Essence Link System: The Healer's Awakening-Chapter 24: We’re Getting Close

Outside the Motel

It was morning, and Caelen and the others were outside the motel dressed and carrying their bags. Veralia smiled as she stretched and said, "We’re ready to move out."

But Caelen raised a hand and said, "Before that, I want to study something."

He pulled out a folded map and spread it across the hood of an old transport wagon. Reina tilted her head.

"Is that a map of the village?"

"Yeah," Caelen nodded. "Last night, Ryan and I used the whole night to draw out every location."

Reina and Veralia exchanged looks, then narrowed their eyes at Ryan.

"All night, huh?"

Ryan scratched his head, chuckling. "I... slept off. Sorry, my lord."

Caelen smiled. "It’s okay. You must’ve been tired."

He looked back down at the map. "No forest around this village. That’s weird. Unlike Elsdrem."

Ryan nodded, arms crossed. "So it seems."

"And it’s strange," Caelen added. "There’s only the motel, market, the village head’s manor, and the shrine. That’s all."

Veralia folded her arms. "The village is really small, huh?"

"So," Reina asked, "where do we start from?"

Caelen folded the map. "The motel. It’s the scene of the most recent incident—the two bodies found mutilated. We might still find clues. Blood trails, magical residues, maybe even someone who saw something."

"But before that," he continued, turning to the motel’s porch, "we need to know who they were."

Right on cue, Selene walked out with a ledger book in hand.

"Will Selene be able to identify them?" Reina asked.

Selene nodded. "Yes. They stayed in our motel before."

Veralia perked up. "That’s good, then."

Selene flipped through the old pages, then stopped. "Here. The first victim—Tarin Elowen. He was a young herbalist’s apprentice. The second... Bruke Fenric. A former guard hero turned blacksmith’s helper."

Caelen nodded and scribbled the names down. "Thanks."

Selene closed the book. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Caelen replied.

Ryan stepped beside him. "Now that we have the names, where do we start?"

"Right here." Caelen crouched down and motioned them to join. They all knelt around him as he sprinkled a white substance over the dirt. It outlined the rough shape of where the bodies had been found.

Then Caelen paused, staring at the ground. His eyes flicked to Ryan.

"Ryan, come here a minute."

Ryan stepped forward. "Yes, my lord?"

Caelen stood back. "I want to try something. Freeze this whole area."

That caught them off guard.

Reina blinked. "But my lord—"

Caelen raised his hand. "Like I said. Just trust me."

Ryan closed his eyes, stretched out his palm. Frost burst forward. The ground turned white with spreading ice.

But... the freeze cracked strangely, bubbling and steaming in places. The air shifted. A foul, sour-metallic smell hit their noses.

Veralia coughed and covered her face. "Ugh—what’s that smell!?"

Reina grimaced. "It’s awful..."

Caelen’s eyes sharpened. "You all can smell it too... then I was right."

Ryan looked puzzled. "What do you mean? Nothing happened... the blood’s just thick..."

Caelen’s tone dropped cold. "Exactly. That’s it." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

They leaned in.

"This isn’t human blood," Caelen said. "The cold resists it. The smell—it’s like rust and rotting bones. Mixed with magic. Old magic. This... this is probably the blood of a magical beast."

Their eyes widened.

"A beast...?" Reina muttered.

Ryan looked down at the ice. "That explains it... the sourness, the thickness... and the way the ice cracked—it’s magically unstable."

Caelen nodded. "Good. You sensed that."

"But," Reina asked, "why freeze the ground? That blood could’ve been human for all we know."

Caelen stood. "As Selene said—Bruke was a former guard hero. If a beast attacked him, he could’ve landed a hit before he died. That means some of this blood isn’t his... it’s the beast’s."

Veralia frowned. "But... there was no weapon found near the bodies."

"Exactly," Caelen said. "Someone likely removed it to cover up the truth. If the villagers knew beasts were involved..."

Ryan asked, "Do you know what kind of beast it was?"

Caelen looked over the ground, then shook his head. "Not yet."

He turned. "Veralia. Come forward."

Ryan stepped back as Veralia walked up and knelt.

"Is there something you’ve figured out?" Reina asked.

Caelen spoke calmly. "We’ve confirmed it was a beast attack. Now I want Veralia to use her flames to test something."

Veralia smirked. "Of course."

