One heartbeat. That's all it took.
Everyone stopped. The whole world inhaled and forgot to exhale. Air turned thick and suffocating, heavy as wet wool shoved down your throat. The afternoon sun still blazed overhead, but its warmth couldn't penetrate the sudden chill that settled over the farmstead.
No birds. No animals. Even the flies quit buzzing.
Overhead, birds exploded from the ancient oaks in a chaotic burst of wings and panic. Their screams rang out raw and wrong, like metal scraping against bone. Black shapes scattered against the blue sky, fleeing from something invisible yet undeniably present.
Farm workers froze in their daily routines - mid-swing, mid-step, mid-cough. Scythes thudded into the rich earth with dull finality. A pitchfork speared the ground and stood quivering like a struck tuning fork. Some workers crumpled spine-first, their bodies folding as if their bones had suddenly turned to wet rope. The harvest would wait while they struggled to understand what force had seized them.
Adventurers fared worse.
A mercenary's sword slammed into her kneecap when her grip failed without warning. "Gah!" she cried out as blood began seeping through torn leather. Her years of training meant nothing against this invisible assault.
Nearby, a mage's hands still flickered with the remnants of botched fire magic as he clawed desperately at his throat. "Can't... breathe..." The orange sparks died between his fingers, extinguished by whatever force gripped him. His spell components scattered across the dirt, forgotten in his struggle for air.
Then gone.
The pressure popped like a blister, leaving behind only its aftermath. The oppressive weight lifted as suddenly as it had descended, but its effects lingered in every trembling body.
What remained? Ears ringing with phantom pressure. Knees turned to jelly. That tinny taste coating everyone's mouth, metallic like licking a battery.
"What... the actual hell?" an adventurer croaked, wiping vomit off his stubbled chin with a shaking hand. His eyes nearly popped from their sockets when he saw the bodies surrounding him.
Unconscious. Like discarded dolls.
The scene resembled a battlefield, but no enemy had been seen. No weapons had been drawn. Just bodies scattered across the farmyard, some stirring weakly, others completely still.
Amanda didn't puke. Didn't shake.
But her heart punched against her ribs with increasing urgency. Recognition struck her, cold as the winter morning. She turned slowly toward their house, every movement deliberate despite the urgency building in her chest. The wooden structure seemed to pulse with invisible energy, drawing her attention like a lodestone.
"Leo!"
The name tore from her throat, carrying years of unspoken worry. Something itched in her core, not new but ancient. Like hearing a lullaby a mother swore she'd never sung, yet the melody lived in her bones. The sensation dug at memories she couldn't quite grasp.
Heat flared in her chest, sudden and intense. She ignored it, pushing down the burning sensation through sheer will.
Recall!
Her command rang out with unease and urgency mixing in equal measure. Golden light exploded beneath her feet in a perfect circle. The magic circle blazed into existence with intricate patterns spinning within its boundaries. Its glow intensified, bathing her in warm radiance before vanishing in a single breath.
Amanda disappeared.
She materialized inside their house in an instant, the teleportation spell depositing her exactly where she'd visualized. Her heart thundered against her ribs as disaster unfolded before her eyes.
Blood spattered across the wooden floor in dark puddles, mixing with vomit and the scattered remains of overturned chairs. The harsh scent filled her nostrils, sharp and nauseating.
Their home, always so orderly and warm, had transformed into a scene of inexplicable violence.
Her face stiffened as she processed the destruction. Cold spread through her limbs like spilled water. Sweat broke out on her neck despite the chill, dampening her collar.
Amanda's legs moved without conscious thought, carrying her forward on pure instinct. Her knees almost gave out before she reached Leo's still body sprawled across the floor. Breath came in short, panicked gasps as her shaking hands ran over him, searching desperately for injuries. Her fingers traced along his arms, his chest, his face, seeking the source of all this blood.
Nothing.
But there's blood everywhere...
It should be his, it had to be...
The thoughts raced through her mind in a desperate loop. She shook her head violently, forcing herself to focus. Years of training kicked in, overriding panic with practiced calm.
Clear the mind.
Assess the situation.
She lowered her head to his chest, pressing her ear against the bloodstained fabric. A deep, shuddering breath escaped her lips when she heard his heart beating rapid and strong beneath her cheek. Alive. Whatever had happened, whatever force had struck him down, it hadn't claimed his life.
She pulled her long hair back with practiced efficiency, tying it in place to keep it from interfering. When she gripped Leo to lift him, she almost lost her balance.
So heavy…
Amanda grunted her way across the room to the bed, each step careful and steady. She placed him down as gently as her trembling arms would allow. For a moment she stopped and stared, really looking at him for perhaps the first time in months. Her eyes squinted slightly as she took in his features.
