Fragile Bonds

Zel became more talkative and seemed to open up to Ren. However, he was still cautious not to talk about himself.

They often went to the river together to catch fish with their bare hands. They would roll up their pants legs and step barefoot into the ankle-deep water. It felt like a bone-deep chill, a cold that made Ren’s feet and calves numb. Beneath his bare feet, the riverbed was a mix of smooth, mossy stones and shifting silt, giving him an unsteady footing as the current pushed gently against his legs. The water wasn't clear; it had a slight, earthy murkiness that obscured the bottom, making it even harder to see the fish inside. Their movements were impossibly fast, so catching them proved to be more difficult than it looked. Ren jumped after multiple of them, but the only thing he accomplished was falling into the water and getting soaked.

This task soon turned into a competition initiated by Zel, which he always won. Every time he did, he celebrated as if it were the first time. Zel practically flew back to the camp, holding several fish, while Ren trudged behind, soaking wet, cold, and, at best, with a single small fish.

"You should use my power better!"

"I don't like stolen things." Ren glanced at the boy, who didn't even flinch. "You're not mad?"

Zel suddenly stopped, and Ren ran into him, hitting his nose on Zel's broad back. Scratching his nose, he took a step back. He had broken his spine once before and didn't want to test his luck a second time.

"Ren, it's not your fault. Yes, I was angry at first. I didn't tell anyone that I had lost my power. Then I heard that you survived and were in Ebony. That's why I went to the orcs and offered Haku to meet the Prophet. I wanted to see you and find out what happened."

Ren blushed, holding a hand to his mouth as he smirked, "I didn't know you were so crazy about me."

Zel waved his hand dismissively, "Whatever. You said you don't know who could have made the magic circle, right?" Zel turned to Ren with a huge smile, suggesting he held no grudge. "So, there's no reason for me to be mad at you!"

Ezekiel put his arm around Ren's shoulder, and a strange warmth passed through the blue-haired boy. It was a feeling so distant that he couldn't even recall it from his fragmented memories. He spent every day with people he truly felt good with, who made him laugh and made him feel included. But he still felt guilty. His sister was suffering, and he wasn't there to protect her, and he had also killed Sonja, the first girl he was interested in. After all of that, how could he possibly have fun?

Back at camp, the usual fireplace awaited them. The smoke from the morning's extinguished fire had cleared, and the air was filled with the intoxicating scent of nearby blooming flowers. The red and blue berries on the bushes offered even greater protection in their secluded location. Ren wouldn't have minded living there forever, a welcome respite from being a wanted criminal.

The girls had not yet returned. Despite their different origins, they had warmed up to each other quickly. For Haku, every new person was like an exotic pet. She would watch them, try to understand them, and if she liked them enough, she would adopt them. Ren had never seen the oni so happy as when she was with Lily, which always brought a smile to his face, and he felt a surge of pride that she had finally found one.

Neither of them was used to fighting together. There were few mages in Ebony Vow, so Haku was accustomed to relying on her brute strength, while Lily, due to her fragile body, couldn't leave the castle, and later, her small house in the castle courtyard.

The figures of the two girls appeared in the distance, waving to signal their return. A few days had done wonders for Lily's face, as the color had returned to it. However, her coughing fits, in which she coughed up blood, were just as constant as Ren's daily chest pains that tormented him. This created a pact between them, encouraging each other not to die.

"Wow, you caught a lot of fish!" Haku exclaimed with a huge grin, and Ren narrowed his eyes resentfully. It was as if the girl was deliberately trying to make fun of him. "What's wrong?"

Lily watched the unfolding events, glancing at her palm. There was no bloodstain on it, which was either because she hadn't strained herself or because she had washed it off before they arrived, so the boys wouldn't worry about her. Ren guessed the latter.

She spoke in a quiet, unsure voice, clenching her hand into a fist. "Ren, do you remember yesterday when I examined you?"

How could he forget? How she had half-stripped him in front of everyone, her hands touching him all over from the waist up. Each movement felt like a cold knife. He felt like he was being dissected alive. The others, Haku and Zel, pretended to be very serious while trying hard to hold back their laughter.

"Yes, I remember it clearly."

"I've been thinking. Your body is completely healthy. You're not sick. But..." The orange-haired girl reluctantly pursed her lips. "Every ailment leaves behind a trace of magic. It's what we call aetheric residue."

"So my power wants to kill him?" Zel said, emphasizing the word 'my.' Lily nodded.

"Then let's just take it out of him!" Haku was already reaching for her sword. For her, violence was the only answer to everything. Ren's eyes widened as he hid behind Zel and Lily. Haku was a dwarf. Maybe tall people confuse her.

"Only the person who put it in can take it out." She narrowed her eyes as if searching hard through her memories. "Or someone with even greater power."

Haku seemed to want to say something, but held back. Her new connection with Lily proved to be stronger than anyone would have thought.

"Wait a minute!" Zel clapped his hands together, his face brightening. "We've already figured out that the Mage and Ren are somehow connected. And we assume the Mage is currently in the 'Human World.' We don't know what he's doing there. Ren is sensitive to both worlds. What if Ren feels the pain when something bad happens in his own world?"

"No," the oni girl stated without budging.

Lily began chewing on her long nails. This theory wasn't far-fetched for her, but she didn't want to hurt Haku. Ren sighed, ready to sacrifice himself. "I think Zel has a point. It's logical—"

"I said no! There's nothing logical about what you're saying!" Haku completely shut down. She crossed her arms and grabbed the fabric of her sweater. She took a step back as she spoke. Her horns seemed to droop. The red spot in the corner of her eye twitched strangely. She clenched her teeth tightly. She was like a timid kitten left on the street. Her great virtue was her loyalty, but unintentionally, she made the others feel that they could never be her priority.

That night, Zel and Ren were on watch. They sat next to each other, leaning against a large stone.

"Hey, Zel."

"Hm."

"I want to go home." He whispered into the cold night air, the words so quiet he wondered if he had even said them at all.

"Okay. Then I'll do everything I can to make that happen."

Zel never asked questions. He respected others' privacy. But if you opened up to him, he was a great listener.

"I have a sister. I don't remember much of my life, but I remember this." His voice sounded lonely. He longed for a person he barely remembered. The Hero's eyebrows shot up. He tried to digest what he had heard. He looked at Ren, his expression mirrored the other boy's own grief.

"I— I'm so sorry. I didn't know you had a sibling."

"Well, neither did I." He smiled bitterly, as his eyes began to burn.

Movement. The tall grass stirred from multiple boots. They weren't in a hurry. Every step was weighted as they moved through the darkness. Then came whispers and fragments of conversation as they got closer.

"Elves!" Zel threw dirt on the fire and stamped it out. In pitch-black darkness, he looked for Ren's gaze. "I'll lead them away from here. Wake up the girls and go to the river! In the morning, move the camp! Take care of them!" And with that, he was gone.

At night, without the fire's comforting glow, it was swallowed by the darkness. The familiar objects—the cooking pot, the stray bags—were now just dark shapes on the ground. The sudden silence became heavier.

It took Ren a few moments to understand what had happened. With quick movements, he shook the girls' shoulders, then their arms. Haku's wet face dampened his hand, and she didn't wake up despite Ren's repeated attempts. In one last desperate try, he held her nose to block her airway. Her eyes popped open, flashing angrily, then softened due to the lack of light.

"We have to go!"