Sounds, maybe voices. Darkness.
After collapsing at the end of the battle, Violet had regained consciousness several times, only to slip away again moments later.
Pain. The feeling of being lifted—carried.
What happened…?
A confused question, repeating in her mind, echoing and distorting.
Then dreams—broken, muddled.
Muffled voices, faceless shapes.
Am… am I dead? Is this death?
Images flickered through her mind like reflections on a rippling pond.
"No, child, you are not dead."
A warm, deep male voice reached her.
"Who are you?"
Violet floated in the void, knees drawn to her chest, eyes shut.
"Someone who watches you… who keeps vigil over you."
"I… I know you!"
The distant voice, echoing and serene, stirred something inside her—something familiar and unexplainably deep.
"I have awaited you for a long time, Violet."
That voice—unknown, yet intimately familiar.
"Tell me your name!"
Violet forced herself to open her eyes, to see a face.
Nothing. Only darkness.
"Patience, child. We will meet soon…"
Then the falling sensation—sudden, dizzying.
A void pulling her downward, faster and faster.
She opened her eyes and lurched upward.
"A-ahh!!!"
The movement sent a jolt of pain tearing through her chest. The room spun violently and she collapsed back onto the bed, sinking into a soft, overstuffed pillow.
Where… am I?
Blinking through the haze, she made out the shape of a small room, lit only by a faint light slipping through thick curtains.
She tried to stay awake, but the pain and confusion drowned her.
"How is she?"
The voice came suddenly—a young woman's, anxious and strained.
"Will she recover?"
More voices answered her, but Violet couldn't grasp the words.
Darkness returned.
Clashing iron. Screams. A wicked laugh.
Then an animal's cry—an eerie howl echoing in the void.
Two glowing eyes stared at her. Then fangs.
And again, laughter.
Suddenly a face—
A wolf's face lunging at her.
She gasped and her eyes flew open, lifting herself abruptly—
"Ah—!!"
A sharp pain burst through her chest, forcing her back down onto the bed. The room spun violently, and she sank into the soft, overstuffed pillow.
Where… am I?
Through the haze, she caught a glimpse of a small room dimly lit by a faint light seeping through heavy curtains. She fought to stay awake, but the confusion and pain were overwhelming.
"How is she?"
A woman's voice reached her—worried, tense.
"Will she recover?"
More words followed, but she couldn't understand them.
Then—again—the darkness.
Sword clashes. Screams. A malicious laugh.
A feral howl echoing in the dark.
Two glowing eyes staring straight at her.
Fangs—
And laughter again.
Then a wolf's face lunging toward her—
She snapped awake, gasping, trembling. Her eyes darted around, frantic, searching for an attacker.
Silence.
Was… that a dream?
Her body relaxed as the terror slowly drained away.
She tried to move, only for another stab of pain to nearly knock her out. Her head still throbbed, but the confusion was gone. Now she could see—she could feel.
Night.
The darkness outside was deep. Inside, a handful of candles lit the room from an iron stand beside the bed.
"What a strange place…"
Aside from the bed, the room held only a small worn wooden nightstand, and a chair placed beside her.
Then—click.
The door creaked open.
She turned. A young man stepped inside, his hair ash-gray, his eyes light and clear, his face calm and clean.
"You're finally awake!"
He wore a dark mantle with golden trim, and on his chest hung a pendant shaped like a caduceus—the symbol of the gods.
A monk?
"Who are you?"
Startled, Violet instinctively shrank back, clutching the blanket. Noticing her unease, the boy offered her a soft, reassuring smile.
"My name is Evian, miss."
He approached and leaned in slightly to examine her more closely.
"You're… a monk?"
Her embarrassment grew under his serious look.
"Yes, miss."
He moved a finger before her eyes, watching her reaction.
"Where am I?"
Violet felt even more self-conscious.
"In Ostelria. You've been here for a few days now…"
He kept studying her pupils carefully.
"You seem much better. Your eyes are responsive. Tell me—how do you feel?"
"I… fine… I think…"
Aside from the pain.
"Good. Then let's take a look at your wounds."
Violet didn't even have time to react.
"Wh—"
Evian lifted the blanket in one quick motion, leaning forward with the same focused expression.
Violet saw her own body—covered only by the bandages wrapped around her stomach and chest.
Her face drained of blood.
I'm… naked?!
Violet, realizing her state, suddenly felt her anger boil over.
Raising her hand and clenching her fist, she punched the man who was looking at her straight in the face, sending him flying to the other side of the room and rolling across the floor.
Violet's expression was that of a demon as she yelled furiously at the young man, who, with his swollen face and a huge bump on his head, was mumbling and trying to apologize to her.
"Are you out of your mind? What the hell were you thinking? What were you trying to do, you damned maniac?!"
