CHAPTER 5 CHAOS

  After playing on the swing. Unicus, Lacia and Mellona all three of them are returning home.

  The forest in the afternoon seems almost too quiet. Unicus is carrying his doll, Kira. His mind is racing with thoughts.

  I'll soon learn how to make clothes. I'll do some for Kira, just as she prefers them. I know she will look great wearing them.

  He smiles to himself lost in thought. Lacia is looking at him like he is a rare breed of a cute animal.

  Lacia asks, “Is Unicus always like that? Cough cough. Lost in thought?”

  Mellona answers her, “Well that's why I'm here still taking care of him. If he was acting like kids his age I wouldn't even care~”

  Lacia giggles hearing that, “Well it feels like Unicus is special, doesn't he?”

  Mellona wonders, “Well after everything I've seen. I wouldn't doubt that …” says in a serious tone.

  Lacia however seems to look at Mellona, a teasing smile creeping on her face, “So is there any trick to why Unicus is always attached to your hip? Cough cough. What have you done to the kid, Mellona?”

  Mellona gets flustered by that, “Wha … Wha … What? I've done nothing. I've definitely done nothing to make him interested in me. Anyways, why are you asking me that all of a sudden?”

  Lacia thinks but ultimately gives a childish response, “Well I want to have Unicus's attention to. Cough…”

  Mellona is genuinely surprised and doesn't have an answer for her, “Well. I'm sorry. I can't help with that.”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  When the gang returns to the nearby village, everything seems quiet – almost too quiet.

  The road leading to the village is empty, unlike how it's normal to find at least one or two people walking every now and then.

  What's this? What is this eerie feeling?

  Mellona keeps her hand near her clothes where she has a hidden dagger.

  Maybe it's like Russell suspected after all? I should keep a vigilant eye on the surroundings.

  Mellona walks a bit awkwardly, but her adventurer senses are screaming that something is wrong here.

  Unicus is lost in thought as always, Lacia is smiling carefree. Mellona glances at them feeling a bit reluctant to use violence in their presence.

  I wish … I pray no idiot runs into us.

  But her wish was dashed as a presence suddenly approached them.

  Mellona clicks her tongue, “Tsk. I wasn't expecting anything this soon …”

  A man in his 20s walks in front of them. He is fully armed unlike Mellona who only brought one dagger while the other, left in the home.

  “I thought all the villagers were in the village hall? Lucky me~ I've found a woman with her children.”

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  Mellona takes a deep breath, then she asks the kids, “Unicus. Lacia. Close your eyes. Now!!”

  Followed by her casting a spell, she prioritised speed with a faster chant “Winds that race across the sky, heed my call! Lift my steps, swift and high—Gale Step!” lunges forward.

  The attacker is shocked, “Wait, you can use magic?”

  The blades clashed, the attacker put everything he had into defending him.

  “What are you people doing at this village? How many of you are here?” asks Mellona.

  The attacker just pushed Mellona back and breathed hard. “Like I would tell you, woman.”

  Then Mellona shouts back, “Don't call me like Unicus used to!!” Lunging forward yet again.

  The attacker had little time to react before his head was rolling on the ground. Her speed was unreal at that moment.

  Unicus however watches with silence, “Wow. Mellona I actually didn't think you were capable of killing someone.” His detached, scientist analysis kicking in.

  Mellona’s frustration boils over. “Why didn’t you close your—wait. Wait a moment. Don’t tell me you saw that… and you’re acting like it’s nothing?”

  Unicus meets her gaze, his eyes glinting with an unsettling light. “What about it? You killed an enemy. That’s all. Am I wrong?”

  A chill runs down her spine. His indifference is sharper than any blade. She tries to process it, but the words stick in her throat. Her lips tremble before parting in a whisper.

  “Maybe… just maybe… I’ve been looking in the wrong place all along…”

  Lacia is still standing with her eyes closed, interrupting her chain of thought, “So … am I allowed to open my eyes?” then her nose twitches, “It smells funny in here? Can we start moving? I'm hungry~”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Following that the trio finally reached home, Mellona however was exhausted.

  Unicus looking at her, he suggests, “Why don't you eat a meal and take some rest?” whether he was concerned for her or not? It's not exactly evident from the way he said that.

  Mellona reassures him, “You know what … I'm doing just fine. Anyways, first order of business. Make sure Vanilla and Russell are safe~” clutching a nearby wall for support.

