Darrion woke slowly, blinking several times as a sharp ache pulsed through his arm. He groaned softly, testing movement.
His eyes adjusted to the dim light. Moonlight poured through an open window above his head, dust motes drifting lazily in the silver glow. A gentle breeze stirred the curtains, brushing against his cheeks and carrying the faint scent of the forest outside. The air felt cool on his exposed skin, contrasting with the lingering warmth of his recent fever.
"Ugh...Where… am I?" he muttered, glancing down at himself. His armor was gone. The shirt he usually wore was missing, replaced by rough bandages wrapped around his chest and left arm. Turning his head slightly, he saw his shield leaning against the wall, his sword resting nearby, and pieces of broken armor scattered on the floor.
"Whoa… you're awake," Nora said from a chair across the room. Her lips curved into a small, reassuring smile.
She wore a half-length robe and a tunic layered over durable chausses, with leather boots reaching just below her knees. The soft rustle of fabric and faint creak of her boots as she shifted drew his attention, grounding him in the reality of the moment. Darrion tried to get up, but his arm tensed painfully.
"Whoa, easy there, Mr. Knight. Not sure you're ready to move yet," she warned, leaning forward.
"I can't just sit idly by. That ogre…" He paused, testing his muscles, then winced. He noticed his strength had returned almost fully. Sliding on his shirt and strapping the slightly damaged armor across his chest, he flexed his fingers, feeling the small stiffness in his joints.
"Rest assured," Nora said, standing and smoothing the folds of her dress. "You don't need to do all this. Everything is fine now. The village is safe. There's no need to worry."
Darrion tightened the straps of his broken shield across his back. "And the villagers?"
"They're all safe," Nora replied, her voice softening slightly. "None of them died in the attack. I'm… really grateful for that."
Darrion shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Even so… I can't stay here. That flame witch… I must find her and kill her as soon as possible."
Nora froze, her eyes widening. Kill… me? she thought, confusion and disbelief rising in her chest.
"Oh… I—I'm sorry. That was… rude of me," Darrion said quickly, bowing slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality, for bringing me here when I was severely injured. I appreciate it greatly."
"Wait… were you there, watching me fight that fiend?" Darrion's voice sharpened. "If so… you must have seen that witch's massive fireball and the direction she fled. If a witch that powerful turns into a fiend… this world will be in grave danger." His eyes locked onto hers, unwavering.
Nora blinked, startled, her fingers twitching at her sides. "Um…." her voice faltered, unsure how to respond.
The young man, who had remained quiet until now, finally leaned slightly closer to Nora, his shoulders tensing as if bracing for her reaction. His voice dropped to a low whisper, brushing against her ear with the faint rustle of his tunic. "Listen, miss… no matter what, don't use your powers here. He's… really serious about killing you."
"Say, Mr. Knight… why would you want to kill her?" the young man asked, curiosity threading through his tone. He stepped a little closer, arms tense at his sides. "No matter how you look at it, the fireball she fired… it saved your life from that fiend."
Darrion's jaw tightened. "You ask why? Obviously… it's because witches are a huge threat to mankind. They're basically fiends disguised as humans. Sooner or later… they awaken the fiend blood lying dormant inside them." His gaze sharpened, staring directly at the young man, his fingers clenching into white-knuckled fists.
Nora's voice rose, trembling slightly. "But those who you call witches… they're humans too, not just fiends. As long as their hearts don't fall into darkness, they remain human for life!" She lifted her chin defiantly, small beads of sweat forming at her temples.
"How would you know?" Darrion's tone turned hard, anger threading through every word as hand trembled slightly as he gripped the hilt of his sword."Have you ever seen a witch become a fiend? Do you know how devastating it is? Falling into darkness… it's human nature. No one can escape that—no matter the struggle. Witches are no exception." His chest rose and fell with sharp, controlled breaths.
The young man swallowed, stepping back a bit as he muttered under his breath, "Whoa… that's a dark viewpoint. I wonder what could have happened to him to hold such hatred. No wonder the Union never found common ground with the witches." He ran a hand down his face, tension tightening in his shoulders.
How dare this knight mock my master's teachings, Nora thought, jaw tightening. Her eyes flared, pupils sharp and focused. Flames leapt along her fingertips, climbing both hands, the heat prickling the air around her. Light flickered across her face, throwing sharp shadows against her cheeks and the wooden beams above. "That's enough!!" she shouted, her voice booming, vibrating through the room and making the floorboards beneath them shiver slightly.
"What… miss? What are you doing?" the young man asked, raising his hands defensively, his voice trembling.
She was visibly shaking, her breath coming out in short, harsh pants. "She's mad… really mad," he muttered under his breath, backing against the wall.
"Flame magic… don't tell me you're that…" Darrion's voice dropped in disbelief, his eyes widening.
"Yes. I'm the person you called a witch," Nora said, taking a step forward, her gaze sharp. "After all the trouble I went through just to save your life… Is this how a Union knight is supposed to repay kindness? With hurtful words? I'm human… just like you." Her hands hovered in front of her, sparks flicking off the tips.
