Five days later, inside the White Greever Tree.
The silent night still lingered heavily over Rawin and Valien.
"Are they still not awake?" Warsen asked one of the doctors.
"I'm sorry, Lord Warsen," the doctor replied, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, not yet. I can't say for sure why. As for Valien, he was only slightly exposed to a strange and mysterious energy, so he might awaken in a few more days. But for Rawin… I can't make any guarantees."
"Is this how it should be?" Warsen muttered bitterly, slamming his fist on the table. "To sacrifice a young man just to protect this village that I'm sworn to defend?"
One of the elders, Merinel, spoke gently, "Please, don't blame yourself, Lord Warsen. This is also our fault."
"Yes, that's true," Darvish added. "We share the blame for not being able to defeat that Ancient Glossy Beast sooner."
"Indeed," Margel followed. "We all share responsibility—so please, don't bear it alone."
"Which is why," Kaelith said firmly, "we must now focus on healing the one who saved us."
Warsen took a deep breath, slightly comforted by their words.
Suddenly, outside the White Greever Tree, a commotion erupted. Firsa and the young hunters had arrived.
"Let me in! My student is in there!" Firsa cried, her voice trembling with tears.
"Yes, let us through!" Orpy shouted.
"He's our friend! Open the gate!" Elvi demanded angrily.
"I'm sorry," the gate guard replied sternly. "No one is allowed to enter this area without permission from the Elders."
"Are you insane?" Arde snapped. "Our friend risked his life to save this village, and you won't even let us see him?"
"This is an emergency! How can you still doubt us?" Silvien added.
"Even so," the guard insisted, "rules are rules. Without permission, you cannot enter the White Greever."
Inside, the muffled argument reached Margel's ears. "Why is it so noisy out there? I'll go check it out. Please allow me to step out, Lord Warsen."
"Wait," Warsen said, his brow furrowed. "That voice… I think I recognize it. I'll go with you."
"My lord, there's no need to trouble yourself," Margel replied.
"No, I'm certain this is important."
"…Very well, if you insist," Margel sighed.
They both stepped outside to find the cause of the commotion.
"What's going on here?" Margel demanded.
"Ah, Lord Warsen! You're here!" Firsa exclaimed, tears running down her face.
Both Margel and the guard were stunned.
"Lord Warsen, you know her?" Margel asked in disbelief.
"It seems there's been a misunderstanding," Warsen said calmly.
He then explained that he knew Firsa personally. The guard turned pale. "M-my apologies, Lord Warsen… I didn't realize she was your guest."
"Yes," Margel added, bowing his head. "I too must apologize for my suspicion."
"How about it, Lady Firsa?" Warsen asked kindly. "Would you forgive my subordinates? They meant no harm."
"Why should we forgive them?" Elvi protested. "We already said we're Rawin's friends and that you know us!"
Firsa placed a hand on Elvi's shoulder to calm her. "It's alright. We came here suddenly without proof, so we share part of the blame. Please, don't hold it against them," she said softly.
"Well then, since that's settled, shall we go inside? You wanted to see Rawin, didn't you?" Warsen suggested.
"Yes, that would be best," Firsa replied.
Before entering, the guard bowed deeply. "Please forgive me, Lady Firsa, and all of you young hunters. I should have been more respectful."
"Why should we forgive you for making Lady Firsa cry?" Elvi snapped.
"Calm down, Elvi. The misunderstanding's over," Silvien said gently.
"Yes, let it go," Orpy added.
"B-but—" Elvi stammered.
"It's alright, Elvi," Firsa said with a small smile. "Everything's fine now."
Elvi finally nodded.
"Yes, it was all just a misunderstanding," Firsa concluded humbly.
The guard, speechless with guilt, only managed to whisper, "May the Goddess Elvaria watch over the hero."
Firsa glanced back and answered quietly, "She will."
They hurried inside the chamber where Rawin lay unconscious. Firsa rushed forward and embraced him.
"Rawin… are you alright?" she cried.
"Hey! Who are you? No outsiders are allowed here!" Darvish barked.
"Calm yourself, Darvish," Warsen said. "She's no ordinary visitor—she's his teacher."
"Ah—my apologies, Lord Warsen," Darvish replied awkwardly.
"Forgive us, Lady Firsa," Warsen said solemnly. "It was our failure to protect the village that forced an outsider like him to risk his life for us."
"Please, don't say that," Firsa answered softly. "I'm sure Rawin would rather hear your gratitude than your apologies."
The Elders nodded, visibly relieved by her words.
"If that's what his teacher believes," Warsen said, "then so it shall be."
Hours passed before Valien suddenly stirred awake.
"Haaah! Are we… are we dead, Rawin?" he gasped.
"Valien! You're awake!" Merinel exclaimed.
He looked around in confusion. "Elder Merinel? Lord Warsen? Lady Firsa? Why am I here?"
Warsen patiently explained what had happened after the Ancient Glossy Beast was defeated and how they had brought him and Rawin back.
"Can you tell us what happened during the battle?" Warsen asked.
Valien's face turned pale. "T-that power… it was beyond anything imaginable. The energy from that beast was greater than the Abyss itself—it was… it was something that could surpass even the gods."
"Calm yourself," Warsen said reassuringly. "There is no power greater than the Abyss. Even the Abyss only grows strong because of the cracks that opened in the lower realms. Such a thing is nearly impossible."
"But it's true!" Valien insisted. "That being… it used Rawin's body to defeat the Ancien Glossy Beast—with a single wooden bow from within the relic chamber. Just one shot—and the creature turned to dust!"
Kaelith frowned. "And this being didn't target you as well?"
"No, Elder Kaelith. He only tried to protect Rawin. He said Rawin shouldn't push himself or he would die."
"Strange," Darvish muttered.
"I agree," Margel said.
"It's all quite suspicious," Kaelith added, "but even stranger is the fact that those two managed to face the Glossy Beast alone."
"Indeed," Warsen murmured. "A wooden bow, you said? That must be the first relic gifted by the Goddess Elvaria to our founder."
"Wait—that ancient bow from legend actually exists?" Firsa gasped.
"Yes," Warsen replied. "But it was said that only the pure descendants of the founder could wield its true power."
"But he's not from our village!" Margel argued. "That makes no sense."
"Lady Firsa," Merinel asked carefully, "where is Rawin from?"
"He came from the northern village of Raisymad," Firsa answered.
"Hmm… Raisymad is close by," Merinel mused. "But that still doesn't explain his bloodline."
Suddenly, Valien spoke again. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I heard that being say something before it vanished. It said:
Me? I am like this arrow," the being said. "Piercing Tell the child this: I am not confined—and I go where necessity calls."
"'Pierce every boundary, every fate,huh…" Warsen repeated quietly.
"That's… unsettling," Darvish said.
"I know what you're thinking," Margel replied.
"Yes, it's strange," Kaelith agreed, "but stranger still is that they survived such a battle at all."
"You're right," Warsen concluded. "We'll wait until Rawin wakes up before drawing conclusions."
"I agree," said Merinel. The others nodded as well, deciding to continue the discussion another day.
That night ended with unease lingering in every heart—fear born from the realization that two weakened youths had somehow defeated an Ancient Glossy Beast that even five Elders together had struggled to overcome… with only a single arrow.
No one truly understood what kind of power they possessed.