"Well, that didn't go so well."
Wanora's voice broke the silence as she glanced back. The little girl walked in fony us, nervously.
"Well, we got a child," Wanora muttered. Her eyes didn't hold any warmth.
"So what do we do now? I mean, I didn't expect them to just… kick us out, right?"
---
Three hours ago.
It was almost night. The sky had already started swallowing the light.
"Despite being scared… we've prepared this dinner for you. Please enjoy."
The words were soft, grateful. We nodded as the villagers ushered us into the hall. A long wooden table stretched across the room, packed with people. Food slowly passed from hand to hand.
"It'll take some time to reach us, I guess," I muttered, watching the dishes inch closer.
Roswal laughed. "Ah, yes. During days like this, where the village eats together, it takes time. But—" he leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming, "I did find one Clarion user. Smell-based."
"Huh? That fast?" Wanora blinked.
"Aren't they rare?" I added.
"Very," Roswal said. "But this child had been hiding it. She came forward when we asked. Said she wanted to help. She's afraid, of course… I hope you won't put her in danger."
"Of course not," I said with a smile. Wanora, seated beside me, stayed silent. She hadn't said a word since we entered.
Food reached her first. She didn't touch it.
Roswal stood up, raising his cup. "Tonight, let's eat. Soon… we'll be free from this nightmare."
A cheer rose up around us. It felt heavy. Misplaced.
I leaned toward Wanora and whispered, "Hey, stop looking like you're ready to kill someone. Just eat the food."
"I'm not hungry." She pushed her plate away.
Roswal noticed. "Is there a problem, Lady Wanora?"
She looked at him, sharp and cold. "Do I need to tell you?"
Roswal looked down, silent.
"Hey—what the hell? He's being kind," I whispered to her.
I forced a smile and picked up my spoon. Just as I was about to eat—
"HEY, DON'T YOU DARE EAT THAT!"
A man stood up, trembling. His voice cracked like dry wood.
I froze. "Huh?"
"YOU THINK YOU DESERVE TO EAT HERE? PEOPLE ARE MISSING—DEAD—and you want to sit here like it's nothing?"
Villagers murmured, standing.
Roswal shouted, "SILENCE! They are helping us! You don't wish to feed them?"
He turned to me, trying to keep the calm. "Please, don't mind him. Just eat."
"DON'T. If you have any shame…" the man's voice broke. "My family's gone. And you want to enjoy this?"
I stood. "Fine. I'll find your family." I turned. "C'mon, Wanora."
She followed silently. As we reached the gate, Roswal ran up behind us.
"I'm sorry for his behavior. We'll make sure he doesn't cause trouble again. Here—take Lucy with you. She can help, if you're planning to go now."
"Right," I said, offering a small smile.
Just then, the man from before came up, panting. He suddenly hugged me.
"Uh. Hello?" I blinked.
He didn't let go. "Please… save her," he whispered. Then he stepped back and disappeared into the crowd.
"…Weird guy. But I guess he's desperate." I looked back.
Wanora exhaled. "Yeah."
The mist thickened as we walked.
We reached the edge of the village, where silence grew heavy. I crouched in front of Lucy.
"Hey. Lucy, right?"
She nodded.
"Can you use your Clarion? Just close your eyes and try to smell the saltwater. You've smelled that before, right?"
She nodded again, shut her eyes, and started walking.
But no matter how many times she walked forward, we kept circling back to the village.
---
"Well, that didn't go so well."
Wanora stared ahead.
"Well, we got a child," she muttered.
I looked at her. "So what now? I didn't expect him to kick us out like that."
"I think he was right."
I turned. "Right or not, why were you so damn rude to them?"
She shrugged. "Dunno. Guess I was pissed."
"Don't wanna guess, Wanora. What you did was rude."
"Whatever."
That was when we heard it. The ocean.
"We're getting closer," I said softly, watching Lucy's small form move toward the sound.
Then—vibrations.
Subtle. Faint. But unmistakable. Someone else was walking nearby.
I grabbed Lucy and pulled her back behind me, raising the wooden stick I'd carried all day.
From the fog, a figure emerged.
A hooded shape. A glint of a blade.
I didn't hesitate—I swung. The blade met wood. A spark. I stepped back, just as her arm extended—aimed for my chest.
Too close—
A pillar of fire erupted, devouring the space where she had stood.
"Think she escaped?" I asked.
"She?" Wanora looked at me.
I nodded. "Her hand. Thin. And I got a glimpse under the hood."
"I see." Wanora narrowed her eyes. "Don't let her touch you."
I felt it again—footsteps. But this time, Wanora moved first. A sharp beam of heat exploded from her palm, circling outward like a burning spiral.
But she didn't dodge.
She walked through it. The flames tore at her cloak, her skin charred—but she kept moving.
Why didn't she dodge—
She grabbed my chest.
A searing sting, like acid poured straight into my lungs.
I screamed.
"WANORA, STOP!"
She didn't stop. Another blast of fire. The woman's head burned—but she didn't fall. She just stood there, her hand still gripping my chest.
The heat inside me slowly started to fade.
She looked at me. Her eyes—visible through the mask—were wide.
"You… you're a Clarion user?"
"Huh?"
I staggered back. Wanora pulled me away.
I stood upright. "She can transfer pain. I get it now—"
The ground beneath her feet crumbled. She fell through it like it was water.
"Wanora—!"
She dashed forward, trying to catch her, but missed.
"She's working with the deity. Burn the ground!"
Wanora didn't hesitate. Her eyes flared—orange and furious. She raised her hand and pointed to the mist-covered earth.
From the heavens, a searing light fell—a divine, raging flame.
It hit the ground like a divine judgement.
The soil screamed.
A massive crater opened in seconds. Beneath it—
Flesh.
Pulsing. Breathing. Alive.
"Disgusting," Wanora muttered.