We pressed on hard and arrived at the village's outskirts in just a day. The first thing I saw was smoke rising in the distance. I clenched my fists.

Just a little more...

The horses were tired, but we were rested, we climbed down and continued on foot. We were being led by veteran soldiers who split us into different groups to approach the village covering each others' flanks.

I stood close to the trio. I didn't want to get separated.

「Soldier: You, with us!」

A soldier motioned for us to join their group.

「Soldier: Don't wander off, keep watch on our flanks!」

He turned to a burly man with a barbute helmet with a dark short beard.

「Soldier: We're ready, captain.」

The captain nodded in reply and set off moving. We followed suit.

This is too slow.

I ached to run ahead. I looked to my right, Namrick caught my glance and nodded with a serious expression. Ellin and Grastel were just a step ahead so I couldn't see their faces.

I bit down my uneasiness taking long breaths and letting the emptiness swallow it all. Just like back at home, Allen.

I kept following without really listening. My thoughts were focused on rescuing my friends

As we got closer to the outer farms, we found an injured soldier laying against a tree. His face was screwed up with pain. He waved frantically at us the moment he saw us approaching.

The captain walked closer to the man.

「Captain: Report!」

「Soldier: I-It's not just goblins... there are verklings too... this is not... normal.」

The soldier coughed blood but continued talking.

「Soldier: T-they're burning the... houses and f-fields... there might still be someone alive inside.」

He finished with a pained grunt. A healer approached to take care of the man.

The squad captain inclined his head for a few seconds before turning to us.

「Captain: Damn it! Move on!」

Finally, we moved ahead at a faster pace.

As we drew closer the smell of burning wood hit my nostrils. Please be safe.

There were corpses on the ground. None of them were of Erne and family. I sighed in relief.

Please be safe.

As we moved forward, the goblins saw us and started screeching. The battle began.

The soldiers were on the front line, holding shields, spears, and swords, while we provided support and closed the gaps in the formation.

「Captain: Cut the blasted vermin down!」

The captain spurred us and the blood started dancing in the air.

We approached the first house, it was unburnt. As we called out to the people inside, they came rushing out crying and sobbing.

「Save us! Please!」

A family of six streaked with tears and shaking with fear joined our group. One of the soldiers ran up to them and pointed behind us.

「Soldier: We cleared a path behind us! Run to the rearguard, they will escort you to safety. Quick!」

Faster. Erne's house was still further on.

The next house had been lit on fire. We tried opening the door, but it was too late for the ones inside, everything was ablaze.

「Captain: Damn... next!」

He pointed his sword to our left. While we were moving, another group of goblins came about, with verklings rushing at us from the rightmost side. Fuckers!

I shot forward and smashed my mace on the first verkling, giving time to the soldiers to move in formation and deflect the goblin arrows with their shields. Namrick had done the same, decapitating another verkling before stepping back into line.

I had lost sight of Ellin and Grastel, they must have ended up on the other side of the group. I turned my head to asses the situation.

Behind us, another group of monsters was closing in, clashing with the rearguard and keeping them occupied. We pressed on.

Finally, amidst the smoke, Erne's house came on sight.

It was halfway on fire. The door had been... broken down.

Damn it!

I felt my heartbeat pounding hard. I clenched my mace. I couldn't wait anymore.

「Captain: What do you think you're doing!」

I rushed forward, ignoring the curses of our squad captain.

I was almost at the entrance. Damn it, damn it!

「Allen: Erne! Berel!」

I screamed through the chaos.

A verkling came from my right, but I also saw a goblin with a dagger coming from the left of my peripheral vision.

FUCK OFF!

I infused mana on my mace swing, collapsing the verkling skull with a satisfying wet crunch, then as the goblin got in range I spun around, caught its throat with my left hand and cast Freeze. His body went limp, I let go and stomped his frozen neck, severing the head. DIE!

I rushed ahead.

「Allen: Kids!」

I moved inside the house without waiting for a reply.

No.

No...

Erne was laying on the floor near the door, his eyes were open, staring into space. His body was covered in wounds and his chest had been carved gruesomely. So much... blood. Next to him was the eldest son, an arrow lodged in his throat. Their glassy eyes... dead.

Time felt like freezing, sounds seemed to dull except the ones from my hammering heart.

「Allen: No!」

It came out as a whisper.

It took all I had not to let my eyes water. Not yet... not yet.

Where's Berel and the other two? I thought frantically. They weren't in this room. They could still be...

「Allen: Berel! It's me, Allen! Can you hear me?!」

I walked into the other room.

A third of the wall was on fire. Berel and her younger son were laying against a corner. Unmoving.

She had tried to shield him, I could see wounds and blood, but I couldn't make whose it was. Could they be alive?

I have to try.

I struggled to keep the tears from my eyes, while I dragged them towards the entrance.

Wait, where's the daughter? I rushed back from room to room but didn't see her.

The fire was spreading fast. Shit! I looked left and right not knowing what to do, time was running out.

Right! I took out the silver cube and activated the spell. I took a look at the radar.

There!

I rushed inside the bedroom that was almost completely on fire. I cast cold on me to ward off the scorching heat. The wardrobe... the dot is pointing to the wardrobe!

I rushed to it and creaked it open. The little girl was curled inside, unconscious. I took her in my arms, shielding her from the fire. At least one, let me save at least one.

I felt myself growing weaker, I was almost out of mana.

I rushed back to the entrance.

* cough cough *

「Allen: I need help here!」

I screamed amidst the smoke. I felt hopeless.

「Ellin: Allen? Allen!?」

I could hear Ellin's voice not too far away. I felt a glimmer of hope.

「Allen: Here!」

Ellin appeared in my sight, guarded by Namrick and Grastel, who were staying alert for attacks.

「Allen!」

Their faces light up. I stumbled towards them, holding the little girl in my arms.

「Grastel: Why di-」

「Allen: Help her! Please.」

I pleaded, gently lowering the little girl on the bare ground. I rushed back inside to drag Berel and the kid, then Erne's and his son's cold bodies.

「Allen: Hnng...」

I was out of breath as I finished dragging everyone. I had brought them away from the fire, I didn't want them to burn like this. I owed them at least this much. I turned back to Ellin.

She lifted her head to glance at me.

「Ellin: Allen! The little girl is alive! But... Berel and her son...」

Ellin shook her head with grief in her eyes. I felt a wetness streak my cheeks. I guess, I'm not so numb after all, I thought while wiping the tears from my face.

This is not fair... I rushed here as soon as I knew. Am I not the main character? I'm supposed to save the day. Why did it turn like this?

I stared into space, trying to collect my thoughts. I was not doing a good job of paying attention to things today.

「Namrick: We have to regroup, the captain is leading the squad forward! Let's bring the girl to the other survivors!」

I put the unconscious girl on my shoulders and followed Namrick's lead.

「Grastel: We got a survivor, she's unconscious!」

Grastel addressed the squad captain, who narrowed his eyes at me but said nothing. I lowered my eyes.

「Captain: Anselm! Get this girl with the other villagers.」

I surrendered the girl to the soldier. Hoping for her safety.

What shamed me more is that I had even forgotten her name, along with the ones of the other two kids. I'm the worst. I wanted to fix that by inviting the whole family to Valarest in order to try out a pizza and my other recipes. Berel promised they'd come after the last harvest.

That would never happen now.

I rejoined the others, resuming our attack march.

Other groups spread on the sides toward our flanks.

I stood behind from the front lines, I had lost my will to fight. Instead, I focused on recovering my mana and helping with the rescue. Thanks to the silver cube I was able to locate the villagers quickly and accurately. But as we got further, only corpses remained to be found.