ã€ŠThe Arcane Chronicle: Nephilim&#x27;s Odysseyã€‹


 Chapter 1. The Myth

    Once upon a time, there was a village surrounded by the most beautiful flowers and the tallest of trees.

    People who live there had shown incredible wisdom and strength ever since their childhood. At the age of three, they will be able to talk fluently just like any grown up would. At the age of five, their wits will be that of a scholar and their strength will be that of a warrior. By the age of ten, they will receive a certain divine power ¡ªa God¡¯s divine blessing.

    One would be able to chase after lightning bolts, others would be able to calm the storms and raging waves, while another could cleave a mountain apart with only their fists.

    As if that was not enough, a certain magical fog covered the entire village, which made it invisible and ever changing in location.

    With God¡¯s protections shone upon the village, no threat could come close and no king was foolish enough to greed over it.

    From time to time, warriors of various races and nations would stumbled across the village, only to return home as heroes. Many would like to express their gratitude upon the village, but it is questionable whether or not they would be able to find it the second time in their whole life.

    Some said that it was a resting place of the Deities¡­

    Some said that it was a meeting place of mysterious Merchants¡­

    But, some would say that it is a den of the Devils¡­

    The rumours went on and on endlessly, until every person in the world, young or old, would know at least one or two things about them.

    ...

    One time, a strange downpour fell upon the village. Many days have gone by, but the neverending rain showed no signs of stopping.

    Massive lightning flashes around and deafening thunder roared, accompanying them were pitch black clouds that swarmed the skies as far as the eye can see.

    ¡°Say¡­ did you really ask for Misha¡¯s help?¡± asked a golden-haired young man to another youth by his side.

    ¡°I wonder how many times have you asked that already,¡± replied the other man as he shook his head. ¡°This is not a common rainstorm, if Misha was able to stop it, she would do so already.¡±

    ¡°Huff¡­ then have you found any possible cause for it?¡±

    To his disappointment, the man by his side shook his head, yet again.

    ¡°Damnit!¡± he hit the metal railing on the balcony that he leaned on.

    As he scratched his head in frustration, a pitch black lightning bolt suddenly struck the roof of a house in the village.

    ¡°What was that?!¡± the duo lifted up their heads instantly.

    ¡°That lightning just struck at Cecile¡¯s home.¡± The second man said with a frown. ¡°I heard that she will give birth this morning,¡±

    ¡°At this time?¡± The young man''s face fell. ¡°I got a bad feeling about this. Let¡¯s go!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± the two figure instantly disappeared from the balcony.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡­

    ¡°Uwaaah! Uwaaah!¡±

    When they arrived, they could hear a loud baby cries from within the compound.

    Many villagers already crowded over the house in front of them with hints of confusion and anxiety clearly shown from their whispers. Rather than wondering about the safety of the residents, the blond man perceived that they were discussing about the newborn baby.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s all the commotion about?!¡± The young man shouted at the top of his lungs.

    ¡°Chief!¡± The crowd at the back finally noticed the two newcomers.

    ¡°You need to see this sir!¡± Someone from the crowd came over in a hurry. ¡°MAKE A WAY, THE CHIEF HAS ARRIVED!¡± he shouted.

    As the crowd stepped aside, the blond Chief walked straight into the house. Beyond the open door of the house was a mother who held a newborn baby in her embrace.

    Usually, such sight will excite people to say words of congratulation, but that was not the case here. Some who saw the baby would began to shiver from fear, others had a gaze like a cornered beast.

    ¡°This¡­¡± the village chief was just as shocked as they were.

    This baby had a pair of barely noticeable wings on her back, one black and one white. Grayish aura clouded her whole body, making her appear deathly pale rather than the usual healthy, reddish skin of a newborn.

    It was at this moment that a sudden voice thundered down from the heaven,

    <blockquote>

    Woe for thou who dared to disobey God''s commandment!

    Punishment and banishment will fall upon thee!

    </blockquote>

    Terrors were written all over their face as every person in the crowd clearly heard and understood the implication. When the voice ceased, the crowd looked at the mother-baby pair again, now with an even stronger hatred.

    "Kill her!" no one knew who said it first, but as soon as the word came out, the crowd followed suit.

    "Yeah, kill the demon!"

    "Kill!"

    Without any warning, the villagers rushed towards the mother and the baby in a crazed manner, then started to dished out various strange magic that shone like rainbows in the gloomy day.

    ¡°GET LOST!" Obviously, the mother did not yield at their aggression. She lifted up one hand, then a form of force field expanded and repel the charging crowds violently.

    ¡°AHHH!¡±

    The impact managed to send most of the assailants flying straight out of the roof. But two of them managed to persist.

    One was a man who shielded himself with a war axe larger than his own body, the other was a female who held what seemed to be a banana leaf donned in a blue aura. Although they looked fine on the outside, they barely had enough strength to keep their shivering feet on the ground.

    Seeing that the force was not enough to get rid of them, the mother swung her hand once again. Just as another wave of the force about to arrive at the proximity, the village chief finally made his move.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    Similar explosive force exuded out from the chief''s body. Within a fraction of second, both forces collided and dissipate completely.

    ¡°Kuh¡­¡± the mother groaned.

    A ruthless gleam suddenly took over her eyes as blinding lights shone upon her back, which then transformed into two golden runes.

    ¡°Don''t force me, Adam! I will leave the village forever, so-¡±

    ¡°Humph!¡±

    As soon as the voice traveled into her ears, the chief had already disappeared from her sight. She did not stand still either. The first golden rune at her back scattered and enveloped her within it.

    By then, Adam reappeared at her right side with a similar, yet smaller golden rune on his left palm.

    Like before, the two force cancelled out instantly. However, before the mother could control the other rune, Adam already reached for her neck.

    The moment their skin came into contact, shining black chains extended out from Adam''s arm, surrounding the mother and broke apart her last rune at the same time.

    ¡°The rage of men, we can contain. But can we afford to infuriate Gods? No!¡±

    The mother dangled limply as Adam lifted her up by her neck. The baby, which was within her arm, fell down onto the bed. By then, only the cries of the baby could be heard in the vicinity.

    ¡°As per God''s will, your child shall be returned to ashes. As for you Cecile¡­¡± Adam put up a fierce glare. ¡°I will have you face the God¡¯s Sanctum!¡±

 Chapter 2. Just a City Girl

    Morning came as the chirping birds greeted the first sunlight shone upon the land. Streams of light graced the massive walls surrounding the city, whilst some of it were able to intrude the inhabitants¡¯ houses.

    In a humble wooden abode at the east side of the city, the sound of heavy breathing could be heard from inside a bedroom.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­huff¡±

    A girl sat upright on her bed. She was drenched in cold sweat, while occasional trembles were clearly visible from her shoulders.

    ¡°That dream again?¡± a small voice escaped from her pale lips.

    For the past few days, she always had this same dream. But, no matter how hard she tried, she just could not recall what the content was. All she knew was the same terrible nightmare always terrorized her dream.

    Knock knock

    A sudden soft knocks resounded from the wooden door, causing the girl to jerk her neck.

    ¡°Helen, are you fine, dear?¡± An old raspy voice spoke out. ¡°I''m coming in okay?¡±

    The door opened as a gentle looking elderly woman entered. She wore a pair of glasses that was tilted slightly, giving people a full view of her crescent eyes.

    Wrinkles and grey hairs were common factors to show the passing of time. Unfortunately, she was no exception.

    ¡°Grandma!¡± Helen threw herself to her grandma''s embrace.

    ¡°There, there¡­ poor girl, are you having a nightmare again?¡± the old lady caress Helen''s back.

    Helen nodded with tears pouring down from the edge of her eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, love. It will be your tenth birthday soon, isn''t it? Grandma will bring you to the cathedral to receive your blessing. By then, I¡¯m sure the evil nightmare won¡¯t come bak!¡±

    The age of ten years old marked a significant period in any children¡¯s lives. They will be welcomed to the cathedral to receive a bestowal known as the Mana Blessing.

    Upon receiving it, they would be able to perceive a marvelous existence known as Mana ¡ªthe very thing that allows one to bend reality and create miracles known as Magic!

    Rumour has it that other than boosting mental and combat proficiencies, the sacred ritual can also removes any negative energies and minor defects from one¡¯s body.

    ¡°We better wipe those tears off.¡± The granny took a handkerchief from her pocket. ¡°We don¡¯t want a sad princess to attend her last day of school crying right?¡±

    Having done wiping Helen¡¯s face, the granny stood up and brought her hands together.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get you ready.¡±

    Warm water molecules started to fill the room as they slowly moved to stick onto Helen¡¯s skin.

    Soon, Helen felt her body relaxed and her trembling stopped. At the same time, the magical vapour also cleanse her body from any filth.

    After finishing the job, the old lady point a finger, which gathered all the vapour into a single blob of dirty water. Walking to the side of the bed, she opened the window and threw the water out onto the soil ground outside.

    ¡°Done! Now, let¡¯s have a breakfast, granny has made you waffles!¡±

    ¡°Really? Yay!"

    ¡­..

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, grandma!¡±Stolen story; please report.

    Having had her favourite sweet waffles and an egg, Helen¡¯s mood got visibly better as she showed a wide smile while waving her hand. Her

    ¡°Take care dear.¡± The granny waved back.

    After Helen was out of her sight, an eerie silence suddenly pervaded the house front. Only the sound of the wind blowing through the pine trees around could be heard

    Trace of gentle smile on the granny''s face was no longer there. Her eyes gradually turned black and rows of sharp teeth started to grow from her mouth.

    ¡°Come on out boys. This old lady promise she won''t bite.¡±

    There was no response. The multiple presence she had felt already disappeared like smoke.

    ¡°Tch, a bunch of cowards!¡± the granny''s complexion turned normal again.

    It has been two years since these stalkers lingered around their home, and yet, she could not make any moves either. As long as they did not make any advance, the "contract" will suppress her power.

    ¡°Well then, shall I buy some materials for the birthday cake?¡±

    The old lady grabbed a basket and walked off in the distance, toward the newly opened market at the west side of the city.

    ¡­.

    Helen walked down a familiar road on the way to her school, which was near the city center.

    Streaks of sunshine shone upon her long silver hair, while the occasional windblow seemed to flaunt her beauty toward the onlookers. On the other hand, her black eyes and ruby lips contained a special charm, capable of drawing people¡¯s attention.

    Today, Helen wore one of her favourite dress. It has a white top part and a lilac bottom part, separating the two was a black ribbon around her waist. It was a simple dress, but she did like the color and its comfortable wear¡­ if only the chest area can cover a bit more...

    ¡°Good morning, Helen.¡± A sudden soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

    Helen turned her head toward an old bakery and smiled back. ¡°Good morning, aunt Sera!¡±

    Sera was their neighbour. For a long time now, she has provided a huge support to Helen''s family of two.

    Helping them to settle down in the city ten years ago, preventing crooks from bothering them, providing them with relief during drought; the list could probably go down to ten pages if all were mentioned. As such, Helen had treat her like her own mother.

    ¡°Are you off to school?¡± the middle-aged woman asked. ¡°Why don''t you bring this with you? It''s fresh out of the oven.¡±

    Sera handed over a basket filled with a significant chunk of white butter bread. It was warm to the touch and as fluffy as dove feathers.

    Helen looked at the basket and realized that it was too big of a bread just for her to eat.

    ¡°Aunt Sera, this¡­¡±

    ¡°Don''t you have friends at school? Just share it with them,¡± Sera said, already expecting Helen¡¯s questioning. ¡°You better not let me see any remains when you return the basket!¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Helen exclaimed. ¡°Thank you aunt Sera!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome dear,¡± Sera laughed. ¡°Also, can you accompany me to the market later?¡±

    Helen looked up and saw a longing look on Sera''s face --it was always like that.

    Whenever Helen saw that expression, she was reminded of the fact that Sera was a widow. Not long after her marriage, her husband died protecting the city during the Monster Uprising incident ten years ago. Thus, she was left without any child.

    From then on, Sera longed for a child. Yet, she had not found any suitable man for her life again.

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    ¡°That''s good, I will see you at the city''s West Entrance entrance then.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± Helen pondered. ¡°Not the North Entrance?¡±

    This was not the first time she accompanied Sera to go to the market. All these times, they always met up at the North Entrance. So why does it change today?

    ¡°I heard that there is a new fresh-produce market opening up in the Atelier Forest,¡± Sera explained. ¡°They said that a new Hunter Association just raised up and began to actively hunt for beasts there.

    ¡°And if we are lucky¡­¡± She gave a pause as if trying to build up a momentum. ¡°We can even witness some Hunters in action!¡±

    ¡°WAH!¡± Helen''s eyes instantly glittered.

    Hunter and Explorer were two of the most sought after occupation in this world. Both represent prestige and hope that humanity placed to survive in this world.

    Hunter symbolize the strength that protected humanity. Whenever there are apparent threats to humanity, a Hunter must be a shield and a sword that is ready to sacrifice themselves. They hunted monsters and beasts of the legends, which was why they were known as such.

    Explorer symbolize the wits that allowed humanity to thrive. An explorer must not remain still, like a nomad that is driven by curiosity to explore the world --searching for more resources and fertile lands that humanity can inhibit. They explored ancient ruins and dangerous labyrinth, making their name renowned as the ¡°guide¡± of humanity.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! We should definitely go!¡±

    ¡°Of course we will!¡± Sera assured. But then, she bent her waist and gently flicked a finger at Helen''s forehead.

    ¡°Ouch!¡± Helen jerked her shoulder, hands on forehead.

    ¡°But first, you should go to school!¡± Sera said sternly.

    ¡°Hehehe, alright then, I will see you later!¡± After waving a goodbye, Helen walked away once again.

 Chapter 3. Mana and Magic

    Helen rushed in a hurry. Talking with Sera made her forget about time and now, she had to run to her school. Fortunately, her school was not that far away --at the southeast of the Central Garden in the middle of the city. And her home was further east of the city.

    After passing through the familiar paved paths near the city center, she finally saw the school building.

    It was not that big, tattered even, with signs of cracks clearly visible on its brick walls.

    The city did not provide much fund to primary education, after all, a primary school would not require specialized facilities for magic studies since no one had received their Mana Blessing yet.

    Additionally, many nobles preferred to teach their children privately on basic norms and ethics of the higher status.

    When Helen got close to her classroom, she saw her teacher opening the door then went in.

    ¡°Ack!¡± she increased her pace.

    Just before the door closed, she managed to enter the classroom.

    ¡®Whew, made it in time!¡¯

    ¡°Good morning, Helen.¡±

    ¡°Eek!¡± The voice caused her heart to jump. She turned around quickly then saw her teacher right in front of her.

