Morning sunlight crept through the window, scattering across the wooden floor of the small room. Yoshiya blinked awake, muscles stiff and sore from the events of the previous night. His body ached in every joint, but the ache was accompanied by a strange, quiet relief. They had survived.
Omina lay on the cot beside him, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Her breathing was deep and even, still weighed down by exhaustion. The elderly healer moved carefully around her, adjusting bandages and tending to small bruises and scratches. Her hands were gentle, precise, the movements of someone who had cared for countless adventurers over the years. Yoshiya quietly thanked her, but she only smiled softly and shook her head.
Time passed slowly. The room was filled with the soft sounds of the healer preparing herbs, the faint rustle of sheets, and the occasional bird song from outside. Yoshiya considered lying back down, but the restlessness in his chest would not allow it.
At midday, the door creaked open, and Akira stepped in. He carried a small bundle of bread and a gentle smile. "I hope I'm not intruding," he said warmly, "but I thought you two could use a proper meal."
Omina stirred at his arrival, blinking sleep from her eyes as she slowly pushed herself up. "Akira…" she murmured, her voice hoarse.
"Good morning," he replied. "How are my favorite troublemakers holding up?"
They sat together at the small table, eating bread and sipping water. Yoshiya recounted the escape from the goblin fortress—the overwhelming numbers, the chase through the forest, and the shaman that had been with them. He deliberately left out any mention of the map or the treasures they had carried.
Akira listened intently, his brow furrowing at the mention of the shaman. "A shaman?" he repeated. "That changes things. Be careful. You both survived this, but don't underestimate them in the future."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "The guild has already arranged for your care while you are here in Reflynne. Rest, recover. That is your only responsibility for now."
Once the meal was finished, Akira stood. "I'll report back to the guild on your condition," he said, giving a nod of reassurance. "Sleep well. You've earned it."
As soon as he left, Omina, drained from the lingering effects of Sword Frenzy, slipped back into sleep. Her small, exhausted frame seemed to melt into the blankets. Yoshiya watched her for a moment, then, unable to settle himself, rose quietly and walked to his belongings.
His hand closed around the extra wand they had taken during their previous goblin quest. It was slightly smaller than his usual wand, with a stone at its tip a different color and intricate markings etched along its handle that he had not seen before. Curiosity overtook his fatigue.
He tested it cautiously.
"Heal."
Warm light flowed from the wand as expected, stitching together minor scratches and bruises. The spell worked the same as his usual wand.
"Blessing."
He cast it on himself. A faint glow enveloped him, but he barely felt any additional strength. The spell worked, yet the effect seemed muted, as though it were meant for something different.
Finally, he tried Protect, expecting the familiar shimmering bubble to wrap around him.
The mana flowed, but it behaved differently. Instead of encasing him entirely, it formed a localized shield in the exact direction he pointed. The magic did not expand beyond that focus, creating a narrow but strong barrier.
Yoshiya's eyes widened. This wasn't Protect—it was something else entirely.
"A Barrier," he whispered, testing it again. This time, he directed it toward a chair in the room, watching the faint shimmer wrap around it like a wall of energy. He grinned despite his fatigue. I may not have a shield anymore, but… this might be even better.
He tested the difference again, alternating between his original wand and the new one. Protect still enveloped a full area around the target, but the new wand's Barrier concentrated mana exactly where it was aimed. A directional wall of protection, not a bubble.
Excitement sparked in Yoshiya's chest. He could feel the potential, even in his exhausted state. Losing his shield suddenly seemed less significant. With this and Protect combined, he might not just survive—he might be able to fight smarter, stronger, more strategically.
Eventually, the strain of the previous night caught up with him. He set the wand down and settled back beside Omina, the faint shimmer of the newly discovered Barrier fading in the lamplight.
For now, they were safe, and the future, though uncertain, seemed a little brighter.