Days For us to recover

…

Two days has passed since that incident. Damages done by the shadow demon was significant to the small village. Several houses got collapsed, gardens and the meadow burned down to ashes. Even so, the village is now guaranteed safe and free.

A slow but certain recovery is still underway. Villagers were gladly unhurt and only minimum amount of Imperial troops that were slightly injured and no deaths. It is an astonishing feat that would be hard to come by.

Though an amazing thing that no deaths happened, Ognist remarked that the land around Yugos and the village itself would require weeks, months, or probably years of recovery back to normal state! Meanwhile, the village was no longer 'hidden' like how it was used to in the world of Gaia, which means that if they seek out to repair the land, it won't take long for them to be assaulted again.

Because of such difficulties, Ognist resorted only to focus healing and recover the people. Since his initial objective was never to defend the land, only its inhabitants. He commanded most of his men to heal the people, some went to patrol, while the rest go out hunting and find consumables.

As of now, Marco's party is prohibited to do any help to the village. It may sound strange and cold to them, but in reality, few days earlier after the incident, Ognist went out in flames, especially towards Nina.

"Fool!" he shouted angrily. In a rapid scream he scolded the young girl.

"After overworking yourself with healing magic and nearly fainted you still ought to use them again?!"

"They need my help! I am the only one with healing magic, so it is a must for me to heal them!"

"IDIOT! If you keep using your magic, you will die out of life energy. You've done it several times, don't you?! Never use them again!"

"B-But!"

"No buts! You are not a dragonian that can automatically stop magic from mauling life energy. You are a human, a creature that knows no limit. If you die because of this stupidity, then nobody will be able to heal your friends!"

"I—

"That's it. I don't want to hear you wandering around and use your magic, you understand? Rest yourself for this week."

"I…" Nina halted her words and felt a great disappointment. Ognist was right. She should've been much caring for herself. "I understand," she said in a resigned voice.

"Good. I hope you'll stay that way," said Ognist in a slightly relieved voice. He turned his attention to the rest of the group. "You guys as well. Take care of her. Make sure she didn't do anything stupid."

…

..

.

And now, two days later, Nina kept her promise and hasn't used her magic yet. After twenty four hours and more of not using them, she regained energy greater than before and she felt much fresher than last time. Even so, she keeps a pouting face after being scolded at, much like Aily.

"What a grumpy geezer, hmph!"

"S-Sis… he's right, you know?"

"I know, I know. It's just… feels empty for me to not use magic like this. Besides, why would he act so cold like that, oooh…"

Meanwhile, on the dragonian's side…

Taizun and Ognist are inside a villager's house. In a closed room, they have a small conversation.

"Hey barbecue head. I stumbled across Miss Nina not so long ago. She grumbled when I said your name. What's going on with you two?" Taizun asked.

"Hmm… nothing's bad going on. It's just that I forcefully stopped her from doing stupid things," said Ognist while searching the cabinet. "If she kept on using healing magic, we may never see her ever again."

"Yeouch, that's… rough."

"Indeed. That's why I told her not to."

Taizun cringes and asks him, "You shouted at her, don't you?"

Instantly, Ognist stopped searching the cabinet. His eyes roll towards Taizun and he speaks in a holded voice, "Just a little."

"Haaah…" Taizun let out a long breath. "Are you her dad, scolding her like that? She might hate you, you know? Women's feeling are far delicate than men, you know?"

Ognist halts his searching completely and talks to him head on, "Don't tell me that, boy. I know ladies better than anyone here… well, probably, that is."

He scratches the back of his head and talks again, "It is not my style to scold people in such way, moreover to a kind and caring lady like her. But if I didn't do that, she might remain careless for eternity. She might felt like she's a hero for saving the lives of people, but if she dies because of overusing her own magic, then all of her efforts would lie in waste."

"…It's almost like the case with Lady Medica, huh?" Taizun remarked.

"Yeah," Ognist replied calmly. "That's why I don't want to see that happen again. Enough rambling, give me a hand here."

Taizun stands back from leaning against the wall, "Fine, fine…"

…

..

.

Marco and Scias take a walk again today. They see many soldiers have worn off their armors as their leader had declared the situation is safe. They choose to do so because it felt better for doing daily activities. Besides, they're not in a conflict, for now.

"As expected of the Imperial Army, they act spiritedly and somehow happily, unlike in some kingdoms that I've visited before. Don't you think, Scias?"

Scias only watches them in his normal expressionless face. The wind glides across him, making his hair sway around.

"Yeah…" he finally spoke. "It's almost… nostalgic."

"H-Huh… um… hey, mate, let's go see Pio. I hope she's awake now," said Marco in an enthusiast voice.

"U-Uh," Scias nodded, like usual.