    The teacher was a middle-aged woman who dressed in a maroon dress. Although she had an average look, her gentle smile and calming voice never failed to soothe the nerves.

    ¡°Good morning, teacher Alison!¡± Helen bowed down in a hurry. ¡°Sorry for being late.¡±

    Seeing Helen''s flustered look, Alison could not help but laugh a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, go ahead and take your seat.¡±

    Helen looked around at the classroom and noticed that it was rather spacious compared to the usual days.Today, all the tables were nowhere to be seen.

    The 30 students sat around on wooden stools placed in a shape of half a circle, making the space in the centre of the classroom available for the teacher to go into.

    ¡°Helen, over here!¡± A girl waved at Helen.

    The girl had two noticeable hair buns on her head. Her blond, wavy hair fell smoothly like an expensive piece of silk that draped over her shoulder, whereas two pieces of sapphire made out her eyes.

    When she spoke, her round cheeks will give way for her pink lips to part.

    If Helen was a rare village beauty, then this girl would definitely be a royal princess.

    ¡°Catherine!¡±

    Helen dashed over and caught her best friend in a hug.

    ¡°Uuu~¡± Catherine squirmed under her fierce attack, then hugged her back anyway. ¡°You spoiled girl.¡±

    ¡°Ehehe!¡± having done her little ritual, Helen took her seat right next to Catherine.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Alison said, clapping her hand once. ¡°Now that everyone is here, let''s start with the lesson.

    ¡°Since today will be your last day of school. Teacher will give you a glimpse of what you will study in higher education!"

    Immediately, sounds of gasps could be heard, which in turn incite excitement and cheers between the students. Everyone understood the implication of their teacher''s words --she will teach them a bit about Magic, soon!Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Magic¡­

    No legends and myths were without its involvement.

    No heroes were born without it.

    But, most importantly...

    Human civilizations were built on top of it!

    Magic was just an everyday thing, albeit not a single one of them has ever used one before.

    This was because other than risking the crippling of a child''s body, intake of Mana into the body may also cause an under-developed brain retardation. It was the same reason on why the earliest one could receive their Mana Blessing was at 10 years old.

    ¡°Okay everyone, make sure you remain seated throughout the process,¡± Alison said.

    She lifted her hand in a relaxed manner. Soon, a dim reddish glow appeared on her index finger, which she then used to draw a certain pattern in the air.

    It was red in color and somewhat resembled a rabbit, and sure enough, an ethereal rabbit came to life.

    ¡°Wah!¡±

    ¡°Cute!¡±

    Stars were glittering upon the students¡¯ eyes as some of them began to approach the hopping rabbit. Fortunately, Alison dispelled her magic just in time before anyone got hurt.

    With a flick of her finger, the rabbit disappeared like a wisp of flame. Having done so, she clapped her hands to get her students¡¯ attention again.

    ¡°Okay, that was a demonstration of the simplest runic art that you will learn the first time you get to higher education...¡±

    She paused a bit, a teasing smile on her face. ¡°NOW WHO WANTS TO TRY?¡±

    ¡°ME!¡±

    ¡°ME!"

    ¡°MEMEME!¡±

    All of the students raised their hands like there is no tomorrow. (, no one wanted to miss out on such a rare chance to fulfill their fantasy.)

    ¡°Looks like everyone is in,¡± Alison chuckled lightly after seeing the flustered look of her students. ¡°But since you can''t sense and control Mana on your own yet, teacher has prepared these catalysts!¡±

    Alison took out a pouch then flipped it upside down to pour out its content onto the desk at the front of the class. Tens of white smooth spheres rolled out. They were not big, only a bit smaller than the size of the children¡¯s fist.

    Engraved on top of them was a rune with a shape resembling that of a Greek gamma letter. Occasionally, they would flicker in blue glows that beats like a heart.

    ¡°Come and take one,¡± Alison smiled. ¡°This will be the temporary vessel for you to store Mana outside your body!¡±

    One boy at the front row approached the desk. Just as he picked one up, he immediately exclaimed with widened eyes.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± The boy looked around excitedly as if he was surrounded by his favourite toys.

    ¡°Can you tell us what you see?¡± Alison asked.

    The boy paused for a second before he said, ¡°Colorful balls are floating around, they looked fluffy and translucent like clouds!¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Alison nodded. ¡°What you saw were Mana. The very essence of Magic!¡±

    ¡°Really?!¡± the boy shouted as he jumped around. ¡°Hahaha, I''m finally able to sense Mana! The next step is-¡±

    ¡°Bernes!¡± Alison yelled, her face serious. ¡°Please behave. Get back to your seat and wait for your friends.¡±

    ¡°O- okay¡­¡± the boy turned back to his seat quietly. Although Alison was a gentle teacher, everyone knew that she really meant it when she reprimanded them.

    After that, the students took turns to pick up the catalyst stone. Some students were still talking around, but no more unruly acts were seen.

    Soon, it was Catherine and Helen''s turn. When Catherine reached out the stone, she felt that something was a bit different.

    ¡°Helen, I think I got a clearer view compared to what Bernes described. I saw them in solid colors! Do you think I got a better sense of Mana?¡±

    Catherine turned to Helen, still trembling in excitement.

    ¡°How about y-¡± she paused abruptly, the word stuck on her throat.

    Catherine noticed that her friend was acting strangely. When Helen touched the stone catalyst just now, her expression turned blank for a second.

    Right after, she heard a subtle crack from the stone in Helen''s hand, which caused her heart to jump.

    Once, her father said that all catalyst materials are harder iron, such that it was impossible for a child to break them with their bare hands. Yet, Helen seemed to split it into two with just her grip.

    ¡°He¡­len...?¡± Catherine slowly waved her hand in front of Helen''s face, yet she showed no signs of responding as if Helen had turned into a statue.

    Her heart instantly fell as she got a scare of her life. The situation was well beyond her understanding.

    ¡°Teacher! Something is-¡±

    Before she managed to say everything, a sudden ashen grey aura burst out all over Helen''s body in a light pulse. Right after that, Helen collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

    ¡°Helen!¡± Catherine screamed in horror.

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Alison finally react as she quickly dashed toward them.

 Chapter 4. A Nightmarish Aberration

    Helen did not feel unusual nor too excited during Alison¡¯s demonstration. After all, her grandma also used magic for the chores all the time. But when her eyes fell onto the catalyst stone, a sudden hoarse voice of a woman resounded in her head.

    ¡°ry¡­ ury and tch it¡­¡± was what it said.

    Helen looked left and right only to see there was no one who tried to talk to her, thus she just ignored it as she thought it was just her brain playing her. Yet, the voice bothered her the second time, then, with clearer words.

    ¡°Hurry and fetch it¡­¡±

    Now Helen knew it was not her imagination. Yes, there was a Telepathic Magic, but it will not be possible if the user was not within the sight of the recipient.

    A feeling of unrest grew within Helen. Her eyes started to dart around, trying to figure out what was going on.

    Amidst the confusion, Helen decided to just follow the voice¡¯s instruction anyway. She thought that by taking the catalyst stone, her worries will go away.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯ She grasped the stone tightly in her hand.

    Nothing special happened.

    Maybe the paranoia finally took the better of her, but the lively classroom slowly fell silent until all she could hear was her own heartbeat.

    That was when her fear reached another peak.

    ¡°Ca-¡±

    Before she could reach out to her friend, a huge magical field appeared out of nowhere and extended to as far as the eye can see.

    There was nothing of the expected shockwave. However, the flocks of birds that flew in the sky suddenly stopped flapping their wings, whereas all the people in the class stopped moving.

    Helen saw that the world had turned black and white as an invisible force seemed to keep everything around her from moving.

    The time has stopped!

    Helen too, could no longer move her body, only her eyes could. Weirdly enough, she was the only one with colors in this state.

    Suddenly, a spatial distortion appeared on one corner of the wall. From within it, a three meters tall, stick-like humanoid aberration came into existence.

    It was made out of small black particles that moved around its body. Its two feet were that of a bird, whereas its two clawed hands were long enough to reach the ground.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    The aberration has no fixed head, however. Only a mass of dense black particles were in its place.

    Helen found her heart missing a beat and cold sweat drenched her back. The feeling of vulnerability overwhelmed her as she hoped that whatever it is, was just passing through.

    Alas, reality was often disappointing. The creature jerked its ¡°neck¡± toward Helen. Directly showing a line of tens of bloody beads, which seemed to be its eyes.

    Helen¡¯s mind went blank, she had lost her reasoning as she started to desperately call for help. Unfortunately, only whimpering sounds came out of her throat as she could not open her mouth.

    Even if she could scream, nothing else seemed to move anyway.

    ¡°Hoo¡­¡± a deformed red maw parted open on the creature¡¯s chest. Its voice sounded like a trailing white noise of a broken tape.

    The creature walked closer to Helen, dragging its long claws while doing so. Every step it took caused Helen¡¯s heart to palpitate.

    ¡°A hatchling of the Mistis Hamlet¡­ this far away... what a rare finding¡­¡±

    At this point, the creature was so close that their face almost touched. Furthermore, Helen noticed that her breath was getting visible as heat rapidly leaving her body rapidly.

    It was so sudden that she found it hurtful to even breathe properly.

    Her breath hastened, while tears poured down from the corner of her eyes. She firmly believed that she was going to die, yet what could a child like her do in front of such terror.

    ¡°There is... no need to cry¡­¡± the creature extended its hand towards Helen¡¯s face and layer of frost started to appear on her cheek.

    But before it could touch Helen¡¯s skin, a sudden power burst out from around her.

    ¡°UAAARRGH!¡± the burst of magical shockwave did not leave the creature unscathed, its right arm was disintegrated as it fell on its knees.

    The creature looked up and noticed that streams blinding light appeared from behind the girl in front of it. A majestic figure bathed in light slowly revealed herself as she descended from heaven.

    Wherever the light reached, the cold energy will be thwarted away, every inch of it contained enough power to threaten the creature¡¯s very existence.

    ¡°Azatoth, you should be reminded of the covenant!¡± A stern woman''s voice resounded. ¡°Are you planning to wage a war?!¡±

    ¡°Huhuhu¡­ if it wasn''t her highness¡­ the Golden Empress herself¡­¡± The creature stood up then dramatically bending its waist.

    ¡°I was just teasing her...¡± It flailed its non-existent right arm. ¡°Look¡­ I was the one who got hurt here¡­ it really hurt you know...¡±

    ¡°Done playing around?¡± The woman did not soften her tone.

    ¡°Hah! You can''t take a joke... as always!¡± the black particles on its head moved to its damaged arm, and instantly, it recovered like nothing happened.

    ¡°I will be leaving then¡­¡± the creature turned toward the opposite wall of the classroom. Before it left, it took another glance at Helen. ¡°I feel like we will meet again little girl¡­ you are quite¡­ unusual!¡±

    ¡°SCRAM!¡± The light around the woman suddenly increased in intensity as if threatening to scorch the creature to ashes.

    ¡°Fine¡­ fine¡­ huhuhu¡­¡±

    Passing the spatial distortion, the creature finally disappeared from their sight. By then, Helen was able to move her body again.

    But before she could utter a word, the figure in light move to her front and pull Helen tightly into her embrace.

    ¡°My child, mother finally get to see you.¡±

 Chapter 5. Her Origin?

    "Wha-" Helen did not believe what she heard as she pushed the woman away. "Lies!"

    "My parents died a long time ago!" Helen got wary of the woman, who knew if she was another dangerous being like the black creature.

    "Did Irene told you that?" the woman asked.

    A soft gasp escaped Helen''s lips. "You¡­ you know grandma?"

    "Of course I do, I was the one who sent her to protect you and..." Gritting her teeth, the woman decided to tell the remainder of her sentence, "and the one who ordered her to hide the truth from you...."

    "B- But why?

    "Why do grandma have to lie? Why have you never appeared in my life? Why¡­"

    Helen was already on the verge of crying. She already had enough trauma from encountering the black creature, now this random woman admitted that she was her late mother?

    "Why would you even sent me away?" Helen raised her voice fiercely. "Do you hate me?! Just admit that you were never my mother!"

    "I-"

    "I''m sorry¡­" In the end, only those words came out of her mouth.

    Words cannot describe how broken was the woman''s heart when she heard her own child berating her this much, yet, she could not come up with a proper reasoning to convince Helen.

    "Mo- no... I will go okay? I''m sure Irene can take care of you."

    The light covering the woman had waned a little, slowly revealing her face to Helen.

    "Don''t forget to eat regularly¡­ make lots of friends¡­ and most importantly¡­" her voice trailed off as sounds of soft sobs entered Helen''s ear. "Make sure to grow up into a proper girl, alright?"

    Reluctance filled her heart, she stopped for quite a bit before finally decided to say, "Goodb-"

    But just as the word crossed her mouth, Helen came running and hugged her waist from her front.

    "No¡­ please stay¡­" Helen muttered. "I''m sorry¡­ I''m so sor- UAAAHHH~!"

    The woman was confused on why Helen changed her attitude all of a sudden. Not knowing exactly what to do, she moved her arms to embrace her crying daughter quietly.

    ¡­

    Helen regretted that she lashed out due to her turmoil. At the very least, she did saved her life.

    She wanted to apologize afterward and perhaps, talk their way through, but the woman''s next sentences added indescribable suffocation upon her chest.

    Coupled with her already messed up emotions along with the woman''s reaction, in the end, she decided to trust her heart¡­

    Some time passed before Helen eventually stopped crying. She let herself go and stepped back to stare at the woman again, now with a completely different impression of her.

    The lights covering her had disappeared by now, thus, she could see that they actually looked pretty similar to each other.

    Long silver hair, large eyes with black pupil, long eyelashes, slightly round cheeks and sharp chin.

    Though, contrary to what she expected, the woman was more like her twin sister rather than her mother. Her skin was without blemish and wrinkles, just like a woman in her mid-20s.

    Helen could not describe the feeling that she had right now. By logic, this woman was a complete stranger to her, yet, when their face met, a strong sense of comfort and familiarity rose up deep in her heart.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    "So- so- umm..." Helen fidgeted nervously. "Are you really... my mother?"

    Hearing the awkward question, the woman could only ask, "What can I do to make you believe, Helen?"

    Helen''s heart jumped a bit, this was the first time the woman called her name.

    "How about something only grandma and I know¡­ like my birthmark?"

    "You got a crescent mole on the back of your left hip," the woman promptly said without thinking, "and between your right thigh and your crotch-"

    "Stop!"

    Helen dashed to hug the woman the second time, no longer putting up her guard as all her doubts had vanished.

    "I believe you." Helen subtly recalled the name that her grandma always told her, "Cecile¡­ mother¡­"

    Hearing her acknowledgement, Cecile felt her mood elevated and her heart went light. She smiled gently while caressing Helen''s back.

