The look on my brother's face made it clear enough that the plan sounded brutal, especially coming from me
"WHAT! That's too risky, Ans, it coming for her was bound to happen if your theory is right, but taking her to its layer is too much."
"We're running out of time, like you said, we can't just wait for it to come to her, we have no choice, trust me, I wish there was another way, but we're out of options, and the more we delay, the more it kills."
"Do you think she'll even agree to this? What if she doesn't?"
"I don't know, I guess we'll have to look for another way."
"We don't even know where exactly it is in that huge forest, how will we know where to take her?"
"We'll just have to try and take her to that forest at night, you said there were two males in that town who are missing, we'll start in that general area, see if it will sense her."
"This is too dangerous, Ans if we're even a second late to reach it, it could easily tear her to shreds."
"I know, but…"
"I'll do it."
"Lyla! How long have you…"
"I'll do it."
"Look, you need to understand the risk that comes with the plan…" Damian started, but she interjected
"I know it's risky, but if this is how we get it, then I'm willing to do it. I just can't let people keep on dying. The faster we get to this, the better. I don't want my family and the people I love to be in such a risk, so let's just do it."
"You sure?" I asked, moving closer to her
"Yes, I am," she said firmly, although scared. Her hands were folded into fists to stop them from shaking, but her eyes were determined, and I had to admit she gained a new level of respect from me
"Okay, but first let's take a look at that ankle." She only nodded and followed me to the living area, "Place it on the couch." She looked at me skeptically but still followed my instruction, "This will tickle."
I placed my hand right above her ankle and let my power flow, a small blue mist emitting from my hand as I ran it around her ankle. I looked at her, but she had her eyes fixed on the mist, intrigued by it
"There, we need you in top shape if we're gonna do this."
She moved her foot in circular motions, then looked at me, smiling, "Thank you."
"It's nothing, you were almost healed anyway."
"So when are we doing this?" she asked, looking to Damian, who only looked towards me
"How about we start tomorrow night? We'll have to leave early tomorrow, though."
"Okay, I'll go home and pack a few things. I also need to come up with an excuse to tell my mum."
"I'll come pick you up."
"No, let's just meet here."
She stood, allowing herself to put pressure on her left ankle before turning to us with a small smile and bidding us goodbye. I watched as she walked to the door, and a part of me wanted to take back the stupid plan and just erase the whole situation from her mind. She was willing to help just so no one else could get harmed, knowing fully well things might go wrong. No, I wouldn't let anything go wrong, I assured myself, even as I found Damian looking at me with those eyes that never let you know what he was thinking
I had never imagined that our mission here would turn into us meeting a girl with a long-lost and almost forgotten ability if not for the story that was told to us when younger to warn us of the greedy humans that lived in a far-off world that was rotten and vile. The story was used to scare children and make them hate her kind, but people like her would change those beliefs. Yes, there were some despicable humans, but was it right to judge them collectively? After all, we also had rotten beings in our realm
Damian and I spent the rest of the day strategizing on how to best carry out the plan while keeping the risk levels to a minimum, we agreed Lyla's protection was of top priority, one that lay mostly in my hands since Damian had the pleasure of being the one to kill the Wendigo not that I wouldn't help of course but we each had our main roles
After making sure all was well and all our weapons and gear were sharpened and ready, it was already night. I walked to the window and let myself admire this little bit of peace before what lay ahead. Damian was somewhere, probably making sure everything was in place while going over the plan. He had always been that way, thorough, the most admirable of the two of us
Ever since we lost our parents, he has always been more cautious, doing everything to make sure no harm came to either of us, especially me. His obsession with keeping me safe was sometimes overbearing. We quarreled a lot in the past about it, got into physical fights even. He only laid off me when I was old enough to train as a protector, even more so when I became part of the Legion, but I always understood his concern came from a good place. He felt the need to protect me since he was the oldest and we had no one else, and for that, I'd always be grateful
Damian was a superior officer in our forces, in charge of one of our top units, while I was only the second in command of a middle unit. He truly deserved his role though, he had worked tirelessly for it and once he gained it, it was easy to see that such a role was made for him he belonged in a seat of high authority, even our Legate had always secretly told him if he ever fell no one would be better than him to fill the position even though my brother still had at least two more ranks to climb.
That was my brother, fierce, determined, powerful, and precise. That is why I knew just how much he hated how long it was taking to get to the Wendigo, he was probably undermining himself for that, even though he knew the odds were set against us the moment we came here
I shared in that disappointment. We were great warriors, yet a simple Wendigo, no matter if it were a boss, had managed to avoid us for so long. Many times I had wished I were more powerful, more skilled, more useful; perhaps then I would have been able to help out more
I shook my head to let loose of such thoughts. This was no time to condemn myself; we had failed in a way, but now we were getting closer to putting an end to this
Although the night was still young I decided it was best to have an early rest admittedly because I hated the thoughts that kept creeping in but also because I was anxious not only for the task that lay ahead but for the hidden thought that we would have to erase Lyla's mind after all was done, it felt wrong as though we were just using her but it was for the best. For the greater good, I convinced myself as I finally drifted off to sleep