faded
They went up to their rooms in silence.
Exhaustion had finally taken its toll.
The tavern slowly faded.
The lights dimmed.
The voices disappeared.
And the night took over everything.
Erza entered Rin’s room.
With light steps.
Careful not to make a sound.
The girl was already lying down.
Her breathing calm.
Deep.
Erza approached.
She gently pulled the blanket.
Covering her daughter more carefully.
Her hand softly brushed through her hair.
And then—
She leaned in.
Kissed her forehead.
— Good night… my daughter.
She stayed there for a few seconds.
Watching.
As if afraid that everything might disappear.
But then…
She left the room.
Closing the door slowly.
The night went on.
Silent.
Until—
A scream.
Loud.
Desperate.
— AAAAAH!!
The entire tavern woke up.
Rushed footsteps.
Doors opening.
Confused voices.
— What was that?!
— Where did it come from?!
Another scream.
Weaker.
But filled with panic.
— No… stop…!
It was Rin.
Erza was the first to run.
— RIN!
Daichi came right behind her.
And Loren appeared in the hallway, frightened.
— What’s happening?!
The door was thrown open.
Rin was on the bed.
Thrashing.
Sweating.
Eyes closed.
— NO!
— DON’T COME NEAR ME!
She tried to breathe.
But seemed to suffocate.
Her hands gripped her own neck.
As if something invisible was choking her.
— Rin! — Erza held her face — Wake up!
Daichi grabbed her arms.
— Rin! It’s me!
Loren stood at the door.
Not knowing what to do.
But clearly shaken.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
She opened her eyes.
Gasping.
Desperate.
She looked around.
Confused.
And then—
She clung to Erza.
— Mom…!
Her body trembled.
Erza held her tightly.
— It’s okay…
— I’m here…
— It’s okay…
Rin tried to speak.
But her breath faltered.
— I… I saw…
She shut her eyes tightly.
— There was… a shadow…
Silence.
— It… was holding me…
Her hand went to her neck.
— I couldn’t breathe…
The room grew heavy.
Daichi exchanged a quick glance with Erza.
That wasn’t just a normal nightmare.
Loren lowered her gaze slightly.
As if it had affected her too.
Erza noticed.
But stayed calm.
— It’s over…
She stroked her daughter’s hair.
— No one will hurt you here.
Some villagers stood at the door.
Worried.
Erza turned her head.
— It’s over!
— Back to your rooms!
Her voice was firm.
Pure authority.
No room for argument.
Slowly…
People began to leave.
Loren stayed a moment longer.
Looking at Rin.
But then…
She left as well.
Silence returned.
Rin was still trembling.
Erza laid her down again.
Carefully.
— I’ll stay here.
— You’re not alone.
Rin held her hand.
Tightly.
As if afraid to close her eyes.
Daichi stayed for another moment.
Watching.
Then nodded.
And left.
Closing the door.
The night continued…
But it was not peaceful.
Erza remained by her daughter’s side.
Without sleeping.
Watching.
Waiting.
Protecting.
Until dawn.
—
Sunlight filled the village.
The day began.
But the atmosphere…
Was different.
More serious.
More alert.
Erza gathered everyone outside the tavern.
The apprentices.
Daichi.
Aira.
Kaito.
Toma.
Dagan.
Liora.
Loren.
Rin, still shaken, stood beside her mother.
Erza stepped forward.
Her gaze firm.
— What happened last night…
She began.
— Was not just a nightmare.
Silence.
Everyone paid attention.
— There are things in this world…
— That cannot be easily seen.
A pause.
— And magic… is tied to that.
She raised her hand.
For a moment—
An energy appeared.
Subtle.
But present.
Like pressure in the air.
— Magic is not just power.
— It is born from emotions.
Her eyes moved across each of them.
— Fear.
— Anger.
— Will.
— Pain.
— Protection.
— All of it shapes what you can become.
She closed her hand.
The energy disappeared.
— Few possess magic.
— Very few.
Dagan frowned.
— And those who do…?
Erza answered:
— Some are weak.
— Others… dangerous.
Silence weighed heavily.
Then—
She continued.
— There is a place…
— In the capital.
Everyone focused more.
— An altar.
A pause.
— The Altar of Revelation.
A soft wind blew.
— It is there…
— That your affinity is discovered.
Rin lightly held her own hand.
— Affinity…?
Erza nodded.
— Each person is born with a different connection.
— And the altar reveals it.
Daichi remained silent.
Thinking.
— So…
— That’s where we find out what we can do?
Erza looked directly at him.
— Yes.
A pause.
— And after that…
Her gaze grew more serious.
— There is no turning back.
Silence.
The group felt it.
This wasn’t just training.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
And for some…
Dangerous.
Erza took a step back.
— Rest today.
— Because soon…
She looked at all of them.
— We are going to the capital.
