"What—?!" It was like a bolt from the blue! Lisanna's mind buzzed, her vision darkening as overwhelming fear and anger surged through her.
The faint hesitation she'd clung to moments ago was utterly crushed by this cruel news.
She bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, then spun around and ran with all her might back to Roger and Erza. Her small frame trembled with emotion and fear.
Bowing deeply—almost ninety degrees—she pleaded with a voice choked with tears, "Please! I'm begging you, help Mirajane! Help drive the demon out of her!"
Straightening up, she hurriedly added, "We still have some money at home—I'll give it all to you!"
As if that wasn't enough, she pressed her small hand to her frail chest, her eyes brimming with desperation. "I… I can help with chores! I'm a good cook—Mirajane always says so! I can clean, too, really well! I promise!"
Nearby, Elfman had overheard Grandma Lia's words. Shock and anger momentarily overpowered his fear.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped beside his sister and bowed deeply to Erza and Roger, eyes shut tight as he shouted with all his strength, "I… I'm strong! I can carry things! Lift luggage! Please… please help our sister!" His voice cracked with a sob at the end.
Erza and Roger exchanged a quick glance and nodded in unison.
"Alright," Roger said curtly, waving a hand. The food, stone table, and nearby luggage vanished in an instant.
Erza swiftly sheathed the sword pinning down the picnic mat into her requip space, her movements sharp and precise.
She stepped forward, kneeling in front of Lisanna, who was still bowed low. With a warm, reassuring hand, she gently stroked Lisanna's soft white hair, her voice steady and kind. "Don't be afraid. We'll help you. No need to rush—tell us what happened on the way."
"Now, take us to your house, okay?"
The warmth of Erza's touch was unfamiliar yet deeply comforting.
Lisanna gripped the faded, washed-out pink dress she wore, her heart tightening. These strangers were kinder than the villagers she'd lived with for a year.
It had been so long since anyone besides Mirajane or Grandma Lia had shown her such gentleness… It felt almost like… the faint memory of her mother's warmth…
A sharp pang of emotion stung her nose. Lisanna sniffled hard, holding back tears.
She looked up at Erza and Roger, eyes shining with gratitude and hope. With a determined nod, she choked out, "Okay!"
After a quick thank-you to the anxious Grandma Lia, Lisanna turned and sprinted toward home.
Erza and Roger followed close behind, with Elfman trailing just after.
As they ran, the wind roared in Lisanna's ears. Gasping for breath, she fought to share the fear and events bottled up inside her. "Not long ago, a creepy purple light appeared under the statue in the village church! Thick black smoke poured out from the ground!"
"Before anyone could react… BOOM! The statue exploded!"
"A monster—made of rotting wood, covered in purple orbs—stood on the statue's pedestal!" Lisanna's voice trembled with fear. "It… it laughed and said it was a 'demon created by Lord Zeref,' sealed there by a mage years ago."
"Everyone panicked and ran for the doors! But the man at the entrance… he… he suddenly screamed and fell to his knees!"
"His feet turned to purple stone! And the stone—it was alive, creeping up his body! In a blink, he… he became a purple statue!"
"Then… swoosh! The statue turned into a purple light and got sucked into the monster's mouth!"
She shuddered. "And then… its disgusting eyes… locked onto us, the closest ones!"
Talking while running left Lisanna breathless, her words coming in gasps.
Elfman took over, his face pale. "The moment it looked at us… I… I felt like every bone in my body was being smashed with a hammer! The pain was so bad I couldn't move! I collapsed."
"Just when we were about to pass out, when my legs went numb… Mirajane rushed forward!" His voice spiked with fear and heartache. "She… she grabbed the demon!"
"Then… a blinding black light exploded from them! The demon screamed like it was being torn apart!"
"When the light faded, the demon was gone. Only Mirajane was left, kneeling on the ground…" Elfman's voice dropped, heavy with pain. "Her right arm… it turned into a monster's arm, covered in purple orbs, just like the demon's."
"Since then, the villagers avoid us like we're criminals…" His voice dripped with hurt.
"Whenever Mirajane steps outside, they scream, curse… some even throw stones!" His fists clenched tight.
"Eventually… she stopped going out…"
"But even then, those rotten kids sneak up and throw rocks at our windows…" Elfman's voice broke, his breathing ragged.
"We… we didn't know what to do… so we'd sneak out at dawn or when no one's around to dig up mushrooms we know or pick wild fruit…" His voice was thick with frustration.
"Thank goodness for Grandma Lia…" Lisanna chimed in. "She always sneaks us food. She says if it weren't for Mirajane, everyone might be dead. She says we can't be ungrateful."
"But lately…" Lisanna's voice turned bitter, "some rumor started spreading… saying the heavy rains and wild boars ruining crops were our fault, that we're cursed and bringing bad luck to the village!"
"And some people are even worse!" Elfman cut in, furious. "That lazy drunk, Wagg, broke his leg while plastered and went around yelling that Mirajane cursed him! It's complete nonsense!"
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