Return Journey

Conrad, his body weary and mind heavy from the battle, found himself compelled to spend the night at the monastery. Exhausted, he and the others set up camp, ensuring everyone had a chance to rest by taking turns on guard duty.

As dawn broke, he was already awake, Conrad's right hand found solace in the familiar weight of his sword's hilt. His weary breath mingled with a silent sigh as his thoughts whispered,

"Now let's return back home."

The weariness of battle still clung to his bones, and a longing for the comforts of home echoed in his words.

"I just want to go home and sleep in a real bed,"

Conrad uttered, his voice carrying the weariness accumulated over the past few days. The passing of time felt distorted, as he continued,

"Can't believe it's only been a few days. It feels like years already ."

The weight of recent events settled upon him, and Conrad contemplated his future.

"Probably won't take any new jobs for a while now,"

he mused silently, contemplating the need to recover and find solace within familiar surroundings.

In that moment, Regina gently placed her hand on Conrad's shoulder, causing him to flinch and swiftly turn his gaze towards her, though his unyielding facade betrayed no surprise. Regina's voice broke the silence, a steady reminder of their task at hand.

"Time to head back,"

she spoke, her words carrying a mix of determination and understanding, acknowledging the need for closure and the importance of their journey homeward.

Amidst the group, a frustrated moaning sound emerged from the back. Yuna, clutching her head, bore the consequences of drinking too much last night , her headache now unbearable.

Yuna spoke, her words tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and resignation.

"Been doing this for forever now. Can't believe I still can't get used to this pain."

Her admission revealed a long-standing struggle, a recurring torment that she had learned to endure but not entirely overcome.

Conrad, his attention piqued yet still his mind hung up on that enigmatic Muriel and its inscrutable contents, implored Yuna to assist him.

"Yuna!" he called out, a note of urgency in his voice.

Yuna, battling the effects of her hangover, reluctantly responded,

"Yes?"

Conrad proceeded to explain his request, his tone laced with hope and anticipation.

"Mind taking a look at that? You might be able to figure something out. Maybe you can read the text."

His words carried a glimmer of optimism, a suggestion that Yuna's ancient wisdom might hold the key to unlocking the mysteries that lay hidden between those un readable texts. Regina, ever sarcastic and quick-witted, interjected with a biting remark.

"Since you are such an old hag, maybe that thing is as old as you."

Her words, were sharp and were meant to irritate Yuna. However, Yuna, beset by the torment of her hangover, brushed off Regina's remark and replied dismissively,

"Shhh ... shut up ... I am not in the mood."

With slow, deliberate steps, Yuna wearily approached the Muriel, her head still throbbing with pain. Her eyes struggled to open fully as she directed her gaze at the ancient text. Addressing Conrad, she spoke with a mixture of surprise and defeat, her words conveying both her limitations and the unfathomable age of that muriel.

"Can't read a thing. This thing's older than me."

Conrad's genuine surprise was evident in his response as he exclaimed,

"Well, that's unexpected."

There was an underlying assumption that Yuna, being the legendary ice witch with centuries of existence, would possess the ability to comprehend the ancient text.

However, her inability to do so left Conrad questioning the true age and origin of the Muriel.

Misinterpreting Conrad's reaction, Yuna's frustration grew, and she began to vent her annoyance.

"What do you mean ... you snot?"

Her words were cut short as a fresh wave of pain assaulted her head, overriding her initial retort.

The intensity of her agony escalated, leading her to exclaim,

"Arggg...this pain...Shit! Shit! Shit!...I can't take it."

Her outburst reflected the helplessness and exasperation she felt in that moment.

Seeking confirmation once again, Conrad inquired, wanting to be absolutely sure of Yuna's inability to decipher the text.

"Sure you can't make anything out?"

His words carried a hint of hope, a glimmer of possibility that she might have missed something. Still clutching her throbbing head, Yuna responded, her voice strained.

"This language is too old. Even in my heydays, I can't recall seeing such texts."