She raised her palm. A small flicker of fire appeared, glowing orange—then, as it moved toward the bloodstain, it hissed. The flame twitched, then turned violet.

She stared. "Something hot passed through here... and it wasn’t human."

Reina blinked. "You can tell just by heat?"

Caelen stepped in. "Humans give off heat. But it’s stable. Low. This... this is wild heat. The beast left embers, flaring hot spots. Like it was burning from inside."

He went silent for a second.

"It most likely... never mind. Let’s leave it at that for now."

Ryan whispered, "But we still don’t know what magical beast it was..."

"I’m not making guesses yet," Caelen said. "We keep investigating. There may still be clues."

They exchanged nods.

Caelen rolled the map and slung it over his back. "Next, let’s go to the market."

Veralia perked up. "The market? Great! I need to buy foodstuffs."

Reina sighed. "I don’t think we’re going to the market to buy food, Veralia."

Ryan chuckled. "Does this have to do with the investigation?"

Caelen nodded. "To move forward, yes."

Veralia frowned. "But what’s there to investigate at the market?"

Caelen gently flicked her forehead. "It gives us a social lead."

"Social lead?" Ryan repeated.

Caelen smiled. "Yes. The market is the most lively place in the village. That’s where people talk. Gossip. Spread rumors. It’s the fastest way to hear what others might be hiding."

Reina snapped her fingers. "I see."

Caelen looked back. "If you all get it now—let’s move."

And just like that, they all headed straight for the market.

The investigation continued.

---

At the Market

The market was busty and lively as merchants, farmers and children filled the place. The air buzzed with life, colours flying from cloth banners, spices in sacks, fresh fruits glistening in the sun. The scent of roasted meat danced with the sounds of bartering voices and creaky carts rolling past uneven stones.

Veralia’s eyes sparkled. "The market is beautiful!"

Reina frowned. "Focus!"

Veralia flinched. "Hai!"

Caelen stepped forward, scanning the crowd. "The market is too big. I guess we’ll have to split up and gather information."

Ryan nodded. "That’s the best course of action."

"Split up?" Veralia and Reina said at the same time.

Caelen raised a brow. "Since you both don’t want to split up, then I’ll head north, you both go south, and Ryan will go west. That sound good?"

They all nodded. "Yes."

"Then let’s move."

They walked off in separate directions, disappearing into the crowd.

But far off, beneath the shade of a palm-covered shed, two cloaked figures watched silently. One licked his lip, the other smirked. Then with a shimmer of light, they vanished into the crowd, following the girls in silence.

---

At the Eastern Part of the Market

Ryan walked through the marketplace with narrowed eyes, ignoring sellers shoving fruits and cloth in his face. A tall man with fish tried to offer him a "special deal," but Ryan simply walked past, cold and unreadable.

Then his steps froze.

There, in the middle of a small crowd, was a boy he had seen before. The same little one who always wandered the streets.

A bulky fruit seller held him by the ear.

"You little rat!" the man barked. "You dare steal from me?! I’ll beat you till your bones forget your name!"

The boy whimpered. "I didn’t—!"

The man raised a hand, ready to strike.

But before it landed, Ryan caught his wrist with an icy grip.

The crowd gasped.

"What did this child do?" Ryan asked, calm, eyes still locked on the man.

"He stole my fruits!" the man barked.

Ryan looked at the child. "Did you do it?"

Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes. "I... I..."

The man snorted. "Crying won’t help you, brat!"

He tried again to hit the boy.

But Ryan’s eyes glowed cold blue. The air shifted.

A blast of icy wind swirled around them. Shivers ran down spines. The man froze—literally—his wrist coated in frost.

"You... You’re one of them, aren’t you?" the seller stammered. "H-He didn’t steal anything! You can take him!"

Ryan nodded and walked away, hand on the child’s shoulder.

They walked through the narrow alley behind the market.

"What’s your name?" Ryan asked.

The boy sniffled. "Ban..."

Ryan smiled slightly. "That’s a nice name, Ban."

"Thank you..."

"For what?"

"For protecting me... earlier. And... I’m sorry for lying."

Ryan blinked. "What?"

Ban pulled a fruit from his shirt.

Ryan frowned. "So the man was right."

Ban looked down. "My dad’s not feeling well... I had to. We don’t have money for food. But I’m telling the truth this time! Please believe me!"

