Chapter 100 – The Still Hand

Chapter 100

The Still Hand

Date : Day 13 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

The room was still for a moment. The silence and heavy atmosphere was broken when the door opened and Ina entered. Carrying a tray. The wooden surface held two bowls. Spoons. A small pot. The steam rose from the containers.

"Hyoren, Elise, I cooked simple porridge for you two. Your stomachs were empty for two days, so you need easy to digest food."

She crossed the room. Her footsteps were light. And put the tray on the table beside the bed. The porridge was steaming. The aroma was savory. The scent of rice. Vegetables. A hint of herbs. Warm and comforting.

She then took one bowl and gave it to Hyoren. Her hands were gentle. The ceramic was warm against his palms.

Then she took one herself. She stood ready. Waiting.

"Elise, you can't move properly yet, so I will feed you."

Elise shook her head. The motion was firm. Refusing.

"No need, Ina, I can eat by myself."

Ina huffed. Her cat ears flattened slightly. The tail swished with impatience.

"No means no. Just stay still!"

Hyoren and Oria smiled wryly. Ina's stubbornness was legendary.

Elise then reluctantly gave in. Her resistance faded. The exhaustion was evident.

"Fine... Ina..."

Then both of them ate. Hyoren carefully ate the porridge which Ina made. The spoon was warm against his lips. He felt the warmth of her cooking. The flavor was rich. Soothing. It had a different feel from Elise's cooking. But he felt both were uniquely good. Different but equally comforting. And he felt he also wanted to keep eating Ina's cooking. The thought came unbidden. Unexpected.

"Ina. This is delicious."

Ina smiled. Her ears perked up. The tail swished happily.

"Of course. I always cook for myself! And I got a little brother who needed my care back then..."

Her words trailed off, seeming to remember fond memories. The smile softened. The gaze drifted somewhere distant.

Ina then sat on the bed, and started to feed Elise. The spoon moved carefully. Deliberately.

Elise reluctantly ate with Ina's help. Her eyes also widened. Enjoying the food. The flavor surprised her.

"This is my first time eating your cooking Ina. But Hyoren was right. You are good at cooking."

Both of them then ate in silence afterwards. Eating food. For sustenance of the body. To warm their hearts. The room was quiet. Only the sound of spoons against ceramic. The occasional swallow. The soft clink of dishes.

Oria then moved to bring two chairs. Her footsteps were soft on the stone floor. She sat on one of them. Watching the two eating with warm expressions. The monocle caught the light. The blue robes settled around her.

They finished eating for a while. Ina set aside the two bowls. The ceramic clinked softly. She then moved to the chair beside the bed. The position was deliberate. Professional.

"Okay. Hyoren. We all need an explanation."

All three eyes were watching him. The attention was focused.

He closed his eyes. Then took a deep breath. The air filled his lungs. The preparation was necessary.

He looked at Elise. And Elise nodded. Leaving all the explanation to him. The trust was clear. The responsibility was accepted.

"Firstly. Ina, you knew our quest right?"

Ina nodded. Her expression was attentive.

"Yes, it was me who processed it. You two went to Old Quarry to scout the goblins' settlement right? I thought the report said the number is about 50 to 100."

Hyoren straightened his posture. His spine aligned. His shoulders squared.

"Ina. The scale of the settlement is way bigger. We killed almost 400 goblins..."

Oria and Ina's eyes widened. The shock was immediate. Visible.

"No way. That's the scale of an army already! And you two actually did that with just the two of you?"

Ina was shocked. Her tail stood straight. Her ears twitched with disbelief.

"Please give me your guild card, I need to verify it!"

Hyoren then went over to the table, then took his guild card from his storage bag. The card was small. He went back to Elise's bed, and gave the card to Ina.

"Could you verify the number Ina?"

She nodded. Her fingers were quick. Professional.

"Yes. If you take a subjugation quest, the guild card will record the amount you kill. This will prevent falsifying your report by bringing magic stones you buy from other places."

