Chapter 213


    After the summoned meeting had ended and the heroes were dispersing, Junior was about to leave the lords mansion and head to her own hotel room. But Reina Windwell blocked her way.


    "Hey, Jupiters daughter."


    Leaning against the door at an angle, the woman who blocked her path looked like some sort of third-rate thug. Yet, from this elderly mage emanated a peculiar dignity.


    That irritated Junior, who frowned, while Reina gave a sly smile.


    "Why havent youe to see me? Ive been waiting. Dont you want to extend your lifespan?"


    "I know my own condition very well, Lady Reina."


    Junior curtly responded and brushed past her.


    "I know all too well that extending ones life is impossible. Do you think I havent visited one or two temples to try to cure this illness?"


    "Hmm, temples, you say."


    "I dont know what youre scheming, but Im not foolish enough to fall for such false advertising and be a pawn in your secretive agenda."


    Walking briskly, Junior continued on her way, but Reina followed her withrge strides. Junior fired back coldly.


    "How about you focus on preparing for the next defense battle? Jormungandr, the World Serpent. Seems like itll be a first for even you, the grandmander of the Mage Corps."


    Trying to shake her off, Junior was interrupted when Reina suddenly changed the topic.


    "Did you know, Jupiters daughter? Typically, mages can only control one attribute."


    "...?"


    "But, very rarely, mages appear who can handle multiple attributes. And theres amon factor among these multi-attribute mages. Do you know what that is?"


    Making a gun shape with her hand, Reina went, "Bang!"


    "Theyve been attacked by magic during their infancy."


    "..."


    "The elemental attribute of the magic they were hit with as children embeds itself in their magical heart, forcibly awakening their affinity for that particr element."


    Junior scowled and red at Reina, who smiled, crinkles forming at the corners of her mouth.


    "The magic attacks you suffered from in your childhood were Jupiters lightning and my wind. Thats why you can control lightning and wind, on top of your innate water attribute, making you a tri-elemental mage."


    "...What are you trying to say?"


    "Like Jupiter, Im also one of the sources of your magic. Your magical parent, shall we say?"


    Snap!


    Junior pointed her wand at Reina, growling menacingly.


    "If you utter such disgusting words again, Ill kill you."


    "Whoa, whoa, calm down and listen."


    Reina continued, unfazed.


    "Every time you use magic and cough up blood, feeling the strain on your body, its because of the residual magical elements carved into your heart. Specifically, its because of the foreign magical elements that remain there. These elements keep inflicting wounds and burdens on your magic core."


    "..."


    "But I am the owner of the wind element that remains in your heart. Moreover, Im Cmity Wind, the one with the most precise magic control on the continent. I can clean up those remnants for you."


    Reina extended her index finger, pointing at Juniors left chest.


    "Reducing your magic powers burden should make your heart healthier and extend your lifespan. Convinced yet?"


    "...I understand."


    Sure, I understood the principle. However,


    "Why are you going out of your way to help me like this? Because youre involved in the attack, like you said? Or is it guilt? A petty sense of duty? Why?"


    I couldnt understand why Reina was doing all this.


    What did she stand to gain from this? Why was she willing to help?


    Reina shrugged her shoulders.


    "Does it really matter? Considering the immediate benefits? If you take this spell, itll certainly do more for your health than munching on spinach and tomatoes."


    "..."


    "Just answer Yes or No. Im not the kind of woman who badgers people who dont want to be involved."


    Junior bit her lower lip in contemtion.


    Reina chuckled at her hesitation.


    "Isnt it foolish to miss out on a valuable opportunity just because of a fragile ego?"


    "!"


    "I get it if you dont like me, but if enduring a bit of humiliation can save your life, wouldnt it be stupid to miss that chance because of your pride?"


    Reina lightly tapped Juniors forehead with her forefinger.


    "Act like a mage, brat. Act like a mage!"


    "..."


    "If you can live even one more day to achieve magical prowess, you should be willing to sell your soul to the devil. Thats what a mage does, right?"


    Junior clenched her mouth shut and red at Reina in displeasure.


    And then


    ***


    ...she ended up in Reinas room.


    On the third floor of the barracks, in the officers quarters, Reina, who had two rooms to herself, flung off her military cap as soon as they entered.


    "No need for any dys. Lets start right away."


    Reinas room was as devoid of personal touches as Jupiters had been. All that was in there were a few sets of clothes and a pack of cigarettes.


    Is this how all transient soldiers live?


    Junior hesitated, ufortable and awkward in someone elses space. Reina smirked and gestured toward a seat.


    "Sit wherever you like. Oh, and take off your top."


    "What?"


    "Were about to start. Ill be channeling my magic power into yours. Would you rather do it with your clothes on? Theyll just get ruined."


    "Ugh..."


    Even though they were of the same sex, the idea of showing her bare body to someone else was unsettling, but her life was at stake here.


    Reluctantly, Junior turned her back and removed her upper clothing.


    The left side of her body was marred by rough burn scars.


    Scars left 15 years ago, caught in the bombings led by Jupiter and Reina.


    "..."


    Gazing down at the thin, scarred back of the young mage, Reina remained expressionless.


    Junior, who had now removed her pointy hat, turned around and rolled her eyes.


    "So, what should I do while you perform this spell?"


    "Just one thing."


    Grinning, Reina ced her hand above Juniors left shoulder de.


    "Dont pass out."


    A cold touch made her flinch momentarily; from the tips of Reinas fingers, a magic power sharp as a knife de began to infiltrate Juniors body.


    "Cough..."


