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Kesl

Violated, helpless, and beyond pissed with the world, that is what Kesl felt as he barricaded the back entrance, so that the inn had only one way in. While he was disgusted and physically sickened by the experience, he would gladly go through it a million times more if it meant keeping his family safe.

When he was finished blocking up the back door, he walked back into the dining area where his sister, niece's, Allis, and Sciesch were waiting around the table.

Kesl took a seat next to his sister, across from Allis, while the wooden chair creaked under his weight. "So, mind filling us all in on our mutual friend the summon, as well as what the hells happening to Telnar?" He asked Allis while interlacing his fingers on the table.

Allis’s hood slumped a bit as she let out an exhausted sigh. "Well since you know, and I'm pretty sure Leo's secret is paper thin anyway with how blatant he's dealing with the attack, he wouldn't mind me explaining everything, but where do I even start…" She remarked before telling them everything she knew since meeting Leo.

Allis started from the moment Leo walked into her clinic, and told them everything she saw and discovered since meeting him. From the duel with Fel to the truth about the dragons, her audience’s expressions fell more into disbelief, and everyone was silent for a few moments when Allis finished.

Tissa laughed nervously while scratching at her blue scales. "This… This can't be real right? I mean the academies, the eras, even Leo winning against a dragon, it's all just insane."

Vissa nodded in agreement. "I mean come on, it's way too much to believe. Right mom, Kesl?" She asked, expecting more agreement, but Kesl and his sister gave each other a knowing look.

Kessa turned to her daughters with a look of resignation. "He ripped the roof off the guild and practically flung it into the heavens, just to leave the building faster."

Kesl leaned back in his seat with an arched brow. "And he also instantly killed those five mages without even touching them, plus it explains all the enchanted items and new recipes. I don't know about all that stuff with the dragons, but I definitely believe he's a summon."

Sciesch coughed uncomfortably, her bright yellow eyes half lidded as they looked to the side. “I can confirm that he did win against a dragon, since I've met said dragon and they admitted it. It also explains why the Archive never told us how to cast summoning magic, we can't, and we might just start worshiping the dragons if it did.” She remarked grimly.

Kesl furrowed his brow as he became deep in thought. ‘Damn, It's hard to imagine the little guy being so… powerful. But from how it looks, it seems that he was just a normal guy who stumbled into god-like abilities, and even though he wanted a peaceful life, he couldn't stand living in a world that was so screwed up when he could do something about it. If I was in his shoes, and thank the gods I'm not, I'd probably do the same.’ Kesl paused to look at the streaks of blood that led to the pile of bodies he tossed out, realizing that If he ‘was’ in his shoes and this happened, then-

‘I’d be way beyond pissed….’

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Glia

When Glia awoke, she was surprised to find herself laying in a bed back at the inn. Looking to her right, she saw Elaria passed out in a chair next to her, their arms folded on the side of the bed as they slept.

Glia shifted to get up, but realized something was wrong. Immediately flinging the covers off of her, she winced at the sight of her missing legs. They were amputated nearly halfway up her thighs, and she could see that many of the scales around the base were dried and scarred from the fire. If her scales weren't already black, then many of the scales that were just below her hips would have shown a darker color, as many of them seemed more rough the further down she traced her fingers along them.

Glia sighed sadly. “I guess I can remove ‘standing guard’ from my preferred skill set…” She remarked pitifully, while tears started to stream down her face.

Usually Glia would see the best of a situation, but just looking at her legs triggered something in her, as she was taken back to the moment she lost them to those sick bastards. Her breathing quickened and her chest tightened to an unbearable degree, as she began to relive the entire short yet horrific experience in her head. The indescribable agony of her legs being charred to a crisp, the pain only dulling slightly when the fire had nothing left to burn, leaving the smell of her own flesh hanging in the air. The sounds of the sadistic laughs of those monsters warping and twisting as the fire moved its way slowly up her legs.

The whole moment seemed to bleed so well into reality that Glia only snapped out of it when she finally felt the embrace of Elaria, who at some point pulled herself onto the bed to comfort the quivering wreck.

Elaria held her tight, whispering words of comfort and safety, while Glia finally started to calm down, her mind slowly pulling itself away from the horrendously vivid experience.

