Father froze mid-step, his eyes snapping upward as if expecting something to drop from the branches.

His hands came up instinctively, shielding me.

"Astraga....are you alright?" His voice was tight, direct. "Who was there? Did you see anything? Tell me immediately."

I swallowed. "I… heard voices."

His expression sharpened. "Voices? A beast? Another one?"

"No, Father. Voices of children. They were… calling to me. They sounded happy."

He did not like that answer. His jaw tightened.

"Inside. Now."

He signaled to the crowd and the Mayor, waving them toward the barrier. We passed through the wind layer and into the hidden camp beyond.

Up close, it looked nothing like a temporary shelter. It was organized, camouflaged, structured built by people who absolutely did not want to be found. Even Clara, her children, and the lumberjack looked overwhelmed. The shock of learning Shio and maybe even the butcher had been behind the disappearances still clung to their faces.

A mage stepped forward in full Aetherhall military attire, rank strips glinting across his chest.

"Welcome, people of Blackroot," he announced with crisp authority. "You're under my command now. I am Commander Bratan, Head of the Barrier Squad."

The Earth Mage beside us murmured to Father, "Strange. Commander Bratan himself? A last-minute switch? Where's the other Commander—Kael?"

A planned hierarchy, last-minute changes, and two commanders…

This beast was no ordinary mana beast. Something bigger was going on.

Bratan scanned the crowd until his eyes widened. "Lady Rose?"

"Yes, Commander," the Wind Healer brown-haired answered quickly.

"Take her to the healing tent. And why isn't deep healing done yet? Three of you should manage it. Unless we lack a Fire Healer for energy support well? Why not?"

The Pierced Lady explained, "Sir, we only have six healers in total. Three are with your Barrier Squad; three are with the scouting unit. If we use full-depth healing, our reserves won't hold."

Bratan clicked his tongue. "Hmph. Fair point. Mission first."

Then he jabbed a finger toward Guts. "And that man?"

Father answered, "He's a Condottieri. His name is Guts."

"A Condottieri with injuries that severe…? Understood. You three healers get to the healing tent now. I need to address the civilians."

The healers hurried off.

Bratan turned back to us. "Which one of you is the mayor?"

Mayor Mostly stepped forward. Father raised a hand as well, still holding me on his shoulders. "What's this about?"

Bratan smirked. "Ah. Should have known it was you. Step forward."

Mayor Mostleey joined him, confusion plain.

Bratan's voice cracked like a whip. "Listen carefully. Many of you are terrified, and that's understandable. But do not become a burden in my camp. Your fear is valid—your behavior will not be tolerated."

His tone iced over.

"There will be no protests, no fights, and no sneaking out. If any of you prefer to wait outside, I can open the barrier right now. But if you remain, you will follow my authority. You are not heroes. You are survivors."

Silence fell like a blanket.

He continued:

"For four to five years, your forest has housed something unimaginable. During that time, it devoured your people—friends, family, children. That ends today. We will protect you while you hide. It is that simple."

The lumberjack snorted. "Typical! Talking to us like livestock!"

Bratan's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you? One of your own kept feeding this creature victims for years, and none of you noticed. This camp is for your safety—and also your observation. If the culprit is inside this camp, I will personally execute them."

Murmurs broke out immediately.

"Wait—my sister is dead?"

"What about my son?"

"My grandson too?!" Granny Maera cried.

Father shot Bratan a look—some kind of silent understanding passing between them.

Bratan raised a hand. "Do not misquote me. I said 'dead' to prepare you for the worst. There is no proof they're alive… nor proof they're gone. Now, Mr. Vaulgabread—may we speak privately?"

Father stepped forward. "Is this about Lord Zedd?"

Bratan's expression hardened. "Yes. It's urgent."

"Alright. Let's go."

He gestured. "Mayor, handle your people. Let them settle."

Father lowered me onto the ground . Before following Bratan, he grabbed his arm.

"My daughter. She arrived safely? I gave her into Commander Kael's care."

Bratan nodded. "Yes. Rest easy."

He waved over another mage. "Senior Mage Martha. Take them to the girl."

Granny Maera approached. "Go. I'll watch over him."

"Thank you," Father breathed.

With Greyjoy following, he disappeared into the command tent.

Senior Mage Martha guided us through the camp toward a specialized tent.

Inside—Astraya lay unconscious, breathing steadily. Morad ran to me immediately, nearly tripping in excitement. I hugged him tight, the familiar weight grounding me. His fish bucket sloshed.

Jack whistled. "Can't believe it… Merhh. Heard he attacked you."

"Yes, sir," I said quietly. "He wasn't an ordinary Mana Beast. He could wield a weapon."

Jack's eyes widened. "Then he was a Curse Beast. My brother told stories about them. Never thought I raised one myself…"

Clara hugged herself. "Even if he was cold… Merhh was dangerous. I never knew."

Jack looked at me with a rough smile. "You've got a remarkable father. Rallied the whole town. Half of us only moved because he did."

"A true Manomancer, huh?" Jack muttered. "Kid, I was wrong about your dad. Thought he was all talk—follow-the-rules type. Guess not."

Clara hugged her arms anxiously. "How long do you think we'll be staying in this camp?"

Jack glanced toward the movement outside the tent. "Not long. Looks like they're planning to attack first."