  They were attacked two more times before reaching home, but Mellona quickly dispatched them in a minute.

  Unicus comments, “You know what you seem pretty capable in combat, for a woman who is working as a maid and yaps a bit too much for her own good?”

  Mellona however didn't even have strength left in her to engage in idle banter with Unicus.

  “Yeah. Yeah. How about you shut your mouth for once?”

  Then she matches into the home looking for Russell and Vanilla. However the house was a mess, not in the worst way but isn't exactly in a good condition either.

  She immediately wonders what happened to them, “Don't tell me they've taken them? …” then something from a few minutes ago hits her.

  The moment he saw them, the first attacker said, “I thought all the villagers were in the village hall? Lucky me~ I've found a woman with her children.”

  Mellona mutters, “The village hall? That's where~ that's where they should be… I should help them now…”

  But unicus pulls her down, “No. We are not going anywhere with you like this. Go. Get some rest or I'll go alone to save them. Choose wisely, Mellona.”

  Mellona's lips twitch as he says those words. She considers them for a moment.

  Unicus must be worried for me in his own way. But how can I? …

  Mellona, feeling like she has no choice, complied “Fine. I'll have a meal but nothing more.”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  After having half an hour of rest, Mellona gets up ready to find Vanilla and Russell. Unicus also gets up for some reason.

  Mellona asks, “Why are you getting up?” Her eyebrows raised.

  Unicus casually says, “Well I can't exactly leave you alone. So I'm coming with you.”

  Mellona's eyes widened at that, “No. You. are. Not coming with me. Understand?”

  Unicus replies, “Fine then. I'll but don't come crying to me when you need me.”

  Mellona however seems dubious, “Are you sure. Can I trust you? What if …”

  Unicus cuts her off, “I hope Vanilla and my father are alright? Oh how I fear for them~”

  Feeling irritated, Mellona wearing her adventurer outfit leaves tucking the two daggers inside her clothes. She also takes Vanilla's sword, tying it around her waist.

  Unicus looks at her fading figure and smiles mischievously, “Well time to give her a heart attack. It would be interesting to see her react once she realised it.”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Mellona runs through the ruined village, her footsteps slow, heavy with the weight of devastation. The air is thick with the acrid scent of smoke and ash, mingling with the dampness of sodden earth where water magic has torn through homes.

  Some houses stand with walls cracked and crumbling, others lay in shambles, their insides looted and shattered.

  Fires still burn in places, their orange glow flickering against the charred remains of once-peaceful homes. Pools of water reflect the destruction, the lingering mark of magic evident in the unnatural way the wood is warped and stone is shattered.

  Every step she takes echoes in the eerie silence, save for the distant crackling of flames and the occasional creak of a broken beam collapsing under its own weight.

  There are no screams left—only the ghosts of violence that linger in the ruins.

  “I can't believe it~ I seriously can't believe what they've done to our peaceful village.”

  Witnessing all these. Only one thought comes back to her mind again and again, Why? Why would anyone go this far?

  As she was wondering, rapidly moving clouds darken the atmosphere.

  “It might be burning for now. The rain might put out the fire… but what about the rest …”

  A look of melancholy dances on her face. She bites her lips in frustration. With a determined gaze, she reaches near the village hall.

  As she catches her breath near the village hall. A small shadow suddenly approached her.

  “So how, you doing?” asks Unicus.

  Mellona is shocked to find him here, “Why are you here? … Didn't I tell you to stay home?” her worry turns into one of fury.

  Unicus is having none of that, “Who cares about what you said? I make rules here. And I've decided to come.”

  She strikes her palm on the forehead, “I don't understand how you can act so much differently compared to a normal child? Anyways, what about Lacia?”

  Unicus's gaze shifts towards the village hall, “She is in the house. So how are we breaking in? … Does Mellona have any suggestions?”

  Mellona frowns at the thought of taking him there, “What would I do in a battle carrying a barely 3 year old child?”

  Unicus corrects her, “Not exactly. My 4th birthday is coming up in 5 months.”

  Mellona smiles awkwardly, “That's not the point Unicus. I just want you to understand~”

  Unicus starts talking, ignoring her, “Well I have a solid plan. Considering the time and the coordination and the scale of the attack. It could be that we might have to defeat one enemy, the rest might not actually be our enemies after all? Considering the three you've fought before we reached home and two following that as well.”