Chapter 33 – The Price of Victory
Chapter 33
The Price of Victory
Date: Day 26 of Harvestmoon. 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Elise forced herself to calm.
Her breathing slowed. In and out. In and out. She focused on the rhythm. Let it steady her racing heart. Let it quiet her trembling hands.
She let Hyoren rest on her lap. His head cradled against her thighs. His face peaceful now. The agony finally faded.
She waited.
Her senses alert for any sign of danger. Her pointed ears twitched. Her eyes scanning the grasslands. The treeline in the distance.
But her focus was entirely on the man who had saved her.
The hour that passed was silent. Only broken by the sound of rustling wind. The gentle whisper of grass swaying.
She watched his chest rise and fall. A reassuring rhythm that was the only sign he was still alive.
She kept brushing his hair. Her fingers running through the dark strands.As if he might break if she pressed too hard.
Touching his cheek. Feeling the warmth of his skin. The stubble beneath her fingertips.
He was alive. He was breathing. He was here.
She had already tended to her own wounds. Drunk the last potion she had. The green liquid working its magic on her battered body. The gashes on her arms had closed. The bite marks had faded. Her stamina had recovered a bit. Not fully. But enough to function. Enough to stay awake. Enough to watch over him.
Finally, after an hour which felt like an eternity, Hyoren's eyelids fluttered.
A small movement. Barely perceptible. But she caught it.
He groaned. His face scrunched up. His brow furrowing. His lips parting.
He was awake.
His eyes opened slowly. Blinking against the light. Unfocused at first. Then gradually sharpening. Finding her face.
He saw Elise's face staring down at him. Her worried expression hovering above him. Her emerald eyes glistening with unshed tears. And then, slowly, the worry turned into relief.
"Elise?"
He rasped. His voice dry and cracked. Like he hadn't spoken in days.
"I... I can't move my body at all."
It was a statement of fact. Devoid of panic. Devoid of fear. Just a simple acknowledgment of reality. His limbs wouldn't respond. His muscles wouldn't obey.
Tears welled in Elise's eyes.
Relieved tears. Overwhelmed tears. Tears she had been holding back for an hour. Tears of fear and gratitude and exhaustion all mixed together.
"Then don't move."
Her voice cracked. Thick with emotion.
"Just stay like this for a while!"
A streak of tears fell onto Hyoren's face. Warm droplets landing on his cheek. Rolling down his skin.
"Why are you crying, Elise?"
His voice was soft. Concerned. Even through his own misery, he was worried about her.
Elise quickly wiped the tears from her face. Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. Shaking her head. Trying to hide her emotions.
"I'm not crying!"
Her voice was defensive. Stubborn. She turned her face away. Trying to hide her tears from him.
Hyoren smiled. A weak, tired smile. But genuine.
"I'm glad though."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"You're safe, Elise. My prayer worked."
Elise hiccuped. A small sound escaping her throat. She turned back to face him. Looking down at his face on her lap.
"Hicc... What do you mean, Hyoren? Praying?"
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
Hyoren smiled again. He tried to sit up. Wanted to explain properly. But all his muscles screamed in protest. His body refused to cooperate. He lost his balance immediately.
"Ouch..."
The word came out as a groan. His body slumping back down.
Elise hurriedly supported him. Her hands catching his shoulders. Holding him steady. Then helping him shift position. Letting him sit with his back supported by a small tree nearby.
"Don't move yet, Hyoren."
Her voice was stern. The voice of a scolding parent. Or a worried healer.
"Good grief. You just woke up and you're already trying to push yourself."
Hyoren gave her a weak smile. Apologetic. Grateful.
"Firstly..."
He paused. Gathering his thoughts. Finding the right words.
"When the Alpha charged at you. When you were defenseless. I prayed. In earnest. I prayed to anyone who would listen. Any god. Any goddess. Anyone who could help me save you."
He took a breath. The words coming slowly.
"And that's when the goddesses. The ones who actually summoned me. Managed to reconnect with me. And summoned me to their divine realm."
Elise's eyes widened. Her mouth falling open slightly.
"You were summoned by a Goddess?"
Her voice was incredulous. Disbelieving. But also filled with awe.
"Who?"
She tilted her head, her silver hair fluttered in the wind.
"Elise, you might find this unbelievable."
Hyoren's voice was serious. Earnest.
"But all of this is true. I swear on my life."
He started telling her about his situation. How he met the twin goddesses Luminara and Noctynara. How they were the ones responsible for summoning him to this world. The white void.
Elise listened. Her eyes growing wider with each word. Her expression shifting from disbelief to wonder to understanding.
"So Spirited Away..."
She spoke slowly. Processing the information.
"...are actually summoned souls by Luminara and Noctynara, huh?"
She paused. Her mind working through the implications.
"So why did they summon you, Hyoren?"
She couldn't comprehend why gods would summon people from another world.
"That's because they want a new variable."
