(Attendances… plz…)
….
Four Days Later:-
Four days had passed since the fiery incident with Ifrit. Rimuru had successfully swallowed the weakened spirit, and in a way, Shizue had been saved. She had remained in a deep coma for the past four days, her body stable but her mind lost to the world.
The village had recovered with remarkable speed. The goblinas who had been caught in the initial blast were badly burned, some beyond recognition, but Rimuru's high-grade full potions had restored them to perfect health.
The trio had been amazed by the potion's potency, and they were relieved that the incident had ended without a single casualty.
But then came the news about Shizue. While she was alive, she wasn't waking up. No one knew if she ever would.
The trio was saddened by this, especially Ellen, who had grown surprisingly close to the quiet, masked woman in their short time together.
Worse still, her health had begun to visibly decline each day.
It was as if the time that had been frozen within her for so long was finally catching up, and it was clear to everyone that she might just pass away peacefully in her sleep.
For Shizue, in a strange way, it was a kind of relief. She had been stopped before she could destroy this peaceful village, and she was finally being freed from her long, painful suffering.
Many would think of her now as a heartless or cold person as there were kids waiting for her to come back.
Life in the village went on. The destroyed huts were rebuilt by the hobgoblins with practiced efficiency, and within a day, like… there was hardly any sign that a superior fire elemental had nearly burned the place to the ground.
The trio continued their investigation, the routine of heading out into the forest each day a welcome distraction from the somber mood that had settled over them. Reinhard too went with them, like usual.
Now Onto the fifth day:-
Ellen found Reinhard sitting alone on a log near the edge of the village, watching the goblin children play.
"Reinhard," she said, her voice small and sad. "Can't you do something about… Shizue?"
Reinhard looked up at her, his expression gentle but firm. "I would if I could, Ellen. However strong I am, whatever my title as Sword Saint means, I can't bring someone back from the dead nor can I stop someone who is dying. That is an area where even I can do nothing with all my power."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It's just… I feel so useless. Everywhere, all the time." Tears began to well up in her eyes, her face turning soft and red. She had been holding it in for days, and now it was all coming out.
"You aren't useless, Ellen," Reinhard said, his voice soft but sure. "You never were. Ask the kids you rescued in Oakhaven, the ones who were waiting to be killed by that demon. Ask the people you've helped on your journeys. Ask me, a stranger with an unknown past, who you welcomed into your party without hesitation."
"B-but I can't do anything!" she sobbed. "I couldn't do anything while you saved us so many times! You were the one who saved that village, and you were the one who saved this one!"
Reinhard smiled. "Having strength doesn't mean you can help everyone, Ellen. You can take those words personally from me. I defeated a demon in that town, yes. But you, Kaval, and Gido were the ones who found those people, who gave them hope, who led them out of that nightmare. If you ask them who saved them, they won't nowhere near mention my name. They will mention the three of you." He looked her in the eyes. "I did what I could with my strength. And you did what you could with yours. So don't ever think of yourself as useless. You three were the hope that those people clung to that day."
Ellen listened, his words slowly sinking in. She wiped at her eyes, a small, watery laugh escaping her. "Jeez, Reinhard," she said, her voice thick and softer with emotion. "You can't just say things like that, you know." She stood up, feeling a little lighter.
Just as Reinhard was about to say something else, Rigurd came running toward them, his face filled with an urgent excitement liek something good just happened.
"Sir Reinhard!" the hobgoblin chief called out. "Miss Shizue is awake! She… she wants to meet you!"
"What?!" Ellen gasped, her sadness instantly replaced by a surge of joy. "She's awake? That's great news!"
"Yes, Miss Ellen!" Rigurd confirmed. "She is awake, and she can even talk!"
"She wants to meet me?" Reinhard asked, a little surprised.
"Yes, Sir Reinhard! She specifically requested to see you!"
Reinhard got to his feet. "I see. I'll go and see her, then." He looked at Ellen. "Ellen, can you please go tell Gido and Kaval that she's awake?!"
Ellen wiped the last of her tears away, her face now bright and cheerful. "Yes! I'll go tell them right now!" And with that, she took off running toward the village, not even needing to ask where they were.
Reinhard made his way to the hut where Shizue was resting. Rimuru was already outside, wobbling in place.
"Oh, hey Reinhard," Rimuru said as he approached bouncing with his slime body. "Good news! Shizue is awake, and she said she wants to talk to you."
Reinhard nodded. "I know. Rigurd just told me."
"Oh! So you already know."
Reinhard gave a small nod and entered the hut. Shizue was lying on a simple bed, staring up at the ceiling. She looked frail, the vibrant life that had been artificially sustained within her for so long now fading like the colors of a sunset.
But as she noticed him enter, a small, peaceful smile formed on her face.
"Reinhard," she said, her voice a soft, tired whisper. "Thank you for coming."
….
A/N: So, How was it?! Hmmm dont forget to send some power stones if you liked it.
I'm not really that good in giving some comforted words in the story or something so i hope it went well. I think ellen truly did think of herself as useless after elbeing saved so manh times and all and not being able to to di anything at all when ifrit rampaged… atleast feom her perspective that is.
Next two chapters are already on my discord.
Melatonin, spawn and many more on my discord … thanks for beta reading this fic and not to mention suggestions too.
Hoped you all liked the chapter and all.
And if you want to read ahead you can do it by just joining my discord server.
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