ENG-Leriana-Return and Report

CHAPTER 47 "Return and Report" The road back feels shorter than it should. Not because the group moves faster. But because the weight of the battle still lingers in every step. Little by little, the forest fades behind them, the shadows dissolve, and daylight pushes its way through the trees. The air feels cleaner outside, lighter, as if the tension had been left behind in the clearing where everything ended. Bermen walks at the front with steady steps, never looking back. Naelis moves beside him in silence, mentally reviewing every moment of the battle. The rank-and-file soldiers maintain a relaxed but orderly formation, as expected from those who have completed their mission. At the rear, Forau and Leriana continue walking together. More slowly. Without hurry. The pain still remains in Forau’s body, though more contained now. Leriana’s intervention eased the burden, but it never truly removes it. She knows that. And that is why she keeps glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Without invading his space. Without insisting. But without ever losing focus. “Can you keep going like this until we reach the village?” she finally asks quietly, keeping her tone natural, without dramatizing it. Forau lets out a small breath before answering. “I can. It’s not comfortable, but it’s not the worst I’ve been.” He pauses briefly, as if considering whether to add something more. “Besides, if I collapse now after all this, it would look pretty bad.” The comment draws a faint smile from Leriana. Small. Sincere. “You won’t collapse.” She says it calmly. As if it were a fact. And somehow, it is. When the village appears in the distance, the change is immediate. Some villagers are already outside their homes. They are not working, nor speaking among themselves. They simply watch the road, as though they had been waiting long before the group returned. And when they see them— when they recognize Bermen, Naelis, the soldiers… when they see that everyone is still standing— something changes. A murmur spreads through the village. It is not celebration. Not yet. It is relief. Pure. Held back for far too long. A woman covers her mouth with her hand. A man’s shoulders finally loosen. A child takes one step closer than they should. Nobody asks questions. But everyone understands. They came back. Anastasia’s house naturally becomes the gathering point. As always. As it should be. When the group approaches, she is already standing at the doorway. Waiting. Her eyes quickly move across everyone, lingering just a second longer on Forau and Leriana. Long enough. She understands everything without needing words. Bermen stops in front of her. “The target has been eliminated,” he says firmly. “The danger is gone.” Anastasia slowly nods. “I expected as much.” But she does not smile. Not yet. “What was it?” The question is direct. Necessary. Bermen exchanges a brief glance with Naelis before answering. “A remnant of the Demon King’s army. A pack leader, from what we could confirm. The mark was unmistakable.” Silence falls for a second. Heavy. Anastasia closes her eyes briefly. Not surprised. But concerned. “So the war… still leaves scars.” Bermen does not deny it. “Yes. But this wasn’t an organized threat. It was… a remnant. Something that survived without purpose.” Naelis calmly adds, “And now it no longer exists.” The statement is final. It closes the matter. For now. Inside the house, the atmosphere slowly returns to normal. Or almost. The soldiers move naturally, occupying the space without invading it. Some sit down, others check their equipment, while others simply rest in silence. The tension begins to fade. But not completely. Bermen steps aside and pulls out a small communication device, a simple piece engraved with magical symbols. He holds it for a few seconds before activating it, channeling a small amount of energy into it. The surface emits a faint glow. “This is Bermen, response detachment from Durgen,” he says in a clear, controlled voice. “Target neutralized. We confirm the creature was linked to the former Demon King’s army, with no signs of additional coordinated activity in the area.” He pauses briefly, listening. “Area secured. We will remain on site as long as necessary before withdrawing. Full report will be delivered upon our return.” The glow fades. The message has been sent. Simple. Direct. Official. Near one of the tables, Leriana quickly prepares a small ointment while watching Forau finally sit down. His posture reveals the exhaustion building inside him, even though he tries to maintain composure. She approaches quietly. Stops in front of him. “Give me your arm.” It is not a harsh command. But neither is it a suggestion. Forau looks up at her. For a second, it seems like he is about to answer with a joke. But he does not. He simply extends his arm. “Yes, Miss Healer.” His tone is soft. Almost resigned. Leriana does not respond to the comment. She carefully applies the ointment, focused, letting her magic flow in a controlled manner to ease the internal strain without forcing his body further. Forau closes his eyes for a moment. The relief is real. And noticeable. “You still don’t know how to hold back,” she murmurs without lifting her gaze. “And you still don’t know how to ignore it,” he replies with a small, tired smile. Leriana pauses for a second. Then continues. “Someone has to.” The answer is simple. But firm. Forau says nothing else. There is no need. Outside, the village slowly begins moving again. Doors open. Voices return. Life continues. The danger is gone. The wolf is no more. But the mark it left behind… has just opened a question that still has no answer. And for the first time since everything began— the silence is no longer fear. It is uncertainty.