The Price of Protection

Ground below the hut glows bright yellow as Reden keeps holding his both hands together. He does it with sweat drops going down his forehead and cheeks. Look on his face shows that he isn't sure if he's doing the good thing.

Few seconds of glowing and flashing lights on the ground stop as transparent white dome appears around the hut. Reden breathes heavily and falls on his knees. There is a big shock and disbelief on his face.

"No way..." He pants heavily.

"It worked..? Just-" He keeps panting.

"Just how lucky have I become?" Reden says it while wiping off his sweat.

What Reden just did looked amazing but it also left him fatigued. Reden slowly moves towards the tree and lies on the ground. He rests his both feet on the tree bark not too high and puts his arms down towards his lower torso. Then he tries to breathe normally.

The position he took is a way to treat fatigued or fainted people. Legs that are resting on walls or in this case on tree bark make the blood flow easier to the brain making the brain more oxidized.

"That... seriously was risky... Im sure all the luck I have right now will soon run out..." Reden thinks it to himself still trying to control his breath and his eyes looking above the trees.

"I am not... kind of person to train magic... Im more of a physical type... If the ability failed not only I would black out but also Gah-Hal wouldn't be protected. Risky and reckless move from me..." Reden keeps thinking to himself with his breath back to normal.

He looks back at the dome he created and smiles.

"This is my special ability. I can create barriers that only I can pass through." Reden proudly thinks to himself.

"Quick rest and I have to go get more juice..." Reden speaks quietly.

10 minutes have passed and Reden looks fine now. He stands up and brushes himself off the grass and dirt. He looks at the dome proud once again, turns around and goes the same way he came from. After a second he went from walking to jogging.

"So barrier won't last forever. I need to get what I need quickly. I hope the shops are still open." Reden says it to himself while jogging.

Meanwhile Gah-Hal being inside the hut and barrier. He just lies there looking around. While randomly moving his arms and legs he "accidentally" touched the sack with one bread and empty wooden bottle. Shockingly the sack makes a quick small flash and nothing else. Gah-Hal stops moving and just looks around now.

𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

Reden arrives back in Boullegarde. It's not yet that dark for the shops to be closed, however Reden still needs to hurry up because of both shops being closed soon and barrier that might soon disappear. It wouldn't be a problem if only Reden had any coins left.

Reden is totally broke so he thought about making a very quick action that will get him at least two copper. After that he would be able to buy juice and go back to the hut. Unfortunately there is not much time left so most of such actions wouldn't be possible.

Reden is very honorous man who never wants to be in any debt but situation really requires it. He finds the shop he bought the juice from and goes inside. Thankfully shop is still open but its visible that shopkeeper is preparing to close.

"Please dont close yet! I need juice for babies. Sudden situation!" Reden yells while approaching the shopkeeper.

"Oh. Well, I guess I can help you yet." Shopkeeper responds and quickly goes for the thing as he sees the customer's reaction.

Reden waits at the counter as he impatiently waits. Shopkeeper came back and brought the liquid in glass bottle that can fit 1 liter of liquid.

"2 copper, pl-" Before shopkeeper finishes Reden interrupts him.

"Can I be 2 copper in debt? I beg you..." Reden asks him very kindly.

"I mean, You may. It's just 2 copper. But I will remember your look so next time if you come then pay the debt." Shopkeeper says to Reden while keeping kindness in his voice and on his face.

"Thank you very much, Sir! I promise to pay back!" Reden yells is while jogging to the exit with full bottle in his hand.

Reden leaves the shop and right away jogs back to where his child is. He is very happy but also not too proud of himself that he has now debt to pay, but anyways he keeps going.

𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

It once again took 15 minutes to get destination. It's been around 30 minutes in total now. Reden is now close to the hut and sees that barrier... is still there. Thankfully. He made it in time. Even campfire is still burning.

Reden now starts to calmly walk into the dome and into the hut. He gets inside and sees Gah-Hal still awake and still chilling like everything is totally fine.

"Im back with your drink, little guy." Reden says while reaching for the sack.

Reden puts his hand into the sack to take out the wooden bottle to fill it with freshly bought juices. Once he grabs the bottle, he realized the change. He picks up the bottle and feels that... It's full?

"Huh? It's full? Am I tripping? I thought he already drank everything..." Reden looks at both bottle and baby simultaneously with big confusion.

"Am I actually going insane..? I'm... I'm..." Reden narrows his eyes.

"I'm not crazy! I know this bottle was empty! Someone is playing tricks on me." Reden drops the bottle back on the sack and rushes out of the shelter.

"Who are you and why are you playing with my mind? What do you want from us?" Reden stands with his fists clenched and grinding teeth.

He waits outside of shelter but still inside the dome awaiting something to happen. There are no sounds except of little wind and crackling fire.

Reden looks right, left, up and down while waiting and trying to figure out who he might confront in a moment. He puts his hand on both of his sai's handles. He just keeps standing, looking and listening, but there is still nothing. No signs of anything. Just sounds of nature.

"Wait. Maybe it was back then? Back then when I didnt feel tired while running to Boullegarde? Was it side effect of this spell?" Reden thinks while still looking around but less cautious.

"I survived a lot of crazy things but Im starting to not know what's real anymore." He thinks as he rubs his chin with his left hand.

Reden calms down and goes back into his shelter. He picks up the bottle he dropped and places it back into sack along with the juice he bought. He then lies on his bed and once again looks at the campfire through the small hole in shelter.

"Whatever it is. It gave me incredible luck." Reden thinks to himself as he yawns.

He looks at Gah-Hal still calm and then back through the hole. Then he starts to slowly drift away into dream.