《Alviona (undergoing Rewrite).》


 Chapter 0 - Prologue; When old dies, something new is always born

    In a universe where distant stars have died out, and nothing but pitch black was visible floated a massive beam of energy. It radiated light brighter than the sun. This energy resembled the shape of a humanoid. Looking closely, you would state that this was a man for besides "him" floated an apparition of a moon-like color; presumably taking the shape of a female. While "She" did not shine as bright as the man next to her, the subtle blue color was still a magnificent sight. She could have consumed the hearts of many mortals and even god alike with just a little stare.


    "It appears that we are almost out of time Reiolle" (Sunlike figure)


    "Indeed...however as long as I am here, alongside you Archill, the Sunlight Spear that is known to all the deities in the countless of universes, I, Reiolle, shall nor fear nor despair of the deed we are about to perform" (Reiolle)


    "I am just tired! Tired of these countless battles! Of the countless times where both Godkin and mortals alike have destroyed each other due to their foolishness and stubbornness! I have existed for over twenty and three eons, and I do not wish to drag myself into yet another conflict between the gods. With this said, I do thank the forces in the universe for having met you Reiolle, and that I was able to for once in my life not feel and or be alone" (Archill)


    Despite the inability to make any facial expressions, the moon-like figure seemed to radiate even more than before, so much that her soft blue color was resembling a dark blue ocean. If one was to guess, the girl was blushing from these words.


    "You are beautiful, and I love you immensely," Chuckled Archill. The truth was that this couple has been on the run for nearly five years now in search for the universe deemed uninhabitable and far enough away to allow the pair create their first and probably the only child.


    Reiolle gave an expression, which implied to Archill that of a smile. She had been in love with this entity for over 1 million years now, and despite this, neither of them were ever permitted by others of their kin to merge and create an offspring. Reiolle knew that she was mostly to blame for this. After all, she was engaged with that of the Sunlight clan. These were entities thought of as wise, prominent and robust.


    For Archill to do something so lowly as to get engaged with one that did not even generate as much radiance and brilliance as themselves, was an action deemed unworthy of one titled Spear of Sunlight by his kin. True, Reiolle was very beautiful. However, she was in many ways, inferior and polar opposite of what they believed. She represented one step away from darkness and such entity being with Archill, the highest ranking of their clan, was a crime so big that even condemning him for eternal suffering or destroying his very essence would not be sufficient to atone for the sin. Indeed, having a child with this entity was taboo. However, she loved him. For that reason alone she was willing to sacrifice her entire essence to appease both of their desires.


    "How much time do we have before we are found out?" (Reiolle)


    "We are far away from the most known universes, therefore enough time to create the child and send it to an alternate universe, where it will be shielded from the wrath of all the deities. Safety and preservation of its power is our priority. As such, I am afraid we can no longer exist in this plane of existence that we call home" (Archill)


    Reiolle understood. She was afraid, unusually so. This fear, however, was not originating from the dread of non-existence. No, it was in truth caused by the fact that other deities had a vague idea of what they were up to. Performing such a complicated ritual required a lot of endurance, focus, calm and will. She and Archill possessed all four, however focusing while simultaneously being worried about being found quicker than anticipated, let alone the well-being of the child, she was scared. Scared to fail, scared as a wife to protect her man, scared as a mother to protect her child. With absolute resolve, she gathered up the strength that to speak up.


    "Archill, my love, I am overcome by fear... I fear the worst. However, every time I stand beside you I gain enough courage to be strong. With this decree, with the utmost love and affection I have towards you, I stand ready. It will be the last time we will see each other like this, but if it means that our child will be safe and will have all the love in the world, I shall accept" (Reiolle)The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    These words inspired Archill. He had sacrificed a lot to stay by Reiolle''s side. As such, wanting to have a child was something he long lusted. He knew, however, that the moment they would commit to such an act, they would have branded their newborn for destruction, which is why he had devised a plan. You see creating life was a hard technique to perform. Not impossible, just very hard. Higher Deities could only achieve it with the help of the Sunlight clan. He, however, was no creator, but instead a warrior, a spearhead that defended the balance of the universe. He knew very well that the technique he and his beloved Reiolle were about to perform was never tested. Failure was almost certain. But Archill loved Reiolle above all the balance that could exist in the universe, for this he was willing to sacrifice his essence and existence, for otherwise in the name of balance he would have to sacrifice their child, and Archill could not come to terms with such act.


    Archill touched Reiolle''s essence, and she his. The first step of his plan was to create an outburst of energy large enough to light up this entire universe, which had been shrouded by nothing but dark. Both entities started emitting their radiance in full color. Archill emitted a bright glow resembling tens of thousands of suns, while Reiolle shined like blood moon. This phenomenon could be seen throughout the galaxy that they were currently in, and looking from afar, one might have thought that the entire universe was caught on crimson fire. The first step was complete.


    "We shall warm up like this for about an hour, and after this, we will prepare for [infusion]. Reiolle, please delay your part until I give you a go. I need time to infuse the gathering energy and mold it. After we have completed the molding process, please create ultra-dimensional tear" (Archill)


    Reiolle did as she was told. She had to buy enough time for Archill to mold his powers and put his essence into the vortex to accurately sculpt the child. As they had discussed before, Archill was in charge of creating the main body, a feat that demanded precision and sharpness, for a hindrance would mean every planet in the vicinity being destroyed. She was grateful that they had taken the time to find a place where nothing existed.


    Reiolle, on the other hand, was in charge of creating the flesh or rather the vessel. She had observed mortals for as long as she had been with Archill, therefore knew very well what a frail body meant. A weaker being would not be able to accept their child. The power passages or Mana as mortals often referred to it as would break without proper care and effort put into it. The physical flesh would not withstand such pressure and all the tissues, blood vessels and muscles would merely burst, resulting in death. As such, Reiolle had concluded, that the elven race possessed the most affinity towards magic, particularly those of the female gender. They were highly attuned to and driven by [Holy], [Water] and [Earth] elements; therefore, their physique could withstand the blessings of the gods their realms inhabited. After much consideration, double-checking and experimenting, she had concluded that races such as Angels or Demons would stand out too much; elven heritage was the best route.


    As Archill came close to finishing up the vortex, he started slowly pouring his powers into it. After a brief moment, he had successfully given it a shape that strongly resembled that of a humanoid.


    "Please provide me the image of our child. What is the race going to be? What gender? What height?"


    "It will be a female of elven origin whose height will be around 1.72 meters tall when fully grown. Elves are very resilient when it comes to magic control. However, no world would accept a child pop out of thin air. As such, to ensure the safest route, I have created multiple locks on her Mana wells and passageways, so that until she is in her full bloom, she will not inflict-self harm".


    "You are as wise as the Moon itself. Very well! I have finished sculpting the skeleton. It should fit the body perfectly. Now then, Reiolle prepare to create a tear. I sense multiple deities approaching, which seem to be four to five hours away from us. As such, prepare yourself and remember, I love you. More than anything in this world."


    Reiolle nodded in acknowledgment and took a round shape. They danced around until finally crashing into each other, creating a crimson supernova. It was a magnificent sight and those who were chasing after the couple stopped to watch this beautiful occurrence.


    It only lasted for a few minutes for the supernova started to be sucked in by the vortex. As it finished doing so, the tear had opened up which instantly sucked in the whirlpool, teleporting it to an alternate universe.


    As per Reiolle''s preparations and Archill''s instructions, the vortex changed the shape into pure light and started traveling in search of its physical body. It soon arrived on the planet known as Dedrillon, reaching a small village; its target being a half-elf woman, who had been pregnant for almost seven months. The skies were pierced by light and softly lay on the woman''s face. It felt soft and warm. Such an occurrence had not been uncommon; therefore, nobody paid too much attention. The woman did not pay much attention to it either. She was not in any way unique, and half-elves were not an uncommon sight in this world. However, as she would soon discover, the child she bears is anything but ordinary.

 Chapter 1 - A pure-blood named Alviona

    In a straight and narrow hallway illuminated by various crystals, walked a joyful young woman in a slow pace. It was most likely due to the hoodie that covered her face; however, if one were to look more carefully, it would be easy to notice that the robe she wore was not her size. It was of subtle blue color, with white linings on the front and back side, masterfully carved in with different shapes and patterns. Perhaps the most exciting feature of the robe was insignia that was visible on the chest which stood out from the rest of the clothing. It was made of metal that one would recognize as gold, shaped in the pattern of a circle with a tree inside.


    The woman walked towards a large door and gently opened it. The door led her to an enormous bathing area that could comfortably fit up to 15 people. Inside the water was a young lady, who was gently washing her back with soap. As she finished, she started to rub her belly. Without further delay, the young nun greeted the woman.


    "Good morning Mrs. Sofia!"


    This act had caught the young lady by surprise. She quickly stood up and looked around. Her eyes showed a sign of worry; however, the moment she realized who it was, Sofia''s expression slowly shifted from defensive to warm and welcoming.


    "I have brought you some clean towels and clothing." (young nun)


    As she said this, she slowly approached the bathing area and placed the items on a nearby stand.


    "I shall go ahead and prepare a light breakfast for you, Mrs. Sofia. In the meantime, priestess Emma has asked you to visit her for a checkup."


    Sofia blushed. She knew exactly why she was being summoned. Gently rubbing her stomach, the woman smiled and graciously thanked the nun. As she did, the holy sister smiled back, bowed and left the room.


    "It is about time huh? Very soon my darling, very very soon."


    ----------------------------------------------


    *Knock, Knock*


    "Come in," said a gentle and calm voice.


    Sofia entered the room, performed a slight bow, and joyfully greeted the woman that sat in her chair. Despite her being in her fifties, nobody would dare to tell her that she was old since she was rather beautiful for the age. Her physique was slim, her cheeks thin and soft. Her hair was still jet black. The robe that she wore was just like any other nun that Sofia had encountered in this village. The beautiful crown that only high priestesses would wear only added to the charm of this character, so much that even Sofia who was a stunning and attractive female would get jealous of her.


    "Good morning Emma. I was told that you wished to see me for a checkup?"


    "Indeed, I did. Take a seat my darling. There are some important things I need to talk to you about"? (Emma)


    Sofia did as told.


    Emma moved her right hand under the drawer, took out a small bell, and rang it. As soon as she did so, a nun which appeared to be in her thirties entered the room.


    "Ah Samantha, please be kind enough to bring the bakery that you and the rest of the nuns wholeheartedly baked for our guest."


    As Samantha heard these words, her eyes lit up with joy. With a light bow, she backtracked and left the room, slowly closing the door behind her to not create a ruckus.


    "Now then Sofia, how are you feeling today?"


    "I am rather well Miss Emma, thank you for asking."


    "What about your sleeping habits? I am aware that you were not able to sleep properly for the last two weeks. Has the pain subsided? Were you able to sleep yesterday? I am rather worried about your well-being Sofia. If there is anything I can do for you, please, let me know. Worrying while being in the seventh month of pregnancy will put a strain on the child you bear. If you need to talk to someone or need advice, then I shall provide."


    Sofia shook her head without letting the smile leave her face. She knew very well that Emma was alluding to her husband''s death. Her face had turned pale when the news was delivered, so much that she would not be able to eat for days and have adequate rest during nights. The entire world had collapsed on her. She was alone and miserable, but now was not the time to think about or dwell on it. Sofia made a gulp and calmly but firmly replied to Emma, who awaited a response.


    "Thank you for asking, high priestess. I have slept rather well ever since the day before yesterday. My sleeping habits have improved and despite me still being rather sad due to the news that was presented to me a few weeks back, I still am feeling fine. I understand you being concerned for my well-being; however, I assure you that I am willing to move on for the sake of the child that I carry." (Sofia)This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Emma seemed to be relieved. She was about to make a statement, however just as the words were about to leave her mouth, Samantha entered the room and placed a tray on the table. With a light bow, she turned around and left the room.


    "Well then, how about we have some tea, Mrs. Sofia? The nuns have baked the raspberry cake this morning specifically for you. Your husband was known in this village, and everyone is grateful for the various deeds he had committed," said Emma in an attempt to switch the topic and ease off the tension.


    "I sincerely thank you and everyone in this monastery for showering me with nothing but kindness," replied Sofia, moving her trembling hands towards the cup and barely managing to drink the liquid.


    Sofia needed it. The entire world had collapsed on her upon receiving the grave news of her husband''s death. She had suspicions and was willing to investigate it if not for her given circumstances. At that moment, there was not much she could do. However, she did make a vow that if a particular individual''s involvement were confirmed, the revenge would be taken in full.


    -------------------------------------------------


    Two months had passed by rather quickly. It was early in the morning. The sun had not risen yet. Sofia was laying on the bed screaming in pain. The nuns and priestesses were surrounding her, calming her down and helping with the delivery.


    After the process was complete, Sofia''s mind went blank for a moment. As she recovered, she was greeted with loud cheers and applauds.


    "Congratulations Sofia, you are now officially a mother," said one of the nuns cheerfully.


    Sofia started crying. Those were the happiest tears she had ever shed in her life. Overcome with joy she inquired about her newborn''s gender.


    "Sofia, we are happy to tell you that your child is a girl. We have taken her away to the next room to ensure that everything is fine. She already cried, which indicates her being able to breathe; therefore we are just going to check her mana well and her affinities towards different schools of magic." (A nun)


    "But are the affinities not checked when your puberty normally starts?"


    "Indeed. However, some children tend to show their affinities at a younger age. Therefore, they are always checked."


    As the holy sister finished her sentence, a more familiar face entered the room. It was Emma and behind her was Samantha.


    "Congratulations on becoming mother Sofia. I wholeheartedly am happy for you and your newborn."


    "Thank you. Emma, may I please hold my child?" replied Sofia with a smile.


    Emma froze. She quickly glanced at the child that Samantha was holding. Something was wrong. Her expression showed it. It was an expression of confusion and surprise.


    Sofia picked up the disturbed look on her face and got nervous.


    "What is wrong? Is my baby all right? What happened?" She started to tear up.


    "No, no. Relax Sofia. Your child is fine. Its a rather healthy daughter. Her skin is a bit pale, but that is not what concerns me...." Said Emma.


    Sofia threw a cold glance at the high priestess.


    "What is wrong? Tell me! I have a right to know!"


    "It is... well. Sofia, you are a half-elf, right?"


    "Yes, what of it?"


    "And your husband, Duncan, was a human correct?"


    Sofia was confused.


    "Yes."


    "Well, you see... when we took the child to the next room to check her affinities and measure her mana well, there were three odd things we noticed. The first is that the child has unmeasurable mana well. To be more precise, she does not seem to have physical mana well. Secondly, she has no affinities whatsoever. Those will show during puberty when she reaches her 13th birthday, so this is not such a big deal. However, the first condition is what makes it odd...." As she was about to state the third oddity, Sofia cut in the sentence with an odd glance. Through her eyes, Emma could tell that she was scared.


    "But if she has no mana well... How is she alive? She is alive, right?" (Sofia)


    "Yes, she is alive and well. Do not worry about that. I am assuming that she has the mana well statistic hidden and that it will reveal during her puberty. However, there is one more oddity that I need to address Sofia. But, before I speak, swear on the grave of your husband that you will answer truthfully and won''t lie to me!"


    Sofia was confused. She did not know what to think, for the high priestess spoke in a demanding and judging tone. There was nothing she had to lie about, so she gave a slight nod.


    Emma sighed.


    "Your child... is, like you, an elf. What is odd, however, is that she is pure-blood."


    Unable to reply, Sofia gave the priestess a confused look. How was this possible? Her husband was a human, and she was a half-elf. It was impossible. No, there must have been some explanation, but for now, she just wanted to hold her daughter.


    "I... do not know what to say... right now I feel rather dizzy and tired. I beg you, please, allow me to hold my daughter for now."


    "Yes, I understand. Very well. Samantha, please hand over the child to her mother. Also, please show her how to breastfeed her newborn," ordered Emma.


    "Understood."


    As she said this, she handed over the newborn child to her righteous mother. Sofia took her daughter and gently kissed her. Pure-blood or not, she was her daughter and right now, at this moment, there was no greater joy for her than that.


    After hearing Samantha''s instructions, she carefully placed her baby in her arms and began breastfeeding her. As she did so, Emma went on with her final statement.


    "Sofia, there are a lot of unknowns, but I am sure that everything will be revealed to us in due time. Right now there is no reason to rush it. I witnessed you giving birth, and I can assure you that there is no mistaking it. The child belongs to you. She was born from your own body, from your womb. That said, I should let you rest. Before I leave though, may I ask what will the name of this child be?"


    Sofia looked at her daughter and back at Emma. With a grin on her face, she pronounced Alviona.


    "Alviona. The name of my daughter shall be Alviona."

 Chapter 2 - Complications

    *Clack, clack, clack*


    *Knock Knock*


    I am awake. Wait, who am I?


    "Come in," said a gentle and soft voice from nearby.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick*


    "Good morning Mrs. Sofia, I have brought you breakfast," said a voice that seemed to be somewhat distant.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick*


    Who is Sofia?


    "Thank you," replied a voice, that probably belonged to Sofia.


    *Clack, Clack, Clack*


    The sound seemed to get louder and louder with every *Clack.*


    "Mrs. Sofia, do you mind if I play with your daughter for a few minutes?" The voice that was distant less than a few moments ago was now somewhat close.


    What is a daughter?


    "Sure thing, go ahead" answered a gentle voice.


    Odd. I feel like someone is touching me.


    *Tickle tickle*


    Oh, what a pleasant sensation. Somehow, it is somewhat relaxing. I want to smile. Smile? What does this mean?


    *Chuckle*


    "This is too funny. Mrs. Sofia, Alviona is adorable. Look at her, she is making such a happy face" said the nearby voice.


    Who is Alviona? What is going on? I feel a sudden pressure, and now I feel weightless. This is rather fun. Fun? I do not know, but this is exciting. I want to smile again, despite not quite knowing what the meaning of this word is. Somehow, it feels natural.


    *Soft Giggle*


    All this confusion and excitement had gotten me a little bit hungry. I do not understand this odd feeling, but I feel like I need to let someone know of my needs.


    *Child''s cry*


    "Oh my, did she soil herself?" asked a worried voice that seemed to giggle a few seconds ago.


    "Let me check... Ah, no she did not. It appears that she might be hungry. Well, in that case, I shall hand her over to you, Mrs. Sofia" as she said this, she gently moved the child towards her mother.


    The mother graciously accepted her daughter. She gave a light kiss on her forehead.


    "I love you Alviona," she said.


    So warm. So soothing. So comforting. I see... The one they keep addressing as Alviona is me. Without quite knowing why I can tell that this is my mother. Somehow, I feel safe and secure around her.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick*


    I can feel my mother moving me closer to her. I bump into something soft and instinctively start to look for an object. As I find it, I can feel a sweet liquid flowing through and into my body. It is rejuvenating; however, I soon get tired and fall asleep.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------


    A full year had passed since Alviona was born. On her 1st birthday priestess, Emma had gifted Sofia 5 silver and 23 copper coins.


    A week after, she and her daughter were released from the monastery. She headed towards a small house, which belonged to her deceased husband.


    The next day, after leaving Alviona with the nuns to do some errands, Sofia was approached by an old man. Judging by his clothes, the man was a sort of nobility. Two soldiers dressed in leather armor accompanied him.


    "Good afternoon Sofia."


    While this man possessed a title of nobility, his greeting tone implied that he was up to something malicious.


    "Good day to you, your lordship. What business have you with me today?"


    She knew this noble very well. It was Jemin, and he was the owner of this village, a stout man with short legs, blue eyes, a wrinkled face, small nose, thick brows, and almost bold head. Perhaps if this man had a beard, he would look more attractive. But as presented, it was a rather unpleasant portrait.


    The reason why this person posed a threat to Sofia, was due to his lust for her. She had refused all of his gifts and had turned down all of his proposals. On top of that, she fell in love and got married to a local guard named Duncan. After less than a year, the woman had gotten pregnant. Quite unfortunately, the war had broken out throughout the country resulting in a shortage of food, high unemployment, and higher taxes. It was a disaster, but in this village, there was plenty of work.


    The name of this place was H''ulm. It was a village located west of the major city named Haffel. Despite it being rather small, H''ulm was one of those villages built around vast flora and fauna. Various medical herbs were found in the forests that surrounded it, but this also meant that vicious beasts were lurking around every corner. For this reason, Jemin received a significant sponsorship from his majesty in forms of workforce and gold to distribute wages. The village was well protected, and so were the roads for the caravans. Duncan had been sent on an errand with a platoon of 5, to investigate a disturbance caused by wolves sighted on the supply lines. According to the report that Sofia was given, an ogre had awaited them. They were ill-prepared and had soon become nutrients for the beast. The widow found this situation rather odd. She suspected the man in front of her being the cause of her husband''s death, but without proper evidence her accusations were groundless.


    "Nothing special Sofia. It had come to my attention that you had a daughter born. I came here to congratulate you."


    "Your words are very noble your lordship. I humbly thank you for your kind words."


    The man moved his hand towards his chin, thought for a moment and let out a small laugh.


    "Is that so? Well, where might your daughter be? I am curious for I am supposed to be acquainted with the residents of my land, should I not?"


    "I am afraid she is at the monastery right now good lord," said Sofia coldly.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "I see, I see. Well, perhaps it is for the best" said Jemin, while taking out a folded letter that bore his seal and the symbol of his majesty. He handed it over to Sofia.


    "What is the meaning of this?" asked Sofia whose her fierce eyes and voice displayed hostility.


    "Well, why don''t you read it my darling? Have you heard of the war starting to spread? Tax rates have risen by full 13%. We are at a 40% tax rate right now my dear. I am taking drastic measures to ensure that the residents have work in these desperate times of need. However, I cannot accommodate everyone."


    This situation was absurd. Such a high tax rate for a small village? How would they even trade with caravans? On average, they made about ninety copper for three day''s labor. Take away the 40% tax on it, and you would only be left with 54 copper coins. With war around the corner, the demand for the healing herbs have gone up, but these goods would not be sold at their regular prices now. By the decree of his majesty, the law ordered villagers to give out charity in any way possible. The village of H''ulm that was the biggest supplier of medical herbs would be walloped, and most likely half of the gathered goods would be given away as the mentioned "Charity."


    The woman was in turmoil. However, there was still a glimmer of hope even in this mess. The best scenario for everyone would be if the war did not last long. Such a situation was likely, for the royal kingdom had many talented commanders under their wing. The worst-case scenario was that Sofia would have to reduce the number of provisions her household consumed after her daughter started growing up. For now, she was thinking of working day and night with a little rest in-between, while giving Alviona to the care of the Monastery. It was the best course of action.


    "It is rather saddening your lordship, but I am sure that somehow we will..." The noble waved his hand indicating that she should stop. "Were you going to say survive?" asked Jemin in an amused voice.


    "What... do you mean?" asked Sofia with a confused expression. The situation she was in did not look good.


    "Well, you see Sofia... for the last year, during your labor, you had not worked at all. You were under the safety of the priestess Emma. But, you have not paid a single tax yet throughout this time. Your husband is no longer here, so at this moment your main source of income is gone. I was worried about the well-being of our country. It is, after all, my duty to take care of the needs of my settlers. Nobody was given special treatment, and everyone had to pay up. Why is it then, that you have not?" (Jemin)


    Sofia was mad. This idiot was demanding the impossible.


    "Please, your lordship. You clearly must understand that it would physically not be possible for me to work while being pregnant without hurting or even killing the child. I beg of you to come to reason" said Sofia with a calm, yet a pleading voice.


    "Worry not. I already have. You are forgiven Sofia."


    I do not believe you even for a single moment, you filthy pig! Thought Sofia, her blood boiling from anger.


    "But, his majesty had demanded taxes being collected in full, so what I have decided on is to seize your husband''s property. He no longer is alive and in service, so this is technically the government''s property now."


    After hearing this, Sofia fell into despair, panicked, and collapsed. As she dropped to her knees, tears started to pour from the woman''s face. The heartless man watched the girl cry, not forgetting to seize the opportunity to put his hand on her shoulders.


    "I will not propose to you any more Sofia. You have turned me down for far too long, but if you wish, I can still help you."


    "And what, I may ask, is the price for this help your lordship?" Asked Sofia sternly and with spite.


    The man licked his lips and revealed an evil grin.


    "Become my slave," said Jemin in a sadistic way.


    "Bastard!" She screamed. "You are truly a sadist! You cannot capture my heart, and you try to ruin my life, take away my house and create misery for me. And all of this to force me into becoming a slave? Tell me Jemin; you killed my husband did you not?" She asked in anger but ended up getting kicked in the gut by the noble, causing her to cough out blood. Tears were welling up in her eyes.


    "How dare you accuse me of such thing, woman? Know your place you piece of filth!" Jemin screamed back at Sofia. "And what if I did? So what? His life is worthless. Soldiers are disposable. You were foolish to have married him, but he was stupid for having crossed my way. My subordinates should know what their master wants. They should know who pays them."


    Sofia''s mind went blank for a brief moment. This man in front of him had just confessed that he murdered her husband due to his lust and selfishness. She hated him. Utter rage was now flowing through her brain. Her blood was pumping.


    "I.WILL.KilL.YoUuuuUU!!!!! I WILL KILL YOU!" screamed Sofia. In a blink, she was up from her knees, biting and scratching the noble, trying to gauge his eyes out.


    Jemin''s guards quickly reacted to this act and separated the two. Seeing that she was not giving in, they hit her in the gut once more. As a result, Sofia collapsed on the ground, paralyzed and unable to get up.


    "Well, well, well. It appears that you have utterly gone out of your mind now, Sofia. Give me one reason to not execute you right here, on the spot. Well, be grateful for I shall spare your life. I am not a merciless person. I just thought of a game, one that will test your survival skills". Jemin took out a pouch and dropped it on the ground. "This pouch here contains four gold and 50 silver coins. From this moment on, you are banished from this village and are not allowed to return. You shall become a beggar. How long will you be able to support that child of yours? The entire country is in a state of war right now. Unemployment is high. So take this and leave. It is my mercy to you. After experiencing what despair truly is, perhaps you shall smarten up and crawl back to me. When you do, both you and your child will be my slaves. If you were to refuse my offer, death would find its way towards you. It would be a rather miserable way to perish, but at least it would put my mind to rest. Now, begone! You have two hours to leave this village."


    Unable to talk back, due to her mind being filled with the realization of what she had just done, she silently cursed herself. Sofia had just condemned herself and more importantly, her daughter to the worst possible fate.

 Chapter 3 - Haven denied

    On the outskirts of the city called Haffel, walked a woman dressed in a brown robe. In her hands, she carried a small child who was wrapped in a warm blanket.


    "We are almost there" she whispered to herself.


    "Alviona, no matter what fate awaits me, I will ensure that you grow up and have a future. I swear my life on this" vowed Sofia to her daughter.


    It has been three days since noble Jemin had banished Sofia from the village. She had been on the road ever since. Priestess Emma was somewhat surprised to hear what had happened and told Sofia that she would investigate this; however, as it were right now, there was not much either party could do. And so she walked, towards the nearest city where some degree of safety would be assured.


    As Sofia approached the city, the first sight she witnessed was the high density of soldiers leaving the gates. They were well-armed. As they marched, it felt as if the ground was shaking. If she was to guess, it was a battalion made of 500-600 troops. At the rear, they were escorted by a mounted knight, who was probably their commander. They moved rather slowly, in neat and narrow rows.


    Sofia moved to the side to not hinder them. The last thing she needed was instant execution.


    "I pray, that the war will not drag out" she whispered. After the soldiers moved out of the view, she was finally able to approach the city gates.


    A tall guard stood by the gate. While his face was concealed with a plated helmet, judging by the way the armor was crafted, it was a male. As the man noticed Sofia approach, he instinctively let his hand go towards his blade. Without unsheathing it, he asked the woman as to who she was and what business she had in the city.


    Sofia did not know what to answer.Should I tell this man of my exile?She thought, but it was too risky. What if Jemin had sent a forewarning not to let her into the city? It was quite a possibility.


    "Well then, woman. Have you swallowed your tongue? Are you mute? I shall ask again. What business have you in the city?" asked the guard, who seemed to be losing patience. The man finally got fed up. Within seconds, Sofia saw him move his gauntlet into the air, open his hands and cast magic [Identity]. Since she was registered inside the Royal Kingdom of Damas, the spell was cast instantly, and everything about her was revealed.


    "Sofia Donward?" asked the guard.


    A chill ran down her spine.


    "Yes," she replied.


    "Half-elf?"


    "Yes"


    "Age: 22?"


    Sofia nodded.


    "Married to Duncan Donward? The captain of the village of H''ulm?" asked the guard with a different tone than from before. This time, his voice was showing some degree of respect to the woman, but more importantly towards her deceased husband.


    "How fares Mr. Duncan?" asked the guard in a more polite way, while simultaneously lowering his guard. The hand that was touching the sheath of his sword was no longer there. He looked at Sofia and the daughter she carried, who was wrapped in blankets. "Is that your child?" he asked, to which the woman nodded.


    "Do you know of my husband?" asked Sofia in a soft and curious voice.


    "Duncan Donward? Bite my ass! Yes, I do. A fine gentleman. Great captain and a fine comrade" the guard chuckled. He moved his hand towards his beard and began gently stroking it. Not even a second later, he burst out into laughter.


    Sofia''s face turned pale. Without even realizing, she burst into tears.


    The guard, understanding that something might have happened, gently patted her on the shoulders.


    "He is dead," said Sofia, still sobbing.


    "What?! How could this be? What happened madame?" asked the guard in a confused voice. He removed his helmet, revealing his blue eyes and a rather gentle face with thin brows and short blue hair. His face harbored disbelief that the man he had served alongside had passed away. Once Sofia had told him all the details of his death, leaving out Jemin''s involvement, the man stood with his mouth agape.


    "Is... Is that so?" he said, shocked.


    "Sadly yes" replied Sofia. "Now then, may I please enter the city?" she asked hurriedly.


    The guard shook his head.


    "Madame, I am afraid to say this, but this is not the best city to enter currently. On the contrary, if I were you, I would run away. As far as possible. There is a forest in the near vicinity known as the Great Javl. Go there. Hide. You and your daughter will be most safe there" said the guard with a firm yet a sad voice.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "This is absurd? What are you talking about? Why?! Why would I go to a forest? In a place that is filled with nothing but beasts? Or perhaps bandits? Perhaps both? How would I raise a child in the wilderness? Are you insane?" asked Sofia coldly. She could not believe that a city guard was telling her to leave the haven available. She walked for three days straight without any food. Of course, she had made sure to purchase provision that would last for at least two years with the gold and silver amassed from the nuns and Jemin. Those items were safely stored in her magical bag. However, she was not about to turn around and doom herself any further than she already had. Plus, she had a responsibility - her daughter.


    "Madame... I understand your worries, but please, hear me out. Allow me to explain the current situation". The guard was trying to make reason. His voice expressed fear. Seeing that he had the woman''s attention, he gulped.


    *Sigh*


    "Very well. Allow me to start from the very beginning. First of all, this is the city of Haffel a major city that supplies the rest of the Royal Kingdom of Damas. As you may or may not know, this is the trading hub, where most caravans pass through to do business. As such, it holds strategic importance to the rest of the kingdom, for we supply it with provisions such as fish from the harbor city of Na''ul, healing herbs and grain from the village of H''ulm..." he paused and extended his palm. As he did, a map appeared in his hand.


    "I do not understand..." said Sofia coldly. She was very confused.This idiot is lecturing me with the obvious she told herself; however, she still needed to understand why the guard made such a drastic statement.


    "Take a good look here ma''am. This circle is the perimeter of this city" he said while pointing at the location. "The forest is located just Northeast from here. Getting into the forest is easy, getting out is troublesome, unless you are a hunter and have an experience. I can tell by your muscle build and by the marks on your hand, that you are an archer. A pretty good one too" he said while nodding in an appraisal.


    "Enough with this nonsense!" yelled Sofia at the guard with such force, that he was pushed a-back. "You do not make sense! You are telling me to run away even further than I currently have. Are you an imbecile? Are you blind? Do you not see that I carry a child? Are you telling me to survive inside a forest?! With a daughter of mine, who is only one-year-old? How, if may I ask, will I even protect her? What will I do for shelter? What if an illness strikes her or me? There are too many unknowns. Too many variables. Let me into the city this instant!" continued Sofia in an icy and angry manner. Her eyes were fierce, like that of a vicious predator, that was protecting its offspring.


    The guard could feel it. He could feel, that this woman was not ordinary. If she did not have a child, she would be convicted to the army right away. They needed soldiers as strong-willed and as skilled as her. However, he thought for a moment. As he did, his entire body started to produce an immense amount of sweat. He grabbed his flask, drank what seemed to be water and continued speaking to Sofia.


    "Mrs. Sofia, please, I beg of you! Let me finish! If you go into this city right now, only butchery, misery and death await you." his voice started trembling filled with fear and terror. It was not an act. Sofia could tell that this man was dead serious. She had no clue as to what was going on, but something was amiss.


    The guard looked at the child that Sofia carried. For a brief moment, he went pale. After recovering, his eyes turned to Sofia. He gulped down the water flask one more time and continued his explanation.


    "Madame, I understand that you are confused. You have all the right in the world to be. But let me state this right here, right now" he gulped one more time; "we are surrounded. The enemy is less than a week away from Haffel, and they are out for blood. According to the intelligence we managed to scrap, they plan to sac this entire city. In other words, civilian or a troop, all of them will be slain on the spot. As an emergency measure, the city has gone into a shut-down state. His Majesty has sent over seven battalions of his finest warriors in defense of the city, but with the blockade happening by the Vluver River, they will not make it in time to ambush the enemies and halt their advance" he said this with disappointed and saddened tone. "Moreover, you have already seen the battalion leave this city. They are heading towards H''ulm to ensure that the supply of healing herbs is secured. We have men amassed in preparation for the siege. However, the most we can fight out will be roughly one week". The guard shook his head in despair.


    "..." Sofia was speechless. It would appear, that fate had once again condemned her and Alviona. She did not know what to do. What could she do? Without even realizing, she bit her lip so strong, that she started bleeding. "How many days to get to the forest? And why that forest in particular?"


    "Well," said the guard, "There is a lake in Great Javl, that is said to cure the wounds of those who bathe in it. Normally the forest is used as the rite of ascension for druids and healers alike. As it is sacred ground, even our enemies would not go out of their way to taint it with blood. Besides, it is rumored to be guarded by an earth golem, which can decimate an entire legion. Upsetting such creature is not what any mortal would dare. Sadly, it is at least two weeks away on foot, however; I do owe your husband a lot. Duncan had saved my life multiple times. For that, he has earned my uttermost respect. We have a scout leaving for reconnaissance in a few moments. He is to gather intelligence on the enemy movements from the rear. He is very skilled at [Tracking] and is an expert at a detecting enemy presence. I shall summon you a steed which will disappear right after your destination is reached" he said punching his chest in a show of respect. "Oi, you there! Jim! I have a special order for you!"


    "Sir!" replied the man, who was being addressed. The guard walked towards the mounted man and spoke to him in a lowered voice, privately. He pointed towards Sofia once. As he was done, he approached Sofia again and asked her to stand back a little. When the woman complied, he took out a small, white crystal from his pouch and crushed it in his gauntlet. He quickly chanted something, and right after a few moments delay, a blue pentagram appeared on the ground, followed by a horse materializing out of thin air. It was no ordinary steed. It possessed higher stamina and was less prone to tire quickly from the journey.


    "Well then, one last thing." The guard stepped back and chanted a [Windrunner''s blessing] on the two steeds that were in front of him. "This ought to do it! You should be able to reach the forest within six days. As for you Jim, your orders are as instructed. Alright, you two! Hit the road! And may the deities smile over you!".


    Sofia had just realized that this man whom she had spoken ill of, was no mere city guard. With regret flooding her head, she asked him for his name, but he did not respond. Instead, he waved goodbye and the moment he did, Sofia, Alviona and an unknown rider were already galloping at their full speed. In fear of turning her head, she silently prayed for this man''s well-being and more importantly, for her and her daughter''s safety.

 Chapter 4 - A well-deserved rest

    *Gallop, Gallop*


    The dusk was approaching. It had been a full day since Sofia, and the assigned companion have been galloping towards their respective destinations. Sofia attempted to slow down; not hearing the rhythmed galloping that the masked rider was accustomed to, he looked back to check on the woman.


    "What is wrong ma''am?" he asked, without giving any expression whatsoever.


    "Nothing. It''s just getting dark, and I need to feed my baby soon" she replied.


    "Understood. In that case, let us camp out for the night. I shall set up a defensive perimeter and take watch" said the rider with a firm and a subtle tone.


    Sofia thanked the man, to which the rider simply gave a slight nod. She was thankful for finally having an ability to lay down and rest. While Alviona was consistently fed, she had never gotten the luxury to recover, and as a result, she was exhausted both physically and mentally from the developments of the last four days.


    "Good sir, may I inquire of your name?" asked Sofia in a gentle and low voice. She had not paid attention earlier when his commander addressed him.


    The guard shook his head.


    "No, you may not," he replied politely. "I am on a mission of the utmost importance. I am a spy. I understand that you harbor no ill intentions and that my commander would not tell me to accompany you on this short journey of ours for no reason. That said, however, I have no intentions of revealing my identity even if you are an ally," he continued. The unknown rider dismounted from his steed and gently patted it on the head; he then removed the backpack from his back and opened it. The man took out an apple from the bag and unsheathed a small dagger from his belt; after which he cut the apple in half and further sliced it into smaller pieces. He gave the small sliced apples to his steed, which gently accepted it. The other half was given to Sofia.


    "Please eat it. I do not want it to rot". Seeing that Sofia accepted it, the man went forward to set up a small camp for the night. It was a rather cold night, but neither party members were surprised, for it was the middle of November. As the man finished setting up the camp, he took out a warm blanket and gave it to Sofia. "By the way, for the time being, you may call me Vix" he mumbled.


    "Thank you for your kindness, Vix. Would you be able to help me dismount?"


    The man nodded and did as was asked.


    "Thank you again" chuckled Sofia, slightly blushing.


    "You are most welcome" replied the rider. He looked at her and then at the child. Out of pure curiosity, he asked her as to what she was going to feed her daughter.


    "Oh... well, mostly I breastfeed her. She is 1-year old now and should be growing out of it, so as a rule I also feed her some minced oats and sometimes, half of the hard-boiled egg" said Sofia with a gentle tone. She patted Alviona on her head. It was a rather exciting sight, for the little one had been asleep for the entire day. She gently landed a kiss on her head and woke her up.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock*


    Ahh! What a pleasant sensation. It must be my mommy waking me up.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock*


    The last time I was awake, my mother carried me towards a city. She kept making me a promise that everything would be all right. However, I cannot quite comprehend what the meaning behind the words was; after all, everything, as is right now, is all right! So warm, so comforting.


    "Well, that is rather interesting to hear. I apologize for asking this, but I was curious since I will have a newborn coming soon as well. My wife is already at her 3rd month" told Vix to Sofia.


    For Alviona, this voice was new. She was now 1-year old so she could actually move her head, turn her body and lightly crawl. With curiosity overflowing her, she looked towards the direction of the unfamiliar voice and saw a masked man. The second she witnessed his build, posture and the various weapons and belts she was unaccustomed to, she began weeping loudly.


    This person is scary! Mommy, you must be careful! Danger! I need to let her known of the threat, thought Alviona as her cry intensified.


    *Tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock*


    Vix got confused. The child just stared at him, and she started crying. Am I this scary? He thought to himself, but thinking about his attire, he shrugged. As Sofia saw this, she burst out into loud laughter.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Now, now Alviona. He is not that scary. Calm down my darling. See? Mommy is here. Everything is ok" as she said this, Sofia turned Alviona around and patted her on her head. With her index finger, she lightly touched her nose and started tickling her daughter. Not even a second after her actions, the child immediately seized her cry and instead, started grinning at her mother and making funny noises.


    Well, I have seen many children in my entire life, but this one does not resemble any of them thought Vix. The truth was that he had never heard of children so little being this obedient. Typically they were loud and hard to take care of. At least that is what he thought and had heard from his many friends; and this caused him to worry, considering he would soon be a father. Seeing this couple, however, his mind began to ease up a little.


    "All right," said Vix. "It is time for you ladies to go to sleep. I shall take a watch. If anything happens, I will wake you up". As he finished his sentence, he removed a curved bow from the steed and dug out a lantern frame from his backpack. He then chanted something, and a small fire appeared in his hand, which he moved inside the lantern and then closed it. "This ought to be enough light, without giving ourselves out." With bow and lantern in his hands, he moved to a nearby rock and sat down.


    Sofia thanked the man. She was grateful to finally lay down and sleep for a bit. While not feeling fully secure, and being unsure of the future was frustrating for her, rest was still a necessity. She needed the stamina to take care of and to protect Alviona, so she accepted this moment of relief. Clutching Alviona tightly and kissing her once again, the two girls went to sleep.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock*


    I always keep hearing this sound. Often, it does not bother me. I can guess where the sound is coming from, but I can never find it. I try to reach out for it, and yet... to no avail. I am so curious as to what it is. It is always going in rhythm. I love learning things! It is too much fun! I am always here, with mommy and she keeps teaching me things. Try to say "mom," she tells me, and I try to imitate her, but she keeps laughing at me. Some time ago, I learned how to crawl. It was entertaining! Oh, I am getting tired again. For some reason, I can sleep for an extended amount of time. My inner senses tell me that resting is important. Sleep is good. Eating is even better! I love food. Mommy keeps feeding me new things called "hardboiled eggs" and "crushed oats." It tastes good but is a little bit harder to swallow. Ah! Mommy tells me to go to sleep. I agree with her. I am exhausted. What an interesting day. I can tell that she is also tired. It is ok! Sleep mommy, for you, are the best of the best!


