.
Their red eyes glinted with malice, and their long whiskers twitched.
Even though their mouths seemed small, the thought of them swallowing a person whole sent a shiver down my spine.
"Everyone, back up!" I shouted, casting another spell: "Foliage Frenzy!" The surrounding plants rapidly grew, forming a thick barrier that separated us from the mutant catfish.
The werewolves instinctively stood on the other side of the barrier, engaging the creatures in fierce combat.
I watched their movements intently; since the seal had been lifted, the werewolves' strength had significantly increased.
Even without fully transforming, their powerful arms struck with thunderous force, blow after blow, smashing the heads of the mutant catfish.
In the firelight, the werewolves' eyes gleamed, radiating a fearless fighting spirit.
Their movements were swift and precise, sharp claws slicing through the air, tearing at the scales and flesh of the catfish with a sound that set my teeth on edge.
Despite facing such horrific enemies, the werewolves didn't back down, each one fighting like a fearless warrior on the battlefield.
But soon, I realized these weren't all the mutant catfish.
More were crawling from the lake's surface, like an endless tide pouring onto the shore.
I stared at the expanding shadows, wondering just how deep the lake was, and how many of these monsters lurked below its surface.
"Ignis Ardens!" I cast the flame spell again, igniting the plant barrier.
Flames leapt up, creating a burning wall that temporarily protected everyone inside its fiery circle.
This brought some relief to everyone.
Seeing that the werewolves seemed to be handling the catfish near the lake, I turned my attention to the children, hoping to calm them.
The children were whimpering in fear at the sight before them, especially the babies, whose cries were nearly breathless.
Cora and I held them tightly, murmuring words of comfort: "Don't be afraid. We're here. We'll protect you."
Cora soothed them with a gentle voice: "You're all so brave, aren't you? Look, the fire will scare away the bad fish soon."
An elderly woman beside us echoed her reassurance: "No fear, little ones. Nan is here."
The children slowly quieted down, clutching tightly onto our clothes.
Their eyes were still wide with fear, but at least they'd stopped crying.
Suddenly, I sensed something strange behind us.
Whirling around, I saw several mutant catfish silently bypassed the barrier and were creeping toward us from behind, their red eyes fixed intently on the children.
Just as one lunged at us with its mouth wide open, I quickly chanted: "Terra Firma!"
A massive boulder dropped from above, landing directly in the creature's mouth and blocking its path.
The children clapped and cheered, "Amazing!
For a moment, their fear vanished, replaced by excitement and admiration as they looked up at me with shining eyes.
But the relief was brief.
I spotted a man in the distance holding onto a child's leg, while the child's head was already in the mouth of a mutant catfish, his small legs kicking frantically.
"Chrono Halt!" I shouted instinctively, though I wasn't certain of the spell's effect.
Time seemed to freeze, leaving only me able to move freely.
Without hesitation, I immediately cast another spell, "Ventus Swift!"
In an instant, I was beside the child, pulling him quickly from the catfish's mouth.
Seconds later, time resumed its flow.
The child's father stared at me in shock, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much!"
I shouted to everyone, "Stay close together! It's safer in a group!"
I cast another spell and chanted, "Foliage Frenzy!"
Thick plants grew rapidly around us, creating a circular barrier that shielded us in the center.
Then, I ignited the barrier: "Ignis Ardens!"
The flames rose high once again, forming a protective ring around us and temporarily keeping the mutant catfish at bay.
Just as we all sighed in relief, Cora's voice suddenly cut through the air: "Sol! Sol! Where are you?" Her voice was laced with panic and fear.
I immediately teleported to her side, whispering urgently, "Is Sol missing?"
Cora nodded anxiously. "Yes! He was just here, saying he wanted to be a hero and protect everyone! He must have gone to the lake! I'm going after him!"
I held her shoulder firmly. "No! Stay here with the other children. I'll find him."
Cora bit her lip, but finally agreed to stay.
Teleporting to the lakeshore, I quickly spotted Sol nearby.
He was lying on the ground, blood on his forehead as if he'd hit something and lost consciousness.
Not far from him, a smaller mutant catfish was creeping closer, its red eyes glowing with a cold light in the darkness.
"Terra Firma!" I chanted, and a massive rock plummeted from above, crushing the catfish's head.
It shattered, spraying blood in every direction.
I teleported to Sol's side, gently lifting his small body onto my back, preparing to take him back to camp.
Just then, there was a deafening "boom"—my vision went black.