I looked down at them. Fina reached a trembling hand toward me. Mia whispered, “Riol… please…”
First, it was Fina, the swordswoman who promised to stand by my side. She looked at me with pity as she said, “You’re too gentle, Riol. Leon needs someone fierce.” I watched her laugh with him that night.
The Demon Lord laughed. “Is this the best your world has? A broken hero and his weeping harem?” I looked down at them
But I didn’t leave.
I sat outside the camp, the rain soaking my robes. My staff felt heavy. My healing spells felt useless. I could hear them laughing inside— his laugh, their voices. The betrayal cut deeper than any monster’s claw. She looked at me with pity as she
The Demon Lord’s castle loomed. Our party was broken. Everyone chose the hero.
Then I stepped forward.
Leon expected me to quit. The girls expected me to cry and vanish into some village. The world expected the healer to fade away.