Valen speaks in a low whisper, his tone steady. "Vanessa, you and I are on point. Once we have their attention, Lenna and Silas will handle the stragglers waiting for their turn to jump us."
Vanessa exhales sharply, a hint of displeasure in her expression. "Everyone calls me Nessa, what gives?"
Valen just looks at her. "Focus."
She narrows her eyes but lets it go. "Fine, Mister Paladin."
Silas shrugs, unbothered.
Valen turns to Lenna. "You're good with fire, but don't overuse it. If you burn through too much blood to cast magic and take a hit from those claws, it won't end well."
Lenna nods.
His gaze shifts to Silas. "Stick to backing her up. Once they realize it's not just two of us, they'll change tactics. Separating their numbers gives us an advantage, but getting isolated will break it."
Silas grins. "Don't you fret none, boss. I'll keep that firebug outta trouble!"
Valen doesn't wait for anything more. He turns to Vanessa and gives a single, sharp beckon.
She cracks her knuckles, a wide, eager grin spreading across her face. "About damn time."
Then they move.
Valen and Vanessa break into a sprint, closing the distance between them and the Selil in an instant. The creatures barely have time to react before Vanessa reaches the first one.
Her fist slams into its face with a sickening crack, bone shattering under the impact. The creature's head snaps back violently, a spray of blood bursting into the air. It flies backward, limbs flailing, before crashing into the dirt in a broken heap.
Blood splatters across Vanessa's face, streaking her wild grin. She exhales sharply, eyes alight with raw exhilaration as she turns toward the others.
The surrounding Selil freeze. Their bulbous black eyes seem to widen even more, turning between her and their fallen kin. Even Valen hesitates for a split second, caught off guard by the sheer brutality of the hit.
Then the moment shatters.
He draws his blade in a single, fluid motion, the heavy steel cutting through the air in a sweeping whirlwind. The first strike takes two Selil at once, their heads snapping free from their bodies before they even realize what's happened.
Another lunges at him, screeching. He steps into the attack, his sword cleaving straight through its midsection, spilling it into the dirt.
The camp erupts into chaos. The Selil shriek, their sharp, jerky movements turning frantic. Some stumble back, caught between instinct and fear. Others rush forward, their claws raised, their needle-like teeth bared.
Vanessa is a storm.
She moves through the Selil like a force of nature, her strikes hitting with the weight of a dragon.
A kick slams into one's torso, sending it flying backward into a tree with a sickening crunch, its body crumpling on impact. Another rushes at her, claws swiping, but she steps into it—her fist crashing into its skull, caving it in before it even has the chance to scream.
More Selil turn toward them now, their initial hesitation burned away by raw numbers. They screech, their bulbous black eyes reflecting the flickering campfires as they charge.
A few flashes of fire erupt to the side.
Silas is right there with Lenna, his stance loose, relaxed. A Selil lunges for her. In an instant, Silas moves—his palm slamming into its chest.
A burst of wind explodes from his hand, the pressure breaking the creature's ribs inward with a grotesque crack. It falls limp, hitting the ground in a lifeless heap.
A stream of fire shoots from Lenna's hand, setting a group ablaze as they shriek and flail. Silas, unbothered, waits until the movement stops before flicking his hand, sending a gust to snuff out the lingering flames before they spread.
They work in sync—Lenna burning through the attacking creatures while Silas ensures nothing turns to wildfire around them. But more than that, he keeps her out of harm's way.
The Selil numbers are quickly thinning
After a few minutes Vanessa stands over the last Selil, its body twitching, trying to crawl away with desperation—claws weakly scraping at the dirt. She plants a foot on its back, pinning it down.
"No more running, little guy," she mutters, voice dripping with satisfaction.
Then, without hesitation, she lifts her foot and slams it down.
Bone gives way with a sickening crunch, the creature's skull caving under her strength. Blood spatters up her leg, but she barely notices, wiping her hands on her vest as she exhales.
Nearby, Valen drives his two-handed sword into the ground, the metal sinking deep into the dirt. He takes a moment to look around, scanning the area.
"Right," he says, voice steady. "That seems to have been the last. Let's count them, pile them up. Clear the area so we can burn them."
The others nod, wordless but efficient, moving immediately to the task.
Minutes pass as they work, dragging bodies, stacking them, making sure none are left scattered across the campsite.
Lenna steps forward, reaching down to grab what remains of a shredded Selil. Just as her fingers brush against it, the thing moves.
A blur of motion—its claws swipe upward in a sudden, desperate strike.
Pain flashes across her face as jagged nails tear through fabric and flesh. A sharp yelp escapes her, her body jerking back in shock.