Her words reinforced the insurmountable barrier posed by the archaic nature of the language, suggesting that even during her prime, this particular script would have been long outdated . Understanding the predicament, Conrad expressed his gratitude, thanking Yuna for her efforts.

"Well...thanks for looking," he acknowledged, his words resonating with a sense of appreciation for her attempt, despite the disappointing outcome.

Yuna, still in the grip of her painful hangover, replied wearily,

"Yeah...it was no bother."

Kyle, with a casual flourish removed the dust off his hand, his sigh conveying a mixture of satisfaction and fatigue as he said,

"Well, that's all done."

"What's next?" Ikbal's voice held a tinge of distrust,

his gaze sweeping over the now-clean campsite. The efficiency and readiness of everyone around him made him question the leader's next move.

Gathering his thoughts, Kyle glanced at each person in the group, his tone firm yet slightly urgent,

"Well, let's get moving."

His words carried a sense of determination, the weight of responsibility driving him forward.

"We have to find a suitable camping spot before it's night again,"

he added, the underlying concern for their safety palpable.

"And be ready, don't know what's lurking out there in the corners."

Conrad couldn't help but roll his eyes silently, his inner monologue dripping with sarcasm,

"Who made him in charge again?"

A hint of annoyance colored his thoughts, as he contemplated the unquestioning trust placed in Kyle by the rest of the group.

"So, what now, everyone trusts him again?"

The cynicism in his internal musings was tinged with a touch of contempt.

"Really, they are all so gullible."

Meeting Kyle's gaze, Conrad masked his distrust with a deceptive eye, his inner monologue revealing his true feelings,

"I am not trusting you one bit."

The flicker of suspicion in his mind remained unspoken, shadowing their interactions.

"Think we have forgotten that, huh?".

"But I sure haven't".

That's when out of nowhere, Regina exclaims out of genuine concern for Yuna, her voice laced with worry and urgency,

"Yuna!..."

Conrad, his attention immediately drawn to the sound of Regina's voice, instinctively turns towards her. His eyes widen as he witnesses Yuna suddenly falling to the ground, a mix of surprise and unwanted concern crossing his face.

He sees Yuna, clutching her head in pain, while Regina rushes to her aid.

It was unexpected, Yuna's headache shouldn't have been this severe.

In that moment, Conrad's protective instincts kick in. Without hesitation, he moves closer to lend Regina a hand, his gesture indicating his willingness to assist. He directs his words towards Kyle, his tone determined yet reassuring,

"You guys go ahead, I will catch up."

Everyone else starts walking, their footsteps carrying them forward, but Patrick, with a firm resolve, comes to a halt.

He turns towards Kyle, his voice filled with determination,

"Walk ahead."

"I will assist them,"

Patrick asserts, his words a promise to lend a helping hand. Kyle, equally concerned, responds, urging him not to delay,

"Don't be too late."

"We will slow our pace, so make sure you return soon."

Patrick nods in understanding, his agreement evident as he acknowledges Kyle's words. Without wasting a moment, he breaks into a sprint, swift and purposeful, retracing his steps back to where Yuna remains in pain. Yuna, still in discomfort, clutches her head tightly, her face contorted with agony. The pain has become almost unbearable, rendering her unable to even open her eyes. Observing this, Regina comments, her voice tinged with both concern and exasperation,

"She overdid it this time."

Turning to Conrad, Regina raises a practical suggestion, knowing that time is of the essence,

"Can you carry her?"

Conrad, caught off guard by the proposal, instinctively voices his reservations, his tone slightly incredulous,

"Are you serious? That will considerably slow me down."

Just then, Patrick arrives, his sprint coming to an abrupt halt as he takes in the sight of Yuna's condition. Aware of the urgency, his words are brief and laced with urgency,

"Let's make this quick."

Conrad and Regina, understanding the need to act swiftly, nod in agreement.

In the midst of that urgency, Patrick, with a calm authority and knowledge commands them,

"Hold her for a bit."

Regina and Conrad, understanding the magnitude of the situation, quickly held Yuna still, supporting her. Meanwhile, Patrick extends his palm towards Yuna's head, an ethereal green aura emanating from his touch.