    "Irene told you my name?" Cecile asked.

    Helen nodded.

    "Thank you for trusting me."

    After settling down for awhile, Helen asked, "Can you tell me everything now?"

    "Of course. Let me start with our current state, okay?" Cecile stood up then moved toward an empty chair.

    "Ah!" Helen almost forgot that the time has stopped for awhile now. The world around them was still engulfed in grayscale.

    "Come sit, then we will talk."

    "Okay!" Helen looked around for a chair, but then she saw Cecile pouting.

    "Just sit over here." Cecile patted her laps.

    Helen blushed. At the end of the day, Cecile was still pretty much a stranger to her. She has not gotten used to call her mother yet, much less sitting on her.

    "Um¡­ that¡­"

    "What are you getting all shy about?" Cecile chuckled as she opened her arms wide. "Come, come."

    Not finding any reason to reject her offer, Helen gave in and walked over.

    She turned her body around then sat onto Cecile''s lap softly, who then proceed to hug her from behind while pulling her to lean back.

    Fuzzy warmth and blissful peace¡­

    A sensation incomparable to anything she had ever felt before as her head landed on the twin pillow behind her.

    "Good girl." Cecile patted Helen''s head, causing her cheeks to redden in return. "Now, let me begin¡­

    "We are inside of what is known as the Arcane Domain. It was formed when an Ancient One passed by, as in the black creature we encountered a while ago. As you can see, no mere mortals, will be able to resist its power!"

    "Eh?" Helen looked back. "But we-"

    "We are no mere mortals, Helen," Cecile said, already expecting Helen''s question. "We are of the divine kin, the Numfatim!"

    "Divine kin... Numfatim? We are not human?"

    "Indeed! All of the divine kin are half-immortal races that are favoured by Gods, thus allowing them to be able to resist the Arcane Domain.

    "Unfortunately, you haven''t received your Awakening Ceremony yet, which is why you couldn''t resist the Arcane Domain." Cecile heaved a sigh. "Good thing that there is a catalyst nearby."

    "Oh!" Helen got reminded about the voice who implored her to pick up the catalyst stone.

    "What is Awakening Ceremony? Is it the same as the Mana Blessing?"

    "Correct," Cecile nodded. "But you won''t need the Church''s blessing for it, additionally, you will be earning a Divine Ability once you are ten! Oh, did you know that when a Divine Race-"

    "Mom¡­" Helen interrupted.

    "Hm? What''s wrong?"

    "Can I get an answer for my first question now?"

    "Which one?"

    Helen stared right on Cecile''s eyes. "Why did you sent me away?"

    "Ah¡­ that¡­" Cecile said slowly, her tone carried a tinge of heaviness.

    While she was still hesitating, a sudden man''s voice disturbed their reunion.

    "You done yet?!" the man shouted. "Hurry, our time is up!"

    His astral voice sounded distant yet close at the same time --echoing from all directions.

    ''That voice¡­'' Helen found out that the man''s voice sounded familiar, but somehow, she was sure that he was not her father.

    "Damn it!" Cecile clenched her teeth hard as she put Helen off her lap. She then turned to Helen and embrace her the second time.

    "I''m sorry dear, mother had to leave."

    "Eh?" The sudden move pulled Helen out of her thoughts. "Why do you have to leave now so quickly?"

    Cecile did not respond, instead, she moved both of her hands in a pattern quickly, eventually forming a small golden rune in the air.

    The complex round rune condensed as it slowly transformed into a golden pocket watch, which fell onto Cecile''s hand.

    "Within this watch lies the answers to your question." Cecile handed over the watch to Helen. "The secrets within, will be unlocked once you have achieved a certain level of power."

    Cecile slowly backed off from Helen.

    "Wait, mom, Where are you going?" Helen took a small step forward, her eyes began to tear again. "You''re really leaving?"

    "I''m sorry, darling¡­" Cecile could not hold back her tears either. "It wasn''t my intention to keep you away¡­"

    The black and white world began to crumble like a glass slowly shattered into the darkness.

    "This world is far more than what you think, and I couldn''t bear to put you in danger." Cecile took another step back. "Maybe¡­

    "Maybe, it would be for the best if you can just forget everything here." She looked up to her child, giving her a gentlest smile she could possibly muster.

    "No!!!" Helen screamed on top of her lungs.

    The tears that she had tried very hard to stop before had now flowed unhindered. She ran after her mother, desperately grabbing onto her sleeves.

    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, please don''t leave me again, I won''t ask the question again, so please-"

    "Goodbye¡­"

 Chapter 6. A Familiar Name

    Helen opened her eyes after what it felt like an eternity. Wooden ceiling greeted her sight, whereas the bitter smell of medicine assaulted her nose.

    She sat up, pushing away the white blanket placed on top of her.

    Multiple drug racks stood opposite of the room, while adjacent to her was a line of empty beds.

    Colors had returned to the world, and birds chirped happily outside the window behind her.

    Helen knew that the meeting with her mother was over for good.

    "Mom¡­" Helen sat up.

    She crumpled the blanket tight in frustration, that was when she suddenly felt a soft bulge from underneath the part next to her.

    "Hn?"

    Helen quickly yanked the blanket and there it revealed a blonde princess, curling up as she slept soundly.

    "Catherine?"

    "Hmnn¡­" Catherine mumbled in her sleep. Her eyelids trembled lightly as if getting annoyed at the sudden disturbance.

    She pushed her body up with one hand and used the other to rub her eyes, which slowly parted open to see Helen''s amused look.

    "Helen!" Catherine quickly pounced to hug her friend tight. "I was sooo worried!"

    "What are you doing here?" Helen asked, confounded. "Don''t you have a class?"

    "Teacher dismissed the class early some time ago after she finished teaching us magic for a bit." Catherine pouted. "Why are you passing out so suddenly like that?"

    "Ah¡­ that¡­" Helen hesitated.

    She really wanted to share everything with her, but on the other hand, she was afraid that telling Catherine about it would damage their friendship.

    "I don''t know." Forcing a smile, Helen decided to lie. "Maybe I was just tired?"

    "Hmm¡­" Catherine stared straight at Helen''s eyes. "You''re really bad at lying, you know."

    "Uhuk-" Helen jerked her shoulder.

    "You didn''t look like you are tired one bit when you come running at me this morning," Catherine grumbled while crossing her arms. "So¡­ are you going to tell me or not?"

    "I¡­" Helen panicked, her brain turning over quickly in search for an excuse that was nowhere to be found.

    The two stayed silent for some time, each second passed raised an unrest in Helen. She reconsidered on whether or not she should tell her the truth.

    But Catherine''s suddenly interrupted her thoughts. "Hey¡­"

    "I was just teasing you." She began to giggle loudly, breaking off any tension between them just a short while ago. "I know you wouldn''t know!"

    "Eh?" Helen exclaimed dumbfoundedly.

    "Teacher Alison said that you might have a special Mana passage in your body, which was why you passed out the moment you were able to sense them. She said that it''s nothing dangerous and you might even have a hidden talent in Magic!"

    "O- oh¡­" Helen just followed along, thinking that a convenient reason just came to help her.

    "Hehehe, look at your stupid face!" Catherine squeezed Helen''s head to her chest. "So cute!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Oof. Jeez~" Helen complained, trying to get away from her friend''s clutch. "Stop it."

    Height-wise, Catherine was almost one head taller than Helen. Thus, if they both stood up or sat down at the same time, it would be easy for Helen to land on Catherine''s chest when they hugged each other.

    Which was why¡­

    Helen thought that she must seek every opportunity to hug Catherine while she was the only one standing!

    "That''s for what you did this morning!" Catherine stuck her tongue out as she let Helen go. "Anyways, that basket is yours right?" She pointed at a small basket covered in a white cloth on top of the table next to the bed.

    "Right."

    Helen crawled on the bed to fetch the basket. She lifted up the cloth and revealed the fluffy white bread underneath, which was still slightly warm to the touch.

    "Wah, that sure is a fine bread! Your grandma made it?"

    "No, an aunt from my neighborhood did." Helen shook her head, then proceed to tore off half of the bread chunks and passed it over to Catherine. "Here."

    Looking at her friend, Catherine felt an urge to tease her once again. "Eh, you sure? It''s okay for little girls should eat more!"

    "Just go on and take it!" Helen said, her face flushed.

    "Mkay then! Hehehe."

    Both of them chatted and laughed together as they ate. By the time they were done, the sun had raised up high, signifying the mid-day.

    "Hmmn! That bread was good." Catherine licked her lips with a delightful smile on her face. "What''s the aunt''s name? I can probably recommend her to my family!"

    "Oh, she is called aunt Sera!" Helen replied.

    "Do you happen to know her surname?" Catherine asked. After all, good bakeries were usually passed down for generations.

    "Hmm¡­ I don''t think she ever talked about it." Helen placed a hand on her chin. "But long ago, I passed her some letters under the name Sera Veruff because the delivery bird mistook her address with mine."

    "Sera Veruff?" Catherine frowned, she found out that the name was rather peculiar yet could not recall exactly why.

    "What''s wrong?" Helen tilted her head.

    "Oh, it''s nothing!" she decided to throw the thought to the back of her mind for now.

    Catherine turned her body toward the edge of the bed. But, just as she was about to step down, something cold touched her hand.

    "Hn?" Turning her head, she saw a round golden object next to her finger. "A pocket watch?"

    Catherine lifted it up by its chain. She did not remember having one, so it must be¡­

    "Is this yours, Helen?" The chains brought about a soft metallic chink as she waved the watch toward Helen''s direction.

    "Ah, yes!" Helen took the watch from Catherine and grasp it tightly in her hand -this was the only proof about her origin and the clue to her true family.

    ''I should ask grandma later¡­''

    Helen took a closer look at the watch. It was not different than any other hunter-case pocket watches.

    On its lid was a thin engraving of a wide tree, while the back part was nothing but a smooth surface. Weirdly enough, it did not have a time adjustment dial at the top part connected to the chain, only a small spring button was in its place.

    Helen pressed the button and the lid popped open. She could not get any more flabbergasted now.

    The watch only had one hand instead of two, which pointed straight at 12 o''clock. It did not seem to move either.

    At first, she thought that it may be the hour-hand as it matched the current time, but she could not hear any ticking sound even when she put it next to her ear. The watch seemed to be defunct throughout.

    "What a weird watch¡­" Catherine peered over Helen''s shoulder.

    "Yea¡­" Helen could not agree more. "My mother left it for me¡­"

    "Ah!" Catherine lowered her head, thinking that she touched a sensitive topic. "I''m sorry."

    "What are you getting sorry about? It''s fine!" Helen giggled.

    Closing the watch, Helen put it in her pocket, then went on to pick up the bread basket and stepped down from the bed. "Let''s go! School is over right?"

    She dashed out of the infirmary.

    Catherine looked at Helen''s back, her mind suddenly to wandered off as her face turned morose. No one knew what she was thinking about.

    "Come on Catherine!" Helen''s shout resounded from outside, obviously oblivious of Catherine''s thoughts.

    "Coming!"

    Both of them proceed to walk out of the school grounds.

    ¡­

    In a certain dark room at the corner of the city. Three hazy figures could be seen surrounding a person kneeling down to the head in front of them.

    "Listen, you lowly thing," the left figure spoke. "We already gave you five men and two Divine artifacts, yet you still couldn''t make it on time?!"

    "HEEEEAAAHAHA! Shall we offer her as a sacrifice to our Lord?" the right figure screeched.

    "Enough!" The middle figure yelled.

    Hearing his voice, the other two instantly went silent as if afraid of earning his ire. "Two days¡­ I will give you another two days to control it and tying up loose ends¡­"

    The middle figure stood and lifted up his foot to step upon the bowing figure''s head.

    "You do know the punishment from a failure of an order at this level right?"

    "YES! OF COURSE MY LORD! I WILL NOT FAIL AG-"

    *BAM*

    The figure lifted up his foot then step down again with a stronger force, causing the kneeling figure to kiss the ground hard.

    "Shhh¡­ speak quietly will do." After saying so, the figure took a step back and speak in a deeper voice, "Don''t fail us this time."

    The three figures vanished into like a smoke just as he finished, leaving the one sorry figure alone in the middle of the dark room.

 Chapter 7. Ravtell

    By the time they were out, the front of the school ground was already empty with only a couple of patrolling guards and teachers walking around.

    Because the students were still young, their parents warned them to go straight home when the class was over. Though, some of the deviants preferred to hang around the city center, where the city garden and magic tools'' market were located, before they went home at noon.

    Even if today was their graduation day, the school was not packed with celebrations. After all, passing the primary education was nothing special --anyone can pass it with practically zero chance of failing without much effort.

    The two walked hand-in-hand throughout a common path until they reached the city garden, where they usually part ways.

    "Hey, wanna come to visit my place?" Catherine suddenly asked, still holding on Helen''s hand. "I''m sure mom would be delighted to have you!"

    "Ah¡­ I''m sorry, Catherine," Helen replied, forcing a smile. "I urgently need to ask my grandma about something and I have a promise to help someone at noon."

    "Aw, come on!" Catherine complained as she crossed her arms and pouted. "We wouldn''t be able to meet each other often now that we''ve graduated!"

    Helen sighed, "I can''t break my promise now can''t I?"

    Catherine contemplated a bit and suddenly came up with another idea. "Oh! What about you come for dinner then?" She leaned closer to Helen''s face. "Don''t tell me you have another thing to do¡­"

    "Hm¡­"

    Helen stopped to think¡­ yep, she did not have anything to do during that time.

    Asking her grandma''s permission was all she needed and she doubted that her grandma would not allow it, considering Catherine was her best friend who had even visited them several times in the past.

    "Okay, dinner time it is!" Helen replied.

    "Yay!"

    "So, where should I meet you?"

    "No need, my butler will pick you up!" Catherine blurted out, suddenly realizing her mistake. "Ah..."

    "Ah! I knew it, you were a noble all this time!" Helen poked on Catherine''s hips, causing her to flinch.

    "Hyi! Stop that!"

    "Does living in the Northern District fun? Hmph! I shall poke you more!"

    The city they were in, Ravtell, was the capital city of Auriel Kingdom. Where a huge mountain range surrounded its northern region.

    Due to its environment, the palace of the royal family was built at the northernmost part of the kingdom, making the steep mountains as natural protection against external threats.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Therefore, it can be said that the further down the North one lived in the city, the higher their status as a noble would be.

    "Hey, I wasn''t trying to hide it too much! Ahyi!" Helen scored another point on her hips. "You could have asked. Ahn!" Catherine put up her hands, but Helen''s finger still managed to slip in between them nonetheless.

    "You little!" Catherine quickly approached Helen and grabbed her head. "Stop or I will do this!"

