Stones whistled through the air, pelting toward me like angry wasps. I turned briefly to the floating rock spirit—its glowing eyes locked onto me with relentless fury. With a deep breath, I let my body slip into an incorporeal state. The rocks passed harmlessly through my body.

‘Right… I could do this too.’ I reminded myself bitterly, my heart pounding with restrained rage.

My anger simmered so fiercely that it froze into a terrifying calm. I didn’t spare the spirit another glance. Instead, I strode through the storm of flying rocks, until I stood behind the elegant woman lounging in a chair, watching the maids savagely kick Raquel as if he were nothing more than filth.

My hand materialized in a blink, fingers tangling in her hair like iron chains. She screamed as I yanked her from her seat, flinging her across the room like a discarded rag doll. Her shriek echoed off the wooden walls, and then fell on the floor.

Gasps filled the air. The maids spun toward her, their hands trembling as they rushed to their mistress. Raquel, bruised and curled like a wounded animal, was dropped to the floor. I soared to him in an instant, my chest tightening as I knelt beside his crumpled form. His face was ghostly pale, his breaths shallow and ragged.

Then, he vomited.

The sickening stench of bile and half-digested fruit filled the room. My stomach twisted, not from disgust, but from heartbreak.

‘How could they do this to a child?’

I held him as he retched, rubbing his back gently, as tears welled in my eyes. Fruit spilled from his lips—bright berries from breakfast—now a brutal reminder of how brutally he'd been struck.

Fury overtook me. My fists clenched so tight that my nails bit into my palms, drawing blood. I glared up at the maids, who now stood whispering.

“What is that he’s vomiting?”

“Are those fruits?”

“Has he been stealing?”

“Oh no, not only is he a murderer—he’s a thief too.”

I stood up, I could no longer contain my anger, my movements deadly silent, and approached them like a phantom of wrath. Without a word, I raised my leg and dropped it into her head. She collapsed instantly, knocked unconscious by the sheer force. The others screamed, but the lady didn’t seem to care and just glared at Raquel as she stood up.

She hissed through clenched teeth, “How dare you hurt me…”

“Rocky,” she snarled, calling unto the rock spirit again. It rose, forming stones mid-air with a furious rumble.

I rushed back to Raquel. He was unconscious now, clammy with cold sweat. I lifted him gently, placing him over my shoulder, so I could carry him with ease.

The stones flew again, sharper this time, aimed not at me—but at Raquel.

I couldn’t dematerialize while holding him. I darted through the air in a furious dance of evasive flight. I zigzagged inside the cramped cottage, dodging debris and spinning between rafters. But there was nowhere to run.

Then an idea struck.

I veered toward the enemy—so close that the rock spirit hesitated, its stones hovering mid-air to avoid striking its master and her maids. Taking advantage of the pause, I swooped down beneath the table, where last night’s stacked rocks lay hidden beneath the bed.

With one arm clutching Raquel, I grabbed the heaviest stone with the other and hurled it with all my might. It collided with the spirit’s glowing core. A pulse of energy shimmered through the air as the spirit flickered, then shattered into glittering dust.

Just like how the rabbit disappeared mi conversation.

The lady gasped, her gaze sharp and hateful. “You—”

I laid Raquel gently on the floor and shot toward her like a lightning bolt. My fist struck her gut with unrelenting force. She choked, spewing blood and saliva, then crumpled.

The maids screamed, and I lunged forward to the remaining one I could touch. I didn’t hesitate. A swift, kick caught her square in the stomach. She collapsed, gagging, vomiting everything she had eaten and more. Her tears flowed freely now, a pitiful sight, but I had no pity to give.

The remaining maids stumbled back in terror.

I couldn’t touch them, so I couldn’t do anything to them.

I grabbed a chair and hurled it across the room. It exploded against the wall, splinters raining down. A crack split the wooden beam. They froze, petrified.

“I’m sorry…” they whimpered, one by one, as if their voices could mend what they’d broken.

I glared at them with contempt. Too little. Too late.

Looking around, I spotted Raquel’s chalk near the magic circle. I snatched it up and scrawled words onto the floor in sharp, deliberate strokes.

‘GET LOST.’

The message glowed with silent rage. The maids understood.

Scrambling to their feet, they gathered their unconscious companions and fled the cottage like rats. The door slammed shut behind them.

I was alone with Raquel.

I cradled him again, gently placing him on the bed. My tears came silently, soaking into the blanket as I held his tiny hand.

He was covered in bruises, black and blue from head to toe. There was no medicine here, no salves or bandages. I felt useless.

All I could do was tear a spare blanket into strips, soak one in water, and wipe the dirt and blood from his skin. Each gentle stroke of cloth felt like a pitiful attempt to erase their cruelty.

Then, a familiar voice.

“Oh dear, what happened?”

It was the rabbit.

I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say.

“Do you have medicine to help with his bruises?”

I bit my lip hard, guilt and frustration boiling over. I shook my head.

The rabbit studied me, then lifted a paw. Ethereal images of glowing plants appeared in the air before me. Each one shimmered with magical energy.

“Press them,” he said simply. “Information about each plant will appear.”

I reached out hesitantly and touched one. And just like the rabbit said information appeared – about how to process them and their effects.

A wide smile broke across my face. I hugged the rabbit tightly.

“I don’t know if they grow nearby,” he warned, “but this is all I can offer.”

And just like that, he dissolved into stardust once more.

Clutching Raquel’s hand, I whispered, “I’ll be back soon,” then took off, the glowing herb images floating beside me like guiding stars. I searched the forest tirelessly and reaching the farthest places I could reach.

Hours passed.

Finally, I found two of the herbs—miraculously blooming beneath a patch of moss near the river.

I gathered them quickly and returned.

Raquel now burned with fever, sweat beading on his bruised brow. My heart clenched.

I followed the instructions exactly. Step by step, I brewed a medicinal paste and cooled a drink. My hands never stopped moving.

When it was ready, I sat beside him and gently shook him awake.

Raquel stirred, eyes fluttering open, dull with pain.

“Eat. Even if its just a little,” I whispered, helping him sit up.

He took a bite of fruit, chewing slowly. Then I gave him the medicine, mixing it with his water.

He grimaced. “It’s awful…”

“If you drink at least half, I’ll sing you a lullaby.”

His eyes lit up faintly—dim stars behind heavy lids. He drank, wincing but determined.

And true to my word, I sang as I wiped his battered body, my voice trembling but steady.