Hyoren nodded. The explanation was understood.

Ina quickly checked his card. Manipulated the card to see the public information available to everyone. The glow from the card illuminated her face. The numbers appeared. The data was clear.

Then her eyes widened. The shock was profound.

"252 Goblins. 119 Goblin Fighters. 25 Goblin Warriors. You were actually right... in the span of the quest... you two killed 396 goblins. And one more... What kind of monster is Goblin Knight? I never heard of such goblin variants!"

Ina counted everything. And she was clearly shocked by the numbers.

Oria also muttered. The numbers exceeded her comprehension.

"396 goblins???"

The scale went over her head. She only understood that was so many goblins. The logistics. The effort. The danger.

Ina then looked at Elise, then back at Hyoren. Her professionalism started to take over. She was Vice Guild Master who understood the scale of the quest. The magnitude of what actually happened.

"Please Hyoren. Tell me everything."

Hyoren nodded. The agreement was clear.

"Okay Ina. Let me explain..."

He then started to explain what happened. About their visit to Lakeview Village and learning the scale of goblins settlement was way higher than reported. The fear in the Mara’s eyes. The desperation in their voices. About their decision to dismantle them despite knowing the number because they were afraid goblins would start attacking villagers. The responsibility they felt. The choice they made.

They found the settlement and the coordinated army of goblins. The organized patrols. The structured camps. They deduced the leader was Goblin Lord. The intelligence was clear. The threat was real.

Then the 5 days coordinated assault. The planning. The strategy. The sneaky night raid. The shadows. The silence. Then killing every foragers and patrols. The systematic elimination. Then killing the deserter. The pursuit. Then a second night raid, before they did a frontal assault. The final push.

Elise tried to give details there and there. completing the narrative. Clarifying points. Adding perspective.

Ina and Oria listened with serious expressions. The weight of the story pressed on them. The danger was real.

Ina spoke in almost reverence voice.

"You two are truly something... normal adventurers would see those kinds of settlements and run away... but dismantling silver-rank threats... with just one Bronze and one Copper."

She looked at Hyoren. Her eyes were full of respect. The admiration was genuine.

"Your strategy and adaptation is truly something Hyoren..."

Oria also nodded agreeing with Ina. The monocle glinted.

"400 goblins is not something two people should consider attacking."

She was impressed. The scale was unprecedented.

Then Ina realized. The question formed. The logical conclusion.

"Wait, if you two can dismantle the goblins settlement, what happened with Elise? What happened to you?"

Hyoren nodded. The difficult part was coming.

"My story is not yet done. But before I explain what happened to Elise after we dismantled the goblin settlement. There's something I need to tell you, Ina, Oria."

He then looked at Elise. Seeking confirmation. Their eyes met. Hyoren asked her—should he divulge about his origin. The silent question passed between them.

Elise nodded. The trust was clear.

"Go, Hyoren... these two can be trusted... and after all their effort, I think they deserve the truth."

Hyoren then looked at Ina and Oria. His dark eyes focused. His jaw tightened. The tension was real.

He started his story.

"I'm actually what you call Spirited Away. I'm not from this world. And I carry Divine Protection from both Luminara and Noctynara. And I got Unique Skill Berserker."

He then explained to them about his situation briefly. About his survival in Forest of No Return. The struggle and survival. The near-death experiences. The gift from twin Goddesses. About how he didn't carry any divine mission from them despite all that—so he just wanted to live in freedom.

About his fake identity made by him and Elise to avoid trouble. The lie was necessary. The protection was vital.

About the truth about Berserker. The effect. The boost. The backlash. The price.

Oria could only nod multiple times. The understanding came in waves. The pieces fell into place.

"So you are Spirited Away... with Unique Skill from Goddess herself. No wonder I can see Divine Power when you still activated the skill. And that explains your agony which can't be eased with any potions... Backlash from Unique skill is always like that."

Ina's expression settled in understanding. She agreed with Oria's words. The revelation made sense.

"I see. Unique Skill. That explains your state."

