Chapter 9 Part 4

The Kenosha flower pollen was from a flower that caused headaches for people during seasonal changes. Interestingly, the yellow pollen had a property similar to a magnet, sticking only to living things.

“Could it be…” The forest keeper looked at Elia with a hopeful yet uncertain expression.

“The hunting dogs will find the spots with the most Kenosha flower pollen,” Elia explained. Since the pollen was waterproof and stuck to living things like a magnet, it was perfect for the current conditions.

Jacob and the knights climbed the remaining cliff, each carrying a sack over their shoulders. “Alright, let’s spread it now. Everyone, take cover!” The people on the scene quickly took shelter behind a large cloth.

“One, two, three!” Simultaneously, a massive amount of pollen was released into the air. Using her magic, Elia directed the Kenosha flower pollen precisely into the cracks between the rocks. The floating pollen permeated through the debris on the cliff.

Grr, woof! The forest keeper released the hunting dogs. Sniffing around, the dogs began digging at certain spots on the rocks.

“Over here!” The workers hastily lifted the rocks. As they cleared away the sharp debris, faint signs of life emerged from beneath.

“Help… help…” a weak voice called out.

“We’ve found someone! There’s a person down here!” The workers quickly removed the stones, but the final rock posed a problem.

“This one is too big to move,” one of them said. A massive rock was pinning down the structure. The trapped person seemed to be under this rock.

It was impossible to move the rock without causing the remaining space to collapse. Just as everyone was getting anxious, Aksion stepped forward.

“Step aside,” he said, drawing his sword. The cold blade pierced the rock effortlessly. With a crack, the massive rock split into four pieces. The fragments, neatly divided, avoided the space where the trapped person was.

As they moved the rock pieces, they found a man curled up underneath. His crying wife quickly ran to embrace him. “Thank you, thank you so much!” she sobbed.

The trapped man appeared unconscious but had no serious injuries. The hunting dogs began finding the other trapped individuals one by one. The knights assisted in clearing the debris and rescuing the people.

In total, four people were rescued. They were saved quickly enough that there were no casualties. Everyone expressed their gratitude to the Mahart heir couple.

“The rainy season is coming soon. We should prepare to avoid any more damage,” Elia said. There was another reason for the timing of the hunting.

Before the weather got colder, the northern region entered a heavy rainy season. For a week, it would rain incessantly, making any activity impossible. After the rain stopped, winter would arrive.

Elia gathered her thoughts and whispered to Aksion, “Aksion, can I have a word with you?” After a brief exchange, Aksion nodded.

“I promise a quick recovery of Sector 17. The knights will stay to assist with the recovery,” Aksion announced.

“Yes, sir!” The heir couple mounted their horses and rode until the recovery area was out of sight.

“It’s nice to be alone together,” Elia said playfully. Aksion captured her smile with his eyes.

“Why are we going to a place that isn’t a flood area? We’re planning preventive construction there because of the early rains this year,” Aksion asked.

“I plan to lay down some protective spells as we go around,” Elia explained. Human efforts had clear limits. Moreover, ‘Misfortune will continue to generate more misfortune.’ This was the only way to prevent even greater damage than before. Elia pulled up her hood.

“From now on, I’m a shaman,” she said.

They rode up the mountain. After about an hour, they reached a hill overlooking the entire estate. Magic gathered in the bracelet on Elia’s wrist. Hundreds of butterflies dispersed, flying over the entire estate.

‘My magic is draining,’ Elia thought, biting her lip. The vastness of the estate caused her magic to continuously deplete. She released her magic until it was almost gone, then closed her eyes and drew a circle, envisioning the estate and the protection spell from the book.

Soon, an invisible light covered the entire estate. ‘It’s done.’ Using up every drop of her magic, the spell was complete. The spell was anchored to the ground, washing away visible misfortune.

‘This won’t be enough, but…’ Elia planned to overlay the spell repeatedly, washing away the smallest misfortunes first. “Phew, it’s done.”

“It takes too much magic,” Aksion noted, his expression grim. As he said, it was a spell that required exhausting all her magic.

“I know, but… it feels like my magic grows each time I use it. Strange, right?” Elia had noticed this while continuing the hunt. Specifically, it felt like the space to store magic expanded as she used and replenished it. ‘Moreover,’ she thought, she had sensed the connection between lifespan and magic as Sasha had mentioned. ‘The constraints are gradually lifting.’

The limitations surrounding Elia were expanding. The spell she had just cast was her maximum capacity without consuming her lifespan. ‘If I get the Sun Sword… we might really be able to defeat the Black Hound.’

What had seemed impossible now appeared achievable. Elia buried her face in Aksion’s chest. “It would have been hard before, but… these days, I feel strangely better than before.” It was because she had someone to walk alongside her. Elia swallowed the words she didn’t speak.

As the sun set, the two returned to Mahart Castle. The second dinner with Sharon and the Crown Prince was beginning. The Duke focused on keeping Sharon pleased throughout the meal, while the Crown Prince remained silent.

Sharon was the only one chattering constantly. “Thank you for helping with the mission today, Your Grace.”

“It was my duty,” the Duke replied. Sharon had apparently been conducting missionary work in the unaffected areas today. “I’ll do my best to help more people believe in the faith.”

“I will support you actively,” the Duke assured.

The peculiar conversation continued at the table. “I want so many things; it’s a problem.”

“As a saintess, you can have everything you desire,” the Duke responded.

“Do you think so?” Sharon giggled.

The dinner gradually ended as the castle dimmed for the night. One of the Duke’s aides came to Aksion. “The Duke wishes to see you.”

“We’ll see,” Aksion replied coolly, his icy gaze sweeping over the aide. The aide’s brow furrowed. Until the Crown Princess had arrived, the heir had kept a low profile. “Are you defying the Duke’s orders?”

Just then, a hand reached from behind and dismissed the aide. “That’s enough. You may leave.”

“…Understood,” the aide said, leaving the room. Once the door closed, only the two of them remained. It was unprecedented for the Duke to come to Aksion’s chambers.

The Duke got straight to the point. “As head of the family, I command you to marry the saintess,” he declared in an emotionless voice. “Then I will recognize you as the true heir.”

The Duke seemed like a wind-up soldier, his dull eyes merely delivering a pre-programmed message. “Your marriage to the Crown Princess is just a contract. She will leave someday. So, marry the saintess, who can empower Mahart.”

Aksion scoffed at the absurdity. “That’s strange. Didn’t you despise me?”

“I simply believed you met the necessary conditions,” the Duke replied.