Before she can react further, Valen is already moving.
His arm extends, fingers curling as raw power surges through him. The air explodes forward, a blast of wind ripping through the space between them.
The Selil doesn't just get pushed back—it disintegrates. The force shreds it apart in an instant, turning flesh, bone, and blood into nothing more than a red mist that scatters into the air.
The clearing falls into silence.
Valen is already at Lenna's side.
"Silas, first aid," Valen commands, his tone leaving no room for delay.
He lifts Lenna into his arms, his grip steady as his eyes scan the wound. The bleeding gash runs across her chest, cutting just past her shoulder.
It's not deep enough to be fatal, but it's enough to hurt—enough to slow her down if left unchecked.
Lenna winces, her face tense with pain, but then something shifts in her expression. A quiet realization.
Before Valen can react, she leans into him, resting against his chest.
His face twists, caught between reluctance and resignation. He doesn't push her away.
Vanessa steps forward, exhaling through her nose. "I guess mommy and daddy won't like their little paladin getting wounded on a simple Selil hunt," she says, her voice unusually soft.
Silas kneels beside them, his usual grin tempered with focus. He grips Lenna's arm, gently pulling her slightly off Valen.
"Sorry, darlin', gotta take a peek at the hurt," he says, inspecting the wound with a practiced ease. "I'll have it fixed right up."
Lenna's eyes are glazed over, distant, though she keeps herself composed.
Whatever weighs on her, she forces it down, keeping most of the tears inside. It isn't pain that lingers in her eyes—it's something else, something heavier. But she doesn't let it show.
As Silas works, Vanessa and Valen move efficiently around them.
Vanessa drags the last of the bodies into the pile, her strength making quick work of the task. She moves with ease, but her usual excitement has settled into something quieter, more focused.
She glances back at Lenna occasionally, but she doesn't say anything.
Valen, meanwhile, gathers the scattered weapons and supplies left behind in the fight.
Silas presses a cloth to the wound, slowing the bleeding before securing bandages around her shoulder. "There we go, all patched up," he says, his tone light, though an edge of care lingers beneath it. "Try not to move that arm too much, alright?"
Lenna nods, barely a whisper of a response, as she pulls her shirt back up, fingers moving stiffly to button it closed.
Vanessa steps back from the piled corpses, cracking her neck. "Alright, let's light this up and get moving."
Lenna, still fastening the last of her buttons, takes a slow breath before raising her good hand. A controlled stream of fire erupts from her palm, engulfing the heap of bodies.
The flames spread quickly, consuming the remains in a hungry blaze. Smoke rises thick into the air, the acrid scent clinging to them.
Valen watches the fire for a moment before turning to the others. "We're done here. Let's head back."
Vanessa rolls her shoulders, stretching out the tension in her arms. "About time. Cole said the guild was having a banquet when I got my certification, so I can't wait."
Silas grins, throwing his arms behind his head. "Heh, those Hivebreakers, they ain't shy about a good time, are they? Like a pack of wild namuras, they are!"
"They sure do!" She huffs, already moving.
Valen takes the lead, setting the pace as they leave the burning site behind. Lenna falls in beside him, quiet but steady.
By the time they reach the city walls, darkness has settled over the land.
A table and a few chairs sit near the entrance, a fire burning steadily beside them. Food and drinks are laid out, untouched.
Other knights linger nearby, some standing, some seated, their quiet conversations blending into the crackle of the flames. A large tent marked with a medical symbol stands just beyond them.
As they approach, movement stirs. A woman with long black hair spots them, her dark eyes immediately locking onto Lenna.
"Lenna! Gods, you're hurt!" she says, her voice gentle but urgent. She steps forward, already beckoning to those around her. "Bring her inside, I'll take care of the rest!"
Valen nods, his response short but certain. "Thanks, Ciel."
With that, Lenna is guided toward the tent, disappearing inside as the others continue forward.
Valen, Vanessa, and Silas walk toward Miriel, who stands waiting, her sharp gaze fixed on them as they approach.
"Mission is complete," Valen reports, his tone flat. Reporting to a superior and nothing else. "Twenty-two Selil in total. None had the chance to run."
Miriel nods, turning toward the tent where Lenna had been taken. Valen follows her gaze. "One of them played dead while we were cleaning up."
She exhales, already knowing what follows. "Athos isn't going to like that, but she passed nonetheless. All of you did. Cassian came by earlier to give his report."
Then, without warning, she smiles and steps forward, wrapping Valen in a firm hug.
"I'm so proud of you."