He then explained the reason why he was summoned. Not to fight the Demon Army. Not to become a Hero. Not to save the world from some great evil. But as an agent of change. A catalyst. A variable introduced to avoid the stagnation of this world. To bring new ideas. New ways of thinking.
Elise put her hand on her chin. A thoughtful gesture. Processing.
"So that's why."
She spoke slowly. Connecting the dots.
"Spirited Away always has weird knowledge. And carve their name through history. But..."
She looked at Hyoren. Her emerald eyes searching his face.
"Did the Goddess give you a specific quest?"
Hyoren smiled. A small, knowing smile.
"They didn't give me a specific quest. I can live freely. Do whatever I want."
He paused. Letting the words sink in.
"Knowing I'm summoned by them won't change my goal, Elise. I will live with freedom. And I will become an Adventurer."
Elise nodded. A slow, thoughtful nod.
"So your current goal won't change."
She looked at him. Studying his face.
"So what's changed then?"
Hyoren pondered the question. He tried to move his arm. Testing his body. But it still wouldn't respond. His muscles still screamed in protest. He gave up with a small sigh.
"The only change is they gave me a blessing and fixed my connection to the Aethell."
He paused. Gathering his thoughts.
"For my case... it was actually a botched summoning, Elise..."
He started telling her about his botched summoning. How he should not have been dropped into the Forest of No Return. How he should have received a blessing before arriving in this world. How he couldn't hear the Voice of Aethell because his connection was broken.
And then, the most difficult part.
How he had actually already died in his old world.
Elise listened carefully. Her expression shifting with each revelation. Nodding from time to time. Her eyes growing soft with understanding.
"Hyoren..."
Her voice was gentle. Filled with empathy.
"You... already died once, huh..."
She let the words hang in the air. The weight of them settling between them.
"So you truly can't go back to your old world, huh."
It wasn't a question. It was an understanding.
Hyoren nodded. A small movement.
"Yes, Elise."
His voice was calm. Accepting.
"That's what makes me peaceful, actually."
He looked at her. His eyes meeting hers.
"I won't have any regret from my old world. And I can focus on my new life here."
A small smile crossed his face.
"With you."
***
Those two words from Hyoren truly caught Elise off guard.
The simple phrase echoed in her mind. Settling into her thoughts. Triggering something she hadn't expected.
Her pointed ears suddenly turned deep red. The blush spreading from the tips to the base. Visible even against her fair skin. She felt her face grow hot. A warmth spreading across her cheeks. Up to her forehead. Down to her neck.
She quickly raised her hands. Tried to fan her face with her palms. The gesture was futile. The heat came from within. Not from the sun above.
"Wha... what do you mean by that?"
Her voice came out stuttering. Flustered. Higher pitched than normal.
"Well of course I will accompany you after this. B-but..."
Elise was lost for words. Her thoughts scattered. Her composure shattered. The confident veteran ranger reduced to a stammering mess.
Hyoren chuckled. A weak, tired sound. But genuine. Amused.
He actually wanted to tease her more. To push the reaction further. To see how red her ears could get. But he decided against it. He still had a lot of things to say. Important things. Relevant to their situation.
"Well, Elise."
His voice shifted to a more serious tone. Still weak from exhaustion. But focused.
"The Twin Goddess Divine Protection is actually very useful."
He paused. Letting her gather herself.
"It will make us both stronger. We do have a goal to reach Platinum Rank, right?"
He then explained about how his blessing gave a boost to their growth rate across all things. From leveling up faster. To acquiring skills more easily. To learning magic more quickly. Approximately twenty-five percent improvement across the board.
Their goal might be absurd. Beginners dreaming of Platinum Rank. But still a goal worth chasing. Helped by the gift from the Goddesses.
Elise finally calmed down. Her breathing steadied. Her face cooled. Her ears still had a shade of red.
"R-right."
She cleared her throat. Forced her voice back to normal.
"So that's what you meant."
A small nod. Acceptance.
"Yes. That was a great blessing."
She paused. Reflecting on her own situation.
"My Blessing of Verdant Mother gives me a boost to my magic regeneration and I can move better in forests."
She had received her blessing from a local shrine years ago. When she first became an adventurer. It had served her well. Enhanced her natural abilities as an elf. Complemented her fighting style.
"It's already great for me. But it looks subtle compared to your Divine Protection."
A hint of wonder in her voice. Divine Protection was a tier above regular blessings. A direct infusion of divine power. Far more potent.
"It’s definitely going to help us get stronger quickly indeed."
Then realization dawned over Elise. Her eyes widened. Her brow furrowed. Pieces clicking together in her mind.
"So..."
She spoke slowly. Dreading the answer.
"Don't tell me. Your current state. It's related to the Goddesses too?"
She gestured at his paralyzed body. His inability to move. The agony he had suffered after the battle.
Hyoren nodded. Took a deep breath. The movement caused a small wince of pain. But he pushed through.
"Yes."
His voice was heavy.
"Other than giving me my original blessing I was supposed to receive and fixing my connection, They also gave me a gift."
