Chapter 19: Damian LightFlame

“Death Dragon Urzuz did quite a number on you, Father,” Zid remarked, his voice carrying both concern and restrained anger.

Damian managed a strained chuckle, though it ended in a guttural groan as the weight of his wounds pressed down on him.

“Raki, Blessed Water and a Blue Lily Potion,” Lily called softly, with urgency in her tone.

I extended my hand and whispered the words, “Bottle of Blessed Water, Blue Lily Potion.”

At once, two glass vials shimmered into existence, each filled with liquid of a different hue, one crystalline as a mountain spring, the other a gentle azure glow that pulsed like a heartbeat.

“Here, Lily,” I said, placing them carefully into her hands.

Both Father Damian and Silvia stared, wide-eyed, at the sudden appearance of the bottles, their expressions betraying awe and disbelief.

“It is the Blessed Water first, isn’t it?” Lily asked, hesitant, as though fearful of making the wrong choice.

“Yes,” Father Damian confirmed, his voice low but steady.

“The Blessed Water first, then the Blue Lily Potion,” Father Damian instructed

He tensed as Lily uncorked the vial and carefully poured its shimmering contents onto his wounds.

A pained grunt escaped him, but he gave a faint nod.

“Now… the Blue Lily Potion,” he directed, forcing his voice to remain firm.

Then, with a slow breath, he raised his trembling hand and began to chant:

“God bless this body and restore its strength through Your Holy Flame… Fifth-rank magic, Sacred Fire.”

White flames enveloped his form in an instant, pure and radiant.

They licked across his battered body, not to consume, but to cleanse.

I watched in muted awe as torn flesh knit together beneath the sacred blaze, his injuries cauterized and sealed by divine fire.

“Couldn’t you simply use that to heal yourself outright?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

Zid shook his head gravely.

“No. The BlackFlame Breath of the Death Dragon renders all ordinary healing useless.” His eyes darkened.

“And worse, once the BlackFlame burns you, magic doesn’t cure the wound. It spreads it, makes it fester until it fully devours you,” Zid explained.

A shadow of pain passed across Damian’s face, but he still managed a crooked smile. “I hadn’t realized you studied so much, son.”

“Idiot Dad!” Zid burst out, his voice cracking with anger.

“Why didn’t you dodge the Death Dragon’s breath in the first place?” he asked, a bit frustrated.

“No… this isn’t Father Damian’s fault,” Silvia interjected, her voice steady but gentle.

“He saved me and Serafina, after we recklessly charged at Death Dragon Urzuz without a plan,” she admitted, guilt flickering in her eyes.

“Then it’s fine. You did great, Dad,” Zid said with a small smile after realizing his dad just did the right thing.

Father Damian returned it with a quiet one of his own.

“So… what do we do now, Dad?” Zid asked, hesitation creeping into his tone. “You can defeat Death Dragon Urzuz, right?”

“I can,” Father Damian replied, his expression sobering.

“But do you truly think Urzuz will stand idle while I finish a chant?”, Father Damian asked with a bit of sarcasm.

“Urzuz will definitely kill you before you finish chanting”, Zid concluded

A shadow crossed his face, and he lowered his voice.

“If only my comrades, Hio and Leo, still walked this world… defeating Urzuz would not be so hard,” Father Damian stated.

“Do you mean, Hio SilverSky?” Reimei asked, her eyes widening.

“Yes,” Damian answered with reverence.

“Hio Silversky also known as strongest swordsman in the Seres region. He was my dearest friend,” Father Damian added.

“I am Reimei SilverSky,” she said softly. “Hio is my father.”

For a moment, Damian simply stared, then a warm, nostalgic smile touched his face.

“So you are Hio and Ria’s daughter. You’ve grown into a fine lady, Little Mei.”

His gaze shifted, landing on the young woman who had moments earlier tended his wounds.

“And the girl who poured the Blessed Water and Blue Lily Potion…”

“Lily,” Reimei supplied.

“FrostMoon,” Damian breathed, recognition dawning in his eyes. “Leo’s daughter.”

He exhaled, almost to himself. “Perhaps it is fate that I am still alive to meet you all.”

At last, his attention turned to me and the spirit wolf at my side. “And this young man, with his companion?”

“He is Raki,” Zid explained with pride. “The chosen Hero of God Chaleon. And that gray spirit wolf is Janbo, his partner.”

“Chaleon’s Hero… God’s chosen one,” Damian murmured, as though the words carried immense weight.

His gaze sharpened. “Tell me, Zid… how strong is he?”

“Definitely a lot stronger than me,” Zid admitted without hesitation.

Father Damian’s expression hardened.

“I would never wish to endanger the daughters of my fallen comrades… yet sooner or later, the tainted dragons will descend upon the Great Forest of Estir.”

“Father Damian,” Lily interjected firmly, “you don’t need to concern yourself with sparing us.

Guildmaster Rion himself tasked us with dealing with the Zombie Dragons in the Dragon’s Graveyard.”

She drew a slow breath before adding, “The only difference now is that our enemy is far more dangerous… a Death Dragon.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed. “Do you truly understand what that means? Do you know how deadly a Death Dragon is?”

“I know,” Lily answered, her voice cold and unwavering. “It’s only a little weaker than a Death Knight.”

