6.2 Ancestral Legacy: Return to the Catacombs

"We need to get back to town immediately!" I exclaimed, hastily summoning the horses and lifting Silica onto my horse before mounting it myself. Silica remained unconscious, and I held onto her tightly from behind as we swiftly rode, galloping down the hill and through the forest.

She was lighter than expected as I lifted her onto Caspian my horse. Silica's unconscious state worried me, and I couldn't help but wonder what the worst might happen. She was a friend and I owed her a debt, not just money, but in thanks as a friend, party member, my president, teacher, mentor, and more. She has done so much for me since I arrived here. I don’t want to think what would happen to her if she didn’t wake up.

The trees whizzed by the wind rushing against our faces, and the sound of hooves pounding on the forest floor echoed through the woods. Caspian, my horse, was a new addition of companion, and I trusted him to carry us safely back to town. I held onto Silica tightly, ensuring she stayed secure and as comfortable as possible given the circumstances. Minutes passed, which felt like an eternity as we rode down the paths. We meet goblins on the paths, as green blobs that dashed into the forest as horses drove nearby. Silica was moving more and more or was that the horse movement?

Her head rolled back onto my bicep, as I watched her roll back eyes slowly blinking back into reality. She regained consciousness!

"Ow," clutching her left side, her surroundings still a blur. Confusion must have clouded her mind, making it difficult to grasp her surroundings. It took a couple more minutes for her to shake off the confusion and begin speaking, albeit in pain. We were still a considerable distance away from the labyrinth entrance and approximately one-third of the way back to town. Silica was in front of me, and I held onto her tightly.

"Please stop squeezing me so hard, let me down," she pleaded. As we slowed our pace to a steady stride.

I gently laid Silica on the ground, ensuring she was in a comfortable position. Kendra and I exchanged worried glances, fully aware that Silica's injuries were severe. Silica winced in pain as Kendra examined her bruised and discolored ribs.

"We need to be cautious," Kendra cautioned. "Some of her ribs appear to be fractured. Before we continue our journey, we should stabilize them as best we can."

I nodded in agreement, assisting Kendra as we carefully bandaged Silica's ribs, providing support and protection to prevent further damage. Silica gritted her teeth, enduring the pain as we worked to stabilize her injuries.

I wish I practiced healing magic, I have yet to try it yet. Damit I should have learned it instead of stupid light magic or even wind magic. Healing magic was key for any type of party. Why didn’t I think of this situation earlier? Why did I think of this as a game? It is reality!

"There," Kendra said, her voice filled with determination. "That should help alleviate some of the discomforts and prevent any further harm. Silica, can you breathe? Take slow, shallow breaths to minimize the pain."

Silica followed Kendra's instructions, taking small breaths, and wincing with each inhalation. She looked exhausted and pale; her body was weakened by the hobgoblin's blow. I felt a surge of worry and concern for her well-being.

"We need to get Silica to a healer in town as quickly as possible," I said urgently. "We can't risk her condition worsening."

Kendra nodded; her face etched with concern. Carefully, we lifted Silica back onto my horse, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. Galloping through the forest, our sole focus was on returning to town and getting Silica the medical attention she needed. The journey felt longer than ever, every second filled with worry and anticipation. It took all of our skills and determination just to navigate the terrain while keeping Silica as stable as possible. We encountered more wandering goblins, but they quickly scattered as our horses drew near. She tried to summon her own horse but in her condition, I stopped her from doing so. Having injuries and maybe a concussion, couldn’t risk her falling off.

***

Finally, the town gates came into view, and we rode through them, capturing the attention of onlookers. Urgently, we made our way back to the House of Silica, where we expected to find Tina.

"Sister!" Tina called out, quickly rushing to check Silica's condition. "These injuries are serious, but with proper healing, I should be able to realign and connect the ribs." Despite her attempt to hide it, I could see the lingering discomfort on Silica's face. I left it to the girls to comfort her, as her injuries were exposing a significant amount of skin. Thankfully Tina was working on her intermediate healing. I can’t think of any other healer in the city out of Tina and Hourka.