Her arms tighten around him, her warmth pressing through the cold night air, but Valen doesn't react. His posture remains unchanged, his hands at his sides.
She pulls back, still smiling, undeterred by his lack of response. "Now you can take over my chapter, and I can get my wings without worrying about them."
At that, Valen allows the faintest smile to form, brief but real.
Miriel turns to Vanessa next. "Nass, I sent a letter to the Hivebreakers. You should be good to go. I know you're not much for formalities," she says with a chuckle.
Vanessa immediately straightens before throwing her arms up with a grin. "Yes, MA'AM!" she shouts before taking off toward the city without another word.
Miriel then shifts her focus to Silas, reaching back and handing him a small envelope. "And this is for you, congratulations Silas!" She says with a smile.
Silas takes it with an easy grin. "Much obliged, Lady Miriel. It was a true pleasure fightin' alongside your boy. Right fine young man!"
Miriel gives Valen a knowing glance before nodding. "That, he is."
Morning light spills through the window as Valen wakes, the warmth pulling him from sleep. He pushes himself up, stretching briefly before getting dressed. Stepping out of his room, he finds Miriel sitting at the table, drinking from a cup.
He pulls out a chair and sits in front of her. "What's wrong?"
She exhales, fidgeting with the cup in her hands. "We lost two hunters at the test."
Valen crosses his arms, tilting his head slightly. "We all knew the risks."
Miriel shakes her head slightly before meeting his eyes. "A Thaxil scout found them."
Valen's posture stiffens, his eyes narrowing. For a moment, he says nothing, his mind catching up with the words. His fingers twitch slightly against his arm.
"Thaxil? Here?" His voice is quieter than before, edged with something close to disbelief.
She nods. "Athos got there too late to save the first two," she continues, her voice steady but weighed down. "But he managed to pull the others out before they were killed. The scout wounded him pretty bad, but he still took it down."
She sighs, rubbing her thumb against the rim of her cup. "This is the second time we've spotted a scout this year. We might be looking at a siege soon."
Her gaze hardens, the weight of responsibility settling over her. "All the more reason for me to inherit the Angel's Wings… and for you to take over my chapter."
Valen lets out a slow breath before standing. He knows where this conversation is headed, the weight it carries. He shifts gears, trying to ease the tension, to pull her away from the thoughts of losing more people—if only for a moment.
"How about I make some breakfast?"
Miriel lifts her head, eyes filled with doubt. "You're cooking?"
He shrugs. "I have to start cooking, right? The ceremony isn't too far off now."
Before he can move, Miriel stands, stepping toward him. She wraps her arms around him from behind, squeezing tight. "My baby boy is so big now."
Valen rolls his eyes. "Mom…"
She pulls away suddenly, raising a finger. "But no! I'm cooking! You better let me mom you for as long as I can!"
A quiet chuckle escapes him as she turns toward the kitchen, already gathering ingredients. "You better eat properly," she calls over her shoulder. "And make friends. My chapter has its bad apples, but I'm sure you can handle them."
Valen leans against the table. "The Speaker said if I have questions or issues, I can go to him personally."
Miriel stops mid-motion, lowering her shoulders as she turns toward him. "Really? The Speaker again? For once, I'd like you to do what you think is best instead of what the Speaker told you is best."
She exhales softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she adds, "Or at least come to your mom instead."
She shakes her head. "I'm proud of you, Valen, but following the rules too closely will blind you to the things around you. Like Lenna."
Valen tenses, turning to her. "It's not like that! She is… I feel like she just needs someone to lean on from time to time."
Miriel goes quiet, her hands pausing for a brief moment before she resumes her work. "Well, that you're right about," she mutters. "When I get my wings, I'm putting those two in their place."
Valen exhales, though a small smile breaks through.
She continues, her tone softer now. "A lot of knights are already scared of you, Valen. I don't want you turning into Athos."
She turns back to him, her expression serious. "There's a difference between being a Paladin and being a fanatic—a paladin helps people, makes them feel safe. The other refuses to bend, no matter what. These are real people we are trying to protect, Valen. I just hope you remember that."
Valen meets her gaze, letting her words settle before stepping forward. He wraps his arms around her, holding her in a firm but quiet embrace.
"You don't have anything to worry about, Mom. I'll be alright."
Miriel smiles, her hands resting on his back as she returns the hug—gentle at first.
Then, with no warning, her grip tightens, and she lifts him clean off the ground. Wailing dramatically, squeezing him as if he were still half his size.
"Oooohhh my baby BOOOOY!"
Valen lets out a sharp exhale, his feet barely brushing the floor. "Mom—"
But she isn't letting go.