Chapter 23: The Weight of a Name
735 Words
The roar echoed across Greenhollow.
The laughter that had slowly returned to the village disappeared in an instant.
Every conversation stopped.
Every child instinctively moved closer to their parents.
Even the evening wind seemed to hesitate.
Echo tightened his grip on the wooden sword.
"...They're back."
Dorothy calmly looked toward the dark forest.
"No."
Echo blinked.
"...What?"
"They never truly left."
Silence.
The words settled heavily over everyone.
---
Kodie stepped forward.
"There are five."
"Three larger ones."
"Two moving through the trees."
Echo looked at him in surprise.
"...You can tell all that?"
Kodie nodded.
"...Their footsteps are different."
Dorothy smiled faintly.
"Good."
Then she turned to the villagers.
"No one leaves the square."
"The guards form a defensive line."
"The healers remain behind us."
No one questioned her.
Not even the captain of the village guard.
He simply bowed.
"As you command, Lady Dorothy."
Echo noticed it again.
Nobody cared who officially ruled Greenhollow.
When Dorothy was here...
Everyone followed her.
---
A frightened child tugged gently at Mira's robe.
"...Miss..."
"...Will they come again?"
Mira knelt until she was at eye level.
"They might."
The child began trembling.
Mira gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But..."
She smiled.
"They'll have to get through us first."
The little boy slowly nodded.
His fear didn't disappear.
But his courage returned.
Echo watched quietly.
"...She's good with children."
Edric smiled.
"...She always has been."
---
Another elderly healer approached Dorothy.
"Lady Dorothy..."
"I'm sorry for asking..."
"...but..."
His eyes shifted toward Mira.
"...Is she...?"
Dorothy looked at Mira for a brief moment.
Then back at the healer.
"My student."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
The old man smiled knowingly.
"...I understand."
Echo frowned.
"...That's definitely not all."
---
As everyone prepared the barricades...
Echo finally walked beside Edric.
"...Can I ask something?"
"You already are."
"...What's a Saintess?"
Edric became unusually quiet.
For several long seconds...
Only their footsteps answered.
Finally...
He spoke.
"...A Saintess..."
"...is someone people believe can bring hope."
Echo scratched his head.
"...That's it?"
Edric smiled.
"...No."
"But that's all I'll tell you today."
Echo sighed dramatically.
"You adults are impossible."
Edric laughed.
"...Lady Dorothy says curiosity is healthy."
"...But answers must be earned."
---
Nearby...
Mira continued treating another patient.
Her healing magic flowed smoothly.
Confidently.
Yet...
After several hours...
A tiny drop of sweat rolled down her cheek.
Her breathing had become heavier.
Dorothy quietly walked over.
Without saying a word...
She handed Mira a small bottle filled with green herbal tonic.
Mira accepted it.
"...Thank you."
She drank it.
Closed her eyes for a moment.
Then returned to treating the next patient.
Echo watched everything.
"...She doesn't even take a break."
Dorothy answered quietly.
"...Because she believes every minute matters."
Echo looked toward Mira.
For the first time...
He realized...
Being gifted...
Didn't mean things were easy.
---
The elderly woman from earlier slowly approached Mira.
She bowed deeply.
"Thank you..."
"My grandson is alive because of you."
Mira quickly helped her stand.
"...Please don't bow."
"I only did what anyone should."
The old woman smiled sadly.
"...That's exactly what makes you..."
She stopped herself.
Instead...
She gently touched Mira's cheek.
"...You've grown."
Mira's expression softened.
"...It's been a long time."
Echo noticed.
"...They know each other?"
Edric quietly answered.
"...Years ago..."
"...Mira visited this village."
Echo stared.
"...Before she met Dorothy?"
Edric nodded.
"...Long before."
Echo suddenly understood.
This wasn't the first village she'd saved.
Not even close.
---
A distant horn echoed from outside the village.
One...
Then another.
The guards immediately straightened.
The captain ran toward Dorothy.
"They've been spotted!"
Kodie stepped out of the darkness.
"They're changing direction."
Dorothy looked toward him.
"...Towards us?"
Kodie slowly shook his head.
"No."
He looked beyond the village...
Toward the endless fields.
"...They're chasing something."
Everyone fell silent.
Even Dorothy's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Something?"
Another roar thundered across the valley.
Then...
A second one answered.
Echo felt chills run down his spine.
Whatever those monsters were hunting...
Had survived long enough...
To keep running.
Dorothy tightened her grip on her walking stick.
Her voice became quieter than ever.
"...That isn't normal."
For the first time since arriving...
There was uncertainty in Dorothy's eyes.
And that frightened Echo more than the roar itself.
---
End of Chapter 23
«Some names inspire hope...
Some monsters inspire fear...
But the most dangerous mysteries are the ones neither can explain.»
- Writer
