"..."

I stared at the girl surprised by her sudden grip. It was tight at first but her fingers eventually loosen. Her hand dropped and now hung over the bedside. I looked intently at her as she whispering words that I don't understand. Her eyelids slowly fluttered down as her conscious and the frown on her face drifted away. Her eyes now closed and a small drop of tear rolled pass her cheek.

"Hey-" I leaned close to her and tried calling her back but she didn't show any sign of reaction to my voice.

I should call Arex and Elly

I turned back and hastily walked out of the room. At that moment, Arex had just stepped into the house. I beckoned him to quickly go into the room. He was surprised to see my sudden change of facade. His rather red face turned pale after he saw my gesture. He probably thought of something bad happened to her daughter.

He dashed into my direction with eyes fixated on the inside. I quickly stepped aside as he trod pass me. He reached the bed and sat beside his daughter. He keenly stared at her as he let out a relieved sigh. I moved into the room and stood beside him as he turned his puzzled face toward me. He opened his mouth but immediately shut after he realized that I will not understand any words he’s about to say. Then, he gave me a rather stern gaze.

"She was... awake..." I tried talking with hand gestures as I pointed at the blonde girl and then tugging my eyes from close to open. He frowned while trying to guess what I mean, until Elly finally came to the rescue. We both looked at Elly in relief. Elly stared at us with her big blue eyes. She looked at me and Arex back and forth, wondering what was happening. I immediately explained.

"That girl, she was awake just now and she talked before she went unconscious again" Elly shifted her eyes to the girl and back to me again as I continued "But, I didn't understand what she was trying to say" I confessed. Arex tried to process what he heard but in the end, he couldn't contain his urge of wanting to know what had occurred to her daughter as he impatiently questioned to Elly.

After a brief explanation from Elly, Arex's expression suddenly changed. I caught a glimpse of his brows twitched in surprise before he turned his back facing us. He crouched down as he held her daughter's hand. He repeated some words "Trea... trea..." probably the name of his daughter who I haven’t asked yet and continuing with words I don't know.

["He said that his daughter usually had nightmare whenever her illness gone worse. She will be talking meaningless thing and crying in her sleep... my poor daughter... uuuuu..."] Elly explained as she listened to Arex and then she sob. Her eyes gleamed with sympathy toward the old man. Truth to be told, I was surprised to see that kind of reaction from her. I can feel the guard she has been putting around Arex starting to broke into pieces.

But I don't.

That girl... she's definitely awake and conscious even though only for a moment. I can feel the desperateness coming from her words, as if she was pleading for... help.

I travelled my eyes back to the cabinet behind me. Slowly, I turned my back and walked away from them. My shadow casted upon the cabinet and a piece of small painting hanging on it. I know that I had to take a look of that painting. I need to know more about this old man and his daughter. I can't just sit down and received the info one-sidedly. Who knows how much truth that actually came out from his mouth. Ever since we entered this house, I've been feeling something... something wrong.

I stood in front of the wooden cabinet with scrutinizing eyes. I moved my hand toward the painting but the intended object was snatched away all of sudden. I glanced to my side. Startled.

Arex had already stood by my side, wordlessly. He had a solemn expression and pursed lips. His dark coloured eyes stared into mine. Half of his face was engulfed by the shadow which further added the eerie vibe he currently gives. But, then he beamed me a friendly smile as he turned and looked at the picture.

["He said that it is a painted picture of her daughter"] Arex held the picture up. I peeked from my side but he eventually showed it to me. It was indeed a picture of that girl in her conscious state while smiling happily. But, the picture felt off.

Huh... I thought I saw more than one person displayed in the picture. Am I seeing things?

"Elly... ask him about his wife and whether he has more child" I talked to Elly but my eyes glued on Arex. He put the picture back on the cabinet. Elly did as I told and Arex answered while his eyes met mine as though he was talking directly to me.

["He said... His wife was dead for quite a long time ago and Trea is his only daughter... by the way, what is going on Yuu... you sounded different"] Elly asked while looking at me with a discerning gaze.

"Nothing... Elly, keep him inside the room" I solemnly requested. Elly agreed without much asking. Good thing that she knew how to read the atmosphere. I excused myself out of the room and Arex seemingly wanted to follow but Elly held him back and started talking to him. Arex stared at me from the corner of his eyes but then he's back to Elly reluctantly.

That old man... he's hiding something

I went to the kitchen which is also the entrance area. I scanned at all the things placed in this area. There is a rectangle wooden table with four wooden stools on each side. The crockeries were put on the shelf above the stack of firewood with a big pot hung over it. Some other cookery tools were placed on the brick counter built beside the big pot. I moved to the corner where a door to another room was positioned. Slowly, I pushed the door into a small opening and peered through it. Inside was the same wooden beds and desk with a wardrobe standing beside the door.