She then smiled at him. The warmth was genuine.

"And you are a Spirited Away... I already suspected something was off from Hyoren's story about a wiped out village... and his common sense was just way off the chart."

She looked at Elise. Smiled warmly. The respect was evident.

"Your decision was correct though, Elise. If people knew Hyoren was Spirited Away and carrying two divine protections..."

Her words trailed off. With her 23 years of experience as guild staff, she already knew the implications. The danger. The political ramifications. The attention it would bring.

Elise nodded. The agreement was clear.

"Yeah, Ina. That's why I suggested such a story to him before we entered the city."

The weight of revelation about Hyoren's real backstory settled on Ina and Oria. The room was quiet. The truth was heavy. The implications were vast.

***

Hyoren took a deep breath. Then exhaled. The air left his lungs slowly. He looked at Elise. Grimaced at her wound—she was still weak despite her recovered state. The scars were visible.

"Okay, for what happened after we entered the main tunnel of the Old Quarry."

He looked up at the ceiling. Trying to remember the painful memory. The images came unbidden. The darkness. The blood. The blade. Before his eyes went back to the three women. Their gazes were focused.

"Firstly, we suspected the leader of the settlement was the Goblin Lord. But we were mistaken. The leader of the army was an anomaly. A Servant of Gidol. A goblin blessed by the Demon God… a Goblin Knight named Hifoppe."

Oria gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth. The sound was sharp. Sudden. Words caught in her throat. The shock was evident.

Ina widened her eyes. The golden orbs grew large. The disbelief was clear.

"Servant of the Demon God??? In this frontier? What is the demon planning?"

The revelation shocked Ina. Her cat ears stood straight. Her tail puffed slightly.

Hyoren raised his hands. The gesture was calming. Telling her he will continued.

"I will explain, Ina."

He then told the story. About how the goblin settlement was a distraction. A calculated move. To distract humans while Hifoppe created a new dungeon—ordered by Gidol himself. The purpose was sinister.

The Goblin Knight was strong. Unbelievably so. He and Elise fought it together. The battle was desperate. The odds were impossible.

Hyoren looked directly at Elise. His gaze bore into hers.

"And you almost died, Elise. If I was late even for a split second activating Berserker, you would have been sliced in two..."

Words caught in his throat. Remembering the horror. The blade swung. The blood. The severed body in his nightmares. His vision of her death. He closed his eyes for a moment. The images were too real.

He then told them the story.

About Elise’s wound. How he had quickly administered first aid. Then how he had fought Hifoppe alone—and managed to defeat him, thanks to his upgraded Berserker.

He continued. Tending to Elise’s wounds. The gash across her torso. Trying to reattach her arms. The botched attempts.

Then the mad man dash—running toward Akela while carrying her.

He had arrived at Oria’s place. Asked for her help.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

Then opened them again. His next words were laced with apology.

"It was my fault... you almost died... and now you can't move your arm... it was my fault. I was too confident. Ignoring Luminara's warning. If I used Berserker from the start... you wouldn't have been wounded like this... you would not have those huge scars on your body... and your hand would not be paralyzed."

Tears started to come from him again. The droplets fell freely. The guilt enveloped him. The weight was crushing. His shoulders shook. His voice cracked.

Elise then smiled weakly. The expression was soft. Forgiving. With effort, she leaned forward. Her muscles were still stiff—but she forced herself. The movement was slow, but deliberate.

She raised her healthy hand and gently caressed Hyoren's cheek. Her fingers traced his skin. Wiping away his tears. Calming him. The touch was warm and tender.

"Don't be too harsh on yourself, Hyoren. Part of it was my fault too."

Hyoren’s eyes snapped widely.

"No, Elise. It was me! I was too afraid of the Berserker backlash! I kept hesitating to use it, even against a Demon-level threat! I ignored the Goddess's prophecy... just for my own satisfaction!"

He broke down. The tears came harder. The guilt was overwhelming. His head bowed. His shoulders trembled.

