Laura's Arrival

Laura's journey back to the base was slow and cautious. She deliberately chose a different route, steering clear of the path she'd taken to the resort.

Earlier, she had spotted a cluster of monsters—a group she had no desire to engage. Her body was sore, her mana reserves still low, and her mind heavy with the revelations of the day. She needed rest, not another fight.

The city around her was bathed in the warm hues of sunset by the time she reached the base. The fractured skyline was painted in orange and gold, a stark contrast to the ruins that sprawled beneath it.

Laura paused for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning the streets and rooftops for any sign of danger before approaching the familiar structure.

As she entered the base, the sound of voices and occasional laughter reached her ears. It was a welcome change from the silence she had endured during her journey. She climbed the stairs to the rooftop, where she found her team mid-practice.

Eric was conjuring small orbs of fire, testing his control over their size and intensity. Miara had a faint green glow around her hands as she worked on manipulating her life mana more precisely.

Essei, with her newly acquired bow, was aiming at makeshift targets they had set up using debris.

The moment they saw her, their faces lit up with excitement.

"Laura!" Eric called, extinguishing the flame in his hand and jogging over to her. "You're back! How did it go? What did you find?"

Essei lowered her bow, running up to join Eric, while Miara smiled warmly, wiping her brow as she approached. Laura greeted them with a tired smile and motioned for them to gather around.

"Sit," she said, lowering herself onto a broken piece of concrete that served as a makeshift bench. The others followed suit, their expressions eager and curious.

Laura began recounting her experience, starting with her encounter with the men who had attacked her and her summoning of Fenrir.

She described the strength of the legendary wolf and how it had torn through her enemies with terrifying efficiency. Then she moved on to the more unsettling part of her journey—her discovery of the stronghold.

She spoke of the building she had found, the guards patrolling its perimeter, and the people trapped inside.

Her voice hardened as she described the women who were barely dressed and the men locked in cages, their spirits crushed by their captors. The team listened in silence, their expressions growing darker with every word.

When Laura finished, Eric was the first to speak. He rose to his feet, his fists clenched. "We have to go back there," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We can't let those people suffer. We have to free them."

Laura raised a hand, her voice calm but firm. "Not yet."

Eric blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean, not yet? We can't just leave them there!"

"We're not strong enough," Laura said, her gaze steady. "Not yet. That place isn't just some random hideout—it's a stronghold. There are guards, armed and organized. Even if we manage to fight our way in, we don't have the resources or manpower to deal with what comes after. We need to think bigger."

Miara placed a comforting hand on Eric's arm, her voice gentle. "Laura's right. If we rush in without a plan, we'll only end up dead. And then we can't help anyone."

Eric exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. "So what do we do?"

"We train," Laura said simply. "We level up, gather more supplies, and get stronger. When the time is right, we'll return. And we'll make sure we're prepared to win."

The determination in her voice silenced any further argument. After a moment, Eric nodded reluctantly, his expression still tense but resigned.

Essei, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "What about the arrows?" she asked hesitantly. "Were you able to find any?"

Laura allowed a small smile to cross her face. She opened her summoner inventory, and one by one, she began pulling out arrows.

Dozens of them appeared, neatly bundled, their tips gleaming in the fading light. Essei's eyes widened, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at the pile.

"These are for you," Laura said, holding them out.

Essei hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed, before stepping forward and taking the arrows with trembling hands. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she set the bundle down to throw her arms around Laura in a grateful hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much."

Laura patted her back briefly, then stepped back. "Don't thank me yet," she said with a smirk. "Use them."

Essei nodded, quickly grabbing her bow and nocking one of the arrows. She turned her gaze skyward, focusing on a bird flying overhead.

With steady hands, she pulled the string taut, her movements guided by her Target Lock ability.

A second later, she released the arrow.

Swooooshh~

The shot was true. The arrow struck the bird's wing, and it screeched as it spiraled downward, crashing into the rubble below. Essei turned back to the group, her face lit up with excitement. "I did it!" she exclaimed.

Eric and Miara clapped, their voices rising in congratulations. Laura, however, remained calm. She nodded approvingly but said, "Good, but not perfect. You hit the wing when you should have aimed for the body. We'll work on your aim."

Essei's excitement dimmed slightly, but she nodded. "Right. I'll keep practicing."

Satisfied, Laura reached into her inventory again, this time pulling out four neatly packaged meals. She handed one to each of her teammates, their faces lighting up at the sight of the food.

"Let's eat," she said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

As they sat together, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in shadow.

The air was filled with quiet determination from all four as they ate, their resolve stronger than ever. When they finished, Laura stood, her voice firm as she spoke.

"We have people to save," she said, meeting each of their gazes. "And when the time comes, we'll be ready."

The others nodded, their expressions fierce. They had a long road ahead, but they were ready to walk it—together.