"Elli"

The warm, golden glow of the setting sun draped the village in a serene, almost idyllic light. Shadows stretched long and soft across the cobblestone streets as I slipped silently through the narrow alleyways, each step growing heavier with unease.

Suddenly, a notification flickered into view, stark and unforgiving against the tranquil backdrop:

[Notice: Bandwidth limit has been reached]

[All abilities will be temporarily suspended while Bandwidth recovers to 10% of the Max Bandwidth]

My heart plummeted. No… Not now. I haven’t reached Elli yet. Not when I’m this close.

A gasp escaped from my throat as my legs buckled beneath me. I slumped to the ground, clutching my side as the familiar numbness of my mimicry vanished. The shimmering glow of my transformed state dissipated like smoke carried away by the wind, leaving me exposed—skin pale, hands trembling, and body drenched in cold sweat. Exhaustion hit me like a truck, its crushing weight dragging me down.

Pain erupted through me, sharp and unrelenting, radiating from every wound I had sustained. Each breath ignited a fresh surge of agony, a fire roaring in my chest. I clenched my jaw to stifle a scream, biting down hard enough that the metallic tang of blood coated my tongue. My vision blurred, my body barely holding itself together.

Each ragged inhale seared my lungs, and the effort to keep going felt insurmountable. “Not here… Just a little longer…” I murmured, my voice cracking and weak, lost in the stillness of the empty streets.

My hands, raw and scraped, pressed against the uneven cobblestones as I slumped forward, the chill of the stone biting into my palms. My knees scraped against the rough ground, the sensation grounding me in the moment as the world around me seemed to tilt and spin.

The transformation had drained me far more than I could have predicted. My limbs felt like they were made of lead, and my vision faded into a dim haze. Is this it? Am I going to die here?

Then, through the blur and rising darkness, a voice broke through the silence. “Tokei, is that you?”

I tried to lift my head, to focus on the speaker, but my body refused to obey. My muscles ached, every ounce of strength evaporated, and a deep, numbing chill began to set in. My eyelids grew heavy, and no matter how hard I fought, they closed against my will as consciousness slipped away.

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When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the rough, uneven texture of a wooden ceiling above me. The room smelled faintly of damp wood and herbs—sharp, earthy, and tinged with a faint metallic scent. My body ached, every muscle and joint complaining, but the sharp, searing pain from earlier had dulled into a persistent, throbbing ache.

I tried to push myself upright, determined to get my bearings, but the simple act of lifting my head sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me. Nausea churned in my stomach, threatening to pull me back under. A hand, firm but gentle, pressed against my shoulder, guiding me back down.

“Don’t move too much; you’re not ready yet,” a soft, melodic voice chided, the tone gentle but firm.

Turning my head slightly, I blinked until the room came into focus. A warm glow from a single candle on a nearby table illuminated Elli’s figure. She sat next to the bed, her black hair shimmering in the dim light like threads of moonlight. Her vivid orange eyes met mine, a mixture of concern and calculation in their depths.

“Elli…?” I rasped, my voice barely audible, cracked from exhaustion and thirst.

She nodded, her expression softening into something almost maternal. “You’re lucky I found you when I did. What in the world did you do to push yourself to this point?”

“I didn’t have a choice…” I croaked, swallowing against the dryness in my throat. “I got separated from my sister after falling off a cliff. On my way back here, I ran into the bandits you mentioned…”

Elli’s eyes widened, her brows knitting together in disbelief. “Those bandits? And you fell off a cliff?” She leaned forward, her sharp gaze running over me. “That explains the state you’re in…”

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I blinked, confused, as her fingers hovered near my side without touching. Her voice softened but carried an edge of clinical precision as she continued. “Do you even realize how injured you are? The abrasions on your hands and knees suggest you used them to break your fall—probably as you slid or hit jagged surfaces. Your left side is swollen, likely from rib trauma. I'd guess at least one fracture or severe bruising around the seventh and eighth ribs.”