Elise still smiled. Her hand continued to stroke his cheek. The motion was rhythmic and soothing.

"It was my fault too, Hyoren. I was overconfident. I should have suggested we retreat. Or told you to heed the Goddess's warning more. Don't blame yourself. We're a party. We're partners. We share the burden."

The words caught in Hyoren's throat. The comfort was unexpected. The forgiveness was undeserved.

Elise then pulled him into a gentle embrace. Her arms wrapped around him. Calming him. The motion was careful. Her body was still weak. But she held him anyway.

Hyoren cried against her bosom. The tears fell on her patient gown. Walling in sorrow. The guilt was still heavy. The relief was mixed with pain. He sobbed. The sound was muffled. Raw.

Oria and Ina watched from the side. Their expressions were conflicted. Shock came first—at the mention of a Demon. A Servant of Gidol. The implications were terrifying. The threat was real. But alongside it, they could feel the warmth radiating from Elise. The forgiveness. The partnership. The love.

***

They let Hyoren expel his guilt for a while. He was still sobbing in Elise's embrace. The tears continued to fall. His shoulders shook with each breath. She kept patting his back. The motion was rhythmic. Soothing. Until finally he parted. His eyes were red and puffy. The evidence of his breakdown was clear. But he started to calm down. The breathing steadied. The tears stopped.

Elise looked up at Ina. The gaze was questioning. She was seeking confirmation.

Ina nodded. Understanding her unspoken question. The communication was silent.

"Hyoren, Elise. If what you said was true, then we need to move fast. An active dungeon in Old Quarry—which is only half a day's journey from this city. That was dangerous situation."

Ina's professionalism emerged. Her Vice Guild Master persona took over. Her cat ears deflated. Pressed against her head. Her tail stood still. The playfulness was gone. The seriousness remained.

"The Guild Master and Baron Akela need to know."

Hyoren rubbed his eyes. The heels of his palms pressed against the sockets. Trying to dispel his breakdown. The remnants of his tears.

"What should we do, Ina?"

His voice was still shaky. The tremor was evident. But he knew the danger of the dungeon. The threat was real.

Ina crossed her arms. The stance was authoritative.

"You two are still weak now, so we will go to the guild tomorrow morning. After you two rest a bit more. We will go to the Guild Master to report."

Hyoren and Elise nodded. The agreement was simultaneous. The understanding was clear.

"Okay, Ina."

Hyoren then looked at Oria. The question was in his eyes. The hope was desperate.

"Oria... about Elise's hand..."

He straightened his posture. His spine aligned. His shoulders squared.

"Can it be healed?"

Oria adjusted her monocle. The glass shifted position. Her eyes began to glow—activating her Aethell Sense—as she scanned the condition of Elise's hand. The blue light washed over the limb.  After a moment, she shook her head. The motion was slow.

"With my current potions? No… it can’t restore misaligned nerves…"

Hyoren grimaced. The weight of guilt returned. The failure was real. The consequences were permanent.

Elise's hand couldn't be healed. She wouldn't be able to wield a bow anymore. The archery was her life. Her identity. She wouldn't be able to fight. The partnership was damaged.

Elise looked at her paralyzed hand. The fingers were limp. Unresponsive. Then she gave a weak smile. The expression was sad, but accepting.

"So my left hand will be useless... I can't wield a bow anymore."

A shadow of sadness passed over her face. The loss was profound.

Hyoren stood from the bed. The motion was sudden. Desperate. Then he went over to Oria. He held her shoulder and shook it. The grip was tight. The movement was frantic. He was desperate.

"Oria! Is there nothing we can do???"

Oria's small frame was moved front and back with how powerful Hyoren was. The force was overwhelming. Her eyes spiraled. Dizzy. Her silver hair swayed wildly. The motion was violent.

Ina hurriedly touched Hyoren. Her hand reached out. Holding him back. The action was quick. Alarmed. What he did to Oria going to hurt her.

