Chapter 59 – Until My Last Breath
Chapter 59
Until My Last Breath
Date : Day 2 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
After they were done eating, Elise took care of the cookware. She washed them with water from a Water Orb magic tool. The water was cool. Clean. It rinsed away the grease and remnants of their meal. Then she packed them back into her storage bag. The items disappeared into the spatial void.
Hyoren stood and walked to the window. Scanning the outside. It was completely dark. The suns had set. Only light from three moons above lit the surroundings. Casting long shadows across the abandoned village. It was eerie and empty. The buildings were dark shapes against the night sky.
But as he wanted to turn back to Elise, his instinct flared up. A prickle at the back of his neck. A sense of danger. He looked around. His eyes scanned the darkness. And on the corner of the village, something white and glowing floating could be seen. It floated slowly. Drifting.
The direction was clear. Their location. The Chief's house. He counted. There were at least four of them. Pale shapes against the darkness. Moving slowly, but with purpose.
He quickly turned around. Grabbed his spear. Made sure the Cinder-maw dagger was secured in his belt. His heart rate quickened. His body tensed.
"Elise, danger. There are ghost monsters outside. They are definitely aiming for this place. For us."
Elise quickly stood. Her movement was fluid. She took her bow and quiver. The weapons materialized in her hands. She then peeked at the window. Her green eyes scanned the darkness.
"Right. Those are definitely Wraiths. The rumors are true. Remember, Hyoren. Use magic attacks."
Hyoren nodded. He understood. The lesson from earlier echoed in his mind. Physical weapons were useless. Only magic could harm them.
Elise then leaped through the window. Her body moved with grace. She landed softly on the ground outside. Then she used crates nearby as scaffolding to jump onto the roof. Looking for a vantage point. Her silhouette disappeared against the night sky.
Hyoren discarded his spear. It would be useless in this fight. The iron blade couldn't harm the wraiths. He grabbed his dagger instead. The Cinder-maw dagger that had served him well. He then leaped to the plaza. His feet hit the cobblestones. The sound echoed in the silence.
He saw the wraiths slowly floating in his direction. Their forms were indistinct. Vague humanoid shapes. White. Translucent. With huge claws almost disproportionate. Glowing with an inner light.
He used his skill—Aethell Sense— to detect their mana. The world shifted. He could see the flows of magic.
The wraiths were full of mana. They seemed to use Aethell to do everything. From floating to keeping their translucent bodies in existence. The wraiths could only exist because of mana. He then looked around and could see their magic core in the middle. A concentrated point of energy. He needed to aim there.
But as he was appraising the wraith, new info popped up in his head. Knowledge that wasn't there before. He suddenly knew how strong the wraith was. And he could gauge their strenght and level based on the Aethell amount they had. He roughly understood the wraith was around level 8.
"So Aethell Sense not only can detect Aethell flow, it can also estimate how much Aethell the monster has and I can understand their level. It's like a simple appraisal?"
Hyoren grinned. The discovery was unexpected. Useful.
"Good... Good... maybe if I increase the skill level I can get more info. That needs to be tested later."
He then gripped his dagger. Focused. His fingers tightened around the hilt.
"But for now, deal with these wraiths first."
The wraiths moved closer. They were quite big. Around 2 meters of floating white humanoid shapes. Their forms were indistinct. But their presence and their big claws were oppressive.
Hyoren started to move. His body shifted into a combat stance. At the same time, he heard Elise also start her attack. Her voice rang out from the rooftop.
"Charged Magic Arrow!"
Elise released a glowing magic arrow from the rooftop. The projectile was bright. Luminous. It cut through the darkness. Her arrow met its mark. It landed exactly on the core of the nearest wraith. The creature dissolved with a billowing scream. Like smoke dispersing in the wind.
The other three wraiths glided faster. Aiming at Elise. They had identified the threat. The one who had killed their companion.
Seeing that, Hyoren blocked their way. He positioned himself between the wraiths and the rooftop.
He then poured Aethell into his Cinder-maw Dagger. The blade lit on fire. Orange flames danced along the edge.