When Glia fully calmed herself she thanked Elaria deeply for comforting her, then asked Elaria what happened after she passed out. Elaria recounted how Leo suddenly appeared not long after she passed out, removing her lost legs and healing over the damage, before flying them over to the inn.

Glia smiled softly. “Looks like Leo helped us out yet again, though I hoped he could have helped with this...” She finished with a little disappointment.

Elaria looked lighter as she explained that Leo didn't have the time to properly help with her legs, because he had to leave and end the purge on the town. So he’d either try to regrow them with magic or come up with something that would allow her to walk again, and Glia felt hope returning to her at the explanation.

Elaria started to slump, her expression becoming pained. “Glia, I'm so sorry tha-”

Glia frowned deeply, and her face scrunched up in irritation. “No! You don't need to apologize for shit! You weren't the one to take my legs, and you saved us both by killing those bastards yourself. So don't you dare blame yourself!” She chastised.

Elaria winced. “I know that logically, but I feel like it's all my fault. If I didn't trip then yo-”

Glia grabbed Elaria by the shoulders to force eye contact with her. “If that's the case, then I forgive you. Alright? Also, If Leo manages to give me my legs back, then this whole thing really shouldn't get you down, so please just forget about it.” She explained to her, while an image of the mages flashed across her mind.

‘I just hope that I can….’

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Elaria

Even though Glia was trying so hard to alleviate Elaria of her guilt, she just couldn't shake it, especially seeing Glia break down after waking up, but Leos voice seemed to echo along side Glia’s words, that she just needed to learn and grow from what she saw as her own mistakes, instead of letting it weigh her down.

Elaria furrowed her brow in thought. ‘I need to try and conquer my fears if I never want to make that mistake again, and as powerful as Leo is, I can't expect him to always come and save me and magically fix the situation, I’ll never be able to get over my fears otherwise.’

After a bit, Elaria carried Glia back up to the dining area for dinner, because Kesl decided to go all out with a feast to try to take everyone's mind off the events of the day. Though the evidence of the massacre was cleaned out of the inn, thanks to many of the enchanted items that Leo created, much of the furniture was thrown out due to damage, making the large space seem even more empty.

Elaria was starting to worry about where Leo was, but he entered the inn with Fel not long after. It was funny to see the shock that Kesl and his family expressed upon seeing Fel, which helped to lighten the mood a bit, as Leo and Fel joked about it. It didn't take long for them to get used to Fel, as Leo took the effort to introduce her to everyone, which surprised those who knew how the two normally acted towards each other.

Most of the evening dinner was spent with everyone getting to know one another, as they told stories and jokes while they ate. It wasn't long until an air of bitter sweet filled the area as the small distraction helped, even though there was the occasional grim expression that fell through.

As the evening went on, Elaria noticed that the animosity that was normally there between Leo and Fel, was just gone. In fact, they acted as if they'd known each other for years. So as Leo was attempting to heal Glia's legs for the fifth time in the past hour, Elaria was going to ask about their change in disposition when Glia cut in.

Glia wore a sly expression. “So you two finally fucked, huh?” She asked the pair bluntly.

The comment caused Leo and Fel to turn beet red, and avoid eye contact with each other. Leo gave Elaria that look that instantly pissed her off again, but before she could say something about it, she noticed that Fel gave her that same look.

Elaria became confused. ‘Wait, didn't she say she wanted to fuck him? Why would…… Oh.’ She thought in realization.

Elaria remembered that they were more or less the same, and that if even Fel was acting like this, then it might be something more than just sex.

Elaria deadpanned at the two. “No Glia, they haven't yet. But given how Leo is requesting, ‘again’, I think they should go find a room after Leo gives his magic a few more tries.” She paused to narrow her eyes at Leo. “Oh, and Leo, we are going to have another talk tomorrow.”

Glia Smiled wide. "Oh hell no. You two need to get that out of your system immediately, especially since your failing efforts on my legs seem to be stressing you out even more." She finished with a reassuring smile as she pushed him away, and not a moment later they both literally flew down stairs.

‘They really are so much alike, and I’m glad they finally acknowledged it.’

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