Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Silent Search

The sun was already sinking behind the western hills when Kyle and Lyra returned to the village.

The baskets on their backs were filled with freshly gathered herbs.

As they stepped into the clinic, Kyle placed the baskets carefully on the large wooden table.

"We gathered more than I expected."

Lyra looked inside one of the baskets.

"There were plenty of healthy plants today."

Kyle nodded.

"We won't need to return for a few days."

Without wasting any time, he untied the bundles one by one.

"The roots should be cleaned first."

"Then we'll separate the leaves before they dry."

Lyra watched him work with practiced movements.

Every herb had its own place.

Every bundle was tied with a different colored string.

"You've organized everything."

Kyle smiled.

"It makes preparing medicine much easier."

He picked up several fresh mint leaves.

"These need to dry before tomorrow."

Lyra handed him an empty wooden tray.

"Like this?"

"Exactly."

For the next hour, the two worked side by side.

Neither of them spoke much.

Yet the silence no longer felt awkward.

Outside...

The golden light of sunset slowly faded from the village.

When the last bundle had been placed on the shelves, Kyle let out a quiet breath.

"That should do it."

Lyra looked around the clinic.

The shelves were once again neatly arranged.

Rows of dried herbs filled the room with a gentle, familiar fragrance.

"You really take good care of this place."

Kyle glanced around before smiling.

"This clinic has taken care of the villagers for many years."

"I simply don't want to disappoint the people who trust me."

His answer was simple.

But it made Lyra pause for a moment.

Without realizing it...

She found herself admiring the kindness in his words.

Kyle wiped his hands with a clean cloth.

"It's getting late."

"You should head back before it gets dark."

Lyra nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

She left the clinic and walked toward Lumi's cottage.

The evening breeze gently brushed against her silver hair.

As soon as she entered her room, she quietly closed the door behind her.

For a long moment...

She simply stood there in silence.

Then her hand slowly moved to the small pouch hidden beneath her cloak.

Inside...

The remaining jewels rested quietly.

She lowered her eyes.

"Tonight..."

"I'll try again."

"If someone from my clan is truly in this land..."*

"I have to find them."

She carefully hid the pouch once more before leaving her room to join Lumi and her family for dinner.

No one noticed the determination hidden behind her calm expression.

Night quietly settled over the village.

One by one, the lights inside the cottages disappeared.

The cheerful voices that had filled the streets during the day were replaced by silence.

Inside Lumi's cottage...

Everyone had gone to bed.

Lyra remained lying still beneath her blanket.

Her eyes were closed.

She listened carefully.

The crackling fire had almost died out.

The wind brushed softly against the wooden walls.

After a long while...

She slowly opened her eyes.

"...It's time."

Moving as quietly as possible, she slipped out of bed.

She wrapped a light cloak around her shoulders and carefully opened the door.

The cool night air greeted her.

Moonlight bathed the small courtyard in silver.

Lyra walked to the center of the yard and looked up at the stars.

No one was there.

Satisfied, she reached beneath her cloak and took out one of her remaining jewels.

The crystal rested in the palm of her hand, glowing with a faint violet light.

Lyra closed her fingers around it.

Then she whispered softly in the ancient language of the Emerald Realm.

The jewel answered.

A gentle pulse of light spread outward like invisible ripples across the night.

Lyra stood perfectly still.

Waiting.

Listening.

Hoping...

Several long moments passed.

Nothing.

No response.

No familiar presence.

No sign of another Nine-Tailed Fox.

The violet glow slowly faded.

Lyra lowered her hand.

"...Nothing."

A shadow of disappointment crossed her face.

She wasn't ready to give up.

After taking a slow breath, she reached for another jewel.

This one shone with a delicate pink light.

"Just once more..."

She whispered another ancient incantation.

The second jewel released a brighter wave of energy.

For a brief instant...

A pink streak flashed silently across the night sky before vanishing into the darkness.

Lyra closed her eyes once again.

Searching.

Waiting.

Praying for even the faintest answer.

But once again...

Silence.

The night remained unchanged.

