The two figures stood at the edge of the ruined battlefield, looking over the destruction that had been left behind.
Dust drifted through the air.
Broken stone covered the ground.
The silence that followed the battle was almost unsettling.
The girl wearing blue shoes was the first to speak.
"So… we were sent here."
The blonde girl beside her nodded casually.
"Of course."
She sounded almost cheerful despite the atmosphere around them.
The two of them looked completely different from the devastation surrounding them.
The first girl had long blue hair and striking blue eyes. She wore a blue female cord set, and on the upper-right corner of her outfit was a small, clearly visible symbol:
[M]
She stood at approximately 5'3", her expression calm and focused as she surveyed the area.
Beside her stood another girl, slightly shorter, around 5'2".
She had blonde hair, bright green eyes, and wore an identical female cord set—except hers was green.
The same symbol was stitched onto its upper-right corner.
[M]
The blonde girl looked around curiously.
"We received a communication from somewhere around here through Dravillian Communication," she said. "Someone contacted us asking for assistance."
She turned toward the villagers.
"Who sent the message?"
No one immediately answered.
Then—
Zefer stepped forward.
"I did."
The blonde girl raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
She looked at him for a moment.
"So you were the one who contacted us?"
"Yes."
"Then what's the problem? Where's the patient?"
Zefer gestured toward the house.
"Inside."
The blonde girl nodded and started walking.
"Then let's go."
After taking a few steps, she glanced back.
"By the way, you never told us your name."
Zefer stopped.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Then he answered.
"My name is…"
His voice was calm.
But the moment the name left his mouth—
"Zefer."
The atmosphere outside changed.
Several villagers who had been standing nearby froze.
One man's eyes widened.
Another instinctively took a step backward.
"Zefer…?"
"Wait."
"Did he just say Zefer?"
"Is that really him?"
"No way…"
"What?!"
The whispers spread through the crowd almost instantly.
The blonde girl looked around, confused by the sudden reaction.
"My name is Efra," she said, pointing toward herself.
Then she casually pointed toward the blue-haired girl beside her.
"And this is my best friend, Zoya."
She looked back toward the villagers.
"Why is everyone reacting to his name like they just saw a ghost?"
She gave a small laugh.
"Is he some kind of legendary criminal or something?"
Zefer's lips curved into the faintest smile.
But he said nothing.
Zoya, however, had clearly had enough.
"We weren't sent here to waste time."
Her voice was firm.
"We were ordered to investigate what happened here."
Zefer's expression became more serious.
"Ordered?"
He looked directly at them.
"By whom?"
Neither girl answered immediately.
Zefer continued.
"Someone from this village?"
He glanced around at the ruined surroundings.
"That's strange. This place is known as one of the most abandoned villages on Earth."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why would anyone issue an order to investigate a place like this?"
He paused.
"I assumed you came because I used Dravillian Communication."
Zoya and Efra exchanged a brief glance.
Then, almost simultaneously, they answered with unmistakable pride.
"Our Captain ordered us to come here."
Zefer's eyes narrowed.
Our Captain.
There was something about the way they said those words.
Not fear.
Not obligation.
Pride.
Efra quickly waved off the conversation.
"Whatever. We can discuss all of that later."
She pointed toward the house.
"First, let's see the patient."
Zefer nodded.
"Agreed."
The two girls entered the house.
Behind them, the villagers slowly began moving away from the entrance, giving them space.
Inside, the atmosphere was completely different.
Harun's team remained gathered around him.
Mira.
Ishan.
Kunal.
Omair.
None of them looked relieved.
None of them were celebrating.
They simply stood there, watching Harun.
Petrified.
Efra's expression changed the moment she saw them.
Her eyes moved across their bodies.
Then widened.
"Wait…"
She stepped closer.
"What happened to them?"
Her gaze settled on the strange condition of Harun's team.
"Who used Petrifro Poison on these people?"
Zefer remained near the entrance.
"Look at Harun first."
His voice became quieter.
"Then I'll answer everything."
Zoya immediately stepped forward.
"Zefer, please wait outside."
Her tone wasn't rude, but there was no room for argument.
"Let us examine him."
Zefer glanced toward Harun one last time before stepping back.
"Very well."
Efra walked toward the bed.
Her eyes settled on Harun.
For a moment, she simply stared.
The unconscious boy looked strangely peaceful compared to the state of his body.
His breathing was faint.
His skin was pale.
There were still traces of the battle across him, remnants of what he had endured refusing to disappear completely.
Efra's expression softened.
"Oh…"
She leaned slightly closer.
"So this handsome boy is Harun?"
A faint blush appeared across her cheeks.
She looked at Zoya.
"Yaar, look at him."
Zoya stared at her.
Efra smiled.
"Isn't he handsome?"
Zoya gave her an exhausted look.
"Can you please heal him first?"
Efra blinked.
"What?"
"And stop reacting like that every time you see someone you find attractive."
"I don't!"
"You literally just did."
Efra pouted.
"I was only appreciating his face."
Zoya sighed.
"Efra."
"What?"
"Heal him."
Efra glanced back at Harun.
Then she smiled mischievously.
"Fine, fine."
She leaned closer to Zoya.
"But you think he's handsome too, don't you?"
Zoya's expression immediately changed.
"Shut up."
Efra giggled.
"I knew it."
"Efra."
"Okay! Okay!"
She finally turned her attention toward Harun.
Her playful expression slowly disappeared.
The atmosphere around her changed.
Efra brought her hands together and closed her eyes.
She took a slow breath.
The Dravillian Stone embedded in the palm of her right hand began to glow.
A soft green radiance spread through the room.
The light grew brighter.
Brighter.
Until the entire room was illuminated by its healing aura.
Efra opened her eyes.
She placed her palm carefully against Harun's chest.
For a few seconds—
Nothing happened.
Then the green energy began flowing into him.
Efra concentrated.
Her eyebrows slowly tightened.
She could feel his condition.
His unstable pulse.
The damage throughout his body.
The extraordinary strain placed upon every part of him.
But then—
Something caught her attention.
Her breathing stopped.
Her eyes widened.
The green aura around her hand suddenly trembled.
"What…"
Efra immediately pulled her hand away.
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face.
Zoya noticed.
"Efra?"
Efra didn't answer.
She stared at Harun.
Her expression had completely changed.
The playful girl from moments ago was gone.
There was only disbelief.
And something dangerously close to fear.
"This…"
Her voice was barely audible.
Zoya stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Efra looked at her.
Then back at Harun.
Her lips trembled slightly.
"This is impossible."
Zoya's eyes narrowed.
"What is?"
Efra shook her head.
"No…"
She looked at Harun again, as though hoping she had somehow sensed it incorrectly.
"This shouldn't be happening."
Her voice became quieter.
"Not under normal circumstances…"
Zoya's expression hardened.
"Efra."
Efra swallowed.
Her hand slowly moved toward Harun again
but stopped before touching him.
"I've never seen anything like this."
The room fell silent.
Even Zefer, standing outside, turned his head toward them.
Efra stared at the unconscious Harun.
And for the first time since arriving in Bhouldera
she looked genuinely afraid.
"How is he still alive?"