NOVEL NEXT 125- The Eñeforte Aftermath [2]
Volume 03, Chapter 125
The Eñeforte Aftermath [2]
André lands at the edge of the makeshift evacuation camp, carrying Dominic's limp body in his arms. The camp is busy and tense, with survivors caring for the wounded, nurses hurrying between tents, and teachers trying to comfort students.
But as André and Maurice touch down, the chaos seems to freeze. All eyes turn toward the mayor and the battered boy in his arms.
"Mayor André… and Dominic-" one teacher gasps, recognition turning quickly to shock at the sight of Dominic's condition.
Maurice leans in, his voice low and urgent. "I'll look for a healer." Without waiting for a reply, he disappears into the crowd.
André forces himself to remain composed, offering a nod to the citizens. "Good evening. Keep up the good work," he says, his voice steady despite the worry etched in his features.
He strides through the camp, searching for an empty tent. When he finds one, he gently lowers Dominic onto a cot. He kneels at his son's side, gazing down at the ruin left by the curse. Dominic's skin is blackened, his breath shallow, and blood staining his mouth and eyes.
'My boy…' André's heart twists with helplessness.
He closes his eyes and draws on his Mana. Shadows flicker over his hands as he places his palm on Dominic's chest, sending thin streams of energy inside. The rot is not just in the body; it has reached deep into Dominic's soul. André shivers, feeling the evil magic.
"A curse…" he mutters grimly. "Not just a normal one- a soul-eater. Even an [S] or [SS] Rank magician could die from this…"
The tent flap rustles. Maurice ducks in, leading a young woman dressed in healer's robes with gentle hands.
"I brought a healer," Maurice announces, his voice tense.
André steps aside as the healer presses glowing hands to Dominic's chest. Light flares, then fades. Nothing changes.
The healer's face pales. "This… this is a curse. My healing magic… it can't touch it!"
Maurice rubs his chin, his eyes narrowing. "So, it's that serious…"
André nods, his voice tight. "While you were gone, I tried analyzing it. It's eating away at his body and soul. I've never seen a curse this strong." His voice nearly breaks. "I don't even know how he's still alive…"
The healer bows, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Mayor André. I'll go and heal those I can." She retreats, leaving the two men alone.
André kneels beside Dominic, takes his hand, and holds on as if his grip alone could anchor his son to the world. "Dominic… please… don't die on me. Not now…"
Maurice stands silent for a long moment, then gently lays a hand on André's shoulder. "Don't give up hope. Verdant Haven Arcane Constabulary is on their way; they'll have people who know curses. There's still a chance."
André blinks away tears, his voice ragged. "Thanks, Maurice… Do you know where Celine and Clark are?"
Maurice hesitates, a split second too long. André's heart sinks.
"They're dead, aren't they?" André whispers, the words heavy as stone.
Maurice's voice is quiet. "I haven't seen Clark… but with Celine…" He trails off, unable to finish.
Hope flickers, then gutters out. The weight of loss crashes over André, his wife, gone. The pain is sharper than any wound.
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He turns away, shoulders shaking, teeth gritted against the sobs that threaten to escape. At last, he speaks, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Can you… can you make sure she's dressed in her favorite dress for her burial? She always loved the blue one…"
Maurice's eyes shine with sympathy. "Of course, André. No problem. I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you… Maurice." André bows his head, silent tears slipping down his face.
Maurice kneels beside him, putting an arm around André's shoulders, offering, in that small gesture, all the comfort a friend can give.
And as the night deepens, they sit together in the quiet of grief and hope, beside the battered boy who still clings to life.
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Arthur and Lumi step over broken flagstones and twisted beams, the silence of ruined Eñeforte Town pressing down on them. All the color and noise of life has vanished; only ash and scorched earth remain.
Arthur clenches his fists at his sides. "The town…" His voice is raw with loss.
Lumi watches him, her heart aching for her friend. She knows what Eñeforte means to Arthur-childhood summers, holidays, laughter with Dominic. All of it was erased in a single night.
Suddenly, they hear footsteps pounding behind them. "Lumi! Arthur!" comes a desperate shout.
