Ashes

I don't know how long it took for me to recover consciousness. I opened my eyes, though I was unable to see clearly. I was no longer slumped against the tree, but instead I was with my back against the floor, surrounded by rubble. The only light I could see were the flames all around me and the faint glow of the stars above.

I raised my torso. It was an intense, sharp, unbearable pain. How am I alive? I examined my body. I had a severe burn in my chest and light burns and bruises in other parts of my body. The Goddess' blessing must have saved me. I had never been brought so close to death before, so I'm glad to see that my life wouldn't end like that. But my delight was very brief, as I took in the view of the village. Everything was engulfed in flamed. No house was left standing. Not a single person was discernably on sight. The warm village I had explored earlier today was reduced to an inferno.

I forced my body to stand up. It doesn't matter how much of it is burned. Are the people okay? I began walking around through the devastated village. I didn't take long to see where the people had gone. I averted my eyes, unable to face the horrible sights. 

"Someone! Anyone!" I began to run, frantically searching the village up and down. There must be someone left. Surely there must be, I'm sure of it. I searched in desperation. Nothing. Nothing but ashes, flames and the horrible odor that kept entering my nostrils. There was no one in sight. No one left to call for help.

I arrived at the nothern part of the village, the last place I had left. I searched, and searched. Nothing. More of the same. However, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a figure, sitting down and hugging their legs. The silhouette was very familiar.

"Lae!" I sprinted towards her, to her side. I fell to my knees, and I began to shake her arms. "Lea! Are you okay?!"

But i received no response. I took a proper look at her. Her face lacked any and all expression. Her eyes were blank, like a dead fish's. But she wasn't dead. All I could her from her were faint, low whimpers coming from her mount. "Granny... Granny..."

At her words, I looked around. And sure enough, my worst fears were confirmed. I couldn't even look at her. And it wasn't because the sight was gruesome. I shook my head. The situation isn't over yet. I refocused my attention back on Lae. "Lae, we have to go. We can't stay here." There was no response. I shook her once again. "Lae, staying here is dangerous. Who knows if that demon will be back soon?"

At the mention of the demon, her whole body tensed up. And the words she was whispering changed. "I'll kill him. I'll kill him. I'll kill him." Over and over again. A shiver ran down my spine. The person in front of me seemed unrecognizable from the Lea I had known, both in this case and in the one before the rewind.

"Lae... We need to leave." I shook her again. And then I stopped, and slowly wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace. "Please."

Her body stiffened. For a few seconds, she was dead silent. The only sound were our breathing and the crackling of the flames around us. And then, she moved her shoulders to the sides, indicating I should let go of her. I did just as she asked, and pulled back a little. She stood up, and i followed suit. 

"Can you walk?" I asked, a bit uncomfortable. I don't know how to handle this situation at all. She gave no answer, which I took as a a yes. I steadily began to walk, keeping an eye on her to confirm she was following me. Her body was slouched, her arms hugging herself. As soon as she took a single step, her face writhed in pain and she fell. I went to her side. Now that I'm seeing her body better, she's not looking too good. Her burns are less severe than mine, but in exchange, the amount of cuts and bruises on her body are greater. Her right ankle was purple, clearly swollen, and she was bleeding slightly on her side, as her clothes were stained.

I got on her level once more, and turned my back to her. "I know you don't want this. But we need to go." My position clearly indicated I wanted her to climb on my back. At my request, she hesitated. But then, without saying a single word, she held onto my back, envelopong her arms around my collarbone. I gathered my strenght and stood up. Her hold became tighter, and I held onto the back part of her knees for support. 

I began to walk. She was unsurprisingly light, so I had no trouble carrying her. we headed towards the exit of the village. Throughout the way, the ruins of what was a merry village adorned our surroundings. Lae had her head pressed against the back of my shoulder, her gaze focused entirely on the ground or on me, avoiding the sights of what once was her home.

As we got farther from the village, the sound of the flames died down, quickly replaced by the sound of cicadas. And we gor farther, and farther, until the village was no longer visible. We both were silent. We had nothing to say to each other. I tried to take a look at her face, but the position she was in made me unable to do so.

This was nothing like the previous time. During my first time, I was able to cut through him, vanquishing him instantly. A couple of homes were burned, but all of the villagers were save. I stayed in the village for a couple days, resting, while the villagers worked tofgether in the repair efforts of the few destroyed homes. Everyone was saved. After a week, I decided to continue on my path. Just before I left, Lae enthusiastically declared that she would accompany me on my journey. She said that if she wanted to protect her village just as i did, she needed to become stronger. And that's when our adventure together began.

As I was lost in my thoughts, a new sound caught my attention. Lae, her face prpressed against my back, began quietly sobbing. No words, just the despair and sadness of a girl who had lost her home and her family. Her sobs intensified, becoming loud cries. She was pouring out all the grief her heart held. She poured all her grief in the back of the man that is the cause of her sadness.

Last time around, Cindros went down easily. Because I was strong. Not particularly skillful or knowledgeable of how the world worked, but the entire power of the Goddess coursed through my vains, her entire holy might slashed through the demon like he was nothing. I thought that if i was able to do it back then, then I could surely do it again now. But it isn't right. I'm weaker. I knew I was weaker, yet I refused to account for it. i even lacked enough self-reflection to the point I considered Cindros to be arrogant.

Lae's cries became louder. She sobbed the names of the people she knew and loved. Of her grandma, of the village chief, of the old lady, of the man that gave her bread, of the kids she used to play with, of everyone. And there was nothing I could say to her. I simply remained silent, and continued walking, getting farther and farther from the village. It was a walk fueled not by hope, but by sorrow. A sorrow that Lae openly expressed to the world, and a sorrow I decided to drown myself in.