Chương 80: Ashes of Home

Ethan walked along the forest path, the little girl following a few steps behind him.

"What's your name, mister?" she asked after a while. Ethan didn't look back.

"It doesn't matter. I'll take you back to your parents and then you'll never see me again". The little girl clenched her fists.

"My name is Agnes Doyle. And I want to know the name of the person who saved my life. So tell me". Ethan let out a sigh, as though such a simple request weighed more heavily than any battle.

"Ethan". Agnes smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Ethan. For saving my life". After a few more steps, Ethan spoke again.

"Why were you alone in the forest? Don't you know how dangerous it is?"

"Nothing had ever happened to me…until today". They continued walking in silence until the path opened onto what remained of the village. Burned houses. Collapsed rooftops. Carts reduced to ashes. The acrid smell of smoke still lingered in the air, mingling with the stench of blood. Doors stood wide open, windows lay shattered. No voices. No sounds. Only an unnatural silence, heavy as a death sentence. Agnes came to an abrupt halt.

"No…" she whispered. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Then she started running.

"Wait!" Ethan shouted, chasing after her. The little girl raced through the devastated streets. The villagers' bodies lay scattered across the ground, some sprawled in front of their homes, others still clutching the tools they had desperately tried to defend themselves with. She didn't stop for a single moment. She ran into her house. Her parents were there. Her father lay on the floor, his throat torn open. Her mother lay a short distance away, a deep wound in her abdomen, her face frozen in death.

"Dad…"

"Mom…" Agnes's voice broke. She collapsed to her knees and burst into desperate, uncontrollable sobs. Ethan stopped at the doorway. He didn't go inside. He lowered his gaze. Leah was fast asleep, utterly exhausted, with her sword resting beside her. Felicity walked over to Xia.

"Leah snores way too much". Xia let out a soft laugh. Felicity sat down beside her.

"You still can't sense the other sword?" Xia shook her head.

"No. We're still too far away".

"We already have four", Felicity said calmly.

"A slight delay won't stop us from finding the remaining three". Xia smiled.

"We'll find them all. And then we'll be able to make our wishes come true". She turned toward Felicity.

"You'll wish for your clan to come back to life, won't you?" Felicity nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. If the legend is true and I really can make a wish…I'll ask for every member of the Prinz Clan to be brought back to life".

"The legend is true, Feli", Xia replied confidently.

"And we're getting closer every day". Ethan had carefully buried Agnes's parents. The little girl placed a bracelet on her mother's grave and her father's work hammer on his. She stood there silently for a few moments before wiping away her tears.

"Why are you still here?" she asked without turning around.

"Because I can't leave you alone".

"Yes, you can", she replied.

"I want to stay here". Ethan shook his head.

"If you stay, you'll die. Either from hunger or at the hands of goblins or whatever other creatures come here. There's nothing left for you in this place". He crouched down slightly in front of her.

"Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe. A family will take you in and take care of you".

"I said no!" Agnes shouted.

"I'm staying here!" Ethan let out an exasperated sigh. Without another word, he walked over, picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder. Agnes pounded his back with her fists and struggled to break free, but it was useless. As they walked away, she stretched out one hand toward the graves.

"Dad…Mom…" Tears streamed down her face as the village slowly disappeared behind them.