    "Omph!" Helen ended up landing on Catherine''s chest again. "Mof fair!" She spoke with a muffled voice as her hands flailing in the air.

    Helen struggled to escape from her friend''s clutch, but this time, Catherine did not relent. In the end, she gave in.

    "Fine, I will stop... lef me go pwease¡­"

    "Promise?"

    "Yea, pwomise¡­"

    Hearing her words, Catherine was finally willing to let go and took a step back. Meanwhile, Helen could only pout after seeing her friend''s smug look.

    "Hmph! I will grow taller and have my revenge one day!"

    "Hehe, you are welcome to try," Catherine said, slightly puffing her chest, hands on her waist.

    "Just you wait!"

    Having said that, Helen dashed away to the east direction --toward her home''s direction.

    "See you later!" Catherine yelled, waving both of her hands high.

    She then turned towards the north and walked off. To get to the Northern District, she had to cut through the tree-filled path of the city garden.

    After strolling for a while, Catherine searched for a deserted spot in the garden and looked around to see if anyone was following her.

    Having done confirming that no one was around, her expression suddenly turned serious as she called out into the void next to her.

    "Yohan." Her tone stern.

    Not long after, a figure cloaked in a black coat merge into reality and appeared quietly. He had black hair and a pair of calm eyes, yet his smile was that of a wicked devil.

    "Yes, m''lady?" the figure said, the smile never left his face.

    "Send one from the Shadow Squad to follow Helen and keeping watch against the woman named Sera."

    "As you wish," he replied promptly.

    Yohan retreated into shadows between the trees. But just before he hid once again, Catherine spoke.

    "One more thing!"

    "Yes?"

    "Tell someone to escort Helen to the mansion later."

    "...Affirmative."

    With that, he returned to the shadow. Completely disappearing.

    Afterwards, Catherine continued walking off toward her home whilst thinking, "Now, shall I ask mom about that woman?"

    ¡­

    The sun shone the city with an auspicious ray. Even if it was mid-day, Helen did not swelter as the few clouds floating in the sky created a comfortable parasol just enough to warm the day.

    Most of the shops and stalls had opened up their doors for business, though, some will not open until the sunset.

    "A dozen of Eustrix''s eggs for 5 coppers only! Come and get it!"

    "Quality fresh milk from Ruby Taurus, you don''t want to miss this out!"

    "Claws of Limber Liger, a suitable souvenir for those came from afar!"

    "Boss! Can you repair my equipment? I''ll double the price if you can finish it by tomorrow!"

    Shouts like these were a common occurrence in the Ravtell city, where it hosted the largest commercial power in the whole neighborhood kingdoms.

    From high quality daily products, food, weapons, luxuries, to magical artifacts; all could be found in the city. Even if the competitions were fierce, many merchants and opportunists were willing to risk all they had to stay in this flourishing and safe capital of the Aurelia Kingdom.

    Helen did not dislike this ambiance. Rather, the lively environment further lifted her mood. Wherever she walked, the streams of people never ceased to pass.

    Suddenly, a question came to Helen''s mind. ''Why did Catherine attended commoner''s school if she is a noble? Could it be...''

    "Her family is in financial trouble?" she gasped as her thought leaked out. But on second thought, she would not be hiring a butler if her family was that poor.

    ''Well, that can come later. For now¡­'' she needed to hurry home and ask her grandma.

    Now that Helen saw a glimpse of her true family history, there were more questions than it answered.

    Her grandma¡­ was her only hope in resolving the whole mess.

 Chapter 8. The Ominous Massacre

    At the western edge of the Ravtell city, near the entrance of the Atelier Forest.

    Many people dressed in silver armor, could be seen surrounding a certain area in a perimeter. They were armed to the teeth, complete with a sword at their waist and a spear in their hand, which pointed up to the sky.

    Whenever any person tried to peek into the area, a guard will come forward and warned them.

    The more patient one would say, "Please step back for your own safety."

    While the strict one would yell, "Nothing to see here, move along!"

    Initially, some people with untoward intentions planned to take advantage of the commotion. But after seeing the Royal Insignias on the knights'' armour, they immediately gave up their death wish.

    Suddenly, a loud voice resounded from the back of the crowds. "Make way! Make way!"

    A man dressed in rich garments appeared to be accompanied by two men wearing leather armor and a sword strapped on their waist. He was not old, probably only in his early teens. Even so, he always kept his head up, together with a haughty smile that never left his face.

    Obviously, such a large commotion did not fail to pique this young noble''s curiosity.

    "Stop!" A guard slammed his spear to the ground in a threatening manner. "You shall not pass!"

    This time, the haughty young man stepped forward and said, "Good afternoon, sir knight. I am Carlsen from the Mark family. Can you be so kind as to let me in?"

    There was no trace of haughtiness on the young noble anymore as he greeted the Imperial Knight politely. After all, everyone knew that the Imperial Knights served directly under the royal family.

    They were all elites of at least 5th grade of Mana Affinity and carried the pride of the royal family. As such, not many nobles were willing to offend them.

    "This¡­" The knight hesitated.

    The political situations in the kingdom were complicated to begin with. Even if the military might of the royal family was greater than that of the nobles, they were not willing to offend the nobles for no reasons either.

    What if it will incite rebellion? By then, what of the life of the people? How about the economic situation during the aftermath? What if other kingdoms started their advance?

    Without any surety on answering these questions, both sides thought that it was to maintain peace.

    "Please wait here." The knight bowed his head slightly. "I will report to-"

    "There is no need." A hoarse voice suddenly resounded, accompanied by the metallic sounds of clanking armor.

    An old man approached from inside the perimeter. He dressed similarly as the knights around. Though, no helmet covered his head, which let his white hair fell freely on his shoulder.

    Wrinkles filled every corner of his thin face; even his french-cut beard had turned white. Although he looked old in every way, his right eye showed a powerful determination saying that he still had many years left to live. His left eye? There was no left eye, only a patch of old scar that would scare away children.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    "Good day, young master Carlsen." The old man put his right hand on his chest, then slightly bent his waist forward.

    "S- s- sir Nicholas." The young noble returned the greeting in a clumsy manner.

    "Can you do this old bones a favor and turn back for now?" Nicholas said. "The royal family will inform you when the time is right."

    "Of course, of course!" Carlsen then turned around and yelled at his two retainers, "Let''s return!"

    Once again, the crowd parted, making a path for the young noble to pass through. Though, this time, he was rather in a sorry state of mind.

    When they were finally far enough, one of the retainers could not help but ask, "Who was that sire, young master?"

    Carlsen took a deep breath and exhaled a mouthful of air. After puffing his chest once again, he spoke to the man, "Nicholas Aubur. Surely you have heard that name, yes?"

    This time, both of the retainers'' faces went pale.

    "One of the two Grand Commanders of the Imperial Army? What is he doing here¡­"

    Carlsen shook his head. "I don''t know. But it must be something big for him to make a move."

    "For now, I will report this to father," he said, taking off toward the northern district once more.

    ¡­

    As Nicholas saw the young noble went away, he patted the previous Imperial Knight''s shoulder before saying, "Keep up the good work!"

    The knight instantly felt elated after hearing his idol''s remarks, but he did not let it show.

    "Yes sir!" the knight exclaimed, swearing inside that he would brag to his colleagues later.

    Satisfied with his subordinate''s discipline, Nicholas gave a "Hm" and retreated back into the area.

    He walked forward for twelve steps, then stopped. Lifting up his right hand into the air, he drew three Runes in a quick succession by which an invisible barrier parted open and revealed the true reality behind it.

    Bloody red.

    Dried blood covered the forest ground, like a painting of hell. Pieces of human flesh and brain matters scattered around, while dismembered corpses of varying degree were clearly visible. Some stuck on the tree branches, some smashed deep into the ground, some had their face and torso completely ripped apart.

    Such a sight was not a new occurrence to the war veteran Nicholas. Nonetheless, for a massacre happening near the city, the kingdom''s capital on top of that, was simply unforgivable!

    After walking deeper for awhile, he finally saw the back of a man in a trench coat who sat on a broken log while smoking a cigar.

    Arriving right next to the man, Nicholas asked, "How is it, sir Robert?"

    The man puffed out a mouthful of smoke, then slowly turned his head to Nicholas.

    One noticeable feature of his face was his spiked black hair which sides connected to his facial hair --forming a full beard. Another was his thick and slanting eyebrows on top of his tiger-like eyes.

    Though Robert was only about half of Nicholas''s age, his calm countenance on such massacre showed that he was a man of countless experience too.

    "Sir Nicholas¡­" Robert sighed. "Luna is still going at it¡­ but it doesn''t seem she will give us a good result."

    Robert pointed his finger at a teen girl in a distance, which seemed to be in full concentration on operating a translucent dome of magic formation.

    Her eyes had turned red from overworking and her teeth were chattering. Still, her hands never stopped drawing complex Runes, trying hard to maintain the magic dome as stable as she could. But before long, the formation shattered like glass.

    Luna succumbed onto the ground as she breath heavily with a tint of blood leaking out of her nose.

    Robert sighed once again, stepped on the cigar butts, and approached the sulking girl.

    "Satisfied now?"

    "I''m sorry I-"

    "Enough!" Robert picked the girl up in a princess carry. "I told you to stop minutes ago and now you can''t even stand on your own!"

    Hearing his rebuke, Luna smiled wryly and relaxed between his arms. "Sorry¡­ and thank you."

    "So, the thing is even stronger than you both, huh?" Nicholas asked.

    "That seems to be the case¡­" Robert replied. "This is getting dangerous, sir Nicholas, tell your men to increase the security. The thing is still hiding somewhere nearby."

    "...I will tell Reymond to help us," said Nicholas, turning around to leave the barrier.

    "Yea, that would be better..." Robert took another glance at the deep claw marks on the trees and the corpses. "This is anything but good."

 Chapter 9. Grandma is Not Home

    As she got closer to her home, Helen suddenly got reminded of the empty basket she held in her hand.

    "Right, I need to return this." Helen decided to take a short detour.

    After a short walk, she arrived at the front of Sera''s bakery, but it was strangely quiet today. None of the usual customers came to buy their daily bread, after all, the store''s door was shut.

    "Huh?"

    It was rather unusual for Sera to close her bakery during business hours. In the past few years, she never saw her stopped working. Even when she was sick, she still opened the bakery at least for a few hours.

    In any case, Helen decided to knock on the door for now.

    *Knock Knock*

    "Aunt Sera, are you home? I''ve come to return the basket."

    She waited for a while, still no answer. Just as she thought that Sera was not home, a voice spoke out from behind the door.

    "Thank you for coming, dear. Would you please leave the basket by the table at the porch?" It was Sera''s voice.

    "Huh?" Helen thought that her aunt was acting weird. If she was behind the door, why not just open it and get the basket directly? Nevertheless, Helen chose not to delve into it further.

    "Okay," Helen replied as she did exactly like what Sera said. "I will go now, see you later!"

    Before Helen set off, Sera spoke out again, "Ah, about that¡­"

    "Yes?"

    "I''m sorry, but can we go to the market for tomorrow instead?"

    "Ehhh why?" Helen asked with a long face.

    "A hot oven pan just fell over and seared my knee this morning," Sera explained, still with door dampening her voice. "It will take an overnight for me to heal it."

    "Oh¡­ okay then, get well soon."

    "Thank you, Helen. I will see you tomorrow at noon."

    Having said that, Helen could hear Sera walking away from the door. Though she was a bit disheartened, Helen had no other choice than to turn around and headed back home.

    Going through a rough gravel path, passing several old shops and thatched wattle-daub houses, only then she could see the humble wooden house.

    Compared to the nearby houses that had been ragged due to the passage of time, the wooden house looked like it was built just yesterday. To be fair, she never even watched her grandma attempting to renovate the house, yet there it stood, nice and firm.

    After pushing the key into the keyhole and rotating once, she held the knob and push the door open.

    The wooden door creaked subtly as Helen said, "I''m home!"

    No response.

    "Grandma?" Helen called for the second time.

    ''Probably in the kitchen?'' she thought as she moved to the kitchen. But to her disappointment, Irene was not there.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ''Her bedroom?'' Helen went to check the bedroom, only to notice that her grandma was not there either.

    ''Did she went to the nearby village to sell some merchandise again?'' was the only conclusion that Helen could come up with. But then again, her grandma would always notify her in the morning if that was the case.

    Helen sighed. In the end, her grandma was old. Maybe she forgot to tell her about it this morning.

    "What should I do now¡­"

    It was not long before Helen realized that she got idle and bored. Usually, she would help her grandma to cook or chopping wood for the fireplace, but she always told her not to go near sharp objects on her own.

    "Ah, I know!"

    She went to the storage room just outside of the kitchen and picked up a broom, a feather duster, and a piece of relatively thick fabric.

    Going into the house again through the back door, Helen began to sweep every nook and cranny and wiped every surface. Soon enough, everything was sparkly clean.

    A small pile of dust near the backdoor marked her achievement, it would be a lie to say that she did not feel proud at all. Although Irene usually cleaned up the whole house swiftly with her magic, Helen did not mind giving her a little surprise later.

    "Whew¡­" After finishing up and putting all the tools back, Helen went to her bedroom and fall flat onto her bed.

    The sun was about to set. Still more time before the promised dinner time.

    Helen was idle again, but this time, she knew just what to do. Shifting her body to the right side of her bed, she reached out to the table and pull out the drawer. Inside were a pair of long dull needles and balls of wool yarn of different sizes and colours.

    She picked up the wood needles and a white yarn ball with a thickness of her pinky. Pulling the thread, she made the first knot and insert it to the needle on her left hand. Helen kept inserting similar knots into the needle until the twelfth knot, by which she began to knit.

    Winter will arrive next month. Helen thought that a scarf would be a nice parting gift for Catherine. As a noble, Catherine will definitely be able to continue her education, while she, as a commoner girl --save her perplexing identity, would usually end up as a maid.

    "Done!"

    In a short three hours, a white, one meter long scarf was fully exposed in front of her. Knitting was one of her hobbies. Using her grandma as a role model, Helen was confident that her finished product could even rival those sold in common stores.

    When she was done with the scarf, the sun has set and the Light Rune on the ceiling had turned on. Yet, Irene had not returned.

    Helen began to worry. Her grandma always said that the world was so big that no Hunter dared to claim that they can slay all beasts under the heaven. Some anomalies may appeared out of nowhere in a region where even elite Explorers were too afraid to step into.

    What if her grandma encountered one of those situations during her travel?

    No matter the circumstances, Irene always returned before dinner time. Except that one time during the draught two years ago when she had to work overtime and only returned past midnight. But today? Today was not any different than any other day, it was not the annual Victory Celebration day either.

