“…And if it’s not too much, I’d like to ask you to consider a proposal. Would you be willing to hear me out?”

  John asked for Enid’s thoughts, and Enid said she was listening.

  John took a breath, then finally said what he really meant, a request.

  “As you can see, Elena can’t stay here anymore. Miss Enid, you’re a powerful mage, I can feel that. And even after you saw what Elena looks like, you still chose to save both her and me, which tells me you’re not only strong, but kind, so…”

  He paused, then pushed on anyway.

  “I want the two of you to take Elena with you. She’s young, she learns quickly, and the Miracle she carries proves her existence has been acknowledged by the Light God…”

  After hearing him out, Enid asked calmly, “And you’re not worried Antonio and I are just putting on a show to earn your trust? Or that if we take Elena, we might mistreat her on the road, or even abandon her?”

  John chuckled.

  “Ha, of course I worried about that. That’s why, whenever I met other adventurers or travelers before, I never sent Elena away. But…”

  He rubbed his beard.

  “I’ve lived nearly a hundred years, and I’ve spent most of that time under the Light God’s sanctuary. I’ve seen plenty of people. Clergy who look devout, but are rotten with heresy inside. Great nobles who shine in public, then abuse their servants behind closed doors. Folks who confess their drinking every week, swear they’ll change, then fall right back into it days later.”

  His gaze steadied on Enid.

  “So I can tell what kind of person you are, Miss Enid. You have compassion in you. If Elena goes with you, that will be the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to her.”

  Enid was about to respond, but Antonio spoke first.

  “John… I understand why you’re worried about Elena, and I respect that you’re willing to show mercy beyond race. But why not keep her with you and take her to the capital, or at least a larger city? People there treat mixed-blood kids better than they do out here on the border.”

  Antonio hesitated, then added, “And from what you said, Elena’s pretty gifted with Miracles.”

  John answered quietly, “I thought about it, seriously. But I’m too old. How long do I have left to stay by Elena’s side? She carries half the blood of a high elf. After I’m gone, who will stay with her? Will the Church look after her?”

  His voice rose, emotion cracking through.

  “No. They won’t care for her, and they won’t teach her. They’ll either keep their distance and treat her like a symbol of impurity, or they’ll use her as a stepping stone for their own decaying ambitions…”

  He broke into a fit of coughing.

  After he finally caught his breath, he continued, his voice hoarse.

  “Elena was never meant for the world of us short-lived folk. The two of you, the long-lived ones, you’re the people who truly belong with her. So I’m begging you, please take Elena with you.”

  Antonio still looked unsure.

  “But… she’s still a demon hybrid. The places we’re heading are all along the border. There are a lot of people out there who’ve lost family to demons. If Elena travels with us…”

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  Before he could finish, a small, furious voice cut him off.

  “So you think I’m just a bloodthirsty demon too, huh?”

  The child’s words came sharp and young, trembling with anger.

  “…You’re the same as the others. You blame everything on me, then take it out on me, right?”

  Antonio’s face went pale.

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t…”

  John snapped, louder than he’d meant to.

  “Elena! Were you listening this whole time? Even if you were, you don’t get to be rude to the people who saved your life!”

  Elena’s voice wavered.

  “…John, are you trying to get rid of me too?”

  The question hit John like a stone to the chest.

  When Elena saw his hesitation, her words picked up a wet, breaking edge.

  “So you think I’m a burden. You think I’m a cursed child. You’ve wanted to shove me out the door for years, haven’t you?”

  John’s voice started shaking as he tried to explain.

  “No… no, Elena. I never wanted to send you away. I can’t stand the thought of losing you, but…”

  “…Liar.”

  John froze.

  “Elena?”

  Elena finally snapped.

  “Liar. Liar. You’re all liars! If you hate me so much, why did you save me? If you’ve been dying to throw me out, why pretend now like you’ll miss me?”

  Then she broke down completely and ran from the camp, sobbing as she went.

  “If you all want me gone so bad, fine! I’ll do you a favor! You hate me, I hate you too…!”

  “Elena, stop!” John shouted, stumbling after her. “The forest at night is dangerous! Elena!”

  “Elena, wait!” Antonio called.

  Enid grabbed both of them by the back of their clothes before they could chase her.

  Antonio turned, confused, and John fought to wrench free.

  “Let go of me!” John rasped. “I have to explain to her…”

  Enid didn’t let him go.

  Instead, she forced both of them down, hard, pressing them flat so their heads were close to the ground.

  They struggled again, and Enid said, low and firm, “Stop fighting and listen.”

  They hesitated, then obeyed, ears turned to the earth.

  Antonio’s hearing was far sharper than John’s, and he caught it first.

  From far off, something was moving toward Windherd.

  And the rhythm wasn’t a patrol, and it wasn’t a merchant caravan.

  It sounded like hooves, but lighter than a horse’s. Too light.

  Antonio’s blood ran cold.

  “…Demons. They’re heading for Windherd.”

  “What?” John’s face drained. “Demons?”

  John’s fear surged into panic.

  “No, I have to find Elena. Please, both of you, warn the villagers and get them out. Use that spell, the one that carried us into the air.”

  Enid shook her head.

  “Too late to evacuate now. You two get back to the village and organize them. I can tell this is only a small raiding party, less than ten. If the villagers stick together, they can handle it.”

  John’s voice cracked.

  “But Elena…”

  Enid tapped his shoulder gently.

  “I’ll find her and bring her back. I’m a nature mage. The forest is my ally. Tracking down one child won’t take long.”

  John swallowed hard, then nodded once.

  He left Elena to Enid and sprinted for Windherd.

  Antonio didn’t move right away, still staring at Enid.

  “Enid… why not let me look for Elena while you and John go back and help the village? I’m half high elf too. I know the woods.”

  Enid cut him off.

  “The demons’ main force is in the forest.”

  Antonio’s breath caught.

  Enid’s expression tightened.

  “The natural elements won’t answer me about what’s happening deeper in. I can’t read the details, but I can feel it, a huge mass of twisted demon presence moving through the trees, slipping toward Windherd.”

  Then her voice dropped another step.

  “And Elena ran straight toward them.”

  That was when Antonio understood why Enid had stopped them, and why she hadn’t told John the whole truth.

  If John had heard a main force was waiting in the deep forest, he would never have stayed out of it, no matter what it cost.

  Antonio insisted on staying with her.

  Enid refused.

  The force was too large, and Antonio was still too weak. He would only drain her focus when she needed every bit of it.

  Antonio looked like he was about to cry.

  Enid reached up and ruffled his hair.

  “Go back. Help the villagers beat back the first wave, then get everyone out of the village immediately. Don’t worry about me. I’m your teacher, and I’m the strongest nature mage there is.”

  Her eyes held his.

  “I promise I’ll bring Elena back safe.”

  Antonio finally nodded, wiped his glasses with his sleeve, and ran for Windherd.

  Once both of them vanished from sight, Enid turned toward the forest.

  “…Damn it. Of all times for the curse to flare up. Is it because of the divine power Elena released…”

  She pressed a hand to her chest, fought through the pain, and forced the wind to answer her.

  She drove her senses through the entire forest, from canopy to roots.

  It didn’t take long.

  She found Elena’s position.

  Worse, Elena was about to collide with the lead demons, close enough that they would spot each other any second.

  Enid swallowed the pain, pulled her mana into motion at full throttle, and pushed herself into a sprint that was almost a spell.

  “It looks like there’s no avoiding a real fight,” she murmured.

  “And I could use a little luck right now. A lot of luck.”