"I–I'm sorry…"
"Pervert!!!"
"I deeply apologize…"
"Is this how you behave toward a young maiden like me? Damn you!!! Degenerate!!!"
The scene went on for quite a while. Violet continued insulting the young man, who eventually fell to his knees before her, begging for forgiveness.
Violet had pulled her legs close and covered herself with the sheet, rocking back and forth with a hollow look in her eyes.
He saw me… He saw everything… Goodbye purity… Goodbye honor…
The commotion had drawn other people as well. Two young nuns in long robes with their heads covered peeked into the room.
"She's awake! The girl is awake!!!"
Behind them appeared a familiar small figure.
Showing up all of a sudden, a smaller figure entered the room.
Violet turned to look, meeting two huge round eyes that lit up with emotion and filled with tears the instant they met hers.
"…Nainai!!!"
The dwarf rushed to the girl, and as soon as he was close enough, she embraced him with the little strength she had, pulling him tightly toward herself.
"So you're alright! Oh thank goodness! I was so scared!!!"
Nainai allowed himself to be held for a long time. Violet felt the dwarf's tears falling and running down her skin.
Holding her companion's hand, Violet turned again toward the young monk.
"But… what happened?" Violet's memories were confused.
"You were brought here by some adventurers, miss. They were therianthropes out on a hunt—bearfolk, you see?"
Bear…folk? Maybe that's why I felt so warm…
"They reached us late in the evening and left you in our care. You had lost a tremendous amount of blood…"
As Violet listened to his words, flashes of memory seemed to surface: heavy footsteps, labored breathing, and warm fur.
She thought back to the scenes from the battle, and to Nainai's intervention. And also…
The sigil! Thelvaria knew about it!
"We provided the first emergency treatments immediately. You must know—when you arrived, your condition was nothing short of dire. I was honestly afraid we wouldn't be able to save you."
"I see…" Violet thought back to the sensation of being lifted and carried.
So it really had happened.
"Your companion stayed by your side day and night, barely resting or eating."
Violet tightened her grip around his small hand.
"And those adventurers? I'd like to thank them…"
It would be the least I could do after they saved my life…
"They left almost immediately, miss…"
Violet felt a sting of disappointment.
"After bringing you here and making sure you would survive, they mentioned some important mission and departed."
A shame…
"They also left this…"
The monk stepped aside, pointing at a table where a strange white object rested.
Violet recognized a hilt and a wide, broken blade.
"But that's…"
"The wolf woman's sword, miss."
Evian turned toward the table, looking at the hilt and the shattered blade.
"You know, those young men worked very hard. They even went to the Guild to report what happened."
Evian gently touched the hilt.
"One of the girls came here as well to check on your condition and see the sword with her own eyes. An Elf."
"Really?"
Violet was speechless.
So Elyune and the other Guild girls knew everything.
"Certainly. Word has already spread across the whole city. Everyone is calling you a heroine."
Heroine???
Violet felt faint, sinking back into the pillow with a deep sigh.
The young man, regaining a serious expression, approached her again and studied her face.
"There will be time for explanations. For now, you need to rest and recover. I think—"
A strange, loud sound interrupted him.
Violet blushed fiercely, pulling the sheet over her face to hide.
The sound had come from her stomach.
How embarrassing…!!!
The monk briefly turned toward the nuns watching the scene and gestured to them; they immediately disappeared.
"Well, you haven't eaten anything for days. I'd say it's perfectly normal…"
The monk smiled, trying to comfort her.
A short while later, the two nuns returned with a tray.
After helping Violet sit up comfortably, the women began feeding her warm, delicate, flavorful broth, and offering her generous amounts of fresh water. Violet tried to resist—there was too much water, and the cup was enormous—but the nuns forced her to drink, holding her in place so she couldn't squirm away.
Violet ate while continuing to talk with the monk, who reassured her about her condition, stating that with proper rest she would almost fully recover.
"You will be left with a scar… unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about that."
Violet touched her abdomen, thinking about the gash that crossed it, realizing that what mattered most was simply being alive.
"I understand. Thank you."
The monk returned her smile.
"Now rest. I'll leave these sisters to check your wounds and change your bandages. I wish you a good recovery."
After taking his leave, the monk pulled Nainai along with him, exiting the room and leaving Violet to the care of the two young women who, after finishing her meal, proceeded to inspect her wounds.
The nuns, observing such a young body, seemed amused.
"You know, miss? You have beautiful skin!"
"Yes, it's really smooth and very fresh!"
Once they finished replacing the bandages, they left, blowing out the candles that lit the room, leaving Violet in darkness.
Left alone with her thoughts, Violet reflected on the monk's words about her rescue and the rumors that had spread.
A heroine, huh?