They go to the village infirmary. Both of them are greeted kindly by the villagers. There, many villagers are still unconscious, some had woken up, and some could go back to do activities and help the others. The effects of the shadow demon's mind control were severe enough that most villagers lost consciousness after they got freed from Toma's grasp.

While walking into one of the rooms, guided by a nurse in there, Marco talks with his tall friend.

"You know, mate?" Marco nudged slightly to his buddy.

"What?"

"I still feel uneasy interacting with these guys. Mind control ability made me unable to feel their true personality."

"Beats me," Scias replied. "All I know that the demon's gone and the village is no longer threatened. Job's done, and that's it."

"What a cold way to say it, bro. don't you feel strange talking to these guys?"

"No."

The nurse in front of them chuckles a bit, "Hahaha, to be honest, I don't really know what happened to our village till that night, you know? I felt like… locked in a cage inside my mind. No matter how much I try to pry it open, it just won't budge. But when I returned back to my senses, I feel extremely dizzy."

The nurse turned out to be the ones that managed to regain consciousness the moment they're freed from mind control.

"I-Is that how it feels? That's kind of scary." Marco commented.

The nurse turns around to them. "It is. And if you feel strange talking to us, I suppose it is understandable. You've went through a lot to save us. That's why I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

She bowed down before them. She really thanked them for freeing her and her fellow villagers. But in one point, she stands normally in a quick rate and points out something.

"B-B-But please don't say a word of how we act when we're brainwashed, okay? I… I don't think I'm ready to hear how I act that time…"

"O-Oh, okay," Marco replied short.

"If you still feel uncomfortable, then allow me to say this to you. We are very grateful to what you've did to save us. Most of us were kindhearted, in case you don't know yet."

"…is-is that so? Phew, hearing that makes me slightly at ease."

"Tee-hee, please come with me, Miss Pio's room is nearby."

The nurse leads them to Pio's room. Upon entering, Marco and Scias see her already in sitting position in her sickbed, eating vociferously on what's being dined to her.

"Pio… y-you've woken up…" Marco said in a surprised face.

"Uwoh! Mwister Mwarco! *nom* Gwood to see you! *nom-nom*"

"Geez, Pio, don't talk while eating," said Marco while coming closer to her with Scias. The nurse bids farewell and leaves them privately and closed the door.

"*gulp!* Hmmm~ it's so good! Mister Marco, Mister Scias, you must try!" she offered in excitement. Her lips are messy with bread crumbs. She really enjoyed her food.

"Nah, I'm good," Marco denied kindly.

"I've eaten," Scias stated shortly.

"Oh, is that so? Shame, then I will eat this all myself," she said smilingly, eager to eat off the remaining food. Her eyes are blaring when she's about to eat.

Marco then kindly asks, "Say, Pio, how's your injury?"

"*gulp* injury? Oh, these white plasters? I'm pretty fine. Besides, I'm really enjoying the food here. Even this milk, they're so fresh and delicious, not like in Alidia!"

"Is that so? Good to know, then."

Pio's face is full of bandages. She was knocked out cold for two days long and today she just woke up. Marco, Nina, and Aily were worried sick of her care being, but in contrast to their concern, Pio is full of joy upon waking up.

"What a strange girl you are," Marco whispered to himself.

"Hm? Did you say something?" Pio asked.

"Nope, it's nothing," Marco replied. He comes closer to her and strokes her head, "You've done really well. I'm proud of you. I believe Nina is also proud of you."

Pio smiles wholesomely and holds Marco's hands to her face. She shakes her head softly and says, "Hmm. Pio will not be here if it is not for you guys."

In the corner, Scias watches her silently. A thought runs in his mind.

"It appears she has returned back to her childish nature, huh? I wonder… when she will turn into a different person again. What a strange girl. Claiming to be fourteen years of age, but her mentality is that of a seven year old.

I don't think Marco realizes it. Pio is… like someone who had experienced warfare several times. I must remain cautious."

…

..

.

Taizun and Ognist leave the house they were searching in. They return empty handed.

The two had visited most buildings in the village. What they were looking for was not in any of those buildings. They even had searched most basements and some secret doorways. Yet none of them had the item they're looking for.

"Should we give up on that treasure thing? Besides, it won't be touched by anyone else if we couldn't find it ourselves. Even the demon general could not find it," said Taizun in an unwillingly voice.

"Hah… I guess you're right. The Crimson Key is either well hidden or perhaps nonexistent at this point."

And with that, the two headed towards the infirmary house.

|==Imagined RPG-ed Character File==|

Name : Toma Zil

Race : Phantom Shadow

Occupation : Demon General

HP : 2666/2666

MP : 5000/5000

SP : 1250/1250

ATK : 128

DEF : 15

M. ATK : 125

M. DEF : 0

Specialty : Demon Aspect of Curses, Super Regeneration, Morphing