    Suddenly, three knocks from the front door disrupted her thoughts.

    "Coming!" She jumped down from the bed and walked quickly to answer the door.

    Opening the door, Helen saw an old gentleman in a tailsuit, who then bent his waist for a salute.

    "Good evening, young miss Helen," the old man greeted politely. "Young miss Catherine had sent me here to come and escort you. Would you please come with me to the carriage."

    Now, even Catherine''s butler had come to pick her up.

    "Please wait," Helen said as she dashed inside once again.

    "No problem, take your time."

    Helen went to the bathroom and washed herself up quickly. After that, she ran to her bedroom, then opened her wardrobe to select the best dress she had --her one and only dress that had a quite expensive look.

    A silky black dress decorated with sparse silvery glitter and a gray flower pattern on its right hip. To be honest, it was not that amazing, but Helen did not want to appear bad in front of Catherine''s parents as they were nobles.

    A few minutes later, Helen walked to the front door. But midways, she stopped to pick up a small piece of papyrus on the dining table and a thin coal beside it.

    She began to write,

    <blockquote>

    I''m going to Catherine''s home for dinner. Please do not cook my dinner nor wait for me.

    Love,

    Helen.

    </blockquote>

    Having done so, she left the note on the dining table. Even though she felt reluctant to go before seeing her grandma first, she would feel guilty if she broke her promise at the last second.

    The only thing she could think of was probably asking Catherine''s family''s help if her grandma did not return by midnight.

    "I''m off," Helen said.

    Of course there was no answer, but a habit was a habit. Helen blushed in embarrassment, but fortunately, no one was there jeer at her stupidity.

    Opening the front door once again, Helen locked the door and draped the golden key like a necklace.

    She turned to the old butler and said, "Okay, I''m ready."

    "Then, please follow me to the carriage," the old butler said with a smile.

 Chapter 10. Amazingly Unbelievable

    White scarf in hand, Helen followed the old butler onto the mainroad. There, she saw a majestic golden-black carriage with a pair of pure white Unicorn clamped onto the reins. They were covered in a certain glittering magic armor and their limbs decorated with metallic spike.

    This was the magical beast that she always dreamt to ride on someday¡­

    ''Wait¡­ Unicorn?!'' Helen gasped in awe as she took another look. A pair of white eyes that glowed in the night, smooth silver manes that kindled like a flame, and most notably a proud spiralling horn that gave off a colorful spectrum.

    ''Indeed, they are Unicorn!''

    Among nobles, owning Unicorn was a form of flaunting, either in strength or wealth. Unicorn was not that rare, adventurers and travelers often encountered them in many forests around the land. But that did not mean they were easy to capture, much less taming.

    As a Magical Creature, Unicorn was a proud creature that could even use magics --mainly Wind and Strengthening Magics. The weakest among Unicorns would be equivalent to a human of 4th stage of Mana Affinity, while the stronger ones would reached 7th stage of Mana Affinity, at which they would be able to stride the sky and summon lightning.

    To use Unicorns to pull a carriage¡­ This showed that Catherine''s family was not poor at all. Only nobles of at least marquess rank would be able to do such a lavish act.

    "If you please, miss Helen." The old butler said as he extended a hand to Helen while opening the carriage door with the other.

    "Ah?" Helen fidgeted. Other than the salute, she practically knew nothing of the noble customs. After all, all the "carriage" she ever rode were the one where she jumped on top of the haystacks at its back.

    The old butler seemed to notice her distress, he smiled and said, "Don''t think too much into it. Just take my hand and step up."

    "O- okay!" Helen took the hand and stepped up¡­ not.

    The carriage foothold was even higher than her knees, to say nothing about her wearing a dress too.

    Helen turned to the old butler, but before she could say anything, a sudden light sensation covered her body. Defying gravity, she floated, passing the foothold and into the carriage.

    "Wah!" Helen''s jaw dropped at the unexpected occurrence.

    "Watch your hand," the old butler said while closing the door. "Sit tight and enjoy the ride."

    Before long, a single cracking sound of a whip resounded as the carriage began to move. Helen still had surprise written all of her face, she never expected that the old butler was a capable Mage too!

    To quick cast a simple spell like [Float], one must have at least 3rd stage of Mana Affinity, just like her grandma. Even though there were plenty of people at this stage, they usually worked as a civil servant or teacher at higher education rather than a lowly position of a butler.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Being able to hire a butler of such capability, Catherine''s family must be famous even among the marquess.

    "Strange¡­ I never heard of a high-ranking noble with a daughter named Catherine." Helen muttered absentmindedly.

    Not like she suspected her best friend of faking her name, after all, if she was a daughter of a famous noble, her face would be enough to be recognized everywhere she went. Looking at the rich resources that Catherine were able to deploy just to fetch her also showed that she should not be an illegitimate child either.

    ''No use in thinking about it, I guess.'' Sometimes Helen wondered if her thoughts were a bit too much compared to her peers.

    ''Anyway, for now¡­'' Helen stared excitedly at the couch she sat on, which was made out of an unknown beast''s pelt.

    When she ran her hands across its surface, a comfortable softness and silkiness greeted her fingers, causing her to unconsciously smile.

    Taking off her slip-on shoes, she leaned back and stretched her legs on the wide couch.

    "Hehehe," Helen giggled sillily. Somehow, she felt like a princess now.

    After getting comfortable, she began to look at the window next to her.

    Helen slid the dark curtain open and stared at the peaceful night outside of the glass pane. The sun had set, and tens of Lightning Bugs went back to their home, which was the lamppost by the side of the road.

    Rather than using [Light] rune that required constant maintenance from a Mage or oil lamps with the risk fire spread, many commoners and civil officers alike preferred this method of making Lightning Bugs'' nests as a cheaper alternative.

    One would only need five pieces of a common Morningdew Leaves and a pinch of wheat grains, in no time, a family of Lightning Bugs will gather to stay the night. Of course, as Magical Creatures, Lightning Bugs were able to cast magics just like Unicorn, but their strongest Lightning Magic was just enough to paralyze a finger, hence the reason why even commoners were able to utilize them.

    Soon, Helen felt the carriage stopping accompanied by a loud "Stop!" from outside. She knew that they had arrived at the Northern District entrance.

    "Good evening, sir." One of the two guards in heavy armor stepped forward. "May I take a look at your insignia?"

    As a noble area, the Northern District was always under tight security. This was just one of the preventive measures against spies infiltration and the leak of top-secret informations.

    The old butler did just what the guard told him. He took out a round gold insignia from his sleeve and put some Mana into it. Five unique formations glowed out of the insignia and brightened the vicinity in colorful radiance for about three seconds.

    After looking into the insignia identity, the guard felt like a lightning struck his head. But after drawing a cold breath, he quickly regained his composure in a professional manner.

    "Thank you, sir. Enjoy your evening!" The two guards parted and gave way for the carriage.

    The old butler smiled lightly and nodded, then he cracked his whip to command the Unicorns to proceed once again.

    ''Yep, Catherine should be from a renowned family alright!'' Although Helen did not know what the insignia''s identification formations meant, to even surprised the guards who should be used to all these noble stuff showed the status that Catherine''s family held.

    Helen sighed before she looked down at the white scarf in her hands, wondering if her gift was too simple.

    As her thought wanders, the carriage kept moving deeper into the Northern District. There were no longer any magical tool stores or luxury shops nearby, rather a sparse garden that contains all sorts of beautiful magical plants and herbs was right at the front.

    Beyond that was a wall¡­ Beyond the wall would be the Aurelia Kingdom''s Royal Castle.

    But the carriage had not stop, only when it approached the glorious gate between the wall did it slowed down.

    "..." Helen was truly speechless this time, she could not help but scream deep in her heart, ''Are you kidding me?!''

 Chapter 11. We Have Arrived!

    As soon as the carriage arrived, the majestic white gate gave out fleeting blue lights before it parted open with a rumble.

    Although the castle outer wall was slightly lower than the city''s outer wall, it is obvious that this wall was denser and refined. Furthermore, the glow just now showed that the gate has been enchanted with Magic Formations as well!

    When the gate opened, a silhouette of a towering figure could be seen walking out.

    ''What is that?'' Helen pondered as she noticed the figure. Unfortunately, her vision was limited due to the moonless night and dark vicinity.

    The figure walked with a heavy, yet steady pace. Each step was followed by a metallic clank and a small earthquake, as if the figure was not a person, but a beast.

    Only when the figure was about seven steps away from the carriage did she get to see.

    It was a knight covered in full armor set with a gigantic greatsword on his back. But to call it an armed-to-the-teeth knight was still a severe underestimation.

    Wearing a platinum armor that even covered the joints, bulking chest plate and spike pauldron, the knight looked like a walking fortress. Coupled with the seamless horned visor, the knight was even taller than the carriage itself, to the point that one might wonder if the knight was of the Goliath race from far North.

    When the knight approached, the old butler did a noble salute from his coach seat and greeted, "Good evening, Sir Raymond. It seems that you have returned from your expedition."

    The knight took notice of the carriage. He turned his head and returned the greeting, "You are¡­ Franz, if I''m not wrong." Raymond nodded. "Good evening."

    "For Sir Raymond to remember this lowly butler''s name, such an honor." The old butler smiled.

    "Bah, nevermind that, you are from that family after all." Raymond waved a hand dismissively. "Nicholas has sent me an urgent message a while ago, hence my hasty return."

    The giant knight let out a raspy sigh. "Your family should already be informed right? Make sure that no one under 5th stage of Mana Affinity are alone outside for the next three days."

    The old butler chuckled, then bent his waist forward a bit. "Thank you for your advice, Sir Raymond. Then, we won''t disturb you any longer, good luck on catching the criminal.

    "Hmn." After that single hum, Raymond continued to walk toward the opposite direction.

    Only when the knight was out of their sight did the old butler cracked his whip, moving the carriage once again.

    "Who is that?" Helen asked through the vertical slits between the carriage and the coach.

    "Ah, miss Helen," Franz replied. "That was one of the Grand Commander of the Imperial Army, Raymond Geshalt, have you heard about him?"

    "Oh!" Helen exclaimed at the famous name. "Of course I do! He is that Unstoppable Berserk, right? Erk-" Helen quickly realised her slip-of-tongue and put both hands on her mouth.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Hahaha," Franz laughed lightly. "Indeed, people do call him that!"

    With the thick armor as his special trait, Raymond had made a name for himself during the Monster Uprising long ago. Greatsword in hand, he bulldozed through the battlefield, brute forcing the monster''s formations and causing mini earthquakes whenever he went. It was not long before the monsters cowered fear from this living fortress.

    It is rumoured that Raymond came from a commoner background and it was Nicholas who noticed his potential at first. Throughout the years, Raymond climbed the ranks using his own abilities, before finally reaching where he was right now.

    This was why he was even more popular among commoners than Nicholas.

    "Please don''t tell him about this," Helen said timidly, she found Raymond scary.

    "Don''t worry, miss Helen," Franz assured. "Truth to be told, Sir Raymond doesn''t care on what others called him, be it swine or god; all he cared about was saving lives, as if that is his only purpose of his life..."

    The old butler sighed. "So please don''t get scared of him, miss Helen. Sir Raymond is a truly noble person."

    "Ah¡­ okay!" Hearing the old butler''s words, Helen''s impression of this hero had gone up another level.

    Not long after, the carriage slowed down for the second time. Franz pulled the reins hard, before saying, "Miss Helen, we have arrived."

    "Ha?!" Helen shook at the sudden announcement. She glanced out of the window to notice that fortunately, it was a manor, not the castle itself.

    ''Wait, that''s not the point!'' She already felt nervous thinking that Catherine came from a marquess family. However, everyone living inside the kingdom''s core wall were either prince or princess!

    ''But there wasn''t a princess with the name of Catherine!'' Helen was getting flustered, but before she could get herself together, a maid had already opened the carriage door and extended a hand.

    "If you please, miss Helen," the maid said with her head slightly bowed. "Madame and young miss Catherine are waiting."

    Those words did not make Helen feel better, rather, the word "madame" just clutched her heart even further. However, she had no choice but to take the hand that the maid offered.

    When the maid touched Helen''s cold hand, she twitched her shoulder a bit, before chanting a short spell.

    Immediately, Helen felt all her worries disappear and fuzzy warmth returned to her limbs. This was a magic that Helen was familiar with, [Purify]. The same magic that her grandma always used to soothe her nightmares.

    No longer feeling surprised, Helen just sighed quietly. "Thank you."

    The maid showed a warm smile, then said, "My pleasure."

    Helen stepped down the carriage gracefully and made a small jump at the last step.

    Just as her feet touched the ground, a familiar voice resounded from her left, "Hey, you are here!"

    When Helen turned, her sight was suddenly covered in darkness.

    "Humfff!" A muffled scream escaped her throat, Helen knew that Catherine had successfully assaulted her again.

    "Look at you, this is the first time I saw you wearing such a beautiful dress!" Catherine cuddled her best friend tight. "So, so, so cute!"

    "Hmff! Hmff!" Helen struggled with all her might.

    "Oh, sorry." Catherine immediately let go after noticing her pain.

    Helen coughed a few times, then said, "You meanie, I almost got choked!"

    "So sorry, I got too excited¡­" Catherine sulked.

    "Jeez¡­"

    Helen looked at her friend, finally noticing that Catherine did not wear a glamorous dress that she imagined. Rather, she wore a simple white nightgown and a gray capelet over her shoulder.

    "Hm? What''s wrong?" Catherine noticed her friend''s stumped glare.

    "Err¡­ that¡­" Helen hesitated for a second. "No dress?"

    "Huh?" It was Catherine''s turn to be stumped this time.

    Both of them stood still in an awkward silence that lasted a few seconds¡­

    "Pft!" Catherine could not hold back her laughter any longer. "Hahahaha! Did you think that all nobles wore dress all the time? Hahahaha! Oh no, my hips, hahaha!"

    "W- well excuse me, I''m not a noble! Humph!" Helen pouted, her face had turned red from embarrassment.

    "Hey, hey, don''t be mad." Catherine wiped off the tears from the corner of her eyes. "I appreciate you dressing up, but you don''t have to be so considerate about this."

    After regaining her breath, Catherine reached out for Helen''s hand and stride to the manor excitedly.

    "Come, come, mother can''t wait to meet you!"

    "Wai- uwa!" Before Helen could say anything, she was already dragged into the majestic manor.

 Chapter 12. Sumptuous Dinner

    ¡°Slow down!¡±

    Helen stepped hard onto the ground to resist Catherine''s dragging, only then did both of them came to a stop from running in the hallway.

    Wiping the sweat falling on her cheeks while panting for breath, Helen finally got the chance to look around.