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock*


    On the next morning, Sofia awoke feeling more energetic than ever before. She looked at Alviona and giggled while checking whether or not she had soiled herself; but once again, she was clean.What an odd child she thought to herself. The fact was that her daughter never urinated and or produced excrements. Back at the monastery, the nuns had noticed it, and priestess Emma was called urgently. However, there was nothing they could do. The child merely devoured food and never showed any signs of needing to relieve herself. No matter how much Sofia got used to it, this was still very strange.Ah well, she must have an appetite and probably digests everything so she can grow or maybe it is related to her mana well? Then again, priestess Emma had said that Alviona did not have physical mana well, I suppose it is all right for now, she kept telling herself over and over. However, the fact was, that Alviona was not an ordinary child.


    "Oi, you are awake. Good. Did you sleep well?" asked Vix, who was preparing food.


    "Yes, I did. Thank you very much" replied Sofia.


    "All good. Well then, would you like breakfast perhaps?" The man pointed at the kettle that started to release steam.


    "Vix... may I ask where that kettle came from? I understand that magic pouches can store many items and all but... this is a bit too much" said Sofia, her voice filled with curiosity.


    "Well, I drink tea every day to keep my calm. It relieves stress from my muscles and lets me focus. On top of that, it helps with my mana flow. Since I am a spy, and I often use a skill called [Tracking], it is rather exhausting. It is my duty and an obligation to ensure that my body is at its best so that I can fulfill my duty," he replied, with a firm voice. "As for the kettle itself, I always carry a magical bag," he shrugged.


    After having breakfast, Sofia fed Alviona; all the while Vix took down the camp. The rider helped Sofia with mounting and soon they set out for their second day of the journey; galloping with a [windrunner''s blessing] which was still in effect.


    The second and third day were no different from the first. Occasionally, they would stop to get Alviona fed, but that was all. The trip was disturbingly quiet. Too quiet. However, this was to be expected due to the war. They were moving away from the road; therefore most villages in-between the city and the forest were skipped.


    On the fourth day, the forest became visible. When Sofia looked around, she could not help but stare in awe. Tall, bulky trees that seemed to reach out to the sky, long branches with flower blossoms, blue mana butterflies flying around and colorful flowers scattered all over the landscape. This sight was rather breathtaking.


    "It appears that the time has come for us to part our ways," said Vix, forcing Sofia to snap out of the moment and come back to reality.


    "Thank you, Vix. However, I am uncertain as to what am I supposed to do here... Where do I seek the refuge?" asked Sofia was a concerned voice.


    "Worry not madame" replied Vix. "Many healers visit that place throughout the entire year to acquire the Druid class. It is not easy to obtain, and I know from a colleague of mine that an Elf is living there who is both a witch and a druid. If I remember it right, she lives deep inside the forest and sells [Transformation] potions... Although, I am aware that she also charges a lot for them... In truth, I have heard that many nobles have been skinned down to the penny for those," said Vix with a slightly scared voice. Imagining wealthiest nobles going bankrupt for a few potions was indeed scary.


    With waving a good-bye, the rider turned around and started galloping away. As for Sofia, she continued her journey towards the forest.

 Chapter 5 - An unusual meeting

    "I am sleepy" mumbled a bored voice.


    "But you just woke up" came a reply.


    "I do not care! I am sleepy" mumbled the voice, which appeared to be even more bored than before.


    "And may I ask, what does not bore you in this world my child?" asked a voice in an amused and a gentle tone.


    "Well..." the person whose face was not visible due to the darkness of the room, fell into deep thought. "I do not know; perhaps adventuring?" said the voice, which was too soft to belong to a male.


    "You? Adventuring? With your attitude? I do not think so Anita" said the voice in a mocking way.


    "Bug off, you ancient luggage" murmured Anita while trying to hang on to the blanket, as if she had been residing in the Northern part of Dedrillon, living as Nords in harsh cold conditions. Just the dread of getting out of her bed was enough to make the skin crawl.


    "What if I was to tell you, that we might have a new contestant willing to undertake the class of a druid?" said the voice in a teasing manner.


    The moment Anita heard this, she sprang out of bed, quickly opening the curtains and letting light inside her bedroom. The figure that was revealed inside was nothing short of gorgeous. A young girl, probably in her late teens with subtle green eyes, rosy skin color, gentle face complexion and ecstatic expression. Her auburn colored hair was reaching all the way down to her waist. Her body figure was rather attractive with a beautiful D-Cup sized bust protruding from her chest area. Perhaps a fascinating thing about this girl was that she had cute pointy ears protruding from her head sideways, which she wiggled in excitement. Indeed, a new person willing to undertake the class of Druid, one of the hardest professions to attain. What was there not to be excited about?


    Anita quickly rushed towards her dresser and began dressing up. First, she put on bras and panties. Then she proceeded to put on a small white robe, which only went down to her knee''s length. It was a color of white, with a triangle-like golden garment covering the middle and the back areas. Anita tightened the robe with a silver belt the shape of which resembled thorns of a rose. The middle of the belt had a form of an owl''s head, with eye sockets filled with green amethyst and the beak made of ruby. She opened another part of her dresser and took out a jewelry box, from which she took out three earrings. Two were equipped on her left ear. Sadly, she had only gathered enough resources and gold to have a master-jeweler craft three of those. Not only were the stones expensive, but finding the right runes and alloy to enchant them was even harder, let alone costly. Lastly, the girl rushed towards a glass case, which had three items inside of it. The first item was a magical circlet that had the shape of a wolf. The three chains protruded from the base of the wolf, to fit the head. The wolf was of golden color, while its eyes were orange. The second item of interest was the set of pauldrons and gauntlets, that seemed to be made of ordinary metal, however for some reasons they had various little holes carved inside. The third and last item of interest was a pair of boots that, while plated, were as green as grass.


    The young girl, slowly chanted two spells - [Remove poison] and [Purify curse], after which the glass opened. Anita removed the items that seemed to float and carefully put them on. The moment she finished dressing up, her pauldron and gauntlet started radiating a light-green color, and a moment later green leaves slowly began to protrude from the various holes, finally blossoming and coating her entire shoulders and wrist areas. A beautiful green cloak seemed to appear as well, with a golden tint at the edges from the back and a darker green texture from the inside.


    "Hmm. Fully dressed, are we?" asked the voice, in a respectful way. "Your majesty truly radiates brilliance and wisdom right now," the voice added.


    The girl blushed.


    "Stop addressing me as a majesty," she said in a demanding tone. It was a title given to her, by her companion and was somewhat disturbing for Anita, who refused to be associated with any form of nobility.


    "I can never stop doing this. Teasing you is indeed a true pleasure" replied the voice, who had finally shown its form. A magnificent white wolf, approximately 5''7 tall, with a blue crystal embedded in the middle of its forehead.


    While it was a magnificent sight, people would have begged for mercy if such a beast was present in front of them. The girl was not surprised by its appearance. On the contrary, she expected it to manifest into a wolf; after all, this was the spirit beast summonable only by the circlet that Anita currently had on her head.


    Anita deeply sighed. She truly disliked being teased. However, since it was this spirit beast, tolerating it was not such a significant burden. The name of this spirit was Piu; personally selected by the master that it served. Since it did not have a gender, Anita had picked a name that sounded somewhat cute, much to the dislike of the spirit who thought that a name such as this was too embarrassing and did not correctly reflect its status as a higher spirit. After a lot of fighting back and forth, it got amused by the girl''s dedication and unwillingness to back down. Therefore the dispute was won by Anita. In turn, she got a title that she hated with a passion.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Well then, lead the way Piu," said Anita hurriedly.


    The wolf bowed down and took a posture that allowed the girl to hop on its back. As she did, they quickly sprang out of the window and into the wilderness.


    "Where is the contestant?" asked Anita with excitement.


    "The last time I checked, she was heading towards the forest on a summoned steed. The girl seemed to be accompanied by a masked rider; however, they separated two days ago," replied Piu, without slowing down its pace. "When I checked this morning, however, she was already near the entrance. If I am not mistaken, she is heading towards your hut" he added.


    "What?!" asked Anita with a rather surprised and a worried tone. The hut she lived in, was in the center of the wilderness. Why on earth would a girl, who is undertaking a druid''s class venture out into the wilderness to find her hut? Moreover, how was she going to accomplish this? Only professional hunters or spies were able to use [Track] skill. Druids rarely - if ever, - had such an ability. Hunters would not dare to step into this forest, that was sacred ground for class change. Spies had no business here. So then the logical question that hadto be asked would be who was this girl and why was she after Anita? Another problem was that the way towards her residence was filled with various beasts. Wolves, minor goblins, Cyclops, some minor elementals such as dryads. Overall, it was a rather unsafe trip for the woman, which implied two possibilities: Either she was too stupid and overconfident of her abilities, for even Anita, it was too muchdeal withat once, or she was desperate enough to risk everything to find her.


    "Is she truly a contestant for a druidic class?" asked Anita in a slightly frustrated and dissatisfied way.


    "I am pretty positive about that. The woman carries a doll in her hand, so she must know of the requirements for the druid class, no?" asked Piu. Anita''s eyes lit up again in anticipation of what was to happen. Any doubts she had were instantly erased. A new druid, a new adventure - these were the thoughts that Anita harbored. Anita had no friends or relatives, she wished to venture outside of the forest, but could not until her mother and father would awake.


    As Piu was racing through the forest, some wolves came into view, which engaged them. Anita, not willing to waste the precious time, quickly chanted [Mass Entangle] and [Mass Paralysis]. The roots of many surrounding trees erupted from the ground, catching the wolves, after what they got paralyzed. The moment they didthe roots withdrew. The ground fixed itself as if nothing had happened, the only exception being the wolves that were stuck on the ground as if frozen solid. And so Piu and Anita continued their way towards the contestant, without even causing any fatalities within the wildlife of Javl.


    "Anita, trouble!" said Piu in an alarmed tone.


    "What is wrong?" asked Anita quickly.


    "It appears, that the contestant is in a grave danger. She was surrounded by wolves a moment ago; however, she had activated some form of magic. Since she had released mana and caused harm to the wildlife, a squad of goblins is heading towards her and judging by their formation, it is a hunting unit". As Piu finished saying these words, Anita''s face twisted in panic.


    "Hurry!"


    Goblins were a somewhat intelligent species. They were notorious for ambushing and possessed quite a commendable mana well. When grouped, they were a fearsome foe even against the most prepared adventurers.


    "How many of them are there?" asked Anita in hopes that the squad meant four or six goblins.


    "Twenty" came a reply from Piu.


    Anita''s face twisted. It lost color multiple times before returning to normal. Regaining her calm, she began thinking.


    "Piu, here is a plan. I will apply a [Windrunner''s blessing], in hopes that we reach the girl sooner than them. If we do, we grab her and retreat immediately. If the goblins reach her before us, then we are to engage in combat. We take out one or three and grab the girl. After, we zig-zag our way out; covering our foot-prints and retreating to the hut with our package. No matter what happens, we are not to stay for prolonged combat!" ordered Anita.


    Hearing this, Piu told his master, that he understood. Anita quickly applied the blessing and Piu accelerated his movement since he did not feel fatigue now.


    As they were closing in on their destination, the roar of goblins was heard and then came the sight of them preparing to assault the woman. Except, they were not moving. It was not the sight that Anita or Piu expected. It did not depict the hunters going out on a hunt for suitable prey. No, it illustrated the hunters being hunted. The woman that they had arrived to rescue was standing at some distance, with a bright blue magical bow drawn to its full strength. Perhaps the most exciting thing was that the number of arrows drawn was not one or two, but exactly twenty. Before Anita could blink, she witnessed the woman slightly bending her posture as if she was attempting to duck or rather as if she was trying to draw her body as if it were a bow. Once she got into position, a*swoosh* sound was heard, and the arrows were fired. In less than a second, the bodies of the twenty goblins had dropped dead. All bolts had hit their target - the head.


    After witnessing this, without stopping, Piu jumped into the air and landed right in front of the woman. It had its desired impact, for she had frozen in place staring at the majestic wolf. She was on alert, ready for combat. He could sense it. But for what?


    Anita quickly jumped from Piu''s back and approached the woman. Seeing that someone other than the beast was approaching her, the woman showed a face of relief; however, she still had all the intent to fight if she had to. Once Anita got close enough, only one sentence came out from her mouth - "Who the hell, are you?!"

 Chapter 6 - A condition for haven

    Sofia had finally reached her destination - the Great Forest of Javl. Just like the guard in the city of H''ulm had told her, the summoned mount had disappeared. She quickly fed Alviona and took a quick break to recover her strength and stamina. Food was essential, and fortunately, she was prepared for this. From her magical pouch, she took out a slice of bread and a tomato. She also removed the small flask attached to her belt and drank the water from it. After she was done, she got up, kissed Alviona and strapped her with the baby-strap as close to her chest as was possible.


    "I promise, that no harm shall come to you, my beloved daughter," she whispered. Seeing that Alviona was awake and giving her warm giggles and a smile, Sofia could not help but smile back. Again, she kissed her and shortly after, she activated her [Track] skill.


    The way [Tracking] worked, was that it consumed an initial portion of mana well, therefore limiting the use of other skills while it was in effect. It lasted for as long as the user would not wish to deactivate it. Since this skill caused significant fatigue, using it was rather hard. If a user was engaged in a fight and had forgotten to disable the ability, fatality due to exhaustion was most likely to occur.


    In this world, only spies excelled at using this skill to its full potential. They were most suited for it. Hunters, on the other hand, trained very hard from their early teens to be able to utilize it without straining their body too much. The reason they would want to use this skill was to be aware of the surroundings at all times and to distinguish different wild-life from each-other.


    While results were identical for everyone using it; for different professions, there were their respective criteria and ways the skill was used. For example - a spy would always be better at handling the power as opposed to a hunter. However, hunters would be able to use it even during the combat, for their senses and their combat capabilities were much higher.


    Sofia belonged to a class of its own. She was very proficient in the magic arts and had high affinity towards elemental magic, more precisely wind. While being able to utilize fire and earth magic if desired, the wind was by far her most favorite. Since she had trained in archery and had undertaken a profession of a hunter, -which she had passed, Sofia was bestowed the title of an Elemental Archer.


    When she entered the forest, she attempted to locate a mana-well that did not belong to any possible wildlife. After about an hour worth of traveling, she found only one such pattern. Based on what Vix had told her earlier, she immediately started heading towards it. As she was, Sofia had quickly picked up on the sudden shift of the wind and the unusual silence of the forest. Since everything in this world had a form of mana reserve only beasts such as wolves would cause this sort of effect, which meant that combat preparations were in order. Earlier she had noticed that the goblins were hunting some distance away, so the ruckus would undoubtedly get her ambushed, which is why she had devised a masterful plan. You see, Sofia was not just an ordinary hunter, but an expert. This woman was used to survival in such circumstances. Besides, due to the responsibility she had as a mother, she was prepared to deal with much worse adversaries, if they were to present themselves.


    Sofia quickly checked her surroundings. Judging from the information that she was retrieving from [Tracking], she knew exactly where the wolves were coming from.


    She cast a skill called [Perimeter], which produced a circle inside of her [Tracking] vision. Next, Sofia removed a magical handle from her belt, and as she did so, it responded to her mana pattern; taking the shape of a bow. It was a magical bow crafted by her when she had acquired her profession. It allowed mana to concentrate on the strings and create elemental arrows. For this occasion, the bolts were made of two elements - water and wind, which formed ice.


    As the wolves appeared and approached the circle that Sofia had marked, she quickly took a posture to draw the magical arrow and then let loose. The moment she did, it split itself into three projectiles hitting the wolves and killing them instantly.


    Just as Sofia expected, the goblins picked up on the disappearance of the mana pattern, so they started moving towards her. Right now, she was the mana beacon to the enemies, which is why she had prepared [Elemental Traps] made of the combination of fire and wind elements. The moment the enemies activated it their vision would blur out, and their lungs would be affected causing paralysis.


    Since she had already used up a lot of her mana, Sofia began getting exhausted, forcing herself to turn off the effects of the [Tracking]. In this scenario, it would prove to be of little value.


    As the goblins appeared, they decided to check on the slaughtered wolves. Since this was a hunting assembly, they would investigate corpses and pick up the scent to locate Sofia''s whereabouts. The moment they did so, the traps activated causing them to start choking and getting paralyzed.


    Sofia came from behind the trees where she awaited, with her presence masked. She quickly took a posture and then repeated the same action she did with the wolves, except this time the arrows had split into twentypieces. The strain on Sofia was enormous. However, she was willing to tolerate the pain for the safety of herself and her daughter.


    What she hadnot expected, was the appearance of a giant wolf. While it looked majestic by all means, Sofia was scared to death. She was exhausted, and her mana-well would take some time to recover, so she was very vulnerable at the moment. If anything, she was willing to push the limits and destroy the beast by blasting her powers to its full. However, the result would prove to be fatal for her. This action might kill the creature, but Alviona would die alongside her, and this was something that the mother could not permit to happen.


    She thought of many options in the precious moment she had, to come up with different strategies, but none were any good. At that moment, a young girl jumped off the wolf and approached her.


    "Who the hell are you?" she asked in a demanding tone, which forced Sofia to step back. What had just happened? Who is this girl? What is this beast? She kept asking herself.


    At least she was not dead, meaning that chances of survival still existed. She had to come to the proper terms with this woman. It was crucial. With a light gulp, she answered - "Sofia. My name is Sofia".


    "Well Sofia," replied the girl, "First and foremost, what brings you to this forest? Are you lost?!" she asked in a demanding tone.


    "No," came a simple reply.


    "Then, pray I ask, why were you looking for the residence of mine? Do you have business with me?" she continued asking. The girl appeared to be somewhat irritated and suspicious but seemed to harbor no ill.


    Sofia got confused by this question, so she merely shook her head. As the girl witnessed this, she threw her hands into the air.


    "Piu! Is she telling the truth? I am not going anywhere with this!" she stated to the wolf in a commanding voice.


    "I do not think that she would lie to you, in her current condition, Anita," came a reply from the wolf, its voice full of power.


    Anita fell into deep thought. She had to assess everything that had just happened.


    "What was the skill that you had just used?" she asked Sofia, still showing a cold expression on her face.


    "Which one do you refer to?" asked Sofia, still confused.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "The bow... What was that? How did you make twenty arrows appear? Better yet, how did you draw a bow with twenty arrows and then hit the targets flat in the head?" asked Anita while waving her hands in anger. It was tough for this elf to believe this.


    Realizing that Anita had never seen this skill, Sofia started laughing. As she did, Anita threw a cold glance at her. Coming back to reality, Sofia bowed down slightly and apologized.


    "I am truly sorry. It''s just that this ability is nothing special. Almost every hunter knows of this skill," she said with a smile.


    The moment Anita heard the word "Hunter," she burst out into tears. This action was so unexpected that even Piu was not sure what to make of it, let alone the girl in front of him.


    If any degree of threat existed in Sofia''s mind, it was for the most part - gone. She let her guard down and approached Anita. As she did, she hugged her and started to pat her on the head. Anita was baffled, yet still welcomed this action.


    *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*


    "Why are you crying child?" asked Sofia, still hugging Anita with her gentle and warm body.


    "Uwah... You... *Sob* druid, *Sob*, you.hunter... n...n... not.druid. *Sob*..." her blabbering made almost no sense. Anita''s sobbing was so intense that it felt like the forest was going to flood.


    "I do not understand," said Sofia. "Please do not cry. Calm down. It is me who is in an awkward situation here," she begged. The elf''s behavior was truly hard on the young mother for even her child, who was still an infant, did not cry this much.


    Anita was in despair. Only one fact was flowing through her mind: This woman had not come to the forest to undertake the class of a druid. It was a disaster! She had not met a single druid yet in last decade, and this had become somewhat disturbing. She was bored and did not know what to do.


    "All right," said Anita, instantly calming down and her tears disappearing as if all of this has just been a show. "You still owe me quite a lot of explanations," she told Sofia, who was still embracing her.


    Sofia had no idea of what had just happened. What did happen actually? Realizing, that she was still clutching Anita, she let go.


    "Also, why do you carry a doll with you?" asked Anita, pointing at Alviona.


    Sofia did not understand as to where she was pointing at.


    "I do not quite understand what you mean," she told Anita.


    "Do not take me for a fool! Sure, I just got a tiny bit frustrated right now, because I was very excited earlier and you telling me that you are a "Hunter" is rather disappointing! Who would not shed a tear from that?! Regardless, this doll that you have strapped on to your chest. Why do you need it, if you are not becoming a druid?" She asked Sofia coldly.


    "What?" asked Sofia in an overly defensive way.What nonsense is she spitting out, she wondered. "This is not a doll! It is my child," she replied with anger.


    "Nonsense!" came a quick reply from Anita.


    "Your child has no mana-well. Which is why I assumed that she was a doll," said Piu who had just been observing up to this point. "I am a greater spirit. Therefore, I can sense it better than anyone else in the world. It is not a living thing," he continued.


    "You are insane!" yelled Sofia at the pair. "She is a living thing! She can breathe, giggle, sleep, and eat! Dolls cannot do such things!"


    Piu and Anita looked at each other and then back at Alviona, after which they looked at Sofia.


    "Prove it!" ordered Anita.


    "What do you mean?" asked Sofia suspiciously.


    Anita approached the mother, and gently extended her hand to the child. Sofia clutched Alviona as if she was being taken away from her. She assumed her defensive stance.


    "Relax, I shall not harm her. If she truly belongs to the living, then I will be able to tell," she assured Sofia.


    "All right... but be gentle please," said Sofia who still did not believe Anita. However, she needed a place to stay at. She needed help, and she needed this person to protect her in case something was to happen. Anita was the only person living inside this forest apparently, so an ally such as this was precious.


    Anita checked the doll''s ability to observe. She waved her hand in front of its face and much to her surprise, the eyes followed the hand. Next, the girl checked the breathing patterns. Undoubtedly, it was breathing indicating that it had lungs. Lastly, she gently grabbed the child''s wrist and checked the pulse. It was there.


    Finally satisfied, she told Piu that it indeed was an actual, living and breathing child.


    Piu was surprised.


    "How is this possible?" he asked Anita, who in turn just shrugged.


    "The priestess from the village that I came from had told me that her mana-well statistic might have been hidden. However, I assure you that this child is mine and she was born from my body," told Sofia to the two individuals, who did not seem to be able to come to terms with what they had just witnessed.


    "So, what brings you to this forest? Surely there are better places to visit, especially when raising a child. No? Is she ill? Are you ill? Have you come here for healing?" asked Anita, this time with a little bit of respect and courtesy.


    "I was advised to come here by the city guard. The war has broken out in the Kingdom of Damas; therefore the city I sought refuge at was not the best place to stay, especially since the reports stated that it was going to be besieged. So, I came here instead.


    The rider I had traveled with, had told me that there is an elven woman who lives inside the forest. A pure-blood. I was hoping that I would get to meet her. Judging by the fact, that my [Tracking] skill only managed to find you, it must be that you are the mentioned elf whom I seek" stated Sofia.


    "That is incorrect," replied Anita. "The woman whom you refer to is my mother. However, she has gone into slumber due to severe exhaustion caused by a plague that occurred fifteen years ago," continued Anita in a depressed tone.


    Sofia apologized, in an attempt to ease the tension. Anita did not seem to mind it much.


    "So, a refuge. This is what you seek?" asked Anita.


    "Not permanently, but for the time being. Yes. Please, allow me to live in this forest under your protection. I swear by the life of my child that I will be of use. I shall not bother. I do not need or require any accommodations. I do not require much of the food, for I can hunt for myself. But my daughter needs a shelter. I beg of you; please take care of at least her," started Sofia to beg the elf. "She is a pure-blood, like you too. Please, show mercy at least to her," she added while starting to tear up.


    "Please, repeat your last sentence," quickly said Anita with an excited and a surprised tone.


    "... She is a pure-blood, like you. Please..." as Sofia said these words, Anita quickly lifted her hand indicating that she should stop speaking. Sofia immediately obeyed.


    "A pure-blood?" asked Anita again, to which Sofia nodded. Her ears started wiggling in excitement again. Her body began trembling. "Yes!" she screamed so loudly, that it would not be surprising if the entire forest had heard it.


    "All-right Sofia, you have a bargain! I shall allow you to live in my house alongside, your child. You must stay until she grows up, for I do want to observe her growth. Like it or not, a child without a mana-well should not exist, hidden statistic or not. Piu is a greater spirit, and it should be visible for him. My curiosity is fully aroused so, this much you owe to yourself and me. As for the compensation for sheltering you, there is only one simple condition. Your daughter absolutely must become my pupil. The moment she starts to walk and properly talk, she is to study hard, to become a fully fledged druid." As Anita finished up her sentence, she burst out into loud laughter.


    Sofia thought of the advantages and disadvantages that this girl offered her. It was a pretty good offer. If she genuinely intended something malicious, she could have disposed of me for I am weak at the moment. She could easily walk away with Alviona and let this beast deal with me,thought Sofia while assessing the situation. If she agreed, she would get shelter, and her daughter would have an opportunity to grow. She would also attain some knowledge. No, this was almost too good to be true. Without hesitation, she nodded and thanked Anita for her offer.


    Anita looked at Sofia and then at Piu. Her facial expression gave it all away. She was excited, very much so.


    "Those will be some interesting years!" she mumbled.


    "Indeed they will" replied Piu.


    After the pleasantries were done, Anita mounted Piu once again. Feeling bad for Sofia, who probably was exhausted from the developments of last few hours, she asked Piu to kneel a little and ordered the woman to mount up. Seeing that she had a hard time getting onto the wolf''s back, Anita helped her out. Once ready, the company ventured deep into the forest and pathed back to Anita''s residence.

 Chapter 7 - Not an ordinary child, part 1. Sheltered - at last

    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, Tock*


    Oh! Well, that was interesting. I saw mommy exert a lot of strength for my sake. She is indeed the best! And we met this exciting individual. When I observed her, she had a rather prominent figure, one I have not seen before. Pointy ears that wiggled. It was quite cute! When I grow up, I want those too! Wait. Cute?! What does this word mean? How do I know it? Interesting! The more I am awake, the more I learn. This sensation is indeed the best!


    *Tock, tock, tock, tick, tock, tock, Tick*


    Hmm. The rhythm has changed once again. I cannot wait to find out what this sound is! Ah. I am tired once more, and hungry too. Should I let mommy know? No. not right now. I do not want to disturb her.


    We are sitting on a big furry thing. This is rather exciting. I must stay awake, no matter what! I am curious. I want to see more.


    Mommy is tightly holding me. She is looking at that girl.


    The scenery around us is changing too rapidly. One moment we passed a small river, the next we are by the lake. Now we see a giant tree. We seem to stop here since the furry thing is slowing down.Curious, yet sleepy. I do not want to fall asleep! No! I refuse to fall asleep! I need to watch!


    "We are here," said Anita, pointing towards the giant tree. "This is my residence," she added.


    Alviona looked up a little, in order to see her mother''s expression. It showed delight and confusion at the same time.


    "Do you live under a tree?" asked Sofia awed and surprised by sight in front of her.


    "What are you talking about? Why on earth would I live under a tree? I live inside the tree," replied Anita with a hint of pride in her voice.


    Anita jumped off Piu''s back and approached the tree. What the company saw afterward, was breathtaking. The tree trunk had opened up as if it were a tunnel. Anita entered first, waving at everyone else to follow. Sofia came second, lastly followedby Piu, after which the entrance behind them had closed.


    "Welcome to my residence," said Anita to the company, while performing a courtly bow. She then clapped, and a spiral staircase rushed down from the ceiling.


    Anita''s house was very luxurious. It was built inside the ancient tree. According to Piu, it had been growing for almost fifty-eight centuries.


    Anita explained that her mother had grown fond of the forest and most importantly, of this very tree. Since she wanted to live in such place and train pupils in various arts of healing and druidic powers, she had taken residence here.


    The house was 4-story tall and despite this, it did not measure up to the real height of the actual tree since it was even taller than that. If it were to be measured, one would safely say that you could add 5-6 more floors and still have enough space for one more. They currently went up to the 3rd floor, one that housed Anita''s bedroom and armory.


    "By the way, you stated that your mother is in a slumber... may I ask as to where she is?" asked Sofia carefully, not to upset Anita.


    "Ah... currently she is on the 4th floor. Entry to that floor is prohibited though. Only I am allowed to go up there for treating her," replied Anita.


    The name of Anita''s mother was Mira, and she was the most potent druid living in Dedrillon to this date. She was almost six centuries old. The reason for her power was not due to its sheer amount of destruction, but rather due to the opposite. Mira excelled at communicating with the wild-life and her healing powers, surpassed any cleric alive. Moreover, her experience gathered throughout the long life, had only added to her druidic arts. For example, she would never use skills such as [Regeneration] on her subjects, unless she was entirely sure that internal organs were not damaged.


    Typically, clerics only cast heals to heal the wounds of the injured and let them fight again, after which, if they were lucky, they would have survived; but for the most part, they would die from exhaustion. Mira, on the other hand, focused on fully curing the injuries. She would mend bones, cure diseases and most importantly, restore the health of those she treated. While the process took a little bit longer, the outcome was that the person would be able to live a long and healthy life. The drawback, however, was that the number of people who could be treated like this was limited to about twenty to twenty-five people. Clerics, on the other hand, could [Mass Heal] up to eight hundred combatants. In other words, Mira''s healing was of better quality, but on a battlefield, she would be of no use.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, Tock*Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I can actually sense a great power coming from that very floor. But something is wrong with it. For some reasons, the way mana flows, it feels distorted. I cannot see it; however, I can feel it. It is almost like there is a clog. Wait. what does this word mean? Ah. I am drained now. I should rest. Mommy, please feed me. I am starving.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, Tock*


    As Alviona thought about this, she instinctively began to cry. Anita quickly glanced at the child, for she still believed that her eyes and senses must have been lying. And yet, there she was. A child was weeping.


    "What is wrong?" asked Anita to Sofia.


    "Oh, I am sorry my darling. You are hungry are you not? Now, now. I shall feed you," came a reply from Sofia who could not help but giggle at her weeping child. Alviona was known to do this every time she would get hungry, so the mother had gotten accustomed to this. Anita on the other hand just stared.


    "Does she only cry when she is hungry?" asked Anita politely.


    "Pretty much," came a reply from Sofia.


    "Well, what about when she needs to get changed? Does she not cry? Babies always cry for that..." said Anita, but before she could continue her dialogue, Sofia just shook her head.


    "This child...", started Sofia, "...does not soil herself. As odd as it sounds, she eats food and instantly digests everything. The nuns, back at the monastery, kept joking that this girl could probably swallow the whole world and still not be satiated," said Sofia in a quite severe tone; so much, that Anita was sure that she was not joking.


    "Impossible! She has to relieve herself at least sometimes. No? You are joking, right? There exists nothing of the living in this world, that does not poop and or urinate. Unless, you are a plant" said Anita coldly, while staring at the child from the disbelief.She must say that this is a joke! It is a joke, right?


    "That is what everyone thought in the beginning; however the fact stays as is," replied Sofia firmly. As she did, she took out the food that she had prepared from the pouch and began feeding Alviona.


    The child had ceased the weeping and instead gently*nommed* on the food that was given to her. The moment she finished eating, she instantly fell asleep. Seeing this, Anita just wiggled her ears in surprise.


    "Eeh... She just got knocked out? Just like that?" she astoundingly asked Sofia. From Anita''s point of view, it was as if the child had just wrestled with the food and gotten so dizzy and tired from losing to it, that she just fell unconscious.


    "Yep... If I were you, I would start getting used to it. She does this all the time. Hopefully, when she grows up a little, her habits change, but right now she is a pretty sleepy head" replied Sofia, while gently landing a kiss on her daughter''s forehead.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    It has already been two months and a half since Alviona started living with Anita. Much to the surprise of both - Sofia and Anita, her growth seemed to be almost rampant. For a child that was only a year and nearly three months old, she already looked like a 3-year old. She knew how to walk and make some odd gestures now. Anita had speculated, that this sudden sprout was due to Alviona sleeping for such an extended amount of time. After all, it was a common knowledge that children grew up in their sleep.


    Sofia''s regular days went by quickly as well. It usually consisted of feeding and nurturing Alviona, helping out Anita with some wild-life population control and sometimes cleaning floors up inside the residence, except for the 4th floor.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, Tock*


    Today, Alviona has been left alone. Anita and Sofia had gone out to run some errands, and the child was left in the care of the greater beast. Piu had been playing with her, for what seemed to be like an hour already, but the girl did not start to run out of energy whatsoever.


    "Indeed, a very resilient child" he mumbled.


    What does that word mean?Wondered Alviona.Ah. This is too much fun! I keep chasing Piu''s tail, but he always wiggles it in the air, and I can never reach it. Not fair! Put it down you; let me bite it!She kept thinking.


    Piu watched this occurrence in an amused way. He could not help but tease this unusual girl. After all, when was the last time he had seen and let alone played with a child?


    *Tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, Tock*


    Oh. The rhythm changed. This must mean that I am getting tired... again. These shifts seem to be occurring at a lesser pace now, but still every time the sound changes from Tock, Tick to constant Tock, I end up getting overly tired. As she was thinking this, Alviona had already fallen unconscious. At this moment, Anita and Sofia walked into the room. Seeing that Alviona was on the floor, Sofia immediately rushed to her.


    "What happened," she asked Piu.


    "Nothing. She was just playing with my tail and fell a moment ago. She must have gotten tired from chasing it and from the excitement, for she has been doing this for one full hour now," replied Piu in an amused way.


    Anita checked Alviona''s pulse and seeing that it was normal, she gently patted Sofia on her shoulder, indicating that she should not be worried.


    "Just take her to the bedroom and let her lie down for a while. She must be tired, and when she wakes up, it is most likely that she will be famished," stated Anita.


    Sofia seemed to agree with Anita, so she took her child to their bedroom. Anita was noble enough to make a separate bedroom to accommodate the two of them. Once she entered the room, she placed Alviona on the bed and lightly covered the blanket on her.


    She put her right hand on her daughter''s forehead to ensure that she did not have a fever. Seeing that everything was all right, she landed a gentle kiss on Alviona''s forehead, - an act that had become quite common by now.


    "I truly love my darling," she whispered, to which the child actually responded by giving a light smile. Noticing this, Sofia giggled and left the room in order to allow Alviona to recover.

 Chapter 8 - Not an ordinary child, part 2 - Lets go out a bit

    "This is absurd!" exclaimed a voice in shock.


    "Yet this is our best chance," replied a calm voice.


    "I do not think so! This plan poses too much danger to our forces. Morale is at its lowest due to the overwhelming resistance from the opposing side! We need to..."


    "I think that..."


    "Gentlemen, please!" A high and mighty voice had spread through the debates and arguments that the men prior were having. Without any exceptions, the men all gulped their saliva and turned their head towards the source of this voice.


    The tent opened and revealed a knight that held a long spear in the left hand and a kite shield in the right. Looking at the figure alone sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. Was it due to the posture of the man? Was it due to his armor shoulder pads that had a resemblance of a lion? The answer was all of it. From the way the knight stood proud and unshaken, as if staring at a lion itself, to the condition that the armor was in, showing off numerous scratches and metal dents as well as dirt and blood, it was clear that the man had been through a lot of battles recently and had survived.


    "Ah, great timing lady Amelia," said the man who shook off his silent stare and gestured towards the knight to join them.


    The knight lightly bowed and planted her spear into the ground, while simultaneously hanging her shield on her back. She then moved her hands towards her helmet, revealing her face. A woman with pitch black hair that extended no longer than her neck, brown eyes, and thin red lips. Despite her face being slightly wrinkled and having a mature complexion, she still looked like a woman who would capture hearts of many. Everyone present knew that she was a knight of the 33rd squadron, a squad belonging to the special forces of Kingdom of Vaalmer, which was currently at war with the kingdom of Damas.


    "How did the operation go?" asked the man who seemed to be the head of the meeting. "I assume that the stage has been set?"


    Amelia grinned and bowed one more time. "Oh yes," she replied. "it is all taken care of, commander."


    The commander licked his lips and looked towards the five men in front of him.


    "You heard Amelia. We have opened a gateway towards our decisive victory. The opposition is no longer able to receive provisions for at least a few months. We can easily achieve our goals."


    "But sir! The intelligence network of Damas has sent Solomon himself to reinforce the fortress. He is the strongest Elementalist in the ranks and perhaps is Damas''s best sorcerer. We can''t just attack the capital head on! We cannot bypass him either. Our troops are too numerous," snorted one of the party members. He firmly believed that the plan devised by their strategists was flawed and as such boasted a strong resentment towards the commander.


    "That is precisely why lady Amelia and her unit have been dispatched for our aid," said the captain while looking up at all the men present before continuing.


    "As you may or may not know, the city of Na''ul is the biggest supplier of fish to the settlements not just in the vicinity, but to the entire kingdom." The commander pointed down at the map of Damas and quickly moved his finger towards the city. "This here is the only port city that the country has and as such it is very well reinforced and protected by the Kingdom of Damas. As we all know, the capital is located in the South; therefore it takes several weeks to fully reinforce the port if it is to fall. Lady Amelia had ensured that something would happen within next few days, that will force Solomon to be sent for an investigation to that city first and then..." the commander smiled and clenched his fist "...the trap will close."


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick*


    Having collapsed after exhaustion from playing with Piu, Alviona had been asleep for almost one full day. Every time she slept, she would grow albeit very slightly, as such Anita seemed to have been correct about her speculation. The next morning, Alviona was the first to open her eyes and wake up, curiosity flowing through her mind.


    Ah! I am, at last, awake! I want to find Piu and play with him. I promise that I will find a way to bite his tail today... It looks too fluffy, thought Alviona who opened her eyes and looked around. She saw her mother who was deep asleep.


    The child slowly slid out of her bed and thought what to do. Not even before she could take a step further, her stomach growled. I am hungry. As if sensing this, Sofia suddenly woke up and instinctively looked at her child. Seeing that she was all right and up to her usual adventures, she let out a deep sigh.


    "Come here my darling. Are you hungry?" she asked as if expecting an answer to come.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Yes, I am. Dear mommy. How did she know? Mom is the best! said Alviona, even though nothing but giggles was heard from her. Understanding what her daughter wanted, Sofia grinned and took the child into her embrace. "Well then, let''s go eat."


    The two of them went down to the 2nd floor, where the dining area was located. After preparing breakfast, Sofia fed her child. Not far after, Anita joined the two of them, and the three of them ate their meals.


    "Mrs. Sofia, would you be willing to accompany me to the lake today?" asked Anita as she was finishing up her meal.


    "Why, of course!" replied Sofia with a smile. "I will just leave Alviona in Piu''s care then."


    "Piu will be coming with us today, and you should take Alviona with you as well."


    Sofia was surprised, as up to this point Alviona was left in Piu''s care since the tasks that the two of them had to do were not easy to achieve. Sofia was overly protective of her child, and while wanting her daughter to be by her side, did not want to endanger her. "Would it be all right?" she asked carefully.


    "Yes, it would be. I assure you that we are not doing any trivial tasks such as wolf population control or taking care of goblins. We are going to the grand lake because I need to collect some herbs that only grow there. I also need to conduct a light ritual to help out our earth golem." As Anita said "golem," Sofia''s senses of alert went up quite a notch.


    "Gggggolem? W-would that be fine? Is it not dangerous?" she asked shocked, while her face twisted a little.


    "Of course not! The mighty golem protects this forest and shall never harm its inhabitants. I always maintain it once every three months, since I can never tell when will the wolves go on a rampage, going out of their hunting territories; or when will the goblins finally decide to go outside of the forest to chomp on some prey. No, it is all too dangerous to leave them be without any control. They are very quick to anger and can pose a huge threat to humans that are alive outside. Yes, they can not pose a threat to armed adventurers, guilds or well-protected cities; however, they can easily decimate a village just by themselves. To ensure this does not happen the commander golem has to be maintained..."


    "You are getting carried away again child" snorted Piu, interrupting Anita.


    "Yooouu!!!" said Anita while throwing an electric glare at Piu. Just by the looks of it, one would say she was ready to fry the wolf and then deal with the spirit all by itself.


    *Cough* *Cough*


    "Anyways!" continued Anita in order not to scare Sofia and more importantly, her child. "I think it should be a good experience for you as well. Don''t you want to go outside for a while with your daughter? Don''t you think that it would be interesting for Alviona to have a little bit of fun?"


    "That... I... Yes," replied Sofia while blushing. She quickly glanced at Alviona and seeing that nothing but warmth and giggles were returned, she resolved herself and nodded. "Yes! In that case, we are in your care, lady Anita."


    Hearing Sofia''s words, Anita blushed and randomly waved her hands around "Oh, it is nothing! I... I... Let''s go! Today will be rather fun! All of this is for my future disciple!"


    "Anita, I sense some degree of sadism coming from these words of yours," said Piu while opening one of his eyes and glancing at his master.


    "SHUT UP YOU ANCIENT LUGGAGE!!!!!" she snorted at Piu, her face taking on color as if she was about to boil. "Hmph" and a light kick followed after, which he nimbly dodged and laughed at.


    "Waste no time," he said.


    "Yes, yes," replied Anita. And so the four of them went outside, their destination being the grand lake.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Well, this is undoubtedly exciting. Mommy is carrying me. I am overly curious! I will not fall asleep this time. I want to see more! More! More! Mooooooore! It is too much fun. The aroma of the forest is truly magnificent. Wait what does this word mean? Ah! This promenade is rather pleasant. Oh! There is a cute brown animal with white dots and two horns on its head. It looks cute. I want to sit on it. Mommy, may I sit on it? Oh, it ran away. I hope to see you again dear friend. Huh? I sense massive power coming from that direction... Is it a danger? Danger?! Mommy!!


