The villagers began gathering little by little.
There was no commotion, nor exaggerated curiosity. Just slow steps, tired faces, and attentive gazes. It was the kind of reaction from people who had already seen too many promises and too few results.
I stood near the center of the field, observing.
They weren't distrustful by nature.
They were… used to expecting nothing.
Lyannis crossed her arms. "They don't believe this is going to change."
Rai'kanna nodded. "Normal."
Scarlett kept her gaze firm. "They lost confidence."
Elara analyzed. "Pattern of prolonged abandonment."
Vespera added, "Repeated failed management."
Liriel said calmly, "And emotional exhaustion."
The man who had introduced himself as Harren returned.
This time accompanied by more people.
Men, women, some older, others younger.
Few spoke.
Most simply watched.
"Everyone is here," said Harren.
I nodded.
I looked around.
And I didn't just see a land problem.
I saw a larger one.
"Have you already tried changing the soil?" I asked.
Harren answered, "Yes."
"How?"
"Fertilizer… water… rotation…"
He hesitated.
"Everything we knew."
Lyannis tilted her head. "They tried the basics."
Rai'kanna commented, "And it didn't work."
Scarlett analyzed. "So it's not the method."
Elara added, "It's interference."
Vespera nodded. "External."
Liriel said, "Yes."
I walked to the center of the field.
I crouched down.
Touched the earth.
Cold.
Dry.
But not dead.
That became clear immediately.
It wasn't the absence of life.
It was… blockage.
"When did it start?" I asked.
Harren answered without delay. "After the war."
Silence.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "As expected."
Lyannis let out a humorless laugh. "Of course it is."
Scarlett remained calm. "Demonic influence."
Elara nodded. "High probability."
Vespera added, "Consistent with recent patterns."
Liriel said, "Yes."
I stood up.
Looked at the field again.
And then at Liriel.
"Can you see better?"
She nodded.
Took a few steps forward.
Closed her eyes.
The environment fell silent.
Even the wind seemed lighter.
For a few seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then she spoke.
"It's spread out."
Lyannis frowned. "Spread out?"
"Yes."
Rai'kanna asked, "It's not a specific point?"
Liriel slowly opened her eyes.
"No."
Scarlett analyzed. "So it's not a single source."
Elara added, "Diffuse contamination."
Vespera nodded. "Harder to remove."
Liriel confirmed. "Yes."
Harren watched without fully understanding.
But attentively.
"Can… this be fixed?" he asked.
I looked at Liriel.
She didn't answer immediately.
But after a moment…
"Yes."
Simple.
Direct.
But not easy.
Lyannis smiled faintly. "Then it's settled."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "Nothing is that simple."
Scarlett kept a firm tone. "But it's possible."
Elara said, "With the correct method."
Vespera added, "And proper application."
Liriel looked at me.
"But it won't be fast."
I nodded.
"It doesn't need to be fast."
What mattered…
Was that it worked.
I turned my gaze back to Harren.
"Can you gather tools? Water, seeds… whatever you have."
He hesitated for a second.
But answered.
"Yes."
"Bring everything."
He nodded and quickly walked away.
Lyannis crossed her arms. "You're starting now?"
"Yes."
Rai'kanna nodded. "Better that way."
Scarlett observed. "No wasted time."
Elara analyzed the field. "Large area."
Vespera added, "It will require control."
Liriel took a deep breath.
"I can do it."
I looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Without doubt.
Lyannis smiled. "Complete confidence."
Rai'kanna commented, "She knows what she's doing."
Scarlett remained calm. "We've seen it before."
Elara nodded. "Proven capability."
Vespera said, "Efficient execution."
Liriel simply closed her eyes again for a moment.
As if preparing herself.
The villagers began returning with tools.
Buckets.
Hoes.
A few stored seeds.
Not much.
But it was what they had.
Harren returned at the front.
"This is everything."
I nodded.
"It's enough."
I looked at Liriel.
She stepped forward.
And then…
Slowly raised her hand.
The air around us changed.
Not abruptly.
But noticeably.
Like a light pressure.
A presence.
Lyannis watched attentively.
Rai'kanna remained focused.
Scarlett firm.
Elara analyzing every detail.
Vespera evaluating the range.
Liriel began concentrating energy.
Light.
Soft at first.
But growing.
The glow wasn't aggressive.
It was… clean.
Pure.
The villagers instinctively stepped back.
But not in fear.
In respect.
The light began to expand.
Slowly descending toward the soil.
And when it touched the earth…
The impact was immediate.
There was no explosion.
No loud sound.
But the air changed.
As if something was being… removed.
Lyannis murmured, "It's working."
Rai'kanna nodded. "You can feel it."
Scarlett observed. "The pressure decreased."
Elara confirmed. "Interference is being eliminated."
Vespera analyzed. "Wide coverage."
Liriel maintained focus.
Without hurry.
Without failure.
The light spread throughout the field.
And for a few minutes…
Everything remained enveloped in that glow.
Until…
The intensity began to fade.
The light slowly dissipated.
And the field…
Returned to normal.
Or almost.
Because now…
Something had changed.
The air felt lighter.
The land…
Different.
Liriel lowered her hand.
Took a deep breath.
And opened her eyes.
"It's done."
Silence.
Lyannis looked around. "…And now?"
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "Now we test it."
Scarlett nodded. "Yes."
Elara added, "Next stage."
Vespera said, "Validation."
Liriel simply confirmed. "Yes."
I looked at Harren.
"Prepare the planting."
For a moment, he seemed speechless.
But then he nodded firmly.
"Yes, my lord."
The villagers began to move.
Faster.
More attentive.
Something had changed in them too.
It wasn't complete hope.
But…
It was a beginning.
And that was already more than they had before.
I looked once again at the field.
Now clean.
Now free.
But still empty.
And I understood.
That wasn't the end of the problem.
It was only the beginning of the solution.
And now…
All that remained was to see whether the land would respond.