    Everything around her seems to glimmer in luxurious color of silver and gold. From the shiny floor, decorative items placed neatly on the tables, and expensive illustrations of famous figures hanging on walls. Not to mention the numerous well-maintained [Light] runes that made the ceiling brightly lit.

    Helen stood there, stunned at the wonderful sight. She constantly move her eyes to look around as if being possessed by greed.

    In turn, Catherine crossed her arms, feeling a bit smug. ¡°Hehehe, you like them?¡±

    Helen replied absentmindedly, ¡°Yea.. I think so¡­¡±

    ¡°Well you can see them again later as much as you want.¡± Catherine shrugged. ¡°But for now, let¡¯s meet my mother!¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡±

    Catherine took Helen¡¯s hand once again as they walked. All the way, Helen kept admiring her surroundings and Catherine did not seem to mind as she stayed quiet.

    There were two more hallways at the end of the first one --one to the left and one to the right; Catherine took Helen to the right hallway. After another short walk, they arrived before a large double door.

    Helen in hand, Catherine pushed the door open before announcing, ¡°Mom, Helen is here!¡±

    ¡°Oh, welcome.¡± A calm woman''s voice entered their ears.

    When Helen entered the door after Catherine, she saw the majestic hall room with a similarly majestic chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. Several supportive ebony pillars with intricate designs were arranged neatly at both sides of the room, while the polished dark floor was filled with artistic patterns.

    A mature woman was seated at the end of the long dining table in front of her. Her hair and eyes were the first things that Helen noticed as they are golden and blue just like Catherine. Although she had a gentle feature and only wearing a simple white blouse, charisma seemed to exude out from her self.

    ¡°Hello, Helen,¡± the woman said with a warm smile.

    ¡°G- good evening!¡± Helen suddenly found herself nervous again. ¡°Thank you for having me here!¡±

    As she said her last sentence, Helen did a ¡°noble salute¡±... by having her legs stood straight, left arm on her back, right hand on her chest, then bowed stiffly.

    Awkward silence ensued for a few seconds. A nearby young butler twitched his lips slightly as if trying hard to not get fired from his job because of laughing.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Pfft! Hahahaha!¡± Catherine finally broke into laughter louder than before. ¡°What¡¯s with that salute? Don¡¯t do this to me, hehehe, you are too funny today!¡±

    The middle-aged woman followed suit and giggled lightly with one hand on her lips.

    ¡°Eh? Um?¡± Helen looked to her left and right repeatedly, wondering what she did wrong.

    After Catherine regained her breath, she explained to Helen, ¡°What you did was a salute for male, here¡¯s how a female salute¡­¡±

    Catherine demonstrated the salute slowly to Helen. She placed one foot behind the other, pinched two sides of her nightgown up, then bowed her head gracefully.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Helen exclaimed, then found her face hot in shame after realising her blunder. ¡°I- I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°Haiss¡­¡± Catherine sighed. ¡°Relax a bit, won¡¯t you! I didn¡¯t invite you here to learn noble¡¯s etiquette.¡±

    Catherine¡¯s mother chimed in, ¡°Indeed sweetheart, don¡¯t bother about the tiny things. Come over and have a seat.¡± She waved her left hand to the seat on her left.

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    When Helen approached, a maid stepped forward and pull the chair for her. Helen responded with ¡°Thank you¡± upon which the maid smiled and pushed the chair after Helen was seated.

    ¡°Hehehe, what a cute child,¡± the woman commented.

    When Catherine took her seat opposite to Helen, the woman clapped her hand once.

    An old butler near the door rang a hand bell and soon enough some servants carrying food trolleys entered the room. Each one of them arrived behind the three people around the table, then served the food plates.

    When the servant lifted the lid up, Helen feel hot steam upon her face and a fragrant savory aroma assaulting her nose. On the plate was a relatively thick white soup with a tinge of cyan sauce. Slices of pudding-like white meat placed on one side, while emerald-colored onion floated around.

    Helen stared at the soup as if she saw the most precious gem.

    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± Catherine said. ¡°Eat up!¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Helen picked up the silver spoon next to her right hand. She admired it a bit before snapping out of it immediately.

    Helen scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. Instantly, marvelous flavours stimulated her taste buds as she could not help closing her eyes in euphoria.

    Another spoonful of soup entered her mouth, this time, a soft moan escaped Helen¡¯s mouth. Before she realized, the soup on her plate was finished already, only then did she noticed that she had lost herself.

    Fortunately, the other two were only lagging behind by a spoonful or two, else Helen would begin to search for a hole to hide in.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad that you liked it,¡± the woman chuckled, causing Helen¡¯s face to burn again.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯m sure that you will like the following course.¡±

    Just as the woman said so, another batch of plates were being served in front of them.

    This time, Helen saw an exquisite piece of meat coated in red sauce. Next to it was a small pile of salad of various vegetables and mushrooms dressed in oil.

    Helen was one of those who needed to be forced to eat greens. But now, the salad looked alluring to her somehow.

    She took the first bite and felt delighted that the taste did not disappoint her initial prediction.

    ¡®How about this meat?¡¯ Helen used the knife and fork prepared to cut the meat overflowing with juice, then she stuffed the piece into her mouth.

    ¡°Hmn!¡±

    The dinner continued in a similar trend until Helen¡¯s stomach was full by the end. Every serving of food in the full course brought a genuine taste that Helen never tasted before. It would be a lie to say that she did not want to eat like this everyday.

    ¡°Whew!¡± Helen heaved a satisfied sigh after stuffing the last spoon of ice cream dessert.

    She looked onto Catherine¡¯s mother and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you for the wonderful food!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± she replied. ¡°Now then, I must leave. Make sure to accompany your friend, okay Catherine?¡±

    ¡°Okay mom. Have a safe trip!¡±

    ¡°H- Have a safe trip!¡± Helen followed suit.

    The woman smiled and patted Helen¡¯s head on the way. ¡°It would be wonderful if you are my child too.¡±

    Helen did not put up any comment, she just stayed on her seat thinking that the woman just said it on a whim.

    But when the woman went out of the room, she could feel a sparkling gaze from her best friend right across her.

    ¡°Right, it would be wonderful if you live here too!¡± Catherine exclaimed.

    ¡°Hah?!¡±

 Chapter 13. The Problem with Scarves

    "No, no, that''s a bit too much don''t you think?" Helen shook her hands.

    "Not at all!" Catherine exclaimed. "You only lived with your grandma right? We have no problem of accommodating the two of you!"

    "That''s not the point!" Helen tried to reason. "I''m sure that grandma would be inconvenienced to go to the market if we lived here." After all, they would be deep in the Northern District.

    "Ehem! did you forget about the carriage?" Catherine replied complacently.

    "Gah!" Helen staggered, finding that she had no reason to refute. But she decided to steel her heart and said, "Still no!"

    Catherine pouted. "Since you are trying to be unreasonable, then I can be one too!"

    Catherine stood up, grabbed Helen''s hand and dragged her to the door opposite to where they first came in.

    "Ah, not again!" Helen protested, but still followed her anyway.

    Behind the door was another hall that has a magnificent set of stairs covered in red carpet. Catherine brought Helen to the second floor on which she pushed the door up front, revealing another wide hallway with a door on each side of the wall on the right and left. Two young maids stood by the end of the hallway like statues.

    Both of them went inside the door on the left.

    "Whoa!"

    It was a big bedroom half the size of the dining room they were in.

    In the middle was a large bed as tall as Helen''s belly enclosed by a silky violet quilt. To the right of the room was a table with several bottles of beauty-enhancing potions on top of it, while a gold-framed mirror hung behind it. To the left of the room was a wide and tall wardrobe made out white wood that somehow permeated musky smell. Two tall windows were located behind each side of the bed, which lead to a balcony outside.

    While Helen was still admiring the room, Catherine grabbed her from her side and threw both of them onto the bed.

    "Ahh!" Helen''s first reaction was to rise up, but Catherine quickly held her back down.

    "I will make you sleep here tonight!"

    "Noo!" Helen tried to resist again. "Grandma gonna get worried."

    But, Catherine pushed her down again. "Then I''ll just send someone to bring your grandma here!"

    After she said that, Catherine noticed that Helen has stopped resisting.

    "There!" Catherine sat, then crossed her arms in victory. "Relieved yet?"

    "Grandma¡­ has not come home¡­"

    "Huh?"

    "After she left this morning, she has not returned yet," Helen said as she stared at Catherine. "Actually, I came here without her knowledge. I don''t know if she is home already, but I''m really worried."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Catherine frowned after hearing her friend''s explanation. Somehow, she got reminded about the afternoon incident.

    "How about this," Catherine replied, "I will send my men to look after your house and search for your grandma. When they found your grandma, they can notify both sides and even bring her here if she''s willing!"

    "Really?!" Helen sat up and gave a sparkling eyes. "Won''t that be too much of a trouble?"

    "Yea, really!" Catherine lifted her chin a bit. "Not a problem at all! I''m a noble, remember?"

    "Yay!" Helen cheered. "By the way, what kind of noble are you? I never heard a high noble''s daughter named Catherine¡­"

    "Err¡­ that¡­" Catherine hesitated as she showed a complicated emotions. But in the end, she forced a smile and put a finger on her lips before saying, "Secret!"

    Helen pouted. "I''m gonna assume that you''re an illegitimate child then."

    "Hey!"

    While both were bickering, three soft knocking sounds came from the door.

    "Young miss Catherine, is miss Helen with you inside?" an old voice came in.

    "Ah, yes!" Catherine leaped down from the bed to answer the door.

    Opening the door, she saw a white-haired butler.

    "What is it Franz?"

    "Miss Helen left this in the carriage." The old butler handed over a white scarf. "Can you give it to her?"

    "Sure, thank you!" Catherine took the scarf.

    "By the way can you send someone to watch over Helen''s house and bring her grandma over if she returned?" Then she whispered to Franz who tilted his head to offer his ear. "I''ve got a feeling that ''that'' woman and the incident are related to this."

    The old butler''s face turned serious and the amiable smile on his face has disappeared.

    "If you say so, young miss Catherine, I will trust your outstanding intuition as always," Franz said in a low voice. "I will go there personally."

    Catherine nodded once and asked, "Is Yohan still around?"

    The old butler looked around for a while and took a deep breath, which strangely caused Catherine''s body hair to stand up in a split second.

    "Yes, he is nearby," Franz replied.

    "Good, you can go."

    Franz nodded then proceeded to leave the hallway.

    Having done all of that, a smile returned to Catherine''s face as she turned back into the room with a cheery mood once again.

    "There, problem solved!" Catherine puffed up her chest. "So stay here tonight, okay?"

    "Mkay!" Truth to be told, Helen really desired to sleep on such luxurious bed; it was obvious that her bed was not as comfortable as this.

    Now that Catherine had promised to help her find her grandma, Helen was relieved and found no reason to reject the offer again this time.

    Catherine was also secretly cheering inside, but then she suddenly got reminded about the thing in her hand.

    "Ah right, Franz said that you left this in the carriage," she said, while handing over the white scarf.

    "Ah!" Helen shook as she shy away in embarrassment. "T- that¡­ I planned to gift it for you."

    "Wah!!!" Catherine exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "For me?!"

    Helen nodded once again with a flushed face.

    "Thank you!" she hugged her best friend tightly. "I will make sure to treasure it!"

    "I was thinking that you wouldn''t like the scarf, you are rich after all¡­"

    "No such thing!" Catherine took the scarf onto her wardrobe. "Look, I''m putting it in-"

    Just as she opened her wardrobe, several scarves of various colours and of far greater quality than that in her hand, dropped down.

    "See¡­" Helen pouted so hard that she looked like on a verge of crying.

    "No, no, no! Don''t cry, um-" Catherine flailed her hand around in panic, before yelling, "Nina! Nina! Come quick!"

    Immediately, rapid footsteps resounded from outside. Soon, a young maid with distraught expression barged into the room.

    "Yes, yes, my lady, I''m here! What can I do for you?"

    "Come here and disposed of these scarves! Donate them, burn them, I don''t care, just take them away!"

    The maid was flabbergasted as she heard the command, she picked up the scarves one by one and asked, "Young miss are you sure? This one was a gift from Marquis Herold''s son, and this one was from Prince..."

    Each domineering name that the maid mentioned caused Helen''s heart to shook. "Um, maybe it''s better not to-"

    Before Helen finished her sentence, Catherine had commanded once again, "Yes, take them away!"

    The maid could only follow her young mistress order. She nodded as she carried the pile of scarves out of the room. Now, there were only four pieces of scarves left in Catherine''s wardrobe, including the one from her best friend.

    "Now, let''s play!" Catherine said as she dusted off her hands. "I will show you some of my games, it will be fun!"

    Helen was forced to swallow back her words and replied with, "Okay¡­" She found out that this friend of hers can be scary at times¡­

 Chapter 14. Midnight Disturbance

    ''Good for your skin and beauty, she said¡­'' Helen thought about what her best friend said.

    Steamy vapours rose around Helen as she heaved a sigh of satisfaction. Although she insisted on just getting a simple [Cleanse] before they went to bed after a few hours of playing, Catherine still managed to persuade her to take a bath. And so here she was, in a gorgeous "bathroom" that was even bigger than her own house.

    The bath house consisted of a large warm water pool in the middle and shower compartments on one side, which combined the use of [Drizzle] and [Heat] runes. One just needed to put a hand on any activation rune on the wall and warm rain would pour down immediately from above the head.

    On the opposite side was a row of racks consisted of various choices of expensive soaps.

    Previously, the maid named Nina nudged her to choose any two soaps she likes. Not knowing about anything in front of her, Helen just picked them up randomly. But before she got to unscrew the cap, the maid had snatched the bottles from her hand. Soon after that, the maid guided her to the shower compartment, upon which she began to wash her body and hair.

    Thinking back, Helen was mortified in the shower, but she could not reject further after the maid insisted so many times with sparkling eyes.

    Now, Helen was relaxing in the warm pool. Nina had left the bath house after telling her to enjoy and spent some time in the pool. Somehow, she began to like the fuzziness. She immersed her body until the water reached just below her nose, then blew some bubbles through her mouth.

    "Huhuhu~" Helen chucked.

    A while later, Nina came in again to tell her that it was time to leave, else she would begin feeling faint.

    Helen followed her out to the changing room that consist of a single wardrobe and a couple of wooden benches.

    After a short spell chant by Nina, all the remaining water on Helen''s body surface evaporated. Most importantly, the citrus scents exuded out from her skin and the mild rose scents lingered on her hair, made Helen smile unconsciously.

    At this moment, the maid picked up a rattan basket from the top of a bench and offered it to Helen.

    Thinking that it was her dress, Helen took the content of the basket out and unfurled it. However, a pastel pink nightgown revealed itself instead.