He threw it at the leading wraith. The dagger spun through the air. A streak of fire against the darkness. It hit the wraith. The blade embedded itself in the creature's core. The fire spread. Burning it from inside out. The wraith shrieked. Then it dissolved.
Only two left.
He knew Elise needed time to recharge her Magic Arrow skill. So he needed to buy more time. He took another Cinder-maw dagger from his belt. Poured Aethell into it. The flames ignited.
But instead of throwing it, he used it to slash at one of the wraiths. He lunged forward. The blade swung in an arc. But as he was not trained in dagger combat, it was futile. The blade missed the wraith. The creature didn't even flinch.
The second wraith then prepared magic. Hyoren saw the core glowing. Aethell gathered around the core. Then the wraith's claws shot down a dark bolt. A lance of shadow. Aimed at his chest.
He quickly rolled to the side. His body hit the cobblestones. He tumbled. Evading it.
The crates behind him were destroyed with a loud sound. Wood splintered. Exploded. The dark bolt had struck where he had stood. A crater marked the impact point.
"Damn, that dark bolt is so dangerous."
The first wraith then prepared a dark bolt too. Hyoren saw the energy gathering. He quickly threw his burning dagger. But as he threw it almost reflexively, he didn't aim well. It only hit the wraith's arm. The fire spread. Burning the limb.
But the clumsy throw successfully interrupted its dark bolt. The creature flinched. The spell fizzled.
The second wraith then swept down its claw. He tried to block it. Raised his arm. But the wraith's hand phased through his guard. Passed through his flesh. Hit him directly.
He then felt dread. Cold. It was like the attack struck his core directly. His very essence. He didn't feel any damage to his body. No pain. No wound. But he knew his Aethell was depleted by a quarter. From a single attack.
He quickly jumped backwards. Evading another claw sweep. His breath came fast. His heart pounded. But the first wraith started preparing its dark bolt. The core glowed with dark energy.
"Fuck, I can't evade it in time!"
But at the same time, Elise had already moved. She was done charging her arrow. And unleashed another attack. Her voice rang out from above.
"Charged Magic Arrow!"
The first wraith was hit by Elise's arrow. It disappeared before it could unleash its attack. Dissolved into nothing.
Only one left. Hyoren quickly took his third dagger. Poured Aethell into the blade. The fire ignited. He threw it with precision. His aim was true this time. It hit the last wraith in the core as it started its sweeping attack. The fire burned through the creature. It created a horrifying sound. A wail of anguish. Then it too dissolved. Gone.
***
Hyoren breathed fast. His chest heaved. His heart pounded against his ribs. His blood pumped with adrenaline. The aftermath of battle. His body still primed for fight.
He then dropped down on his knees. The cobblestones were cold beneath him. He tried to compose his breath. In. Out. In. Out. The rhythm slowly returned.
Elise then jumped from the roof. Her body descended with practiced grace. She landed softly on the ground. Then she quickly ran to Hyoren. Her footsteps were hurried. Desperate.
"Hyoren. Are you fine? I saw you get swept and dark bolts flying toward you. I thought we could handle this quest!"
She shrieked. Her voice was high. Panicked. The fear was raw in her tone.
"I thought there would be only one or two wraiths! Not four! By Sylvana's! Why did I take this quest???"
She hurriedly checked his body. Her hands moved over his arms. His chest. His sides. Searching for wounds. For injuries. For any sign of damage.
"You are fine, right? No bolt hit you? Let me see. Let me see. Remove your armor! I need to check!"
Her panicked voice reverberated in the empty village. The words echoed off the silent buildings. It seemed the state of Hyoren after the battle with the Alpha Wolf was still clear in her mind. The blood. The wounds. The near death. And seeing him get attacked triggered a bit of her trauma. The memories she had tried to bury.
Hyoren touched her shoulder to calm her down. His hand was gentle. Warm.
"Elise, I'm fine. No dark bolt hit me. I was careless and received their attack, but those claw attacks only drain my Aethell, and didn't hurt me physically."
Elise's emerald eyes were still wide. Her breathing was still ragged. Shallow. But her shoulder tension started to ease. She calmed down. Slowly. Gradually.