"I haven't noticed how tall you are until now."
The observation came unbidden, a moment of normalcy in the chaos. She smiled despite everything, a brief flicker of warmth crossing her face.
She drew in a breath. Firmed herself. Closed her eyes.
When they opened again, determination burned there like forged fire. The panic had hardened into something useful. She raised both arms toward Leo in a gesture both commanding and protective. Multiple magic circles appeared beneath her feet, each one more complex than the last.
They spun and intersected, building power with every rotation.
Sanctuary.
Her hands erupted with soft yellow light that sparkled with divine energy. The glow spread across the room in gentle waves, banishing shadows and filling every corner with warmth. A dome of translucent light enveloped Leo's prone form, casting gentle radiance across his bloodied body. The protective barrier shimmered like summer heat, solid yet ethereal.
Divine Restoration.
Golden light immediately suffused Leo's skin, seeping into every pore and wound. His face, which had been twisted with pain and confusion even in unconsciousness, began to relax.
The tight lines around his eyes softened. His breathing, once ragged and shallow, steadied into a normal rhythm. The spell worked its way through him, seeking out damage and repairing it with methodical precision.
Greater Heal.
Her voice filled with resolve, pouring everything she had into the words.
A final wave of brilliant light washed over Leo, more intense than anything before. It sank deep into his body, mending what was broken, making whole what was torn. The room itself seemed to pulse with the energy of the spell, walls reflecting the golden radiance.
Amanda's breath hitched.
Her eyes blurred once. Refocused with effort. Blurred again.
Cold sensation seeped through her body, but this time it came from within. She'd pushed too hard, channeled too much. The world tilted sideways as her legs gave out.
She collapsed beside the bed, consciousness fleeing her fingers.
Ranna rushed from her office the moment she felt the disturbance. Her long strides ate up the distance to the farm in record time. Unconscious workers littered the ground like fallen leaves after a storm.
Some groaned weakly, others remained perfectly still. But her feet locked in place as she neared the source of that inexplicable power surge.
Amanda's house.
Sweat glistened on her dark skin as she approached the dwelling. The immense pressure she'd felt earlier was unlike anything in her considerable experience. Even facing down legendary monsters hadn't prepared her for that crushing weight.
Even an army of field bosses is nothing compared to this!
Ranna burst through the door without ceremony, prepared for anything. Or so she thought.
Blood. Vomit. Overturned furniture.
Her hand drifted to her sword hilt, fingers curling around worn leather. Eyes tracked each shadow, each corner where danger might lurk. The scene told its story that violence had visited here and vanished. She held her position by the door, counting heartbeats, listening for movement that never came.
Then she spotted Amanda on the floor beside Leo's bed. Pale as fresh parchment. Tears streaking her cheeks even as she sobbed quietly in her sleep.
But alive.
Relief flooded through Ranna as her eyes narrowed, taking in every detail of the scene. She scanned Leo on the bed, noting the complex magical auras still surrounding him. Understanding dawned. She nodded slowly, a smile of genuine admiration crossing her features.
Rising smoothly, she lifted Amanda as easily as one might carry a sleeping toddler. The young elf didn't stir.
You've done enough, Amanda...
Her boots thudded against the wooden floor in steady rhythm as she carried her charge to the other bed. With surprising gentleness for someone of her strength, she tucked Amanda in with maternal care. The blankets were pulled up to her chin, smoothed with careful hands.
"Manaburn."
The diagnosis came automatically, years of experience identifying the symptoms. She glanced back at Leo's bedside where warm lights continued their dance. The glow reflected across her face, highlighting the concern in her eyes.
"You overexerted yourself again." She smiled with fond exasperation, tracing the patterns of light that hovered protectively over Leo's body. "Sanctuary, Divine Restoration, and Greater Heal. All three at once? I can't imagine I would see you go overboard like this."
Commotion erupted outside. Voices raised in confusion and fear as people regained consciousness.
"Glad these fools are back on their feet."
She sighed deeply, already dreading the explanations and reassurances she'd need to provide. "I'll quickly deal with them and tend to you both. You've earned your rest."
She stepped back toward the door, mind already organizing priorities.
But the door banged open.
Another shift in the air, subtle but unmistakable.
The temperature plummeted. A suffocating chill filled the room, different from before. More focused, more intentional. A figure stepped through the front door, their shadow stretching impossibly long across the bloodstained floor.
Ranna's eyes widened in recognition.
Without hesitation, without thought, she dropped to one knee. Her head bowed low in absolute respect.