    Alviona started crying; however, there was absolutely nothing in front of the party. It was very unnatural for this doll-like child to cry, so what would cause this phenomenon, wondered Anita. She glanced at Piu and asked in a low voice so that Sofia would not hear her: "Why do you think is she crying? Perhaps... No, don''t tell me she can sense the mana of the golem at such an infant age? Perhaps she thinks it is a danger?"


    "it is quite possible... I have had my guess, but there is very little evidence to prove this. However, if she truly can sense the mana at such an early age... Anita, you don''t think...." asked Piu with curiosity and at the same time, a hint of fear "...that the child is..."


    "Like my mother," finished Anita. Piu gave a slight nod.


    Anita brushed her chin with her index finger and fell into deep thought. "While it is rather interesting, her potential of becoming an advanced druid is rather high. If so, when should I start training her? She is only one year and a few months old, and yet if at such age she looks like a 3-year-old and simultaneously can sense mana, perhaps in three... No, it is going to be sooner. Yes, perhaps I can start teaching her as soon as next year?!" she mumbled to herself. Piu could still hear her and shook his head.


    "No, despite her looking like a 3-year-old, she is still only an infant. She is one year old, and so she cannot even speak. Right now, she is unable to even say "mother," so I do not think that she can possess enough power or thought to yield mana, read incantations or manipulate any elements properly. Besides, harming others is easier than healing them. You know that better than most Anita. You know how difficult it is to become a proper druid."


    "Indeed," said Anita while biting her lips. No matter how much she longed to train and raise a disciple, it was difficult to teach the druidic arts of her mother - Mira. It was not enough to learn how to control Mana. One also had to learn how to treat injuries before healing. Those could be taught through books, but what could Anita expect from a one-year-old child? She knew her ambitions were too big, so she just decided to throw it back into her head for now and focus on the present. Yes, maintaining golem right now was a priority. Not doing so could become very dangerous. Finally looking up and putting a smile on her face, she stretched her arms and addressed her party. "We are here."

 Chapter 9 - Not an ordinary child; part 3 - Lets play with water

    "This is beautiful!" exclaimed Sofia as the scenery of the lake came into view.


    "It indeed is. This lake stands as the pride of Javl. How much do you know of this lake Mrs. Sofia?" asked Anita with a curious look.


    Sofia thought back to the information that Vix and the guard of Haffel had provided her. After a moment of silence, she told Anita how the lake was a grand place for the ascension of druidic and cleric classes.


    Moreso, she stated how the water could slowly cure the injuries and wounds. She also told a story of how a golem inhabited this forest that could decimate a legion and asked Anita if this was true and whether or not it was the same golem that they had come out to maintain.


    "Ah... The guard who directed you here, yes... A wise man, although I wonder if we have met before. You are correct, this lake has mana infused into it and has magical properties. How do I explain this... Would you be kind enough to take out your bow?" asked Anita.


    Interested in what Anita had to say, Sofia nodded and placed Alviona on the ground. The child giggled at the two and started looking around.


    After gently pampering her daughter, Sofia withdrew her handle that took the shape of a bow.


    "Excellent. You know how enchantments and rune crafting work correct?" asked Anita, to which Sofia nodded. "Now then, listen carefully. Think about the environment right now and back at your bow. Imagine if you were to enchant the bow with a [Regeneration]. What would the result be?"


    "I do not think that this combination would work" replied Sofia without hesitation.


    While she understood schools of magic and their properties, she was not well versed in the subject of restorative spells and classes. However, a golden rule of magic still dictated that offensive weapons (except for wands and staves) cannot be utilized in conjunction with spells of restorative properties. If one wished to do this, they would need to lift the restriction by obtaining scarce equipment, blessing from specific gods or sometimes even both.


    Anita nodded. "Very good. It would not work, because it needs to inflict harm first before taking the effect of [regeneration], as such, the spell would dissipate into nothingness and mana would be wasted" she said firmly. "And now, what if we take a property that belongs to nature?" Anita pointed at the lake, "what would happen if we were to enchant the entire lake with the said spell?"


    Sofia fell into thought, but before she could say much Anita continued: "It would work, but only temporarily and only within a defined perimeter. Remember you explained to me how your skills worked? Well, I am no bishop or cleric, but, I would think that they use an ability similar to what you did back when we first met. Something that temporarily allows the earth to be marked as their property for a duration which in turn, allows a trigger of [Mass Heal] that has affinity set as their allies. Taking this concept, I can assure you that my mother did exactly something similar to this" stated Anita, her voice carrying great pride.


    "What? How... then if your mother is in a slumber, how is it that the proportions of this enchantment are still ongoing?" asked Sofia in confusion.


    Anita shrugged and made a cute gesture while shaking her head. "I do not have an answer. My mother did not talk much about this, but I know that she is the one who enchanted the lake. I know this through Piu, but even he does not know much about how it was accomplished for he was not awake at that time".


    While the two of them were busy discussing the magical properties of the lake, Alviona did not stay still. Her curiosity had entirely overtaken her body, and now she was walking all over the place, checking her environment out. Small pebbles, stones, rocks, tree barks, grass, dirt and even tiny raindrops that have remained on the plants; everything was examined by her.


    *Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock*


    The nature is so exciting! Everything I touch has its meaning and function. The longer I am awake, the more I learn! Learning is indeed the best sensation. This is rather fun. Wait, what is this small dot crawling on the ground? Umm, hello? How are you? She asked the ant, that was minding its business. Alviona tried to catch it, but unfortunately, it had run off. She attempted to chase it, and since she did not pay much attention, her head quickly met a tree. Aw, it escaped. When did this tree move in my way? She wondered.


    Piu watched the child in the meantime, ensuring that she would not wander too far away or so that she would not be harmed. Even if the lake territory was guarded by a golem, the mild possibility of a threat still existed. Seeing how Alviona had crashed into a tree head-on, he quickly leaped towards her to ensure that she was all right; however, the child did not seem to cry or be in pain at all. Instead, it appeared that she just stared at the tree, demanding it to move.


    "Well then, child. We should return to Anita. She has an important business to attend to, so I am pretty sure that after she is done, we can play a little" said Piu to Alviona.


    Play?! Oh yes! I want to play! Come here Piu. Let me bite your tail, please! As if expecting her reaction, Piu wiggled his tail into the air the moment he sensed Alviona''s childish dash. He wondered how did a 1-year old child look like a 3-year-old and even if her sentience was equivalent of her physical age, how did she understand him? Were her actions not childish, befitting of her age? Her speech also had not yet developed. Perhaps she was gifted? Once in a while, there were children that would not act like their age and were more sophisticated; however, the fact that Alviona''s actual age was one year and three months was too much, so Piu decided to not pay too much attention to this at this moment. All he could do for the time being was to observe.


    After the party reunited, Anita approached the lake and told everyone to stay at some distance away, to allow her focus. As the party obeyed, she began chanting:


    "Mother nature, one that coats and protects this world with its love; may you bestow your blessing unto this servant that has fully devoted oneself to you. May no harm come to this grand place that is known as Javl. With the bloodline of my mother, Mira, may the earth golem rejuvenate its powers to prolong its service as a guardian of your domain".


    Just as Anita finished her chant, the small area around her got bathed in rays of sunlight, while flowers sprouted from the earth. Looking at her stimulated a sense of tranquility and peace as if the entire forest had calmed down and was blessed by the mother nature. "And now...", within seconds, Anita moved into the lake until her feet became completely drenched, "...Awaken". She removed a dagger from her waist and cut her left wrist, signaling the beginning of the ritual.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    As the first few drops of blood touched the lake, the water began to dye its color as red. For a moment it looked like nothing else would happen; however, the party could soon feel the effect. Tremors caused the earth to vibrate, so much that light waves were created in an otherwise still lake. The continuous stream of blood from Anita''s wrist began pathing itself towards the center of the lake and as it did,


    "Oh, my!" gasped Sofia. "It is as if something is sucking the blood downwards!" she continued.


    She was not wrong, for what followed moments after was exactly according to her predictions. The lake shook and a huge golem made of various rocks, stones and minerals rose up. Furthermore, the blood that was still being absorbed by the golem had suddenly gotten translucent and took a color reminiscent of a light blue. This phenomenon continued until it reached Anita''s cut wrist, which instantly got healed, therefore stopping the bleeding and as such, once the connection got severed, it was sucked by the golem that began wandering away from the lake.


    . . . . . ?


    "That... right now? That was mana, right?" asked Sofia to Piu, who had been sitting right beside her.


    Yes, it was said Alviona, but only giggles were heard from her. However, her face harbored an expression that of delight and excitement.


    Piu nodded. "How are you feeling Anita?"


    "Exhausted! Phew. That consumed more stamina than I had prepared for. If I knew I would draw this much blood, perhaps I would have eaten more apples," she replied laughing. She quickly looked at her party members to ensure that everyone was all right. Alviona''s expression especially had caught her eyes.


    Excitement huh, thought Anita. No matter how I look at it, she is an odd one. A child that sprouts so quickly and can follow the events. No, it is as if she fully understood what just happened. Look at those deep eyes. You can get swallowed into the abyss only by looking. How much knowledge does she possess? Does she genuinely belong to the living? A three-year-old... a one-year-old... it does not matter. Perhaps I should test it? Maybe I should... No, it is too early to teach her much. She cannot talk, read or write yet. That mother of hers is mighty and has been through a lot. Both of them have. I should take this time and relieve the mother of her accumulated stress. How about I do something cool?! As she finished her thought, she got out of the water and walked over to the trio.


    "Mrs. Sofia, how about I show the two of you something interesting?" said Anita while clapping her two hands together once.


    After closing her eyes and turning around, facing the lake, Anita gently began waving her hands, slowly, in rhythm; as if her hands became the soothing waves of the ocean. Just as she did this, the lake began imitating her. The water gathered at random points and started springing around in beautiful patterns. She was manipulating the nature, while the blessing was still in effect, causing her desired effect on both mother and her daughter, for the two of them looked at Anita with awe and adoration.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    I want to try it too! Miss Anita, please let me play as well. It looks like too much fun. I want to play. Play. Plaaaaaaaay.


    Alviona quickly stood up and ran towards the source of her excitement. Despite the distance not being far between the two of them, it still took several moments to reach her. Seeing how a small child was rushing towards her, Anita burst into a peal of laughter.


    "Well then, do you want to give it a try Alviona?" she asked with a smile. No reply came back; however, Alviona giggled. "All-right then kiddo. How about starting with the basics? Let''s take a pebble and... There!" said Anita while grabbing one and lightly tossing, causing it to bounce within the circles of water that she was making.


    Me too! I also want to try! Without delay, Alviona grabbed a pebble and tried to imitate Anita, but the stone quietly sank, making a small splash. Aaaw. I will try again. She grabbed another one and tossed it, yet she did not achieve much.


    Both Sofia and Anita chuckled. Watching this child do silly things was indeed a fantastic thing. Even Piu was unable to hold his laughter. Wanting to cheer Alviona up, Anita gently manipulated her hands and made water dance around her body.


    I want to do it too! Ah, this is too much fun. I want to bite Piu''s tail now and then make some bubbles from the water like Anita is right now. I want to move water like that too... Wait! Me! Priorities must be established. Biting Piu''s tail is the priority, but I want to do something fun right now... ah, this is hard! I got it... I will play a bit more first and watch Anita, and then I shall bite Piu''s tail.


    *Tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, Tock*


    Oh no! I am getting tired again. I want to sleep, but I want to play just a tiny bit more. Only a little bit longer, thought Alviona. At that moment, a strong desire overflowed her body. A sensation that she had not felt before was now jolting inside each and every inch of her muscle and her core existence. She slowly extended her hands and focused her entire mind on controlling the water.


    *Tock, Click, Click, Click, Click, Tock*


    Alviona imagined the lake becoming a shape that of a golem that she had seen. She created a scenario, where the golem would walk out of the lake area and after, pour back into its natural habitat as a calming wave; reminiscent of ones that were created by the vibrations from Anita''s ritual earlier. The sight had been imprinted into her head.


    As she transformed her thoughts into a will, she opened her eyes.


    The water was still obeying Anita''s patterns and had been dancing around Alviona. It did not last. Less than a moment after Alviona looked up all the water withdrew to its original resting place.


    Anita did not understand what had happened, while Sofia did not pay much attention to it. Nothing much had happened.


    2.3 seconds after all the water found its natural place of rest; a violent ripple started to occur at the center of the lake. Every corner and side began to drain, gathering into one and single point, therefore raising the water level until nothing remained but dirt and rocks. What was in the center of the lake now was nothing short of a colossal golem purely made of water, which moved out of its domain.


    Nothing remained in the crater where water had gathered before. Anita, Sofia, and Piu all gasped, not believing what they were witnessing. How was this possible? How much mana was needed to achieve this? Who could accomplish this? Was it mother nature taking a solid form? Was it trying to commune with inhabitants? Had Anita done something wrong? All of their disbelief was further reinforced once they witnessed the water golem slowly fade back into the empty shell, just as if the water decided to lay down and rest for a good night sleep. Soothing waves poured down, and the lake of Great Forest of Javl had taken back its proper shape.


    The sight was undone as magically and unexpectedly as it had occurred. What had just happened?


    "What... What was that?" asked Sofia with her eyes wide open. "It was not just me who saw that right? Miss Anita...?"


    "I... I do not know what that was... it was not me... I think it was mother nature itself giving us a blessing," replied Anita dazed.


    "No," came a strong and a denying reply from Piu. "It was not mother nature. I am a greater spirit that is from the realm, and this was not a miracle or a blessing. I think the answer you are looking for stands right in front of you," he continued.


    All of the attention was gathered at Alviona. A small girl that had been nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing out of the extraordinary up to this point. Has she been the culprit behind this?


    Anita had noticed it too but did not pay attention to it then. What was there to say? It happened in an instant. Who would expect an outcome like this? Moreso, did a small child have enough mana to accomplish such a feat? Or did she get blessed by the mother nature?


    *Tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, tock, Tock*


    Ah, that was truly fun! I finally did something. But now I am overly tired. Ah, the rhythm is becoming more violent. I want to sleep. I want to rest now. Resting is good. As she was thinking, she had already fallen unconscious.

 Chapter 10 - Solomons death

    "By the decree of his majesty, king Damille the second, every capable man and woman who can wield arms or cast any offensive type magic are to gather up in the square and be conscripted for fighting for the safety of our great kingdom!" stated a man sitting atop an expensive steed, that was lightly covered in armor. As he finished the declaration, the man glanced around at everyone gathered. Not being satisfied with what he saw, he cursed out silently and folded his scroll.


    "I am truly sorry your lordship, but we do not have that many capable fighters left in our village," replied a man who had been assigned as the elder. "Most of them had been sent out to reinforce the supply lines and hold back the invaders after the fall of the border. I would gladly give you myself, and everyone left here, but I am too old and cannot hold a sword properly anymore. The few settlers remaining are doing their best to harvest the food and send it over, since the major supply line had broken," he continued with a grim expression.


    "Very well. There is absolutely nothing I can do then. Thank you very much," said the noble after confirming the situation, turning around and galloping away to rejoin the troops that have been waiting for the man''s return.


    "I assume that the conscription did not go so well your lordship?" asked a man that stood under the shade of a tree. The man was 1.56 meters tall, an average size for most humans. His face was oval shaped, with angular cheekbones, a short but flat nose, and a squared chin. A short black beard covered his face, and with his thick eyebrows and narrow eyes, the man looked quite imposing. His eyes were currently closed, indicating that he was probably thinking over the developments of past few weeks.


    "It did not, Solomon," replied the noble with a deep sigh. "To be quite honest with you, everything would go as usual if our imports were checked properly. The ratio distributors at Haffel should also have checked for the quality of products. If everyone did their job properly, then perhaps we would not be in so much shit right now," he snorted.


    It had been an 8th village near the battlefield, which the noble and Solomon had visited. The two of them had received the decree of his majesty, to conscript any possible forces to reinforce the already crumbling defensive lines of their kingdom. Most villages were evacuated by now, but some remained that refused to abandon their homes. The fortress that stood right after the river of Vluver was a solid fortification facility created by the kingdom of Damas that prevented enemy invasions from the neighboring Kingdom of Vaalmer for almost 50 years. Now it lay in ruins.


    "This situation is bleak, but there is still a chance that we can put a halt to this war. My disciple is currently investigating the shipments that have been supplied by Na''ul. Once we gather enough intelligence and stabilize our supply of imports, we can launch a counter-attack and drive these bastards back to their domain," stated Solomon.


    "Let us make haste then. There are no villages left where we can conscript more workforce. As such, I think it is time we join the main battlefield. Our majesty had given out a direct order to drag out the fight as much as possible. We are expecting reinforcements in the next two weeks," said the noble after drinking water from a flask.


    Solomon understood and nodded while mounting his horse. After exchanging the current information with every soldier, the unit consisting of 160 troops moved out.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Inside the government building of Haffel, now occupied by the 23<sup>rd</sup> battalion of Vaalmer kingdom, six individuals were gathered. They were discussing the current plans for the invasion.


    "As you may see, lady Amelia''s squad is very potent at what they do," said the commander who was in charge of the entire invasion operation.


    "I admit, I was wrong," said the stout man that sat on the sofa, while drinking wine. As he took a sip, he continued. "But what of Solomon? If I am correct, he and a small detachment of Damas''s forces have arrived at their headquarters. I believe he is causing a great headache to you, is he not dear Ralph?"


    "My men are ready to piss themselves just by imagining a fight with him," replied Ralph while tightly clenching his fist and striking the table.


    "My, oh my. How does one man cause so much trouble for you?" asked Amelia while laughing. "Worry not. Our captain has already devised a plan to end him, and the war. All you gentlemen have to do is follow your orders while leaving the heavy lifting to us." Persuading the people present of her sure victory, she quickly bowed and left the building.


    Seeing her leave, the commander chuckled and addressed the men once more. ¡°The 23<sup>rd</sup> battalion shall remain at Haffel as protection. Meanwhile, our 13<sup>th </sup>and 14<sup>th</sup> will begin to advance towards the capital. The 17<sup>th </sup>has suffered heavy losses, so I am issuing an order for their withdrawal,¡± he paused and looked around to see if everyone was following. Satisfied, he continued. ¡°We shall direct the small detachments from 13<sup>th</sup> to reinforce the border and let the 17<sup>th</sup> retreat. Meanwhile, our 15<sup>th</sup>, the Rulers of Heavens, shall bypass the lines the moment Solomon perishes. And so, Damas will be overwhelmed. With their forces scattered, the victory will be ours."


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    ¡°I will kill every single one of you scoundrels!¡± yelled a knight that had just pierced the abdomen of a warrior. He removed the sword and proceeded to cleave another soldier that was in his way. Three spears came his way, but his strong armor deflected them, allowing the man to cast [Dexterity], which boosted the speed at which he swung his sword. As a result of his actions, three heads fell to the ground. ¡°Pathetic rats! You are nothing but filth and pebbles. How dare you oppose the kingdom of Vaalmer! DIE, DIE, DIE!¡±


    The soldiers that were not trained to fight a battle properly, let alone an invasion, were no match for an overwhelming might of the Vaalmer''s well-trained and battle-hardened monsters. Their morale had dipped, and with the appearance of knights amongst the regular infantry ranks, they had become completely devastated. Some fled and were met with a volley of huge icicles. Those that stayed and watched their comrades die were vomiting at the sight of impalement, while others could not even do so, for letting guard down would prove fatal.


    Solomon and his detachment arrived at the battlefield. Looking around and assessing the situation, the noble who had been in charge removed a horn from his belt and blew it. ¡°Solomon, we need to relieve them. This situation is grim. I did not expect our reserves to be this weak¡±.


    ¡°Weak?¡± snorted Solomon, ¡°What do you expect from conscripts? Regardless.¡±


    [Incinerate]


    Giant flames erupted from the ground where the fighting was taking place, engulfing and incinerating foes or allies. The fire did not discriminate.


    ¡°Solomon, get a grip of yourself. There are friendlies there too,¡± said the noble with a commanding but unshaken voice. The deaths of his allies had not touched his feelings at all.


    ¡°They were encircled and would perish regardless. I merely lent our allies a hand and extended mercy,¡± replied Solomon with a burst of laughter. Without saying anything else, he dismounted and walked towards the headquarters. As he approached, the guards stopped him and cast [Identity]. The moment information about him was revealed, the guard immediately stepped away and bowed. Solomon was satisfied and proceeded towards the barracks without any delay. As he entered, a chaotic scenery came into his view. Men and women were running back and forth, trying to pass each other documents of various types. Words such as Oh no, it is not this one, give me the damned scroll, why is everything so messed up, who is responsible for organizing this anyways, and even this is our golden opportunity, could be heard. His focus, however, shifted towards one place, and that place was a roundtable, where three men were gathered.


    ¡°Idgar?! You have returned?¡± asked Solomon to a young man standing by the table. Hearing his words the man turned around and bowed.


    ¡°Master Solomon, you are here,¡± said Idgar with a gentle voice.


    ¡°Idgar,¡± laughed Solomon while extending his hands. He approached the man and embraced him. ¡°My dear pupil. I am glad that nothing has happened to you. Then can I assume that your business in Na¡¯ul has concluded?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it has, master. In truth, the reason I am here right now is precisely due to the developments in the port city." The two of them sat down and continued chatting. Solomon told his disciple of the failed conscriptions and the current state of Damas. He talked about how his majesty had sent reinforcements towards this line and how he had been assigned a task to hold out until then. Solomon also spoke about regaining the lines and rooting out the invaders with his sheer might.


    Idgar patiently listened and nodded. After Solomon finished talking, expression of uneasiness appeared on Idgar¡¯s face.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± asked Solomon.


    ¡°No¡­ it is nothing,¡± came a reply.


    ¡°Your face tells me otherwise.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°No¡­ just,¡± Idgar paused and gulped. Seeing his actions, Solomon could not help but be amused. What could his disciple have thought of that would cause him this much panic or fear?


    ¡°Are you afraid of something?¡± (Solomon)Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Master¡­ What if they attack from the rear? After the great fortress fell, they no longer need to attack from this line, so what if all of this is a distraction? What if they are aiming for our capital while we fight out minor skirmishes here?¡± (Idgar)


    Solomon fell into a long thought. His majesty, Damille the second, alongside his many advisors and tacticians had already predicted this. To counter such scenario, they had dispatched over 53% of human resources to reinforce the rear. Of course, Solomon himself was considered as a legion. The roads were all blocked, and minor fortifications were being built. Most of the ballistae were also moved in preparation for that. Thinking about this, Solomon laughed and replied to Idgar with a negative.


    ¡°It would be a dream come true,¡± he chuckled.


    Idgar, seeing that his master was in good spirit, calmed down and grinned. ¡°As expected of my master, you are truly the ultimate power of this kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± replied Solomon with a shrug, drunk in his status and convinced of his superiority. ¡°Now then, let us begin the butchery,¡± he continued.


    Three days have passed since Solomon¡¯s arrival, and the battlefield had changed a lot. Just the sole presence of this man had been enough to send chills down the spines of both allies and enemies. Every time he raised his hands, soldiers would burn and become piles of ash. Despite the gruesome scene, Damas¡¯s forces quickly regained their morale. Some commanders were stripped of their status, while the others were promoted. Those that followed Solomon gained fame and accumulated battle experience. On the 4<sup>th</sup> day, the counter-attack began.


    The metallic sound of steel clashing against steel roared through the entire battlefield. The kingdom of Vaalmer had sent reinforcements to the border from the side of now occupied Haffel and the fallen fortress, however, their numbers were not enough to hold back the mastermind counter-attack led by Solomon himself. The defenders had also received the reinforcements from their capital and thus found attackers, that started to fall back, easy to encircle. The intelligence of Damas was convinced that the reserve troops were stationed to attack the rear and that no more soldiers would stream down Solomon¡¯s path. Every person that was on the side of oppressed kingdom rejoiced.


    For five days, invaders were attempting to flee the encirclement and instead were driven further back. The sudden arrival of cavalry divisions was also frustrating, for they had no room to breathe. Their plan included the arrival of 13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> battalion, but only a fraction of 13<sup>th</sup> had arrived. Some men still held on to the hope, that they would be rescued, so they continued fighting with vigor and ferocity.


    Battles had now become minor skirmishes, but at least Solomon¡¯s wrath had died down, for no more magical incantations were seen or heard. Some even thought that he had left to liberate Haffel. Their numbers had also vastly decreased from 1,000 to 500, but thanks to the lower number of soldiers, fights became easier. Their ranks still held over 40 battlemages that were considered as veterans; therefore, the casualties on Damas¡¯s side were not avoided. 2,000 were razed down to 1,200 thanks for the careful planning and deception. Some soldiers even left their shields behind and made dummies to distract opponents and force them to engage in combat, while their mages cast [Icicles] from the rear. As such, both parties became weary of their battle tactic. However, due to the overwhelming advantage posed by the cavalry, the scale of their balance shifted in favor of Damas once again.


    Nine days had passed. Looking around, the encircled soldiers of Vaalmer kingdom realized just how far away they were from the original battlefield. The scenery was vastly different. The forest which was located three weeks away from the battlegrounds was now only a few hours away. They attempted to shift the direction of their movement towards the fallen fortress. However, this did not come to pass, as the cavalry of Damas quickly caught up and once again encircled them. The soldiers were at the edge, but the will to survive was very high. They kept retreating. If they could not rejoin their main forces, then they would run into the forest and split up to confuse the pursuers. But it appeared that the encirclement would come to its conclusion, for the cavalry was now charging at a higher speed than usual. At this rate, the soldiers would get trampled.


    ¡°Bastards! They have used the [Windrunner¡¯s blessing] only now?!¡± screamed one man. ¡°Shit! We are all going to die!¡± screamed another.


    ¡°Hold your lines! Raise your spears!¡± yelled the commander. ¡°Mages, cast [Icicles]. Now! Volley!¡± as he finished, the volley started raining down towards the charging cavalry. Some horses panicked seeing the incoming danger and threw their masters off their backs.


    The fleeing soldiers began regaining their calm and morale after seeing that they had succeeded in slowing down the rampaging cavalry, but the celebration did not last for the moment they gained hope, a sound of a horn was heard.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes shifted to one spot, one individual. It was Solomon. The soldiers were very used to his figure by now and could tell this man¡¯s identity even if he was to hide in a crowd of 1,000 or even 10,000 people.


    Witnessing Solomon getting off his horse and chanting a spell, the formation fell. Everyone began running for their lives. Few individuals were smarter than most though, as they kept their calm amidst all the chaos.


    One female, who was well versed in arts of <u>mind manipulation</u> and attacking enemies with their <u>psych</u>, actually used this moment to utilize her skills. She was assigned to the 17<sup>th</sup> battalion and was enduring the hardships from the very beginning till now. She had no intentions of dying.


    Solomon had not used his signature spell, which only meant one thing ¨C he was preparing magic that would wipe everyone out. Realizing this, the woman has quickly cast [Control Mind] on the few horses that were running around without their masters. As the horse slowed down and came towards her, she mounted and immediately fled towards the forest. Two warriors and one rogue that witnessed her actions also followed suit. Slowly but surely, more people began to look for a steed. However, it was too late. The overwhelming assault from Damas¡¯s cavalry had wholly completed their encirclement within four hours.


    The fleeing soldiers had given up and began throwing their weapons down, in a proclamation of their defeat. This battle was hopeless and surrendering now and living another day to fight was the best course of action.


    However, the cavalry did not dismount to capture or imprison them. Instead, the spears were sharply pointed at them. At that moment, another horn, one that was louder than previous, resonated throughout the entire battlefield. The wind carried it even further, and now it felt like it would reach the fallen fortress. Soldiers were unsure of what to make of it, but it appeared that their understanding was unnecessary. Solomon had finished his incantation, and the results were immediate. Massive lightning struck the center of the gathered mass which instantly chained over to others, brightly and indiscriminately killing everyone. The cavalry was unaffected, and so, for the first time, only Vaalmer¡¯s fleeing soldiers were killed.


    Just about 3.8 seconds after the massacre, the earth shook, and many vines erupted from the ground, entangling all the dead and pulling them down into the soil. The moment that every corpse was absorbed into the earth, the shaking stopped, and the ground was whole again.


    The cavalry, watching this sight, was flabbergasted. It appeared that the rumors about the Great Forest of Javl were correct after all. It was said that those who perished in the forest vicinity would have their corpses absorbed by mother nature. Solomon knew of this and paid it no heed.


    Realizing what happened, every soldier on the battlefield began roaring for victory. Despite all the oppression, defeats and lives lost within the last few months and weeks; the soldiers could finally rest and rejoice. With the help of Solomon, they had accomplished the unimaginable feat.


    ¡°Long live Solomon!¡± the soldiers chanted. ¡°Long live our sorcerer!¡±


    ¡°Solomon is a man blessed by the god of magic!¡±


    ¡°Long live Solomon!¡±


    ¡°Master Solomon, what of those people that fled,¡± asked Idgar, after witnessing the massacre.


    ¡°Nothing. There are only four who escaped. Fatigued and famished, those people will simply die to the wildlife that inhabits the place. Or perhaps they will survive and meet the golem? Who knows? Regardless, they will die. It is not my job to deal with minor nuisances like them,¡± replied Solomon while shrugging.


    Seeing how his master behaved, Idgar could not hold his laughter back.


    ¡°It appears that you are feeling much better now, my disciple¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Indeed. I am rather happy, for you have displayed your ultimate power. This disciple is rather grateful¡± said Idgar while bowing. ¡°However,¡± Idgar¡¯s lips still moved yet it was no longer a male¡¯s voice, but rather a female¡¯s, ¡°the fun ends now.¡± As the lips stopped moving, Solomon began to choke.


    ¡°Wh¡­ wh¡­¡± Solomon was coughing up a lot of dark blood. He looked at Idgar. What did his words mean? What is happening? He wondered.


    Some soldiers noticed something awry going on with Solomon, but they thought it was due to exhaustion from using such a high-level skill. Everyone was rejoicing and claiming how they would vanquish the invaders once and for all.


    ¡°Solomon is a man blessed by the god of war!¡±


    ¡°We shall kill all the invaders and take back Haffel! We will show the kingdom of Vaalmer what we are made of!¡± the soldiers chanted. ¡°Solomon is with us! We shall pave the way to our victory through fire!¡± they continued.


    The loud chants became emphatic. However, they quickly died off, as a sudden roar was heard. The cavalry who had been chanting their victory lines were all covered in the bath of flames. The stream of fire did not end and continued until every single cavalry division that participated in this counter-attack were nothing but smoldering corpses. Only after this happened did the rest of Solomon¡¯s detachment look up to see as to what had caused this commotion.


    A massive black wyvern circled in the sky. Solomon was the first person to see it. His eyes went wide, for this could only mean one thing ¨C the forces that they had pushed and encircled up to this point were nothing but a distraction. Before he could finish his thought, Idgar grabbed the weakened Solomon by his neck and dragged him out in front of every soldier to see.


    ¡°What?!¡± exclaimed the soldiers who watched his behavior. ¡°Idgar, how could you? You betrayed your master! TRAITOR! You shall die!¡±


    ¡°Now, now my darlings,¡± said Idgar while laughing. The voice did not belong to a man, and as Idgar distanced himself, his face began to crumble. Bits and pieces of flesh fell on the ground and evaporated into nothingness. ¡°The disciple you speak of perished some time ago,¡± spoke the woman coldly, yet with a hint of pride. Hearing this, Solomon understood what had happened and cursed himself for letting his guard down. It appeared that the Kingdom of Vaalmer had long planned this invasion and had sharpened their fangs and claws.


    ¡°Do not worry my little darlings. Lilim shall play with all of you,¡± whispered the woman in a fashion that everyone could hear her. At that moment, the earth shook, but the forest did not cause it.


    The soldiers quickly shot a glance towards the direction where the earth was vibrating from and what they witnessed were thousands of dots moving towards them while emitting a massive amount of dust in their wake.


    As Solomon saw this, he realized that the kingdom of Damas was doomed. Despite struggling, he lifted his hand towards the incoming wave to chant his final incantation: [Incinerate], but it was too late. Lilim instantly stabbed Solomon¡¯s chest and struck his heart, followed by a slash around his neck. The soldiers watched as Solomon¡¯s head was slowly cut off with a dagger, while the blood squirted from his wounds, covering the face of the culprit behind this gore.


    After slicing it mid-way, Lilim blew a kiss towards the soldiers with her left hand, and at that moment a volley of [Icicles] fell down their way, crushing and impaling everyone present. She then quickly finished slicing off the head and gently landed a kiss on Solomon¡¯s lips. ¡°What a pity,¡± she sighed and threw away the decapitated object.


    Just as the head flew towards the ground, the time in the world came to a halt, and every living creature in this world vanished from the plain of existence.

 Chapter 11 - Out of sync

    ¡°How is she feeling Anita?¡± asked Sofia in concern of the well-being of her daughter.


    ¡°I do not know. For the many years that I have been a druid, this is the first time that I see something like this,¡± replied Anita with concerned eyes.


    After the incident with the grand lake where they have witnessed the child using her powers for the first time, Alviona had fallen unconscious, falling on a stone that caused a deep cut on her right shoulder. The fragile bones of a three-year-old had also broken, further causing damage to her body.


    Fortunately, Anita was quick to react. She checked Alviona¡¯s pulse and ensured that she was breathing, and also examined for signs of head trauma. Seeing that none were present, Anita relaxed a little.


    After telling Sofia about the diagnosis, the mother began crying to a degree where she started to choke. The sudden stress made her faint, and so, Anita had to deal with two patients simultaneously.


    Mounting the two of them on Piu¡¯s back, she began walking towards her residence.


    ¡°Say, Piu?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Anita?¡±


    ¡°You noticed that, right?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°Yes, I did¡± replied the wolf. Despite the inability of making complex facial expressions, his voice carried the emotion of shock and disbelief.


    ¡°Is that even possible?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°I can confirm that it is not.¡± (Piu)


    ¡°Well¡­. Then, what can we do?¡± asked Anita in a low voice. She fell into thought, attempting to analyze everything that had happened from the day she met Sofia, until now.


    All-right Anita, think! What facts do I have? She gathered her knowledge and focused.


    First, Sofia is an ordinary Half-Elf.


    Second, she birthed Alviona, so that child is undoubtedly hers.


    Third, her husband was a male human, so how on earth did reproducing with a human and a half-elf create a fully pure-blood elf? Is she perhaps not telling the full story? Did she have a love affair with another person who was an elf? It did not have to be a man. Women can and have reproduced with one another before. Since us elves are species that are infertile for at least 200 years of our lives, it is rather hard to find a partner to mate. There are cases where Elves breed with other races, although rare. So, is it possible that she had an affair with the same sex and got pregnant? Ah! This situation is hurting my head. I should ask her when she wakes up, for this is too odd.


    But then¡­ Anita bit her lips. Even if she did reproduce with an elf and had a child born that is a pure-blood, it does not explain that the god-damn child does not bleed! I checked, again, and again! A deep cut, yet no blood.


    No blood on her shoulder, no drops of blood on the ground. Nothing! So, what in the name of Mother Earth is Alviona? I need to investigate this even further.


    ¡°Piu. The second Alviona fell, I noticed something very odd. It is not related to her not bleeding, yet it is related to that phenomenon. Did you notice anything odd with mana?¡±


    ¡°Sadly, I have not,¡± replied Piu.


    ¡°Is that so¡­ very well then,¡± said Anita with a hint of disappointment.


    Once they arrived at the hut, Anita carefully moved Alviona first since she had the worst body condition between the two. Gently placing the child on her bed, she quickly switched her attention to Sofia. She was moved to Anita''s bedroom.


    After ensuring that what Sofia needed was rest, Anita grabbed her healing supplies from the 4<sup>th</sup> floor and went into the room where her primary patient was.


    ¡°She has a high fever¡± muttered Anita after touching Alviona¡¯s forehead. ¡°Well then, let the treatment begin!¡± she declared, as she began washing her hands.


    First, I will disinfect the wound. Anita grabbed the three leaves from her supply bag that were of red color and began chewing them. After three minutes, she removed the leaflets from her mouth and put it inside a bucket and then proceeded to lightly cut her pinky finger to allow the small droplets of blood accumulate with the leaves and water, mixing it into a medicine.


    After confirming the results, she wetted her fingers in the water and moved it over the wounded area of her patient''s shoulder. Anita gently slid her fingers on the wound while simultaneously chanting [Minor Heal]. As a result, the cut slowly started to close off. Satisfied, she continued her job.


    Second, I will treat her fever. Dumping the water into the sink, she filled it up again with fresh water, which was provided continuously through the tap that was gathered by the tree roots. After filling the bucket up, she took a different cloth and submerged it in the water. After removing and squeezing the fabric, Anita cast [Freeze], a spell that could freeze anything over time, so long as the user provided mana. Concentrating on the flow of mana, the cloth towel slightly froze. Judging that it was satisfactory, she placed it on Alviona¡¯s head.


    Phew. This operation is harder to perform on a child than on anyone else. Ok! Focus Anita. Now, to heal those bones. Anita extended her hands and closed her eyes. After focusing and constructing the image of bones mending together, she used a skill [Repair]. Checking the area, where Alviona¡¯s bones were shattered and noticing that it was all right, Anita was quite pleased with herself.


    ¡°All righty then. Rest child,¡± she told Alviona while leaving the room. Her next destination was none other than her second patient.


    ¡°Oh, you are awake Mrs. Sofia,¡± said Anita as she entered her room.


    ¡°H-how long was I unconscious? Did I give you trouble miss Anita? I am truly sorry,¡± said Sofia while looking around and realizing where she was. For some reason, her face became quite red. So much that Anita wondered if she had caught a fever like her daughter. To double-check that this was not the case, she gently moved her hands towards Sofia¡¯s forehead. Satisfied that she was healthy, Anita smiled.


    ¡°Wait! Alviona? How is Alviona? How is my child?¡± asked Sofia nervously.


    ¡°Please, calm down. Your daughter is safe and sound. I already treated her. She is now resting to drop the fever," replied Anita slowly.


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    Hearing these words, Sofia wholeheartedly started to cry. Those were the tears of guilt and joy. Watching this sight, Anita thought that it was quite cute.


    ¡°Anita, we need to talk for a moment,¡± said Piu, who no longer was in his wolf form.


    ¡°Is it urgent?¡± asked Anita.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I am sorry¡­ I will just leave and check on my daughter for now,¡± said Sofia, getting off the bed and excusing herself.


    ¡°It is fine Mrs. Sofia. However, please do not disturb her too much. She needs rest,¡± said Anita with a warm smile.


    Sofia quickly moved out of the room and went to Alviona¡¯s side. Once she entered, she approached her and sat down by her side. ¡°My dear daughter. I am sorry. Your mother is frail. In the end, I am unable to protect you in any way. Every time I try, I end up failing. I am truly sorry for this my child. I promise, that when you grow up, I will find a way to give you the happiest life imaginable,¡± she whispered. Usually, Alviona would have giggled or smiled after hearing her mother¡¯s words, but right now, her face was pale and was breathing heavily due to her fever. It appeared that she was wholly unconscious. Sofia landed a kiss on her daughter¡¯s cheek, and as she did, Anita walked into the room.


    ¡°Mrs. Sofia¡­ We need to talk." (Anita)


    When Sofia looked at her, she was surprised to see Anita¡¯s face, for it was a face of utter shock and disbelief.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Sofia asked confused.


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± said Anita while quickly shaking off her expression. ¡°It is critical, so would you please come down to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor? We truly need to talk. It is rather urgent and heavy, so perhaps I should brew some tea too."


    The two of them walked downstairs. Anita asked Sofia to sit down, while she began brewing the kettle. After the water adequately boiled, Anita proceeded to pour the tea into teacups. As she handed one over to Sofia, she also decided to sit down. Afraid to speak first, Sofia did not say anything and instead waited for Anita to talk.


    Anita let out a deep sigh and looked at Sofia with serious eyes.


    ¡°Mrs. Sofia, I apologize if my actions were a little bit rude. However, understand that I am still attempting to comprehend what Piu had just told me,¡± she started while attempting to drink some tea. Her slender hands were shaking.


    ¡°What on earth happened, miss Anita?¡± asked Sofia.


    ¡°I¡­ do not know.¡± Came a reply. ¡°I honestly do not know. You can not hear Piu right now, and for that, I apologize. However, what I am about to say will make absolutely no sense.¡± Anita gulped, ¡°It appears that the time has decelerated inside the Forest of Great Javl.¡±


    It took a few minutes for the information to properly sink into Sofia¡¯s head. Once it did, she gasped.


    ¡°H-how is that possible?¡± she exclaimed in shock and disbelief.


    ¡°It is unknown. However, I can make wild speculation; one that I can bet my life on," said Anita, mustering up courage to speak up. She took a deep breath and uttered only one word: ¡°Alviona.¡±


    Sofia looked confused, but she did not argue. If anything, she knew how unordinary her child was, so if Anita said that Alviona was responsible for this phenomenon then it was most likely correct.


    ¡°Mrs. Sofia, I have a few questions for you that you need to answer truthfully,¡± said Anita. Seeing that Sofia nodded in affirmative, she began inquiring about her background. After hearing it all, she asked one final question regarding her intimate relationships, to which Sofia only spoke of her husband - Duncan.


    ¡°Are you sure that there was nobody else?¡± asked Anita again. ¡°Think well. It does not need to be a male,¡± she added.


    Sofia was confused. ¡°What do you mean? Could you please explain that?¡± she asked.


