In the Adventurers' Guild, the atmosphere was tense, heavy with anxiety, as the doctor sat before Leo, his face weighed down by worry and confusion. His eyes carried a grim foreboding even before he spoke the words that froze the room:
— "His injuries… are internal… extremely serious… the backlash from using magic beyond his natural limit could be fatal… there's a chance he may never wake."
A heavy silence filled the room, before Diara's voice erupted, trembling between sobs and shouts:
— "No… that's impossible! Leo will wake up, he has to!"
The rest of the team rushed forward, trying to calm her. They held her hands gently, patted her shoulders, whispered words of reassurance—but her heart was drowning in a sea of fear and worry. Nothing could ease her sense of helplessness except seeing Leo open his eyes.
A full week passed… long and heavy, each day feeling stretched to endless hours. Leo remained unconscious, his small body motionless as if carved from stone, eyes closed, no movement, no sound. Diara never left his side, staying awake beside him for long nights, guarding him in silence. Each breath she took was a mixture of fear and hope—that he would live, that he would open his eyes again, and smile as he always did.
Meanwhile, rumors began to spread through the guild—about the appearance of a demon. A legendary being, spoken of only in myths, long confined to the old bedtime stories meant to scare children. But this time, reality had shifted the scales: in the Age of Chaos, after the demon race had nearly been wiped out by Alofinus, the remaining demons sealed themselves in a parallel dimension known as the Inferno, unable to return.
As the days passed, the fame of Leo's team spread throughout the guild, earning each member their well-deserved recognition: Leo was promoted to Rank B, Herald to Rank A, Mira and Diara to Rank C, and Noro and Borin to Rank B, a reward for their heroic achievements and contributions.
Two weeks after Leo lost consciousness, on a pitch-dark night, the impossible happened. Slowly, hesitantly, Leo opened his eyes. They scanned the room with effort, before he turned to see Diara's head resting on the bed while she sat on a chair, her face tired from sleeplessness, eyes swollen from constant vigilance. Leo gave a small, calm, warm smile and whispered:
— "Now… you can rest a little."
Relief and astonishment spread across the team's faces.
Herald spoke first, voice soft with joy:
— "We're so glad you woke up, Leo."
Borin added warmly:
— "Let happiness be your path."
Noro chuckled, a hint of teasing:
— "Finally, you woke, my friend. You had us worried."
They began laughing together. Mira teased Diara:
— "Aren't you going to tell him how worried you were?"
Diara blushed and shouted:
— "Don't tell him!"
Laughter filled the room, a warm moment of joy after weeks of constant worry.
The next day, Leo gathered the team, his expression calm yet serious. He had news that wasn't easy to deliver: he would be leaving them soon. The announcement struck the group like lightning. After a brief silence, however, they prepared themselves to bid him farewell with smiles instead of tears.
Herald spoke, mixing seriousness with warmth:
— "Take care of yourself, Leo… I hope we meet again."
Mira smiled mischievously:
— "Make sure you don't forget us… and don't trouble the girls' hearts."
Noro nodded:
— "It was a short time, but extremely precious… until we meet again."
Borin added:
— "May our paths cross again, Leo."
Diara, cheeks flushed with shyness, declared resolutely:
— "By the next time we meet, I will be stronger… so make sure you don't weaken by then!"
Leo smiled, eyes shining with gratitude:
— "Thank you all… my time with you has been precious and unforgettable. Take care of yourselves."
After exchanging their final words, Leo set out on a new beginning, heading toward the Forest of the Elves—a journey that would take two weeks by carriage. Yet there was a major problem: Leo could not use magic at the moment, paying the price for the spell he had used to defeat the Baron. He would not regain it until the following week.
As the carriage swayed along the winding forest paths, Leo pondered silently: would dangers confront him in his weakened state, or would the journey pass peacefully?
His small heart throbbed with both excitement and fear, ready for everything that awaited him on this long journey—a new adventure beginning here, where legends become reality, and imagination turns into a true test of courage and friendship.