"Okay... That's good. Yeah... Right…I almost forgot… wraith phase attacks won't harm. But are you sure no dark bolt hit you?"
She saw the destroyed crates nearby. The splintered wood. The crater in the ground. The evidence of the dark bolt's power. Before turning back to Hyoren. Her eyes searched his face. Desperate for confirmation.
"You're sure, right?"
Hyoren stood. Then rolled his arms and moved his body. Demonstrating. Showing her that he was whole. That he was functional.
"See? I'm fine. Please don't overreact, Elise."
Elise also stood. Then touched his cheek. Her fingers were soft against his skin. Just to make sure. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight.
"Good... I'm truly glad you are fine..."
Hyoren then puffed his chest. And smacked his new leather cuirass. The sound was solid. The leather was thick. Strong.
"Even if it hit me, I now wear this strong Ramtauro armor! Not just meager rabbit fur. It will protect me from most attacks, Elise. Trust Jena's armor, will you?"
Elise then traced her hands on Hyoren's armor. Her fingers followed the seams. The stitching. The reinforced areas. Then nodded.
"Right, now you are properly armored. And yeah. Jena's work is always flawless. Good. That is good."
She then hugged him. Her arms wrapped around his torso. Her face pressed against his chest. Her body trembled slightly.
"I'm truly glad you are fine."
She sobbed a bit. The sound was muffled against his armor. The relief was overwhelming.
Hyoren smiled and hugged her back. His arms encircled her. He then stroked her head. Tried to calm her down. Her silver hair was smooth and silky to the touch.
They continued to hug each other for a while. The night air was cool around them. The three moons cast their light. The village was silent.
After a while, Elise separated herself from him. Her emerald eyes were still wet—tears had traced paths down her cheeks. Her pointed ears dropped and still.
"See? I'm fine, Elise. So don't worry."
Elise then took a deep breath and exhaled. The sound was shaky. But steadier than before.
"Sorry if I was panicking, Hyoren... I don't know why I acted like this. This is very unusual for me..."
Hyoren smiled. The expression was soft. Understanding.
"Not a problem, Elise. What's important is that both of us are safe."
Elise finally nodded. The motion was small. But definite.
"Yeah..."
Hyoren then scanned the surroundings. The plaza was quiet. The bodies of the wraiths had dissolved. Only dust remained.
"Let's check those wraiths, Elise."
He went to where the wraiths had fallen. Or more like the remnants of the wraiths. Those creatures had turned to dust. Scattered on the cobblestones. And in the middle of the dust, there was a magic stone drop.
And as he moved closer, he also felt he absorbed the experience points. A warmth spreading through his body. Based on his feeling, it was indeed 8 points of experience. So the wraith was level 8. His estimation was correct.
He already had a Guild Card to truly check it. But he was already used to counting them manually. So he kept doing it. It was faster than taking a Guild Card from the bag anyway.
He went around and picked up the loot. Each magic stone was small. But valuable. Elise helped him. Her movements were quiet. Focused. Still recovering from the emotional moment.
Hyoren also took all his daggers and secured them again on his belt. The blades were still warm from the fire magic. It was thanks to these daggers he could easily dispatch those troublesome wraiths. Without them, the fight would have been much harder.
Elise then looked around. She was almost back to normal. Her breathing was steady. Her posture was straight.
"Let's go around the village, Hyoren. Before we sleep, we should check if there are any other monsters."
Hyoren nodded. The suggestion was sound. Caution was necessary.
Both of them then went around the village. Their footsteps echoed in the empty streets. They checked the houses. The alleys. The fields at the edge. But it seemed the only monsters were the four wraiths.
The village was back to its original eerie silence. Nothing stirred. Nothing moved. Just the wind and the moonlight.
They went back to the chief's house and entered their room. The fire had died down. Embers glowed in the hearth. The warmth was fading.
Elise took four square Ward Stones from her bag. She weighed them on her hands.
"I thought the village would be safe, so we wouldn't need these. Talk about carelessness."
Her eyes turned dark. Her carelessness of not preparing Ward Stones. Her mind had been occupied by other things. The excitement of her first quest with Hyoren, for example. It had clouded her judgment.
