Essence Link System: The Healer's Awakening-Chapter 23: The Devil Walks Free

At the Village Head’s Manor

Caelen and the others knelt their heads in front of the village head who sat like a king atop a stone-carved throne. His figure was composed, cloaked in shadow despite the torchlights burning across the chamber.

Caelen spoke first, his voice clear and respectful.

"It’s a pleasure meeting you, my lord."

Eldric raised a hand slightly. "You may rise."

They all raised their heads.

Caelen smiled calmly. "I’m glad you liked my offer and agreed to see me."

Eldric was about to speak, but his eyes met Alfred’s. "Excuse us, Alfred."

The butler bowed. "Yes, my Lord." He turned and walked out, his steps silent.

Caelen turned toward Eldric again. "You made the right choice to send him out. As expected of the head of a big, blooming village."

Eldric’s expression remained unreadable. "I am Eldric Thorne of Dawnmere Village. I heard your message. I’m willing to hear you out."

"Good." Caelen stepped forward slightly. "As you know... two bodies were found today outside the motel. Mutilated. But Garrox told me it was a fight between the two." Caelen’s smile thinned. "I find that hard to believe. Don’t you?"

Eldric said nothing.

Caelen’s tone dropped, voice low and laced with venom. "It’s either there’s a beast behind these murders... or someone from inside the village head’s circle. Perhaps the guards. Or even... Lord Eldric himself."

Eldric’s eyes narrowed. "Do you realize the accusation you’ve just made? You could be punished for such words."

Caelen chuckled. "Oh, I know. I could be punished. But if the word gets out... and you’re truly innocent... then why hide anything?"

He stepped behind the throne, lowering his voice to a whisper beside Eldric’s ear.

"What are you hiding?"

Eldric stiffened, his hand twitching slightly. Caelen’s gaze dropped to it. A faint mark glowed — a rune, etched like a scar.

Caelen’s smile sharpened.

"I’ve been thinking..." he said louder now. "The protectors of this village sure do love blood pacts. Garrox... your guards... and now you."

Eldric remained silent.

"But I suppose that’s to build trust," Caelen said. "After all, Garrox said you all put your lives on the line for this village. Isn’t that right, Lord Eldric?"

Eldric nodded slowly. "Yes. We protect our people. We lay down our lives."

Caelen clapped softly. "Every village should be like yours."

Eldric’s patience thinned. "You didn’t come here to praise my village. What do you want?"

Caelen’s tone turned serious. "I won’t waste your time. I want you to make us in charge of the investigation."

Eldric’s eyes widened. "I refuse. You are strangers. We cannot leave the fate of our village to outsiders."

Everyone went still. Veralia stepped forward. "Lord Caelen only wants to help."

Reina stepped in front of her, voice loud. "You call yourself the head of the village? Then use the head given to you by the gods! Why would a stranger risk his life for your people, if not because he’s a good man?!"

Ryan bowed slightly. "We ask that you hear our plea."

Eldric shook his head. "No. I refuse."

Caelen didn’t react. "Lord Eldric... I understand your reluctance. Truly. A man in your position cannot afford recklessness."

Eldric stayed silent.

"But allow me to ask one question," Caelen continued. "What happens when the people start believing... you knew all along?"

Eldric twitched.

Caelen’s voice softened. "They already suspect something. The guards can’t hide blood forever. The whispers... the unease... it’s spreading. If the people lose faith in their shepherd... they’ll burn the pen to escape the wolves."

He walked slowly, eyes on a dusty window.

"Now... what if a traveler dies here? Or worse, a noble passes through and doesn’t return?"

He paused, staring outside.

"Rumors spread. And when the kingdom hears that a village head ignored a chance to stop the killings... what will they say?"

He turned to face Eldric. "You’ll say you tried to protect them. But they’ll say you were hiding something."

Eldric clenched his fists.

"If I solve the killings, I become the savior. You remain the man who looked away. But if you let me investigate now... and I succeed... you become the wise leader who trusted the right man."

Caelen stepped up to the throne again, smiling coldly.

"So the real question is, my Lord... do you want to own the victory? Or survive the blame?"

Eldric leaned back, jaw tense. "I said no. You will not investigate. This doesn’t concern you."

Caelen’s smile didn’t break. "I see," he said quietly. "Then perhaps... I should let the villagers know what I’ve seen. What I know."

Veralia’s eyes widened. "Lord Caelen..."

Ryan muttered, "Is this really the best way...?"

The doors burst open. Guards rushed in, weapons raised. Blades gleamed.

Caelen smiled calmly. "I guessed the guards would be waiting. A stranger visits the village head... and no one stays to watch? That was suspicious. And Alfred? Too quick to leave."

He turned, facing Alfred’s empty seat.

"This was planned long before we stepped in."

Eldric rose slowly. "Figuring it out won’t help you."

The guards surrounded Caelen, swords inches from his throat.

"You’ll tell them nothing," Eldric said. "That is... if you leave here alive."

Caelen smiled. "I wonder about that. After all... I’m not good at keeping secrets."