Her words were measured, and her orange eyes seemed to pick apart every detail. “There’s muscle strain across your shoulders and neck—probably from overexertion and compensating for your injuries. Your ankle is swollen, a clear sign of a sprain or a mild tear in the lateral ligaments.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “Then there’s the more concerning stuff. The discoloration around your abdomen suggests internal bruising, but thankfully no signs of a ruptured organ, at least from what I can tell without proper equipment. And those cuts—especially the deeper one on your upper thigh—I treated them first to make sure they heal properly without scarring or infection.”

I swallowed hard, her assessment making the aches feel even more pronounced. “I managed to take care of them…” I muttered, wincing at the strain of speaking. “But I barely made it back here…”

Elli leaned back, her gaze unwavering as she absorbed my words. “Those bandits were strong enough to give my family’s knights trouble. And you fought them in this condition?” Her voice was laced with disbelief, but there was a flicker of respect in her tone.

She leaned closer, brushing a strand of black hair away from her face. “You’re tougher than you look, but even toughness has its limits. Rest for now,” she said, her voice softening, though her expression remained stern. “You’ll need more than willpower to recover from this. I’ll see what I can do about those wounds while you sleep.”

I nodded faintly, the weight of exhaustion dragging me back toward unconsciousness. Despite her matter-of-fact tone, the warmth in her presence was reassuring. For now, at least, I felt safe.

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“She’s asleep,” I murmured, watching Tokei’s breathing slow and even out. Her pale complexion and the dark circles under her eyes revealed the depth of her exhaustion.

I leaned back in the rickety chair, fingers brushing against the edge of my black wig as a sigh slipped from my lips. What kind of person pushes themselves this far? If she truly fought those bandits and won, her abilities must be extraordinary.

My thoughts wandered to the reports I’d received just a week ago. Those six men had been terrorizing the roads for months, a well-organized and ruthless crew. They’d even managed to repel a large force of my house’s trained soldiers—a feat that shouldn’t have been possible. And yet... this lone girl had somehow brought them down.

My gaze drifted back to her sleeping form. Beneath the grime and weariness, there was an unmistakable strength in her features, a quiet determination etched into her. Who is she? And why was she alone in the forest, separated from her sister, fighting bandits without anyone to aid her?

I crossed my arms and leaned forward, my thoughts swirling. Should I recruit her? The idea tugged at me, tantalizing in its promise. With someone like her by my side, I could finally make real progress—perhaps even escape this wretched existence I’ve been trapped in since losing my memories.

“Elysia Luminastra,” I muttered under my breath, a bitter smirk pulling at my lips. The name felt hollow, like an ill-fitting mask. What a joke. I’m not suited for being a noble.

For a moment, I let the silence of the room settle around me, the weight of my own thoughts pressing heavily on my chest. Tokei’s strength was undeniable. If she could lead me closer to freedom, I’d have to tread carefully. But first, I needed to know more about her—and what she wanted.

Thump. Thump.

“Come in,” I called softly, breaking the stillness.

The door creaked open, and Genison, one of the village’s apothecaries who often helped me care for the sick, stepped inside. His expression was pale, his body language tense and urgent.

“Elli,” he began, his voice tight with unease, “while I was out collecting herbs, I accidentally wandered into the forest where those bandits roamed.” He paused, swallowing hard. “But when I got there… I found them butchered—slaughtered like animals. It was…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if trying to banish the memory.

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral, nodding for him to continue.

“When I ran from the scene, trying to get as far from that place as I could, I came across something else. Two people—washed up on the riverbank near Pearson’s farm. I got Farmer Pearson to help me bring them back here. They’re lying on two of the infirmary beds outside.”

My brows furrowed, my mind racing. Two people? Who could they be, and how were they connected to the carnage in the forest?

“Did you get a good look at them?” I asked, my voice calm but probing.

Genison hesitated before nodding. “A young man and a girl. The man’s arm is dislocated, and his leg has a compound fracture—He seems to need medical attention first. The girl… she’s unconscious, but there’s a deep gash along her side. They’re in rough shape, but alive.”

I leaned back slightly, the pieces falling into place. Tokei had mentioned being separated from her sister. Could it be them? If so, what had happened to them after the bandit attack?

“I’ll go check on them,” I said, standing up and smoothing down my disguise. “Genison, stay with Her while I see to these newcomers. Keep an eye on her condition and let me know if anything changes.”

“Right.”