Aftermath (1)

While heading home, I saw once again all the damage the battle with the darkness beast caused, many houses destroyed, many corpses laying all over the village, many of those corpses missing parts. At that moment, I finally realized that although I managed to kill the darkness beast this couldn't be anything else more than a tragedy. Once more my expression turned grim.

When I arrived home and saw that it was intact I felt a huge relief. Afterwards, I went directly to my mom's lab. I took one yellow potion and one blue potion from the cabinet and drink them. Immediately after drinking the potions, their effects started to kick in, my injuries started to recover and the pain was eased. Later, I collected the medicine that can help recovering from cuts, broken bones, concussions, and the medicine that can ease the pain. I put the flasks in a wooden box, next I headed back to the chief's house.

Once I entered the chief's house, I asked where my mom was and headed over there. When I entered the room where my mom was, I saw that all the injured were seated on the floor and lined up in an orderly manner.

"Alef bring the medicines over here" (Jessica)

As soon as I entered the room my mom called me, and told me to put the medicines in a corner of the room. Helping my mom managing the injured were the chief's wife Mrs. Alice and the oldest daughter of the cordwainer Rosabell, Rosa for short.

"Sweetheart, I know you fighted the beast, but you're the only one other than me who knows how to cure injuries. Please endure it a little more and help me cure them"(Jessica)

"Yeah mom, I'll help you"(Alef)

"Rosa, you'll help Alef. Alice, you'll help me. Let's get going" (Jessica)

By the time we finished curing all the injured it was already dawn.

"Fiuu, we finally finished"(Alef)

"You know, you're impressive Alef. You're not only strong, you're also a full fledged pharmacist" (Rosa)

The slender redheaded with blue colored eyes girl told me with an awed tone.

"Falling for my son, are you?"(Mom)

"O-of course not!!!"(Rosa)

She turned red which, made Mrs. Alice, mom and me laugh.

"You're a bunch of bullies"(Rosa)

She said indignantly. I was going to tease her a little more but just then Mrs. Alice spoke.

"Darling, how was the search? Did you find any survivors?" (Mrs. Alice)

"Sigh. Not a single one, all the people that didn't make it to our house during the attack is dead" (Mr. Krugger)

A burly bald man with a bushy beard answered with a grim tone. That man is none other than our village chief Mr. Krugger.

"Have the four of you already eaten?" (Mr. Krugger)

"Not yet, he just finished curing the injured. I was going to prepare something to eat just now."(Mrs. Alice)

"There's no need for that, I brought you some sandwiches and orange juice" (Joana)

Eve's mother, Joana, said with a tender voice, then she gave us the sandwiches and serve us some orange juice. We thanked Joana and started eating.

"What's the situation of the village, Krugger?"(Jessica)

"It's bad, really bad. A third of the village it's completely destroyed and other third has sustained some damage. We'll have a tough year ahead of us" (Mr. Krugger)

"Is my house fine?"(Rosa)

"Sorry lass, but yours was one of the totally destroyed ones. On that note, Mrs. Aetos can you accommodate some villagers in your house?" (Mr. Krugger)

Oh right, we are technically nobles because of the knighthood of my dad. I almost forgot because I really never talked to anyone besides Eve, Rosa's family and my parents. And, my parents don't really act as nobles.

"Sorry, I won't. But, Rosa dear, you can tell your parents that you can come to live to our house until yours is reconstructed. So don't worry about it" (Jessica)

While saying so, mom hugs Rosa in a tenderly manner consoling her.

"Thank you, Auntie Jessica" (Rosa)

"There's no need to thank me sweetie, you know I love like my own daughter, and your mother is like a sister to me. So, it'll be like having family visiting" (Jessica)

Rosa tightened her embrace and tears started falling from her eyes. My mom started caressing her hair while telling her words of comfort. After a while, Rosa let go of my mom and told us that she was going to help her parents salvaging the little things they got left.

"I think we should go back to our home too. We need some rest, especially you sweetheart. If anything happens feel free to call us" (Jessica)

After saying so with an angelic smile, mom started walking towards the exit. I said goodbye to Mr Krugger and Mrs. Alice, then follow her closely.

Once we entered our home, I turn to my mom and ask her.

"How are you feeling?" (Alef)

"I'm heartbroken, I still can't believe that your dad is dead. It hurts so bad. The only thing that ease this pain is that you're still with me, my little Alef"

As she answered, she hugged me and started weeping. Seeing her like this made my heart sank.

I led her to her room and comfort her until she fell asleep. Then, I went to my room and lay in my bed. At that moment, my feelings burst out, regret, sadness, guilt, all of them overflowed, and I cried until I fell sleep.