Emily shook her tiny head, her voice trembling as she spoke. “No, big brother. My mother’s arm was cut off by a big monster. She… she tried to protect me, and she became like this… It’s all my fault.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered the terrifying moment.
She sobbed quietly, continuing, “Fortunately, there was a powerful guest at our inn who saved us from that monster. But after he left, we encountered these bad people.” Her voice quivered with fear and anger. “They stole all our hard-earned coins, and then they tried to do bad things to my mother.”
Ethan nodded, his expression filled with sympathy as he looked at the mother-daughter duo. They had endured so much pain and suffering. As he listened to Emily’s words, a pang of guilt stirred within him, a gnawing regret for not being able to protect them in time. “If only he was present at their time of need.”
He knew that he couldn’t change what had happened, but he could make sure they were safe from now on. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner,” Ethan said softly, his voice filled with resolve. “But I promise you, no one will hurt you again.”
Emily felt the sincerity in Ethan’s words, and her trembling began to subside. With a hesitant nod, she left his embrace and hurried over to her mother, checking her condition with anxious hands.
Ethan stood in the midst of the carnage, his cold gaze sweeping over the lifeless bodies of the thugs. After a moment, he knelt down and quickly collected the coins they had stolen from Emily and her mother.
Without wasting any time, he lifted Innkeeper Greta’s injured form and, with a sense of urgency, carried them both back to the campsite, determined to get Greta the help she needed as soon as possible.
As soon as they entered the tent, Iris looked up, her eyes widening with concern. “Ethan, who are they?”
Ethan gently laid Innkeeper Greta down on an emergency bed and let out a weary sigh. “They’re the closest people I have in this world,” he replied, his voice heavy with concern. He then quickly recounted the incident, explaining who they were and how Innkeeper Greta had gotten injured. Meanwhile, Emily and Luna, noticing that they were around the same age, began to bond. Luna offered Emily some food and tried to cheer her up, easing the tension in the air.
Ethan turned to Iris, his expression serious. “Can you use your healing skill on her wound? I’ve already given her some healing potions, but they don’t seem to be working.”
Iris nodded and quickly began to examine the injury, focusing on the torn flesh on Greta’s shoulder. As she inspected the wound, she noticed dark remnants of an ominous aura clinging to the injury.
Despite her uncertainty, Iris cast [Rapid Heal] repeatedly, but the wound refused to close, the dark aura resisting her efforts.
With a sigh, Iris looked up at Ethan, concern etched in her features. “Ethan, it looks like her wound has been inflicted by a demonic aura. Healing potions and regular healing magic won’t work. We’ll need to find some holy water to cleanse the wound.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Holy water?”
Iris nodded, explaining, “Yes, holy water has purifying properties that can cleanse demonic energy. Without it, the wound will continue to fester, no matter how much healing skill we use.”
“You can find holy water in churches, though it’s usually quite pricey,” Iris explained, her tone serious.
“I see…” Ethan nodded, deep in thought, “Now where is this church?”
“Purifying demonic energy… Purify… Holy!” Suddenly, a realization struck him like lightning. He remembered that his Holy Dragonian Sword had a similar ability.
He quickly unsheathed the sword, recalling its unique power: Holy Purge—an ability that emitted a burst of holy energy capable of purifying and damaging undead and demonic entities, while also healing the wielder slightly.
Ethan’s eyes lit up with hope as he read the description carefully. “Yes, there it is,” he muttered, a hint of excitement in his voice. Without hesitation, he activated Holy Purge, directing the purifying energy toward the dark remnants clinging to Greta’s wound.
Seeing Ethan draw his sword and carefully place its tip near Greta’s injured shoulder, Iris’s eyes widened in alarm. “Ethan, what are you doing?!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.
But her words caught in her throat as she witnessed what happened next. A soft, radiant light began to emanate from the sword, enveloping the wound in a warm, golden glow. The dark, ominous aura that had been resisting their efforts started to dissipate, burning away like shadows in the face of the morning sun.
Iris watched in astonishment as the wound on Greta’s shoulder began to heal before her eyes. The torn flesh knitted itself back together, the purifying energy not only banishing the demonic taint but also accelerating the healing process. The once stubborn wound now closed, leaving behind only a faint scar where the dark energy had been.
Ethan let out a relieved breath as he sheathed his sword. “It worked,” he murmured, a small smile of satisfaction crossing his face.
Iris stood there, speechless, as the realization of what had just happened sank in. She had known Ethan was strong, but this… this was something else entirely. “What kind of sword is this?”
Emily and the others watched the scene unfold, their curiosity evident, while Emily let out a breath of relief.
“Big brother, can my mother’s arm never grow back again?” she asked, her young face etched with worry.
Ethan smiled reassuringly and said, “Of course! Your mother just needs a health restoration potion, and she’ll be as good as new in seconds.”
Emily blinked in surprise. “A health restoration potion? I’ve heard they’re really expensive. We could never afford one in our lifetime. Where will we find all that money?” She quickly fumbled through their backpacks, taking out the small pouch of coins Ethan had recovered from the thugs. “Here, big brother. This might not be much, but it will help a little, at least.”
She offered the coins without a moment’s hesitation, fully aware that it was all they had left.
Ethan felt a warm sense of gratitude, knowing he didn’t help anyone ungrateful or selfish people.
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “You don’t need to do that, sweetie. I’ll take care of it. You don’t need to worry about the money. Now, why don’t you get some rest? You have dark circles under your eyes. Please relax; your mother is going to be just fine.”
Emily hesitated for a moment but then nodded, her trust in Ethan clear. She returned to her mother’s side, comforted by his words, and finally allowed herself to close her eyes, the weight of the day’s events lifting slightly as she drifted into sleep.
“Emergency! Emergency! Calling all hunters for help at the frontline. This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill! A beast rampage has broken through the outer defenses. All available hunters are to report to the frontlines immediately. Civilians are advised to seek shelter immediately. This is a high-level threat!”
As Ethan reassured Emily, the campsite was suddenly filled with the distant but unmistakable sound of an emergency call. The horns blared through the air, echoing across the city, signaling another beast rampage. The city’s hunters were being called to assist, and the urgency in the air was undeniable.
The message repeated itself, the desperation in the announcer’s voice clear.
