Rain began falling shortly after noon.
Not a storm.
Just enough to make travel annoying.
Thomas complained.
Repeatedly.
Morgan attempted to use magic to keep the rain away.
The result somehow created a floating cloud that followed her specifically.
The cloud continued raining.
Only on Morgan.
Arthur laughed.
Jakel laughed.
Even Evangelos smiled.
Morgan was deeply offended.
Eidra tried very hard not to laugh.
She failed.
Leona laughed the hardest.
Which only made Morgan more offended.
“It wasn’t supposed to do that.” “No spell you’ve cast has ever started with those words and ended well.” Thomas replied.
“I hate how accurate that is.” Smoke The laughter ended when Arthur noticed it.
A thin column of smoke rising beyond the hills.
Not campfire smoke.
Too much.
Too dark.
Arthur immediately stopped.
The others followed his gaze.
Jakel’s expression hardened.
“Village.” Arthur nodded.
The smoke was coming from a village.
Without another word.
The group started running.
Too Late They arrived to chaos.
Buildings burned.
People screamed.
Villagers fled through muddy streets.
Several homes had already collapsed.
The smell of smoke filled the air.
Arthur’s stomach dropped.
Not because of the destruction.
Because of what stood at the center of it.
A demon.
Tall.
Massive.
Its skin resembled black stone.
Curved horns rose from its head.
Crimson eyes glowed beneath the rain.
The creature swung an enormous arm.
A house exploded.
Villagers scattered.
Children cried.
Panic spread.
Thomas immediately drew his sword.
Jakel raised his shield.
Morgan prepared a spell.
Evangelos began assessing escape routes.
Eidra’s expression darkened.
Arthur took one look.
Then started moving.
Toward the villagers.
Not the demon.
The villagers.
Evacuation Arthur grabbed the nearest man.
“Where are the children?” The villager blinked.
“What?” “The children.” “The elderly.” “The wounded.” Arthur pointed toward the western road.
“Get them out.” The man stared.
Confused.
Arthur pointed again.
“Move.” Something in his voice broke through the panic.
The villager ran.
Soon others followed.
Arthur moved through the village.
Directing people.
Carrying supplies.
Helping the injured.
The demon barely noticed him.
Which was exactly what Arthur wanted.
Thomas noticed first.
“You’re not going after it?” Arthur shook his head.
“If we fight it now…” A nearby building collapsed.
“…People die.” Thomas looked around.
Then nodded.
Understanding.
Jakel immediately joined the evacuation effort.
Morgan started guiding civilians.
Evangelos organized groups.
Even Eidra began helping.
For a brief moment.
The chaos became manageable.
Then everything went wrong.
The Fool A man broke from the crowd.
Sword in hand.
Face twisted with fear.
And anger.
“My home!” Arthur turned.
Immediately understanding.
The man charged the demon.
Alone.
The demon looked down.
Almost confused.
Then raised its arm.
Arthur moved.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
The demon struck.
Arthur shoved the man aside.
The impact followed immediately.
A Serious Injury The demon’s arm slammed into Arthur.
The world vanished.
For a single moment.
There was only pain.
Then motion.
Arthur was launched across the muddy street.
He crashed through a wooden fence.
Splintered timber exploded around him.
The ground hit him hard.
Everything hurt.
His ribs screamed.
His shoulder burned.
Several cuts across his arms and side bled freely.
The air refused to enter his lungs.
For a terrifying second.
He couldn’t breathe.
Thomas froze.
Jakel’s eyes widened.
Morgan dropped her staff.
Even Evangelos looked alarmed.
Eidra immediately moved.
“Arthur!” Inside Aethelion.
Leona stood upright.
For once.
She sounded genuinely frightened.
“Arthur!” Arthur groaned.
“…That could’ve gone better.” “It absolutely could have.” Leona snapped.
The Healing Prayer Eidra reached him first.
She dropped beside him.
Rain soaked her silver hair.
“Stay still.” Arthur opened his mouth.
Eidra gave him a look.
Arthur immediately closed it.
A soft white light appeared between her hands.
Gentle.
Warm.
Comforting.
Unlike Morgan’s magic.
Unlike anything Arthur had seen before.
A quiet prayer escaped Eidra’s lips.
The light spread across Arthur’s wounds.
The bleeding slowed.
Then stopped.
The pain eased.
His breathing became easier.
His broken and bruised body slowly stabilized.
Not healed completely.
Not restored.
Just enough.
Enough to stand.
Enough to keep going.
Arthur stared.
“You’re really good at that.” Eidra blinked.
Then smiled softly.
“I’ve had practice.” Arthur laughed weakly.
“I’ll say.” The white light faded.
Leaving behind the faintest trace of something deeper.
Something ancient.
Something Morgan noticed immediately.
The Kitsune frowned.
Not because the healing was impossible.
Because it was unusually effective.
Only slightly.
Just enough to feel strange.
Morgan quietly stored the observation away.
And said nothing.
Retreat Meanwhile.
The demon finally realized something had changed.
The villagers were escaping.
Its prey was disappearing.
Thomas.
Jakel.
Morgan.
And Evangelos regrouped.
Together.
The creature suddenly found itself facing organized resistance.
Something it clearly hadn’t expected.
The demon growled.
Then stepped backward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Its crimson eyes swept across the village.
Across the defenders.
And finally settled on Arthur.
A low growl escaped its throat.
As though memorizing him.
Then it turned.
And disappeared into the rain.
Leaving behind only silence.
The Secret Kept The village survived.
Barely.
But it survived.
As evening fell.
People began rebuilding.
Helping one another.
Sharing food.
Sharing hope.
Morgan found herself watching Eidra.
The priestess moved from person to person.
Treating injuries.
Comforting frightened children.
Helping wherever she could.
Everything looked normal.
Yet Morgan couldn’t shake the feeling.
That healing prayer had felt different.
Not wrong.
Not dangerous.
Just… Different.
Eventually Morgan smiled to herself.
Then looked away.
Whatever the answer was.
It wasn’t her secret to uncover.
Not yet.
The Firelight That evening.
The group sat around a small fire.
The rain had finally stopped.
The village remained battered.
But alive.
Arthur stared into the flames.
Watching villagers help one another.
Watching families reunite.
Watching hope survive.
Eidra eventually sat beside him.
Neither spoke immediately.
The silence felt comfortable.
Easy.
Then Arthur smiled.
“Thanks.” Eidra blinked.
“For what?” Arthur looked toward the fire.
“For being here.” The answer surprised her.
A little.
She had expected him to mention the healing.
The prayer.
The injuries.
Instead.
He thanked her for staying.
For helping.
For being part of the group.
Eidra smiled.
A genuine smile.
One that reached her eyes.
And for reasons neither fully understood.
The moment felt important.
Far more important than either realized.
Inside Aethelion.
Leona buried her face in her hands.
“Oh no.” A pause.
“Very.” Another pause.
“Very bad.” Because she knew exactly where this road was leading.
And history had begun moving once again.
End of Chapter 15