the beginning after the end perfect duo

Powerful Yet Powerless

I'm still alive, at least," Mira said, her voice barely audible over the distant echoes of dripping water in the cavern. She was sitting on the ground, clutching her injured arm tightly, her face pale and streaked with dirt and blood.

The metallic scent of blood filled the air, sharp and unmistakable. My enhanced senses picked it up almost immediately, mingling with the damp, musty odor of the underground chamber. The two wolves I had just slain lay lifeless a few feet away, their once-bright eyes now dull, their fur matted with blood.

I exhaled sharply, lowering my weapon. "Come on," I said, extending a hand toward Mira. "Let's find the others."

She hesitated for a moment before gripping my hand, her touch cold and trembling. As I helped her to her feet, she winced, sucking in a sharp breath to avoid worsening her injury.

"Do you have any clever tricks to find them, Mr. Tone?" she asked, a weak smile playing on her lips despite the pain. Her attempt at humor was feeble, but it managed to lift the suffocating tension, if only slightly.

I chuckled faintly, grateful for her resilience. "You could say that."

Releasing her hand, I closed my eyes and focused, letting my mana perception take over. It wasn't a visible sense like Arthur's Realmheart ability, but a deeper, almost instinctual awareness of the energy around me. I felt the earth mana anchoring the ground beneath our feet, the wind mana swirling faintly in the cavern's stale air, and the fire mana dancing erratically around Mira's flickering torch.

Pushing my perception further, I probed the cavern. The ambient mana shifted subtly, bending around the obstacles and echoes of life within the labyrinthine tunnels.

"What are you even doing?" Mira asked, her voice breaking through the silence. I didn't answer immediately; to her, I must have looked strange—standing still, my body rigid and unmoving like a statue. She couldn't sense mana as I did.

Then, I felt it. A faint ripple of mana flared in the distance—Lilia's signature, unmistakable and frantic. My heart clenched as I expanded my focus. She wasn't alone. Jasmine's mana signal pulsed nearby, steady but strained. Relief washed over me briefly, but it was short-lived.

There were others. Five more mana signatures moved erratically around them. Wolves.

My stomach twisted. The fight was already underway. Lilia's mana flickered erratically as she narrowly avoided an attack. Jasmine's mana surged, shielding the younger girl, but I could feel the fatigue in her presence. She was nearing her limit.

Without wasting another second, I muttered, "Hold on," to Mira and pressed my hand to the ground. Summoning the earth mana beneath us, I willed it to shift and form a direct path toward the others. The ground trembled as a passageway opened through the rock, jagged but wide enough for us to pass.

"Tom, wait—" Mira began, but I was already moving.

Activating Thunderclap Impulse, I felt the familiar surge of lightning mana coursing through my body. Sparks crackled around me as I shot forward like a bolt, leaving Mira behind. The tunnel blurred past me, the sharp, uneven edges illuminated by the glow of my mana.

I burst into the open chamber just as two wolves lunged at Lilia. Time seemed to slow. Drawing on the surrounding earth mana, I conjured spikes from the cavern walls. The wolves collided with them mid-leap, their bodies impaled instantly.

"Tom!" Lilia's voice cracked as she stumbled toward me, her small frame trembling with fear. She threw herself into my arms, clutching me tightly.

Her usual cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by tear-streaked cheeks and a trembling voice. "I—I thought we were going to die," she sobbed, her fingers digging into my cloak.

Behind her, Jasmine stood leaning against the cavern wall, blood dripping from a gash on her shoulder. Her breathing was labored, but her gaze was steady. She had fought tooth and nail to keep Lilia alive, and the evidence of her struggle was etched into every line of her face.

I held Lilia close, my own heart hammering in my chest. Relief and guilt warred within me. She was alive, but the thought of how close she had come to death was unbearable.

"I'm sorry, Tom," Lilia choked out between sobs. "I'm so sorry. I almost got Jasmine hurt. I'm too weak. I shouldn't even be here!"

Her words hit me like a physical blow. She was just a child, forced into a situation far beyond her years—and it was my fault.

"No," I said firmly, pulling back just enough to look into her tear-filled eyes. "This isn't your fault, Lilia. You're not weak—you're just a child. And I'm the one who failed to protect you."

Her grip tightened on me, her voice breaking. "But I am weak! If I was stronger, Jasmine wouldn't have—"

"Stop," Jasmine interrupted, her voice calm but commanding. She stepped closer, resting a hand on Lilia's shoulder. "Lilia, listen to me. You did your best. That's what matters. We all make mistakes, but we learn from them. And you'll grow stronger because of it."

Lilia sniffled, her tears slowing, but her gaze remained fixed on the ground. "I don't want to be a burden," she whispered. "I want to stay with you, Tom. I'll work harder, I promise. Just don't send me away."

Her plea shattered what little composure I had left. I closed my eyes, fighting back the sting of tears.

"Lilia," I said softly, my voice trembling. "I don't want to lose you, but I can't let this happen again. You need to get stronger, yes, but not by risking your life like this. I'll find a way to keep you safe. I promise."

Jasmine nodded, her calm presence grounding both of us. "And we'll all help her," she said. "Lilia, you're not alone in this. Growing stronger isn't something you do by yourself—it's something we do together."

Lilia finally met my gaze, her resolve shining faintly through the grief in her eyes.

I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Let's get out of here first. We'll figure out the rest later—together."

Mira appeared in the chamber entrance, her injured arm now hastily bandaged. She gave me a knowing look, offering silent support.

With the group reunited, we turned toward the cavern's exit. The path ahead was still uncertain, but one thing was clear—we would face it together, no matter what awaited us.