The village awakened differently that day. It was not something that could be pointed out immediately, but it was noticeable to anyone paying attention. The air felt lighter, the morning silence less heavy. When I left the mansion, I felt it clearly. Liriel's purification had not been just an act of power, it had altered the environment as a whole.
She was already outside, calmly observing the horizon. There was slight exhaustion in her eyes, but also a tranquility that had not been there before. Elara stood nearby, as if she were still analyzing the effects of the energy used the previous day. Scarlett leaned against one of the columns in silence, while Lyannis reviewed some notes. Vespera maintained her usual discreet posture, and Rai'kanna approached as soon as she saw me.
"It feels different," she said.
"It is different," I replied.
Liriel looked at me.
"It's not finished yet."
"I know."
She took a small step forward.
"Yesterday I cleaned the surface. Today I need to make sure there's nothing deeper left."
Elara nodded.
"Some roots may still be contaminated. If we don't deal with it now, the problem could return."
I looked at both of them.
"Then we do it today."
We headed once again toward the fields. The village master was already there, accompanied by some villagers. Their expressions were different now. There was no longer only doubt. There was expectation.
"We already noticed changes," the master said as soon as we approached.
"That quickly?" I asked.
"Some plants already seem stronger."
That was a good sign.
Liriel walked once again to the center of the field, but this time her movements were different. There was not the same intensity as the previous day, but instead a more refined control. It was as if she were searching for something specific.
I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to sense the mana flow. The energy was more stable, but there were still small irregularities. Isolated points, almost imperceptible.
She opened her eyes.
"There are still residues."
"Can you locate all of them?" I asked.
"Yes. But I'll need to do this more precisely."
Elara positioned herself beside her again.
"I'll keep the flow controlled."
Liriel nodded and slowly raised her hand. This time, the light did not spread widely. It concentrated into small points, as if it were being guided directly toward where it needed to act.
Every time the light touched the ground, there was a subtle reaction. It was not visible to everyone, but I could feel it. That residual energy being dissolved, being completely eliminated.
The process was slower than before, but also more effective. It was not a general cleansing.
It was absolute purification.
The villagers watched in silence. Some stepped a little closer, curious, but still respecting the distance.
Scarlett spoke in a low tone.
"She's going deeper this time."
"She has to," I replied.
Lyannis followed every movement.
"If this works, there won't be any more instability."
Vespera crossed her arms.
"And if it doesn't work?"
"Then we find another solution," I answered.
Rai'kanna never took her eyes off Liriel.
"It'll work."
After some time, Liriel stopped. The light slowly faded away, and the field returned to its natural state. But this time… there was something different.
There were no more irregularities.
I took a deep breath.
"Now it's over."
Liriel nodded, breathing more heavily.
"Yes. There's nothing left now."
Elara looked around.
"The energy is completely clean."
The village master took a few cautious steps forward. He crouched down, touched the soil, then one of the plants.
"This… this has never happened before."
I looked at him.
"Then get used to it."
He let out a small laugh, almost unable to believe it.
The villagers began approaching more closely. Some touched the ground, others examined the plants more carefully. The atmosphere had changed completely. Where there had once been doubt, there was now confidence.
A woman approached Liriel.
"Thank you… truly."
Liriel seemed surprised for a moment, but soon smiled softly.
"I only did what needed to be done."
But I knew it was more than that.
I looked at her.
"No. You did more than that."
She looked at me for a moment, but did not respond.
Lyannis approached me.
"Now we can move forward."
"Yes."
"Without this, nothing we did would have had any effect."
"I know."
Scarlett gave a slight smile.
"Now it's getting interesting."
Vespera looked around.
"The village is going to change."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"And you're going to make sure of that."
I nodded.
The village master approached once more, this time with a different posture. Firmer.
"What do we do now?"
I looked directly at him.
"Now we build."
He nodded.
"I'm ready."
I turned my attention to everyone.
"The land is clean. This won't be a problem anymore."
I looked toward the plantations.
"Now there are no more excuses."
Lyannis was already mentally organizing the next steps.
Elara analyzed how the energy flowed.
Scarlett observed the villagers.
Vespera maintained her vigilance.
Rai'kanna remained by my side.
And Liriel… stood there, quieter than before, but with a different light in her eyes.
That moment was not just a solution.
It was a turning point.
Before we returned, I gave the field one last look. Everything was in order. For the first time since I arrived, there was nothing hidden, nothing interfering.
The foundation was ready.
Now… growth depended on us.
And I had no intention of wasting that.