They spin around to see Célestin limping toward them, supporting a battered young man whose features-dark hair, sharp eyes-are distinctly foreign. Célestin's clothes are torn, his face streaked with dust and pain.
"Célestin!" Arthur calls, rushing to meet them. "What happened? Where's Clark? Where-?"
Lumi gently places a hand on Arthur's arm. "Arthur… calm down." Her voice is soft and steady-a lifeline in the ruins.
But inside, she is thinking, 'Clark? What does Dominic's little brother have to do with any of this? We left him safe at the Lyon estate… didn't we?'
Célestin and the newcomer arrive. "I don't know everything," Célestin says, his voice hoarse. "But that pillar of darkness and lightning… that was Cla-Dominic. I would stake my life on it."
He ruffles the young man's shoulder. "By the way, this is Jun." He manages a half-hearted smile.
"Uhh… hi," Jun says, awkward in the devastation.
"…Hey," Arthur and Lumi respond, subdued.
Before anyone can process more, a familiar voice rings out, "Arthur!"
They turn to see Uther striding toward them, flanked by a squad of Les Arcanes Éternels guild members in their blue-and-gold uniforms. Beside him are Clark and Max, both pale and breathless.
Clark sprints the last few steps. "Arthur! Célestin! Big Sis!" He stops in front of them, looking desperately around. "Where's Big Brother?!"
The trio exchange uncertain glances, unsure what to say. How can they tell Clark what they fear-that Dominic, the boy he calls brother, might be gone?
Clark's attention shifts to Jun, his eyes widening in surprise. "Woah, you look Japanese!"
Jun blinks, nonplussed. "Japanese…?" The term is foreign, almost exotic, here in Sylvestria.
"Yeah! My mom is Japanese too!" Clark replies cheerfully, and Arthur feels a tiny spark of relief that Clark, at least, is momentarily distracted from the horror around them.
Uther surveys the ruined landscape, grief flickering in his usually unreadable eyes. "The town…," he murmurs, recalling the meetings and the laughter of his youth, now buried under rubble.
He turns to Arthur, Lumi, and Célestin. "Do any of you know what happened here?"
Célestin opens his mouth. "Well-"
"Halt!"
A commanding female voice cuts through the crowd. They turn to see a striking woman approaching with swift authority, her blonde hair pulled into a flawless bun and her royal blue eyes as cold and clear as a winter lake. Her uniform, white with gold trim, glitters beneath the embers of dusk. A rich blue cloak embroidered with the VHAC insignia flows behind her, edged with glowing aether. Over her heart, a chest plate gleams with protective runes, and a golden circlet crowns her brow.
Behind her marches a formation of Verdant Haven Arcane Constabulary officers, followed by a caravan of ambulances and healers.
Célestin tenses. 'Syren Valmaris… Professor Maurice's future wife. I have seen her in so many regressions. Why now?'
She stops before Uther, fixing him with a gaze that could quell a riot. "You are Uther Lyon. What are you and your guildmates doing here in Eñeforte territory?"
Uther meets her eyes evenly. "We are allies of the Eñefortes. We are here to assist."
She nods crisply. "I am Syren Valmaris, Commissioner-General of Verdant Haven Arcane Constabulary. My team is here to coordinate relief and restoration."
Uther nods back, his posture respectful.
"Do any of you know what happened here?" Syren's gaze sweeps over the group.
Arthur, Lumi, and Célestin exchange uncertain looks.
Célestin nods and steps forward, introducing himself. "Good evening. I am Célestin Moreau. I witnessed the pillar of darkness that destroyed the town. That is all I can say for certain."
Syren opens her mouth to probe further, but-
A shrill chime interrupts her. Syren's eyes flash with annoyance as she fishes her Commlink from her belt. "My apologies. I should have muted this."
She glances at the screen, and her brow softens in surprise. "A message from Maurice, with coordinates." She looks back at the group. "It seems there are survivors, Maurice has led them to a safe camp."
A collective breath of relief sweeps through the group.
"Let us go," Syren says, signaling her team. Healers and officers fan out, Uther and his guild falling in behind her.
The group moves quickly, hope flickering among the ashes. At last, there is a direction, a reason to move forward, no matter the devastation left behind.