Eon's eyelids fluttered open, pulling him from the depths of the dream of the void. The air in the dining room was thick with the scent of herbs and sweat, a makeshift infirmary born from necessity. Mattresses and blankets littered the floor, where his fellow elves lay in various states of recovery. His body felt like it had been hammered on an anvil, ribs aching, muscles protesting every twitch, but there was a subtle hum beneath the pain. It was the sound of his stomach. He was hungry.
He shifted slightly, wincing as he sat up. The grand chandelier above swayed faintly, casting dim shadows from the few lit candles. No one stirred; the room was quiet except for the occasional soft groan or deep breath. Eon whispered to himself, "System."
The ethereal screen bloomed in his vision, glowing with familiar light.
-STATUS-
Race: High Elf
Age: 96 years
Strength: 27
Stamina: 45
Agility: 24
Mana: 13060/15000
Insight: 22500
SP: 1120
His mana was almost full. The high elf regeneration had done its work during the hours of sleep, replenishing what the brutal battle had drained. Only a tiny sliver remained empty, a reminder of the overexertion against the shadow mages and their mercenary thugs. Plus his mana pool expanded too.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the warmth of mana flowing like a gentle current. Good. He'd need every drop if more trouble came knocking.
He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders to loosen the knots. A few pops echoed in the quiet room, but the stiffness faded quickly. He glanced around. The elves looked far better than after the chaos. Bandages wrapped fresh wounds, applied with care by Hans and the others while he slept. Faces were cleaned of blood and grime, and clothes mended where possible. No lingering sweet scent hung in the air; that cloying aroma from the battle earlier was gone, purged by time and fresh air.
But the battle's toll was evident: Loreth was dead, her brave charge ending in a hail of earth bullets. And Darius... twisted inside out by that monstrous mage. Victories like this felt hollow now to him.
Elora wasn't curled up beside him, as she had been when he collapsed. Nor was Verra. A twinge of concern sparked, 'Where were they?'
He scanned for Hans, his reliable butler. Didn't take long; the old man was in the corner, speaking in low tones with Teressa and Carla. Hans's gestures were animated but tired, wrapping up what looked like a grim recounting.
"...and that's how we managed to survive," Hans was saying. "The shadow mage fled, but not before... well, you saw the aftermath outside."
Teressa nodded, her face pale under the candlelight.
It was midnight, around 1 a.m. The moon's pale light filtered through the high windows, confirming the hour.
Eon stood, ignoring the protest from his ribs. Making some Healing potion is the first priority. His mana was ready, so he focused.
He goes outside and sits on the ground. With his matter manipulation skill, he made some vials for holding potions first. Vials formed, this time not out of shape like before. Now it had a perfect shape, looking almost like the tubes of a chemistry lab, he once saw.
He made a batch of fifteen, the process was smooth like he was getting good at it, as time passed.
After the vials were done, he took out the herbs box, which hans had gathered for him, before he slept.
He made 14 healing potions and 1 strength potion, just in case he needs it.
Moving quietly, he distributed them. "Drink," he murmured to Liam, who was nursing a broken arm. Liam nodded gratefully, gulping it down. The potion worked fast; color returned on his face, bones knitting with a faint crackle.
"Thanks, Eon," Liam whispered. "We'd be lost without you."
Eon moved on, handing vials to the wounded. An elf with burns sighed as the liquid cooled her skin. Another with a deep gash watched it seal shut. But as he finished, he noted absences: Elsa and Elora weren't among them. While Verra and the other elves were here, they were nowhere to be seen.
'Elsa will be okay', he thought but Elora might be deeply traumatized after what happened. She should not be left alone. At least not yet. He knew from experience.
Worry gnawed deeper. He headed upstairs, steps creaking under his weight. The upper halls were darker, cooler. At the landing, a figure lurked in the shadows, peeking down at the dining room below.
Julius. The count's son, eyes fixed on the elves with a mix of curiosity and something else.
Eon's temper flared. "What are you doing? I told you to stay away from the elves."
Julius startled, turning with hands raised. "I wasn't! Not in a bad way. I swear. I just... no one's told me anything. The battle sounds, the screams, something big happened, right? And those women downstairs... what's happening?"
Eon eyed him closely. Mixed emotions swirled inside him, pity for the boy who'd lost his world, but at the same time, revulsion too. He'd been a tormentor: raping elves, beating them, even assaulting the body Eon now inhabited. Echoes of pain lingered, not his but real enough. Forgiveness? Impossible.
Yet, he couldn't kill him. His mother might have been his first woman, but that's not the only reason he left him alive. Teressa's help depended on her son's safety. And offing a count's heir? That'd invite royal scrutiny, more enemies. The count's death was risky enough; this would be suicide.
Eon brushed past, shoulder bumping Julius's. "If you want answers, go ask your mother. She's downstairs now. She knows."
Julius opened his mouth, but Eon didn't linger anymore. He headed to Teressa's former bedchamber, the door ajar. Soft sobs leaked out, raw and heartbreaking.
He knocked lightly, easing the door open. "Elora?"
She lay on the bed, face buried in a pillow, body shaking. At his voice, she sat up, wiping tears with frantic swipes. Her eyes were swollen, cheeks streaked. She looked small, shattered, not the noble girl, but a child lost in grief.
"Eon..." Her voice cracked.
He entered, shutting the door. Sat on the bed's edge. Both of them just sat quietly for a minute. Then Elora started talking on her own.
She sniffled, fresh tears welling. "I... I went to see Alaric after I woke. He's still chained in that secret room. I told him about Darius, how that mage... twisted him, killed him right in front of me. And Alaric... he didn't even blink. No words, no comfort. Just stared like a statue."
Eon nodded grimly. He wasn't getting why she was telling him about it.
"But you," Elora continued, voice trembling, "you're here, trying to help. You're not even blood, but I feel closer to you than my own brother. Why? Why did he not say anything? Don't he know how scared I am? Darius died in front of me, even after telling him that, why didn't he even try to console me a little?"
The words hit Eon. He pulled her into a hug, awkward but genuine. She clung, sobs muffled against his chest. "We're bound by oath now, no matter what," he said softly. "Your safety, your well-being, it's my duty. I won't let anyone harm you. And those bastards? The shadow mages, the mercenaries, anyone who is associated with them, they'll pay for Darius, for everything."
Although she knew he didn't mean it the way she is thinking, yet her heart fluttered hearing "oath" and "duty to protect" from his mouth. A, warmth bloomed, cheeks flushing pink. Butterflies danced in her belly, but she hid it, pressing closer. Eon, lost in his plans of vengeance, didn't notice.
They sat like that, silence wrapping them. Elora's breathing steadied. "You mean it? About the oath?"
"Every word. The rules keep us safe. You're part of this now, not a prisoner, an ally of mine and elves."
She nodded, pulling back with a small smile through tears. "Thank you, Eon."
He stood, offering a hand. "Come on. Let's get you some food. Can't fight on an empty stomach."
She took it, the touch lingering. As they descended, the dining room stirred. Hans spotted them. "Eon! You're up. We were planning defenses."
"Good," Eon said. "But let's first eat something. You look like a ghost."
Elora stayed close, the oath's proximity a comfort now to her. Even in this chaos, a bond formed, might be fragile, but real.
Author note: Should I make Elora the first Heroin, or not? Tell me in the comments.
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