The thought made her smile as she drifted off to sleep.
Violet opened her eyes lazily.
Did someone knock?
Knock knock…
"Come in…"
The door opened slowly, creaking.
The face that appeared beyond the doorway wasn't the monk's, nor that of the sisters coming to change her bandages.
From the dim light she made out a small, slender silhouette.
Then two soft ears folded forward—and something long and fluffy behind her, moving gently like a tail.
Still groggy, Violet stared at her. The figure was familiar.
"May I come in?" The voice made her remember immediately.
"…Mela? Is that you?" Violet blinked, trying to focus on the figure.
"What are you doing just standing there? Why don't you come closer?"
At her words, the figure timidly took a few steps forward, revealing her face in the faint light seeping in from outside.
Mela had a downcast expression, her tail low. She looked frightened. Her eyes were glossy, as if she were about to burst into tears.
Their eyes met. Then the girl exploded.
"Vioooleeeeeet!!!"
Mela threw herself into the room, launching straight at Violet and hugging her with all the strength her body could muster.
Held tight in that crushing grip, Violet felt her bones bend and creak.
"Mela… Mela, gently. You're hurting me."
Mela, still hugging her tightly, began to pour her tears all over her.
"I was so worried when you didn't come back…"
The dog-girl had climbed onto the bed and was practically lying on top of her.
"I waited for you for so long. At first I thought maybe you had left without telling me anything. Then I remembered the guild and ran there in the middle of the night, waking everyone up to ask if they had any information about you."
Feeling the desperation in her voice, Violet held her tighter.
"When even they told me you hadn't passed by, I got even more worried… I thought something terrible had happened to you."
Violet began gently stroking her head.
"And how did you find us?"
"I asked everywhere. At the market, at the other inns. I thought maybe you had picked a nicer place to stay the night. I didn't care. I just wanted to know you were alright."
Violet was deeply moved by her words.
"I stayed awake for two days, searching everywhere. Then I heard some people at the market talking about a girl with purple hair who had defeated a commander of the demon army or something, and they said she was at the temple in critical condition. So I ran here!"
Mela, her face buried in Violet's chest, kept talking nonstop, without even pausing for breath.
"At first they wouldn't let me in, and then I met that Elf from the guild who was coming out."
"You mean Elyune?"
Mela sniffled loudly before continuing.
"Yes, her. And she told me you were badly injured and that you weren't waking up. And then there were so many people coming to ask how you were. They wanted to see you!"
Violet realized her friend had been genuinely terrified.
"So I waited. I stayed here outside, waiting for someone to finally let me in. They told me it would take time, but that you were out of danger and that you'd wake up soon. I was so relieved. Then I saw Nainai…"
So the monk had been right.
News of Thelvaria's defeat had spread through the city like wildfire.
"It's alright, Mela. I'm fine. Everything's okay."
After a gentle knock, someone appeared in the doorway.
"May I come in?"
Evian, after a brief glance inside, stepped into the room, followed by Nainai.
"Grrrrrrrr."
Mela turned toward the monk, pointing her finger at him.
"There he is! He's the one who didn't want to let me in!!!"
Mela's tail shot straight up, the fur bristling.
"I see…"
Violet suddenly remembered how the monk had lifted her blanket to inspect her unclothed body.
"You really are shameless!"
Both girls glared at him as he slowly approached the bed.
"I— um… well… I just came to see how you're doing…"
Once close enough, he froze in embarrassment.
Mela kept her eyes locked on him without blinking, looking ready to bite.
Finding a way to examine the patient anyway, the monk gave a quick look at Violet's bandages and wounds.
"I'd say they're healing well! I think you could try moving a little if you wish…"
Violet pushed herself upright on the bed under Mela's careful gaze.
She managed to stand for a brief moment before her legs trembled violently, forcing her to sit down again.
"I still feel too weak…"
The room spun for a second. Violet pressed a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes to avoid collapsing backward.
"For now you need rest, and you must avoid exerting yourself. I also recommend eating plenty of meat and drinking lots of water."
"I'll take care of that," Mela snapped at the monk, not even glancing at him, then turned to Violet with her tail flicking rapidly.
"When you're ready, tell me. I'll help you gather your things."
"Ready? For what?"
Mela tilted her head, puzzled by the question.
"Well, you don't want to stay here forever with… this guy!!!"
With a careless flick of her hand, she pointed at the young monk standing behind her.
"I'll help you get up and get ready, so we can go back to the inn."
That thought soothed Violet.
The inn and its familiar warmth, Mela's care…
A place she could return to.
The monk, displeased, tried to intervene.
"But the inn is too far! You shouldn't strain yourself like that. I strongly advi—"
"We have transportation!"
Mela cut him off, arms crossed, still refusing to look at him.
"Well… in that case…"