Harlyn jolted upright in bed, gasping for breath as if waking from a nightmare.
But it wasn’t a dream.
From outside came piercing screams, the crash of splintering wood, the roar of chaos tearing through the room.
“Hale—don’t! I beg you!”
Meryl was on her knees, crying, clutching Hale’s hand with all her strength.
Hale’s face was twisted with fury.
“Let go!”
“Goblin King—I'll finish what I left undone!”
Meryl tightened her grip.
“Don’t, Hale!”
As if shackled.
Bound by rage, he wrenched his arm free. The force sent Meryl crashing to the floor.
The moment realization struck him, his breath hitched—
But the rage did not fade.
Then, in that instant, his gaze fell upon her.
Harlyn stood not far away.
“Dad…?” she said quietly.
Hale didn’t hear her voice, yet he knew—
she was calling him.
For a brief moment, regret flickered in his eyes.
Then it vanished.
His grip tightened around his sword. He pointed toward Meryl, his voice trembling.
“Stay home,” he said.
“Protect Harlyn.”
He turned and walked out the door.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Meryl collapsed, clutching her head.
“No… no… no…”
“Mom…?”
Harlyn’s voice cut through the haze.
Meryl turned.
What Harlyn saw was her mother crumpled on the floor—broken, as though something vital had been torn away.
Meryl rushed forward, pulling Harlyn into her arms. She carried her to the dining table, sobbing as she ran, stroking her daughter’s hair again and again.
“It’s alright,” she whispered.
“Dad will be back soon.”
She was comforting Harlyn.
She was also lying to herself.
***
Outside,
The Goblin King tore through the village, club clenched in its hand.
Massive and muscular, it moved like a living disaster.
A fierce scream drew its attention.
“COME HERE!”
“I’M RIGHT HERE!”
The monster turned.
“ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME?” Hale shouted.
“I’M THE ONE WHO BURNED YOUR CAVE—WHO KILLED ALL YOUR CHILDREN!”
Hale swung his sword.
The Goblin King roared in blind fury and charged.
Hale gripped his sword tightly, also shouting a charge.
“ARGH!”
***
Inside the house, Meryl and Harlyn hid beneath the table, not daring to breathe.
The screams.
The roars.
The clash of battle.
Harlyn covered her ears.
…
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Time seemed to stop.
BOOM—
Right before her eyes,
The wall exploded inward.
Hale was thrown through the stone, crashing into the kitchen floor.
“HALE!”
They ran to him, shouting his name.
Meryl fell to her knees, propping his body against the wall.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
The sun’s light shined Hale’s body.
Blood soaked his shirt.
His eyes were empty.
“No… no…” Harlyn whispered, shaking her head. “Dad!”
She held his hand—shaking, green light flared as she tried to heal him.
It didn’t change a thing.
Hale smiled weakly.
With the last of his strength, his hand rose slowly—
gently brushed through his daughter’s hair.
“I’m… sorry…”
His breath left him.
Thud.
His hand fell limp.
“Dad…”
Harlyn’s face went pale as the world slipped away.
Meryl pulled her close, holding her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably.
***
In front of Hale's tombstone.
Mother and daughter stood there quietly, holding hands.
***
People came and went.
They offered condolences to Harlyn’s family.
They placed flowers.
Left small gifts.
Whispers and murmurs filled the air.
***
It was unclear how much time had passed.
The sky grew heavy.
Clouds gathered.
Rain began to fall.
Only Harlyn and her mother remained.
Meryl didn’t shed a single tear.
She only stood there—
holding Harlyn’s hand tightly.
Harlyn was silent too.
The scene kept replaying in her mind.
Her mother’s cries.
Her father’s face.
Should I have not listened then?
Should I have run outside instead?
I learned magic…
Could I have helped him?
Could I have saved Dad…?
At such a young age,
Harlyn was already carrying questions far too heavy for her heart.
Something churned deep inside her—
tight, suffocating.
She couldn’t explain it.
She only knew it hurt.
***
Meryl was cooking.
Everything… was quiet.
Too quiet.
Only the sound of boiling water,
and a spoon swirling slowly in the pot.
Everything… felt empty.
Meryl’s voice broke the silence.
“Harlyn,” she said gently.
“Guess what Mommy’s cooking.”
She turned with a smile—
bright, practiced.
“It’s yours and Dad’s favorite.”
Harlyn knew.
She knew that smile was holding something back.
***
They ate in silence.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them could.
The food had no smell.
No taste.
Then—
Tears slipped from Harlyn’s eyes.
She didn’t know why.
She wiped them away.
Again.
And again.
But the more she wiped,
the more they came.
Meryl rushed to her side, kneeling down, gently brushing her cheeks.
“It’s alright…” she whispered.
“I’m still here with you. Don’t cry.”
That was when Harlyn broke.
She buried her face into her mother’s chest, gripping her tightly.
“Mom… I could have helped him…”
Her voice shook.
“I could have saved Dad.”
“It’s all my fault.”
Meryl’s breath hitched.
Her arms tightened around her daughter as tears finally spilled over.
“No… it’s my fault.”
“I should have stopped your father!”
She hugged Harlyn even tighter.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Harlyn…”
That night—
That night…
A piece of their home was gone.
And it would never come back.
