Chapter 9 - The Intervention of the Sage

Lucius had fainted from exhaustion, his body utterly drained after the ordeal. When he finally awoke, he found himself surrounded by angry elves. They were shouting insults at him, their faces twisted with fury, and before he could fully comprehend what was happening, they started to beat him. The hatred in their eyes was unmistakable.

He tried to defend himself, but his limbs were weak, and his head was spinning. The magic had taken everything from him—his energy, his strength, and his will to fight. He could hardly believe what he had done. The image of the destruction, the innocent lives lost, kept flashing in his mind. It was as though the wind itself had carried death with it.

In the midst of the chaos, Elenya leapt forward, placing herself between Lucius and the enraged elves. She tried to shield him, taking several blows herself. The sight of her protecting him, despite everything that had happened, made Lucius's heart ache.

It was then that the village elder arrived. His presence was like a sudden silence that fell over the crowd. His voice, though calm, carried an undeniable weight.

"Enough!" he commanded, his tone final.

The elves hesitated, looking at the elder with a mix of anger and disbelief. But the elder did not waver.

"If I had not intervened," he said gravely, "there would have been far more deaths today. Your anger is understandable, but let us not forget the bigger picture."

Reluctantly, the villagers stepped back, still glaring at Lucius. Though they were unwilling to forgive him, they allowed him to leave, their expressions full of scorn and mistrust.

Elenya, with tears in her eyes, bent down to pick up Lucius, who was unconscious, and carried him on her back toward his home. She did not speak, her heart heavy with sorrow and confusion. The weight of the situation hung over her like a storm cloud.

When they reached Lucius's house, she explained everything to his parents. Her voice trembled as she spoke of the events, but there was a certain quiet strength in her words. She knew that what Lucius had done was not intentional, but the damage was undeniable. After finishing, she left, her steps echoing in the empty house.

For five days, Lucius remained unconscious. When he finally awoke, the pain in his body was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Every inch of him ached, as if his very bones had been shattered. His parents, eyes full of worry and fear, were at his bedside.

"Lucius," his mother asked gently, "what happened? What did you do?"

He hesitated, then spoke softly. "The magic… it was too much for me. I couldn't control it."

He did not mention the medallion, nor did he tell them of the voice that had echoed in his mind. He didn't think he could explain it anyway.

His parents, though relieved to see him awake, could not hide their concern. His father, with a stern expression, said, "The local authorities will come to speak with you soon. Don't worry. You don't have to say anything you don't want to. But they'll need to understand what happened."

Lucius nodded, the weight of what he had done pressing heavily on his chest. The village, the destruction, the pain—he couldn't undo any of it. But now, he had to face the consequences.