Chapter 19: The Healing Touch
Chapter 19: The Healing Touch
The atmosphere inside Lyra's makeshift clinic was heavy with tension. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows that danced across the walls. Lyra's expression was stern as she worked diligently over Ryu's injured body. Sweat beaded along her brow as she mixed a strange, glowing herbal concoction in a bowl, her hands moving swiftly and precisely.
Ren stood nearby, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, his eyes never leaving Ryu. The events of the Mihawk encounter played on a loop in his mind, each moment a vivid reminder of his helplessness. His jaw clenched, fingers digging into his biceps as he tried to contain his frustration.
Seraphina paced the room, her fists clenching and unclenching as she watched Lyra work. "How much longer?" she asked, her tone tense.
"Rushing me won't do him any good," Lyra replied curtly, her eyes focused on the deep gash along Ryu's side. "These wounds are severe. He's lucky to even be alive."
Nadia sat by Ryu's side, her hand clutching his, her face set with worry. "Ryu… you idiot," she muttered under her breath, her thumb gently stroking his knuckles. "You always act so tough."
Outside, the fog continued to roll in, thickening around the mountain village like a suffocating shroud. Nadia couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The sensation prickled along her spine, making her glance toward the window, but there was nothing. Only the dark, swirling mist.
---
Meanwhile, Ren pushed himself away from the wall and approached Lyra. "Are you sure you can help him?"
Lyra met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "I've seen worse. But this island… it's not what it seems."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked, brow furrowing.
Lyra poured the herbal concoction over Ryu's wounds, and a faint hiss filled the air as the mixture seeped into the gashes, emitting a soft, greenish glow. Ryu grimaced, his fists clenching in pain.
Lyra wiped her hands on a cloth and leaned back, her sharp eyes fixed on Ren. "People have been disappearing in the night. Some come back… changed. Others don't come back at all."
Seraphina's hand instinctively went to her knives. "Changed? How?"
Lyra hesitated, her jaw tightening. "It's hard to explain. Some seem hollow, as if they've lost a part of themselves. And there are whispers of… creatures roaming the woods."
Nadia's eyes widened. "Creatures?"
"Stay inside and keep the doors locked," Lyra said, rising to her feet. "I'll be back. There's one more herb I need to complete the treatment."
Ren stepped forward, blocking her path. "You're going out there alone? Not happening. I'll go with you."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, her gaze steady. "You'll only slow me down."
"Try me," Ren said, his eyes hardening.
After a moment of tense silence, Lyra exhaled sharply. "Fine. But stay close and keep quiet."
---
The jungle outside was a labyrinth of towering trees and twisted vines. The fog was so thick that Ren could barely see a few feet ahead of him. Lyra moved with surprising agility, her steps light and calculated as she navigated the dense undergrowth.
"What kind of herb are we looking for?" Ren asked, his fists clenched at his sides.
"A white flower with red veins," Lyra said, eyes scanning the ground. "It only grows in this region. It's essential for reducing infection and aiding recovery."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "How long will it take?"
Lyra kept her gaze focused ahead. "If we find it quickly, he'll recover faster. But time is against us."
A sudden rustling from the bushes made Ren freeze. His fists shot forward, narrowly missing the attacker as it melted back into the fog.
"What the hell was that?!" Ren growled, eyes darting around.
Lyra's expression was grim. "The missing villagers. Or what's left of them."
---
Back in the clinic, Seraphina and Nadia kept watch over Ryu, whose breathing had become labored. Seraphina's fingers drummed nervously against her knife hilt as she paced the room.
"This place gives me the creeps," Seraphina muttered, glancing at the closed door. "Where's Ren? He's been gone too long."
Nadia swallowed, her gaze fixed on Ryu. "He'll be back. He has to."
Outside, the fog thickened, and the unseen eyes continued to watch, waiting patiently for the night to fall.
---
Ren's breathing was heavy, each breath a cloud of mist in the chilled air. The fog around them seemed almost alive, swirling and twisting as if guided by unseen hands. Lyra stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing as she crouched to examine a cluster of dark red flowers growing at the base of a gnarled tree.
"That's not it," she muttered. "We need to keep moving."
Ren's gaze swept over the fog-shrouded jungle, every shadow a potential threat. "What's with those people? They didn't look… human."
Lyra grimaced. "They're not. Not anymore."
Before Ren could press further, a low, guttural growl echoed through the fog. Ren's eyes snapped toward the sound, muscles tensing as a figure slowly emerged. It was a man — or what used to be a man. His eyes glowed with a dull, vacant light, and his mouth hung open, jaw slack.
Lyra's hand tightened around a small vial of blue liquid. "Stay back," she warned. "If he touches you —"
The figure lunged, arms reaching for Ren with unnatural speed. Ren met him head-on, ducking beneath a swipe and delivering a powerful punch to the gut. The impact echoed through the fog, but the man didn't react. His limbs flailed as he tried to grab Ren again.
"Damn it!" Ren growled, dodging another strike. "What are these things?!"
"They're called the Fogbound," Lyra said, throwing the blue vial at the man's feet. It shattered, releasing a burst of smoke that sent the figure staggering back. "Victims of a Devil Fruit user who controls the fog and manipulates people's minds. They're forced to obey his will."
Ren's fists clenched, his gaze darkening. "Then we need to find that Devil Fruit user and stop him."
"And fast," Lyra said, eyes narrowing as more figures began to emerge from the fog, their blank eyes fixed on them. "Because he's already taken so many."