    The pain was unbearable. Blood seeped from Juniors tightly clenched lower lip.


    "Ah...Argh!"


    It felt as if thousands of needles were piercing the area around her heart. Shaking violently, Junior endured the agony.


    With her eyes tightly closed, Reina moved her magic power meticulously to continue the spell, sweat pouring from her like rain.


    "Hang in there, Jupiters daughter. Just a little more...!"


    ***


    The spell ended after 15 minutes, but both Junior and Reina were nearly drained, copsing on opposite ends of a sofa.


    "I...I almost died..."


    Due to the blood and mucus spewed at the end of the spell, Juniors lips were tinged red.


    Reina too had burst a nosebleed from the extreme finesse required in managing her magic power. With a cloth pressed against her nose, Reina spoke.


    "I managed to extract some of Jupiters lightning magic elements that were lingering inside you with your magic power. Of course, not all of it... Well have to do this about three more times to be roughly done."


    "You want to do this three more times...? Are you serious?"


    "Heh, once you feel the effects, youll be the one begging for more."


    At Reinas snide remark, Junior lightly gathered magic power at her fingertips.


    Huh?


    The left side of her chest, which always felt heavy whenever she used magic, now felt lighter.


    The foreign sensation that had been stifling her chest had noticeably lessened. Opening her lips slightly, Junior moved the magic power at her fingertips around.


    Was managing magic power always this easy?


    The stress on her body had substantially reduced. Reinas spell really was effective.


    "Do you believe me now?"


    Puffing her chest out in pride, Reina smiled, to which Junior hesitantly nodded.


    "It really...it really worked. Thank you."


    "So, youre going to return the favor, right?"


    "Excuse me?"


    "You didnt expect to get thisborious spell for free, did you? That would be rather conscienceless."


    Reinas cheeky smile deepened, making Juniors stomach churn.


    Sure, the effects were positive and she was thankful, but one of the reasons she had to endure this in the first ce was because of Reina. Having her aggressively push the spell, only to then immediately demandpensation, didnt sit well with Junior.


    However, thatpensation turned out to be lighter than expected.


    Snip-


    Lighting a cigarette, Reina curtly said, "Tell me your story."


    "My story?"


    "What happened afterward. How did Jupiter end up here?"


    Exhaling a long puff of smoke, the aged sorceresss profile seemed lost in deep regret.


    "Tell me about the 15 years I dont know about, between you and your mother."


    "..."


    Junior hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking.


    "Is that really all you want?"


    "Thats all I want."


    "I really cant understand you."


    "You dont need to."


    Crushing the end of her cigarette with her lips, Reina smirked bitterly.


    "I dont know why Im doing this, either. Maybe Ive grown sentimental with age."


    "..."


    "You can think of it as an old womans nonsense... So, what do you say?"


    Snip-


    Junior pulled out a pipe, lit it, and took a puff. The herbal aroma wafted from the end of the pipe.


    "Alright. But in return, you have to tell me as well."


    "Tell you what?"


    "About the time when my mom was young," Junior said, a little embarrassed.


    Reina Windwell smiled warmly and nodded, "Id be happy to share stories about my younger self, Jupiter Junior."


    ***


    Meanwhile, on the first floor of the barracks where the Penal Squad was stationed.


    "Do you really think such a massive snake exists?"


    "Last time we got swallowed by that huge slime, remember? That disgusting stomach? If something thatrge exists in jelly form, why not a snake?"


    "Riding on top of such a snake, battling for three days... Can we really do that?"


    "But if we cant, even our homnd is in danger..."


    Kuns party of five sat discussing the uing defense mission when


    BANG!


    Suddenly, the door to the room swung open with a jarring noise. Startled, Kun and his bandits looked in that direction.


    "Come out."


    Standing there with an emotionless expression was Lucas. Behind him, Evangeline held several sheathed swords, her eyes twinkling as though expecting something.


    Confused, Kun asked, "Come out where, Sir Knight?"


    "Theres a training ground over there. Follow me."


    "But why the training ground all of a sudden"


    Before Kun could finish his sentence,


    WHOOSH!


    Lucas swung down the sword he was holding.


    "What the hell are you doing, Sir Knight?!"


    ng!


    Kun quickly parried the sword with his fist.


    Evangeline tossed each member of the bandit party a sheathed sword. Still bewildered, they gripped the swords as Lucas growled.


    "If youre noting to the training ground, well do it here."


    "W-what exactly are you"


    WHOOSH!


    No time for questions. Lucas swung his sword again, and the bandits screamed, narrowly dodging the blow.


    "Aha! I get it!" Kun, hastily donning his gauntlets to block Lucass attack, shouted. "Youre training us for the uing defense mission! Because were weak inrge monster battles, youre attacking us like a savage beast, right?!"


    "... "


    "You care about us so much! Youre much nicer than you look, Sir Knight!"


    Lucas tly replied, "No, thats not it."


    "Huh?"


    "I just dont like you guys. Im doing this because I want to beat some sense into you."


    Lucass piercing blue eyes flickered likenterns.


    "You guys were a nuisance in thest defense mission, right? Cant have that this time. Id rather break your arms and legs here so you cant even go to the front lines. And thats what I n to do."


    All five members of the Penal Squad swallowed hard.


    They had faced the empires army often enough to be wary. They sensed it.


    This knight was serious.


    He really intended to beat them to death!


    "Stand up straight, you ragtag bunch of bandits."


    Holding his sword in front of him, Lucas growled menacingly.


    "Ill show you a spell that turns you from bandits into soldiers."