"Lucky we detected the wraiths before we went to sleep. A few days in the city already dulled my survival instinct. Thinking this abandoned village was going to be safe..."
Elise sighed. Her voice was a bit down. Disappointed in herself.
Hyoren put his arms on her shoulder. Trying to cheer her up. His touch was warm. Reassuring.
"Yeah, Elise. We should think of this abandoned village as the wilds. Not a safe area. Better safe than sorry."
Elise nodded. Then she put the Ward Stones on the corners of their room. The stones pulsed with light. The barrier hummed and enclosed them. A protective dome. Invisible but present.
"Let's just sleep, Hyoren."
Hyoren saw her shoulder still shudder from time to time. It seemed she was not yet truly calm. The trauma still lingered. The fear still echoed.
He smiled at her. Trying to reassure her.
"Okay, Elise. Let's sleep..."
He put more firewood into the fireplace so it could last until morning. The flames grew. The warmth returned. He then hugged Elise from behind and led her to the sleeping bags. His arms were gentle around her.
Both entered the sleeping bags. Elise snuggled closely. Her body pressed against his. Seeking warmth. Seeking comfort. Hyoren held her closer. Trying to calm her down. His presence was a shield against the darkness.
Elise looked up. Her eyes were soft. Vulnerable.
"Thank you, Hyoren... and night."
She then gave a peck on his cheek. A gentle touch of lips against skin. Quick. Soft. Before nestling her head into his shoulder. Not long after, she was asleep. Her rhythmic breathing could be heard. Steady. Peaceful. Her shoulder still shuddered from time to time. But hopefully, she would recover in the morning.
Hyoren, meanwhile, was kissed by Elise. Frozen in shock. His mind stopped. His body stilled.
What did Elise just do? She really kissed me? What?
He looked at her. At the pink lips which had just pecked his cheek. The lips that now rested against his shoulder. Soft. Slightly parted.
I don't know the meaning of her kiss. Elves might have different customs. And this is another world. I should not make weird assumptions.
He knew his knowledge about this other world was half-baked. And the elves had different customs than humans. She had said it herself. Elves didn't have the concept of marriage. So a kiss might have a different meaning too. Perhaps it was simply comfort. Gratitude. Friendship. Nothing more.
The kiss seemed to wake something in his heart, though. A warmth that spread from his cheek to his chest.
"She initiated it. So it was... fine, right?"
Hyoren mumbled. The words were soft. Almost inaudible. Before he also kissed Elise's forehead. It was not a small peck. But a long and deep kiss on her forehead. His lips pressed against her skin. Warm. Lingering.
But to his surprise, Elise's shudder completely disappeared. The tremors that had plagued her stopped. The tension in her shoulder eased. And he could see her eyebrows relaxed. Her face became peaceful. The fear was gone.
Hyoren hugged her closer to feel her warmth. To alleviate his own dread. The night was cold. The village was silent. But her warmth was real.
"Four strong wraiths in an abandoned village."
He looked at the window. At the outside scenery. To the three moons. The buildings were dark shapes. The emptiness was oppressive.
"Elise said they only appear when grudge accumulated."
He felt cold on his back. A chill that was different from the cool air.
"What happened in this village for such grudge to accumulate?"
No trace of battle. No trace of monster or bandit attack. It was like all those hundreds of villagers disappeared into thin air.
The mystery deepens.
Hyoren shook his head. The motion was small. Dismissive.
"We will investigate tomorrow. I need to sleep for now."
He looked at Elise's sleeping face. Calm. Peaceful. The fear was gone. Her features were soft in the firelight. Beautiful.
He calmed down. He stroked her silver hair for the last time. The strands were smooth beneath his fingers. Before he closed his eyes. And finally fell asleep. His breath then matched Elise's rhythm. Two people. One rhythm. In the silence of the ghost village. Protected by Ward Stones.
***
The night went on. The village remained silent. It was still deep in the night. The darkness outside was absolute. Light came from the faint glow of the moons through the windows.
Hyoren woke up. Not because of an enemy. Not because the morning had already come. The Ward Stones hummed steadily. The barrier held. Nothing had breached their sanctuary.