    Anita nodded. ¡°We, pure-blood elves, were never numerous. Due to our strong affinity towards mana-wielding, the gods agreed that overhauling the way elves reproduced would ensure a balance. As such, whenever an elf of the male gender is born, he is normally powerful and evolves our society to higher grounds. However, birthing an elven male is rare. From what my mother had told me, within the past three centuries only eleven male elves were born and approximately 4000 females. So, for our species to not go extinct, the gods have allowed us to mate with the same sex and still have children. However, the rule states we can only be fertile once every 200 years, regardless of the role that we take on,¡± finished Anita.


    ¡°That¡­ sounds rather flawed,¡± stated Sofia while slightly blushing.


    ¡°Well, I do not know what the gods were thinking. It has been a rule since the creation of our world, so who am I to judge? Regardless, back to the topic. Even if you did meet someone of an elven heritage that made you bear your child¡­¡± (Anita)


    ¡°There was no one like that!¡± stated Sofia firmly. ¡°Duncan was human, and I truly loved him. There was nobody else in my life. Be it elf, orc, demi-human, a god or what have you!¡±


    ¡°¡­Even if so, there exists no elf who possesses such powers as decelerating time. From what Piu gathered, the mana flow patterns only affect our forest and nothing else. We are still talking, so that proves the time is not stopped. Perhaps Alviona has such skill due to a blessing from one of our gods? Is it possible that the time God had chosen a champion to represent him?¡± (Anita)


    As Anita and Sofia were discussing their current situation, an unexpected event took place.


    ¡°Hey, you! We know you two are in there. Come out! We have some business with you. If you do not come out, we shall burn you,¡± came a voice that belonged to neither Anita nor Sofia. It was a male¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Who¡­ Piu, what is going on?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°I do not know¡­ these people appeared out of nowhere. I do not know who they are and I can not see their mana patterns¡­ It appears that they are well versed with using concealment and illusion type of magic.¡± (Piu)


    ¡°What?! No¡­ this is bad!¡± exclaimed Anita with anger and frustration. Just as she was solving one riddle, another problem had popped up.


    ¡°Oi! Have you not heard me properly?! GET OUT OF THAT PLACE! Both of you!¡± the shout intensified.


    ¡°For the moment, we do not have any choice but to get out. My tracking is being jammed miss Anita¡± stated Sofia with a cold expression. ¡°We do not know how many of them are out there, so it is best to avoid the combat¡­ I can not let any harm come to my child, and they only mentioned the two of us, so we better go out and negotiate."


    ¡°I agree with you. I do not have time to get upstairs and get my gear but I can still cast magic. If we deem the situation to be too dangerous, I shall utilize my spells to hold them down, while we evacuate,¡± replied Anita.


    As the two of them walked outside, the first sight they witnessed was that of a tall man wearing steel armor. He was holding a long spear in his right hand and a torch in his left. He wore no helmet, but the condition of his armor roared of the battlefield. Some chunks of meat and blood were still visible on his boots. Besides the man, stood another male, who had no left arm. He held a short sword in his only hand and was breathing heavily. Anita assessed, that the man was severely injured lately and that he had lost a lot of blood. From the looks of it, the man should be dead by now. Seeing that the two of them were exhausted and weakened, Anita cast her skill [Mass Entangle], and as she did, roots shot up from the earth and entangled the two people who were the source of the ruckus earlier. Seeing this, Sofia reacted by retrieving her bow and aiming at the two people but just as she did so, she was grabbed, and a dagger was pointed at her neck, ready to slice her at any moment.


    ¡°My, oh my,¡± came a voice that belonged to a female. ¡°It appears that you two are living alone in this forest, so perhaps you can shed some light on our current situation. You see, our friend over there is supposed to have died from the blood loss about 3 hours ago, but it appears that he is still alive. We only got here a few hours ago, so can you please tell us what is going on? It was daytime when we entered this forest and now, all of a sudden, it is almost midnight. Also, would you be kind enough to release my friends? If you refuse, your friend over there shall die,¡± finished the young woman who had revealed her presence while pointing at Sofia.


    Anita understood. She withdrew her offensive skill. This situation is terrible!!! Shit! Cursed Anita, while looking at Sofia and back at her house. No matter what she was going to do, she was endangering both her and her daughter. There was no way out of this situation. Just who the hell were these people, she wondered. A man was holding a dagger at Sofia¡¯s neck, two men stood in front of her, and a woman stood at a little distance. Four people, all armed and experienced at killing.


    Just as Sofia and Anita faced this situation, an unexpected voice sounded through this grim scenario.


    ¡°Hello. I see that you are playing and do not wish to disturb you,¡± said the voice that was too sweet to belong to a male. It was not loud, but everyone could hear it. ¡°However, if you hurt my mommy or Anita,¡± the voice paused, ¡°I will kill you,¡± she claimed with a tone that carried no malicious intent, but was firm enough to shake the ground.


    It was Alviona. A girl who had been asleep and battling fever a moment ago.

 Chapter 12 - Awakening

    *Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock*


    Alviona woke up the moment her mother and Anita went to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor to discuss the deceleration of time. As she opened her eyes and came to her senses, an unknown sensation jolted through her body. After a brief moment, the feeling settled in and was now part of her.


    Overflowing with curiosity, she mentally issued the <Self-Diagnosis> command, a technique that she was well accustomed to. As the process began, Alviona¡¯s current status and condition were displayed in her mind.


    {<Self-Diagnosis>}


    {(Report)}


    [Name: Alviona


    Primary Race: Unknown creation


    Secondary Race: Pure-blood elf of unknown origins.


    Ultimate Creators: Reiolle - Mother. Archill ¨C Father.


    Biological Parents: Sofia - Mother. Duncan ¨C Father.


    Age: 1.3 years


    Physical Age: 11.3 years


    Currently Known Intrinsic Skills:


    <Self-Diagnosis> (Activatable; Core) ¨C Allows the owner to receive a report about oneself. Every information is displayed so long as the user wills it. Can display specific reports, so long as the instruction is given before activation.


    <Subjugation> (Activatable; Defensive; Offensive; Utility) ¨C Allows the user to extend an offer of being subjugated. This offer is one-time only.


    <Dimensional Loot-box> (Activatable; Utility) ¨C An infinite storage facility. Can store practically anything.


    <Non-Dominatable> (Defensive; Passive; Offensive) ¨C You were created by two of the strongest powers in Universes. Such existence cannot be dominated by any techniques, regardless of status.


    <Clock of Time> (Automatic; Defensive; Passive) ¨C Depending on the user¡¯s condition, accelerates, decelerates or fully stops the flow of time. If the time is stopped, the living creatures will be erased from existence for the duration. Restrictions: 1) If time is stopped, harming or being harmed is impossible. Any damage done to the world will revert itself 3 seconds after damage. Anything collected and not stored in <Dimensional Loot-box> will revert itself to its origins. 2) Only works as a defensive mechanism. Affects your body growth, and prevents direct fatality or situation that may cause one until the age of 11. Can be upgraded to Activatable skill, once certain knowledge and age are gained.


    <Untraceable> (Defensive; Passive) ¨C No world Administrator, Deity or Overseer of Balance may track you.


    Mana Related Skills: None


    Elemental Affinities:


    + 10 Water


    Body Condition: Fully recovered


    <Clock of Time> Report: due to the severity of injuries received, the time in the vicinity has decelerated for 70 hours, and your body growth has slightly accelerated. A positive, outside interference has fully cured your wounds. Foreign objects have entered from outside the deceleration zone and have been deemed suspicious. Preservation has been launched. Your body growth has been accelerated, and you have reached the physical age of 11. Time has completely halted for the next 56 hours]


    {(End of Report)}


    I see. So that was what I felt. It was the time stop. Hmm. I can probably wait for 56 hours then. But first, what is this tickling sensation? Aaah, this is too pleasant! Thought Alviona, as she lay on her bed.


    The report that she had read did not contain any information that she was unfamiliar with. For a child that was only one year and three months old, her self-awareness was very high.


    Now then, let me think about what to do once the time resumes. Hmmm. Aha! Of course! I will bite Piu¡¯s tail! Then I will play lots since I won¡¯t get as tired. I can ask Anita to teach me how to make the water dance so that I can gift my mommy a smile. We can also eat lots and lots of food, she paused and recalled what her mother had told her a few minutes ago. No! First, I must get strong and learn everything to protect mommy. Playing will be in-between.


    Alviona decided that she would rest for 56 hours, but her excitement kept her awake. When she attempted to switch her body to a different position, she felt like someone was tickling her yet again, followed by a sensation of laying on something warm and comfortable. Confused, she decided to lift her blanket and look. As she did, a magnificent sight was revealed to her eyes. Joy and delight filled her mind.


    Wings?!


    I have wings! She screamed in her thoughts with happiness.


    Tossing the blanket away, she got up and tried to touch the wings, but ended up randomly flapping them. Frustrated, she tried again and again, but to no avail.


    Noooo! Touching those limbs is too hard. I end up moving my wings too randomly. All-right me! Focus! I can do this. First, relax the body. Next, try to control them. And now¡­


    Despite her efforts, it was still a failure. Only after a lot of trial and error through the duration of 4 hours did Alviona manage to move her wings properly and be able to reach them. It feels like I am touching something soft, and it tickles. This sensation is revitalizing.


    Still too excited, she rushed towards the big mirror and got mesmerized by the sight that presented in front of her. A beautiful, pale, young elf with the height of 1.4 meters was revealed. She had an oval-shaped face, with prominent cheekbones and thin, rosy cheeks. Her small nose and prominent, crimson-colored eyebrows further added to her beauty; alongside breathtaking pink lips that resembled rounded Cupid¡¯s bow. Alviona¡¯s crimson-colored hair extended as far as her waistline and was curly. Small horns were slightly visible from her head. It appeared that they were still growing. The ears were just like Anita¡¯s, long and pointy. Alviona wiggled them in excitement. Lastly, her wings were perhaps the most breath-taking sight for her as they were enormous, pitch black color, reminiscent of a universe where no light existed. A perfect and peaceful tone.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Is this figure me? She flapped her wings. Seeing that her action was mirrored in the reflection, tears welled up her face. Overfilled with joy, she burst into genuine laughter. It was the first time that she was experiencing such emotion and ended up rejoicing even more, for she had learned something new. My figure is too cute! Ah! I want to go out and try them out! I want to fly. Wait, what does that word mean? Regardless, I want to do it. I will find it out sooner or later, but since I have so much free time, might as well find it out sooner right? Okay me! Let¡¯s go! Let''s soar through the skies.


    Alviona walked outside and began flapping her wings. Since they were part of her flesh now, she knew how they worked. It took her time to synchronize with the newly acquired body part correctly, but once she figured it out, she realized how to utilize her wings to perform a take-off from the ground. Slowly but gradually, Alviona began her first-time ascension to the skies. She practiced landing and taking off for 5 hours and so, a total of 10 hours of 56 have elapsed.


    Now I am ready! Let¡¯s fly! She thought as she began her take-off. Once she reached the desired altitude, she tilted her body and commenced her flight.  This sensation is amazing! The wind is gently flowing against my face. My wings are wiggling in the sky, and it feels like I am swimming in the air. Ah! I want to go faster! Faster!


    Her flight speed accelerated beyond reason. The scenery was also rapidly changing. She went to all the locations that were previously visited on Piu¡¯s back. As the lake came into view, she halted the motion of her wings and allowed herself to glide. The adrenalin was pumping, and the child was getting more excited.


    Satisfaction was overflowing inside her head. She was overly grateful to her creators for giving her life. To her mother for birthing her and giving her so many experiences and protecting her. Alviona was currently enjoying the life to its fullest, as she was soaring through the skies. The light of the moon that illuminated and created a reflection on the water was entrancing her mind. The scent of the forest, the cold, yet pleasant wind that flowed onto her body, and the many beautiful sights, all of this evoked an emotion of satisfaction in her mind.


    As Alviona was about to turn around and fly back to Anita¡¯s residence, her attention was captured by a new phenomenon. Despite it being night time, the road leading back to Anita¡¯s home revealed bright daylight beyond the forest area.


    Let¡¯s see. It seems that the time is not in sync in that area and this area. Oh right, the time got decelerated for a few hours first, so that would explain this phenomenon. I want to fly over there and check it out¡­ She checked the time displayed on the <Clock of Time>, to ensure that she still had enough time to play around. Understanding that 45 hours remained, she accelerated her flight and soon was past the forest entrance.


    As the time of day shifted to late afternoon, Alviona sensed something. It was coming from some distance away. Curious, she flew towards that direction and what was unveiled in front of her was a sight of a battlefield. Various corpses of all genders were scattered all over the place. Some had wounds originating from weapons. Flames scorched some dead, and smoke was still being emitted. Interested in the situation, she decided to make a landing. Once she did, she began observing and analyzing.


    This person has a massive hole in his stomach. What is this organ called? Oh, I see. Those are intestines. His insides are on the ground. She touched the face of the dead soldier. His eye sockets are damaged. His wrist is broken. Oh, there is another body over there. That woman has no head. She is wearing something sturdy.


    *Clank, Clank*


    Hmm. It makes that sound. Oh, what is that over there? She approached another body, that had a sword stuck in its chest. What is this? It looks funny. Alviona¡¯s childish curiosity was aroused.


    She began humming and jumping around the place. For some reason, the gore did not bother her at all. She did not have any fear of being in such an environment, nor did she harbor any feelings for the dead. At some point, she stopped. These are all people. But, they are not alive. The <Clock of Time> stated that all living creatures would be erased from existence, so they are all dead. Then, what if somebody would do something like this to my mommy or Anita? Hmm. She stopped her thought and pouted. I will merely kill and erase them from existence. Nobody harms my mommy! I do not know what that word means, but I know that all I will have to do is make them look like those people here. That way, they will not be considered living and will not touch my precious mother. Satisfied with her solution, she grinned and resumed her exploration.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    What in the name of gods is going on? Wondered Solomon, whose head had been sliced off and tossed to rot. He could not feel his body and his life was draining away.


    And yet, he was alive. He could still move his eyes and think. As he looked at the battlefield, several corpses were visible within the range of his eyesight. Am I dreaming? Is this perhaps a nightmare, one that I will wake up from and think that it was a dream? Or, is it a message from gods? Am I having a vision about the future? He kept thinking, but nothing changed.


    Time passed, but he did not wake up. Wyvern that was annihilating his forces had vanished. Not even crows that feasted on the flesh of the dead were visible.


    Hours passed, but the time of day did not change. The corpses he had burnt with [Incinerate], were still charred and smoke was still visible.


    How many hours has it been now? He asked himself after 4 hours have elapsed from his death.


    Solomon had lost track of time. He desperately waited for something to happen, but three more hours had passed instead, without anything occurring. He then began thinking about the concept of an afterlife.


    If heaven exists, then should I not be drinking wine and be surrounded by beautiful women? Perhaps, this is hell? If it is, a lot of things would be explained. But then, where are the torturers? Much time has passed, but there is nobody that would torture me further. Should their goal not be to break me?


    Five more hours flew by on the battlefield. Solomon finally gave up about thinking and decided to close his eyes. There was nothing much he could do, for he had already thought about the way his life had unfolded. He had been named as Damas¡¯s strongest sorcerer for over six years now. A lot of training, sweat, tears, blood, and emotional trauma went into acquiring this title. But it was all useless now. He was dead. Finally strengthening his resolve and deciding to sink into nothingness, a sound of someone striking metal rushed through his ears.


    The battlefield had been silent for an unknown amount of time for him, so he had grown used to the silence. Now that silence was disrupted. Overflowing with curiosity, he opened his eyes. At quite some distance away, he saw a figure walking and dancing around. A small humming also began entering his ears.


    Understanding that someone finally showed up, Solomon¡¯s mind was overtaken by both joy and fear. Happiness, for someone else other than himself, was here and fear, for that same someone could be the torturer that he had previously thought about could finally have arrived. This sensation soon faded away, for the person did not approach him at all and instead was wandering around aimlessly. At some point, it even began drifting away.


    ¡°Hello! I am over here! Can you hear me?¡± he yelled over in hopes that the person would hear him. Miraculously enough, the now only visible dot stopped fading away and instead began quickly moving back.


    ¡°Over here!¡± he yelled once again. ¡°I am over here!¡±


    The dot began approaching even quicker and finally started to take a more solid shape and form. He could vaguely see a small body of a person and some form of a black object on the sides of the body. Are those... Wings?! He asked himself, but the moment he did so, the person quickly ascended into the air. Not even five seconds after, it appeared in front of him and began a descent.


    The sight in front of Solomon was an indescribable beauty. It was a girl with beautiful, long, crimson colored hair and huge black wings that she gracefully moved around while landing. Her body, while not grown, was perfect. Her face was that of a goddess. No, saying that it belonged to a goddess would be an insult. It was beyond that realm. The eyes of the girl were the proof to that. Her big round eyes that were bright orange, as if to set the world aflame, completely entranced Solomon. Furthermore, the left eye of the beauty was the most mysterious thing he has ever seen, for the pupil was shaped like a clock and it was moving backward. Each second that he gazed upon this sight felt like an eternity.


    Solomon decided to gather his remaining resolve and speak up. However, before his mouth could open and words could escape, the girl made the first move.


    ¡°Hello. My name is Alviona. May I know who you are, and how you ended up inside my <Clock of Time>?¡±

 Chapter 13 - <Subjugation>

    The situation was grim. Solomon, whose sole head remained, found it difficult to think about an answer to the question that the girl posed him.


    Is she an angel? Is she a demon? What is up with those eyes? She referred to herself as Alviona. Is that her name? Is it perhaps the name of her race? I have never heard of a name such as that. What is this Clock of Time that she refers to? There are too many variables. What should I answer? Crap! I am in a worse situation right now than I was during my death. Perhaps I should introduce myself first? The man wondered. Currently, the girl was patiently awaiting his answer while innocently blinking her eyes. He thought that it was pretty cute. Finding the fragments of resolve that he possessed in his non-existent self, he decided to finally speak.


    ¡°Goddess of death; I, Solomon, humbly greet your stature descend upon me. I deeply apologize, but I do not know of this Clock of Time that you are referring to,¡± he stated with a tone of respect and apology.


    Alviona blinked quickly and wiggled her ears. After a moment of delay, she burst out into the sweetest laughter that the man had ever heard.


    Yes! I am glad that I was taught etiquette at the Academy of Mages. It appears that her laughter is sincere. Now I should attempt to slowly withdraw information from her and perhaps ask her of the current condition of the world.


    ¡°May I ask as to what has amused you this much, my goddess?¡±


    At that moment, Alviona ceased her laughter and looked at his face once more.


    ¡°I apologize Mr. Solomon, but I do not understand what the word that you just used means,¡± she replied with a chuckle.


    ¡°I do not understand what you mean by that, O goddess of death,¡± replied Solomon with a little bit of confusion. He wondered if she had seen through his intentions.


    ¡°There, that! You repeated it. ¡°Goddess,¡± what does that word mean?¡±


    Ah, perhaps I have disrespected her in some ways? I should be more careful.


    ¡°I apologize, my goddess. However, I do not know of any other words to describe you as, other than that. You, the almighty deity that oversees the flow of life and death. One that sends the dead mortals to the afterlife,¡± Solomon replied.


    ¡°No, no. I do no such things, and I still do not know what that word means. I assure you I oversee neither life nor death,¡± she replied while lightly scratching her head.


    Solomon was confused by her words. If she was not the goddess of death, then she had to be the torturer of hell, or perhaps the devil itself. His entire soul was now overtaken by fear.


    ¡°Then¡­ are you here to torture me?¡± he asked in a panic.


    ¡°What does that word mean?¡± she asked again, as Solomon finished his question.


    ¡°I see. This was part of it was it not? Creating an illusion of stopped time and having me trapped in this condition. You were planning to break my sanity through isolation, and now you have revealed yourself to toy with me,¡± he stated with a voice full of fear and realization of the truth. The severity of his condition was indeed that bad. How foolish must I have been to be captured by my mortal desires? She is probably waiting for me to completely break into submission and only then feast on my soul. What a horrid creature, he thought while cursing himself and the gods who had condemned him to this fate.


    Alviona¡¯s face looked puzzled. ¡°I did not understand the meaning of anything that you just said,¡± she replied. ¡°Are you saying, that you are a toy?¡± she asked innocently while grabbing his head and lightly shaking it. At some point, she even began trying to pinch his face and stretch his cheeks. After a while, steam seemed to emit from her head, and she ended up falling down.


    ¡°I tried making you fluffy like Piu, but to no avail. Now I am hungry, and it is all your fault,¡± she accused with frustration.


    Solomon was confused beyond comprehension. What had just happened? Was she the torturer? Why was she acting so childish? After asking himself these questions, he looked at the girl and realized that she was drooling while muttering something along the lines of ¡°Piu¡¯s tail¡­ Piu¡¯s tail."


    ¡°Just, who are you?¡± he asked the girl with a puzzled and desperate voice. ¡°Hey!¡± he shouted after noticing that she was completely ignoring him. It seemed to produce its desired effect, for the girl snapped out of it and shifted her gaze towards Solomon once again, therefore allowing him an opportunity to ask his question yet again.


    ¡°Did I not already tell you?¡± she replied with a surprised look. ¡°I am Alviona.¡±


    ¡°Stop messing with me! What are you? If you are not a goddess or a torturer, what are you? Who do you serve?¡± he asked irritated.


    ¡°Serve? I do not think I serve anyone. Nobody can dominate me¡­¡± she replied with a smile while closing her eyes.


    If she says that¡­ then what is she? Clearly, she must be serving somebody to be in this place no?


    ¡°¡­ not even a god. Furthermore, to answer your question as to what I am, well¡­ I am Alviona. An elf,¡± she continued.


    What?! Elf? An Elf?! Elves do not have wings! Such a thing has never been recorded in history. I need to learn more and approach this situation differently.


    ¡°Child, you do understand that elves do not have wings, right?¡± he asked her slowly, to avoid evoking some form of catastrophe unto his head.


    ¡°Oh, those. I grew it out when my growth accelerated. My mommy, Reiolle, gifted them to me. I also have horns, but they are still developing. Aren¡¯t my wings amazing?!¡± she asked, her voice filled with awe. Her self-esteem seemed to be through the roof. And indeed, Solomon did think that her wings were brilliant.


    But who is this Reiolle she mentioned? She referred to her as a mother, so perhaps it is a name of a forgotten goddess and this person in front of me, is a demi-god? If so, then the stopped time¡­ is it a world created by that deity? Was I somehow destined to meet this girl?


    ¡°Forgive my rudeness. May I ask who this Reiolle is?¡± he asked politely.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Certainly!¡± replied the girl with an overly cheerful voice. The energy seemed to be pumping through her body. ¡°Reiolle is my sculptor, my creator and my mother¡± she replied passionately and with an enormous sense of pride.


    ¡°Creator? Sculptor? So, where is she now? May I talk to her?¡± he asked in hopes of communicating with this deity and asking about his role. There must have been a reason that he was not dead yet and he had to figure out how to appease this deity if he were to regain his life. If Solomon had to sell his soul, then he was ready to pay such price.


    ¡°Oh, she is here. But you may not talk to her. It is impossible,¡± replied Alviona with a giggle.


    ¡°Have I angered her in any way? May I ask, why can I not speak with her?¡± asked Solomon in a hurry.


    ¡°Well, it is due to one simple fact. Reiolle is currently standing in front of you, and you are speaking to her,¡± replied Alviona firmly.


    ¡°What? This is absurd¡­ Do you mean to say that you are Reiolle? Then, how do I comprehend your previous words?¡± asked Solomon in shock.


    ¡°No, no. You seem to have misunderstood me, Mr. Solomon. Let me try this again,¡± she replied and began her explanation.


    After 10 hours of going back and forth, Alviona had finally managed to vaguely provide a gist of the whole picture. She had not left out even a single detail. In the aftermath, Solomon¡¯s head was ready to explode in confusion. There were too many unknowns, but for the sake of retaining his sanity, he decided that the words spoken by this girl were truthful. Then one last question remained to be asked. After careful consideration, he mustered his courage and spoke up.


    ¡°So, if you are a child of such strong deities, then why are you stuck here. Can you not escape?¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Oh, but I am not stuck here. The world has come to a standstill for 56 hours. Currently, only 30 hours remain until the world resumes,¡± she stated without any hesitations or doubt.


    ¡°What will happen to me then?¡± he asked with an overwhelming sense of fear.


    ¡°That I do not know,¡± replied Alviona. ¡°I still do not know how you managed to be inside my <Clock of Time>. Its rules are absolute. All living creatures have been erased from existence in the place that I came from. What about here? You are here, talking to me. Therefore, you must be alive no?¡± she said while touching her chin.


    ¡°Wait. Did you just say, that all the living creatures would cease to exist?¡±


    ¡°For the duration that the time is stopped, yes.¡± Alviona nodded in affirmative.


    ¡°If it helps you out, I will tell you what happened on this battlefield,¡± said Solomon, desperately trying to fill in the gaps. Seeing that Alviona was fully paying attention, he told her of the tale which coincided with her description of the phenomenon. He talked about what sort of battlefield had unfolded here, how his head was sliced off and how time seemed to stop as it was falling down. When Solomon finished his story, Alviona snapped her fingers.


    ¡°Aha! I get it now,¡± she said while grinning. ¡°You are included in my <Clock of Time> because you were not considered as a living. If what you tell me is correct, then you still retained your consciousness for a brief moment after your death. Therefore, we are talking now. As to how you may be alive, it can be explained by Mana. I do not know anything related to the magical skills that my mommy - Sofia, used. However, I do have an intrinsic knowledge about how Mana works. Tell me, were you someone powerful with mana related abilities?¡± she asked with a face that gave away her overflow of curiosity


    ¡°Indeed, I was,¡± replied Solomon with a mixture of pride, regret, and guilt.


    ¡°Excellent. Then, I can answer your question now. What will happen to you is very simple. After the <Clock of Time> runs out, you will continue doing what you were doing prior. In other words, you will become like them¡± she said while pointing at the corpses on the battlefield.


    Solomon understood. The moment this clock that Alviona talked about timed out, his doom would be upon him. It was just a matter of time. There was absolutely nothing he could do.


    Oddly enough, he thought of this girl in front of him. Her presence here has somehow grown on him in ways that nobody else ever had. She had taken the time to talk to him during this crisis and had not walked away.


    He had been rude, and yet never did this child say anything. He silently thanked the heavens for granting him such privilege as someone that comforted him. With fear overtaking his body, he closed his eyes and prepared for his death.


    ¡°I¡­ Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°You are welcome!¡± replied Alviona with a grin. Such act warmed Solomon¡¯s heart, despite him not having one anymore.


    ¡°So, what are you doing now?¡± she asked with a curious voice.


    The man was confused. Why was she asking such a question? Furthermore, why was she still here? Did she not say that she had to fly back to her mother?


    ¡°I am preparing for death,¡± he said while realizing how stupid it sounded.


    ¡°Oh. Is it fun?¡± asked Alviona innocently.


    Just what is going through the mind of this unknown, unexplainable existence? Wondered Solomon. Then he thought about her story. Despite it sounding like a fairy-tale, the fact remained that time was stopped and she was the key to all of this. Besides, was she not behaving precisely in accordance to the age that she had described herself as being? She had high intelligence, this he did not doubt. However, the child still acted like a one year and three-month-old, if one was given an ability to speak at such age. This was most likely due to her inexperience with life.


    Great. I am thinking of this as if I believe this nonsense, kept Solomon thinking.


    ¡°No. But I do not think that I have a choice. There is nothing I can do to become alive. Resurrection spells exist, but in such a place to find a user that can utilize such a divine power is close to impossible,¡± he stated with sorrow and grief.


    ¡°Hmm, then are you saying that you want to live?¡± asked Alviona while falling into deep thought.


    ¡°Yes, I do!¡± exclaimed Solomon, ¡°But it is impossible.¡±


    ¡°But it is quite possible,¡± answered the girl firmly. ¡°I could use <Subjugation> and propose an offer. ¡°However,¡± she paused, ¡°be warned that the offer is one-time only. Your refusal or acceptance, will both be permanent¡±.


    What on earth¡­ What¡­ How? Only angels and deities can resurrect the dead. So, then what is this child talking about? She is probably playing. Well¡­ I suppose I could play along. What do I have to lose?


    ¡°All right¡­ I accept¡± he replied.


    ¡°No, not like that,¡± giggled Alviona. ¡°Like this,¡± she continued while extending her hand and touching Solomon¡¯s forehead.


    The moment she did a weird voice resonated inside Solomon¡¯s head.


    < {[You have received an offer of being subjugated by Alviona. Coming under her rule will enable you to evolve alongside her. All of your current achievements will be permanently lost. Your life will belong to the user. This process is irreversible. Would you like to Accept Alviona¡¯s permanent rule?]} >


    Solomon fell into thought. What was this sound echoing inside his head? Furthermore, he did not see or hear the girl do any incantations. Could she quickly spell cast some skills as he could? And if so, what was this skill? Curiosity flowed through his diminishing life force. Seriously, what was there to lose? Had he not convinced himself that if he had to offer his soul to a deity in exchange for life, he would accept? Why was he hesitating now?


    I accept.


    A jolt of pain rushed through his mind. His soul began twisting. The feeling could be described as a man chewing shattered bits of glass and swallowing it, and the body stretched till flesh would start to tear off. The sensation of eyes being gauged out over and over until one would get tired of screaming. Such was the intensity of pain that Solomon underwent. The process took exactly 6 hours. No more, no less. And so, less than 23 hours remained.


    < {[ You have been reborn as a cursed man. Your mana pool, stamina, and health have significantly increased. You are now permanently bound to the rule of Alviona. Betraying, harming or going against the direct will of the user, will result in your destruction. The user retains the right to resurrect you indefinitely. You are now directly linked to the user. Congratulations on getting subjugated! May you serve well!]} >


    "W-what?! What have you done to me?!"

 Chapter 14 - Rise of the Cursed Man

    A man that had a height of 1.82 meters stood in front of Alviona. It was Solomon, who looked nothing like his previous self.


    He wore a rather light breastplate, which was mostly black but reflected hints of gold. His pants were made of cloth that was just as sturdy as a plate but resembled leather. It was enchanted with a magical property to make the item as close to weightless as possible, therefore allowing the wearer to run quicker than most soldiers. His boots were of high-quality black leather.


    The man¡¯s garment consisted of a blue robe, which extended no longer than his thighs. His left shoulder was covered by the shoulder pad, which resembled a shape of his former head. It seemed to have a unique property, for if one stared at the piece long enough, they would be tricked into thinking that the closed eyes of the deceased man were leaking the tears of blood.


    The man wore a leather glove on his left hand. His right side, however, was different. In fact, there was no flesh on the entirety of the said arm. It was made of nothing but bones. Magical mana patterns that resembled blood vessels were deeply embedded inside of his skeletal limb, allowing him to move it freely.


    The tattered brown cloak entirely covered his right side of the body. It extended all the way down his knees and concealed the sight from the onlookers.


    Lastly, his neck area was covered by a bevor that also concealed half of his head. Solomon¡¯s face remained the same. However, it appeared that it had regressed in age and now he looked like a 16-year old. His beard was entirely gone, and his nose had changed the structure a little, for it was no longer flat. One would describe him as an average looking male in his teens. As Solomon removed his hoodie to reveal his face, it appeared that his hair had also grown back; for the black, long braided strands extended slightly past his shoulders.


    <Status>


    < [Name: Solomon


    Race: Cursed Man


    Health: 3400/3400


    Mana: 5880/5880


    Creator: Alviona


    Mistress: Alviona


    Passive Skills: [Body of the Cursed] ¨C Your body was reborn to meet every need of your mistress. As such, no matter how hard opponents attempt to harm you, your health will not drop below 1. Your body may be destroyed, but you will never die.


    [Arm of the Accursed] ¨C Your right arm has no muscles or tissue; therefore, it can lift any weapon with relative ease. However, you are unable to perform any techniques aside from basics. Attacks conducted by this body part will have unique effects. Furthermore, you may send a form of the desired element into the weapon, making it the most devastating force in the world. You cannot spell cast with this hand.


    [Arm of the Living] ¨C your left arm belongs to that of living. You may cast two different types of spells: Regular and Advanced. Casting regular spells will only consume mana. Advanced spells consist of solely curses. For every curse cast, your hand will reflect it until the end of combat.


    [Immune to Poison] ¨C You are permanently immune to any poison.


    [Link of Life] ¨C You are eternally linked to Alviona, making her your lifeline. Any form of betrayal will result in your destruction. Harming the mistress is strictly prohibited. Engaging in combat without permission, unless to protect yourself or the user, is equivalent of betrayal. Any achievements acquired by lifeline will be reflected in your level and skill.


    [Mantle of Power] ¨C Allows you to regenerate mana while in combat for more than 5 minutes.


    [Anti Magic Coating] ¨C Reduces incoming damage of offensive magic by 33%. Any effects of paralysis cast on you will result in 15% movement speed reduction instead.


    [Nimble Spellcaster] ¨C Your spell casting is 20% quicker, so long as you loudly state which skill you plan to utilize.


    Active Skills: [Anchor] ¨C A curse. After a 5-minute delay, completely paralyzes the central nervous system of the target and causes death. Cost ¨C entire arm.


    [Element Weakness] ¨C A curse. Instantly curses up to 10 selected targets with a weakness to the desired element. Cost ¨C inability to cast any regular spells not related to the said element of the curse, until the stated targets die.


    [Bath of Flames] ¨C Regular spell. Creates a flame in a zone, that attaches to targets (maximum 100) and refuses to leave until their bodies are entirely bathed in flame. Deals damage over time. Cost ¨C 1000 mana.


    [Hail of Fireball] ¨C Regular spell. Gathers a medium-sized ball of fire in your hand that can be launched to inflict damage. After 4 second delay, the fireball will combust and release smaller strands of flame bolts that will cause burns and debuff the affected targets with -70% to healing received. Cost ¨C 680 mana.


    [Chains of Darkness] ¨C Regular spell. Creates black threads on your thumbs that you can issue a mental command to, allowing movement. These threads will latch on to any living creature and slowly drain a portion of the life force, revitalizing your body in the process. The ability lasts for 5 seconds. Cost: 500 mana.


    [Seal of Thunder] ¨C Regular spell. Creates a seal on the desired target, which brands them as a catalyst. Attacking this target with water element spell will trigger the seal, unleashing a devastating electric attack within the body, that will chain over to nearby enemies once. This spell is stackable, and the strength depends on the number of stacks accumulated on target, before its triggering. Cost ¨C 300 mana initially and a reduced 160 mana per additional seal.


    [Submerged in water] ¨C Regular spell. Creates a water bubble that completely submerges small area or a single target for 3 seconds. Previously submerged victims cannot be re-submerged for 50 seconds. Will trigger [Seal of Thunder]. Cost ¨C 150 mana for an area and 53 mana for a single target] >


    <End of Status>


    ¡°What¡­ have you done to me?¡± he asked the girl with a voice full of shock, fear, and denial.


    ¡°Good question¡­ I do not know. I just subjugated you¡± she replied with a giggle and a warming grin.


    ¡°This¡­ I am not dreaming right?¡± asked Solomon, still not believing that he had been reborn.


    ¡°It is not a dream, and I think it is best if we start going back to Anita¡¯s residence. She and my mommy will get nervous if we are late,¡± said Alviona firmly.


    ¡°Wait¡­ we?¡± asked Solomon confused, but immediately ended up shaking his head. ¡°I apologize. I understand¡± he continued. An unexplainable desire to be by the side of Alviona continually rushed through his body. Words could not describe it, but he could feel a link between himself and the girl.


    Remembering what the voice told him, everything fell into its place. All the puzzle pieces were currently assembled and revealed the truth, one that he had desperately been trying to call a fairy-tale. It appeared that everything Alviona told him was truthful. With the invisible chains now permanently binding him to his master, he could no longer lie to himself.


    ¡°My goddess. I, Solomon permanently pledge my everything to you. You are my ultimate creator and a mistress. Your word to me is a rule, and your desires are my law. I shall do anything to satisfy your needs, regardless of obstacles¡± he stated with an unshakable voice as he kneeled down. He pledged his oath with sincerity, regardless of whether he was bound to her or not. She had given him an opportunity to live yet again, a feat that no deity would offer him. As such, she became Solomon¡¯s deity.


    Alviona did not seem to mind his words, as she was carried away by looking around the battlefield once again. It appeared that she was looking at various weapons while murmuring things like ¡°What are those? Why is this one shaped differently from that one,¡± and ¡°what purpose does this thing serve.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to know of the uses for them?¡± he asked while pointing at the weapons.


    Alvionas bright orange eyes seemed to light up with flames of happiness after hearing Solomon¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°Yes please!¡± she replied quickly with a voice giving away her currently high level of curiosity.


    ¡°Take a look over there then. That part is a spear. It is long and primarily used for thrusting. Soldiers that wield those are most potent when together and behind shields, for they can deflect incoming projectiles such as arrows. If a country spends time and money, they can also give the sort of shields that will block spells such as [Fireball] or [Icicles].¡± He said while thinking about his experiences from various battles.


    ¡°What about that one over there?¡± said Alviona while pointing towards a mace.


    ¡°Oh that. It is a blunt weapon that is best used for crushing skulls and especially those who are heavily armored with the plate,¡± replied Solomon.


    ¡°But¡­ why don¡¯t the fighters use magic?¡± asked Alviona with a confused face.


    ¡°They do use it. However, it takes too much effort to do an incantation of a spell. When people utilize magic for battles, they mostly rely on mages as support troops. It is a little bit complicated, so perhaps I will explain this concept to you at a later time¡± finished Solomon.


    ¡°All right. Oh, what about that weapon over there?¡± asked Alviona while pointing towards an ax.


    Solomon continued explaining about every type of weapon that Alviona would point towards, telling her details and proper usage for them. Two hours have elapsed during this time, and now less than 21 hours remained.


    The last two weapons that Alviona inquired about were daggers and halberds.


    ¡°Daggers are primarily used for either assassination or in this case as backup weapons, which I am guessing was a preference of this specific soldier,¡± replied Solomon while pointing at the weapon. ¡°Rogues utilize stealth and confusion to gain momentum and kill important targets silently, only to go back into the shadows,¡± he continued talking while remembering the cause of his death. Solomon''s face twisted, color changing several times before returning to normal.


    ¡°As for halberds, well¡­ they are hard to use. They have multiple functions if I remember correctly. What was it again? Ah! The pointed tip to thrust, the blade part for slicing and the hook for taking down the horsemen. Or so it was¡± finished Solomon while shrugging.


    Alviona¡¯s eyes were shining. She was awkwardly staring at the two weapons in front of her.


    After slightly gulping, she kneeled down and touched both of them.


    First, she lifted the dagger and lightly swung it. Despite her moves being somewhat clumsy, she enjoyed the weight and the feel of wielding it.


    Next, she picked up the halberd. It was rather long for her to wield correctly, however with a little bit of maneuvering, she managed to achieve her goal. Despite its weight, she held it with relative ease. What most interested Alviona about this weapon was none other than the end of the shaft, which was housing a mace-like blunt metal.


    After analyzing the weapons for one full hour, she grinned and began swinging them around as if to learn how to utilize them. She even struck the corpses that wore different pieces of gear and found out that the most useful part against the steel or plate was indeed the thrusting part of the halberd. However, the dagger was more maneuvrable and slid through many openings like helmet visor.


    ¡°Mr. Solomon, I truly like those two weapons. May I keep them?¡± she asked him with sincerity.


    Solomon was dumbstruck. Why was his mistress asking for permission from him? ¡°My lady, I think that anything that is here is already considered remnants of the past; therefore, you may take whatever you would like,¡± he replied.


    Seeing how she was holding them, Solomon got curious and asked as to why she was so attached to the weaponry and whether or not they were needed. After all, was he not standing there to protect her? Power was flowing through his body. He could feel it. Anything he had achieved previously was just fragments of his current strength.


    ¡°Not really. I do not need the weapons. However, they look amazing! Their functions are multiple, so curiosity took over me,¡± she replied while her eyes were sparkling. Stars would surely start popping out any time now.


    Without further delay, Alviona issued a mental command for <Dimensional Loot-Box>. At that moment, both her and Solomon were taken aback by a small transparent light that landed and instantly made the items disappear.


    ¡°Huh?! What just happened?¡± asked Solomon dumbfounded.


    ¡°I do not know, but it was pretty interesting,¡± replied Alviona.


    ¡°Where did the weapons go?¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°I think they are inside the storage box. Oh yes, here,¡± she replied while simply materializing the weapon into her hand. ¡°I can recall it like this.¡±


    This ability is too exciting, thought Alviona, as she witnessed her skill in action. Playing is fun, but now I am getting famished. I think we should head back. Wait. Just one more minute. I will learn a tiny bit more, and then we will go back.


    ¡°One last question. Those metal things on the bodies, what are those?¡± asked Alviona to Solomon.


    ¡°They are referred to as armor. The cloth worn under is referred to as apparel,¡± replied Solomon, his face becoming as red as a tomato.


    ¡°Mistress Alviona¡­ I just realized...¡± he paused and gulped. Finally finding the resolve to speak, he took a deep breath and said what was on his mind ¨C ¡°¡­you are completely naked!¡± I am a fool! How could I have been staring at a young girl¡¯s nude body all this time? Is this even legal? She is still a minor! No, no! NOOOOOOO! Where did my dignity go?! He thought while prostrating.


    ¡°Huh? What does that word mean?¡± replied Alviona innocently.


    ¡°¡­¡± Solomon was speechless. Someone, please help me! Please teach this child what it means to be naked. I¡­ ¡°It means that you are not wearing any form of apparel that would cover your body,¡± he replied. Her body though is too beautiful. Technically it is her fault for not wearing anything right? Her chest area is not developed, and yet¡­ What am I thinking? No. The situation I am in right now is too wrong. She explained what had happened to her, so naturally, if such a quick growth were to occur she would grow out of her infant¡¯s clothing no?! I am such a fool. As he thought this, he began banging his head on the ground, desperately trying to crack his skull and cover up for his shame. Even death would be acceptable at this point.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Perhaps it would have been better if he declined the offer? How could he have been so shameless?


