Traversing the thick forest of Aliaria, Reiji was riding a horse with Lyra in the lead.
Sitting up front of Lyra was Lyrien, who slumped against the horse's neck, body swaying with each step.
Reiji could see her pale skin beneath her robe.
"She looked beat. It is hard to distinguish between simple fatigue and Drainea." Reiji thought after catching a glimpse of Lyrien's face.
A sudden throbbing pain coursed in his body from his fractured right arm.
He clutched it to the upper arm, which was all that was left to alleviate the pain.
The spell cast by Lyrien stopped the bleeding and closed the wounds, but the pain lingered.
His ability remained active and slowly regenerated the structure of his arm.
But Lyra didn't know his regenerative skill, so she was worried. "Hey, what you did was crazy. But I want to thank you for saving us, even if it meant sacrificing an arm."
"Call me Reiji," Reiji responded, "I only did what I could to help. You're Lyra, right? You're welcome."
His own statement made him wonder, "Why did I have the urge to help them?"
Lyra was stunned into silence with how casual Reiji responded. "You talk as if you didn't lose an arm."
"It was painful, but I'll be fine." Reiji responded before turning, thinking about Rowan and the ominous aura he felt behind.
They had already travelled far, and he was afraid that Rowan might encounter that monster.
"And I also wanted to thank you for returning. She also cast a magic that must have exhausted her even further," Reiji continued. "But I have to drop here and go back."
Lyra pulled the reins as she turned behind towards Reiji. "What do you mean you have to go back? You barely have enough strength or capability to fi—"
As the horse slowed down, Reiji jumped off.
Lyra stopped the horse and turned it around as she froze in shock at how much Reiji's mangled arm had recovered.
"You– your arm was torn up to your sleeves, right?" Then she looked at Lyrien. "Lyrien, what kind of recovery spell did you cast?"
Lyrien struggled to talk, so Reiji spoke on her behalf, "She has helped me a lot with the recovery, but I have to go now."
He was trying to avoid suspicion of him possessing a power that might be out of this world, so he diverted everyone's focus.
"Don't let the sacrifices of those men go to waste. Escape from here and do what you need and what those men who stayed to protect you wanted you to do."
Then he bowed his head and turned away from the two.
Before he completely disappeared, he warned them. "Don't try to fight these things anymore. I'll also try to at least return to those knights and honor them on your behalf."
Then he disappeared into the forest.
He left them puzzled, but he thought it was better that way.
He travelled back with his Proprioception skill active. He kept it that way until his arm fully recovered and he deactivated it.
From early afternoon until dusk, he scoured the forest.
He solely relied on his memory of the path to look for Rowan.
As he traversed, he couldn't shake off the thought, "Why was I eager to help? I didn't think I'd step in to help someone in need in my life."
After his lengthy search, just before the sun completely set, he finally spotted Carrot and Rowan.
He approached him as he wallowed in regret.
"Rowan, it took me some effort to get back. What are you doing there?" Reiji asked, completely forgetting the fact that the village of Caledon disappeared during the time Rowan was unconscious.
"I didn't achieve anything... I left my role in the defense, but I learned nothing! I'm ready to die!" Rowan cried out.
As the cold afternoon wind blew over, Reiji couldn't help but be amused by Rowan's overly dramatic whimpering.
Reiji looked around the area trying to figure out what was happening.
Then, it hit him. Reiji realized those knights were with Rowan initially. "I'm sorry for what happened, Rowan."
"I did not get to survey and analyze the ruins of Caledon before it disappeared!" Rowan continued his dramatic outburst.
"Damn—" Reiji stood stock-still.
Meanwhile in the past, back at the time when the knight commander Cornelius was left to defend against the Grombles, a rumble shook the ground.
"Krogar's still alive," he whispered.
His exhaustion was palpable, but his sternness remained still. "Men! You've served the kingdom well!"
Within minutes, he found himself pinned to the ground by a towering Gromble, with an axe blade point pressed against his chest, losing his consciousness.
Before the monster could deliver his finishing strike, he heard, "Krogar, Lord Magnior has already heard of our action–" a mesomorphic Gromble stated.
He stared at them with the little consciousness left in him.
Krogar was inattentive, but his bloodlust was still oozing out towards him.
"This monster," Cornelius muttered.
Krogar suddenly laughed and stated, "Where does this presence come from?"
Then he turned, leaving the helpless Cornelius, and looked towards the mesomorphic Gromble, who was pacing behind, worried.
"Cogitus, did you feel that?!" Krogar snarled.
"I did, but Krogar, listen to me! Magnior is going to kill–" Cogitus argued.
Krogar dismissed Cogitus and started moving in a certain direction.
Both ignoring each other's concerns.
Cornelius held his breath, believing it was the last of him, but the sudden turn of events has made him breathe a sigh of relief.
Although he was spewing blood as he exhaled, he was breathing as if a weight had been lifted.
The army of Grombles split into two.
One half followed Cogitus, who was retreating, while the other half followed Krogar as he pushed deeper into Bellatoria's territory.
"I survived." Cornelius felt bittersweet about his situation. "I hope I'm not the only one who has been saved."
The exhaustion finally got to him, and he lost his consciousness, relieved yet sorrowful.