She slowly opened her eyes.

"...Still nothing."

Her shoulders fell.

"So... I was wrong."

She carefully returned both jewels to the hidden pouch beneath her cloak.

For a few moments, she remained standing beneath the moonlight.

The hope she had carried all day quietly faded into disappointment.

At last...

She turned toward the cottage.

Without making a sound, she slipped back into her room.

She lay down on her bed and pulled the blanket over herself.

Before closing her eyes, she whispered almost inaudibly,

"I'll find you..."

"No matter how long it takes."

Far from the village...

The forest lay beneath a silent sky.

A lone figure made his way between the trees, carrying a bundle of firewood across his back.

The woodcutter stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

A faint violet light flashed above the distant forest.

It disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.

"...Again."

Before he could make sense of it...

A second light rose into the night.

This time...

Soft pink.

It vanished within seconds.

The man immediately dropped the bundle of firewood onto the ground.

He reached beneath his cloak and pulled out a small bronze compass.

Its surface was covered with strange carvings worn away by time.

He opened it.

The needle spun wildly.

Once...

Twice...

Again and again.

It refused to point in any direction.

His expression darkened.

"So it happened again..."

He tightened his grip on the compass.

"Damn it..."

"The jewels are interfering."

The needle continued spinning without stopping.

No matter how many times he steadied the compass...

It refused to obey.

The man slowly closed the lid.

"...Useless."

He looked toward the dark horizon where the two lights had disappeared.

"I know you're somewhere out there..."

"But I can't find you."

For several moments, he remained standing in complete silence.

Then he picked up the bundle of firewood once more.

"...I'll report this to him."

Without another word...

He disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

Far away...

The village slept peacefully.

Unaware that someone had already begun searching for the source of the mysterious lights.

Morning arrived quietly.

The village soon returned to its usual rhythm.

Smoke rose from the cottages, and the narrow streets slowly filled with familiar faces.

Inside the clinic, Kyle had already begun preparing medicine.

He carefully sorted the herbs that he and Lyra had gathered the previous afternoon.

Fresh Mint.

Silver Moss.

Wild Sage.

Each herb was placed into its proper jar.

Lyra stood nearby, helping him separate the dried leaves from the stems.

"You've already finished drying these?"

Kyle nodded.

"The weather was warm yesterday."

"It helped."

Lyra smiled faintly.

"I still have a lot to learn."

"You learn quickly," Kyle replied.

Before she could answer...

A villager entered the clinic carrying a little girl in his arms.

"My daughter has had a fever since dawn."

Kyle immediately walked over.

"Lay her here."

He gently examined the child's forehead before preparing a herbal infusion.

"It isn't serious."

"She'll recover after a day or two."

The relieved father thanked him repeatedly before leaving.

The clinic gradually became busy.

One patient after another arrived.

Kyle continued treating everyone with his usual calm smile.

But as the morning passed...

A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He wiped it away without saying a word.

A little later...

Another drop followed.

Lyra noticed.

She frowned slightly.

"Kyle..."

He looked up.

"Yes?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

He gave a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine."

"Perhaps I didn't sleep well."

He returned to organizing the medicine.

However...

His movements had become slower.

By midday, the color had drained from his face.

Even lifting a small jar seemed to require effort.

Lumi looked at him with concern.

"Kyle..."

"You're sweating."

He forced another smile.

"It's nothing."

"I'll be fine after a short rest."

As he reached for another bottle...

His vision suddenly blurred.

The room spun around him.

He caught the edge of the table before losing his balance.

"Kyle!"

Lumi hurried forward just as Lyra caught him before he could fall.

His forehead was burning.

Far hotter than it should have been.

Lyra's expression changed.

She gently placed the back of her hand against his forehead once more.

"...This fever..."

She whispered so quietly that only she could hear herself.

"...It doesn't feel ordinary."

Lumi looked at her anxiously.

"Is it serious?"

Lyra didn't answer immediately.

Her eyes remained fixed on Kyle's pale face.

Deep inside...

A strange feeling told her that this illness was unlike any human fever she had ever seen.