    Alviona on the other hand still, had no idea what the man was talking about.


    ¡°Please... Is there anything you can wear? Anything at all?¡± begged Solomon.


    After a little bit of pondering, she extended her left wing that tightly swirled around her entire body. It was as if they became a black dress of feathers. Ensuring that no genitals were visible any longer, Solomon finally managed to ease up.


    ¡°Tha¡­ thank you very much.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°You are welcome!¡± replied Alviona with her childish giggle, while kneeling down and checking out the different pieces of armor and apparel. After thorough analysis, she decided to store those in her inventory. While none of them fit her, she enjoyed collecting unknown materials.


    I feel like I forgot something. Thought Alviona, but before she could figure out what it was, Solomon interrupted her: ¡°Dear goddess, may I ask a question?¡±


    ¡°Yes Mr. Solomon?¡± she asked with a smile.


    ¡°How much time remains?¡±


    ¡°Oh! That is what I was forgetting! Thank you very much. Only 15 hours remain now,¡± replied Alviona with a growling stomach. ¡°I think it is time we start returning.¡±


    The two of them walked back towards the forest. The battlefield scenery had not changed yet, and many corpses were still visible.


    From time to time, they would stop, and Alviona would go around observing and analyzing due to her insatiable curiosity. Sometimes it would take as little as five minutes, others it would take an hour and so only 10 hours remained when they approached the forest of Javl.


    After entering, three hours have passed by, but the scenery did not seem to change too much.


    ¡°Are we perhaps lost?¡± inquired Solomon.


    ¡°It is possible, for I have come from a different direction and have never walked in or out of the forest before¡± replied Alviona sincerely. Solomon was baffled by the fact that she was not nervous at all.


    ¡°So, what do we¡­¡± as Solomon was asking his question, the ground began shaking violently ¡°¡­do? What was that?¡±


    His question was answered not even 0.1 seconds after it being asked, for a smash resonated throughout the entire forest. The tremoring earthquake was making its way towards him. He barely managed to dodge it. When Solomon looked towards the direction where it originated from, his face went pale. It was a giant golem made of various rocks and minerals. Minor stones seemed to rotate around the body.


    ¡°Ah. That is the golem that Anita created,¡± stated Alviona while it sent a shockwave directed towards her. Seeing this, Solomon instantly rushed over to remove his mistress from danger. The tremor was barely evaded.


    ¡°Why is that thing inside the <Clock of Time>?¡± asked Solomon in confusion and panic, while not letting his guard down. He had heard that a golem capable of destroying legions inhabited the Great Forest of Javl; however, he would never have hoped to meet one and be on bad terms with it.


    ¡°I think it is not a living creature. It belongs to the mother nature,¡± replied Alviona after a moment of thinking and remembering what Anita had chanted back at the lake.


    ¡°Then we have no choice but to fight it," stated Solomon while preparing himself for combat. He did not care if this golem was the one that destroyed the legions. It had attacked his goddess and evoked an emotion of undying rage within him. He needed to protect his mistress no matter the cost.


    ¡°Even if we fight it, it will regenerate to its original property in 3 seconds after receiving any harm,¡± said Alviona while still in deep thought. ¡°Besides, I do not want to damage something that Anita created. But I do agree that we have to fight it. We cannot lead it to miss Anita¡¯s residence,¡± she continued.


    Solomon assessed the situation carefully. Given the information, what was there that they could do? Alviona would not get injured thanks to her <Clock of Time>, but what about him? Besides, he still had to conduct an experiment and test his skills. Just as he thought about it, a bright idea came into his head. He grinned.


    ¡°Lady Alviona, if I destroy it quickly enough, can you move it into your storage? That way, won¡¯t the <Clock of Time> restriction be lifted and golem won¡¯t regenerate unless it leaves the storage before your time stop runs out?¡± he asked curiously.


    ¡°Oh. OH! I like your way of thinking. That indeed will be the case,¡± she said with a grin.


    ¡°Then, let us begin,¡± said Solomon while formulating a plan. Still dodging and evading tremors sent his direction, he finally came up with a proper strategy and tactic to deal with this golem.


    Solomon began by casting [Seal of Thunder], which took 4 seconds thanks to the loud chant. Looking at his health and mana pool information that was displayed on his retina, he could see his mana change from 5880 to 5550. The moment 4 seconds were up, another [Seal of Thunder] was added.


    Within 1 minute, he had cast 15 stacks of skill consuming a total of 2540 mana, putting it down at 3340. However, he did not allow himself to relax. A mana golem of such proportion would not be destroyed instantly. Solomon had taken into consideration any resistances it might have.


    Another minute passed, and 15 more stacks have been added to the golem, 2400 more mana was expanded, reducing it down to 940.


    Solomon''s body gradually began to tire out due to the insane amount of mana expenditure, but he refused to ease up. Thankfully all he had to do was run around and cast [Seal of Thunder] while dodging the tremors coming to his direction. For now, he decided that he would drag the time out for 3 minutes to let his <Mantle of Power> take effect. As it did, he sensed his powers slowly regenerating.


    Every 10 minutes, his mana pool would become full once again. Within 6 hours and 15 minutes, he had cast a total of 630 stacks of [Seal of Thunder].


    ¡°I swear! If this thing does not die after this, I do not know what I will do¡± screamed Solomon as he lost the count of hours.


    ¡°Oh, it has been 6 hours and 15 minutes. The world will be resuming in 30 minutes¡± stated Alviona. Solomon was taken aback by this declaration.


    ¡°Has it been that long?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Alviona. ¡°Although, I did not notice how quickly the time went by since I was watching you and golem play.¡±


    ¡°Well then. Now! [Submerged in Water]!¡± screamed Solomon with all of his might. A massive bubble of water was forming in his palms. It took 4.8 seconds to complete. Once the skill finished, and 53 mana was expanded, he sent it towards the golem.


    The ability immediately disappeared from his hand, and the golem was splashed with water, coating it in a bubble. The moment it was fully submerged in water, a blinding discharge of lightning was seen, and the entire earth and forest shook, causing a violent earthquake.


    Solomon and Alviona both were in the epicenter of the biggest cataclysm inside one forest that the world Dedrillon would never come to know about, thanks to the <Clock of Time>. Alviona was not hurt. Interestingly enough, the effect seemed to also carry over to Solomon who he made it out with just minor scratches and bruises.


    Fortunately, Alviona had retrieved entirety of the golem and stored it into her <Dimensional Loot-Box>, thanks to the fact that the no parts were cast outside of the bubble. It sturdily held it like glue. After she finished doing so, she turned around to look at Solomon. Her eyes began watering up, before bursting into laughter and excitement.


    ¡°Mr. Solomon, teach me how to use magic! I want to learn too! I want to play like that too! That was so much fun! It was amazing! You must teach me how to do that! Please? Please? Pretty please?!¡± exclaimed Alviona with shock and awe. She displayed endless admiration towards Solomon¡¯s actions.


    Solomon, mesmerized and dumbstruck by what he had just done, could not find any words to reply to his goddess. She had created him and granted such absurd power.


    What could he say? He has never been this powerful. Ever. In truth, he felt like he was so strong, that he could single-handedly take down even gods. However, he stopped on that note.


    I should never forget how my carelessness got the better of me and brought me to my doom. No matter how strong I am, I now have one single purpose. It is to serve my mistress, thought Solomon while making a permanent mental note in his head. Looking back and at the child that was still staring at him with an excited expression, he laughed and grinned.


    ¡°I do not know how to teach you magic as I have already died. Most of most of my magic skills were lost. However, I can take you to a magic school that will teach you simple magic. After you reach the age of 13, we can go to a different sort of school. One that specializes in raising mages and sorcerers,¡± he replied with a grin, while lightly patting Alviona¡¯s head and messing up her hair a little.


    Alviona¡¯s eyes went wide and then closed. She seemed to be enjoying the pampering. Furthermore, she was very excited. ¡°I do not know what a school is, but if I can learn magic then I will go there,¡± she stated firmly.


    ¡°Very well then,¡± replied Solomon, satisfied by the determination of his mistress. He was also very curious to see what she would become. Perhaps she would revolutionize the entire way magic worked? A sense of unknown settled into his head. No matter how he looked at it, this girl had the potential to become anything. ¡°But for now, we should go meet your mother and your friend. They are probably going to start being worried,¡± he told her.


    ¡°That is true!¡± gasped Alviona as she realized that time was almost about to resume. Quickly grabbing Solomon by his skeletal hand, the two of them began walking back to Anita¡¯s home.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    [<Clock of Time> Report: The time has resumed as usual. The forest will remain in the decelerated time zone for 66 hours. End of Report]


    Oh, I see. We are still not home though. I think we should soon be approaching Anita¡¯s residence. Oh, there it is. I can see the light illuminating from over there. Wait, what does this word mean? Ah, today was great. Magician, I want to be a magician, and wield that halberd too. Playing is such a great pleasure. I want to quickly meet mommy and Anita and tell them of my adventures. I want to introduce them to Solomon so that he can play with me too. He will surely help me capture Piu¡¯s tail. And then, I will bite it! Everything is fun, much too fun. Learning is enjoyable.


    *Tock TOCK TOCK TOCK TOCK TOCK Tock*


    Huh? What is going on? Mr. Tock, are you broken? Did something happen? Thought Alviona as she and Solomon walked back to the residence.


    ¡°Mr. Solomon¡­ I have a minor problem,¡± said Alviona while looking up at Solomon¡¯s face.


    ¡°What happened? Is something wrong? Are you hurt?!¡± asked Solomon in a confused and concerned tone.


    ¡°No, it is just that¡­ Mr. Tock seems to be going quicker than usual. I feel like there is danger somewhere and I am a little bit uneasy,¡± she told Solomon mentally.


    Solomon was taken aback, for Alviona had not used this method of communication yet, but quickly managed to come to his senses.


    ¡°I understand,¡± he replied in a low voice and nodded. They were very close to Anita''s residence, so why was it that despite thirty extra minutes elapsing, nobody was looking for her?


    As they got closer and closer, some mumbles were heard. Solomon being a former sorcerer of Damas kingdom, could tell that there something was awry and off.


    He decided that it would be best to not go directly to the entrance and instead took a minor detour. As he explained his course of action to Alviona, the two of them hid behind a rock and observed what was happening at some distance from them.


    Interesting enough, Alviona¡¯s curious nature was nowhere to be seen right now. Instead, she harbored a face of confusion. Solomon covered his face with a hoodie and lightly peeked out of the rock. What he witnessed was two young girls, one pure-blood elf, and one half-elf being tied with ropes. Three men and a woman encircled them.


    Shit! I should have dealt with them back then after all! Shit! It is all my fault! He cursed, after understanding who the four people were. This situation was a direct cause of his incompetence. How am I supposed to explain this to the child now? He wondered.


    ¡°Dear mistress. This servant of yours would like to humbly and earnestly apologize for his incompetence. It appears that your mother and friend are being held hostage by those that I failed to slaughter before meeting you,¡± he stated with words full of pity. Solomon felt like a villain for telling such things to such a small child, even if her body was of eleven years and three-month-old.


    Alviona, hearing Solomon¡¯s words, lightly peeked out. The invaders did not seem to notice her, or if they did, they probably mistook her for wildlife. As she witnessed her mother and Anita being tied down and a man holding a dagger close to her throat, she quickly ducked behind the rock and looked at Solomon.


    ¡°We have to rescue them. Mommy and Anita are in danger. Piu¡¯s circlet is upstairs, so that is why this happened. It is not your fault. They were caught by surprise. I do not know what this word means¡­ but, we need to protect them. I promised myself, before I met you, that my priority 1 is always to get strong and protect mommy¡± her firm and calm voice resonated inside Solomon¡¯s head.


    He understood the feelings of his goddess very well, but there was really nothing he could do. If he cast any of his spells, he would risk endangering and hurting Alviona¡¯s family. If he killed someone and they began executing hostages, it would be twice as bad. So, what could he do?


    ¡°Can you get rid of that one man with the dagger? I will take care of the rest¡± stated Alviona with a voice full of commitment and resolve.


    Solomon would have hesitated if anyone were to ask him to go out on blind instinct. However, it was his mistress asking. Without any further delay, he silently cast [Anchor] on the man with the dagger, who was most likely a rogue class. As a result, blood gushed out from his left shoulder, and his left arm completely disintegrated into nothingness.


    ¡°I did as you have ordered my lady. That man will die in 5 minutes¡± he replied with a smile. Despite him being in a lot of pain and experiencing blood loss, it was tolerable and not even a millennium close to the pain he had experienced when transforming into his current state.


    Alviona quietly giggled and left the safe spot. She slowly approached the people that had their backs turned and were interrogating her mother and Anita. Seeing that neither one of them were hurt, a jolt of new sensation rushed through her body. It was a relief. After approaching some distance, she closed her eyes and inhaled.


    ¡°Hello. I see that you are playing and do not wish to disturb you. However, if you hurt my mommy or Anita, I will kill you."


    As her words left her mouth, everyone including the two people she came to rescue, shifted their gazes towards her. The moment Alviona walked forward a little and let the moonlight reveal her figure, everyone fell into a minor shock of disbelief. A doll-like elf that emitted beauty not capturable by mortals stood right in front of them. She wore what appeared to be a black dress. Her eyes, while closed, were entrancing and her bare feet and slender hands were mesmerizing. The beautiful crimson hair felt like it was alive. Despite her beauty, however, they were not too relaxed. Alviona¡¯s wings were not extended and nor were they at death''s door like Solomon had been. The woman was the first one to look at her and speak up.


    ¡°My oh, my. Child, what have you forgotten in such a place? And you said, mommy? Does that mean that this woman is your mother?!¡± she asked politely while pointing at Anita.


    Seeing that the child did not answer, she got a little irritated. ¡°Now then, child. Is it perhaps that your mother is the other one?¡± she grabbed Sofia by her hair. Despite her violent actions, Alviona still did not open her eyes. She just stood frozen in place. ¡°Aw, you are no fun. Come on, let me play with you a little. Let me mess around with you. How about [Control Mind]¡± she said while chuckling and casting her skill.


    The men standing beside the woman were grinning, for they knew what was about to come. They could already hear the screams coming from her body. As she was being dominated, the two of them could not help but think of the lewd things that they would do to her once she submitted. After all, controlling children was a piece of cake; especially for their companion, who excelled at such magic.


    However, it was not Alviona who began screaming. It was their very companion. Her eyes flew open at once, her heart beating erratically. From her mouth emerged a noise that could not possibly be human, could not be her, so terror-filled and nightmarish it was. It was a wail of horror, a keen that would chill you to the marrow. She was gasping for breath, scratching her face while attempting to gauge her own eyes out and sweating profusely. What had she just seen?


    ¡°Get away from her! Get away from that child!¡± she screamed, but it was too late.


    The moment Alviona opened her eyes, they witnessed it. Eyes that were the brightest orange that they have ever seen, a color that nobody in this world possessed, were ablaze as if the sun had been brought down towards them.


    Alviona wielded a halberd in her both hands. She held a stance that sent chills down the spines of the two men. They instinctively clutched their weapons and charged. The man with the spear came first due to his long reach. As he lunged towards her weak point, which was her lower body, her abdomen was pierced, and the girl fell, while his companion rushed over and stabbed her with his sword. At least this is what was supposed to happen.


    As the man lunged towards her, Alviona quickly moved the palm of her right hand up; allowing the halberd to knock the incoming spear out of the way, followed by dropping that very hand back down, allowing the weapon to meet the man¡¯s face, therefore thoroughly piercing his skull and killing him instantly.


    The man with the sword, noticing that the opponent had just killed his comrade attempted to follow up on the opening, but Alviona quickly removed the pierced halberd and tumbled away. As she tried a thrust, the man jammed it with his sword. This action did not stop her, for the moment he did so she sliced his left leg with the halberd¡¯s hook, resulting in the man falling on his back and receiving the ax part of the weapon right into his chest.


    Alviona quickly turned her gaze towards the rogue, which was holding the dagger close to her mother¡¯s neck. The man did not last for long though, for as Alviona counted down 5 seconds, he was met with his death.


    The young woman who had orchestrated her escape from the massacre that Solomon had created a few hours ago, was in despair. She attempted controlling the mind of a child, which belonged to deities outside of this world and was severely punished.


    What the woman had seen was indescribable. In shock and panic, unable to escape, she just stared at her comrades meet their deaths. All she could do was pray that her death would be quick and merciful. As she watched Alviona approach her, she instinctively cowered, covering her face, and begging for mercy.


    ¡°Ppppp¡­.Please! I beg you. Spare me. I beg you. I beg youuuu. Don¡¯t kill me! I¡­ I am too young to die. I do not want to die¡± she screamed in agony and despair. Hearing a thrusting sound, she imagined herself being stabbed and pain jolted throughout her body. However, once she opened her eyes, a sight of a halberd firmly planted in the ground came into view. Alviona stood right in front of her with a confused face. She was holding her chin, while deep in thought.


    ¡°You¡­ y-you are n..not going to kill me?¡± she asked in a dumbfounded and panicked voice.


    ¡°Why would I? You just said that you wanted to live¡± replied Alviona with a warm voice and a smile on her face. ¡°However, you have to promise me that you will never harm my mommy ever again¡± she stated while closing her eyes and giggling.


    ¡°N-n-n-no¡­. I promise. Please. I won¡¯t ever do such thing,¡± begged the woman with eyes full of tears and voice cracked down after screaming for nearly five minutes.


    ¡°Well then, I will extend you a one-time offer. How about it?¡± asked Alviona cheerfully while patting the woman¡¯s head and utilizing her <Subjugation> skill.


    ¡°I¡­ I accept,¡± she replied. The moment she did, her world went blank.

 Chapter 15 - Let me protect you

    Anita stared at the aftermath that had unfolded in front of her eyes. She had never experienced or thought of encountering such unusual developments. However, here she was watching dumbfounded at the scene in front of her, witnessing armed people being slain by a child. Everyone had heard the voice of that girl. She knew who it was but, did not want to believe that it was the child that she had healed less than twenty minutes ago. Just what on earth was going on?


    ¡°Sofia?! How even is she?¡± thought Anita, quickly glancing over. She witnessed the man holding a dagger to her throat, but he collapsed in fifteen seconds. ¡°What happened to him? Alviona had not cast any magic, nor had she touched him. He does not seem to be breathing, so he is dead. Just what on earth is going on?¡± she kept thinking.


    Meanwhile, Alviona was looking at the young woman, who was the last person remaining from the assailant¡¯s company. She said that she wanted to live. Solomon said the same thing, so it means I have to use my skill no? But, is she not already alive? Her behavior is confusing. Perhaps I should ask her? No¡­ she is crying. It is all-right miss. I will protect you as long as you don¡¯t harm my mommy. Oh, maybe if I use my skill, it will cure her like it did Solomon? Thought Alviona as she patted the woman''s head.


    After deciding to utilize her <Subjugation> skill, she waited for her reply. Seeing that the offer was returned in affirmative, curiosity took over Alviona¡¯s body once again. However, the message that she received from the skill made her a little bit confused:


    [<Subjugation> Report: You have already subjugated one powerful being. Subjugation is unusable and becomes obsolete. If you decide to destroy your subjugated subordinate, then you may utilize this skill once again].


    The woman, on the other hand, seemed to have fainted from all the nervousness that she experienced within past 5 minutes. The post-stress from battlefield also seemed to carry over. Alviona kneeled down and analyzed her. Seeing that her status displayed Alive, she gently stroked her face and turned around.


    Mommy! I want to hug mommy! I am finally home, thought the child as she ran to Sofia whose face was frozen in terror. Alviona did not pay attention to it, for she was overly excited. The swirled wings went back to its original position as she flapped them and jumped to reach her mother, embracing her mother¡¯s neck with her gentle hands and landing a kiss on her cheeks.


    Anita froze, for she had just seen the girl unfold her jet-black wings, while Sofia¡¯s expression was that of shock.


    ¡°W-who are you, young miss?¡± whispered Sofia, her voice full of confusion, fear, and shock.


    ¡°Mommy. Can¡¯t you recognize me? It¡¯s me! Alviona,¡± came a soft and a gentle reply.


    Sofia hoped and prayed that the girl would not say it, despite having heard her declaration to the assailants earlier. She had expected that perhaps this girl was an angel or a fallen angel that her daughter had met in her dreams; a sort of miracle that would rarely happen to a select few people. The mother was willing to believe any level of absurd story that would come her way when talking about her extraordinary daughter. However, she refused to accept this one. It was too much.


    How did she grow up so quickly? How did she come out from the forest when she was in her bedroom with a high fever? Furthermore, the girl in front of her was too beautiful. What was up with the wings and the small horns? Where did the weapons come from? How did she win the combat against the soldiers and remain calm after their deaths? Those were thoughts of a distressed mother who was unable to comprehend the current situation. As she was about to begin asking questions, Anita approached her.


    ¡°Just what on earth is going on?!¡± shouted Anita furiously at Alviona. ¡°You have a lot of questions to answer! I knew that you were not ordinary, but this is a bit too much! What on earth are you? Just what in the name of mother nature are you?¡± she continued shouting at her.


    Alviona, unable to understand how she had angered Anita, released her mother and hid behind her figure. As she listened to Anita¡¯s questions, her vision began to blur, and the voice flowing into her head became distorted. She felt her knees getting weak and her hands trembling. She appeared to start losing consciousness and fainting.


    It appeared that Anita and Sofia had noticed this, for Anita stopped her questions mid-way and glanced at the child, while Sofia felt trembling directly. As the mother attempted to touch Alviona, the girl ended up collapsing, giving no room for either of them to react and catch her.


    Anita bit her lips and rushed over to check her pulse and seeing that everything was fine, she rushed back into her residence and summoned Piu to move the child to her room for recovery. After binding the hands of the young assailant, she was also brought inside to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor. Anita had many questions for her as well, and nobody was going to slip past her right now. At that moment, she noticed Sofia¡¯s absence. A light jolt of panic rushed through her body, forcing her to quickly run outside. However, after seeing Sofia unharmed, Anita was relieved.


    The half-elf seemed to be staring at the skies. Anita, understanding that she was contemplating over the developments of the past 30 minutes, decided to slowly approach her and as she did, the woman began whispering.


    ¡°You know, I always enjoyed watching the skies,¡± started Sofia, forcing Anita to stop moving and listen. ¡°Ever since I was a kid, I would look up every night in hopes of seeing the stars, extending my hands while trying to grasp them. ¡°The world will be mine,¡± I thought. As I grew up, I realized how far away those stars were and how cruel the reality was. My father had passed away after my birth, leaving my mother alone to care for me. At some point, my mother got married to another man, who ended up being of noble status. We lived a happy and careless life. Eventually, she gave birth to two sons, who were my half-brothers. I loved both of them and was very happy that I was blessed with siblings, until one night, at the age of 15, assassins broke into our mansion and slaughtered all the guards. Can you imagine what they did after that?¡± she asked Anita with tears welling up her eyes.


    ¡°They sliced the throats of the poor infants. My brothers were only four months old. And you know what the worst part of the tragedy was? Nobody woke up in time to stop them. The moment my mother walked into the nursery, she grabbed the heads of my siblings and cried for one full day and night, while tightly clutching them to her chest. The next morning, she ended her life. My father in law sent me out to the orphanage to protect me. I begged him to leave me by his side, but he condemned me for isolation,¡± continued Sofia, clenching her fists and taking out her bow.


    ¡°Can you comprehend the feeling of being helpless for the majority of your life Anita?¡± asked Sofia while creating an elemental arrow that was made of the wind element.


    Anita shook her head. While she had never met her father, she always had her mother by her side. She also had Piu, so saying that she understood that feeling despite her mother falling into a slumber would be a lie.


    ¡°It is as if the entire world is crumbling around you at any given time. You attempt to fight back and get strong, but no matter what, one is always met by more sorrow and grief. The harder you try, the more impactful the ricochet that is always directed at your heart,¡± said Sofia, fully stretching the bow and letting it loose the next moment. With a wailing sound of the wind, the arrow jolted in a straight path, puncturing every single tree in its way at a distance of 100 yards, before finally coming to a halt.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I was in that orphanage for five full years. Never sleeping properly and always being uneasy. The nuns found out that I had a magical talent in temporal enchantments. I loved wielding a bow, so naturally, I was sent into the care of hunters. There I became stronger and managed to develop my techniques of archery. After some time, I tracked those assassins down and eliminated them one by one. After a while, I discovered about my father¡¯s whereabouts. And so I visited him to tell him of my vengeance, to ease his heart,¡± she said while creating another arrow and letting it loose. ¡°Imagine my disappointment when I found out that he married another woman a month after I was handed to the orphanage. I just laughed at him and wished for a new group of assassins to successfully take his life."


    Listening to Sofia¡¯s story, Anita felt sympathy towards her. ¡°How would a mother feel, when watching her only daughter grow up so quickly, without the ability to do anything to protect her? She is likely blaming herself for what happened in her past. And, she probably is blaming herself right now for endangering her daughter. Granted, a lot of unknown has happened. I think I went overboard with shouting at Alviona too. It is mandatory for me to apologize,¡± thought Anita. However, before she could open her mouth, Sofia burst out into tears and began sobbing.


    ¡°I am such a fool. The only true happiness I experienced was when I met my husband, Duncan. And it was taken away from me by some noble. Now all I have left is my daughter, who I am also losing too rapidly. I do not know anything about what is currently going on¡­¡± kept saying Sofia whose heart was sinking into depths of the abyss.


    Anita¡¯s emotions were also stirred. Ever since this woman had entered her forest, nothing but adventures and excitement has come her way. Something that she longed for quite some time. Granted, she could not abandon the forest due to her mother still needing care; however, denying the fact that past month and a half had not been a blessing for her would be equivalent of lying to herself. Being by the side of Sofia and watching Alviona grow has been the pinnacle of her happiness, even if the child was odd and caused a lot of unknown phenomena. Piu also seemed to be keen towards the two of them.


    ¡°¡­ I am truly sorry Ms. Anita, for causing you so much trouble and disturbance. I am thankful for everything you have done for my daughter and me, but we seem to be delivering too much headache for you,¡± continued Sofia.


    ¡°You sheltering the two of us has been the biggest blessing for me. However, I do not think that it can continue. I can go out of the forest and talk to the captain of those soldiers that Alviona has slain. If I can give them my life in exchange for yours and hers, I will do it. I think that nobody will care if I disappear. The only thing that I beg of you is to take care of my daughter for just a while longer. You wanted to teach her druidic arts, and I am certain of it, with her powers, she will become a good one,¡± she finished with a face full of regret and sorrow. Her crying had ceased, and now tears were drying up on her face. With those words, Sofia began walking away.


    After hearing those words, Anita¡¯s heart began pounding louder than ever. Her mind was overtaken by unimaginable anger, not directed towards anyone but herself. ¡°Was Alviona truly the reason why I sheltered the two of them?¡± she asked herself ¡°Or, was it because I liked the courage that her mother displayed? That unwillingness to back down, that strength exerted to protect her offspring. I have hunted alongside this woman for one full month. Her talent is exceptional, and her character is overly loving and caring. So what that she has a dark and a twisted backstory!?¡± exclaimed Anita in her thoughts. Without realizing it, she caught up to Sofia and stood in front of her.


    ¡°Stop this madness this instant!¡± ordered Anita. ¡°You are doing nothing but harming yourself with this!¡± she continued.


    ¡°You do realize that those people were of combat unit yes? If we do not appease and or satisfy them with blood, they will raze the entire forest regardless of whether or not the golem protects it¡± replied Sofia coldly. ¡°Let me go. Please. As I have stated prior, my life is useless, and nobody will ever regret my disappearance. It is the least I can do to protect you and my daughter."


    ¡°Protect me huh? All-right then. I apologize, Mrs. Sofia,¡± replied Anita, quickly grabbing both of her hands, interlocking her fingers and pulling her to her chest. Her subtle green eyes, filled with passion and overwhelming devotion, met Sofia¡¯s deep blue. Gently and slowly moving her head forward and closing her eyes, the lips of the two met, causing Sofia to widen her eyes in shock and disbelief of what happened.


    Anita could feel it. The rich and savory mouth of a young mother caused by the tears that she shed from her grief. The sweet taste of saliva that resembled honey. All these sensations and feelings stirred up inside her mouth as she landed a deep kiss, making their tongues meet. It was as if Anita¡¯s lips were curing and cleansing Sofia¡¯s entire body from negative emotions accumulated throughout the years.


    This delightful sensation was further reinforced by the new streams of tears that slid down from Sofia¡¯s face as if carrying an element of holiness and purity.


    Sofia did not seem to resist, as she did not push Anita away at any given time.


    As Anita finished and moved her mouth away from Sofia¡¯s, a thin strand of Saliva was visible between the two tongues that were swirling a moment go.


    ¡°Why¡­ Why did you do that?!¡± demanded Sofia, tears continuously streaming down her eyes, her face showing evident anxiety from what just happened. She did not seem to be angry but rather, confused.


    Anita however, did not hesitate to answer.


    ¡°It is because I am truly in love with your Mrs. Sofia. I understand what you are feeling and disagree with your actions. I do not want you to be harmed. You said that nobody would worry about your life disappearing from this existence. This is foolish and not true, for I would be devastated by your death," said Anita, tightly clenching her fists.


    "Even if my feelings are one-sided and you decide to reject me, have you thought about the trauma your death would bring to your child? The child that risked her life to save yours? And you mentioned being a nuisance to me. How dare you say such a thing? Why not ask me directly, instead of assuming? The moment we first met, I have fallen in love with you. I have not realized it back then and thought that it was due to your daughter, but the truth is that it is because of you," said Anita with tears welling up her eyes.


    "I am sorry. I understand that you were married and that you truly loved your husband, but there is no bringing him back to life. Yes, a lot of misfortune has occurred in your past. But why dwell on it?¡± Asked Anita firmly.


    ¡°You are a person of unbelievable strength and resolve. One that is loving and care-taking of her family. You are not weak. You are not useless. You are Sofia. A half-elf that is willing to go above and beyond for her daughter¡¯s well-being, and a woman that I fell in love with. So please, stop trying to always protect others. Instead, allow those that love you to protect back!" finished Anita, tightly holding her hands around her heart, waiting for Sofia''s reply.


    Hearing Anita¡¯s speech, Sofia could not help but be relieved. Tears were still flowing down her cheeks. However, those were no longer of grief or weakness, but instead of joy and relief.


    Sofia had no doubts about the truthfulness of Anita¡¯s words and statements. She too had developed some form of affection towards her from the little time that they had spent together but felt like it would be wrong to confess her feelings due to her being a widow. When Anita had told her how elven society worked, her entire body and soul was beyond happiness. Sofia hoped to deepen the relationship between them further. After the incident with the assailants, she was even willing to throw her life away for her daughter and Anita.


    ¡°I too¡­ love you,¡± replied Sofia to Anita¡¯s feelings.


    ¡°¡­W..h¡­¡± before Anita could respond, Sofia had already made her move. Like a predator seeking its prey, she embraced Anita. Closing their eyes, the two of them kissed. Seeing her actions, Anita relaxed her body, allowing herself to be wholly dominated by her lover.


    Tears carrying joy dropped from the eyes of both girls. The two of them snuggling in each other¡¯s embrace continued their act of devotion to each other without either side willing to let go until satisfied.


    After calming down, both girls looked at each other and chuckled.


    ¡°I am truly thrilled and happy,¡± stated Anita while looking at Sofia.


    ¡°The feeling is mutual,¡± replied Sofia, her eyes showing her excitement.


    ¡°Then shall we go home?¡± asked Anita while extending her hand to Sofia, who gently accepted it and interlocked her fingers.


    With a nod in affirmative, the two of them finally made the way back to the residence.


    As the couple approached, a new sight came into view. It was a shape of a tall man leaning against the door. As he saw them approach he waved with his left hand.


    ¡°Greetings. My name is Solomon. I think it is finally time for us to meet and talk.¡±

 Chapter 16 - It takes time to sink in

    Anita was nervous. It was expected, considering how imposing the stature in front of her was. Her hands were slightly trembling. Who is this man? She thought.


    The man who introduced himself as Solomon began walking towards the couple.


    Anita and Sofia, both feeling uneasy due to the events that unfolded an hour prior, impulsively readied themselves for combat. They assumed that this man was some sort of commander that came after his squad. In that case, Alviona¡¯s and their safety was being jeopardized.


    ¡°Please ready your bow. I am going to bind that man, allowing you for a clear shot,¡± said Anita to Sofia in a low voice so that the man would not hear them. Seeing that a nod was returned in affirmative, she cast her [Entangle] ability.


    Sofia immediately followed up with her bow that was charged with an arrow made of the wind element. However, she did not let it loose. Killing had to be avoided at all costs. Both girls knew of this.


    As the vines spurted out from the ground, binding the man¡¯s body, Anita began asking questions.


    ¡°That is far enough, stranger.¡± She told him. ¡°I apologize for my rude actions, but I do not think I can trust an unknown somebody who just happened to be standing at the door of my residence and state that one wishes to engage in a dialogue.¡±


    ¡°Oh, understandable. However, I am not here to harm you. I am merely here to talk and nothing else,¡± replied the man, who did not seem to lose his composure. For a person that was trapped and had a weapon pointed at him, he was oddly cool-headed and seemed to ignore his condition.


    ¡°And what is it that you want to talk about?¡± asked Anita suspiciously.


    ¡°Why none other than about the girl that saved your lives,¡± replied Solomon with a chuckle.


    Hearing his reply, Sofia¡¯s level of alert skyrocketed.


    ¡°What business have you with my daughter?!¡± she demanded, without relaxing her muscles and stretching the bow to its full limit.


    ¡°Ah. So you are the mother after all. You can not begin to imagine how excited I am to finally speak with you,¡± said Solomon with a voice that carried no hints of malice or hostility.


    ¡°Cut the pleasantries. Tell us what we want to know!¡± demanded Anita who seemed to run out of patience. ¡°Whose side are you on? Who sent you here? Are you one of the invaders?¡± She continued.


    Solomon shook his head. Sofia, not satisfied with his lack of co-operation decided to invoke some fear into his head. Without further delay, she let loose of her bow. The howling of the wind coated entire area as the arrow sharply punctured the ground in front of Solomon¡¯s feet, without even allowing the man to blink.


    ¡°Speak up!¡± ordered Sofia.


    ¡°You two are quite odd,¡± replied Solomon with a chuckle. ¡°You are both acting like interrogators despite neither of you having prior battle experience. Do you really expect me, a man who has been through countless combat scenarios, and has experienced death to be so easily shaken by this?¡± he asked in a voice filled with amusement.


    Solomon was smiling while thinking back at who this person in front of him was. Her unshakable and dominating will was entrancing, so much that the man pondered whether or not the defeat on the battlefield prior would be avoided if they had such a strong archer as herself in their ranks.


    Meanwhile, Sofia and Anita were looking at him with wide eyes, unable to comprehend why the man stood so unshaken. And what was it that he mentioned about experiencing death?


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think we are wasting time? Perhaps we should move into your residence, sit down, and talk?¡± stated Solomon nonchalantly.


    ¡°What do you think should we do, Anita?¡± asked Sofia, her voice carrying uneasiness and distrust towards the man in front of her.


    ¡°I do not know. However, that man seems to possess some information that we do not. He is also acting awkwardly calm despite the situation he is in. It is as if he let us capture him. Perhaps we should hear him out? Although, I do not intend to ease up and lower my guard,¡± replied Anita with a firm expression. Sofia nodded in approval.


    ¡°Just to confirm one thing. You are not our enemy, right?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°Not at all. In truth, both of you are my allies. If I wanted to hurt you I would have already done so,¡± replied Solomon, moving his right arm that was concealed under his tatters and pulling the vines out from the soil. His arm was still not visible to the two of them and seeing their expression, Solomon could guess that they were wondering how he managed to break through the magically enchanted roots.


    ¡°Impossible! How?¡± asked Anita in shock, her eyes narrowed and face covered in disbelief.


    ¡°All in due time,¡± replied Solomon. ¡°First, I need to ask of you how my mistress is. She does not seem to be around, but I can sense her presence. Where did she go?¡± asked Solomon with confusion and a hint of worry.


    Is he talking about that woman whom we captured? Thought Sofia and Anita simultaneously while looking at each other.


    ¡°May I ask who this mistress refers to as?¡± asked Anita.


    ¡°Is it not obvious? I am referring to mistress Alviona,¡± replied Solomon in a voice mixed with pride and confusion. ¡°Who else is there to talk about?¡± he continued.


    ¡°What?!¡± gasped Sofia and Anita simultaneously from shock. ¡°Mistress?! She is an eleven-year-old! Are you a pervert of some sort?!¡± they shouted in unison.


    ¡°Huh? No. NO!¡± replied Solomon, ever slightly blushing while recalling the incident from earlier.


    *Cough, Cough*


    ¡°Anyways, are we going to talk or not?¡± he continued.


    Anita glanced over at Sofia. Receiving her affirmation and agreement, she removed the rest of the vines that were swirled around Solomon¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Very well then. Let¡¯s go¡± ordered Anita, while stepping past him and into her residence. Sofia quickly followed after her.


    Solomon scratched his head and looked at the arrow firmly planted inside the earth. Truly an interesting talent. He thought to himself, as he kneeled and applied force from his right arm to remove it from the soil. After further inspecting it, he moved the object into his magical pouch and walked into the residence, where two girls awaited him.


    Sofia moved to the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor, while Anita and Solomon went to the 2<sup>nd</sup>. As she got near the bedroom, she gathered her courage and entered the bedroom where her child was resting.


    Alviona was lying in bed, with wings embracing her like a blanket. She appeared to be in a deep sleep. As Sofia approached her, she began inspecting her child who has grown significantly over the past hour. Looking at her, she could not help but give out a light giggle. After ensuring that all was well, the mother landed a kiss on her daughter¡¯s cheek, while carefully and gently patting her head.


    Satisfied, she quietly left the room and went to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor to join the discussion. As she entered the room, she saw Anita who was boiling water for tea.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sit down?¡± asked Anita to Solomon, who was still leaning by the side of the wall.


    ¡°Not to mean disrespect, but those chairs are too small for me,¡± he replied awkwardly.


    ¡°Oh. I did not think about that,¡± said Anita while pouting. She clapped her hands, and the chair changed the shape to accommodate for Solomon¡¯s body. ¡°There you go.¡±


    Witnessing her actions, Solomon sat down and looked around the room. After seeing that one of the assailants was still alive, he got confused.


    ¡°Why is she alive?¡± he asked while pointing towards the young woman. ¡°I thought that Alviona would kill all of them,¡± he continued.


    ¡°No. When Alviona approached the woman, she began begging for her life, and as a result, she was not slain,¡± replied Sofia while recalling how it had unfolded.


    ¡°I see.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Anywho. Now that we are all gathered here, how about you start answering our questions?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°Very well. Where would you like me to begin?¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°First, tell us where you hail from.¡± (Sofia)


    Solomon nodded and told the two of his background; more specifically, how he was the commander of elite forces belonging to the Kingdom of Damas.


    ¡°How much do you understand about the current situation?¡± asked Solomon to the two girls that did not appear to be caught up with current events.


    ¡°I do not know of anything at all,¡± replied Anita while Sofia fell into thought.


    ¡°Before I came to this forest with my daughter, I inhabited the village of H¡¯ulm. After the year of Alviona¡¯s birth, I was confronted by a noble named Jemin who banished me. As a result, I went towards the city of Haffel but the guard over there told me that the city would fall within two weeks. He directed me to come to this very forest, where I met Anita,¡± replied Sofia. ¡°This was almost three months ago.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see¡± replied Solomon with a nod.


    ¡°So, what happened to the Kingdom of Damas?¡± asked Anita.


    ¡°Currently, I do not know. I have perished on the battlefield after being defeated by masterful trickery and deception,¡± stated Solomon with a saddened face.


    ¡°What do you mean by perished?¡± asked Sofia with a confused expression.


    ¡°Anita, that woman is coming to her senses,¡± said Piu who has been guarding the captive. As a result, all the attention was now gathered on her.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The young woman slowly opened her eyes and touched her forehead, light pain still jolting within her head. As she attempted to raise her body, a realization of being in an unfamiliar to her place sank in.


    ¡°Where am I?!¡± she asked in panic while looking around. She tried to move her hands but found that they were tied with ropes. Despite them not being behind her back, using any ability was impossible for the ropes were enchanted with magic that nullified mana gathering. ¡°Let me go! Please, I will tell you anything that you desire. Just don¡¯t kill me,¡± she said, tears welling up her eyes.


    ¡°Calm down. No one is killing you.¡± Anita was first to reply. Seeing that the woman was in a state of panic, she moved towards the sink and grabbed a glass of water. ¡°Here, drink. Ease up your mind a little.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you,¡± replied the captive while accepting the cup from Anita. Her face displayed gratitude.


    The girl was young. Probably no more than 20-years old. Her facial features were elegant. However, her eyes were a little off-setting due to how fierce they appeared to be. She had brown eyes, thick brows, and thin lips, which seemed to suit her tanned skin. Her rose gold hair was cut short and did not extend past her ears. Overall, her appearance carried a hint of nobility.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± asked Sofia to the girl, who seemed to hesitate a bit until answering.


    ¡°Janine,¡± replied the girl in a low voice.


    ¡°All right Janine, mind telling me why you ventured into our forest and committed an assault?¡± asked Anita firmly, but without any ill-intentions, as to not scare the girl. Captive or not, she was unarmed and posed no danger. Both Anita and Sofia tried being as humane as possible.