“Arguing won’t change our situation. We should head to Lahir and see for ourselves what’s happening,” I broke in, glancing at Silvia, who was already shifting impatiently.

“You’re right,” Damian agreed with a nod.

“If nothing else, we must buy time until High Priestess Selena’s Barrier is raised.” His gaze turned to Silvia. “Can you still fly us to Lahir?”

Silvia’s lips curved into a defiant smirk. “Even if I had to go alone, I would still make the journey.”

“Then we depart at once,” Damian declared.

He quickly dressed, and our group stepped outside into the cool air of Mardel.

“Where is the Landmark located here in Mardel?” Lily asked as we walked.

“In the northern quarter of the settlement,” Silvia replied.

“We’ll see it as soon as we leave Mardel,” Silvia added.

She then raised a golden whistle to her lips.

The sound was sharp and piercing, and at once, the crimson dragon circling overhead descended, alighting just a few strides before us with a heavy thud.

“I’ll ride with Raki and Janbo,” Reimei said as Lily and Zid approached Serafina.

“Raki, keep her safe,” Lily urged, her eyes meeting mine.

I gave a faint nod, and she managed a small smile. “Then we’ll see you both in Lahir, Mei… Raki.”

“Janbo,” I called, my voice carrying through the air without the aid of any golden whistle.

“Bau, bau!” he barked in delight, tail wagging with unrestrained energy.

“Reimei and I will ride on your back to Lahir,” I told him. “Can you do that trick from earlier?”

“Awooooo!” Janbo howled, his form shimmering as though wrapped in moonlight.

His silhouette swelled and stretched until his body had grown to thrice its former size, towering like a guardian beast.

“Woof!” he barked proudly before kneeling low, signaling us to climb onto his back.

I swung myself up first, then extended a hand toward Reimei. “Grab my hand,” I urged, steadying her as she climbed up behind me.

Her eyes widened in awe as she settled into place.

“He’s enormous… I don’t think even three whole roasted Kelafi would be enough to satisfy him now,” Reimei stated.

“Bau!” Janbo barked indignantly, earning a laugh from Reimei.

“I’m only kidding,” she said warmly, running her fingers through the thick silver fur along his back.

“Janbo, head north,” I commanded, my hand brushing his mane. “Reimei, let me know the moment you see the landmark.”

“Understood,” she replied.

With a powerful surge of his legs, Janbo leapt into motion, racing toward the edge of the settlement.

His massive frame drew the eyes of all who saw him.

Yet there was no fear in their gazes, only reverence. Some villagers dropped to their knees, bowing in prayer as he passed, their eyes alight with a fragile, rekindled hope.

“There! The landmark!” Reimei cried, pointing ahead to a towering stone pillar.

“Orbiter,” I intoned. “Point, Lahir.”

The words shaped the path, and as soon as the direction was fixed, Janbo accelerated, the wind whipping around us.

His paws no longer struck the earth; instead, he skimmed the canopy, running just above the treetops, swift and sure, evading the creatures that stirred restlessly in the shadows below.

The leaves shuddered and swayed in Janbo’s wake, as though a powerful gust of wind had swept through the forest.

“This is much more comfortable than riding Serafina,” Reimei remarked, her arms tightening around my waist as she held on.

“Bau!” Janbo barked proudly, his tail wagging as though he had just won some unseen contest.

“Raki,” Reimei’s voice softened, hesitant, “do you think we even stand a chance against Death Dragon Urzuz?”

I exhaled slowly, staring ahead into the rushing wind. “I don’t know. I’ve never fought a dragon before… let alone a Death Dragon.”

My grip on Janbo’s fur tightened. “But we’ll do what must be done.”

Her arms tensed slightly. “Aren’t you afraid to die? You have to remember… this isn’t even your world.”

I glanced back at her with a small grin. “Maybe so. But it’s your world. And in this world, I’ve already found countless moments worth cherishing. So I’ll do my best to protect it.”

A spark of determination lit my chest.

“Besides, I’m Chaleon’s Hero. I intend to see this role through to the end,” I added.

Reimei’s gaze lingered on me, her eyes clouded with worry.

“I won’t die that easily. You know that, right?” I told her firmly.

“But… you aren’t immortal, are you?” she whispered.

“No. I’m not.” My tone hardened, resolute.

“But compared to Guildmaster Rion and the demons of Mazal, I’m confident I can survive, even in the face of a Death Dragon.”

“That may be true, but…” her words trailed off into the rushing wind.

I turned slightly, my voice sharp. “Reimei, don’t even think about protecting me. I won’t die… not until I’ve fulfilled my role in this world.”

Her next question came quietly, fragile. “Would you be sad… if I died?”

The answer tore from me without hesitation. “I’d be devastated.”

Her hold on me tightened. “Then I’ll make sure to live, to see this through to the very end. But promise me… you will too.”

I smiled, my chest aching at her words. “I promise.”

Janbo let out a low growl, his ears pricking forward. “Ruff!”

I followed his gaze. On the horizon, black smoke coiled into the sky.

“We’re close,” I said grimly, my eyes locking onto the Orbiter’s glow pointing straight toward the rising smoke. “Lahir is just ahead.”