He paused. Gathering his thoughts.
"Both as a congratulation gift for surviving the harsh forest without preparation. And an apology gift for botching the summoning."
He looked at her. His eyes serious.
"A gift to save you. A Unique Skill."
He then explained the nature of his Berserker skill. How it boosted his physical capabilities explosively. Approximately three times his normal parameters. Strength. Speed. Endurance. Reflexes. All enhanced.
But it came with a massive drawback.
Reduced mental cognition during use. His thoughts became hazy. His judgment clouded. His tactical mind suppressed by primal fury. He couldn't think clearly. Couldn't plan. Couldn't analyze.
And then there was the backlash.
Elise listened. Her expression shifting with each revelation. Understanding dawning on her face.
"Berserker..."
She spoke the name slowly. Tasting the word.
"Unique skill. I heard of them. Saints and Heroes usually have them."
She had heard of such things. Skills that transcended normal abilities.
"No wonder you suddenly could go toe-to-toe with a Level 25 Apex as a Level 6."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"That Alpha Green Wolf was actually Level 25, Hyoren."
Her voice carried a note of awe. And fear.
"I know that after I checked my card after we defeated it. It gave us 25 experience points."
Hyoren nodded. His expression grim.
"No wonder it was so strong..."
His voice trailed off. Processing the information. He had fought a creature more than four times his level. And won. Barely.
"Level 25..."
The words hung in the air. A testament to how close they had come to death.
Elise fell into thought. Her brow furrowed. Calculating.
"Berserker, combined with magic enhancement, and Dreambloom Nectar."
She listed the factors. Each one contributing to the impossible victory.
"Those things made it possible for you to match an opponent more than four times your current level."
But then she remembered. The soul-shattering scream. The convulsions. The agony. The tears on his face even while unconscious. The paralysis that still gripped his body.
Her expression darkened. Her eyes grew soft with concern. With fear.
"But Hyoren..."
Her voice was quiet. Worried.
"The backlash... it's too severe."
She looked at him. Really looked at him. At the man who had pushed himself beyond his limits to save her.
"What if I'm not around?"
The question was heavy. Laden with fear.
"What if there are other opponents still existing when the backlash hits?"
She turned away. Facing the other side. Her shoulders hunched. Her voice dropping to a mumble.
"And I can’t bring myself to see you in that state again..."
Her voice was so low Hyoren didn't catch it. But he saw the tension in her shoulders. The worry in her posture.
Hyoren looked at her. Understanding her concern. Sharing it, even.
"Well yeah, Elise."
His voice was soft. Honest.
"I also don't think I want to use this skill again if I can. I don't want to experience this agony either."
He shifted slightly. Trying to find a more comfortable position. His hands still couldn't be moved without giving him pain. He gave up with a small sigh.
"And it actually contradicts my own fighting style. I can't think clearly. It makes my technique sloppy."
He then looked at the sky.
"I want to become stronger."
His voice carried a new determination. A new resolve.
"So I can fight without relying on this Unique skill anymore."
Elise watched him with a warm expression. Her fear pushed aside. Replaced by something else. Something softer. Something like pride. Like hope.
"Good..."
She nodded slowly.
"Good. And I will keep becoming your teacher. So you can get stronger!"
Her voice carried a renewed energy. A renewed purpose. She would help him. Train him. Guide him. So that he wouldn't have to rely on that skill.
Elise and Hyoren's eyes locked. Emerald meeting black. A silent understanding passing between them.
Then Hyoren spoke again. His voice carrying a determined weight. A promise. A vow.
"But..."
He paused. Making sure she understood. Making sure she heard him clearly.
"I won't hesitate to use this skill. If you're ever in danger of losing your life again, Elise."
***
Elise was hit by Hyoren's sudden confession again.
The words struck her like a physical blow. Straight to her heart. Straight to her core.
The raw honesty in his voice. The unwavering determination in his eyes. The absolute sincerity of his words.
He would suffer unimaginable agony. He would risk death. He would sacrifice himself. For her.
Her face turned red again. The heat rising from her neck to her cheeks to the tips of her pointed ears. The blush so intense it felt like her skin was on fire.
"Whaa... Whaa..."
She stammered. Unable to form coherent words. Her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.
She stood abruptly. Her legs pushing her upright before her mind could catch up. Then she pointed at him. Her finger trembling slightly. Her posture rigid with embarrassment.
"H-Hyoren. Stop."
Her voice came out higher than intended.
"I forbid you from using that skill. You understand?"
She was trying to hide her embarrassment. Trying to mask her feelings behind authority. Behind the role of teacher and senior adventurer.
She had been alone for fifteen years—without anyone expressing such care for her wellbeing.
She was definitely not prepared for this kind of raw feeling.
Hyoren chuckled. A soft, weak sound. But filled with warmth. With affection.
"Okay, Elise. Okay."
He paused. His lips quirking into a small smile.
"But no promise, okay?"