    ¡°I apologize. It was not a deliberate act. My company and I were confused, for when we entered this place, the time of the day completely shifted. The missing arm that you witnessed on one of the men was a result of the fierce battle that we experienced with goblins. Exhausted, he was ambushed and had his limb sliced. As a result, he was bleeding for nearly three hours. And yet, he was alive,¡± stated Janine while thinking about the events that unfolded.


    ¡°The rogue in our party had enough mana left to utilize [Tracking], so we were able to find this residence. Due to all of us being confused, we decided to come here and investigate. Since we were not sure of your hostility, we decided that it would be safer to capture the two of you for interrogation.¡± (Janine)


    ¡°But you mentioned something about time distorting?¡± asked Sofia with curiosity.


    ¡°Oh, yes! Believe it or not, before we entered the forest it was afternoon. However, once we came here, the time of day quickly began shifting. We did not pay attention, and as we ventured deeper into the wilderness, the daylight disappeared altogether and only night remained. We attempted to backtrack from where we came but ended up in the same spot where we began,¡± replied Janine while drinking more water. It appeared that she was very nervous and was sweating profusely.


    ¡°That story is fascinating, but it does not come close to the realm which I experienced,¡± stated Solomon after listening to Janine¡¯s story.


    All of the attention, including Janine¡¯s, was now gathered on Solomon.


    As the young girl looked at him, she developed a nagging feeling that they had met somewhere. However, due to Solomon looking much younger, she was unable to recognize him. However, once she paid attention and inspected his equipment, her skin went pale.


    ¡°Eeeeeeeeeek! T-that! H-how?! W-what?¡± screamed Janine with her hands trembling, dropping the cup and splattering the remainder of the water on her garment.


    ¡°What is wrong? Are you ill?¡± asked Anita and Sofia in confusion, while looking towards the direction of the girl¡¯s gaze but did not seem to notice anything unusual.


    ¡°T-the shoulder pad¡­¡± said Janine while pointing her finger towards Solomon, directing the gazes to the same spot ¡°¡­ Th-the head belongs to Solomon! The man who wiped our entire battalion out!¡± she gasped in panic, desperately trying to catch air.


    ¡°That is correct,¡± stated Solomon with an amused face. ¡°Beter yet, the Solomon you speak of is standing in front of your eyes,¡± he added.


    ¡°Impossible! How?! Nothing except for your shoulder pad resembles your previous self!¡± exclaimed Janine in disbelief. ¡°You also seem to¡­¡±


    ¡°Appear taller and younger?¡± asked Solomon while intruding in her speech.


    Janine nodded. The girl was so terrified that she was likely to receive a heart-attack.


    ¡°Well, I assure you that what you are witnessing right now is possible. I can prove it by telling you everything that happened on the battlefield before and after you made your escape,¡± replied Solomon with a grin.


    Janine¡¯s listened carefully, as the man in front of her described how the battle unfolded. Her eyes went wide when he started depicting the wyvern.


    ¡°That sounds like the 15<sup>th</sup> battalion,¡± muttered Janine.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± asked Sofia with curiosity.


    Janine explained that the 15<sup>th</sup> battalion, also known as the Rulers of Heavens, was an elite detachment that consisted of wyvern riders comprised of about 40 members. As such, it was questionable as to why they were called a battalion. However, once Janine explained how much combat power they possessed, questioning it became futile.


    Solomon finished by describing his death scene. At that point, it sounded like a fairy-tale. Anita and Sofia could not hold their surprise after understanding what the man meant by him perishing.


    ¡°Then, if you died, how in the name of mother nature is your head whole again? Are you perhaps an undead?¡± asked Anita with disbelief, thinking that perhaps the man was influenced by some form of illusion spell. At that moment, she grabbed her teacup and attempted to sip it in hopes of calming her nerves.


    ¡°The time stopped mid-way as my head was flying towards the ground,¡± replied Solomon. This statement was so sudden and absurd that Anita ended up spilling out most of the tea that she so desperately attempted to drink. Looking around, everyone seemed to be agitated.


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± yelled Anita.


    ¡°I knew you''d say that¡± replied Solomon with a grin.


    ¡°Only the God of Time can slow it down,¡± said Piu in an angry voice. ¡°If you, mortals, were able to possess such ability history would be convoluted and virtually non-existent. Just to give an example, let¡¯s suppose that you live a happy life and a murderer decides to commit an act of homicide. The person attacks you, and you trigger your ability to stop time. Regardless of the ability to harm or not, you have successfully re-written your history that should have resulted in your death. And so, how many others have such power? How much will they abuse it?¡± snorted Piu. ¡°Hence why only God of Time can stop time, or rather keep it flowing. After all, the halt would mean the end of the world.¡±


    ¡°I understand how unbelievable this sounds, and yet the time did come to a halt. In the world that I found myself in, every form of life had vanished except for one. It was the girl with black wings and crimson hair. In other words, your daughter.¡± Stated Solomon while looking at Sofia.


    Despite his story resembling a fairy-tale, neither Sofia nor Anita and even Piu could deny the fact that time had decelerated inside the forest. Was Piu not the first one to report this occurrence? Furthermore, Janine¡¯s words further proved that time was altered. Solomon¡¯s words, on the other hand, were in a completely different realm. And yet, when Alviona¡¯s name was mentioned, even the impossible became somewhat believable. Everyone ended falling into thought.


    ¡°All right. Let us assume for now that the time in your world really did stop and that Alviona was present. How did you end up regenerating your body?¡± asked Sofia, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Your daughter extended me an offer of being subjugated,¡± replied Solomon with a laugh as he recalled how little ago it was. ¡°And I accepted,¡± He stated firmly.


    After Solomon described the nature of the offer, Sofia and Anita got confused, while Piu fell into thought.


    ¡°That offer resembles what I heard before I lost consciousness,¡± stated Janine after recalling her encounter with Alviona. The moment she did so, her body began to tremble. Anita noticed this and walked over to her to perform a check-up.


    ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡± she asked Janine while checking her pulse and body temperature.


    ¡°This is odd. You have no fever, and your pulse seems to be normal. So why is it that you are trembling so much?¡± asked Anita with confusion covering her face.


    Janine hesitated to speak up, but after careful consideration she gulped and looked at everyone in front of her.


    ¡°My body is trembling as a reaction to the fear that I experienced and am experiencing whenever I think about what I have seen.¡± She stated with a battered voice.


    Just exactly what did she see? Wondered Anita and Sofia, as they recalled the nature of Janine¡¯s scream.


    ¡°Would you be able to describe what you saw?¡± asked Solomon curiously.


    ¡°Yes¡­ But it is difficult to convey in words,¡± replied Janine.


    ¡°And yet, please try to do so,¡± insisted Solomon.


    *Gulp*


    ¡°I attempted using [Control Mind] spell on the girl. As I began going through her head, I discovered multiple doors leading nowhere. Unable to find the control memory, which would allow me to attack the psych, I got frustrated and decided to cancel my ability. It did not work,¡± said Janine while pausing and taking a deep breath.


    ¡°I found myself trapped within her mind. Usually, the ability works like this: A user enters the target¡¯s mind, finds control room and for a specific duration can utilize that person against their will. If the opponent has a strong will, then the ability will either toss you out or the user will get frustrated, and end up leaving by oneself,¡± continued Janine.


    ¡°This did not happen in my case. So I attempted to move around. Then I noticed this dark door. When opened, a small boy¡¯s figure appeared in front of me,¡± she paused, her eyes becoming watery and her breathing becoming more rapid.


    ¡°As I approached him, the body began enlarging until it reached my height. Looking closer at the person, his face became reminiscent of me. After, she materialized a dagger and started slicing her own throat. As blood gushed out from my reflection, she began singing and dancing. I attempted to run away from that gory sight by exiting the room. As I was back at the beginning area, another oddity happened. All the doors took the shape of lacerated daggers that began stabbing me in and out. Only after spending some time there was I allowed to be released. The pain¡­ It was too real!¡± exclaimed Janine, tears flowing down her face.


    ¡°It sounds like your own mind went against you,¡± concluded Solomon after hearing her story. ¡°I would not doubt if Alviona caused that,¡± he added after recalling what she had said about serving no one and not being able to be dominated.


    After some time of talking, everyone fell silent due to exhaustion caused by catching up with all the events.


    ¡°So, what is going to happen to the Kingdom of Damas?¡± asked Sofia to switch the topic and ease off the tension.


    ¡°We planned to destroy it and claim the territories for ourselves. The Kingdom of Vaalmer has been planning an expansion for quite some time. We desperately wanted to overtake the city port of Na¡¯ul and begin trading with the continent,¡± replied Janine.


    ¡°But why fight a war over a port? And where did you get the wyverns?¡± inquired Solomon.


    ¡°I can see that none of you are well-versed with the politics between Kingdom of Damas and Vaalmer, are you?¡± mocked Janine. ¡°It is due to the number of herbs and gold mines your territory controls. We always thought that this land should belong to us. So naturally, when a new king came to the throne and ordered a mass scale militarization, people followed.¡±


    ¡°We have dungeons in our lands that spawn wyverns every ten years. Taming them is very hard, but those that do tame them are automatically conscripted into the 15<sup>th</sup> battalion. They get paid very well and carry out dangerous missions such as exterminating High-Level monsters as Cyclops and Ogres. Our border defense also consumes a lot of resources. We continuously fight other types of threat such as the undead. The metals with which we craft weapons and armor are also running out, so naturally, we decided to expand our territory for the profit.¡± She continued.


    ¡°Lastly, do you know of the incident with our vassal being killed by your banner?¡± asked Janine, the question mostly being directed towards Solomon.


    Solomon went pale. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied with an uneasy voice.


    ¡°Then you should understand why the war was sparked,¡± replied Janine.


    Sofia looked confused, as she did not know the details about this incident. The war was declared a year ago when her daughter had just been born. She did not pay much attention to the developments in the outside world and now regretted not doing so.


    ¡°Can I ask what you are referring to?¡± asked Sofia, to catch up with the conversation.


    ¡°We had an emissary from the Kingdom of Vaalmer appear inside the palace, who had made an appearance for the declaration offer of trade. Their offering was access to their dungeon. In return, we had to allow them tax-free and restriction-free utilization of the port of Na¡¯ul. The offer was perfect. However, the problems arose the next day. One of the king¡¯s sons named Jafli had a personal quarrel with the ambassador, stating that their offer was not enough to allow for tax-free trades within the port,¡± replied Solomon.


    ¡°And a quarrel causes a war?¡± asked Sofia in confusion.


    ¡°No. When that quarrel is elevated into arguments and threats, and when the stupid man named Jafli backstabs our ambassador on his way back to the Kingdom of Vaalmer is what causes the war,¡± replied Janine. ¡°King Damille was not willing to punish his son for killing a mere ambassador. Therefore, he openly provoked our side.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°So what are we going to do?¡± It was Piu¡¯s turn to ask some questions.


    ¡°What are we going to do about what?¡± asked Janine back.


    ¡°Not about what, but who. What are we going to do about Alviona?¡± Seeing that everyone fell into silence, it appeared that Piu had asked the most crucial question that one could pose.


    ¡°Oh, that is quite simple,¡± replied Solomon. ¡°I intend to take her outside of this continent so that she can learn magic. After all, she asked for it.¡±


    It was at that moment that Sofia¡¯s anger burst out.

 Chapter 17 - Miras awakening

    ¡°Can you repeat that again?¡± demanded Sofia, tightly clenching her fists, falling into a state of readiness.


    Solomon, not understanding the cause for the tension, lightly grinned and re-stated his previous words.


    ¡°I plan to take your daughter outside, to the mainland so that she can learn magic,¡± he replied, brushing his chin.


    ¡°Denied!¡± yelled Sofia, walking up to the man and preparing her firsts to strike him.


    ¡°Sofia, don¡¯t. He must have a reason behind his words,¡± replied Anita, barely stopping her actions mid-way.


    ¡°This better be good! And you better have a reason for suggesting something so nonsensical,¡± stated Sofia, lowering her fists and stepping back.


    ¡°I do not understand how I have angered you. What is wrong with going to school?¡± asked Solomon, puzzled and unable to comprehend why he was reprimanded.


    ¡°Have you forgotten the current state we are in? What school?! What mainland?! We are in a middle of a war!¡± shouted Sofia, whose eyes were now bloodshot. ¡°Have you not thought that by your actions you are endangering my child? I can believe your subjugation story. But even so, you are attempting to take my daughter away from me!¡±


    ¡°What?! How!? I just said I would take her to the mainland and teach her magic. I never said you can not come with us? After all, you are her mother. I am inexperienced at raising children,¡± shrugged Solomon, not being able to understand how Sofia had come to this conclusion.


    ¡°Can you please stop provoking her?¡± asked Anita, who was getting irritated by Solomon¡¯s ignorance and failure to understand the situation. ¡°You are pushing her to the limit. She has only been with her daughter for one year. Not more. I do not think a mother would want to send off a child somewhere else, with someone she barely trusts, especially when the situation is so dire. Besides, how would you get to the mainland?¡±


    ¡°We can easily take the ship from the port of Na¡¯ul before Damas is defeated. Port will still be operational and will not fall. Besides, Janine just mentioned that Vaalmer wants to capture the port for trading, which means that it has to be seized intact. We could go there and take a boat to the mainland.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°And how do you plan to do that? The road between the forest and the port is blocked by the soldiers of Vaalmer Kingdom. They will recognize your shoulder-pad as did I. Even if you were to get to the port, the city gates are barricaded. If you declare that you are Solomon who somehow survived the slaughter, they will recruit you to battle once more no? And if you just step by the doorstep, what will they do? Kindly open the gates for you and let you in, when the enemies are right under their noses? Or will they slay you as a spy sent by their enemies?¡± asked Janine, who intervened due to the absurdity of Solomon¡¯s claims.


    ¡°I¡­ understand. I apologize madame Sofia for my arrogance and inability to look through the situation. I have failed to take the said words into consideration¡± replied Solomon with a sincere apology, bowing and cursing himself for failing to analyze the given circumstances and potentially endangering his mistress.


    Seeing that Solomon had resigned, Sofia¡¯s expression eased up a little, her shoulders calming down and her ability to reason finally returning to her.


    ¡°I do agree with one thing. We do need to figure out what to do with my daughter. I don¡¯t know what will the kingdom look like after Damas falls, but her education is a problem. I doubt that kingdom of Vaalmer will accept someone who has unusual abilities without trying to control them for their gain¡± said Sofia while glancing over at Janine, who nodded in affirmative. ¡° She is also too free-spirited and wild by nature; it has been proven time and time again. We are safe in this forest for now, but what about the future? When Alviona properly grows up, how can I, as a mother bind her to me? How can I deny her the growth?!¡±


    As Sofia said this, everyone present fell into deep thought, and silence filled the room once again.


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Hmm?


    Oh, what a pleasant sensation! It is probably my mommy waking me up, thought Alviona as she opened her eyes. However, the scenery presented to her was not what she was used to. Furthermore, it was not her mother tickling her, but a deer.


    Hello. Who are you, dear friend? Come here, let me hug you. Alviona extender her hands and gently patted the deer on the head. In return, she was licked once again, sending a tickling sensation throughout her body, causing her to burst into loud laughter.


    Deciding to play with the animal, she got up and chased it around for a while. After being satisfied, she looked around to assess her situation, for it did not appear that she was at Anita¡¯s residence.


    Did I make Anita angry? What did I do wrong? Wondered Alviona, recalling what had happened earlier and how Anita had shouted at her. She was a bit scary. Uwaah! I must say I am sorry¡­ I did not want to anger her. I really like Anita and Piu.


    Now then, where am I? She thought while looking around in confusion. It appeared that the location was still a forest; however, the skies were non-existent for it was surrounded by pitch black. And yet, Alviona could see as if it was a clear daytime. Confused, she decided to fly up and find out about her whereabouts.


    After flying around for a while, she managed to figure out where this place was. It was no other than Great Forest of Javl; however, something felt a bit off. Not understanding what it was, she decided to check out the residence first but found no one there.


    I wonder where everyone went. Mommy? Where are you? She asked as she began moving around the entire tree to find her mother and Anita. Not being able to find anyone at all, she fell into a panic.


    Mr. Solomon? Piu? Anyone? I am scared¡­ cried out Alviona, who had her face covered in tears now. Despite her being an 11-year old, she was still a child, an infant; she has only really lived for 1.3 years.


    *Sob, Sob*Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    I am sorry¡­ Please come back. I did not mean to upset any of you, said the child who was in utter dismay and whose pure, beautiful face was now covered in tears of anguish. After searching a little bit further, she decided to move towards the lake area, hoping that her mother and Anita have gone over there to play with water again.


    When she arrived, a beautiful humming sound was heard. Getting her hopes up, Alviona slowly began her descent and hid behind the trees to observe. After confirming that it was Anita, the child got relieved. Tears welling up her eyes again, she rushed to embrace her.


    ¡°I am s-sorry. I am so sorry! I did not want to a.anger you,¡± said Alviona as she desperately tried clutching the elf¡¯s robe and trying to embrace her.


    Anita, realizing what was going on, turned around and looked at the girl that was crying in despair. Not understanding what was going on, she decided to pat Alviona¡¯s head; gently brushing her crimson hair and calming her down a little.


    ¡°It is all right, child. Please don¡¯t cry. I am here. Do not be scared, you have not angered me in any way,¡± replied Anita gently, her voice carrying a sense of tranquility. Seeing that the child calmed down a little, she decided to embrace her into a warm and a welcoming hug. ¡°Why do you cry my darling?¡± she asked with a warm smile.


    ¡°I came here because I could not find you or mommy inside the residence. I was scared, so I decided to come here and search for you. But now I found you. Miss Anita, where is my mommy?¡± asked Alviona, relieved that Anita was no longer mad at her.


    The elf looked around and brushed her chin, pondering what to answer. After a brief moment¡¯s delay, she patted the child on her head again. ¡°Are you Alviona?¡± she asked.


    The child nodded yet seemed to be confused by the sudden question. Despite this, she did not let go of Anita¡¯s clothes. Finally calming down and analyzing the situation, Alviona looked at Anita again and noticed some oddity. While her face was as beautiful as ever, her age seemed to increase a little and appeared to be more mature. Despite this, it was still Anita, just a little taller.


    ¡°Who are you? You look like Anita, but you are not her,¡± stated Alviona in a confused voice, distancing herself a little for she was getting scared.


    Seeing her actions, the woman smiled and laughed. Kneeling down, she slowly grabbed the child and gently moved her closer to her chest, tightly embracing her.


    ¡°Hello, Alviona. You have guessed correctly. I am not Anita. The name to me is Mira, and I am Anita¡¯s mother,¡± she replied with a chuckle while extending her index finger and gently touching Alviona¡¯s nose.


    ¡°How do you know of my name?¡± asked Alviona with a confused expression.


    ¡°That is quite easy to answer. I am in a slumber, but I have grown in this forest. I can hear and sense anything that occurs here. As such, I know of everything since the day you and your mother came here,¡± Mira paused and pondered what else to say, for the child whom she observed for some time now, actually stood in front of her. ¡°You are quite an adventurer are you not?¡± she continued, never ceasing to smile. ¡°I have heard of your deeds to protect your mother and my daughter. For that, I am very grateful,¡± she stated firmly, ¡°You really love your family, do you not?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes!¡± replied Alviona. ¡°I really love my mommy and Anita. But I feel like I have angered them,¡± she continued with a saddened voice. ¡°Anita yelled at me¡­¡±


    ¡°Pay it no heed, child. She just got mad because what you did was too sudden. They just can not understand what happened. Even right now, they are arguing over your future, without even realizing that the solution is right in front of their faces.¡± She paused and decided to ask a question to ease Alviona¡¯s mood. ¡°Would you like to tell me your story?¡±


    Alviona nodded and told the tale of her adventures, from her creation until now, not leaving even a single detail out. Hearing this, Mira would often say ¡°Oh, my,¡± ¡°is that so?¡± and ¡°I see.¡± Once the child finished her miraculous story, Anita¡¯s mother burst out in laughter.


    ¡°I see, so that is what happened. I can not blame anyone for getting a little bit upset then. Anita is inexperienced and has not seen much in life. Your mother is also very young, and for her specifically, it would be very hard. Your thought process is at a different level altogether, due to you being created by higher deities, therefore inheriting their database of knowledge. So tell me one thing, as I am curious. How old are you in reality?¡± asked Mira to the child, that she believed was older than herself.


    Alviona fell into thought. After careful consideration, she finally gathered the resolve to answer.


    ¡°If we measure my age from the day of my birth until now, then the correct answer is 1.3 years. My body was accelerated by 10 years to reach maximum allowance presented by <Clock of Time>. Based on the report, I think that the people that wanted to hurt my mommy are what triggered my growth, for their end would mean mine. So despite my body being 11.3-years-old, I do not understand or know much aside what I knew before that, through inheritance. So I am still 1.3-years-old.¡± (Alviona)


    ¡°Sounds good¡± replied Mira, who firmly believed that Alviona¡¯s real age was at least 100 times more than her own. But since the child had answered, she had absolutely no intentions of ruining that perception, for Alviona was correct. Her physical body was irrelevant as it was a result of her defensive mechanism. Her actual age remained unchanged. Both Sofia and Anita seemed to overlook this.


    Mira had been listening to the debates that were occurring on the second floor for the 47<sup>th</sup> hour now and was somewhat disturbed by their indecisiveness. Keeping her on this island was dangerous, she agreed with that. Sofia¡¯s point was also on the mark. This child was still learning and had high intellect. What would happen if she flew outside of the forest and got captured by soldiers who wanted to use her in the war? This is why Alviona had to travel to the mainland. Not because conflicts there would be less or avoided, but because she would gain an opportunity to learn how to live. Of course, Anita and Sofia could go with her, but it would be better to give these two lovebirds a time to breathe. Neither of them seemed to be honest about their feelings right now, and this irritated her to no ends. She wanted her daughter, Anita, to be happy. Furthermore, she wanted the mother of Alviona, who had gone through a lot, to finally take a break and relax.


    ¡°If only I could awake. I would beat some sense into both girls,¡± said Mira with a saddened voice.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Alviona confused.


    ¡°Ah, sorry child. I just was thinking about something¡± replied Mira, with a smile. The truth was that she had no idea how to escape her current state. Mira had caught fought a plague fifteen years ago but somehow ended up getting ill. After some years passed, she began getting weaker and five years ago, fell into a deep slumber, unable to wake up.


    ¡°Maybe I can help? Please tell me what is it?¡± asked Alviona, curiosity overflowing her. After all, she was talking to Anita¡¯s mother.


    ¡°Very well. It¡¯s just that I can not wake up.¡± Stated Mira firmly. ¡°No matter how hard I try, I am unable to wake up from this dream. I love this forest, but I have been stuck here for five years, and now it is rather unnerving.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you by chance referring to the mana clog?¡± asked Alviona, thinking back to when she and her mother were sheltered for the first time; remembering what Anita had told her about Mira being in slumber.


    ¡°Mana clog?¡± asked Mira in surprise, moving her hand towards her chin, falling into thought.


    ¡°Yes, the mana clog. The way your mana flows is distorted. You can fix this situation by getting rid of foreign objects that do not belong here. Things that are unnatural¡± stated Alviona with a warm giggle and a smile, which seemed to warm Mira¡¯s heart.


    Looking around and falling into thought, Mira analyzed what could these objects be. Nothing seemed to be out of place.


    ¡°Child, I know this forest inside and out. I do not see anything at all that is out of place here.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Hmm, I thought that the skies were strange because they were not the normal color but ok. Perhaps we can find something somewhere else? Maybe in your residence?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± A brick had fallen straight onto Mira¡¯s head. Why did she not think of this before?


    ¡°Child, you are indeed something. You just enlightened me. All this time, I thought that the skies were of that color because I was in a slumber. But thinking about what you just said, if this was my dream world, why would the skies be non-existent?!¡± chuckled Mira, who extended her hand and chanted the [Whirlpool of Fire] skill, which took 10 seconds to wholly cast. As the ability activated, the entire sky began being covered in fire, destroying and shattering the accumulated darkness. She repeated this process two more times, and when the heavens were finally cleansed, Alviona¡¯s image faded out, and Mira woke up.

 Chapter 18 - Solution

    ¡°So, what do we do?¡± asked Solomon after a long silence.


    ¡°I do not know. This situation is somewhat hopeless, no matter how I look at it,¡± replied Piu.


    ¡°Perhaps we should just wait out the war, and when everything settles down, we can send Alviona for her education alongside you and Solomon,¡± stated Anita, turning to Sofia and touching her shoulders to ease off the tension and allow her to smile for once.


    ¡°Yes, but we do not know when will the war end or how soon will the situation stabilize. Besides, I have never been to the mainland. What is the stability over there? Where would we go?¡± asked Sofia, who was still confused. Looking at Anita, there was one more problem. ¡°And I am not leaving without you. It is not happening,¡± she stated firmly.


    ¡°I am truly sorry, but I can not come with you,¡± said Anita, ¡°I have to take care of my mother since she is¡­¡±


    ¡°Very mad!¡± came a reply that was so fierce, that the entire room shrieked. Everyone turned the gaze towards the person who had caused this.


    ¡°M-mom?!¡± gasped Anita, terror, anxiety, and excitement filling up her body, unable to believe what she was seeing. And yet there she was.


    A woman who was taller than Anita and whose face resembled hers, Mira, stood right in front of her. Behind Mira stood none other than Alviona, who was hiding behind her, lightly peeking out and tightly clutching her clothes.


    ¡°Well, well, well. Look at all of you giving me a stare. What? Have you never seen an elf before?¡± asked Mira who seemed to be receiving amusement from their facial expressions.


    Anita¡¯s hands trembled as she moved them towards her face in disbelief. Tightly closing eyes several times, she attempted to dispense the illusion in front of her, but Mira still stood in front of her. ¡°H-how¡­¡±


    Before Anita could pose a question, Mira walked up to her and started stretching her cheeks.


    ¡°Ow! Ow! It hurts! Mom, stop!¡± demanded Anita, who was getting embarrassed by her mother¡¯s actions.


    ¡°I just awoke from my slumber, and this is how you greet me?!¡± asked Mira who was relieved to finally be able to reunite with her daughter after five years. Despite her actions, she could not hide her joy and ended up firmly embracing Anita.


    ¡°But, mom, how?! What happened?¡± (Anita)


    Mira gently patted her daughter¡¯s head and turned around to face Sofia. ¡°It is thanks to your daughter. If not for her, I think I would be stuck in my state for I do not know how many more years¡± she replied, with a warm grin.


    Sofia, noticing Alviona hiding behind Mira¡¯s back, let out a loud sigh and blushed a little.


    ¡°She thinks that you two are angry at her, which is why she is hiding,¡± informed Mira to the two girls in front of her to allow them to talk it out.


    Sofia and Anita understood. It indeed appeared that they had been too harsh on the child, causing her to get overly stressed and lose consciousness. ¡°I am such a fool! I should have known better! Why did I yell at her?!¡± thought Anita, biting her lips.


    ¡°Alviona, what was it that you wanted to tell them?¡± asked Mira, while kneeling down and patting her on the head. As a result, the child eased off a little and let her clothes go. She gently moved from behind her back and bowed her upper body.


    ¡°I sincerely apologize for scaring my mommy and Anita. Please, forgive me,¡± stated Alviona, whose tears were visibly dropping on the floor, causing both Sofia and Anita to fall into panic, as they could not understand how to approach this situation.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t! I am sorry, child it is my fault. I was just confused and frustrated, which is why I ended up getting angry at you. I beg that you forgive me,¡± stated Anita, after walking up to Alviona and giving her a tight hug. ¡°Please do not cry. You are not at fault.¡±


    Alviona looked up, still sobbing, her beautiful face covered with tears reminiscent of morning raindrops. Understanding what she heard, she could not help but tightly clutch Anita into a hug and land a gentle kiss on her cheek, not willing to let go for even one second.


    How could I make such a cute kid cry? I was soo foolish. There is no forgiveness for me. Dear mother nature, I have committed a sin. Thought Anita, as she could feel the sincerity and passion behind Alviona¡¯s action.


    Seeing the situation unfold, Sofia could not help it either. She also ended up joining the two of them, hugging and pampering Alviona, while landing a kiss on her forehead and cheeks. ¡°How could I make my daughter cry this much?¡± wondered she, while Alviona, noticing her mother join entirely switched her attention to her and hugged her tighter than ever, sobbing even more intensely and trying to gasp out for words. ¡°Mommy, mom. Sorry. Uwaaah. *Sniff, Sniff* *Sob, Sob* *Sniff* Mom..mmy *Sob*.¡±


    Solomon, who was directly linked to Alviona, watched the three girls as if they were a piece of art, a beautiful painting of sorts which had come to life. It was breathtaking, so much that it made him wonder where had he been all those years. The bond he experienced towards his mistress, was further deepened.


    Janine, who was watching from the side, was also in thought. Was this really the girl that had almost slain her? Unable to understand, she just kept staring.


    After what felt like an hour passed, Anita and Sofia let go of Alviona, who seemed to have calmed down as the tears were no longer visible. Relieved, Sofia kissed her daughter one more time. In return, the daughter smiled and giggled.


    ¡°Now then, let us discuss and conclude your debate from prior,¡± stated Mira firmly.


    ¡°How do you know of it mother?¡± asked Anita with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Come on now. I was in a slumber, but I am not deaf. I am connected with this forest in such way, that anything done within its vicinity is like my own body. I know of everything, even of your affair with Sofia here,¡± said Mira while giving a wink to the two of them.


    ¡°Eeek! T-that¡­ We¡­ uh. Mom! This is too embarrassing! Stop!¡± exclaimed Anita who¡¯s face was becoming as red as a tomato, whereas Sofia blushed, lowering her head a little to avoid gazes.


    ¡°Speaking of which, you two were saying that Alviona needs to get an education, but could not come to a conclusion on what to do. You also said that it is hazardous for the child to stay here. To that, I agree.


    I do not know what sort of war the two Kingdoms are fighting, but I do know for a fact, that the mainland operates differently. Since a lot of different races live there, it is also more welcoming to the likes of your child, who has such an unordinary body.


    People in most countries on the mainland of Atraterr, tend to be more hospitable and also accept students from various races into guilds and academies. Therefore, the solution I propose is the same as Solomon, which is to take Alviona to the mainland and teach her magic,¡± stated Mira firmly, looking towards the man and nodding in affirmation. ¡°But I still think that he is an imbecile,¡± she added.


    Solomon whose hopes were finally starting to rise were instantly crushed. ¡°May I ask what I did to deserve such bitter words and insults?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Your proposition is the worst thing I have ever heard in the six centuries of my life! You do not seem to think properly, or, perhaps there is a pebble in your head instead of a brain. I do not know,¡± replied Mira in anger. ¡°And how on earth were you even called the best Sorceror of the Damas Kingdom?¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°I¡­ great. Thank you very much, now my head hurts,¡± said Solomon while touching his head, unable to understand what he had done to anger this elf.


    ¡°An empty head cannot hurt,¡± replied Mira in an amused tone, while waving her hand, gesturing for him to stop his nonsense.


    Now it was Sofia¡¯s turn. Mira turned towards her and gently landed her hands on her shoulders. ¡°Look kiddo. I know that you are confused and have a lot of questions. I can see that. You are trying to protect your daughter. On top of that, you are also trying to stay by the side of my child. I have been in your place before, and I know what it feels like to be alone. I heard your conversation with Anita, and I sympathize with your emotions,¡± she stated, without even a single strand of hesitation visible in her voice.


    ¡°But, I am a mother. How can I let my own child leave? She is so young! I did not get any time to spend with her,¡± whispered Sofia overcome with emotions of despair and sadness. It felt like she was sinking into the depths of the ocean.


    ¡°Of course, I understand that. So am I, a mother. One that wishes Anita to be the happiest child in this world.¡± Mira paused to look at Anita, who seemed to be blushing by her words. Looking back at Sofia, the girl was also blushing.


    ¡°And she can be, with you. If you leave your child here and worry yourself to death, I will not be able to forgive myself. On the other hand, if I stayed behind, allowing you and Anita to go to the mainland, would you really be able to watch your child be endangered? Or are you so na?ve that you expect a care-free life? We are living in the world filled with creatures, war, greed, and adventures. If we don¡¯t fight naturally respawning monsters, we will go extinct. Our desires and jealousy make all the sentient species go against each other for more control and power. It is twisted and ugly. So, this said, would it not be better if I were to accompany Alviona to the mainland alongside Solomon? Get her to explore a bit and adventure, let her go to school for a year or two, while allowing you two to develop your relationship. After all, I am technically now her grandmother am I not?¡± said Mira while grinning and winking at the two of them.


    Sofia was blushing, while Anita was getting irritated.


    ¡°Mother! Cut it out! We can to go the mainland with Alviona and protect her. Sofia is strong! And I am not that far behind. We can¡­¡±


    Before Anita could finish her sentence, Mira, who was conveniently standing in-between the two girls, lightly applied her force and pushed them into each other, their eyes and lips meeting, resulting in a kiss. This was so sudden that the eyes of both girls widened and neither of them closed it. Both of their faces were red as a tomato.


    ¡°That uhm¡­¡± Janine tried saying something, but for some reason ended up blushing a little and not being able to pronounce more than that.


    Solomon¡¯s eyes were wide. He was unaware of their relationship. Piu was just waving his tail like a dog. Alviona watched, confused and incapable of understanding what was going on, so her expression ended up being quite cute.


    After a few seconds, they separated, but neither of them was able to say anything.


    ¡°I never said that you were weak. I said that in your current condition, you can not raise Alviona if you were to go to the mainland. And if you decided to stay here, it would be too horrid. Imagine the border opening up after two years? She would be thirteen by then, no?! How can you explain to the teachers that your daughter is of that age and has no understanding of how to use even a single spell?¡± asked Mira without any intentions or hint of malice. She was quite amused by how magnetic these two lovebirds were.


    Sofia did not say a word. Instead, she just nodded in defeat. Anita, frustrated, lowered her head, blushing, and began stroking her cheeks.


    ¡°Mom! You just made us kiss in front of a child!¡± she exclaimed, too embarrassed to look over at Alviona.


    ¡°Did I? Oh, well. Alviona do you understand what they just did?¡± asked Mira innocently.


    ¡°They said that they kissed¡­ but I have never seen them kiss like that before. Can I kiss them too?¡± asked Alviona innocently.


    ¡°MOM! You ruined the child!¡± yelled Anita at Mira, who was laughing hysterically.


    ¡°Uhm. No, I did not. All-right kiddo. Let us say that your mom loves my daughter. But she loves her differently. Meanwhile, they both love you like Reiolle and Archill. Does it make sense?¡± asked Mira with a grin.


    ¡°Got it, but my mommy loving me like them means that she is my mommy, so does that mean Anita is my mommy too now?¡± asked Alviona confused.


    ¡°You could say that! Yes.¡± Replied Mira with a light chuckle.


    Hearing Alviona¡¯s words, Sofia and Anita both blushed. How could a child be this innocent?! Furthermore, she accepted it so light-heartedly. Both girls were so carried away by this occurrence, that they failed to pay attention to Archill or Reiolle being mentioned.


    ¡°So then, what about it? What do you two say?¡± asked Mira after a minute.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Sofia was first to speak. ¡°Your points are honestly spot on. While refutable, I can not do so for it would mean me going against the growth of my daughter. Your arguments were also valid. I am going to allow it¡­ but only because you are Anita¡¯s mother. But please, allow my daughter to come to visit often. I beg of you.¡± Said Sofia, while bowing with her entire body.


    ¡°Child, of course, I will. She is your rightful daughter after-all. Who am I to take her away from you? Furthermore, even if I tried to, Alviona would probably beat me into oblivion, for that is how much she loves you. Despite your lack of trust in Solomon, I assure you from what the man has seen, he is probably of the same mind,¡± said Mira gently, smiling and extending her hands, welcoming Sofia into a hug, surprised by the courage and resolve exhibited by her to let her daughter leave.


    ¡°Alviona. I am truly sorry. Mommy is weak. I was unable to protect you, and in the end, you ended up having to defend me. I am a failure as a mother,¡± said Sofia, as she approached her daughter and kneeled to be at the same level as her.


    ¡°No! Mommy is always strong. Please do not say something like that. If you ever become weak, then I will just become stronger and protect you instead!¡± said Alviona, hugging her mother and not letting her go for a few minutes, her voice emitting might so high, that it felt like the entire residence was shaking.


    Hearing these words, Sofia shed tears of joy. Her daughter was above and beyond amazing, and the love she harbored towards her could be deemed otherworldy. Tightly hugging Alviona, Sofia gathered the resolve to speak up: ¡°Darling, you will need to go with grandma Mira temporarily. You have to go to school and learn, all right?¡±


    ¡°Is mommy not coming with us?¡± asked Alviona confused, tightly clutching her mother¡¯s garments.


    ¡°No. If I come with you, I will be in the way of your education. Solomon told me that you wanted to learn magic, yes? And you said you wanted to become stronger, right?¡± asked Sofia, with a smile, desperately attempting to control her accumulated emotions. I have to be strong for my daughter¡¯s sake. Do not cry Sofia. Please do not allow her to remember you like this, she thought.


    ¡°I understand. I will get stronger for mommy. I will also learn magic,¡± replied Alviona with determination. Despite her still being an infant and not understanding much, she loved her mother beyond anyone in this world, and now that Anita had joined in, an unknown feeling was telling her to become stronger and protect what she treasured the most.


    Seeing that Alviona was cheerful and did not pick up on the mood, Sofia was relieved. She tightly embraced her daughter, showering her with kisses and tickling her.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Oh, what a pleasant sensation! Aah. Mommy is the best! Thought Alviona.


    ¡°Mom, when and how do you plan to leave?¡± (Anita)


    ¡°Oh, my. Trying to get rid of me so quickly to do something naughty with Sofia? Dear daughter, you have disappointed your mother.¡± taunted Mira, amused by her daughter¡¯s sudden question.


    ¡°That¡­ I¡­ No!¡± (Anita)


    ¡°Relax. I am just teasing. I plan to rest for today and probably move out as soon as tomorrow. The sooner, the better. The entire forest is currently going a little wild, due to the wyverns flying above us. Anita, promise me two things. One, you will keep summoning and maintaining golems. Two, you will protect yourself and Sofia, no matter the cost. If a huge danger arises, please run to where the golems patrol. If the environment becomes too hazardous, state the following words to the golem with a red circle in its mana pattern: ¡°I, Anita come here as a daughter of Mira. I request an audience with Alamanin, I command you to guide me.¡± Embed these words into your soul and only commit to this action when in grave danger, never before. Promise me this!¡± said Mira, her tone clearly indicating the seriousness of her demand.


    Seeing that her daughter nodded in affirmative, Mira turned her attention to Janine. ¡°As for you, child, I do not know what to tell you. I do not think we have been acquainted before and your relevance here is questionable. However, if you genuinely do not wish to die, you better come with us on this little adventure of ours. Oh please don¡¯t give me that look. Don¡¯t think that I am letting you go back to your homeland and tell everyone what happened here. No. No. You are not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand. It is not like I can return back to the kingdom of Vaalmer, anyways. I am already marked as a deserter, so If I were to head home, I would face execution, and my family would be shamed and stripped of its nobility status,¡± replied Janine, brushing her chin and only responding after a ponder.


    ¡°Very well then. Let me go recover for a bit. All of you here need rest, no exceptions,¡± declared Mira with a stern voice, sending a chill down the spines of the present party.


    And with that, Alviona¡¯s adventures were about to begin.

 Chapter 19 - A talk between two mothers, and Alvionas departure

    As the sun rose the next morning, Mira was the first person to open her eyes and wake up. Stretching her body and moving around a little, she dressed up and walked to the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor to check on everyone else. Anita was, as usual, deep asleep. Mira knew that she was not the sort of person to wake up until much later in the morning.


    Next, she went to check on Sofia and Alviona. Entering the room, she was greeted by a sight of a girl, who was sleeping with her wings extended covering the body as if it were a blanket. Alviona was tightly clutching a pillow, slightly drooling. It appeared that she was having a dream since she was vaguely talking in her sleep; something about biting someone¡¯s tail. Mira could not comprehend the full meaning behind this, and noticing that Sofia was absent, she decided to leave the room and let the girl rest a while longer.


    Mira skipped the second floor, as she had no intentions of checking on Solomon or Janine, and walked outside.


    ¡°Why did you get up so early, child?¡±


    Caught by surprise, Sofia, who was drawing elemental projectile, quickly turned her entire body while aiming her bow at Mira.


    ¡°Oh, my. I apologize, Mrs. Mira, I did not know. You startled me,¡± said Sofia, easing up her shoulders and withdrawing the weapon.


    ¡°No need to apologize, and please, don¡¯t be so formal. Just Mira will do. So, what are you up to my darling?¡±


    ¡°I am training to enhance my bow skills in an attempt to reduce the mana consumption of [Elemental Arrow]. I am also trying to perform a delay on the projectile so that the element activates before the impact, but it is rather difficult,¡± said Sofia, pointing towards the three bolts puncturing the tree, turning around and drawing her bow to its full strength. Once the arrow was loaded, she immediately let loose, attempting to apply her [Elemental Enchant] mid-flight, charging it with Wind element. It appeared to be successful, for the bolt started making a piercing noise but ended up puncturing the same spot with its regular force.


    *Sigh*


    ¡°And it was a failure yet again.¡±


    Mira guessed why she was doing this, Sofia was in turmoil over letting Alviona go to the mainland, even if she had not objected earlier or refuted her points, the fact remained: ¨C how would a mother let her daughter leave at such a young age? Frustrated and unable to figure out how to confront her, Mira pondered, deciding to tell her the full story which she had not revealed earlier.


