As the fire crackled quietly in the early morning light, Vandon stepped forward with his calm, steady gaze fixed on Nigel and Eldric, who were still weakened from the dragon's attack. His aura, filled with power, radiated reassurance, as if nothing was beyond his control.
"My name is Vandon. I'm a mage," the man introduced himself, his voice filled with confidence and mystery.
Nigel, still lying in pain, forced himself to sit up. "Your power… it's water?"
Vandon nodded. "Yes. Water is my strength, but it's not just for healing or defense. Watch."
With a fluid motion, Vandon summoned water from his canteen, his hands glowing as the water swirled and formed into mist, settling softly over Nigel and Eldric. The cooling sensation washed over them, numbing their pain and sealing their wounds. The agonizing burns and deep gashes inflicted by the dragon slowly began to heal.
Eldric sighed with relief, the pain ebbing. "Incredible..."
Nigel, still groggy, managed a weak smile. "Thank you, but the pain… it's still there."
Vandon frowned slightly and examined them both. "This is temporary. I need to find something stronger to fully heal you."
Without hesitation, he turned to leave. "I'll go to the village of Lafinder. There's a small store there where I can find what we need. I'll return soon—stay here."
Nigel and Eldric nodded weakly, watching as Vandon disappeared into the horizon.
---
The village of Lafinder was a peaceful contrast to the devastation Nigel and Eldric had just survived. Vandon walked through the narrow streets quickly, his sharp eyes scanning for the familiar store he had visited before. It didn't take him long to find it.
Inside, the shopkeeper, an older woman, greeted him warmly. "Welcome back, Vandon. What can I get for you today?"
"I need your strongest healing potion," Vandon said, cutting straight to the point.
The woman's eyes narrowed slightly with concern, but she didn't ask questions. She reached under the counter, producing a small vial filled with a bright, shimmering liquid. "This is potent. It'll do what you need."
"How much?" Vandon asked, placing his pouch of coins on the counter.
"Five gold," she replied, sliding the vial across the wooden counter. After exchanging the coins, Vandon pocketed the potion and left the village, moving swiftly back to where Nigel and Eldric waited.
---
Back at the shelter, Nigel and Eldric lay on the ground, exhausted but alive. When Vandon returned, he immediately uncorked the vial and handed it to Nigel.
"Drink this. It will speed up your healing."
Nigel took the vial without hesitation, swallowing the glowing liquid. Almost instantly, he felt its effects as warmth spread through his body, mending his muscles and sealing his wounds more rapidly. He passed the vial to Eldric, who drank deeply, the same sense of relief overtaking him.
Both men exhaled deeply as the pain faded, their bodies finally able to rest properly. "Thank you," Nigel said, his voice full of gratitude.
Vandon simply nodded and went to the small firepit, where he started to cook a simple meal. Soon, the savory smell of roasted meat filled the air, and the three of them gathered around to eat.
As they ate in comfortable silence, Eldric looked over at Vandon. "You're a powerful mage, but where did you get your abilities?"
Vandon paused for a moment, as if considering how much of his story to tell. After a few seconds, he spoke, his voice lower and more serious. "It's… a long story. But since you asked..."
He leaned back, staring into the fire as he spoke. "When I was young, my parents were killed by a demon. It was brutal and merciless, and I barely escaped with my life. I wandered aimlessly after that, lost and alone."
Nigel and Eldric listened intently, their expressions serious.
"One night, I was by the ocean. I saw something strange—a light, glowing out over the water. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and it drew me in. I approached it, and as I got closer, it felt like the light entered me. When I woke up the next morning, I had this power… the power of water."
Nigel's eyes widened with fascination. "That's amazing," he said, his voice full of awe. "You gained this power by chance?"
Vandon shrugged. "Perhaps. But that power came with responsibility. Since then, I've been searching for the demon that killed my parents, trying to track it down. It's still out there."
There was a heavy silence as the weight of Vandon's words settled in. Nigel and Eldric exchanged glances, understanding the pain that lingered beneath Vandon's calm exterior.
Finally, Nigel broke the silence. "Then we'll help you," he said firmly.
Vandon blinked in surprise. "What?"
"We'll help you avenge your parents," Nigel repeated, his voice full of conviction. "We've fought powerful enemies before, and with your abilities, we can track down that demon together."
Eldric nodded in agreement. "Nigel's right. If we combine our powers, we'll be stronger. We can take it down."
For the first time since they had met, Vandon's expression softened. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, though it was tinged with sadness. "I don't know… It's dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Nigel scoffed. "We've faced dragons. What's one more demon?"
Vandon chuckled softly, the tension easing. "You're serious about this?"
Nigel nodded, his face set in determination. "Absolutely. We've got nothing to lose. And who knows? Maybe we'll find more answers along the way."
Eldric grinned. "We're in this together, Vandon. Let's do it."
Vandon's smile widened as he considered their words. It had been a long time since he had allies—friends—at his side. The burden of his quest had always been his alone, but now, for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could succeed where he had always feared to tread.
"Okay," Vandon finally said, his voice soft but resolved. "We'll do it. After we've rested, I'll take you to a store where we can stock up on weapons. We'll need all the help we can get."
Nigel and Eldric both smiled, the camaraderie between them growing stronger with each word.
As the night wore on and the fire began to die down, the three of them felt a sense of purpose and unity. They had been brought together by fate, and now they would face whatever challenges lay ahead as a team.
The road to vengeance and justice was long, but they would walk it together.
For the first time in a long while, Nigel, Eldric, and Vandon felt ready for whatever the future held.