The storm had passed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZfM4wp4gs
The mana had calmed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUL42PlWNi
And for a moment… there was only silence.
Mira’s chest rose and fell—not from fear or exhaustion, but from the relief blooming deep within.
They were alive.
Lucien. Cassian. Kael. Leila. Rook. Grey.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75c3RAkdOS
Her father. Captain Alric.
Injured. Wounded. Hurting.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDScIUd6fU
But alive.
She hadn’t been too late.
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides before she let out a long breath, allowing the tension to slip from her shoulders.
She looked around.
The chapel—once sacred, once still—was now a ruin of shattered glass, broken pews, and dark stains of blood.
Her friends lay scattered across the floor, their breathing shallow, their faces bruised, their clothes torn. Mira could only imagine what kind of battle they had endured.
She raised her hand.
A soft green light bloomed in her palm—warm and gentle, like sunlight through spring leaves.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2OQUEmIxF
The air shifted. A breeze curled around her feet.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfZ7QMqMx2
Though there were no trees here, the scent of forest and fresh rain filled the air.
“Healing Wind,” she whispered.
The magic answered.
A spiral of wind swept outward from her hand, rippling through the ruined chapel.
It carried warmth and life, wrapping around her allies like a blanket of comfort.
Cuts began to seal.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAHIS9HXj1
Bruises faded.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nXS7xHecH
Shallow breathing grew deeper and steadier.
Lucien gasped as the gash across his chest closed, color rushing back into his face. He looked down, then up at Mira, eyes wide with disbelief.
Cassian groaned and touched his jaw, blinking as the bruises vanished beneath his fingers.
Kael pushed himself upright with effort. “Is this… healing magic?” he murmured, patting his side in disbelief.
Leila stared at her arms, brushing her fingers over skin that had been scraped and torn just moments ago. Her lips parted, stunned.
Grey rolled his shoulder slowly, testing the joint. “I’m… really getting better,” he muttered.
Rook leaned against a broken column with a wheeze. “Ohh… this wind feels way too good…”
But the breeze didn’t touch everyone.
As it passed through the room, the wind curled away from the assassins—flowing around them without a whisper of mercy.
The masked one coughed, glaring at Mira through bloodied eyes.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOuYpzRIt2
She didn’t even glance his way.
No healing.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeunq1j9Pt
No forgiveness.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTneqklzKV
Only silence.
As the green glow faded from her palm and the wind dispersed, the chapel grew still once more.
Then, a smooth voice cut through the hush.
“…Healing all of them at once? How remarkable.”
Veylar stepped forward from beside a shattered pillar, arms loosely crossed. His tone was calm, almost amused. His glowing crimson eyes watched her with quiet interest.
“Not even the high priests of the temple could do that,” he added.
Mira turned slightly, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion, but her gaze steady.
“Thank you, Veylar,” she said softly. “For helping them. For saving them. I mean it.”
For a moment, he said nothing.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W4KTVdtjU
Then a faint smile curved his lips—wry and unreadable.
“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Though I doubt I did as much as you just did.”
Mira’s expression softened.
The others were stirring now, slowly gathering themselves. Some leaned on each other. Some just sat, breathing—dazed and grateful.
But two figures hadn’t moved.
Her father.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRyrCBa6h9
And Captain Alric.
Mira’s breath caught.
“Father…” she whispered, gently cradling his head in her lap. Her fingers brushed over his brow—feverish and damp with sweat. Burning. Far too hot.
The Healing Wind had done what it could, but the wound had been deep. Too close to the heart. Too much to heal completely.
Worry tightening in her chest, Mira quickly summoned another spell, golden light forming in her palm as she pressed it to his side.
“Rest now, Father,” she murmured. “You’ll be alright.”
Then she turned.
Just a few feet away, Captain Alric lay slumped against a cracked pillar, unmoving.
She hurried to his side.
His breathing was faint and uneven, barely audible above the quiet creak of settling stone.
Mira knelt beside him and gently pulled back the edge of his collar—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG32vTYJPZ
Her heart sank.