Hyoren finally realized what he did. The desperation faded. The awareness returned. And he released her shoulder. Apologetic. The grip loosened immediately.

"Sorry, Oria..."

He then looked her in the eyes. Trying to convey his sincerity. The regret was genuine. The desperation was still present—but controlled.

Oria held her head. One hand pressing against her temple. To combat her dizziness. The world was still spinning. Her pointed ears twitched quickly. The appendages moved with her disorientation.

"Good grief, Hyoren. Please don't do this anymore. My brain is delicate."

She then looked at Elise's hand. The assessment was clinical. Professional.

"I said with my current potions, it won't be possible. But with Elixir, or High Grade Potions—it might be possible. All my potions were at most medium grade, because that's what Baron Akela ordered."

She looked at the potions on the shelves. The bottles lined up. The liquids inside glowed faintly.

"I can brew Elixir and High Grade Potions, but they require rare ingredients. I need to order them from the Merchants' Guild first."

Oria then nodded, and locked her sapphire eyes to Hyoren's eyes. The gaze was firm. Unwavering. The promise was sincere.

"I promise I will heal her. Just wait..."

A huge relief finally washed over Hyoren. The tension released. The weight lifted. The hope was restored.

He looked at Elise. She was also relieved. The shadow on her face faded. A small smile curled on her lips. The expression was genuine.

"So you can heal me, Oria... thanks for that... How can I repay you..."

Oria crossed her arms. Trying to emphasise her modest chest. The posture was haughty, but for her, it looked comical instead.

"Hmph. Don't disturb my rainlumes supplies in this city. That's enough for payment."

Elise, Ina, and Hyoren chuckled. The sound was light. Genuine. The heavy atmosphere started to lift. The darkness receded slightly.

Elise put her right hand to her chin. The gesture was thoughtful.

"I see. That's the promise then. I will not buy up the rainlumes anymore. Fufu."

She then looked at Hyoren. Smiled. The warmth was evident.

"Are you glad, Hyoren? I hope you are not guilty anymore. My paralyzed hand can be treated. I just need time."

Hyoren looked back at her emerald eyes. The green depths were warm and forgiving.

"Yeah Elise... I'm truly glad."

Elise then giggled. The sound was light and happy.

"Though, this will defeat my determination..."

Hyoren, Oria, and Ina tilted their heads. The confusion was simultaneous. And said in unison. The words overlapped.

"What do you mean, Elise?"

Elise looked at them with warm eyes. The gaze was soft. Loving.

"If my left hand stayed paralyzed, yes—I can't hold my bow. But that doesn't mean I can't fight with you anymore, Hyoren. I can learn magic or switch to my short sword which can be used with just one hand. Fufu."

Her determination to continue partnering with Hyoren despite the state of her hand truly moved Hyoren. The dedication was profound. The love was evident.

He hugged her. The embrace was tight. Genuine.

"Elise... you... I swear, I won't let you get hurt anymore."

Elise patted his back again. The touch was gentle. Reassuring.

"Yes Hyoren. Let's work hard together."

Oria and Ina watched the two partners with warm eyes. The scene was intimate. Touching. The bond between them was clear. The partnership was strong. The love was genuine.

***

Oria then looked at the window. On the darkening night. The magic lamps illuminated the surroundings. But based on the three moons positions, the night was already late.

She stood. The motion was fluid.

"Okay then, you two still need to rest. Don't overextend yourself."

She walked to the door. Her blue robes swished softly. She turned back for one last time. The monocle caught the dim light.

"If you two need something, I will be at my workstations. I still need to brew potions."

Hyoren nodded. The gratitude was evident.

"Thanks, Oria... for everything!"

Oria nodded at him. The acknowledgment was sincere. Then she disappeared from the door. The sound of her footsteps faded down the hall.

Ina then stood next. Her movements were slower. She was tired.

"I think I will also go back first. I need to take a bath and change my clothes."

She smiled at Hyoren and Elise. The expression was warm. But the exhaustion was visible.

