The Mage/Witch Regrets

Chapter 5: FINALLY, YOU'RE HERE

Valleria's POV

The sun is rising, but nobody spoke a single word ever since last night. I am still standing in the spot where the witch left me. My body refused to move an inch, scared to be noticed. Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know what I'm going to say, I don't know how I can ease the pain of these people in front of me when even myself is suffering.

Everyone is grieving the entire night. Yuri and his men never leave the side of their deceased comrade. I can't even look at the three other men, their expression is so dark, with a hint of anger and pain.

"What are you?" Yuri broke the long silence. He looked at me with so much wrath in his eyes. I faced down, too scared to answer him.

"What are you?!" He screamed. I closed my eyes to stop my tears from falling but it still escaped my eyes.

I’ve seen so many people detest the Arcana mages these days, they blame us for the curse. That’s why I never let anyone see my power. The only kingdom I ever considered home is now gone, and the fellow mages I once called family are no longer here. I’m so afraid of being left alone again.

In the past, when I was the only one left, I fought the Witch Queen for over twenty years all alone, with no one to rely on, no one to call for help. That feeling of complete loneliness... I’m terrified of going through that again.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. "I'm a mage." The words slipped out as tears streamed down my face, soaking the skin of my bare feet.

I kept my eyes shut, every muscle in my body stiffened, bracing for the storm I thought would come. The anger, the betrayal, the hatred. I was ready for them to scream at me, to curse my name, to cast me out.

But instead, all I heard was the soft sound of sobbing. Quiet at first, until it began to tremble into broken cries.

"Finally... finally, you came," Yuri choked out between sobs, his voice shaking with something that sounded like... relief.

I couldn’t believe my ears. I opened my eyes slowly, and as I did, the dam inside me broke. The tears I had been holding back for a long time fell freely.

I looked at them, expecting fury in their eyes.. but there was none. Only pain, and overwhelming sorrow. They were crying so hard, to the point that their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground. Kneeling not in anger, but in grief... and hope.

"Our hero, please save us once more." Yuri's men begged with each tears. "Save us, oh great Arcana." They begged.

"We've been suffering for so long!" Nash cried out, his voice cracking as tears poured down his face. "I- I'm so glad you're here. So glad you came back."

"What took you so long..." Yohan whispered, his voice barely holding together, trembling with pain he could no longer hide.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice shaking as I sank to my knees in front of them. "Please forgive me. I failed you... all of you." My throat tightened. I couldn’t even lift my head. The shame was too heavy.

"Hey, why are you kneeling?" Drake wiped his tears and rushed toward me. He gently took my arm, helping me up with care. "You don’t kneel to anyone," he said firmly, his voice low but steady.

"Yeah," one of Yuri’s men called out, his eyes red from crying. "You only failed us by dying, miss mage... so just don’t die on us again, alright?"

"And quit crying, all of you. Your faces are a mess." They laughed through their tears, trying to lighten the weight in our hearts. Their smiles, even through the sorrow, held something I thought I’d never see again. Hope.

And somehow, just seeing that… made my heart feel a little less broken.

"May I know your name?" Yuri asked gently, his eyes not leaving mine. I noticed the others watching too, quietly waiting.

"I'm Valleria Elaina," I said, trying to steady my voice. "But just call me Val."

Yuri stepped closer, lifting his hand to wipe my tears with his thumb. His touch was careful, almost reverent.

"How could you not introduce yourself to your husband, Val?" he whispered, his tone soft but teasing, like a scolding wrapped in affection.

I blinked, startled, then looked away, flustered. Why did he say it like that?

"Stop crying now." he added with a sigh.

"Wow, crybaby, say that to yourself." I shot back, sniffling. We both chuckled, the tension between us melting for a moment.

I never expected this. I thought everything between us was broken beyond repair. But here they are, still by my side. And in this moment, I realized, I never truly lost them.

"By the way, Yohan... let me fix your arm," I said, suddenly remembering.

He blinked, confused. "Fix what?"

"The day hasn't passed yet. We can still reattach it," I explained calmly, stepping toward him.

"Reattach what?" he asked again, still not realizing. Poor guy, he probably never witnessed real healing magic before.

I walked over and picked up his severed arm from the ground, the air around it still pulsing faintly with pain. His eyes widened in horror.

"Trust me," I said softly, then gently pressed his right arm back to his shoulder.

I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. I called on the ancient force of nature's life magic, older than time. I felt it flood through me like a warm wind, gathering in my chest, then flowing down to my hands. The moment I had enough, I released it.

A radiant glow burst from my palms, golden and alive, lighting up the entire space with a soft brilliance. The scent of wildflowers and fresh rain filled the air. In just a heartbeat, the light dimmed, and his arm was whole again.

