Chapter 49: Searching for Jax

Lira POV - 12 hours ago It’s a good day... I wonder where we’ll go hunting today, I thought. "Zela, do you think we can...?" "Damn it...!" I heard Jax yell before he ran off toward the village exit. I looked at my sister Zela, who also didn’t understand what was happening. "Lira, let’s go after him. Something serious must have happened for the Hero to run like that." "Grab your shield, Zela, don’t forget it." Zela and I ran at full speed to the entrance. It seemed we had all had the same idea, as the other village warriors were also arriving one after another. "What do we do now?" "Let’s wait for Riven or the matriarch. We can’t go after him, it’s dangerous." "But if we let him go alone and something happens to him, we’ll be next. I think we should follow him immediately. If the danger is serious, we can all fight together." "I don’t think that’s an option. The young Hero Jax is much stronger than us; we would only get in his way." The argument among the elders was very heated. Zyra and Vira wanted to run after Jax, but Karely and Elnara were firmly opposed. "Silence! Commander present!" No one could agree. Just when I thought they would attack each other, Anya’s shout silenced everyone. Riven arrived with Manaia, bringing order to all those present. "We have orders from the supreme commander and clan leader Jax: ’shield formation,’ everyone prepare your weapons for battle." Those who hadn’t brought their weapons ran to get them. In a few minutes, we were all at the entrance with our weapons ready. "This is the first time I’ve seen him so pale and scared," the matriarch whispered to Riven, her voice trembling. "What’s happening? Why did Jax run off like that?" one of the girls asked. Manaia looked at us with wide eyes while shaking her head. "I don’t know. Jax didn’t give us any explanation; he just told us to wait here." The atmosphere became tense. We had been at the village gate for only an hour, waiting for his return as he had asked, but there was no change. Everything remained completely silent. "We should do something, matriarch..." "We can’t go anywhere; those were Jax’s orders," Manaia replied. "I know, but maybe we could set up some barricades to protect ourselves from an invasion." Zyra’s suggestion was well received, and we began to prepare the battlefield to repel an attack, just as Mr. Jax had taught us. Doing something distracted us from the worry, but time passed and Mr. Jax didn’t come back. The sun was already beginning to set, staining the sky orange, and fear was growing in our hearts. We had been waiting for hours, not knowing what had happened out there. The silence became unbearable; we didn’t know if Mr. Jax was okay or had run into some trouble. "We should go check," I said, stepping forward. "We can’t stay here doing nothing. Maybe Jax needs reinforcements." I may be the youngest, but I’m also the fastest and most agile thanks to the training and leveling up with my companions. "No, Lira, it’s too dangerous! Jax’s order was for us to stay," Manaia immediately opposed, without even listening to my explanations. But that didn’t stop me; I had to convince her. I couldn’t keep waiting, or I would go crazy. "But if he doesn’t come back, we’re lost anyway! I’m the fastest and most agile of all. No one could match me in speed. If I don’t do it, who will? It’s too dangerous for anyone else to go." I argued with determination, feeling the adrenaline already rushing through my veins. I thought it would be more difficult, but my words convinced them. They knew I was right, and besides, they all wanted to know what was happening. "Sister, please don’t do it, don’t leave me alone." My sister Zela looked at me with teary eyes. I hate leaving her alone, as she is very clumsy and fragile, but I feel it’s my duty to do something for the clan. "Don’t worry about me, Zela. If I get into trouble, I’ll run back immediately. I promise I won’t put myself in danger." Although she didn’t agree, Zela let go of my hand and just gave me a hug while whispering over and over: "Please, come back safe, don’t leave me alone." With one last worried look from everyone, I ran off. I activated my new Archer skill, [Agility Lvl 2]. The world became a blur as I launched myself down the path we always used; my speed had increased too much. In a few seconds, I could no longer see the village behind me. The trees were very dense. I had never noticed it before because I had always come with everyone, but now that I was completely alone, I felt that there really were too many terrifying trees. The scene looked like something out of a nightmare. I had to stop for a moment to gather my courage. The forest in front of me seemed like the jaws of a huge beast ready to devour me. For a moment, I thought I heard a voice begging me not to enter the forest, but I couldn’t give up just because I was scared. I gritted my teeth and kept running, entering the forest and going as fast as I could so I wouldn’t have to think about how terrifying the forest looked. I followed the path until I finally reached the clearing we always came to, a short distance from the goblin village. This was the most dangerous place, so I approached the village stealthily. I stood on the hill where we had been the first time; from there, I could see the entire place without obstructions. I started looking for Leader Jax, but nothing seemed strange. I started to get closer and thought I saw something in the distance. I ran to see what it was and, upon arriving, the scene froze my blood: dozens of corpses of orcs and Sealakels were scattered, mutilated with their chests ripped open, and in the center, a gigantic stone golem, shattered on the ground with the entire upper part of its body destroyed and a giant crater on its shoulder.