Chapter 7 Part 6
A vibrant butterfly fluttered around Elia. Beneath its intensified hues since the summoning, it scattered gem-like amethyst dust. Her magical energy was rapidly depleting, making her feel connected to Sasha at last. As Elia blinked, she realized the true nature of the spirit she had summoned.
“Sasha’s power is illusion.”
Mystical illusions can sometimes be powerful weapons. Elia’s eyes caught sight of a Minotaur, poised to strike a soldier with its claws.
“Blind the Minotaur.”
At Elia’s command, Sasha fragmented into several pieces. Transforming into a swarm of butterflies, Sasha enveloped the Minotaur’s red eyes.
“Sa-save me…”
The soldier cowered as the Minotaur’s fist, aiming for his head, halted in mid-air. As the soldier cautiously opened his eyes, he saw the butterflies obscuring the Minotaur’s vision.
Thud. Thud.
The blinded creature’s fists pounded the ground. As the soldier stared in shock, Elia grabbed his hand, helping him to his feet.
“Hurry, get up!”
The Minotaur, trapped in an illusion where people were invisible, flailed helplessly. After ensuring the soldier’s safety, Elia assisted the ladies in evacuating.
“Princess Elia?”
“The Mahart family’s spirit mage is at work. Escape while you can.”
“Thank you!”
A woman, clutching her daughter, hurriedly fled. Elia’s butterflies now completely covered the Minotaur.
“Now’s our chance! Restrain it!”
Taking advantage of the opportunity, soldiers began binding the massive creature with ropes. The Minotaur’s body housed a magic core. Knights capable of wielding aura pierced its body, reducing it to unrecognizable dust.
Meanwhile, Elia used her sorcery to create a defensive barrier. The golden ringed path barred any malicious entities from entering.
“Move this way.”
Elia guided people to safety. Suddenly, a knight’s shout from the opposite side echoed.
“There’s another one!”
Elia turned to see another mid-level monster. ‘No, I’m running out of strength,’ she thought. Manipulating both sorcery and spirits simultaneously was dangerous.
The Minotaur spotted Elia and charged. Just then, a scream pierced the air, and a sword stabbed through the creature’s heart.
Thud. The massive body collapsed. Emerging behind it was Aksion Mahart, pulling his sword from the fallen beast. His agile form was covered in a distinct aura.
“He took down a mid-level monster in one blow?”
“I heard the Mahart heir was nothing special, but that…”
Nobles whispered among themselves as Aksion’s aura continued to decimate the monsters.
“The Royal Knights have arrived!”
Belatedly informed, the knights provided rear support. Unexpectedly, additional reinforcements arrived—priests of the Church of Light, hurriedly setting up barriers and gathering the wounded.
“Send the injured here!”
“There’s an injured person here!”
The priests, using divine power, healed the injured rapidly. Observing this, Aksion spoke.
“It seems there’s a nearby temple that sent reinforcements.”
“That’s a relief.”
The temples of the Church of Light were scattered throughout the empire. Elia recalled seeing a spire symbolizing the temple beyond the walking path. Though unsure about the inner hunting grounds, at least there seemed to be no casualties here. Elia sighed in relief. ‘The damage isn’t as severe as expected.’
However, several things were amiss. As the number of monsters dwindled, the black fog also gradually disappeared. ‘It’s as if someone is controlling the monsters.’
Monsters are creatures beyond human control. The means to control them would either be another monster or…
‘Wait. Why is that smoke there?’
Elia’s gaze shifted to the bushes. There, black smoke gathered, swiftly moving through the forest edge.
Aksion noticed Elia’s distraction and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Elia?”
“I need to check something.”
Elia urged her horse forward. The smoke moved faster than she anticipated, and maintaining her defense and Sasha drained her magical energy. It was the first time she had used so much power. She forced herself to endure, but her vision blurred.
‘I’m out of magic.’
Eventually, Sasha was forcibly unsummoned. Elia leaned against her horse, Elsha, as it slowed its pace. They continued walking for some time until Elia heard voices in what she thought was an empty forest. She opened her eyes, alert to the unfamiliar presence. When Elsha halted, Elia peered through the bushes.
There, she saw people in white priestly robes gathered.
“Is it over?”
“Not yet. The priests are still moving.”
At the center was a figure with gleaming silver hair, clad in a striking pink dress, incongruous with the forest setting.
“Sharon?”
Sharon, surrounded by priests, was smiling. It was strange; the temple had not yet declared her as a saint.
“Who goes there!”
A knight guarding Sharon pointed his sword towards Elia’s direction. Startled, her horse reared. Elia steadied it, rising in her saddle.
“Step back, my lady.”
“Wait. I think I know her.”
Sharon placed a hand on the knight’s shoulder, restraining him. She then approached Elia with graceful steps.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we, Princess?”
Sharon’s pink lips curved into a smile as she addressed Elia.
“A saint?”
Indeed, the knight had referred to her as such. Before Elia could process her shock, Sharon’s gaze shifted behind her.
“The person I wanted to meet is here too.”
Elia turned to see Aksion standing there.
“Nice to meet you, my lord. I’m Sharon Deias.”
Sharon curtsied, her movements too elegant to belong to a commoner, carrying the name from Elia’s memories. With a delicate blush, Sharon asked, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Oh dear, you have something troublesome there. Shall I help?”
Sharon gestured towards the black smoke gathering at Aksion’s feet. He stomped on it, but the smoke didn’t dissipate.
“You seem to be in a bit of a bind, don’t you?”
Sharon approached, divine power gathering in her hand.
“Divine power is the only way to control darkness.”
As the fog climbed Aksion’s leg, Sharon extended her hand to apply her divine power. But before she could, Aksion’s icy voice stopped her.
“Move away.”
He slapped her hand aside.
“Oh my.”
“How dare you!”
Aksion, ignoring the knight protecting Sharon, drove his sword into the ground. The aura-infused blade quickly dispelled the fog, but for a moment, his shadow seemed to take the form of a beast.
‘What was that?’
Elia blinked. The shadow had briefly looked like a black dog. But when she looked again, there was nothing unusual.
“Elia, let’s go back.”
“Yes.”
Aksion took Elia’s reins, leading her horse away. Sharon watched them leave, a generous smile on her face.
“Don’t worry. You’ll come looking for me eventually.”
Elia glanced back at Sharon’s strange words. Sharon clapped her hands, as if remembering something.
“Oh, Princess. The fact that I’m a saint hasn’t been officially announced yet. Keep it a secret until then, alright?”
Before Elia could respond, the knight moved Sharon along.
“Let’s return.”
“Yes.”
The saint and her followers turned away. The previously chaotic forest returned to tranquility.
* * *
In the province of Palof, a small fief far from the capital, an unexpected guest arrived.
“My apologies for the lack of hospitality.”
The lord of Palof, Rofus, bowed, rubbing his hands together. Behind him, his daughters, of marriageable age, stood adorned in their finest, blushing.