This house... it doesn't look like only two persons live in it.

I gently closed the door back and moved to the house entrances. I slid the lock open and slowly, moved myself out from the house filled with the chatter between Elly and Arex. I closed the door behind me with a 'thud'. To my left is the thick forest where the moonlight didn't reach, it was a pitch black. To my right are the houses of the village illuminating the area with the candlelight shines through their windows. After a few seconds, my eyes adapted to the darkness and caught something bright shining above my head.

The night sky which i never really liked, usually only blackness could be seen. It was different here. The black is now scattered with colourful and sparkling millions of stars. A scene that could never be seen in my neighbourhood. The moon, it was bigger and brighter than how it supposed to be. My heart started thumping with excitement as I unconsciously submerged myself into the panoramic view above me. I almost forgot my motive going out of the house.

This is not the time for awe-inspiring...

I carefully trod my way to the small wooden shack where a scruffy latrine built beside it. My eyes were constantly peeking at the breathtakingly night sky. As I turned my sight to the house, a black figure stood by the window pounded my little heart. I inwardly gasped. It was Arex. Elly popped out beside him and she waved to me in the shadow. Seeing her calmed me down greatly from the little shock I just received, so I waved her back and pointed at the latrine, while Arex was just watching me.

Damn... He’s starting to creep me out

I changed the direction I was originally going and head to the latrine. I opened the latrine and as I casually walked in, Arex's shadow disappeared into the room. Seeing that, I quickly dashed out from the latrine and hid at the side which facing the wooden shack. The latrine had perfectly blocked me from the window's view. I stopped a while to regulate my breath with a sigh and then I looked up at the poorly built wooden shack. I crouch walking to the back of the shack as I closely observe the wall forming the poor building.

There is it

As expected, the wooden plank was not evenly placed. Right at the back of the shack, there's a small crack just wide enough for me to peek through. I glanced to my right side. The latrine was still blocking me from the window's line of sight, just barely though. I placed both my hand on the wall while aligning my right eye to the crack. I blinked and peered intently through it. But, all I got is pitch black.

Of course, it will be dark. What am I thinking...

I sighed inwardly and pulled myself away from the wall with disappointment. I probably should quickly head into the house before Arex came out to check on me. I peeked out from the latrine that blocked me. Nobody standing by the window so I snuck to the latrine again and casually pretending as though I just came out from it. In case that Arex suddenly popped up. When, I was about to move forward. I felt an intimidating aura coming toward my back.

What th-

I threw myself to the right and fell onto the ground as I jerked my head to the left.

Whooossshh!!

A slash of slicing wind ran through the ground beside me until it hit on a tree. The tree split and collapsed down. I pushed myself up while facing the source of the familiar attack. Another slash came after me again. I barely evaded and quickly leapt toward the shack. I leaned my back close onto the wall while I bobbed my head out to see the walking figure inching closer toward my direction. His strides were not stable. But, his intimidating aura overwhelmed me. His dark blue hair gleamed below the moonlight. His long sword reflected the night sky as he swung to side.

That man, he's not dead!

"Yuu!!?" Elly shouted at me from that little window and then she noticed who I was trying to hide from. Elly jumped out of the window without any hesitation and landed with a groan. Her ankle must be digging her up. That man leapt with his blazing green sword, simultaneously, Elly sprang at him with her glowing blue legs. Both colour clashed at each other and they jerked backward after a loud "Bam".

"!!!" That man shouted as he drew his sword again. His eyes glinted with fury as he wildly swung his sword. He was panting heavily and seemingly about to collapse in any moment. The injury he got from me in the forest must have been screwed him up pretty bad internally.

He repeatedly slashed his sword toward Elly. But, his attacks were slower and blunt if compared to before. Elly easily dodges all the attack but her ankle also limited her from counterattacking. Elly dodged and leapt until she threw herself close to the shack where I stood covering myself. That man directed his air slash toward us. I threw myself away from the wall.

BBOOOOMMM!!

His attack landed on the thin wooden wall and successfully blown a big crack through it. The planks were destroyed and parts of the roof collapsed. The moonlight finally forced it way through and exposed what's lying inside. The main door of the house suddenly made a loud thud noise. I glanced at the house and caught Arex carrying her daughter out. Our eyes met.