"I will wait at the guild tomorrow. I will lead you two to the Guild Master."

Hyoren bowed. The gesture was genuine.

"Thank you, Ina. For taking care of us for the last two days until you are exhausted."

Hyoren and Elise noticed. Ina still looked exhausted. Dark circles under her eyes. The shadows were deep. Prominent. Her tail and cat ears moved less energetically than usual. The appendages were subdued. The usual bounce was absent.

Elise nodded. The concern was clear.

"Hyoren's right. You also deserve rest, Ina."

Ina smiled weakly. The fatigue was evident in every line of her face.

"It seems I can't hide it from you two. But I don't need your thanks. I did this because I want to."

She then waved at them. The motion was small. Tired. Then she crossed the room to approach the door. Her footsteps were soft on the stone floor.

But before she opened it, she turned around. Her large amber eyes washed over Hyoren and Elise.

The gaze lingered. The eyes seemed to speak more words. The silence was heavy. It was full of longing. For partnership. For love. For connection. There was a hint of jealousy even. It was like she was saying she wanted to be part of the two partnerships. To replace Elise in Hyoren's heart. The desire was clear, but unspoken.

But the glint disappeared as quick as it appeared. Hyoren didn't catch it. The moment passed too quickly. But Elise, as perceptive as ever, noticed it. The silver-haired woman's eyes narrowed slightly. The recognition was instant.

Ina then smiled at them. The expression was bright. Forced. Trying to dispel her own thoughts.

"Bye you two... let's meet again tomorrow."

Then she quickly closed the door. The sound was soft. Final. Leaving Hyoren and Elise alone. The room was quiet. The silence settled.

Hyoren also stood. Slowly, as he was still weak. His muscles protested. His body ached.

"Okay Elise, I think we deserve rest..."

He then leaned forward, and kissed her on the lips. The touch was soft. Brief, but it was tender.

"Good night, Elise."

Elise smiled at him. The warmth was evident. The love was clear.

"Night, Hyoren... thanks for everything. Thanks for saving my life."

Hyoren smiled back at her. The gratitude was mutual. Then he went to his bed. His body was still weak and full of dull ache. He also wanted to sleep quickly. The exhaustion was overwhelming.

He laid on his bed, then looked at Elise. The distance between them was small. The connection was strong.

They smiled at each other. The moment was brief, but intimate. Before sleep claimed them quickly. Their bodies needed the rest badly. The recovery was necessary.

***

The sleep claimed Hyoren, but his consciousness went quickly into a dream state. It was not a nightmare of Elise. Not the painful torture of Berserker backlash. The visions that had haunted him for days were absent.

But it was a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, but the sensation was calming and strange at once.

He was standing in the now familiar white space of void. The nothingness stretched endlessly. The brightness was blinding. But unlike before, he couldn't move his body at all. The paralysis. He was frozen in place.

He understood quickly what this dream was. The recognition was instant. Not long after, a figure appeared in front of him. The silhouette emerged from the brightness. He was already expecting this.

He still couldn't move or speak. So he focused on the figure. They were blurred. The edges were hazy. Indistinct. He couldn't make sense of the face. But he understood clearly who it was. The presence was unmistakable.

White robes with a golden accent. The fabric shimmered. Golden hair which flowed gracefully. The strands moved without wind. The mother-like aura which radiated from her. The comforting warmth was palpable.

Luminara.

She started to speak. Her voice was clear despite the blurriness of her figure. The words echoed in the void. It was full of warmth and affection.

"Child, go to my church."

Just after saying that, Luminara's blurred figure disappeared. The presence faded. The brightness receded.

He didn't understand why Luminara told him to go to her church. The instruction was cryptic. Unexpected. But he already decided. He already learned his lesson. The hard way. The painful way. He wouldn't ignore Luminara's words anymore. The cost was too high. The consequences were too severe.

And not long after, the white void also became blurry. The edges softened. The clarity faded. And slowly became darkness. The shadows crept in. And it enveloped him into his deep sleep again.