Clara turned to me. "Astraga… are you absolutely sure it was Shio? Not someone taking her form? A shape-shifter, maybe?"

"I—I can't confirm that, ma'am," I admitted. "But the Shio we saw in the shop… she had everything she'd need to pull it off."

Mayor Mostly sighed heavily. "No wonder she begged me to ban outside herbs. And she killed Arcsaw…"

He put his heavy hand on my head. "Your father saved a lot of people today, Astraga."

Then—

A whisper brushed the inside of my skull.

…come play with us… come…

My grip on Morad bowls tightened. I turned sharply.

Jack caught my expression. "What is it, kid? You look like you saw a ghost."

"I… I keep hearing children's voices."

Before anyone could react—

CHRRRRRRR—KREEEEECHK—RRRRRAAAAK!

A monstrous sound tore through the forest. The ground trembled. Outside, people shouted.

"Stop it, you bastards! What are you doing?!"

We rushed out of the tent.

Mages—wearing the same Aetherhall attire—were attacking the barrier from the outside.

Jack stared. "What the heck?! Why are Aetherhall mages attacking us?!"

The attackers screamed, "Damn it, the beast's skin is too hard! Hit it again! Stronger spells!"

Mayor Mostly blinked. "Beast? They're attacking the barrier, not a monster!"

Commander Bratan emerged from the command tent with Father behind him.

"WHAT are you idiots doing?!" Bratan roared. "Cease your attacks immediately!"

The four mages outside pointed at him in horror.

"You monster! Don't pretend to be our commander! We won't be tricked!"

Father's eyes narrowed. "Why are they attacking the camp like this? Are they even in their right minds?"

Bratan muttered, "Good thing they're low-ranked. The Wind Barrier can hold."

Greyjoy summoned Toki, the mana-snake, which coiled protectively though the barrier still held firm.

Bratan turned to Senior Mage Martha. "What's wrong with them?"

"They're from the SCOUT SQUAD!" she cried.

"I KNOW that! Why are they calling the barrier a monster?!"

Then the voices inside my head grew louder.

…come play with us please… you have been chosen… play, play with us…

I clutched my head.

"Go away… stop…"

Morad's voice wavered. "Brother? What's wrong? What's happening?"

Bratan tried to reassure everyone. "Don't panic! As long as the barrier stays closed, nothing will—"

Another roar ripped through the forest.

HSSSSSSSS—SHRAAAAGH!

Healers and inner mages suddenly relaxed—almost relieved.

Commander Kael stepped out from behind the mind-controlled mages.

Everyone gasped.

His eyes glowed pure white.

His mouth moved—but no sound came out.

Then—

The four mind-controlled mages exploded.

Burst from within like ruptured water balloons.

I blinked twice. My stomach twisted.

Did he just—?

Bratan shouted, voice shaking, "That's Commander Kael for you! Good work, Commander! Now—what happened to them?!"

"Please… everybody… come out and play… with us."

A child's voice—playful, innocent, and horribly wrong—echoed through the clearing.

Kael lifted his hand.

In an instant, a massive Wind Creation spell formed above him.

twenty colossal arrows the size of tree trunks, humming with compressed mana.

Then, with a casual pinch of his fingers, he compressed all twenty arrows to the size of darts.

That was when Commander Bratan swallowed.

I saw his hands shaking.

"Everyone—DOWN!" he roared.

His eyes flashed white as a massive wall of wind erupted from him, thick enough to be seen—a solid barrier of roaring air.

"If it were a beast, we wouldn't be worried!" he shouted.

"But this is one of our own—and he knows every weakness in this barriers! Brace yourselves!"

Kael snapped his fingers.

WHIP—WHIP—WHIP—WHIP—WHIP—!

The tiny wind darts struck the wall faster than thought—

fifty impacts in less than a heartbeat.

Each one shattered a layer of Bratan's barrier like glass.

People screamed as the shockwaves blasted the camp.

No one was injured—but everyone was thrown in different directions, tumbling through dirt, tents, crates, bodies colliding with bodies.

My ears rang.

My vision blurred.

Father's voice was lost in the storm.

"ASTRAGA!!!"

I tried to answer—but the wind swallowed my voice.

The only one still clinging to me was Morad, in my arms, his fishbowl cracked and leaking.

"Crap—!" I breathed. "Morad, hold on!"

Inside the bowl, his little voice bubbled nervously, "Brother… should I come out now?"

"Not yet. Just wait—just stay with me!"

Then the voices returned.

Soft. Sweet. Inviting.

"Come play with us…"

The air twisted.

My sense of direction warped—

front, back, left, right—all gone.

Father's voice grew farther and farther away.

It felt like something was pulling me, gently but forcefully, by the heart.

The forest swallowed me whole.

The deeper I was dragged, the darker it became.

The canopy devoured all light.

The birds fell silent.

Only my footsteps remained.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Then—

"Over here…"

"Come play with us…"

"Leave me alone!" I shouted, punching at a cloud of smoke where the voice came from.

My fist hit something solid.

"OW!! That hurt, you idiot!"

The voice wasn't a monster now.

It was a girl.

And when the smoke peeled back—

I froze.

"...Anna?"

My voice cracked.

"What—what the heck are you doing here? I thought—you were dead."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.