Everyone froze.

Yohan lifted his arm slowly, flexing his fingers in disbelief. It moved perfectly, like it had never been torn away.

"What the... how did you…?" he murmured, stunned.

Their expressions shifted from shock to awe, as if they’d just witnessed a miracle.

"That's insane!" Drake freaked out. "I'm starting to get jealous at the times when mages are still around!"

"That time was complete chaos, you i***t!" I shouted, throwing my hands up. "It was way harder than anything you're facing now. The Witch Queen was still alive back then, y'know."

"But still!" he argued. "There were mages back then, your powers could literally move mountains!"

I smirked, crossing my arms. "You’re not wrong. If you only saw my family in action, you'd be eating your words. My bloodline was legendary."

I leaned in slightly, voice dropping with pride. "I had this one elder, she's the best healer in the entire world. No exaggeration. One time, a witch drove a thick piece of enchanted wood straight through my gut. I thought I was done for. But my elder just touched my wound, and within seconds, not only was I healed, I felt stronger than before. Like I could punch a dragon and win."

Their jaws practically hit the floor.

"Wait... seriously?" one of Yuri's men said, eyes wide. "You can do that too?"

"No," I answered plainly. "I’m not a healer. That’s not my specialty."

"Then what are you good at?" Yuri asked, curious.

"Killing," I said with a tired sigh. "I was a frontline mage. Fighting was my only role."

"That’s more than great!" he praised.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "What’s so great about watching your friends get slaughtered right in front of you, day after day?"

Silence fell over them, heavy and awkward. I could see it on their faces, the regret, the sudden guilt for praising something they didn’t understand.

I laughed quietly, catching Yuri's confused expression.

"What’s so funny?" he asked.

"Your face, i***t," I chuckled. "Don’t look at me like that. You don’t have to be sorry. It all happened a long time ago."

I glanced down, then back up, my smile bittersweet. "The pain doesn’t go away. It never really does. But I’m learning to live with it a little better each day."

"Don't say something so sad." Nash sighed.

I felt the air grow heavy again, the kind of silence that pulls you back into memories you'd rather not revisit. So I stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes.

"Alright, enough with the drama," I said, forcing a small grin. "Let’s get going. I think it’s time we part ways for now."

I offered my hand to Yohan and helped him to his feet. "See you around, I guess?"

But before I could turn away, Yohan spoke up. "Wait, Val. We’re heading to the Eastern Kingdom. The witches are wreaking havoc there, and the tower’s owner is waiting on our mission report. We need you. Will you come with us?"

I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat. I glanced at Yuri and found him already staring at me. His eyes didn’t beg, but they held something… something that said... he needed me too. It was quiet, but I heard it loud and clear.

He's worried about nothing, my first plan is helping the Northern Kingdom after all. "I'm sorry... but I have something I need to take care of first." My voice softened. "The Northern Kingdom is still fighting monsters deep in the cursed forest. That’s where I’m needed most right now. I know the Eastern Kingdom needs help too, but... can you wait a little bit longer? I'll finish everything after a week."

Yohan nodded, understanding in his eyes. "One week won’t be enough to save that kingdom completely, Val. Don’t push yourself. We’ll hold the line for two weeks. Just come back to us safe."

I smiled, grateful for the trust they placed in me. "Thank you. Then… see you next week, alright? Take care on your way back."

"Safe journey, sir!" Yuri’s men called out in unison, bowing slightly as a sign of respect.

"Fyv," Yuri turned to one of his men, "give them food from the carriages. It’s a long road to the east, they’ll need all the strength they can get. Give them one of our horses too."

Yohan and his friends bowed deeply. "You’re too generous, Prince of the Northern Kingdoms. Thank you... truly."

Within minutes, their supplies were secured behind Yuri’s horse, and they began their journey. We stood in silence, watching as their figures slowly faded into the distance, shrinking with every step until they vanished beyond the horizon. I didn’t say a word, but in my heart, I quietly wished for their safe return.

"It's time we move, too," Yuri said, his voice steadier than the emotion I saw flicker in his eyes. "Get Nate and El into the carriages. They deserve to be buried in our homeland… not in a place soaked in cursed blood."

He paused, swallowing hard. The silence that followed was louder than any scream. What happened last night still lingered in all of us.

When everything was ready, we mounted our horses and rolled forward with the carriages. No one spoke, but the air was filled with unspoken vows.

We were heading north.

Where nightmares crawled from the roots of the cursed forest. Where my friends' grandchildren now stood in the same war their ancestors died in.

I couldn’t save those who fought beside me in the past. But this time… I will protect their bloodline. No matter what it takes.