    ¡°Sofia, it is a little early right now, and everyone is asleep. Would you mind us talking as fellow mothers?¡± she asked, bowing and surprising the young girl in front of her.


    ¡°O-of course. But, please do not bow, it makes me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed,¡± replied Sofia with a blushing face, unable to guess what Mira wanted to talk about, curiosity filling her body.


    ¡°Very well then. It is about your daughter, so please listen carefully. This will take a while,¡± said Mira, not willing to continue until the girl provided her full attention.


    Hearing the topic would be about Alviona, Sofia gulped, putting away her bow, stroking her cheeks a couple of time, and nodding in affirmative.


    ¡°Let us go for a walk then. So, are you aware of the condition that I was in? Has Anita told you much?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You were in a slumber as an aftermath of attempting to cure a plague that occurred fifteen years ago,¡± said Sofia after brushing her chin, falling into thought.


    ¡°You are correct,¡± nodded Mira, ¡°except, I did not just attempt to cure it but instead, succeeded. However, I was exhausted beyond reasoning and as such ended up catching the disease that affected mana flow, throwing me into the state of unconsciousness¡­¡±


    ¡°What is wrong? Why did we stop¡­¡± Sofia was unable to finish asking her question, as Mira stopped moving and gestured her to stop talking. As the two of them froze, a giant golem passed by, shaking the entire ground but not paying any attention to the party. After it disappeared from view, they resumed their journey.


    ¡°We have to be a little cautious here. Some goblins are inhabiting this area of the forest, and is a place that golems include into their patrol routes. Please watch yourself.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± said Sofia, mustering up her body and moving her right hand towards the bowstring, raising her alertness and preparing for combat, activating [Tracking] skill in the intervals of every 40 seconds for 2 seconds. ¡°Two goblin mages coming from the west.¡±


    Hearing this, Mira immediately cast [Nature¡¯s skin] on herself and her companion; an ability that reduced first incoming magic attack by 50%, followed by [Nature¡¯s whisper]; a skill that attacked the psych of monsters and muzzled their sense of direction.


    As the two goblins aimlessly wandered past them, Sofia unleashed her [Elemental Arrow] comprised of ice which pierced the first monster, causing frostbite and heavy bleeding, not allowing it to recover. The second arrow was composed of lightning, which caused a shock upon impact, providing Sofia time to cast [Agility], swiftly dashing, closing the distance and stabbing the second goblin into the heart, not allowing it even a second to recover.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± said Mira, witnessing Sofia¡¯s potency in combat, praising her quick decision-making skills and execution.


    ¡°Thank you very much,¡± came a reply from the girl, removing a flask attached to her belt and chugging water.


    The company of two continued their walk, stopping in-between a few times to catch a breath, and talking about their experiences. Mira even spoke about Anita and her childhood a bit, causing Sofia to get surprised for hearing how adorable and cute the small elf was proved overly entertaining.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Eh?! Did she really stay in her bed for five days just because you splashed her with cold water for mixing up wrong herbs when brewing potion?!¡± asked Sofia, giggling with excitement. She had just received a way to tease Anita.


    ¡°You bet! And she did not just mix the wrong herbs but brewed the potion that would wake even the rotten dead from their graves, demanding to be released from that stench! It took me fifteen days to clean up that mess and get rid of the odor,¡± said Mira, chuckling when recalling how bad it had been. Her daughter always was mischief and too impatient, but looking at Sofia, she was happy that Anita finally managed to find a suitable partner.


    It took them two hours before Mira stopped and declared that they had arrived. The place was nothing out of the unordinary, lush trees, rocks, tree barks, tall grass and big mossy rock.


    ¡°Why are we here?¡± asked Anita, curiosity taking over her.


    Mira did not reply, but instead approached that very rock and touched it with her two hands, sliding them down and incurring minor cuts from rubbing her hands over sharp edges covered by moss. As the blood carrying elf¡¯s mana came into contact with the object, it began violently trembling, sliding down the middle portion of the rock, as if peeling a slice from the whole apple, revealing a small passageway that led underground.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I need to retrieve some equipment,¡± said Mira, holding her hands together and casting [Flame] to illuminate the dark and a narrow corridor. Few minutes after, they reached their destination.


    The room was small, with only a small cabinet and bookshelf that seemed to contain various scrolls. Mira walked up to it and chanted [Remove Petrification], [Remove Curse], [Remove Paralysis] and [Remove Thorns of Death], resulting in the drawer opening up on its own. Slowly moving her hand forward, she retrieved a sheathed dagger, which had straps and metallic rings attached to it.


    ¡°Is that a dagger?¡±


    ¡°No. It is a wand, a druidic one too. It was crafted for me by my husband about three centuries ago, from the toughest tree that he cut down with his bare hands, using only the most valuable emerald piece for a catalyst that he possessed in his treasury. I always kept it as an heirloom, but now it is time to use it,¡± replied Mira with a warm smile. Remembering her husband always brought joy to her heart and soul. ¡°It provides me +20% increase in using any druidic abilities, restores 50% of mana when using restorative spells, is usable as an offensive catalyst like staves, is indestructible, and lastly, is soulbound to me, therefore it will always return to into my possession even if someone steals it.


    ¡°That sounds amazing!¡± said Sofia, who was excited hearing about such item. The properties were unique, resembling her bow.


    ¡°Indeed it is. However, I did not just bring you here for that reason. Sofia, in this place, no one can eavesdrop on us, so please, I beg of you to listen to what I have to tell you,¡± said Mira, kneeling and giving a courtly bow.


    ¡°P-please! Stop doing that Mira, it is unnecessary. Such behavior gets me rather uncomfortable and embarrassed,¡± begged Sofia, not understanding why the elf was acting so formal.


    ¡°Sofia, please listen to me now. Remember we talked about my slumber?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I did not tell you one crucial detail; I was also there, with Solomon, when the time stopped.¡±


    ¡°WHAT?!¡± gasped Sofia, unable to believe what she had just heard, shocked and terrorized by the firm statement that Mira had made. ¡°H-how?¡±


    ¡°That is not all. The reason I am asking you and Anita to stay behind is precisely due to what I have witnessed while inhabiting the world where time did not exist. I have witnessed your child grow, and it was¡­ I can not fully describe it in words, for it is one thing to see it and then to experience it all together,¡± said Mira in a low voice, not to scare Sofia more than she already had.


    ¡°The moment the time stopped, you, Anita, birds, goblins, humans, wolves, and even my body, all disappeared from existence. The only reason I was able to retain myself is that of the bond that I share with this forest. As I said before, Great Forest of Javl is like my mind and ears, except when the phenomenon occurred, it actually became my eyes. What I witnessed was a girl, whose growth wildly accelerated, twisting muscles, breaking bones, healing and redoing the process several times. All the while emitting an uncontrollable power, so violent that it was destroying a vast area in and out of the residence.


    This is why I want to take her to the mainland and teach her magic, and is also why I am not willing to let you or Anita accompany. If something were to happen to you, can you imagine what sort of power your daughter would unleash in rage? Or are you telling me that you would bind her and cut her wings off, crippling and denying her future?¡±


    Sofia did not respond but believed this woman. She had a feeling that the full story was not being told, but it was probably for the better, because looking at Mira, it was evident that she was not lying or exaggerating.


    ¡°I understand. Please teach my daughter magic, so that when we meet again in the allotted time, we can all live together; be it adventures, hardship or happiness,¡± declared Sofia while bowing.


    Mira, relieved by her actions, took several scrolls from the bookshelf and moved them into her magical bag. And after this, the two of them returned to the hut.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    ¡°Alviona?¡±


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Mmm?


    ¡°Alviona, wake up.¡±


    Mom? Opening her eyes, the child was greeted by the sight of her mother, who was gently smiling but had a somewhat saddened face. Noticing this, Alviona panicked and sprang up from her bed.


    ¡°Is everything all right? Did I do something wrong?¡± she asked nervously.


    ¡°No child, not at all. It is just that Mira has already prepared everything. It is time to go,¡± said Sofia, smiling, hugging her daughter and kissing her on the nose.


    ¡°Mom¡­ I do not like that you are not coming with me,¡± said Alviona with a pouted face, causing Sofia to giggle.


    ¡°It is all right kiddo. Grandma Mira will take care of you for two years. It will not be so long, I promise.¡±


    Alviona, to whom time flow was perceived differently from everybody else, nodded and kissed her mother''s cheeks. Shortly after, everyone gathered outside the hut. Mira asked Alviona and Janine to get close to her, while Solomon kept a little distance.


    ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± asked Mira, ensuring that no unknown occurrences would take place and that everyone gathered was ready.


    ¡°Ready!¡±


    ¡°Ready!¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Alviona, letting go of Mira¡¯s hand and running towards her mother and Anita, tightly embracing them in turn and landing kisses. ¡°Both of my mommies, I will return soon, with knowledge on how to cast magic. Then we can play with water, and I can make you two smile. Also, Piu, please wait for me and take care of my mothers. Then, when I am back, I will bite your tail!¡± said Alviona, turning around and quickly skipping back to Mira¡¯s side, grabbing her hand and saying ¡°Ready.¡±


    Surprised by her child¡¯s words, Sofia and even Anita, both blushed and waved their goodbye, while Piu silently cried.


    ¡°You are truly something, child,¡± said Mira to Alviona with a chuckle. Then she switched her attention to Anita. ¡°Daughter, remember the words that I told you before. Do not forget them!¡± Saying this, Mira read a scroll. ¡°And if you meet your father, send him my regards and tell him that I have gone for a while,¡± but before Mira could say these words, her voice faded out, as the teleportation activated, the party¡¯s destination being no other than the mainland continent.

 Chapter 20 - Arrival to mainland and declaration of pursuit in magic

    ¡°Is everyone all right?¡± asked Mira, after the teleportation had succeeded; looking at every party member present, checking their conditions to ensure no one was injured.


    The Scroll of Teleportation allowed the user to move to a location that they had previously marked as their place of interest. However, such scrolls were rare to come by, as they needed to be obtained in specific dungeons that spawned Corrupted Hyenas; the sort that walked on two legs inflicted curses and wielded axes as their favorite weapons, in other words, overly tough opponents.


    Mira possessed no such scrolls. The one she had utilized transported them to the nearest country city that was not in the state of war. Due to the island of Akkaresh only housing two kingdoms, Damas and Vaalmer, who were in conflict, their cities ended up being skipped regardless of danger.


    ¡°I think we are all right. But, where are we?¡± asked Janine in confusion, while Alviona wandered away, getting distracted by a pillar that was visible beside them, attempting to inspect it.


    ¡°Well, I can not tell you exactly where we are, but I can assure you that this place is not in a state of war. How about we walk over to that city to find out?¡± said Mira, pointing towards the city gates that were visible, which appeared to be about half-an-hour away.


    Seeing Janine¡¯s nod, she looked around to check on Alviona, who was playing around, inspecting items and her surrounding, her face clearly showing excitement, natural for the girl who one could argue was the most curious creature living in the world.


    ¡°Child, what caught your attention?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°This thing is interesting. It emits no mana but has cute things on it. What are those?¡± asked Alviona pointing towards the statue which stood 3 meters in length from the ground.


    The object in question was known as the city beacon, an item that could be crafted by kingdoms and distributed to their different cities or towns to allow for quicker and more convenient movement between the locations. It also had a use during the war, especially for people who were granted a nobility status by the Kingdom ruler, as they could travel to safer beacons. The downside to this was that regardless of rank, one could not carry caravans through it, nor could they transport items, with an exception for those that were already equipped or stored inside the magical pockets/pouches.


    After talking to Alviona, explaining to her what the statue in front of her was, the girl¡¯s eyes were sparkling, and ears wiggled in excitement. Mira, Janine, and Solomon watching the child¡¯s state could not help but think how adorable she was.


    *Cough*


    ¡°All right. Let¡¯s head over into the city,¡± said Mira extending her hand to the child who gently grabbed it and followed her. ¡°By the way, Alviona is there any way for you to hide your wings? They stand out a little too much. Fallen angels are a rare sight; even if you are not one and your wings are different from theirs, you still resemble their kin in the eyes of other species.¡±


    Ok, thought Alviona, as she hid her wings, making them disappear as if they were never there in the first place. Mira looked confused by this, for nothing had really happened. She even tried to touch the limbs but space was empty, it was not an illusion, the girl had really made them disappear.


    Approaching the city gates, the four of them were greeted by guards who, at the sight of Alviona, could not take their eyes away for a few seconds, but in the end, merely inquired about their motive behind the visit.


    ¡°All right. I can see that the three of you are not registered under any country. Therefore if you wish to enter this city, you can make a payment of 15 copper per person entering,¡± stated the guard captain, turning around to Janine, ¡°As for you miss, being registered under the kingdom that is currently at war and is outside of the mainland, you have to pay one silver coin in order to be eligible for entry. Note that the port services will be unavailable for you until the conflict resolves.¡±


    ¡°We just arrived here by utilizing the Teleportation Scroll, as such we do not quite understand where ¡°here¡± refers to. Would you be kind enough to explain?¡± asked Mira to the captain after their inspection concluded and payment of one silver and 45 copper was provided.


    The guard nodded, moving the payment into a pouch and tossing it into the hands his nearby colleague.


    ¡°You are currently in the Kingdom of Xanais, and this here is our port city of Alpall. We mostly conduct trading here. Anything else you would like to know?¡±


    ¡°Yes, are there any guilds in the city?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°A few, yes. There are traders guilds, looking for people that have appraisal skills on various items and objects; Smiths guilds, looking for new recruits and apprentices since we are always busy and the requests for weapons and armors are high. Lastly, there are information guilds for those that are going in and out of the kingdom or want to be updated with current news,¡± replied the guard. ¡°Is there anything else you wanted to know madame?¡±


    ¡°No, that is quite satisfactory. Thank you very much,¡± replied Mira with a smile, gesturing towards her party to follow her into the city.


    ¡°All righty then. Please, follow me.¡± The guard approached the door and knocked several times. The slit opened and quickly closed, followed by the door opening and welcoming new visitors in.


    The city was not too big but possessed a unique atmosphere and charm to it. Buildings were neatly spaced out, creating broad alleyways where pedestrians walked hurriedly without bumping into each other too much. The roads were packed by wagons that were pulled by oxen, some of their contents being visible while others not so much. Some wagons were escorted by people on the horseback that wore all sorts of different garments and battle gear.


    Walking around, trying to find the information guild first, the party could see the mood of the pedestrians. Some people were chattering here and there, greeting each other while delivering food or just merely discussing the weather and life in general; while others, were getting frustrated over the amount of work that needed to be done due to lack of people helping them. Some men and women were laughing hysterically after hearing gossip about some noble. At times, though not occasionally, a cart would pass by, probably transporting a wealthy merchant. It was afternoon, but drunken people would also be seen trying to pick a fight but were always disbanded by city guards that were on patrol duty. While their equipment was not made for war or siege, they were potent at keeping the busy streets as safe as possible.


    After wandering around for a while, Alviona, whose appetite awoke due to excitement, became restless, her stomach beginning to growl. The fact that the streets were emitting different smells from the nearby bakeries did not aid the child¡¯s situation, so much that at some point she stopped, touching her growling stomach.


    Mira, who held Alviona¡¯s hand, felt the sudden stop and looked at her. Hearing the growling stomach, she could not help but burst into laughter. Everyone had eaten their breakfast a few hours ago, before using the scroll, so witnessing this small child already be at this level of hunger was extraordinary.


    ¡°Everyone, let us go and have a quick snack for now. Alviona seems to be hungry,¡± said Mira, giggling and not taking her eyes off her. She is actually brave. Distanced from her mother for almost three hours now and yet, not a single drop of tears. Furthermore, she is not misbehaving nor is she anxious about being in an unknown to her place, although I do wonder why she is not talking much. ¡°All right, let us go find a place where we can have lunch,¡± continued Mira; however, Alviona who was still holding her hand shook her head and instead pointed towards a shop sign which read ¡°Velven¡¯s Bakery.¡±


    Seeing her actions, neither Solomon nor Janine could hold their laughter. Mira ended up shrugging, and so the company walked into the bakery.


    ¡°Hello. Welcome to Velven¡¯s Bakery. How are you doing today?¡± came a greeting from a young man behind the counter, beating the eggs and applying sugar into the bowl.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Good afternoon. We are doing good, thank you for asking.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°I am glad to hear it. What can I do for you today?¡± (The man)


    ¡°We are just looking for the information guild, and while we were at it, the aroma emitted from this establishment lured us in,¡± said Mira, giving a wink to Alviona, whose face was expressing delight. For her, it was a first time seeing a person mixing ingredients to create a bakery item, so naturally, her curiosity was aroused.


    ¡°I-is that really so?¡± asked the man in delight and confusion. ¡°I am grateful for hearing this. Then¡­ are you here to purchase something?¡± he continued asking, with an excited face.


    ¡°Naturally. Why? Do you not get much business?¡± asked Solomon, who was confused by the man¡¯s gestures.


    ¡°No, no. Not at all. The business gets me from day to day, it is that acquiring new customers is relatively hard, due to high competition. My bakery is old, it was passed down from my grandfather who had baked for the entire town back then before it became a fully-fledged port city. As the trading enlarged, other wealthier people began opening better shops in the vicinity. I still have retained my loyal clients though,¡± replied the man with a chuckle. ¡°So, what would you like me to get for you?¡±


    ¡°I will take a pecan tart if you sell it.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°A chocolate waffle for me please.¡± (Janine)


    ¡°I would like a crepe with whip cream please.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Alviona stared, unable to understand what any of those words meant. She was just tempted by the smell but had no clue as to what that smell was coming from. She knew nothing of the food, aside what her mother had always made for her: Hardboiled eggs and crushed oats.


    ¡°I will also take two slices of an apple pie if I may,¡± said Mira, realizing why the child, who was the main reason behind them coming here, was not active. For a moment, she had forgotten about the accelerated age.


    The man brought the ordered items, and Mira provided the payment of one silver. Deciding to sit down, the four of them began eating their desserts.


    Alviona, who had never seen or eaten a pastry before, looked at the item in front of her, thoroughly analyzing it. However, no information was given. Mira was watching her all the while, chuckling while slowly enjoying her crepe.


    Janine, who was sitting in front of the child, seeing that she was nowhere near to even start eating her dessert, and in fear of it getting cold, decided to grab a spoon, gently taking a small piece.


    ¡°Here, open your mouth and say aah,¡± as she said it, the child complied, and the bits of apple pie landed in her mouth. The syrupy taste from apples, the sweet and savory flavor of cinnamon, crunchy and mildly salted crust, all mixed together for an otherworldly taste for Alviona. It was her first time eating something like this and experiencing this new sensation, tears of happiness dripped down her cheeks. Janine, who was watching a person cry over food for the first time in her life, could not help but think that Alviona was overly cute, so she decided to continue feeding her.


    After the party was done, they got up and followed Mira, who left another coin of silver and 14 copper pieces on the table for the young man.


    ¡°Madame, why?¡± asked the man in confusion, attempting to give the money back.


    ¡°Because you have given this child her first-time experience with the sweets and opened her door to the world of the bakery, particularly desserts. For that, I am grateful. Thank you very much!¡± replied Mira, bowing and leaving the store with Alviona holding her hand, followed by Janine and Solomon; their destination being the information guild.


    Asking the guards for proper directions, the four of them finally located the Informations Guild bureau and stepped in. It was a 3-story building, made of cream-colored bricks that were enchanted with magic alloy, to avoid cracks accumulating over time. The reception room was grand, with men and women moving in and out, carrying scrolls, books, and maps around, saying words such as That information is outdated! Replace it; Cyclops sighted in the Forest of Whispers; Bandits assaulted the Caravans. Guards equipped with shortswords and small wands, stood tall, protecting the staircase that led to the upper floors.


    Mira approached the receptionist, who was sitting behind the gold-colored metal bars, which she guessed protected her from people reaching over and stealing information scrolls that were traded here. After waiting in line for twenty or so minutes, it was finally her turn to walk up to the girl.


    ¡°Good afternoon and welcome to the Informations Guild. How may I be of service today?¡± (Receptionist)


    ¡°Hello, I would like to purchase some piece of information in regards to magic on this continent.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Very well, what sort of magic are we talking about?¡± (Receptionist)


    ¡°Child, what sort of magic are you considering in pursuing?¡± asked Mira to Alviona, who was wiggling her ears in excitement after hearing the word ¡°Magic,¡± but was unable to understand what she meant.


    ¡°I do not think that she has considered pursuing a specific school of magic, because she does not know what that word even means,¡± replied Solomon in her stead, understanding what his mistress was telling him.


    Mira pouted and excused herself from the receptionist, stepping back and allowing the next person in line to pursue their business. She went towards a sofa, and sat down, gesturing towards everyone to join her.


    ¡°Very well then. Let me explain to you what the schools of magic refer to darling,¡± said Mira with a smile, patting Alviona¡¯s head and asking for her attention, to which she received a nod.


    The schools of magic referred to the different styles and utilization of mana to achieve different goals, which were divided into five types:


    Martial ¨C Utility of Mana to boost the strength of muscles, increase the impact of attacks, become more nimble, increase agility; in short go beyond physical body restrictions. For example, Akaron was a legendary warrior that utilized Martial schools of magic. He was adept at using [Earth Body], which caused his muscles to strengthen in such way that he would be reminiscent of an unmovable boulder. No matter how hard one would strike him with a weapon, he was immune, and having reached the realm of perfection, could instantly disable that ability and use another one such as [Pouncing Thrust], pouncing with his entire body and thrusting with his mighty spear, essentially going right through that person. This school of magic is very demanding that the user trains the body from an early age and learns to control breathing.


    Elemental ¨C Utility of Mana to Shape, Form, and Control the different types of elements such as Wind, Earth, Water, Fire, and Lightning. Solomon was an example of this, for he was an Elementalist sorcerer, that utilized Fire based magic to its full extent, able to cast an advanced spell such as [Incinerate] which caused his targeted area to instantly roast anything into ashes. This school of magic had a lot of charm to it because users were able to mix and match various elements and see what suited them the best. Those that also had elemental affinities could cast that specific element much more potently and at a less mana consumption that could further be toned down through equipment and training mind.


    Summoning ¨C Utility of Mana to Shape, Form, Create, and Control an entity that stays in the realm for a defined time, aiding the creator with support based attacks, remaining as a front-liner, or being a back-liner. The strength and skills of the summon are dependent on the creativity of its summoner. For example, a person could create an earth golem that would have all the properties of one. The size would be up to the user and the bigger it would be, the less likely that it would stay for long. On the other hand, some creative users could create butterflies the size of humans that had electric wings and spiritual body, able to heal allies and at the same time, combat enemies with electric based elemental attacks.


    Psychic ¨C Utility of Mana to Weaken, Confuse and Control the minds of the opponent. This school of magic was not favored by anyone. It had a steep learning curve, and no-one to date had mastered it completely. Just having interest in this field of magic was considered as a lowly and dishonorable deed. However, countries required organizations such as spies and assassins, and as such, some individuals would pursue the teachings, for the pay was really good.


    Divine ¨C Utility of Mana to Bless, Protect, Heal, and Preserve the life. A protection based school of magic, which allowed users to cast buffs that reduced incoming magical damage, healed wounds and sometimes, could even resurrect the dead back to life, although this required a blessing from an angel, a feat that was ridiculously costly to achieve and dangerous, for most countries and organizations would be after such ability user. Divine could also accelerate and even fully restore the mana of allied targets, but it caused extreme exhaustion and the inability of utilizing said skill for at least 3-4 hours, as it would generally go on cooldown.


    Of course, no one was ever restricted to one school of magic, in truth, it was encouraged that inhabitants of Dedrillon pursued multiple schools and mixed things up. However, it was a good idea to always have a solid foundation and then branch out later. Which is why different magical schools offered a different level of knowledge in the five schools of magic.


    Concluding her lesson about the topic, Mira looked at Alviona, ensuring that she did not have any questions or that she did not get confused during the explanation.


    ¡°So, now that you know about different schools of magic, which one do you think will you pursue?¡± asked Mira, curiosity filling every inch of her body, for she knew to whom she was posing such question.


    Alviona began contemplating over the provided information. After 10 minutes passed, she grinned and looked at her grandmother.


    ¡°I want to pursue Divine and Elemental. However, I want to learn about all the magic. Is there a way of doing it?¡±


    When this question was posed, a brick fell down on the heads of the three listeners.

 Chapter 21 - Criminal

    Having Alviona declare her intent in the schools of magic that she wanted to pursue as her foundation, Mira, Solomon, and Janine, fell into thought. No one would ever announce to be willing to learn everything that the world had to offer. It was too absurd, overambitious and somewhat useless because the pressure on the user would be overwhelming.


    Furthermore, Elemental school of magic already offered too many branches of magic, and while there existed people who used several elements together or even all of them, focusing down on one and then utilizing the other as a backup was the most efficient option. Usually, the teachers would educate students how to use basics of every element and let them figure out what suited their tastes, after which they would begin the specialization. On the other hand, having a Divine secondary was not a bad idea.


    Explaining this to Alviona, Mira asked again if she was confident in her decision, to which the child nodded with determined eyes.


    ¡°In that case, let us find you an institution that teaches Elemental Schools of Magic as its best, but also has access to a vast library with books on every other field. How about it?¡± said Mira with a smile, walking up to the receptionist again. Fortunately, she did not have to wait in line this time around.


    ¡°May I please have a list?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Certainly! Are you looking for the magical institutions related to only our kingdom, or are you looking for the entire list of the mainland?¡± (Receptionist)


    ¡°Actually, I am looking for a particular place of education. I have a list of criteria that must be met,¡± said Mira, looking at Alviona, taking her figure into consideration, and looking back at the receptionist, seeing that she had her hands in a steeple, she stated her criteria:


    ¡°First, the institution must be the one that houses instructors with experience in their fields.


    Second, it must have a library with an excessive amount of literature, scrolls, and articles on our schools of magic.


    Third, it must be potent at teaching Elemental magic.


    Fourth, it must not be too far into the continent.


    Lastly, it must be willing to accept pupils of demon races.¡±


    Hearing Mira saying ¡°Demon,¡± Alviona tilted her head. ¡°But I am not a demon?¡± she whispered in confusion. Solomon, whose ears were sharp on picking up what his mistress said, touched Alviona¡¯s shoulder with his left hand, catching her attention.


    ¡°Mistress, you are not one; however, you will be referred to as one. In this world, we call demons those individuals that have tails and/or horns growing out of their body, but are not hostile like monsters and have a high intellect like humans, dwarves, orcs, and elves.¡±


    All right. I understand. Thank you very much, Mr. Solomon replied Alviona cheerfully, to which the man chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.


    ¡°Well then. It seems that we are in luck,¡± said Mira, turning around to meet her party, her face slightly twisted, with an eerie smile expressing horror and frustration. Looking at her, Alviona was a little bit scared and decided to hide behind Solomon¡¯s figure.


    ¡°Is. Is something wrong?!¡± asked Janine, chill running down her spine, growing uneasy due to this horrid sight in front of her.


    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± laughed Mira, her voice resembling a wail of a banshee, causing people who were leaving to hurry up and those entering to immediately go back the way they came from. The guards patrolling the building were also alerted, causing some to even rush downstairs and check out if a monster of some sorts had invaded the guild, only to find a woman who was grinding her teeth, with an expression resembling that of a maniac. Not willing to have anything to do with her, the guards backtracked to their positions as if they never paid attention in the first place.


    *Cough*


    ¡°Excuse me madame, but you are scaring our clients,¡± said the receptionist, who apparently begged Mira to leave the guild. Fortunately, Solomon was wise enough to lift Mira by the waist and carry her outside. Just what exactly had happened?


    Exiting the building, Mira came back to her senses but did not talk much about her condition prior. ¡°All right people. Now we have to go to the central district and find merchants guild and a smithery. I would like to purchase some clothing and gear for Alviona, otherwise wearing Anita¡¯s clothing looks ridiculous on her. They are too big!¡±


    The company walked for one hour before reaching the town square. It was too lively. People rushing in and out of the crowded areas, merchants shouting out the prices of different wares to attract customers, caravans being loaded or unpacked by the workers hired by merchants. In the midst of this chaos was a curious girl, who wanted to explore every inch of the market. Mira, understanding the delight in the child¡¯s eyes, made sure to hold her hand as tightly as possible so that she would not get lost.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Alviona approached many stands, asking what was it that the merchants were selling when looking at fruit, vegetables, and fish. Ah, this is too interesting! That thing is called a potato. This thing is an apple that was inside my pie¡­ *Stomach Growl* She stopped, looking at the stand with various baskets on it, containing some form of blue-colored items inside. Curious as to what it was, she extended her hands and grabbed it.


    ¡°Oi! Hello, there young missy! That basket would be twenty copper please,¡± said the man behind the stand, grinning and extending his hand. Alviona, not knowing what that meant, just stared in return.


    ¡°What is this?¡± she asked, plunging her hand in and removing some pieces and moving them to her mouth, eating it with a gentle *Nomm*.


    ¡°Hey! You have to pay for that! Fifty coppers!¡± yelled the man, scaring the child in the process, forcing her to hide behind Mira¡¯s back, only to realize that the garments she would clutch were no longer there. Confused, she decided to look for her grandmother, but as she was about to make her wings appear and extend them, she remembered what Mira had asked her to do before entering the city. Unable to figure out what to do, Alviona ran away.


    ¡°THIEF! THIEF! Chase her! Get her!¡± screamed the man, but Alviona kept running. Some pedestrians attempted to catch her, but she quickly dodged them and kept running, not looking back even for a second. After zig-zagging through the alleyways, the pursuers were no longer seen or heard, allowing her to finally stop and look around.


    ¡°Scary. That guy was scary, and I have no idea why he was yelling at me,¡± muttered Alviona. Looking around, she found herself in a shady alley, surrounded by narrow, tall houses that did not allow much sunlight to penetrate through. Mr. Solomon, I am completely lost. Can you please find me? Asked Alviona to Solomon mentally.


    Solomon, who was still in the market, walked around with Janine. Since the distance between him and his mistress was not so long, and she was still in the vicinity, he did not focus on his link for he knew that Alviona was with Mira. The moment he heard the mental order from her, he immediately came to a halt.


    ¡°What is wrong?¡± asked Janine, puzzled by the sudden stop of the companion.


    The man did not respond but instead looked for Mira, who, as he noticed, was walking towards them with a horrified face.


    ¡°She is all right. I will go bring my mistress back,¡± said Solomon, before Mira could even start telling her story, moving past them and running at his full speed. Both girls were looking at the man¡¯s disappearing figure. How quickly was he running?!


    Meanwhile, Alviona was getting adventurous, checking out different alleyways and moving around a little. At some point, she heard some sounds. Thinking that it was Solomon or Anita and Janine, she decided to head towards it.


    A man dressed in full leather armor, with visible grey undergarments, was tightly clutching the girl''s hands, whispering words in her ears. He then proceeded to remove a knife from his belt and passed it over to the girl, who accepted it without hesitation.


    ¡°Good girl. Now, what should I make you do? Oh! How about a play? You belong to me right now, you want to obey me right?¡± asked the man with a smile.


    ¡°Yes, I obey you,¡± replied the girl with a grin. Turning dagger around so that the tip faced her.


    ¡°Good. Good. Now, how about you cut your left wrist a little?¡± asked the man, to which the girl responded by lightly sliding the knife over her wrist, blood slowly dropping on the ground. Meanwhile, the man moved his head closer to the girl¡¯s face, sniffing her hair and licking her neck. ¡°Now, how about you start cutting your eye out? Perhaps the left one, no the right one?!¡±


    Alviona who was watching this did not understand what to make of it and decided to ignore the two, moving past them to explore more areas. The man noticing her presence stopped his actions and turned towards her. Seeing how beautiful the girl in front of him was, he slightly moved away from the woman.


    ¡°Hey there, little missy. What are you doing in such place? Are you lost¡± he asked the child who was carrying a basket filled with fruit in her hands. Seeing that the girl just nodded, he licked his lips, taking the dagger away from the woman whose hands were moving towards her eyes, trembling, and awaiting his next command. Tying his previous victim''s hands and feet, and gagging her mouth so that she would not create a ruckus, he turned towards the child.


    ¡°Well then, do you perhaps need some guidance? Or, do you want to play a little?¡± he asked while slowly approaching his prey, closing the distance so that if she attempted to run, he would be on her.


    However, it did not seem like Alviona was going to run anywhere. She just watched the man¡¯s actions, confused by his odd behavior. It appeared that he was moving his lips, casting [Confusion] and [Mind Control]. As his spell activated, a tickling sensation filled Alviona¡¯s body, after which information echoed inside of her head ¨C { <Non-Dominatable> Report: A trespasser attempted to dominate you. Based on his memories, the man is sentenced to experience his worst nightmares. Due to the severity of his offense and crime history, after the effect ends, a counter-attack will be launched allowing you to dominate him for 15 seconds. The counter is non-blockable.}


    As the message faded away, the man in front of Alviona began screaming, begging for someone to end his life. It appeared that the woman he had cast his psychic abilities on came to her senses, for her body started twitching, her eyes widening, and tears welling up and dropping. The poor soul was clearly in panic and shock, unable to understand how she ended up in such condition or why was her wrist aching and bleeding.


    The man was still wailing in pain. After a few minutes, Alviona decided that playing with the man would make him happy, after all, was that not what he had asked for before falling into this state? She thought of what game to play and then recalled what his words were. Finally able to find a solution, she gently smiled, the person in front of her being mesmerized by her sight and forgetting about his own mind attacking him.


    ¡°Okay, good sir. I will play with you. Since I do not know what type of games you like, I will repeat the same one that you just did with that woman over there. You seemed to have enjoyed it, and I do not want you to be sad,¡± said Alviona with the warmest smile existing in the world. She then fell into thought and after a few seconds, told the man to cut his left wrist and cut out his eyes. The man complied without any hesitation.

 Chapter 22 - An interesting turn of events

    Alviona was staring at the sight in front of her. It was a man who was wailing with a horrid expression, panicked, scared, unable to comprehend what had just happened to him, and begging for his life to end. He had become blind just a moment ago, by none other than his own hands. His limbs trembling, still feeling the dagger that he held in his palm. A sticky liquid was gushing down his cheeks. Why was he in this situation? He had committed many murders before, and they were always executed professionally, yet, he had lost to a child. Was she a pupil pursuing Psychic schools of magic, like himself?! Had she developed further than him? Just what was going on? Why was he, despite being blind, still seeing clear images of his most horrid nightmares within his head?


    Mr. Solomon, I met this weird person that was playing with a woman, telling her to cut her body parts and such. He asked me if I wanted to play and then tried to dominate me¡­ Now that I have entertained him, he looks scared. Did I do something wrong? I just told him to play with himself just like he did with the woman, for he seemed to enjoy it. Now, he is crying, his cheeks are dark red. What do I do?! Asked the girl mentally to her companion, who, upon hearing this, stopped in his tracks, understanding what the situation was like.


    ¡°Shit! If that man has touched, or worse, hurt you, my mistress, he will be chiming in on a different melody as I break every single bone of his, only to cast [Anchor] after I am satisfied with his singing!¡± exclaimed Solomon loudly, raged by what was going on. His [Cursed Body] allowed him to move at a higher speed than usual, despite not being affected by any blessings or reinforcements from any schools of magic, because he needed to fulfill the order issued by Alviona. Feelings were also stirring inside of his body, the sort that screamed at him to protect this child as if she were his own daughter.


    Still running towards her, Solomon came to a halt, as he noticed a few guards patrolling the streets.


    ¡°Hey, you there! I require your aid. My companion just injured a man who assaulted her as a result of witnessing your citizen being hurt. If you come with me, you can catch him. She has a decent knowledge of Psychic schools of magic. I ran here to get you noble guards,¡± said Solomon, making up a story to protect his goddess and to get the guards to help. Like it or not, they were newcomers to this city and trying to get on good terms with patrols was not a bad idea.


    The men looked at each other, thinking about the affinity they would gain for catching a criminal, probably raising their ranks slightly and/or increasing their pay grade. They nodded in affirmative, following Solomon towards Alviona¡¯s location, and upon their arrival, their faces twisted by the gore presented to them. The most horrible part of the scenery was the pair of eyeballs on the ground, covered in dirt and blood. One guard was, who had only recently joined the city patrol ranks, was vomiting at sight, while the other looked at the girl that stood in the epicenter of this event, unshaken.


    ¡°Do not move, any of you. We need to ask some questions,¡± said the guard, moving towards the woman, cutting the ropes that restrained her, and removing the cloth from her mouth, followed by casting [Identity]. As her name appeared on the information panel, the man¡¯s eyes widened, gasping for air and being taken aback by the sudden developments.


    The person in front of him was Lady Anell Balamej, the daughter of Sir Marcos Balamej; one of the wealthy that owned sugar plantations and silver mines abroad, not to mention high status and connections with other merchants, nobilities, and even lords. Such girl stood in front of the guard, raising his alertness to maximum and being careful of how he approached the situation. Forget the promotion, if I screw up here, I will be demoted, thrown into jail, and, most likely executed, - he thought. Without further delay, he retrieved a magical whistle and blew it, piercing sound resonating in the area, attracting nearby guards to rush over to the location, some of them wearing a white badge around their arms.


    ¡°That man is bleeding. It is surprising that he is not dead from shock, but regardless, stop his condition and move him to the custody. We will be questioning him. Take lady Balamej to our headquarters for we require her testimony. Also, immediately send out a rider to Lord Fornion¡¯s mansion and ask for his lordship. We require him in this matter,¡± giving the instructions, the man turned to face Alviona and Solomon. ¡°I apologize, but the two of you need to come with us as well. I appreciate your help in the matter; however, I can not let you go without the permission of my captain. You are not in custody, but we require you as witnesses.¡±


    Solomon understood and nodded. ¡°Mistress Alviona, we need to go with the guards for a while. Is this all right with you?¡±


    Yes, but I want to find grandma and Janine. I lost them when I was in a market, said Alviona, her voice filled with frustration and confusion, for a lot of unknown had occurred and she was not comfortable with the developments so far. Why had the man earlier shouted at her? Why was this man crying even though she appeased his request? She wanted to ask these questions to Solomon, but seeing that his face expressed worry for her safety and seriousness of the situation, she decided to wait for Mira instead.


    ¡°Very well then. We will follow you, but would you be kind enough to send someone to the marketplace asking for an elf named Mira and a girl named Janine?¡± asked Solomon to the guard, slightly bowing his head in a show of respect, to which he received a nod.


    ----------------------------


    Mira still stood in the marketplace, waiting for Solomon¡¯s return. She had explained to Janine how she lost Alviona, despite tightly holding her hand. The passerby pedestrians happened to bump into her couple of times, and when looking around, the girl was already gone. She desperately tried finding her by backtracking but was prevented from doing so due to the high flow of citizens.


    ¡°I suppose it can happen. After all, the district is unusually busy. It is all right madame Mira, after all, did Solomon not say that he would bring her back? We know that he has an unusual tie to the girl, so it should be fine,¡± said Janine, in an attempt to cheer Mira up, but instead ended up making the situation worse.


    ¡°H-how can I be so negligent? Of course, your point is valid and can be justified, but it does not change the fact that I lost her! She is my responsibility! If her mother was here, how angry would she be?! God damn it!¡± exclaimed Mira in anger and frustration over the current developments. She was going to say more but was distracted by the fact that somebody was calling out her and Janine¡¯s names. Seeing that it was a mounted city patrol, she was confused, but raised her hand, letting the rider to approach her.


    ¡°Are you the elf named Mira?¡±


    Mira nodded.


    ¡°Excellent. A man named Solomon asked for you and Janine. Please, follow me.¡±


    ----------------------


    It took an hour to get to the guard''s headquarters, for it was located in the southeast part of the city. Alviona, who was physically exhausted, was being carried by Solomon on his back. To ensure that she did not fall off, he had told her to hold onto his bevor. The woman that she had rescued was also fatigued by everything that happened to her, so she ended up needing to rest. Due to her status, she was laying inside a carriage that was protected by several mounted guards.


    Approaching the tall castle-like walls, the leading rider raised his hand, producing the magical crest that reacted to the gates, opening and inviting visitors in. The sight that came into view was breath-taking for Alviona. The courtyard had a vast area, decorated with trees, and a fountain in the middle of the square. A 4-story building stood tall and proud, showing its age, yet still managing to retain its beauty. Lightly armored footsoldiers, as well as men and women in different uniforms, walked in and out of the building; some carrying documents while others, - wielded weapons, going towards training grounds for practice.


    ¡°Well, we are here,¡± said one of the guards, knocking on the carriage door, assisting Lady Balamej in getting out, and inviting everyone into the building.


    As they walked in, a man who was about 1.62 meters tall approached them, forcing the guards to straighten up and salute him. He wore a distinct-looking doublet that was a mixture of red and golden patterns, cream-colored pants made of high-quality cotton, and black leather boots. The belt at his waist was home to a sword with a jeweled pommel, sheathed in its respectively decorated sheath. From the looks of it, Solomon guessed that this was a high-ranking commander.


    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± greeted the man with a firm, welcoming voice, turning gaze towards Anell and then at Alviona and Solomon. ¡°My name is captain Marcil of Javlots house. I expect that all of you have a lot to say, so please follow me. Guards, you are dismissed, except for you Jacob.¡±


    The party moved through the wide hallway, which narrowed a little as they turned to the left, leading towards a staircase to the second floor. People that would see this man immediately halted any actions and instead saluted him on the spot, but he gestured to them to carry on. Finally arriving by the one, single room with sturdy double doors, he invited the company in, calling over one of the people carrying documents to bring him pen and paper.


