DAY 5
Luis woke to the scent of herbs and the soft murmur of voices. His body ached as if he'd been run over by a truck—twice. Sunlight filtered through the wooden slats of an unfamiliar ceiling, painting golden stripes across the woven blanket covering him.
"Mom—mom! He's awake!"
A small face leaned over him—the girl he'd saved, her eyes wide with relief. Behind her, the rest of the family rushed in, their expressions shifting from worry to joy.
"Thank God," the mother breathed, pressing a damp cloth to Luis's forehead. "You've been out for almost two days."
Luis tried to sit up, but a sharp pain lanced through his ribs. "Two—?!"
"Don't move too much," the father said, steadying him. "You were in bad shape when we carried you here."
Before Luis could respond, the door creaked open.
A woman stepped inside—tall, with hair like spun moonlight and eyes that held the quiet glow of dusk. She moved with an effortless grace, a basket of vibrant blue herbs tucked under one arm.
"I see our patient has returned to the land of the living," she said, her voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of strength.
The family bowed their heads slightly as she approached.
"Rain," the mother said gratefully. "Your medicine worked."
The woman—Rain—knelt beside Luis, her fingers brushing his wrist as if checking a pulse. Up close, he could see faint silver markings tracing her skin, like vines under moonlight.
"My name is Rain Amana," she said, meeting his gaze. "Level 1 Gardener Class. My patron is Selune, the Goddess of the Moon."
Luis blinked. "Gardener… Class?"
Rain smiled, and for a moment, the room seemed brighter. "I grow things. Flowers. Herbs. Some of them… special." She gestured to the poultice on Luis's wounds—a paste of shimmering blue petals. "This one mends flesh twice as fast as normal medicine."
Luis stared at her, then at the family. "You're a Host. And you're here?"
"The only one in this village," Rain confirmed. "And you're the second I've ever met."
The Village of the Hidden
With Rain's help, Luis managed to stand, his legs shaky but functional. She guided him outside, and the sight stole his breath.
The village was nestled atop a mountain, a cluster of wooden homes and terraced fields carved into the slopes. The air was crisp, the sky an endless blue. Below, the world stretched out—a patchwork of forests and distant ruins, the city nothing but a smudge on the horizon.
"Where… is this?" Luis breathed.
"Sanctuary," Rain said simply. "150 miles from Manila. High enough that monsters rarely climb. The ones that do are small—Level 1s and 2s. I handle them."
Luis studied her. "Just you?"
Rain's smile didn't waver, but her eyes darkened. "The villagers help. Traps. Pitfalls. But yes. Just me."
She led him through the village, nodding to the locals who greeted her with quiet respect. Unlike the city, there was no fear here—only cautious trust.
"How is this place still standing?" Luis asked. "The guilds, the WHI—they'd have taken over by now."
"They don't know we exist," Rain said. "And we'd like to keep it that way."
She stopped at the edge of a cliff, where the mountain dropped away into mist. "You're safe here, Luis. For now."
The Calm Before
That night, the village threw a quiet celebration—for Luis, for the family he'd saved, for another day of survival. Around a bonfire, Rain played a flute, the melody weaving through the mountain air like a lullaby.
Luis sat apart, watching. Zyx materialized beside him, uncharacteristically solemn.
"A Gardener Class," the god mused. "Rare. Useless in a fight… but vital for places like this."
Luis glanced at him. "You knew about her?"
"Nope. But the Moon Goddess? She's… different. Doesn't play by the usual rules."
Rain's song ended. She caught Luis's eye across the fire and nodded—an invitation.
He stood, his body still sore but healing.
Tomorrow, he'd ask about the herbs.
Tomorrow, he'd plan his next move.
But tonight?
Tonight, for the first time in days, Luis breathed easy.