    "Um¡­"

    "You wouldn''t sleep on your dress wouldn''t you?" Nina said as if reading her mind, then smiled. "I will wash your dress and return it tomorrow when you leave."

    "Uuu, okay then¡­" Helen put on the nightgown over her head. The silky and slightly elastic material made it easily slipped onto her body. Immediately, Helen fell in love with the nightgown. She rubbed her hand across its surface, still half-believing on how smooth it was.

    "Now, if you please, miss Helen," Nina beckoned. "Let me guide you back."

    "Un!" Helen nodded.

    The bath house itself was a separate compartment than the manor. It was connected to the stairs "hall" which lead to the bedroom compartment.

    After arriving at the bedroom, Catherine already sat await on her bed. When she saw Helen returned, she jumped off of the bed and hugged Helen, who still emitted some humidity.

    "Uweh~" A strange sound escaped Catherine''s mouth. "You are so warm¡­" She then sniffed at Helen''s hair. "And smells so nice too¡­ huehuehue."

    Goosebumps crawled over Helen''s neck and arms. "Stop it, you are creeping me out!"If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Ugh!" Catherine jerked her body back in an instant, then¡­ dramatically fell onto the bed and sulked.

    "Hey, that''s not fair!" Helen yelled as she approached the bed.

    Suddenly, Catherine''s eyes gleamed as she turned quickly and pounced. "Got you again!"

    "Nope!" Helen had anticipated Catherine''s move and took a step back.

    "Uwa-" Catching air, Catherine lost her balance as she continued to fall forward. Fortunately, Helen was there to catch her.

    "Got you~" Helen said complacently with Catherine''s head between her arms and chest. "There, my revenge for earlier!"

    "It hurts..." Catherine muttered. Unlike when Helen''s face landed on her chest, Catherine''s voice did not seem to dampen when her face was on Helen'' chest¡­

    "Hm? Did you say something?"

    "Your chest is hard, you are too flat!"

    "S- shut up!" It was Helen''s turn to flinched. Catherine made use of the chance to escape from her clutch.

    "I''m still growing!" Helen pointed her index finger at Catherine. "You are pretty much flat too!"

    "Hmph!" Catherine swerve a hand on her long hair. "Still not as flat as yours!"

    "Why you!"

    "What? You wanna go?"

    "Rawr!"

    The two girls began to "brawl" on the large bed. But, after a few rounds of bickering and wrestling, both of them got exhausted and fall flat on their back.

    For a moment, only the sounds of rapid breathing could be heard in the vicinity.

    Sometimes later, they regained their breath and suddenly tilted their neck at the same time to look at each other''s eyes.

    "Hey!" Both of them exclaimed at the same time.

    "Ah¡­"

    "Err¡­"

    "You can go first," Catherine said.

    "Please," Helen said.

    "No you."

    "Just say it!"

    "Fine!" Catherine retorted as she sat up, though she still felt hesitant on telling her thoughts. "It''s about when you passed out this morning¡­"

    Catherine saw that Helen had sat up as well and was all ears on her. She continued, "You know, this will be the first time you hear this, but from birth, I''ve been gifted with an ability. [Clairvoyance]."

    Helen gasped at the sudden revelation. "So, you are able to predict the future?!"

    Catherine nodded. "It''s not as powerful as you think though. Usually, I''m only able to get a vague gist of a near-future event."

    "But, that''s not all," Catherine added. "This ability also endowed me a special perception, such as seeing through illusions, unaffected by mind-controlling anomalies, and sensing other''s innate magic talent."

    She took a peek at Helen, who nodded as if signalling her to go on.

    Catherine took another deep breath. "When you passed out previously, I used my ability to see if there was a problem when you passed out so suddenly."

    She stared at Helen resolutely. "My perception was a bit different than what teacher Alison said! I could sense that there was a massive fluctuation of multiple strange Mana in your body. I couldn''t figure out what happened, but if you-"

    Before Catherine get to finish her ramble, Helen put her hands on her mouth.

    "I think you should listen to what I want to say first," Helen said, a warm smile on her face. "I''m sure that it will answer your concern."

    Then, Helen told her friend all about what happened at that time. About her mother, about the demon, and about her origin¡­

    "...and that''s how it is." Helen took a breath and exhaled.

    Catherine stayed frozen in her position. Such occurrence was a thing of legends, not to mention that this best friend of hers turned out originated from the mythical Mistis Hamlet itself!

    "You¡­ are you telling me the truth?"

    "Hmph!" Helen crossed her arms and pouted. "I''m not a liar like you!"

    Catherine felt like an arrow just pierced her heart, but she got over it and said, "Okay, I believe in you¡­"

    She crawled forward to hug Helen. "But promise me to never tell this to anyone else, okay? And I will promise you that I will never to tell anyone either. I''m afraid that you will be in danger if you do."

    Though Helen did not exactly understand what danger will it lead to, she trusted her friend''s judgement. "Un!" she nodded.

    "Good girl..." Catherine patted Helen''s back one more time before darting her eyes around as if to find someone else in the room.

    Unbeknownst to Helen, Yohan revealed himself for a split second and gave Catherine a wink. Only then did Catherine felt relieved.

    Both of them continued to chat for awhile about the little secrets they just revealed, until they fell asleep unknowingly while facing each other.

    The nearby Yohan undone his stealth and proceeded to cover both of the young misses with the quilt. He turned off the surrounding [Light] runes with a snap of his finger, then disappeared into the darkness once again.

    ¡­

    Several hours into the night, Catherine woke up unwillingly after she felt a strong tug from the quilt. She opened her eyes to see that Helen was no longer on the bed and one of the balcony door was opened wide.

    Catherine rubbed her eyes drowsily, walked to the opened door, then saw Helen standing by the guard railing of the balcony.

    "Helen?"

    Catherine thought that her friend could not fall asleep, but what Helen did next was outside her wildest expectations¡­

    Before she could react, Helen grabbed the railing and jumped down from the balcony.

    "Helen!!!"

 Chapter 15. Midnight Disturbance (2)

    ¡°Helen!!!¡± Catherine screamed on top of her lungs as she ran toward the guard rail and looked down.

    Surprisingly, Helen stood up and continued to walk forward as if nothing happened.

    Realizing the anomalies, Catherine took a deep breath and activated her [Clairvoyance]. In that instant, surge of Mana gathered around her eyes, which she used to gaze at Helen.

    ''As expected,¡¯ Catherine thought. She saw a form of dark mass clouded Helen''s mind, but it was different than the one she saw in the morning. ¡®Some kind of mind-controlling magic?¡¯

    Nonetheless, Catherine return to the bedroom in a hurry. But just before she reached for the door, she paused her step and pulled an invisible string on the wall beside the table.

    A hidden compartment popped out. Within, was a gold emblem engraved with a special Magic Formation.

    ''Just in case.¡¯ Catherine took the emblem, then burst out of her door while yelling, ¡°Yohan! Yohan!¡±

    Yet, there was no answer¡­

    ¡°Damn it,¡± she cursed. ¡°I swear to god I will fire you!¡±

    Though her guardian seemed to disappear, she still decided to run through the hall, went down the stairs, and onto the front door.

    The manor seemed to be really quiet that night, when usually, some maids and guards would patrol all night long. But this time, all of them collapsed on the ground ¨Cunconscious.

    In her panic, Catherine did not seem to notice the abnormality. She just made her way out and went to the other side of the manor, in the hope that she has not lost sight of Helen.

    The sounds of rustling grass came from beneath her feet. When she arrived behind the manor, she saw that Helen was already quite far away toward the direction of Inner West Wall. Fortunately, Helen did not appear to be running, rather, she walked while her body constantly swung from side to side as if she was sleepwalking.

    Catherine dashed toward her until she arrived within 100 feet from her, then shouted, ¡°Helen!¡±

    Helen stopped at the voice, then turned her head around. But when their eyes met, Helen''s face went pale and her shoulder flinched --visibly terrorized.

    ¡°STAY AWAY!¡± As soon as she screamed, Helen broke into a sprint, increasing their distance even more.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Catherine knew that she messed up. What Helen saw must have been altered by the mind-controlling magic. Now, she had no choice but to increase her speed.

    After running for another while, Catherine remembered, ¡®There should be a wall up front¡­¡¯

    They went past some shrubberies and several trees on the field near the edge of the inner city. Before long, they finally reached the Inner West Wall. However, beyond her expectation, Helen ran through the wall as if there was no wall to begin with.

    ¡°What?!¡± Catherine stopped in her tracks and re-activated her [Clairvoyance].

    ''Illusion formation?¡¯ Catherine frowned. In front of her was a giant hole, which directly connect to the forest outside the city.

    One must know that the royal family of Aurelia boasted about their inner wall, which could only be cracked by 7th tier highly-destructive Magic. Note the ¡°crack¡±; to pierce it? Not even 8th tier Mages were capable of doing it after tens of tries.

    Looking at the case, there was no sign of it being pierced multiple times. Worst of all, not even the Grand Commanders of the kingdom seemed to notice this problem.

    Catherine shivered at the thought. ''Why would something so dangerous came here?¡¯Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    At first she thought that the thing was her father''s enemy, but she quickly denied the possibility. If it came to kill her, there was no need to even lure her this far with Helen. Considering its might, it could wreak havoc anytime it want in the kingdom and escape ¡°peacefully¡± after doing so.

    ''That can only means¡­¡¯ Catherine gritted her teeth and went after Helen into the forest. She knew that that thing was going after her friend, and it needed her alive!

    ''Helen''s identity¡­¡¯ With the aid of her [Clairvoyance], Catherine began to put the pieces together. ¡®It can only be that person!¡¯

    Catherine gripped the gold emblem in her hand tight. Soon, it gave off a white radiance as an old man''s voice resounded through it, ¡°What''s the situation, young-¡±

    ¡°Level 3! Please bring over Sir Raymond and Sir Robert''s party to my position!¡± Catherine spoke in a hurry. ¡°I found the culprit, and I''m going after it right now!¡±

    ¡°...On our way,¡± replied the other party.

    ¡­

    Helen woke up drowsily after a few nudges on her shoulder. When she opened her eyes, she saw her grandma smiling at her.

    ¡°Grandma?!¡± Helen sat up right away. ¡°How did you get here?¡±

    ¡°You silly child.¡± Irene caressed Helen¡¯s head gently. ¡°What do you mean by that? This is our home isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Helen looked around to see that indeed, they were at home. It seemed that she fell asleep on a chair in the living room.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird¡­¡± She tried to recall something, but nothing came out of her mind. All she could remember was how she had waited the whole night for her grandma to come home.

    Helen was getting anxious for no reason and her limbs were covered in cold sweats.

    ¡°Having a nightmare again?¡± Irene asked.

    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Helen answered, still unsure herself.

    Irene chuckled. ¡°Grandma is sorry for making you worried for a whole night. I saw a kitten drowning in a river and just had to save it.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Helen exclaimed, expectations built up within her. ¡°Where is it?¡±

    Irene tilted her head to the floor next to the chair. There, Helen saw a kitten with blond fur sleeping peacefully.

    ¡°We should leave it alone for now,¡± Irene said. ¡°It must be tired after last night''s ordeal. By the way...¡±

    Irene stepped forward to hug Helen. ¡°Happy 10th birthday, dear.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Helen replied absentmindedly, then return the hug. ¡°Un!¡±

    After a while, they let each other go. Irene stood up and took Helen¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s make haste to the Cathedral to receive your Mana Blessing, shall we?¡±

    Helen felt elated. She remembered how her grandma said that the ritual will washed away all the bad things inside her.

    ¡°Okay!¡± she replied.

    Helen ran toward the front, but then she realized that the door did not budge after she pulled it a few times.

    ¡°Err¡­ grandma?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Irene attempted to open it a few times to no avail. ¡°I wonder what¡¯s wrong. Haish, I might need to call the repairman again.¡±

    ¡°So, what now?¡±

    Irene chuckled, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out through the window this time. We can visit the repairman on our way back.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Helen giggled. ¡°Fine!¡± She moved to the window next to the door, pushed it open and jumped over.

    When she got to the other side, Helen suddenly felt a weird momentary floating sensation. In her shock, she fell on her four.

    Irene who just got over quickly went to her side and held her body. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked with concern.

    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Helen held her head, seemingly confused.

    ¡°...We should hurry to Cathedral, can you stand?¡±

    Helen smiled and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m fine, grandma.¡±

    The Cathedral was not too far from their home. It was just right across Helen¡¯s school. Thus, they should be able to reach it soon.

    A short distance later, Helen suddenly heard someone calling for her name from behind.

    ¡°Helen!¡±

    It was a voice she was familiar with. But just as she turned around to reply, a terrifying horror revealed itself.

    It was the black abomination, coming at them on full speed!

    ¡°STAY AWAY!¡± She pulled her grandma¡¯s hand and ran for her life.

    After running for a while, exhaustion started to build up inside her. The cathedral was just right up front, she believed that the evil creature would not dare to enter it.

    Suddenly, she felt a hand grabbing tightly on her arm.

    ¡°I got you!¡± The abomination had caught up!

    ¡°NOOO!¡± Helen tried to pull her arm, but she was not strong enough to free herself. ¡°Spare me, please! Someone! Anyone! Grandma! Help me!¡±

    Yet, not a single soul was around. Even her grandma had frozen into a statue.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Now, she remembered that the creature was capable of stopping time. Tears poured down from her eyes. Her will and hope were broken thorough and thorough.

    Ignoring her state, the monster embraced her waist with one hand and put the other on Helen''s head.

    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± it said. ¡°This will hurt a bit.¡±

    ¡°AHHH!¡± Helen screamed on top of her lungs as a surging heat pour into her brain.

    Once the ¡°creature¡± release its hands, the real world began to reveal itself in Helen''s eyes.

    Catherine release her embrace, upon which Helen slumped down on the forest''s ground. Power sipped out of her limbs and her face was in a mess because of tears and snot.

    ¡°Eh? Eh?¡± Helen still did not get what was going on. Her face was still lingering with despair.

    Catherine panted for breath as she sweated profusely. She had exceeded her current capability and now, she had to pay for the consequences. Her pupils dilated, her consciousness began to wander, yet, she gritted her teeth to stay awake after she sensed that someone was approaching.

    ¡°Should I say, ¡®as expected of someone of Rochatier''s bloodline¡¯?¡± said the approaching figure.

    ¡°I knew it, it was you¡­¡± Catherine replied.

 Chapter 16. The Damned Witch

    "Ho? So smart?" The figure mocked.

    "Sera Veruff¡­" Catherine called out the name in great difficulties. "Father shouldn''t have let you live¡­"

    Even with a sign of aging on her face, Catherine was one hundred percent sure that this witch was exactly the one from the story her parents told her about...

