The Demon and the Healer - Chapter 7- Grief!

“I…must admit Hero…you… you were a formidable foe…worthy to claim my life…but don’t just rest your sword yet…one day…we will battle once again…”

It has been a day since Helios has been fighting with the demon lord along with his teammates. A complete twenty-four hours of utter chaos and nothing but death waiting for any side who ceases their assault first.

The battle was just like Helios and the other three heroes thought, was fought neck to the neck without a single minute to rest in between but unlike the last demon general they faced, the demon lord surprisingly was not entirely unreachable and was incurring damage from the battle as well.

Unlike when Helios faced that bastard demon who took Charlotte, hostage, he was able to slash his blade and pour out his rage and the determination of his servitude through his attacks and damage the Monarch. But despite their win, the death of their teammate Gellion surely would weigh down on all of them.

Gellion died while protecting his comrades when The Demon Lord suddenly released his ultimate attack at the near end of the battle. His demise led the team to their victory and his sacrifice would be remembered for years and years to come.

“I will be waiting,” Helios replied with a severe expression with blood trickling down his brows and dozens of cuts and bruises aching actively. His hands were sore enough to make it difficult for him to even lift his sword for another swing. Mana was near its depletion and his body was screaming with agony but Helios was not done just yet.

A very important task remained for which Helios could even fight death right now.

“Can you guys walk?”

Helios didn’t let the pain contour his face as he asked his friends about their condition in a serene tone before he went to drape his cloak over his fallen comrade.

Like Helios, Grace, and Gail were also heavily injured and the loss of blood was concerning from an outside perspective but the two were no regular humans to surrender just now.

“Yeah…we have to, otherwise who would save Charlotte from that bastard.”

Grace weakly chimed as she along with the help of the assassin got up on her feet, with her arm draped over Gail’s shoulder as leverage to not fall back once again. Amongst all after Gellion, Grace was the only person who seemed during battle, on the verge of nearing her limit but thankfully nothing unfortunate occur for her.

Helios couldn’t help but let out a small smile of pride arcing his lips before his expression returned and he crouched down to pick up his fallen comrade.

Soon the group of now three began walking down the path they came from with one of them being supported by her teammate and another one now lifelessly, being carried by the Light Hero.

****

“Huh…Charlotte?”

Helios couldn’t believe his ear when he heard Gail’s voice echoing and calling up for the person he must have seen before him since Gail and Grace were walking some distance ahead from their leader.

Helios, despite not intended, rushed his pace slightly with a smile daring to bloom in expectancy. Soon he passed by his two team members to see the face Helios yearns the most.

Her ethereal beauty was not fazed even in the slightest nor she seemed harmed physically as well. Helios has been planning how to rescue Charlotte ever since he left the battleground where they fought against the Demon Lord but now he didn’t have to worry about any more chaos since Charlotte seemed fine and somehow freed from that evildoer’s grasp.

“Char…are you fine?” The concern and warmth in his voice never went unnoticed by the others nor the lady in question signifying how much he cares for the woman. It was the same for Gail and Grace as well but they chose to remain silent and not disturb their small reunion.

In response, Charlotte didn’t answer back since her entire attention was drawn toward the lifeless body of the person whom Charlotte regarded as her partner. Tears poured down her cheeks as she tried to keep her composure and not burst out in grief.

Her teammates meant a lot to Charlotte and she would have felt this shaken up for anyone. Charlotte expected such an outcome, more so considering her frail constitution she thought she would be the one who would get killed but that didn’t stop Charlotte from participating in this raid, even for once.

She was sure Gellion was not regretful of his sacrifice since everyone in the Hero’s party lived to bring peace to their people. But it doesn’t change the fact that his death would weigh down not only Charlotte but everyone on the team.

“What would happen to Lily and Elli…” Charlotte was not even able to comprehend the scene when Gellion’s wife and daughter would hear about his death. The innocent life was only three years old and requested her father to spend her birthday this time along with her.

Gellion considered this raid as the cue of his retirement so he promised his daughter but now…how would she react hearing her father would never come back to fulfill his promise. Not to talk about Lily, Gellion’s wife who had no one in her family other than Gellion and their daughter….from what Charlotte could assume she would get devasted yet taking her personality into account, Charlotte knew she would not show an essence of remorse in front of anyone.

“I know it’s tough but we have to do this…”

If he wouldn’t be holding Gellion then Helios’ hand would have found Charlotte’s trembling shoulder to comfort the woman.

It was Grace who walked forward and enveloped her friend in a soft hug before Charlotte broke down in a hurtful cry followed by Grace who was no longer able to hold herself as well. Gail had a hard time hiding his tears but in the end, his cheeks were trailed with moisture as well.

But not Helios since the person who was taught to be a dependable figure from a very young age…couldn’t even shed in front of others due to bis own psychological reasons. And Helios hated himself for that…

It was a memorable day for humanity when they finally got rid of the biggest tumor which could have cost everyone’s life but the price they had to pay was also nothing to pretend ignorant about.

On this day many things were bound to change when a greater demon, more powerful than the demon lord, would come into the light and let the world know the new face of the demons whom they were unaware about until now…

*****

A/N: – Arc 1 finished. This story would not be much long and something would be transpiring in each of the chapters from here on.

Drop a comment if you are liking the story until now~