Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 103: No Safe Place [4]

Kyle was still holding Eleanora when they collapsed onto the cold floor of the cabin.

His chest rose and fell in sharp ragged breaths. His arms trembled.

Every muscle in his body screamed from the effort. But he didn’t let go.

Eleanora lay still against him, her breathing uneven. Her hair was damp with sweat, and her skin was pale as moonlight.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. They met his, and for a moment. Neither spoke.

Then her lips parted.

"W-Why did you do that...?" she asked softly, her voice barely holding together. "You should have run..."

Kyle stared down at her. He looked exhausted. Broken. But his eyes still held something steady, something firm.

"I couldn’t just leave you behind," he said quietly. "No way."

He meant it.

He could never be the kind of person who walked away and let someone die when he had the power to save them.

The silence that followed was thick.

Then Aaron’s voice broke through.

He had been watching them from near the door, eyes wide in disbelief.

"You kids..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "You are insane. Absolutely insane."

But there was something else in his voice, respect.

"They don’t train you for this in the Academy," he added under his breath.

Eleanora blinked, as if waking up fully for the first time. Her eyes dropped down, and she suddenly realized she was still in Kyle’s arms, pressed against his chest.

Her face turned bright red. frёeωebɳovel.com

"I-I’m fine now!" she said quickly, pulling back and sitting up on her knees. She brushed her hair behind her ear. Avoiding eye contact.

Kyle gave her a small, tired smile.

But then something in his face shifted.

His expression grew serious.

"The distress signal," he said, sitting up straighter. "We have to send it."

Aaron blinked, then cursed under his breath.

"Right!"

He stood up and rushed to the small control panel near the wall. The console flickered with faint mana circuits, glowing dim blue.

Aaron’s fingers danced across the buttons.

He entered a long code, something he clearly knew by heart.

The screen buzzed, then turned red.

A loud beep echoed through the cabin.

"Emergency signal confirmed. Priority level: Crimson. Central Command notified."

Aaron let out a long breath and leaned back. "It’s done. Command’s got the message."

He turned toward the others. "Reinforcements are coming. We just have to hold on."

Everyone seemed to ease at once. Like a heavy weight was finally being lifted from their shoulders.

Reo walked over to Kyle.

"You alright?" he asked, kneeling beside him.

Kyle nodded. "Yeah... mostly."

But Reo didn’t move. His eyes trailed down.

Then he froze.

His voice came out shaky. "K-Kyle... your legs..."

Kyle blinked. He looked down.

And finally saw.

His legs were blackened.

Charred.

Burnt flesh and ash covered him from the knees down. Bits of cloth still clung to his skin, melted into the wounds.

Smoke rose slowly from the burns, and the sharp scent of cooked flesh hit his nose.

He’d known it hurt.

But not this much.

Eleanora saw it next.

She gasped and crawled toward him in a rush. "Your legs...oh gods!"

"I-It’s okay," Kyle said through clenched teeth. "I’ve got something for it."

He reached for his storage ring and pulled out small, tightly sealed vials. The red liquid inside shimmered like blood mixed with stardust.

He had brought this from Grimmord during his last visit to the black market. They’re far more effective than ordinary healing potions.

Eleanora’s hands shook as she helped him uncork it.

He passed the second to her, and she carefully helped pour it into his mouth.

The warmth spread through him fast.

The bleeding slowed. The shaking dulled.

The blackened skin began to peel in thin flakes, and beneath it, raw but healing flesh started to show.

It wasn’t a full recovery. But the potions had stopped the worst of it.

Eleanora let out a slow breath. Watching his legs begin to mend.

"You’ll still need a healer," she said softly. brushing a bit of dust off his sleeve. "Those won’t fix everything."

"I know," Kyle said, his voice low. "But at least I can still feel my feet."

Across the room, Aaron nodded. "The signal’s out. Command’s received it. We just need to stay put now."

It felt like the storm had passed.

They had survived.

Kyle leaned back against the cold metal wall.

He closed his eyes.

And finally...

A sigh escaped his lips.

But the calm didn’t last.

Kyle’s eyes suddenly shot open.

That moment. Right before they got through the door flashed in his mind.

When the corrupted’s claws were just inches away... He had moved faster than he should’ve.

It wasn’t just lightning.

He had used his wind affinity. Instinctively.

His body had reacted on its own. A small burst of wind had pushed him just enough to avoid the slash.

His gaze drifted to Reo.

Reo sat nearby. Slumped against the wall, breathing heavily. He hadn’t spoken much. Just stared at the floor in silence.

Did he notice? Kyle wondered. Could he have felt it?

Then Kyle turned to look at Aaron.

The older man was wiping sweat from his forehead. Checking the control panel again, probably making sure the signal was still active.

He had wind affinity too.

Could he have sensed it?

Kyle’s heart began to beat faster. His mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

If either of them noticed... they might start asking questions. Dangerous questions. Questions Kyle didn’t want to answer.

His hands curled into fists, nails pressing into his palms.

He couldn’t afford to be careless. Not now.

Just then. Reo looked up.

He noticed the tightness in Kyle’s jaw. The way his shoulders were tense.

"You okay?" he asked again. This time more serious, more focused.

Kyle jumped slightly at the sound. Then Eleanora turned to him too, concern etched on her face.

"What’s wrong?" she asked softly.

Kyle blinked.

His mouth opened. But nothing came out at first. Then he forced a smile.

"N-Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Just... tired. That’s all."

They didn’t look convinced.

But they didn’t press him.

And so. The silence returned.

All four of them sat there. Leaning against the walls of the cabin. Bruised. Burned. Drained.

But alive.

They had made it through the attack.

They just had to wait now. Wait for help to arrive.

Kyle let himself breathe again.

Until—

Bang!!

The sudden sound of metal being ripped apart shattered the quiet.

The cargo car door didn’t just open.

It flew off its hinges. Hurled across the cabin like a cannonball. It smashed into the far wall with a thunderous crash, denting the thick steel and sending sparks flying.

Everyone froze.

Their eyes widened.

Their breath caught in their throats.

Smoke started pouring in from the open doorway. Thick. Dark. Swirling like mist soaked in blood.

Then...footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Each one echoed through the floor, dull and cold.

A figure walked through the smoke.

Step by step.

The shape was hard to see at first, hidden by the haze. But the feeling it brought was impossible to ignore.

The air changed.

It grew thick. Cold. Pressing down on their chests like invisible hands.

It felt like the world had dropped in temperature.

A choking presence filled the room.

Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.

Kyle’s hand tightened around the hilt of Zalrielle, the sword cold in his grasp.

His eyes didn’t blink.

His muscles tensed again.

That creeping fear he thought had passed—

It came rushing back.

Because whatever was walking toward them now...

It wasn’t just another corrupted.

It was something worse.

And this nightmare—

Wasn’t over yet.

———