    Only selected few knew about the story. Even Yohan, her personal guardian, and Franz who had worked for a long time in their family did not know about it!

    Sera was a Conjurer Mage, who once was one of his father''s most trusted aides. Her countless merits made other officials pale in comparison and her great power had thwarted numerous rebels. Her grace and charisma was revered by many people, while her justice made her a hero.

    But all of that changed when her oldest brother was born fifteen years ago...

    Her father never actually disclosed what had happened. All he had ever told her was that the woman went crazy and nearly killed her brother in some sort of mad rituals.

    That was also when her father uncovered her vile acts throughout the years.

    In her secret chamber lie countless dismembered body parts. Some from animals, some from humans, some from unidentifiable otherworldly abomination. Some had gone rotten, while some are sewn into balls of flesh.

    Pools of blood were contained in tens of tubs. Inside each of them was a taboo of humanity¡­

    Homunculus!

    All these time, Catherine thought that the story was something her parents made up to scare her if she did something bad. But now, the same woman stood right in front of her.

    That year, to avoid mass panic, her father announced to the public that Sera was off for a long journey. But actually, her father exiled her to a certain prison land surrounded by oceans filled with terrifying monsters. However, who would have thought that she would disappear without trace soon after.

    Sera shrugged as a smile formed on her face. "I guess I should thank that old man?"

    She approached the two girls slowly. Each step heightened Catherine''s heart beat and her breathing went out of control. Not to mention that Helen was in a catatonic state with no sign of responding to the situation.

    Sera stopped after a few steps away from them and said, "Hand over Helen."

    "...What do you want her for?"

    "My lords have a plan for her," Sera said, the smile never left her face.

    "So, you are a slut of several lords now?" Catherine mocked.

    "Heh, the young lady of Rochatier sure is sharp-tongued." Sera gestured her hand in demanding manner. "Now, be a good girl and hand her over. I will spare you as a thank to your father."

    Catherine did not answer. She looked around as if trying to find something.

    A sinister sneer formed on Sera''s face. "Looking for your pathetic guardians, little miss?"

    She kicked a giant tree next to her ''lightly'', followed by a boom as the tree toppled. Three badly mutilated corpses fell down one after another with a loud thud.

    It took a while before Catherine could register what she saw. When she did, a strong churning sensation built up from inside her stomach.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Urrppp!" She vomited out all her dinner and fell on her four. Her legs went soft, while her consciousness continued to sway.

    Blood trickled down her nose and a head-splitting pain struck upon her.

    "My, oh my, how unsightly."

    "Impo-"

    "Impossible? Ha¡­Hahahaha!" Sera laughed maniacally. "Still a naive girl I see."

    Catherine did not expect that the witch had grown this much! Her father told her that Sera was at the 5th stage of Mana Affinity when she was exiled.

    Excluding the Shadow Guard she sent who was at 5th stage, Franz and Yohan were of 7th stage! Defeating them was one thing, but killing them without a single injury? Just the thought of it made Catherine shivered in fear.

    "My offer still apply, young miss~" Sera said in a teasing tone as if nothing had happened.

    Catherine took a deep breath. Even with her hurting chest, she still answered firmly, "No¡­"

    "Hah¡­ Alright then..." Sera sighed. Her smile had now gone, replaced by a sinister crazed expression. "I don''t think I gave you another choice though?"

    Catherine felt like her heart missed a beat at the change. But before Sera did anything, a sudden high-pitched whistling sound came from up front.

    Noticing the sound, Sera quickly turned around, then activated a form of barrier. A black fire tongue made contact with the barrier before it got deflected and dissipate completely with a sizzle.

    "Who''s there?!" Sera looked around but could not detect anyone. However, she noticed that one of the corpses had vanished into black flame.

    "What?!" She turned around again to the girls'' direction, only to discover that they are no longer there.

    "...Damn roach." Sera did not give chase immediately, though. She walked a few steps to the bushes on her right and taped onto a short figure''s back hiding in it while smiling. "Your turn."

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, a black-haired man carrying two girls under his arms was running in the forest. Occasionally, he would jump between the dense trees and made a detour to avoid certain beast''s nests.

    "Yohan¡­" Catherine spoke with great difficulties. "I know you wouldn''t die so easily¡­"

    "Don''t talk too much," Yohan said with a hoarse voice. "Have you called for help?"

    "I did¡­"

    "Good." Once he knew, Yohan switched his direction to run towards the west wall; only then will they be able to meet the reinforcement faster.

    Catherine refrained from asking anything further. Warm liquid coming from Yohan''s abdomen had stained her clothes red. She knew that Yohan had pushed his limit. She stared at her side to see that Helen had passed out.

    After running for a while, they finally saw the city wall. Strangely, Sera''s figure was nowhere to be seen.

    ''Did she really lost us?'' Just as the thought crossed her mind, a huge obsidian claw swiped across Yohan''s head.

    "?!" Yohan quickly tossed the girls onto the bush nearby and put up his arms to defend. He activated a barrier, but alas, the claw tore it like a piece of paper and instantly reached his body.

    "ARGHHH!" Yohan was sent flying with a trail of blood behind him. Only after splitting three trees in half did he came to a stop, then limply fall on his face.

    Still conscious, he tried to push himself up. However, he realised that his arms were completely pulverised. He could do nothing other than gritting his teeth until it bleed and moaned in pain.

    "Tsk tsk." The claw disappeared into the void when Sera appeared before them while shaking her head. "What a feeble attempt."

    After that, she walked to the girls'' position nonchalantly. "Now for that girl¡­"

    "Not so fast, scum." Suddenly, a massive broadsword came swinging down right on Sera''s face. Unprepared, it landed squarely on her face. Now, it was her turn to be sent flying.

    At the same time, a brown-haired young girl came towards the two girls. She said to Catherine, "It''s okay now, we have arrived."

    Catherine forced a warning from her sore throat, "Be careful, she is at least of 8th tier. I have a feeling that she is still hiding something!"

    Luna reassured with a smile. "Un, we will! Now, let''s get you guys to safety."

    Just when she was about to grab the two girls, a deep screeching demonic voice resounded. "Did I say that anyone could leave?!"

    Sera, whose face was covered in a squirming tumour, came running to Luna at a terrifying speed. In her hand was a black javelin made out of inexplicable filth and tiny demonic jaws.

    She struck down with her spear, which spouted toxic miasmas. Luna was about to take out something from her waist pouch, but then a burly figure in trench coat moved to her front.

    "That''s not for you to decide." A silver radiance swept across the air. It was a metallic gauntlet densely packed with Magical Runes.

    "Hah!" This time, Sera activated three layers of barriers on time.

    The meteor-like punch managed to break into two of them, before sending Sera flying up high into the sky with the last barrier intact.

    "Hahaha! Is that it?!" Sera laughed in a crazed manner.

    "Look here." An old gentleman in majestic armor suddenly appeared behind her.

    "What?!"

    It was too late by the time Sera turned her head. A lightning imbued sword struck down with an ear-splitting explosion, breaking her last barrier and sending her crashing onto the ground.

 Chapter 17. Battle of the Atelier Forest

    Under Nicholas¡¯ unmerciful lighting strike, Sera shot down toward the ground like a meteor.

    Though he had done his role, Nicholas did not descend to group up with the rest. He stood afloat on the air, keeping a watch for any change that might happen behind the curtain of rising dust.

    At this moment, Luna was drawing several formations around the girls and the incapacitated Yohan. Meanwhile, Raymond and Robert stood around them on alert.

    ¡°How long will it take?¡± Robert asked.

    ¡°Soon¡­ give me several more seconds,¡± Luna replied.

    Suddenly, a mass of shockwave blasted out from their front. The instant the dust was cleared, Sera¡¯s sorry figure had walked out of the crater. Her body was riddled with countless squirming tumours, while her face showed a trace of brutal insanity.

    ¡°Very well.¡± A blood curdling voice escaped from her throat. ¡°It seems that all the guest stars have gathered tonight. So, I don¡¯t have to hold back anymore!¡±

    Sera lifted up her right hand. Within, was a clump of blackened flesh that resembled a rotten heart. As it appeared, everyone in the vicinity felt an overpowering suppression falling upon them.

    ¡°A Divine Artifact!¡± Raymond shouted in alarm.

    Sera let out a sinister laugh and yelled, ¡°I want you to meet my new pet. Come on out!¡±

    A pair of gigantic obsidian claws appeared out of nowhere on thin air next to her. It flailed around for a while, before finally stopping to make a concerted pulling motion and ¡®tore¡¯ the air apart.

    From the black spatial tore emerged an old woman with a slightly hunched back. She looked just like any ordinary doting grandma, if only not for the menacing wolf head she wore as a hat.

    ¡°That¡¯s!¡± Robert suddenly cried out angrily. ¡°What the fuck did you do to her?!¡±

    ¡°Do you know her, sir Robert?¡± Raymond asked.

    ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s here.¡± Robert started to feel unsettled.

    ¡°Who is she?¡± Luna also asked.

    ¡°My master, The Divine Wolf Empress!¡±

    ¡°Your master?!¡± Luna went pale. ¡°Does that mean-¡±

    ¡°Yea...¡± Robert began to draw several Runes on his gauntlets. ¡°The one who brought me up in Mistis Hamlet.¡±

    At the same time, Catherine also caught a glimpse of the old woman. Her eyes went wide as she muttered, ¡°Helen''s grandma?"

    ¡°Hehehe,¡± Sera laughed. ¡°Surprised? I sacrificed a lot of my men to get this bitch.¡±

    She slapped Irene really hard, but Irene did not show any sign of resisting at all. ¡°But now, she¡¯s just my dog.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Robert was about to charge in rage, but Raymond stopped him by lifting his greatsword.

    Realizing his blunder, Robert forced himself to calm down. A second later, he sent a message to the group through transmission magic, ¡°My master should be a whole four realms above the current me! But looking at her current self, she¡¯s about two realms above me at best; probably due to the limitation of that Divine Artifact. Prepare yourself!¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    "Done talking?" Sera jeered. "Then come and meet your doom!"

    The tumours on Sera began to squirm even more actively, soon tens of eyeballs began to cover her whole face, so much that it became a clump of eyeballs instead of a head.

    Anyone who made eye contact with her could feel their mind sway and froze on the spot. It especially affected the 7th tier Raymond and Luna who were close to her.

    Perhaps it was because of their distance, but Nicholas did not seem to be affected.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with you.¡± The unrecognizable eyeballs-head pointed at Luna.

    At that instant, Irene¡¯s figure disappeared from their sight.

    In the next instant, Irene reappeared right by Luna¡¯s side. Her hands transformed into a pair of gigantic obsidian claw and swept across Luna.

    With no one around fast enough to react, Luna could only grit her teeth and activated several layers of barrier.

    The piercing sound of broken glass followed by dull explosion resounded as Luna crashed onto a tree far away while spurting out blood.

    ¡°Luna!¡± Robert yelled.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Luna shouted from afar. ¡°But the girls!¡±

    As if a pre-planned strategy, when the three men heard her reply, they quickly made their move.

    Raymond charged toward Sera, while Nicholas casted another lightning spell and dive-bombed like an embodiment of lightning god.

    ¡°Kurukuruk.¡± A what seemed to be dissonant laugh came from the monstrosity that was Sera. ¡°Simple-minded fools.¡±

    With one move, she glared at Raymond who charged first with her hundreds eyes. Instantly, this rampaging fortress felt as if his body was swallowed in a quicksand.

    ¡°Argghhh!¡± Raymond tried hard to resist. But the more he did, the slower his body moved, until he eventually stopped completely.

    ¡°Kurukuruk, now, for the other one.¡± The eyes at the other side of her ¡®head¡¯ opened wide and glared at the lightning-clad Nicholas.

    However, she immediately regretted her choice.

    The falling Nicholas did not get disturbed in the slightest, instead, he seemed to increase in speed!

    *BOOM!*

    An earth-shattering explosion resounded the second time throughout the night. A fountain of dust mixed with dirty black blood rose up into the air as the strike connected.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± The remnants of the blood formed back into Sera, looking even more hideous than before with her limbs turning to that of an insect¡¯s. ¡°A possessor of the Ancient¡¯s blood.¡±

    Nicholas lifted up his head and stared at Sera that reappeared a distance away. In the place of his missing eye was a slit with vertical pupil of a snake, emanating pale flame and blood-colored aura.

    ¡°Bold of you to mingle with humans. Why not come with me to see my lords? I¡¯m sure they will be elated!¡±

    Nicholas did not respond, he put up a stance and ready his next spell. Seconds later, crackles of lightning began to condense on his sword once more. Occasionally, tiny branches of the lightning would zapped the grass around him into charcoal.

    ¡°Tch, you won¡¯t listen huh?¡±

    Suddenly, Sera felt like she had forgotten about something, and sure enough, a loud war cry resounded from her side.

    ¡°ARRGHHH!¡±

    A flame-cladded greatsword appeared in front of her face. In the next instant, the clump of eyeballs was obliterated.

    Due to the momentum, the headless insect body flew off to distance. Though, contrary to their expectations, it somersaulted once mid-air before a new head formed.

    ¡°Good grief, such mannerless people.¡± Its new head began to shrink as the clusters of eyes become denser. ¡°Don¡¯t think this is over!¡±

    The head exploded once more, but this time, a single large blood-red eye appeared in its place¡ªlarge enough for anyone to be able to see the pulsating blood vessels on its surface.

    The strange thing about it was that no matter how both of the Grand Knight move, the eyes kept staring at them at the same time!

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± The voice from the headless eyeball reverberated directly inside Nicholas and Raymond¡¯s head. Slowly but surely, they felt their sight waning.

    Meanwhile, on the other side¡­

    Robert was restlessly on guard with his listless master in front of him, while three incapacitated people behind him.

    ¡°Master¡­¡± His voice was filled with sadness and his face bitter.

    He never thought he got to meet his master again the second time in life, but now that he did, malicious Divine Artifact has taken control of her.

    Robert put up his arms in ¡®X¡¯ position, then pull them away in one quick motion. The friction from his magical gauntlets created a reverberating sounds of metallic vibration, followed by a blinding white light in their trails.

    From the light trails came a divine white flame, and from the white flame birthed a figure of wolf divinity standing behind him.

    Its rich fur pouring down like a glistening spiritual water, while its eyes were made out of the most expensive sapphire; it was lithe and majestic.

    Irene stood there unmoved. She seemed to be a little bit wary of Robert¡¯s move.

    The next moment, the divine wolf turned in light particles that merged into Robert. Instantly, a similar white aura appeared to surround his body. His eyes turned into that of blinding light source, whereas his gauntlet transformed into an intricate armor covering his torso.

    ¡°I will beat you today, master.¡±