Mira couldn't think of any useful clues either.
When she remembered that church, the only thing that came to mind was demons. But back then, the only demon had already been Taken Over by her.
Could it be that another demon appeared after she left? Was there something unusual about that church from the start?
She asked softly, "What happened after that?"
Grandma An sighed. "That night, the whole village stayed awake. The three families who lost their sons begged everyone to go to the church and rescue them. But the youths who came back swore they saw a demon inside. No one dared to return."
It sounded heartless, but Rhodes and Mira knew it was simply human nature. After all, when the villagers once believed Mira was a demon, they never dared to storm her house. They only hurled things at her from outside.
Grandma An looked at Mira with sorrow in her eyes and continued, "At dawn, the families begged again. This time, someone suggested taking torches. If there truly was a demon, they could burn it to death."
The old woman's voice grew heavy. "It sounded reasonable, so every villager who could still walk came with a torch. They even brought their dogs with them. Since the dogs showed no fear, the people hesitated, but in the end, they still went to the church."
"What they found was only a pool of blood. The three young men were gone. Everyone said they must have been eaten."
"We searched until noon but never found a trace of them. At last, we put up a symbolic tomb and burned the church down. Some swore they heard the demon's dying scream in the fire. Others said there was nothing. Either way, after that, many villagers didn't dare to stay. More than half moved away."
Her shoulders slumped. "The village grew emptier and emptier, and as it emptied, it became scarier. By three years ago, I was the only one left."
Mira's eyes softened with pity. "Grandma Annie…"
Rhodes asked gently, "Why didn't you leave with them?"
The old woman chuckled, surprisingly at ease. "I'm already old. I have no family, no ties. If the demon really wants to eat me, let it come quickly. I don't have many years left anyway."
"Then… since that time, has anything else strange happened near the church?"
"Not that I know of." Grandma Annie shook her head. "Once the others left, I moved to the farthest house and never went near the ruins again. And I don't keep dogs or chickens anymore, so even if something happened, I wouldn't notice."
She waved her hand dismissively. "Since I've lived peacefully until now, I doubt anything's left."
Then, as if remembering, she added, "Oh, but last year a knight came to investigate. A very sturdy young man, in full armor, looked quite powerful."
Her wrinkled lips curved into a mischievous smile as she touched her face. "If I were a few decades younger, I'd have been smitten by his aura."
That earned a small laugh from Rhodes and Mira, but there were no further clues to be gained. The couple agreed, they would visit the ruins of the church tomorrow.
After that, Mira asked about Grandma Annie's daily life alone.
The old woman's tone brightened with pride. "I grow plenty of vegetables and herbs. Sometimes I wave down a carriage on the main road and ride into town to sell herbs. I buy grain and oil while I'm there. So, you see, I get by just fine."
She admitted chopping firewood was a bit tough, but she could still cut grass and small shrubs to dry for later use.
After all, she had nothing else to do, keeping busy each day wasn't so bad.
As the sun began to set, Grandma Annie stood up and said, "It's almost time for me to head back. This house isn't fit to live in anymore. Why don't you both come to my place?"
Mira politely shook her head. "Thank you, but I'd rather stay here. We brought tents and sleeping bags, so it's no problem."
Grandma Annie's gaze lingered between the two of them, and then she smiled knowingly. "I see, I see, newlyweds! Well, you must come to my house tomorrow and let me treat you properly."
Mira's cheeks flushed at her teasing expression.
Rhodes said, "At least let us walk you home."
But Grandma An waved her hand. "No need, I'm not so old that I can't walk on my own."
She stepped to the doorway, picked up her sickle, and walked steadily back home.
That night, Rhodes and Mira stayed in the dilapidated house.
They didn't even bother setting up their tents. Instead, they spread out sleeping bags and sat together against the wall, in the same corner where Mira and her siblings had once hidden.
Mira nestled into Rhodes's arms, the way Lisanna used to curl up against her.
The night was chilly. Rhodes pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around them both. A campfire burned nearby, and one of Rhodes's ghosts quietly kept watch, tending the flames.
The next morning, Rhodes yawned and reached out to playfully pinch Mira's cheek, but stopped when he noticed something strange.
Mira stirred at his touch, groggily catching his mischievous hand. "You're so annoying… is it morning already?"
"Hm." Rhodes tilted his head. "Mira, did you train all night?"
Mira pouted, trying to recall. "No… I remember chatting with you, then falling asleep right away. Why?"
Rhodes leaned closer. "Don't you feel any difference? In your magic?"
"My magic?" Mira pulled the blanket off her shoulders and focused inward. Her eyes widened. "What—?! My magic power suddenly feels so much stronger! What did you do to me?"
"I'd like to know that too," Rhodes muttered. He was certain that when he and Mira had been together, there hadn't been any kind of "magic replenishment" effect. And nothing else had happened last night either.
Mira stood and released her magic.
A fierce wind roared to life, her long white hair billowing, her clothes whipping around her as the crumbling house shook like it might collapse at any second.
This was the kind of power she usually could only summon when transforming into Satan Soul.
She quickly reined it in, sparing the fragile remains of the Strauss family home.
Staring down at her unchanged small hands, Mira whispered, "Could this be… the Second Origin?"
Rhodes shook his head. "Even if it's your Second Origin awakening, it doesn't add up. This kind of boost should take at least two months of nonstop training to reach after unlocking it."
"Is that so?" Mira tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Then, as if something clicked, she suddenly smiled, turned, and hugged Rhodes, pressing her face into his chest. "As long as it's a good thing, that's all that matters."
This time, Rhodes grabbed her shoulders, pushing her back enough to see her expression clearly. "You figured it out, didn't you?"
"Mm." Mira giggled, hugging him even tighter.
Rhodes narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Mira only squeezed him closer. "Not telling you!"
...
Stones Plzz
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