"You're finally well, Horin!" Mira rushed in, seeing the girl already up and packing her things, ready to leave the sick ward.
"Yes, and it's all thanks to you, Mira. You've grown strong as a healer. I hope you'll keep helping the others. I'll do my part too—I'll bring you the best fruit and snacks to keep you healthy, alright? Oh, and I'll visit, of course. How about we meet just outside in the afternoon when you take your break? We can talk and play a little. I'll even let you pet Nuel—he's grumpy from not being summoned and needs someone to play with."
Fay watched the two girls from the back, quietly glad to see Horin healthy and moving again. So far, everyone was stabilizing much faster thanks to Jiggz's new form.
The slime had even performed an area-wide healing, one that used more aether but was far more potent.
As for Nahrin—Horin's father—he had already left. He'd forced her to stay one extra day while he rushed out to hunt again just days after his own recovery.
"You too, Fay. Thank you for helping me. I won't forget it… but I really must go now. I need to recover my aether and let my beasts out to stretch. Let's meet again later."
Fay gave a small nod, thinking the conversation was over—until Mira gave him a sudden push, causing him to stumble right into Horin.
"Hey, what was that for, Mira…?"
Fay looked at Horin, who had caught him by the shoulders, holding him steady for a moment before letting go.
"I hope we can hunt together soon. I'm starting to get a little bored here, so make sure you figure out which creatures we need to track."
Fay cleared his throat and nodded. "Sure thing. I'll have a few scouted out by the time you're ready."
Horin walked off, her steps lighter—or so it seemed. Mira, meanwhile, looked up at Fay with a smug little smile.
"You did it!"
Fay raised an eyebrow, wondering what she meant.
"I did what?"
"Nothing! Not telling! Now help me heal—I'm going to cure them all and see Mama Kueha soon!"
Mira looked slightly happier for some reason. Whatever she was planning made Fay a little wary, but he said nothing and followed her out.
Some time later, they sat down to eat. Everything felt normal today. Healing patients wasn't part of their daily routine, so there was nothing strange—at least, not yet.
"Fayfay, do you think Rina and Tomo will remember me?"
Fay paused at her question, wondering what the two kids were up to. They had probably been vaccinated as well, so there shouldn't be a problem with them visiting.
But there was always a risk, and Fay didn't want to risk anything.
"They're fine. Selûne is with them—she's like an older sister to those two. So relax. We'll see them soon."
Mira looked down at her half-finished plate of food, then stared off into the distance.
Fay turned to follow her gaze—and noticed smoke rising. He frowned, unsure if it was the Eluwyn were burning more forest to clear the rot, or if something had gone wrong.
Before long, more smoke spread across the sky. It had started far off, but now it was getting closer.
Fay didn't like it.
He quickly summoned Grin, then called out to the staff nearby.
"I'm going to check on what's happening. Keep tending to the sick, but I'm taking Mira with me—wait for us to return before treating the heavily injured."
Grin, fully aether-fed, appeared in his largest form—big enough to carry both of them with ease. Fay helped his sister sit in front of him so she wouldn't fall, then climbed on and held tight as Grin began to run.
They soon reached the new Ravari settlement, but chaos had already broken out. Everyone was fleeing into the forest as explosions thundered in the distance.
Then Fay spotted Selûne with the two kids. He hurried over and asked,
"What's going on?"
"I don't know either, Fay," she said, her face tight with worry. "All I know is that my grandfather is fighting. He took the Mistwalkers—and the Ravari leader and hunters joined in!"
Fay didn't like the sound of that. He looked at Mira, then back at Selûne.
"Take care of her. You know this place well—find a good hiding spot. I'll go help."
The girl nodded and also ran with the three kids while the others kept running or looking around for someone missing.
Fay ignored the chaos behind him and charged into the forest where the smoke was rising.
Up ahead, he spotted several Ravari crouching behind the bushes, trying to signal him.
"Child! Why are you here?" one of them whispered harshly. "We need to get the others to safety—the hums are close! Both our warriors and the Eluwyn fighters are trying to repel them, but there are too many. We need to hide!"
Fay nodded firmly.
"Help the villagers. You're better used keeping them safe. I'll help the fighters. Don't forget—I've got three monsters with me."
The three Ravari exchanged glances, then nodded and rushed off toward the retreating group.
Fay pressed on, advancing until he saw bursts of spells and flying projectiles in the distance.
The battle had begun.
Even from afar, it was clear the odds were terrible—nearly five hums for every beast or Eluwyn.
But that didn't stop him.
If he could send Jolt in from one side and Grin from the other, they could catch the enemy in a pincer and break the frontline. He summoned both creatures, quickly forming a plan. Within seconds, they were on the move—Grin bolting left, Jolt rolling to the right, both hungry for action after being idle for weeks.
Just as a hum's summoned creature lunged at a Ravari warrior, jaws wide to snap down on its leg, Grin intercepted. The hyena's massive jaws clamped down right where the core of the snake-like beast lay. The creature vanished instantly, its body dissolving the moment Grin crushed the core.
But Grin didn't stop. The towering predator charged deeper into the enemy ranks, scattering hum soldiers and giving the Eluwyn and Ravari time to regroup.
Jolt, meanwhile, spun into the right flank like a living storm, striking spellcasters mid-chant and knocking them off their feet with surging electric force generated as he spun.
Fay watched for a moment. He didn't know if he could bring himself to kill hums—even though he was a human—but he couldn't let them harm his friends, and his new tribe.
He jumped down from Grin's back and began gathering aether.
Electricity sparked in his palms as he shaped it into weapons—one a spear, the other a whip.
With a grim look, Fay stepped into battle.