Dark veins, branching like poisoned roots, spread across his neck and shoulder—ominous and unmistakable.
The poison had already taken hold.
“This is bad…” she murmured, her brow furrowed.
Her hands hovered over Alric’s shoulder. She closed her eyes.
“Come on…” she whispered. “Please.”
Her magic stirred again—warm and golden—but as it touched the worst of the damage, it faltered.
Natural magic could mend flesh. Ease pain.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFwErShlQQ
But it couldn’t cleanse poison. Not like this. Not alone.
Cassian limped over, using his sword for balance. “Will he make it?”
Mira didn’t answer right away. Her hands still glowed faintly as she tried again, pouring more mana into the spell.
“…I can keep him alive,” she said at last, opening her eyes. “But he needs stronger healing. The poison’s deep.”
Rook stepped closer, casting a wary glance at the fallen assassins. “Their blades were poisoned, right? What about us? Are we gonna be okay?”
Mira gave a small nod. “You’ll be fine. The poison didn’t go deep—it didn’t have time to spread. And with Healing Wind still lingering, your bodies are rejuvenating faster. Your system should flush it out on its own.”
Veylar, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward and knelt beside Alric. His pale hand hovered above the captain’s chest—then gently lowered.
He closed his eyes.
A dim red light flickered through his palm. It wasn’t magic—not any kind she recognized.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpO2zYuSfM
It felt older. Stranger. Like something ancient breathing beneath the surface of the world.
When he opened his eyes, he met Mira’s.
“I’ve sealed the poison from spreading,” Veylar said quietly. “It should buy you enough time to get him back to town for proper treatment.”
Mira hesitated… then nodded.
And finally—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkZybK0JGw
For the first time since she’d arrived—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8MOyy2rH2
She allowed herself to sit still.
But the silence didn’t last long.
Lucien was the first to speak. He rubbed the side of his head, wincing slightly, then glanced between Mira and Veylar with a puzzled look.
“…Why is he helping you? Or… helping us?” he asked, voice hoarse.
Leila nodded faintly, still clutching her crossbow. “He fought for us. Protected us. Why?”
Mira didn’t answer right away. She looked down at her hands—still faintly glowing—and exhaled.
“It’s… a long story,” she said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll explain everything. Just not now.”
Her voice was tired, but steady.
The others exchanged glances—curious, but quietly understanding.
Then Rook jerked his thumb toward the groaning assassins sprawled across the floor.
“So… what about them?” he asked. “What do we do with them?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to the fallen enemies.
The masked one lay on his side, barely conscious, breaths rasping through clenched teeth.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEHBJfw4U1
The spearman had passed out again.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6R7RlflDc
The twin-blade assassin slumped in a bloodied heap—still alive, but barely.
Veylar tilted his head slightly, gazing at them with cold detachment. “You could kill them,” he said. “No one would blame you.”
Lucien frowned. “We’re not murderers. We don’t kill people who can’t fight back.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. “But we can’t just let them go either. They’re too dangerous. Next time, we might not get this lucky.”
Leila turned to Mira. “What do you think?”
Mira stood slowly, brushing dust from her sleeves.
She looked around at the wreckage—the shattered chapel, the fading blood, the broken silence.
“…We tie them up,” she said at last, her voice calm but firm. “And bring them back to Mermaid’s Cove. Let the Guild and the town decide what to do.”
Veylar’s expression darkened. His eyes narrowed, watching her with something unreadable flickering behind the red. Disapproval… disappointment… or something else.
He said nothing.
Then, without a word, he turned. His steps echoed as he walked toward the ruined doorway.
Just before stepping out into the light, he paused—voice quiet, but razor-sharp.
"One day, your mercy will be the death of you, Saintess. Mark my word."
And with that, Veylar turned and strode into the fading light—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITITD6yuh2
his hem trailing behind him, until even that vanished.
By the time Mira looked again,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq5owwuwRA
he was gone.
Only silence remained.