Ryan’s expression softened. He placed a hand on Ban’s head.

"It’s okay. Let’s go see your father. I’ll pay for the fruits later."

---

Ban’s House

Ban led him through twisted alleys, past broken walls and sewage-smelling corners, until they reached a tiny shack. The door was barely hanging, flies buzzed everywhere. The smell of rot filled the air.

"This is my home," Ban said.

Ryan covered his nose with a sleeve. "It’s... fine."

Inside, on a dirty mat, lay a man. His leg... it was horrifying.

Rotten. Black. Swollen. Flies and worms crawling over the wound.

Ryan stepped back. "What happened to him?"

Ban’s eyes lowered. "He’s a farmer. One night... he went to his farm. But something attacked him. He managed to escape. He said it was like a shadow with fangs. But the guards covered it up. Told everyone he just hurt himself farming."

Ryan walked closer and kneeled. "That’s why no one believed him."

He closed his eyes, raised his palm.

Frost swirled down.

Ban gasped. "What are you doing?!"

Ryan’s hand glowed faint blue as snowflakes drifted onto the man’s leg. A thin layer of holy ice formed around the wound, stopping the rot instantly.

"I’m preserving the leg," Ryan said calmly. "I’ll take care of your dad for you."

Ban’s face lit up. "Really?!"

Ryan stood. "Stay here. I’ll be back."

And he left the shack.

---

At the Northern Part of the Market

Caelen moved from stall to stall, questioning sellers and old women.

"Did anyone see or hear anything strange these past few nights?"

They all shook their heads.

"Have any animals been acting weird? Any strange lights?"

Still no answers.

Caelen sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Didn’t know gathering info would be this hard."

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

"My lord, forgive me for interrupting."

"Ryan?" Caelen responded telepathically. "Go on."

"I want to show you something. It’s better if you see it yourself."

Caelen frowned. "What is it?"

---

Back at Ban’s House

Caelen approached the tiny house. Ryan was waiting outside.

"I need your help to heal this man, my lord."

Caelen nodded and stepped inside. The stench hit him hard. But he didn’t flinch.

"I froze the wound," Ryan explained. "To keep it from rotting further."

Caelen walked over and knelt beside the unconscious man.

"You did well."

He held his palm above the leg. A green aura formed in his hands.

"Heal."

Light flooded from his hand like liquid emerald. Tiny glowing threads wove into the man’s skin. The rot sizzled, the flesh mended, and muscle reformed before their eyes.

The man gasped and blinked. He moved his leg—then stood up in shock.

He hit the leg gently. "It doesn’t hurt..."

Tears filled his eyes.

"Thank you," he whispered. "You don’t know what this means... being able to walk again..."

Ban cried and ran into his father’s arms.

Outside, Ryan bowed his head.

"Sorry, my lord. I drifted from the investigation."

Caelen shook his head. "It’s fine. I didn’t find any leads either."

He tapped his earring. "I’ve sent our location to Reina and Veralia. They’ll join us soon."

Ryan said, "My lord, Ban mentioned his dad was attacked while at his farm... at night."

Caelen’s eyes narrowed. "So that’s how he got that injury..."

The man stepped out with Ban and offered them seats.

Caelen bowed slightly. "Sir, we’d like to ask a few questions about the attack."

The man nodded slowly. "Of course."

Caelen’s voice was calm but direct. "Did you see who—or what—attacked you?"

The man grew quiet. He looked down, gripping his son’s hand.

"I didn’t see it clearly. It was too dark. But... it had green eyes. And... it looked like a shadow."

Ryan’s brows drew together. "A shadow... with green eyes?"

Caelen repeated it softly. "Green eyes..."

"I’m sorry," the man said. "That’s all I remember."

Caelen nodded. "It’s enough."

They stood.

Ban ran after them. "Are you the ones investigating the case?"

Caelen smiled faintly. "Yes."

"Then... be careful."

"Thanks," Caelen said.

Ryan turned to the boy. "We’ll find the true cause behind all this. So your village can live in peace again."

The man clasped his hands. "Thank you... both of you."

Caelen and Ryan walked away down the quiet dirt road.

As they walked, Caelen looked up at the cloudy sky, the image of glowing green eyes flashing in his mind.

"A green-eyed shadow..."

He smirked.

"We’re getting close to this magical beast."

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