Veralia’s palm burst into flame as a staff formed. Reina stepped forward, summoning a gleaming spear straight from her chest like a summoned relic. Ryan’s fingers froze into razor-sharp ice blades.

Ryan stepped forward. "Step away from Lord Caelen. Or there’ll be blood."

Eldric recoiled slightly. "Did you just... draw that spear from... your..."

Caelen raised his hand.

"There’s no need to fight. We came for peace."

Veralia looked conflicted. "But—"

"Trust me," Caelen said gently.

She lowered her weapon. The flames vanished. Reina’s spear dissolved into dust. Ryan let the ice melt.

Ryan looked at Caelen, confused. Caelen’s smile deepened.

It was like he was enjoying a game only he understood.

"Of course I wouldn’t threaten your town," Caelen said. "After all..."

He tilted his head slightly.

"I’m just a simple alchemist."

Silence followed. The guards hesitated. But his eyes — faintly glowing red — spoke of something deeper, colder.

He bowed lightly.

"But should something happen to me..." Caelen said softly, "people will ask questions. About what I knew. About why the guards killed a man who only wanted to help."

Eldric said, "What makes you think the villagers would even ask about you?"

Caelen chuckled mockingly. "Ah... I forgot to mention. Are you fond of a man named Berk?"

Eldric paused. "How do you know him?"

"I gambled with him. And I won. Don’t you think that gave me a little popularity?"

He grinned.

"After all... I’m now known as ’The Legendary Hand.’"

Gasps.

Eldric’s eyes widened. "You... you’re the one called—"

Alfred shouted, "Don’t believe him, my lord!"

Eldric looked torn. "We can’t just—"

Caelen pulled something from his pocket. A golden pendant.

"This is a tracker seal. This... is what Berk used to cheat at gambling."

Shock rippled through the room.

A pause.

"Let me investigate. Quietly. You lose nothing. But if you refuse... and more die... your silence becomes a noose."

Eldric stood frozen, then finally let out a slow breath.

"...Fine. You may investigate the mysterious deaths."

The guards lowered their weapons.

Reina and Veralia rushed to Caelen’s side.

Caelen bowed slightly. "You made the right choice, my Lord."

"When do you leave?" Eldric asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Caelen replied.

"Good. But the investigation must remain in secret."

"Of course," Caelen said with a smile.

The guards stepped aside. The path cleared. Caelen and his companions turned and began walking toward the exit.

Behind them, Alfred stepped forward.

"My Lord... was it right to let them lead?"

Eldric watched them go, his voice cold.

"It’s fine. They’ll probably be killed... by her."

Alfred smirked faintly. "Then I guess... that’s true."

---

Outside the Gates

The iron gate groaned shut behind them, the echo ringing through the quiet night like a final warning. Caelen and the others walked forward, the cold evening breeze brushing past their cloaks as silence filled the air between them.

Their footsteps crunched lightly against the gravel path as they made their way back toward the motel. The once-tense weight of confrontation now hung as a strange calm — like the eye of a storm, just before everything truly begins.

Reina finally broke the silence, glancing at Caelen. Her voice was laced with curiosity and something close to admiration.

"I didn’t think you’d actually take that pendant with you."

Caelen kept his eyes forward, his expression unreadable. "I like to be prepared for anything," he said simply.

Reina smirked, folding her arms. "Prepared? More like you planned to flip the entire meeting upside down from the start."

Ryan chuckled softly behind them, his hand resting behind his neck as he walked. "Yeah, but it worked. That pendant... it really shook them."

Caelen gave a quiet, half-smile. "People believe what they fear. And power? Sometimes it’s just knowing when to speak."

Veralia, who had been quiet the entire walk, finally spoke. "Still... that was dangerous. If Eldric had given the signal, they would’ve killed you right there."

Caelen shrugged. "Probably. But I knew he wouldn’t."

Reina raised a brow. "You sure about that?"

"No," Caelen admitted calmly. "But sometimes, you don’t need to be sure. You just need to look like you are."

They turned a corner, the soft lights of the motel flickering in the distance. A few villagers passed them by, unaware of the deal that had just taken place inside the heart of their village. The truth of the danger still lingered in the shadows, silent and unseen.

Ryan’s expression turned more serious.

"So... we’re investigating the mysterious deaths in the village tomorrow."

Everyone paused a little.

"It’s going to be dangerous," he said, glancing around at the group. "Whatever’s behind those killings... it’s not ordinary."

Caelen nodded. "Yeah. And if Eldric’s so scared of the truth getting out, then whatever’s hiding in this village isn’t just dangerous... it’s something he’s afraid of."

Reina clenched her fist. "Then we better be ready. I don’t care what it is. Beast, monster, or something worse. I’m not letting anyone else die here."

Veralia looked up at the cloudy sky, the moon faintly peeking through. "We’ll need to move carefully. No attention. No mistakes."

Caelen glanced at them all, stopping just before the motel steps.

He spoke with quiet finality.

"This isn’t just about solving murders anymore. It’s about exposing whatever darkness is crawling through this village... and maybe even surviving it."

A hush fell over the group.

Then, one by one, they stepped inside the motel.

Tomorrow, the real hunt would begin.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