As the soothing energy surrounds Yuna, a noticeable transformation takes place, her previously pained expression gradually giving way to relief.

Noticing the positive change, Patrick, seeking reassurance, poses a question to Yuna, hoping for an improvement in her condition.

"Feeling better?".

Yuna, with a hint of newfound solace, manages to respond,

"Yes, a bit."

Her words carry a sense of liberty from the pain, a temporary respite. Relieved by the evident improvement, Regina addresses Yuna, a mix of concern and exasperation in her voice,

"Seriously! Have some freaking control."

Her words conveyed both relief and frustration, and a bit of light hearted teasing. Conrad, now also a bit relieved, inquires about Yuna's ability to continue, his words filled with a blend of caution and urgency,

"Can you walk now?"

Yuna, still recovering but determined, musters a response,

"Yes... probably."

Hearing that and recognizing the need to catch up, realizing the lost time, Conrad commands everyone ,

"So quick on your feet... we need to catch up."

With their resolve renewed and Yuna showing signs of recovery, the four of them synchronize their steps, diligently catching up with the others. Together, they continue their perilous journey, pushing forward, their ultimate destination still ahead - home.

As they departed from the desolate village and ventured back into the depths of the enchanting, mysterious forest, they were suddenly surprised by an unexpected sight that sent their thoughts into a whirlwind. How could this possibly happen, they questioned? It just didn't add up, they thought to themselves.

As they neared the edge of the village once again, they noticed that the forest appeared somewhat familiar from a distance, only to reveal a striking dissimilarity upon closer inspection. The foliage seemed sparser, quite the contrast to the tightly interwoven trees that barely allowed sunlight to penetrate before.

Once shrouded in darkness akin to the depths of night, the trees now exhibited an astonishing uniformity in their spacing. The once foreboding forest seemed to have shed its threatening demeanor, leaving them in a state of incredulity. Doubts crept into their minds, wondering if they had taken a wrong turn along the way. Yet, no matter how hard they calculated, the inexplicable transformation defied all logic. Eventually, they chose to accept this bewildering occurrence as the work of a supernatural force and continued their journey through the forest without caring about any of that, just yearning to reach home.

As the days went by, they ventured through the forest, they discovered a newfound sense of novelty and a lack of previous challenges, save for the altered terrain. No longer shrouded in an eerie aura, the forest had seemingly shed its haunting nature. However, the trials of survival still persisted, for lurking within were now visible monsters, devoid of the camouflage of fog or the concealment of darkness.

The situation presented a double-edged sword. On one hand, they now had the advantage of spotting the monsters in advance, enabling them to avoid unnecessary risks. However, the flip side was that the monsters could also spot them from a distance. This simple rule change resulted in numerous instances where they successfully evaded danger, but it also led to several heart-pounding moments of being pursued by monsters. As they anticipated these encounters, they encountered several ambushes cunningly orchestrated by the monsters.

It was like an ongoing rivalry, there were moments when the monsters gained the upper hand, and other times when Conrad and the others outsmarted them, continuously one-upping each other. With each encounter, they grew stronger and more adept at evading their adversaries. Learning from their experiences, they adapted their strategies and cunningly applied their newfound knowledge to deceive the monsters. In a striking twist, the once hunted had now become the hunters, turning the tables on their relentless pursuers.

However, amidst their victories against smaller monsters such as dare wolves and huge ants, they realized that their newfound efficiency and speed only applied to these critters. When it came to other monstrous creatures that surpassed their level, caution became their guiding principle. Among these formidable foes were the chimeras, a trio of them to be exact. Toss it up to bare luck or their growing experience in the forest, they were fortunate enough to never needing to fight one again.

And just like that, after enduring 7 grueling days of survival and hunting, they finally reached their abandoned carriages. To their relief, the carriages remained mostly untouched, frozen in time by Yuna's powerful spell. The horses stood ready and unharmed, as they were left before. Yuna skillfully undid her spell, allowing everyone to mount the carriages and carts once again. , they resumed their journey homeward, now with an added pace, eager to experience the warmth and relief of civilization again.