But because someone in his embrace cried and stirred.
He opened his eyes. His consciousness surfaced slowly. He was still hugging Elise in their sleeping bag. Her body was pressed against his. Her warmth was real. And the outside was still dark. The fireplace was already glowing embers. The fire had died down to coals. The last remnants of warmth in the cold night.
The Ward Stones buried in the corners hummed. Still protecting them.
He then looked at Elise. Her face was close to his. Her features were illuminated by the faint light of the moons.
Her eyebrows were furrowed. Pinched together. An expression of pain. Of fear. Trails of tears were coming down from her closed eyes. Streaking down her cheeks.
Her body stirred in her sleep. Restless. Tense. And she kept mumbling. Words that were barely audible. Fragments. Pleas.
“Did she have a nightmare?”
Hyoren tried to calm her down. He stroked her silver hair. His fingers moved through the strands.
Elise mumbled in her sleep. Her voice was small and broken—like a child's voice in a woman's body.
"Please don't leave me alone..."
The words were faint. But they cut through the silence—sharp and painful.
Hyoren hugged her closer. His arms tightened around her. He tried to shield her from the dreams. From the memories.
"Please... I don't want to lose my loved one again..."
Her voice increased. Growing louder. More desperate.
“please... please... please... please… please… please…”
The words tumbled out. Rapid. Frantic. The pain was raw. A wound that had never healed.
"Don't take him!"
Her tears kept going down. Her body trembled. Her breathing was ragged. The nightmare had her in its grip. Tight and unrelenting.
Hyoren was torn.
“Should I wake her up?”
If he woke her, she would be thrust back into consciousness. The nightmare would end. But the fear would remain. If he let her sleep, the nightmare would continue. But perhaps he could guide her through it. Soothe her without waking.
"I should calm her down."
He then hugged her closer with both of his arms now. Cradling her in his embrace. His body wrapped around hers. A cocoon of warmth and safety. His chin rested on her head. His chest pressed against her back.
"I'm not going anywhere, Elise..."
He whispered the words to her ears. Soft. Barely audible. A breath against her hair.
"I promise I will become strong enough to face any enemy we are going to face so you will never feel the loss anymore."
He stroked her back. His hand moved in slow circles. Against her spine. Her shoulder blades. The tension in her muscles.
"And I promise I will keep you safe and protect you.”
Hyoren took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Until my last breath…"
He kissed her forehead. Longer. And deeper than last time. His lips pressed against her skin. A seal on his vow. A benediction against the darkness.
Gradually, Elise stopped her mumbling. The words faded. Silence returned. Her shuddering shoulder stopped. The trembling ceased. Her rigid body claimed its softness. The tension drained away. Her rhythmic breathing came back.
Hyoren kept hugging and stroking her. His movements were continuous. His warmth seeped into her. Pushing away the cold of the nightmare.
After a while, he was sure she had already calmed down. Her face was peaceful. Her body was relaxed. The storm had passed—for now.
"How to actually heal her trauma. If fifteen years of solitude didn't change anything for her. If all her acquaintances in Akela had already tried everything."
He sighed. The breath was soft. Defeated. The question had no easy answer. Trauma was not a wound that could be stitched. It was a scar that ran deep.
"What can I do..."
He looked at her sleeping face. Her closed eyes were already dried. Her expression was serene. But a trace of tears was still visible. Wet trails on her cheeks. Evidence of the pain she carried. He wiped them off with his hands. His thumbs brushed against her skin. Gentle. Careful. Removing the evidence of her suffering—for now.
"I don't know..."
He looked at the ceiling. Not trying to ask anyone. The question hung in the air. Unanswered. His mind wandered for a while. Thoughts drifting. Memories of their journey. Of her smiles. Of her tears. Of her laughter. Of her fears.
The contradictions that made her who she was. Strong. Vulnerable. Brave. Terrified. All at once.
Before sleep claimed him again. His eyes grew heavy. The warmth of her body against his was soothing. The rhythm of her breathing was a lullaby. The embers in the fireplace faded to ash. The Ward Stones continued their hum. And the night continued.