"Shut up, witch. I'll kill you here," Darrion said, drawing his sword with a metallic clang. The movement made the air vibrate slightly; the hilt was cold against his palm.
Nora's hands trembled as the flames licked at her fingertips, heat biting into her palms.
I know that this knight is threatening to kill me, but I'm afraid that I might kill him. If I do, I couldn't live with myself—her heart pounding in her ears.
I've taken the lives of fiends before, but I don't think I can just take a human life just like that. Master… tell me what I should do, she thought, chest tight, pulse hammering, fingers quivering over the restless fire.
"You really want a fight with that broken blade and plate armor of yours?" Nora's voice rose, a low hiss underneath. Flames danced along her wrists, casting uneven light across the room. "One fireball, and you'll be grilled nicely. Which do you prefer? Medium rare? Or perhaps… well done? Your choice Knight." Her lips quirked, a dangerous edge laced with humor.
"Try me, witch! You're nothing but a parasite that should be purged from this world!" Darrion shifted into stance, boots scraping against the floor. His grip tightened on the sword; the leather creaked.
Erin stepped forward, voice trembling. "Wait! Don't… don't do anything rash! Think about what you're doing… please!"
Darrion's eyes narrowed, cold and piercing. "Stay out of this. It doesn't concern you… or are you siding with this witch?" His voice was sharp, like ice cutting through the tension in the room.
The young man's chest tightened. This is so messed up… What should I do? They're going to destroy everything… He stumbled backward, sweat prickling at his temples.
Smack!!
"Ouch! Hey, that really hurts!" Nora rubbed the side of her head, wincing as a trickle of warmth spread across her scalp.
"What the hell was that for?" Darrion winced, staring at the woman before him, his sword lowering slightly.
Big sis? Relief flickered across the young man's face. "Thank goodness… But since when? You were unconscious during the attack on the village."
"Just one moment, Erin. I have business with our guest first," the woman said sharply, stepping between them.
Erin exhaled shakily, shoulders slumping. Relief washed over him, though his eyes stayed fixed on Nora and Darrion. Finally… maybe this will stop them before someone really gets hurt.
The woman's fists were clenched at her sides, knuckles white. "Can you two please stop it? I want to keep my house tidy. If you want to fight, then do it outside."
"Gladly. Doesn't matter where I slay this flame witch either way, as long as the job is done," Darrion said, his sword still poised, eyes narrowing.
"Fine by me. But don't beg for mercy when you're burnt to a crisp," Nora snapped, heat radiating off her palms as she adjusted her stance.
"As if you could even burn me," Darrion scoffed, his boots scuffing the wooden floor. "Plus, you'd be proving my point that all witches are just ticking bombs, eager to kill."
"No. It's not like that… it would be self-defense," Nora said, trembling slightly. Her fingers twitched at her sides, tension evident in her shoulders.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Knight," Erin's sister said calmly, her voice carrying authority despite the tense atmosphere.
"What do you mean?" Darrion asked, tilting his head slightly, eyes scanning her for any hidden motive.
"Well, if you drive her to darkness and she becomes a fiend, she will destroy this entire village. Killing everyone in sight. Didn't you come here to save us from the fiends? So why would you cause such ruin? In the end, ironically, it would be your fault that we die, not Miss Flame Girl here." She folded her arms, her expression stern, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple from the tension in the room.
"Do you really want to carry such responsibility? I mean such shame? Causing a witch to go on a rampage, taking thousands of innocent lives… If you somehow survive her onslaught, you would be imprisoned forever if you ever return to the Union capital. Or worse… it could mean your execution."
Darrion clenched his fist, the metal of his gauntlet digging into his skin. Tsk. He exhaled slowly. "I hate to admit it… but you do have a point."
"How could you know so much about the laws governing the Union? Who exactly are you?" Darrion asked, curiosity and unease mixed in his voice.
"Can't you see? I'm just your average village young woman, concerned for the safety of the people here," Erin's sister replied with a genuine smile, her eyes sharp, scanning both Nora and Darrion to ensure they didn't move too abruptly.
His hand twitched on the hilt, eyes flicking to the village outside. The streets were littered with splintered wood, overturned carts, and torn bundles of cloth. Thatched roofs sagged under the weight of broken beams, and fences lay toppled.
Villagers moved with tired determination, hauling planks, stacking rubble, and repairing the simplest structures first. A child stumbled over debris, caught by a weary parent, while others carried buckets of water to salvage what they could.
The quiet hum of labor filled the air—hammering, sweeping, and low murmurs of coordination. Could he really strike her now, knowing they were here, trying desperately to salvage what remained of their homes? The weight of the destruction pressed on him, each labored breath of the rebuilding village a reminder that his actions could tip the balance from survival to total ruin.
Darrion paused, letting the tension settle. The tip of his sword hovered an inch above the floor. He sighed, lowering the blade slowly. "Fine… I'll spare her life. I won't kill her… but just for tonight."
"Wahhhh… only just tonight?" Nora's voice cracked slightly, surprise and fluster lacing her tone. She lowered her hands slightly, the heat from her flames dissipating, leaving her palms red and warm.