"Y-yuu??" Elly called on my name while she stood frozen as she stared bug eyed into the crumbling shacks. I turned my head to see what she was surprised by. Inside the shack, it was filled with tools and supplies. In-between the boxes and barrels, there lied three cold bodies on the ground with their hands and legs tied tightly with rope. Their mouth was forcefully blocked with murky cloth. Two adults and a boy child, whom the soul had already long parted with the body. They all had their throat slit open horizontally which caused them to dead from the shock and blood loss. The slit wasn't deep enough to cause instant death. They probably struggled for a period of times before they died with eyes bulged open as though screaming 'I don't want to die'.

"FWEEEEEEE!!" That old man Arex whistled and threw a small knife aiming at the rope tying his horse. The horse broke from the leash responding to his loud whistle and galloped to his position. That dark blue haired man ignored Elly and I. He sprang toward Arex who's already jumped into his horse with the girl placed on his back. That man slashed his sword but the air slash missed and landed behind the galloping horse. His hand was trembling, regardless, he gritted his teeth and ran toward the galloping horse.

"Elly!!" I called Elly and she nodded as though she understood what I mean. Elly put all her mana into her legs as she mumbled some sort of spell. The usual soft blue glow suddenly blazed wildly and the next moment, she sprang forward leaving me a blast of wind which made me fall backward. Elly passed through the desperate man in a flash and she stopped in front the galloping horse with her palm raised up, facing the startled horse. The horse jerked back and raised its front legs in surprise as it whines.

The unconscious blonde girl was thrown off the unstable horse. Arex turned to reach the girl but he got a stomp on his face before he could do that. Elly bounced on his face as she sprang toward the girl who's still had her eyes shut tight even amidst the chaos. It was only split seconds away before she fell to the ground with head down.

Thud

Arex fell over his horse. The girl was successfully hauled up but not by Elly. That man with dark blue hair, he had the girl embraced close to him with his left hand. Then, he raised his right hand which tightly gripping the sword. He swished it up and lunged down in a vertical line. Arex jumped up into a stance and his face scrunched into an ugly agitating expression. He mumbled a spell under his breath and a dark purplish magic circle emerged mid-air in a blink of an eye.

BOOMM

The air slash stopped as it clashed with Arex's magic circle and caused both party to hit by the recoil, they both flung a few meters backward. Taking advantage of the current distance, Arex sprang to his horse again intended for an escape. "Hyaaaa!!!" Elly landed her favourite spin kick on his head before he adjusted himself on the horse. He crashed straight to the ground with blood spurting out of his mouth and his eyes rolled to the back of his skull. His head was half buried into the ground. Elly bounced back and swung her injured ankle as she groaned and complained.

["Should I kill him?"] Elly looked at me as she questioned. I know she will do it if I didn't give her an immediate respond so I shook my head and she seemed to be disappointed.

Now that Arex was down and the girl is saved. But, the atmosphere remained as tense. That dark blue haired man glared intimidatingly at us. Elly was alerted by his aura and she prowled in distance as she keenly gauged at the man.

["How about this guy? I can kill him, right?"] Elly asked again, but she didn't seem to be asking for a permission, instead she had started leaping toward that guy. I closed my eyes and gather the mana on my right hand.

Now!!

"Stop!!" I thrust my palm facing them and a bullet speed force shot through the air passing in between those two and directly hit the house.

BOOMM!!

One side of the wall was destroyed. The candlelight inside the house diminished. Both of them jolted backward and glanced at me in sync. I walk to them. They stared at me, especially the man, he's surprised.

"Elly... Stop it. He's not the bad guy..." I paused briefly and sighed. "... We misunderstood him" I declared. She grunted but she didn't look surprise. She seemed to had already know what I mean, but still giving that man, an unfriendly glare. That man, being wary around us, he held the girl and the sword close to him. Blood adorned the corner of his mouth. His legs lightly trembled, barely supporting himself and the girl.

"...hh" The girl grunted softly and caught our attention. All of the eyes now on the awakened girl. Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes right at my face. She tiredly blinked and then she weakly glanced up at the man holding her. She whispered something to that man. After that, he turned to look at me with a stern expression. But, the vibe he gave is much friendlier than before. No hostility can be felt from him anymore. That man unsheathed his sword back to its cover beside his waist.

“Elly... what did she say” I asked. While looking at the girl who’s now also looking at me unblinking. Her lips slowly curled into a smile, directing at me. Looking at her smile made me filled with guilt.

Ring

I caught the object which the man suddenly throw to me. It was a leather bracelet with a round yellow gem planted on the middle. I looked at him befuddled by his intention and then he spoke.

[“Regulate your mana into it... he said”] Elly explained to me while she curiously stared at the object too.

Without further await, I did as he told to direct my mana into the bracelet. The gem in the middle glowed as a respond to me. I didn’t understand the purpose of the object until he spoke to me.

“Who are you” The dark blue haired man talked, while I glanced at him in shock.