Silica received the necessary treatment, and we remained by her side, offering support and comfort. The incident in the labyrinth served as a poignant reminder of the dangers we faced as adventurers and the vital importance of caution and teamwork.

As we sat in the hall, waiting for Silica's condition to stabilize, a group of boys burst into the room, their excitement palpable. "Ryota, I took down ten of them!" exclaimed Daiki, proudly boasting about his kills. Pushing him aside, Ryota chimed in, "I managed to get twelve!" Meanwhile, Zero sheepishly admitted, "I only got one." When asked, "Nothing compared to boss Luke, who got 15 and even killed 2 with a single swing." The banter continued, but their attention quickly shifted as they noticed Silica's condition.

"What happened to Silica?" they asked, their concern evident.

"There was a 7-foot hobgoblin," I explained.

"A 7-foot hobgoblin and about 100 other goblins still out there," they echoed, surprised by its size and the number of remaining goblins. "Kendra killed the hobgoblin, but there are still over 100 goblins left,"

"We'll go tomorrow and wipe those bastards out. You have my word, Silica," Daiki declared, expressing his determination.

"Thank you, Daiki," Silica replied gratefully and quietly. Trying to maintain a brave facade, she sat up on a chair, downplaying the pain she still experienced.

As we gathered in the hall, we couldn't help but reflect on the perilous journey we had undertaken and the unforeseen challenges that lay within the catacombs and outside. It was a sobering experience that reminded us of the importance of preparation, awareness, and the immeasurable value of each other's lives in the face of danger.

Kendra and I went to report to Guild Master Toco. As we entered his office, he leaned back in his chair, considering Kendra's proposal. Stroking his beard, his eyes filled with contemplation, he spoke in a measured tone. "Shamans and hobgoblins are not weak creatures, and a small party of 3-5 adventurers won't come back unscathed. However, I understand the urgency of the situation, and we cannot let the goblin threat continue to escalate."

Meeting Guild Master Toco was quite an experience. He appeared much skinnier than I had imagined, more like a businessman running a company than an adventurer. I had seen him around the guild hall before but had never actually met or spoken to him until now.

Nana, who had been silent up until this point, finally spoke up. "Mackenzie and Kendra, I've witnessed your skills in action, and I trust your judgment. But I don't believe you are ready for this quest. You've only been adventurers for two months."

Kendra's confidence wavered momentarily at Nana's comment, but then she raised her head. "We'll handle it," she declared firmly. "We'll organize a raid."

"A raid? Against over a hundred goblins?" Nana questioned skeptically.

"Yes, with the help of the nine of us from the House of Dreamweaver and four from House Silica," Kendra asserted confidently.

Guild Master Toco leaned forward; his expression intrigued. "Hmmm, thirteen adventurers could do it," he mused. Glancing at me, "Two Nephilims should be able to handle it."

"I don't know, Guild Master; Silica was already hurt," Nana explained earnestly.

"Give us one month to train, and we will handle it. I know we can do it!" I spoke up.

"One month?" he questioned.

"Yes, in one month, we will be even stronger, and the fourteen of us can easily handle it."

"Fine, in one month, your two houses will conquer the labyrinth," Guild Master caved into Kendra's selfish demand.

"But Master, it's too soon," Nana continued to argue with the Master even after we left the room.

***

President Akari received treatment in the student council room and Rynn. With the help of Tina's healing magic, she fully recovered after two days and one night. We dedicated the next ten days, which translated to twenty days in Rynn's realm, to intense training. The ratio was two days in Rynn for every one day in the real world. During this time, we focused on honing our skills in planning formations and coordinating tactics. The training hall buzzed with intensity as each of us committed ourselves to the upcoming mission. It was the talk of the town of the upcoming raid chatter from the citizens cheered us on. Cheering Goddesses Silica and house Dreamweavers. Some other adventures in town had also asked if they needed their help, they could call on them anytime, but we declined the offers as it was personal.