    Entering the room, Marcil elegantly moved a chair, gesturing to Lady Anell to take a seat, followed by the other two; however, Solomon surprised the captain, for he displayed an unprecedented level of etiquette towards Alviona, allowing the girl to take a proper seating, not letting even slightest dis-comfort touch her. What was going on? The child¡¯s garments were dirty, covered in blood splatters, her mouth and hands filthy, covered with a blue, sticky liquid. How was this person of any status or importance, to be treated like that? Or was it perhaps that he took into consideration that she might be scared? In that case¡­


    ¡°A fine man,¡± thought the captain, looking at the sight that unfolded in front of him, thinking if the relationship between them was of a Master and Servant; however, based off the girl¡¯s appearance, it was unlikely. What surprised Marcil the most, was that Solomon only ever moved his left hand, making him question what had happened to his right limb. Perhaps he lost it in the war?


    *Cough, Cough*


    ¡°All right then. Lady Anell, I hope that I do not need to explain why we are gathered here. Can you please describe to me what happened?¡± asked Marcil, with a courteous voice.


    ¡°I¡­ I remember walking from my residence to the market. I wanted to check the prices of jewelry that were shipped yesterday, after which I headed towards the auction. The guard inspected but did not let me in. I shouted at him, telling him who I was, and at that moment another man, dressed in leather armor approached me. He had a somewhat charming appearance, was well-mannered and offered me a way to get into the auction. I just arrived in the city a few days ago after months of not being here.


    He said that the rules have changed a little and that I required an invitation letter, which he had. As I followed him, he started to flirt with me, which I found quite silly, but decided to play along. He then used psychic magic on me. That was the last thing I remember.


    After I came back to my sense, I witnessed that my wrist was cut, my mouth was gagged, and my hands and feet were tightly tied. All the while this child standing in front of the man, making him scream and telling him to gauge his eyes out with a knife,¡± said Anell, who began to feel dizzy after concluding the story, gesturing for an urn, which Marcil handed over, followed by her vomiting. The captain extended a handkerchief to her, which she accepted and wiped her face with.


    ¡°Very well. Thank you very much, Lady Anell. Jacob! Did you write everything down?¡± asked Marcil to the guard who has just seized writing on a paper.


    ¡°Yes, sir! The testimony is complete.¡± (Jacob)


    It was at that moment when the doors swung open, and two knights in full magical gear walked in, standing tall by the door, holding their spears aligned with their feet. An old man, who was dressed in exotic and expensive attire, made his way in, accompanied by a young-looking, dark-skinned woman, who wore a light plated armor with a blue cloak, two sabers sheathed on the left side of patterned cloth belt while having a dark dagger, embedded with visible runes, on her right. Marcil, seeing the man¡¯s visage, jolted from his seat and immediately bowed his upper half of the body.


    ¡°Lady Balamej, you can not imagine how worried I was when I heard that you were endangered,¡± said the man with a sigh, his face expressing relief as he approached the girl and slightly bowed, taking her hands and landing a soft kiss. ¡°I rushed here as soon as the messenger arrived. I am relieved to see you in good health.¡±


    ¡°You have my deepest gratitude Lord Fornion,¡± replied Anell, with a pleased look on her face.


    ¡°Captain Marcil, I¡­¡± the messenger that entered the room, noticed the current situation and immediately kneeled down, hand touching his heart. After all, he was in the presence of Lord Fornion himself, the man that owned the city port of Alpall, or, in other words, the man who paid him for his job. Nobody would ever dare to not bow in front of this man, for he was also one of the top ten nobles to be closest to the king and had a significant say in most decisions related to Kingdom affairs.


    ¡°Oh, please carry on. If your business here is related to lady Balamej¡¯s case, then I would like to hear you speak immediately, if it is another matter and not as urgent, then I will ask you to leave us alone for a while,¡± said Fornion with a warm smile, carrying no intentions of malice whatsoever.


    The messenger did not dare to speak up and reply. Instead, he nodded and took out a scroll that was meant for his captain, extending it with both of his hands as if it were an offering.


    ¡°Spitfire, please take that parchment and hand it over to the captain.¡± (Fornion)


    The woman that accompanied the noble did as she was told.


    Marcil opened the scroll and began inspecting it. After a minute, he folded it and asked for permission to speak, to which the noble waved his hand, gesturing for him to proceed.


    ¡°It appears that the man in question has willingly admitted all of his crimes. Our investigators went over to his residence and discovered a cellar, leading to a gruesome scene. All the corpses of missing men and women that occurred within the city in past two months have been found. The man toyed with the victims as they were alive, forced them to inflict self-harm and finally, moved them to his cellar and drenched their head in water, drowning them. As a side note your lordship, the corpses were all defiled, regardless of gender,¡± concluded Marcil, as he finished reading the contents, his face pale after understanding the full horror behind the written parchment.


    Anell was shocked. Her face twisting a few times, losing color and paling, grabbing urn to vomit again, her eyes widening, gasping for air.


    ¡°Oh, my. SICK BASTARD!¡± exclaimed Fornion in anger, his shout resonating throughout the entire building, his already wrinkled face accumulating more age, small strands of grey hair falling from his head. ¡°Give me the testimony. I want to read it for myself!¡± he ordered, Marcil, obeying without delay.


    As he read through the text, he shifted his gaze towards Solomon and Alviona, who he had neglected up to this point.


    ¡°So then, this child has saved your life?¡± asked Fornion, amused from what he read. Seeing that Lady Balamej nodded, he smiled and stroked his long beard. Despite the child¡¯s clothing not being of her fit and was dirty with blood stains, he genuinely appreciated her deed and burst into little laughter.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Ho, ho. Very well then. Child, tell me, what would you like as a reward?¡± he asked Alviona, who stood up from her seat and turned around to look at him with a confused face.


    Seeing that she did not answer, he laughed yet again, for he appreciated the humility. She was not a citizen of his city, this much was evident. If it were for any other low level noble, they would just thank her, probably give a small payment and pretend like nothing had happened.


    However, Fornion was no such nobility. There was a reason why every man and woman in his city respected him, why many merchants adored him, and why his majesty listened to him. It was no other than the fact that the man never stayed in debt. Ever. Thanks to him, the Kingdom of Xanais could be considered as the most prosperous, his city having highest employment rate and no beggars. Of course, there were those that were of lower classes, that was unavoidable, but no one could say that the jobs here were lacking. The pay was decent, the prices were fair, the port was booming, and the crime rates were low.


    As such, he was infuriated by the fact that one man managed to take away so many lives. It was a scandal! And it would have been worse if Alviona had not stumbled upon Lady Annel, be it by chance, by destiny or fate. Whatever it was, the death of that girl would mean a lousy word of mouth spreading. Her father knew many merchants and was perhaps the reason behind city being this popular. Sir Marcos Balamej was not the person who one would want to make an enemy out of.


    Furrowing his brows and looking at Alviona again, he could not help but chuckle, as he noticed her mouth was covered in blueberry juice. ¡°Tell me, child, what happened? Did you perhaps steal something from the market?¡± he asked while leveling himself at her eye level.


    ¡°It was a misunderstanding,¡± answered Solomon in her stead, as Alviona mentally told him what had happened in the market. ¡°She got lost when looking at the basket filled with blueberries, separating from her caretaker. The child had never seen such fruit before so naturally, she decided to eat it, only to be yelled by the merchant demanding a payment, scaring her in the process. We would gladly pay, but the caretaker is in possession of the funds.¡±


    ¡°Ah. I see, so then it was indeed just a misunderstanding. And meeting lady Anell was also a coincidence. Well, this is all irrelevant as the fact stays as such: You have saved me from a potential disaster. On top of that, you have helped out my citizens in an indirect way. They can rest easy knowing that their loved ones were found and can bury them in peace. This incident is alarming, and the residents will likely get mad at our city guard¡¯s inability of stopping such thing from happening. However, now that we have experienced this sort of situation, we can learn from it and increase the guard''s alertness. Captain Marcil, I expect that you will be re-training every single guard member to handle such situations from now on?¡± asked Fornion with a serious and a strict tone.


    ¡°Yes, your lordship. We will double the number of guard patrols during the day-time and update their patrol routes,¡± replied Marcil with a dignified bow.


    ¡°Excellent. Now to another matter. This report states that there was a city guard that did not allow our person of importance into the auction house, despite having an [Identity] ability?¡± (Fornion)


    The captain¡¯s face froze. Gulping his saliva, he nodded.


    ¡°Good. Good. Spitfire, figure out who that guard was, track him down and bring him to my mansion. I have a few questions for him. If it was negligence, then I will ensure that the captain here is reprimanded and stripped down in status, as a leader must ensure his subordinates know of our V.I.P list. If, on the other hand, the guard is a sort of a rogue, we will talk a little bit differently. He will sing me a song until he goes on to his ¡°happily ever after¡± life into an afterlife. Captain, I assume that you will execute the man that harmed Lady Anell as early as tomorrow morning?¡± asked the lord, brushing his chin.


    Marcil replied in affirmative. Stating that he would execute the man in the most gruesome way possible for the public to be appeased. It worked, for the noble in front of him grinned with satisfaction.


    ¡°Now then, there is one last thing that needs to be addressed. Spitfire, send the word to the treasury that I demand two big bags, with a sum of eighty and five thousand silver pieces in each,¡± said Fornion, grinning and looking at Alviona. He had not been this excited in years, mostly because problems rarely arose and life was getting a little dull. Today was different. He had received a big headache that needed to be addressed, and the peaceful life seemed to be at its concluding stages. The least he could do was to thank this little child, who by chance happened to save his empire¡¯s infrastructure. As long as the merchants were doing business, he would make this sum back within a year at most.


    Solomon, who had been listening to the man¡¯s words, could not believe what he was hearing. Just how much wealth did this Lord have? Why was he willing to give out so much of his treasury? Thinking about this, he realized just how little his former Kingdom of Damas was compared to the mainland. They undoubtedly possessed more resources to spend. No wonder that the citizens were living such a busy and care-free life. This wealth of the country, provided them with enough resources to hire mercenaries, adventurers, and other guilds to fight naturally spawning monsters.


    ¡°Child I will gift you that much silver, as a repayment for saving my world. If you ever need a job or want to register as a citizen in the future, please seek me out first. I can tell when strong individuals stand in front of me. You look so innocent, yet my gut feeling has never been wrong in my entire life. Ever. I am not the sort of a man that believes in fate or destiny. However, I am a man that knows when to and not to invest. Right now, you are a significant investment; I can feel it. Mark my words kiddo, there will be something terrible happening soon. It could be as early as tomorrow, perhaps in a month, maybe in ten years or even after I perish. But, know that history loves to repeat itself. I hope to see how it will turn out this time around, *Fu fu fu fu fu fu*¡± laughed the noble in hysteria.


    --------------------------------


    After finally being free, Alviona and Solomon were led outside of the room, allowing Fornion to continue his dialogue with Lady Anell, inquiring about her father¡¯s well-being and other business.


    Going down to the first floor, Mira and Janine, who had been waiting here for about three hours now, were finally relieved to see Alviona and Solomon return. The elf instinctively rushed over and tightly embraced the child, tears starting to well up her eyes.


    ¡°I am so sorry, darling. I did not know where you ran off to. I tried, I truly tried to backtrack and find you, but I could not. Please forgive me,¡± begged Mira, brushing the child¡¯s rosy cheeks, that also had tears streaming down them, somehow making the already beautiful face that was reminiscent of a goddess, purer.


    ¡°It is all right, grandma. Just please, next time, don¡¯t lose me. I was so scared, *sniff*¡­ I¡­ *sniff*¡­ uwaaaaaah ¡­*sniff*,¡± sobbed Alviona, tightly hugging Mira¡¯s head and landing multiple warm, and soft kisses on her cheeks.


    After everyone calmed down, the reunited company went back to the market to repay for Alviona¡¯s mischief, which Solomon had told about. Approaching the stand, the man recognized her and began yelling ¡°THIEF! THE THIEF IS BACK! GUARDS!¡±, but was stopped by Mira who tilted her body a little, meeting the man¡¯s eyes, asking Alviona to close her ears so that she would not hear anything, to which the child complied.


    ¡°LISTEN HERE YOU PIECE OF GARBAGE! YOU TRIED EXTORTING MY GRANDCHILD FOR BLUEBERRIES THAT ARE WORTH 10 COPPER COINS, TRYING TO SELL THEM FOR 20 AND THEN 50 COPPER?! THEN YOU HAVE THE GULL TO YELL AT HER AND CALL HER A THIEF? Furthermore, I PASSED BY YOU, HOLDING MY GRANDDAUGHTER¡¯S HAND, YOU COULD HAVE CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME IF SHE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU NO?! JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!¡± shouted Mira, with such force, that it felt like the world was being struck by an earthquake, heavens shaking and ready to collapse at any given notice. The man behind the stand was so scared that he was willing to cry like a newborn infant. The fact that the passing pedestrians stopped and paid attention to the ruckus created by him did not help, for when they caught up with what happened and looked at the adorable child, their eyes were ablaze from anger as if saying: ¡°If you do something to this goddess, we will murder you.¡±


    Solomon, who watched this situation unfold from a little distance, could not help but sympathize with newly acquired family members. YES! Now you understand how I feel! All serve Alviona! All hail the goddess! He mused in his thoughts.


    Alviona, who had received a silver coin from Mira, walked up to the man and bowed, apologizing for what had happened earlier and paid him the full coin. The poor seller behind the stand was shocked by the actions of the person in front of him, so much that he slapped his cheeks multiple times and prostrated, begging for forgiveness. In the end, the man became gentler and actually sold five baskets worth of blueberries just to one customer ¨C Alviona.


    The company walked towards an inn. It was late evening now, and most stores were closing up. Thus Mira did not end up purchasing her granddaughter the garments and armor that she wanted to. Thankfully, there was always a tomorrow. They had decided to stay in this city for at least one more day and then move out to the academy. Despite all the adventures that Alviona managed to pull off, she still thought that it was a fantastic day for everyone.


    Walking into the inn, Mira ordered three different bedrooms for two nights, which also included its meal courses. Dinner was coming up soon, and Alviona was famished. However, Mira was utterly unwilling to allow her to eat in her current state. The child¡¯s clothing was a complete wreck, her face was still dirty.


    A bath was mandatory. Fortunately, a bathing house was right across the street from the inn. Borrowing some fresh clothing from Janine, the three of them walked over and paid a sum of five silver, for Alviona requested to unfold her wings; therefore, they ended up booking the entire bathing area for one full hour. Of course, Solomon followed them, absolutely refusing to leave Alviona¡¯s side.


    ¡°Eeeh?! But we are girls, and you are a guy! How on earth can we bathe together!¡± exclaimed Janine in anger, unable to understand why this suggestion was even proposed.


    ¡°I do not care. I need to be by the side of my mistress. If you wish to go bathe, you may do so. I will just stand outside and guard the entrance,¡± replied Solomon nonchalantly, after contemplating over what happened today, not willing to let go of Alviona from his sight again. The child seemed to be of the same opinion. She was unwilling to take a bath without Solomon, not leaving much room for arguments.


    ¡°I do not understand why you allowed that to happen, Madame Mira,¡± said Janine in confusion, after it was decided that all of them would go together.


    Mira was torn between two philosophies, not even related to gender.


    ¡°On one hand, you have an understanding of the world like you, and I do, - that it is unacceptable by our world standards for a man and a woman to go together into the same bath unless deeply attracted to each other.


    On the other hand, you have a man that has in all levels of reality, died. The Solomon that you come to dread and think of, and the one in front of you right now. We should not treat them as the one and the same entity, but instead, fragments of one.


    You also have the fact, that Solomon currently has almost a father-like relationship with Alviona. The way he behaves, from what I have observed, closely resembles it. Earlier today, you saw it, didn¡¯t you?


    I lost a child, and before I could even utter a sentence, the man was already in his full throttle to bring her back.


    I do not know what else to state¡­ There are too many unknowns, a lot we can not comprehend. And then there is that time¡­ Only time will tell,¡± replied Mira after contemplating over every development that had occurred, trying to analyze the information she possessed about Alviona.


    Alviona quickly undressed, tossing her clothing on the side and unfolding her wings. She had never been inside the bathhouse before, so this experience was new to her. The ceiling was raised high, naturally making her curious and flying up to it, sitting on a ledge.


    ¡°Mistress, I do not think that the idea behind a bathhouse is to fly up as high as you can, but instead to sit inside that water and relax a little,¡± said Solomon, amused at the actions of the girl in front of him.


    ¡°But this is fun!¡± came an echo towards him, making the man chuckle a little.


    ¡°Please, mistress. Come down. We need to properly wash you, and then we need to go eat dinner. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± taunted Solomon, with a grin on his face.


    Meanie! Meanie! Super big Meanie! Came a telepathic reply into his head, causing him to burst into loud laughter.


    Alviona did a touch-down landing straight into the bath, her face becoming submerged, making bubbles.


    ¡°Puaaah! That was too much fun. Ah, Mr. Solomon, are you not going to join?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that I can. After all, you are a girl, and I am a boy.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It means that I can not come into the water.¡±


    ¡°But you said that you did not want to leave without me,¡± said Alviona, confused by his statement.


    ¡°T-that¡­ was and is true. I do not intend to leave you alone, out of my eyesight under any circumstances.¡±


    ¡°Then are you not going to come into the water? Pleaseeeee? Pretty pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase?¡±


    ¡°Argh! Fine!¡± exclaimed Solomon, unable to resist Alviona¡¯s adorable face. Instead of undressing, however, he went in with his full clothes on.


    ¡°There. Are you satisfied?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± replied Alviona, with a giggle, waving her hands and allowing water to flow as she pleased, eventually forming it into a small, palm-sized water golem that walked towards Solomon and began punching him.


    *Splash, Splash, Splash, Splash, Splash*


    Solomon was amused by this occurrence. He decided to try and catch the golem, chasing it throughout the entire bath, but unfortunately, he failed.


    ¡°Hey, wait a second. I have a question, mistress.¡±


    ¡°Yes?!¡±


    ¡°That golem right now¡­ it was the Summoning school of magic, was it not?¡± asked Solomon, curiously awaiting Alviona¡¯s reply.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I do not know anything about using magic yet.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ then what was that?¡±


    ¡°It was nothing but me manipulating water.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ is that Elemental school of magic, with that element?¡±


    ¡°No. Like I said, I don¡¯t know how to use any magic yet¡± replied Alviona with a smile and a giggle.


    Solomon was utterly confused. If those were not any schools of magic, then what was it that he had just seen?


    ¡°But then¡­ if you can not use magic, how did you just move the water?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I think it could be the +10 affinity to the element that I received,¡± replied Alviona with a giggle and a smile, plunging into the water and flapping her wings, sprinkling it everywhere.


    Listening to their dialogue and watching Alviona¡¯s actions, Janine could not help but gasp. She has not seen anyone manipulate an element like that. What on earth was that if not the Summoning school of magic?!


    ¡°What if she just understands the magic at its core? She does not know how to use spells, also known as magic, but can comprehend and break it down to its purest form?!¡± asked Mira, brushing her chin and analyzing the possibility.


    ¡°That is possible,¡± replied Solomon, for he had thought of the same thing. After all, the skills that he had in his arsenal were not ordinary, and he had never heard of anyone having such abilities as himself. However, thinking further into it, he told himself that it could be due to him becoming a different race.


    Janine, who could not follow the train of thought, decided to just accept it the way the information was presented. After all, she had seen many supernatural phenomena while being beside Alviona, despite it only being two days. Trying to ease up the tension, she began splashing water towards Mira, and Solomon, Alviona chiming in afterward.


    After washing Alviona, Mira decided to brush Alviona¡¯s wings, but the child immediately made them disappear.


    ¡°Do you not want me to wash them?¡± asked Mira confused, but Alviona just blushed and shook her head.


    ¡°All right. Let me wash your back with soap then,¡± said Mira, gently scrubbing Alviona¡¯s back, trying to tickle her in between, causing the child to burst into laughter and submerge underwater, making bubbles.


    ¡°By the way, Mira, I forgot to mention to you that the noble whom we met, offered us a considerable sum of wealth in payment of one hundred and seventy thousand silver,¡± said Solomon to the elf, making her gasp in shock. Janine¡¯s mouth was also dropped.


    ¡°Y-you must be mishearing something¡­ T-that?! T-that much?!¡± asked Mira and Janine simultaneously, confused and not willing to believe what they heard.


    ¡°No, he indeed did say that. Eighty-five thousand silver coins in each bag¡± restated Solomon.


    ¡°That is absurd! Who on earth would give out that much wealth?¡± demanded Mira, utterly confused and frustrated by the inability to comprehend the situation. However, after Solomon told her what Fornion stated, she ended up believing it a little.


    What was with his crazy premonitions though? They could be disregarded, and yet, the foreshadowing of his was rather convenient. Mira was not a superstitious person, but she somehow had an odd feeling that something was really going on. Perhaps if she found out more, there would be a connection between events, but as was right now, it was best to leave the matters be and instead focus on Alviona and her growth.


    After the hour elapsed and the bath was over, the party moved back to the inn. Alviona seemed to be exhausted and despite being famished, lost her appetite for food and instead asked to take rest. Solomon carried her upstairs and gently placed the child on the bed. He stayed in her room until Mira and Janine finished their meal, and after they returned, Solomon went downstairs for his dinner. Solomon listened to bartender talk here and there, watched some men fight and others trying to flirt with women. Not feeling quite sleepy, he decided to go outside and breath in some fresh air.


    Interesting. I was a Kingdom¡¯s best sorcerer sent into the battlefield just a few days ago. And now, I am tangled into the curiosities of a little girl, that grew too fast, is overly adventurous and has the power that transformed me into a being which has never been recorded in history. I do not know why things are happening the way they are. The noble Fornion said that Alviona is strong and he would trust his gut feeling, investing in her. Well, I will say this: I do not care that you are noble and have wealth. Be you whatever, if anyone dares to misuse my goddess and do her harm, or, take her away from me, I will annihilate, every single one of you.


    And with these words, Solomon¡¯s pledge was complete.

 Chapter 23 - It鈥檚 just business

    It was 6 am. The sun had not come up yet, and the streets were almost empty. Since it was two more weeks before the end of January, the dull light emitted from magical crystals, was the only source of light that revealed some figures walking around. Those were the guard patrols.


    ¡°God damn it! Why on earth is it so cold today?¡± asked one of the guards, who was shivering, trying to breathe into his hands and rubbed them together to produce some warmth.


    ¡°Come on, it is not that cold. Besides, whose fault is it other than your own that you have to wear a half-soaked uniform because you forgot to wash it in time, and were called on patrol duty?¡± mocked the guard¡¯s partner.


    ¡°Good morning gentlemen. How are you today?¡± (A female¡¯s voice)


    ¡°Eeek! What the hell! Who are you?!¡± asked the men, who turned towards the direction of the voice, not really noticing anyone until the woman moved out from the shadows. It was a young dark-skinned girl, probably 20 years of age. As the crystal light fully revealed her figure the guards could not help but gasp; immediately straightening themselves, and saluting.


    ¡°L-lady Spitfire. W-why are you here?¡± they asked, but were met with the girl giving them a wink and moving her index finger to her lips, gesturing them to keep their voices low.


    ¡°Show me your patrol route,¡± ordered Spitfire, her right hand being on standby to grab the dagger.


    The guards immediately obeyed without any delay, pleasing the woman and avoiding a potential execution.


    ¡°I know that your captain updated your patrol route, but until the sun is up, you are to avoid warehouses district and the marina. Are we clear?¡± she asked sternly, immediately receiving a nod in affirmative.


    ¡°We will be out of your sight at once. We have never seen you here, and we do not know what you are talking about,¡± replied the guard who had been complaining a moment ago, his body slightly trembling. Who said that it was cold? It is not cold at all. I am getting roasted here! He thought, turning around and walking away with his companion following him, getting out of Spitfire¡¯s eyesight, and never questioning anything for it would mean their end.


    ¡°Now then, let me get to business,¡± muttered the girl as she disappeared into shadows. She moved quickly but silently. Her gear was made so that any noise created by her, while not spotted, would be muffled. This piece of equipment was acquired inside one of the tough dungeons which were located in the forest of sorrows. It had taken her four months to clear it and come out alive. Many had perished, and if not for the financial support from lord Fornion, she would have never been able to materially sustain the cost of all the mercenaries, party assemblies, and bishops that were hired from the adventurers guild.


    Currently, Spitfire was on a mission to locate a band of conspirators who had plotted to kill lady Annel. After Alviona and Solomon left the guard¡¯s headquarters, Lord Fornion had ordered an investigation, with the results being delivered no later than by today¡¯s sunrise. She spent nearly 15 hours going through all the documents, looking for hiccups alongside her team. Fortunately, they had stumbled upon one such clue inside one of the ledgers, showing that one of the guard members had shown up with a declaration from the captain to switch shifts.


    Questioning Marcil, it was found that no such orders were signed or issued. Therefore, the document had to have been forged. The suspect had not left the city yet, because he did not know the assassination had failed and that an outside party was involved in stopping it.


    Spitfire¡¯s underlings tracked the man, took him into custody and presented him to Lord Fornion inside his mansion, as was requested. After hours of torture and utilizing psychic ability users, they found out that he was paid a hefty sum of twenty gold by a man with plated armor, that harbored an emblem of a black bear. Unable to make any connections to who that emblem belonged to, Spitfire was sent out for a full investigation, and now she was here, in the marina area. Since the suspects did not know of plans going awry, the guard confessed that he was scheduled to meet him here.


    The girl quickly entered one of the buildings, which was taller compared to others in the vicinity, and walked upstairs, reaching the roof within three minutes. A man with a bow stood there, feeling a little dozy, not paying much attention to his surroundings. Since the patrols have not shown up much in this area, and dawn would be arriving in two hours, he had assumed that everything was safe, allowing himself to relax a little.


    Spitfire smiled, being satisfied by restricting guards from patrolling the marina area. Slowly approaching the man, she withdrew her dagger and wrapped her hands around his mouth, nimbly stabbing his neck, disposing of him silently. She then removed a binocular from her small backpack and began her observation, activating [Tracking] and [Detect Life] in short intervals.


    Hmm. Two lightly armed women by the entrance; three men with better equipment patrolling the docks; One mage standing afar, protected by a shield; two heavily equipped knights with bear emblems by the end of the pier, and lastly, a very tall man with what I assume is a legendary equipment, standing behind his said two knights. Hmm, his hammer is big and seems to emit a faint flame; definitely a legendary weapon. Probably triggers a fire element of sorts upon impact. Anywho, irrelevant. I need to devise the plan of action, there is only but thirty minutes remaining before they are supposed to meet. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Shit! No helping it. This will cost me a lot,¡± mumbled the girl in frustration, going downstairs and leaving the building. She moved towards the meeting place and stopped when she was about 50 meters away from her first two targets.


    Judging from the fact that the archer was on the roof, I can conclude him being the primary source of [Tracking] and [Detect Life] abilities. Since he was most likely out of mana and definitely slacked off because there was no reason to be on full alert, it is safe to assume that the two women in front are a secondary line of defense against trespassers. Two of them also means that their radius of ability is much smaller compared to that archer. At this distance, they still have not spotted me. Going further than this is dangerous, so I must dispose of them from here.


    *Deep Inhale*


    Ok. Here goes! Thought Spitfire, as she used her martial arts [Agility] ability, gaining a burst of speed and moving twice as fast than usual. Thanks to her overly light equipment, she closed the distance at lightning speed, passing into the [Tracking] skill of one of the girls but despite this, they were not quick to react, as Spitfire took out her throwing knives and tossed them at the girl that was alerted first. Before the body could drop, she had already moved to slice the throat of the second target.


    Good grief. How lucky must I be to have obtained a plated armor that is not only light in weight, but also has a stat to boost the duration of [Agility] from 3 seconds to 10 seconds, plus increase its strength by 50%?! Lord Fornion, you are the most excellent man for funding my dungeon raid! My loyalty to you is sincere. How on earth would a woman ever turn down such a proper payee? Thought the girl, as she drank a transformation potion, taking a form and shape of the woman whom she had just slain, walking towards her next target, - the mage and his guardian.


    ¡°Hey, hey, what happened? Why have you left your post, Rena?¡± asked the mage¡¯s guardian, with a flirty voice.


    Excellent, what an easy prey. ¡°I require your help¡­ We captured a strange trespasser. I do not want to tell the others yet, because I think that you are the strongest man in our group. D-do you mind helping me out in breaking him?¡± she asked, with a seductive voice.


    The man licked his lips and thought for a moment, only to nod a moment later. ¡°Hey Marco, I will walk away for a moment to deal with this. Call the other guards if you need any help. I think we might have some guests,¡± said the man, as he waved and followed Rena. When they got outside, he was confused by the fact that her companion was not around.


    ¡°Where did Linsa go?¡± he asked in confusion, but ended up stopping his train of thought for Rena had tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.


    ¡°Hey, I lied ok?! I am tired. We have been waiting for that man to arrive for quite some time now. Only about fifteen minutes remain now, so how about we have some fun? I asked Linsa to go out for a walk for a few minutes, so instead of asking questions, how about you kiss me?¡± she asked, caressing his plate helmet, moving back a little, removing her armor and slightly unzipping her buttoned chest area.


    Seeing her actions, the man gulped, instantly moving his hands towards his helmet and removing it, dropping it on the ground and kissing the woman in front of him. As his lips met her mouth, her eyes filled with passion, he felt an odd jolt of sensation enter his body. A moment later, he collapsed, dead.


    ¡°Fucking pig. At least learn how to kiss a woman properly!¡± muttered spitfire after removing the dagger from the man¡¯s neck, spitting out to get rid of the horrible taste of lips, that she had just experienced. She proceeded to drink the second potion, taking the form, shape, and clothing of the man she had just killed.


    This was the last transformation potion I had. Shit, to think that I would need to use my precious treasures for a lowly scum like this man. Do our enemies ever understand the blood and sweat required to get hold of such rare possessions as these vials? I had to collect one hundred rare poison flowers and battle an undead knight who happened to be in possession of 15 ml of dragon blood to get those potions crafted, by an amateur no less! Instead of lasting for 30 minutes, the effect only continues for 8! No, never mind. If it is to appease Lord Fornion, then this is a small price to pay. I will be repaid by far greater funding in the future.


    Before moving back to the mage, she cast [Major Elemental Trap], which had an electric element primed. Satisfied, she walked back to the objective, on her way raising her hand and gesturing towards the three patrolling men to come towards her.


    ¡°Hey! We just captured two men that are outside. They are resisting! Move them in! Do not displease our boss! Be wary, the men are big and heavy, which is why Rena and Linsa cannot bring them in. I ordered them to retain their post until our late visitor finally shows himself. If he betrayed us, our boss is going to deal with him! Go! Be useful for once,¡± ordered Spitfire, only because she knew that this man whom she transformed into, was of a higher rank than them. His equipment status gave it away.


    As the guards moved, she approached Marco, the mage, and ordered him to come with her, leading the man behind a big boulder, slicing his head off with her scimitar.


    ¡°Pfft. Boring!¡± exclaimed Spitfire.


    The final objective and his two knights had not noticed anything odd yet, so they were somewhat relaxed. Her transformation potion still in effect, she approached them and activated her [Agility] once again. Dashing quickly, unsheathing her second scimitar, that reacted to her first and took a more dull, hammer-like shape. Thanks to the velocity gained from her ability and magical properties of her weapons, the weight crushed against the two plated knights heads, before their chief swung down his giant hammer, which she had enough window to dodge. The force applied and the size of his weapon ended up catching him a little off-balance, allowing Spitfire to mount his back and slice his neck with her dagger, being coated with poison that caused paralysis.


    ¡°Excellent! Sorry to have ruined your party there chief. But Lord Fornion wishes to speak with your irrelevant life. Nothing personal, just business,¡± declared Spitfire, as she dragged the man out of the marina, past the sight of all of his subordinates who all lay dead.


    With that, Spitfire¡¯s mission was completed.

 Chapter 24 -Death and Ascension

    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    The dawn had arrived. It was 8:03 am. As the first rays of sunlight entered through the window, Alviona was the first to open her eyes, being met by Mira¡¯s sleeping face, her hands wrapped around her body, clutching her as to not allow the child to get lost again, and to shield her from danger.


    Chuckling, the young girl carefully slid out of her embrace, getting out of the cozy atmosphere and into her clothes, stretching and yawning in the process.


    Alviona could not believe that she was out on an adventure, learning about the world that she inhabited. There were a lot of unknown to her experiences, feelings, places, ideas and more importantly, people. This was the sort of life she was granted. Retrieving various records about how deities lived, what they did during their spare time, of countless wars they waged against each other and mortals from time-to-time, she was excited, but a little scared. What if someone decided to get in her way of exploration, or chose to hurt her family and the friends she would make? This was a question that applied heavy weight on her essence, but not understanding how mortal emotions worked, she was unable to comprehend this feeling and instead, experienced immense itchiness within her.


    She had decided that natural course of action would be to allow her body to grow, learn, adapt, and become stronger. Be it through combat or research. Both combined would yield extraordinary results, such that would protect everyone she cared for, and more importantly, herself.


    While contemplating, the smell of food came into the room, forcing Alviona to drool and close her eyes, attempting to follow the scent, sniffing out the place of origins for this delightful sensation, walking into the door and causing a ruckus.


    ¡°Nnn¡­ Mm? Eh? Huh? Did something happen?! Alviona, why are you awake so early? It is barely dawn,¡± exclaimed Mira, confused by the fact that the child was fully dressed up. Assuming something terrible was happening she extended her hand and recalled her soulbound wand.


    *Stomach Growl*


    ¡°Ehm¡­ that¡­ uhm¡­ grandma, I am starving,¡± replied Alviona, touching her tummy and looking at Mira with eyes filled with hope, and trying to cuddle with her.


    ¡°Hahahahahaa! Child, you made me a bit nervous there. Come here, let me hug you for a moment you adorable little mischief,¡± laughed Mira sincerely, accepting her attempt to cuddle, tickling her, lightly bumping their noses, and landing a gentle kiss on her forehead.


    Alviona was enjoying the pampering; however, her stomach kept growling, somewhat ruining the atmosphere. Mira got up, getting herself dressed and exiting the room alongside the child, going downstairs to eat breakfast.


    ¡°Oh, Solomon, you are awake?!¡± asked Mira, approaching the table where the man sat, taking a seat in front of him.


    ¡°Good morning Mistress. Hello Mira. Yes, I actually have not slept all night,¡± replied Solomon, elegantly sipping his tea. ¡°The breakfast will be served shortly. It was delayed a little because the innkeeper had gone to the prison square alongside most citizens, to watch the assailant from yesterday be publicly executed.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± asked Mira, to which she received a nod from the man.


    Janine woke up half an hour later and joined the company, taking her seat beside Solomon. A few minutes later, the breakfast was served.


    Alviona¡¯s appetite being at its full ended up not eating the food but instead devouring it, finishing up her plate only to ask for an addition. After about third plate, Mira wanted to refuse but seeing her beautiful eyes and a plea behind them she ended up ordering three more courses of breakfast that consisted of boiled eggs, bread, cheese, honey, and a dark-red tea.


    ¡°That¡­ How on earth is her stomach not bursting? Why does she look so innocent?¡± Demanded Janine, looking at Mira and Solomon for answers while glancing back at Alviona, who had overeaten too much food for one person¡¯s enjoyment. However, looking at her innocent face, she could not help but facepalm, let out a loud sigh, and resign. It appeared that questioning this would only result in her defeat.


    ¡°So, Mira, what are we going to do today? You have booked the inn rooms for two days, yes?¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°You are correct. We are going back to the marketplace. I need to purchase beginner¡¯s items for Alviona. She requires basic garments, gear, and weapons. It is better to shop now, while we are in a city filled with various merchants. I will be teaching her how to handle money, barter a little and pick out the best items for her. Janine, you also need to purchase some gear. Your current clothing and armor are in bad condition. After all, you are coming from a battlefield. So how about it?¡± asked Mira, clasping her hands together and smiling, exciting Alviona in the process by being told that something new would be learned.


    Janine, who had her head planted within her hands in frustration, raised a thumbs up nonchalantly and went back into thought.


    ¡°And what of school? Which one are we going to?" Asked Solomon curiously.


    ¡°That¡­ uhm¡­ is a problem. The only school that was given to me by the criteria that I requested is the one located in the Kingdom of Dalei. To make matters worse¡­ They require students to be at least 16 years of age, know at least basics of magic spells, and make a hefty payment of 25,000 silver per year of education.¡±


    ¡°So we are not going to academy then?¡± asked Janine, confused.


    ¡°We still are. I am going to find a way to get her enrolled. Even if I have to skin someone for that. There is something that bothers me though, which I need to address. Janine, Solomon, would you two mind coming with me to the bath again for some time? We will head to the marketplace after, but right now, I want you two with me please,¡± declared Mira, with an odd tone. It seemed like something was bothering her.


    The man was surprised by the sudden deceleration, but seeing Mira¡¯s fiery eyes, he somewhat understood that it was going to be a girly talk, one he should not attend. He nodded and received her thanks for that. Alviona, in the meantime, was carried into another world from all the tasty nomming she had performed and did not pay any attention to the talk.


    ¡°Today is going to be somewhat confusing, exciting, and essential for her,¡± thought Mira, contemplating over how she should approach Alviona and begin asking her for vital information about her body. From the bathing experience the day prior, Mira witnessed an oddity: Alviona''s puberty had not started. To ensure that everything was all right with her health, Mira needed to talk, and it had to be a serious one.


    Entering the bathing establishment, the elf was greeted by the girls yet again, whom she paid ten silver coins to book the establishment for two hours and not let anyone in, no matter the circumstances. The offer could not be refused, for it was a considerable sum of money. She also had them activate magic, which would not let any sound come out from the area. Approaching the double doors, Solomon and Janine were instructed to stay and guard the entrance, while Alviona and Mira entered.


    ¡°Allow me to apologize for bringing you here so suddenly, child. However, I need to ask some relevant questions before we are to go out and purchase you some clothing,¡± said Mira slowly, not to scare her off and complicate the situation more than it needed to be. ¡°Alviona, please answer me truthfully.¡±


    The girl replied with a nod and an innocent smile. She seemed to be willing to talk, but she also harbored an expression of confusion and a little disappointment.


    ¡°Is everything all right? You look a little sad.¡±


    ¡°No grandma¡­ it¡¯s just that¡­ I don¡¯t understand why Solomon was not allowed to come with us. He was here yesterday, was he not?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that is simple. It¡¯s just because what I need to talk to you about is only relevant to you, and no one else. Besides, it would be awkward and embarrassing for both of you.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­ I do not understand what that word means though.¡±


    ¡°That is quite acceptable. Now then Alviona, let us begin by me asking the first question. You can ask me one too after you explain my previous ones. Does it sound good?¡±


    The child nodded.


    ¡°Well then. Do you feel any odd sensations occurring within your body? Your breasts have not started to develop yet, as you do not have breast buds. Your pubic hair has not started to grow either. Is everything all right? I am concerned about your puberty not starting,¡± said Mira nervously, trying to be as straightforward as possible.


    ¡°I feel discomfort whenever I do not have my wings out. Aside from that, I do not quite understand what any of your words mean,¡± replied Alviona after a ponder.


    Mira somewhat understood how a child whose physical body has skipped ages would feel. She had not experienced her body growing naturally but instead had it forced.


    ¡°You can ask a question now if you want to since you answered mine,¡± said Mira with a smile.


    Alviona nodded, her face expressing curiosity.


    ¡°How important is this puberty?¡±


    Nodding and falling into thought, Mira came to a conclusion that she should further explain how the female body worked. The elf explained how growth worked for both men and women. In detail, she told why girls body developed the way it did, the function of every body part, - pointing out the importance of puberty, menstruation cycles, and explaining that it was all to let one conceive a child someday. Ensuring that she did not miss anything out, she asked the child if there was anything she did not understand.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°No. I understood everything you told me. However, that is not how my growth will occur or how my body overall works. I can not grow further than I already have,¡± replied Alviona after brushing her chin and giving it a thought, smiling and shaking her head slightly.


    ¡°W-what do you mean, child? Can you elaborate?¡±


    Alviona nodded and stepped back a little, allowing her wings to appear and extend.


    ¡°Grandma, remember what I told you when we were inside of your dreamland, on how my body was created?¡± she paused and looked at Mira. Seeing that she nodded, she continued. ¡°My physical body is made to resemble lifeforms as closely as possible. As such, I can experience every sensation that all of you can. Such is a gift that my creators have granted me since they wanted to have a child of their own that would not be too different from other life forms and blend in well. Thanks to my mommy, Sofia, my physical vessel was born. However, I am not capable of birthing life in a way that you have explained. I do not produce a zygote. Of course, I will grow. But, it will not happen naturally. I discovered this after scrolling through the many reports in my <Clock of Time> which were created.¡±


    Seeing that she finished talking. Mira was dumbfounded, shocked and confused, unable to speak for a few minutes as she tried segmenting and chewing the information that just flew into her head. ¡°B-but then¡­¡±


    ¡°Grandma, I am sorry. Can you turn around for a moment?¡± asked Alviona, who stepped back even further, interrupting her question.


    Mira nodded and turned her back.


    Seeing this, Alviona undressed, becoming fully naked, moving her hands towards her small horns that protruded from her head, firmly pressing her thumbs down on it, not letting go until deep cuts occurred.


    <Death and Ascension> Report: You have grown to the age of 11. Congratulations! You may now raise your body to its proper adult age and unlock the first mana chain, granting you an ability to learn and acquire mana related skills. Proceed?


    Alviona thought about the message that she neglected to check after the <Clock Of Time> had ended. Now she was staring at the simple question asking her Yes and a No


    <Death and Ascension>: You may develop your body to its intended age. The process will take 15 minutes. Would you like to proceed?


    [Yes]


    ¡°Grandma, I will talk to you in fifteen minutes,¡± she stated with a giggling voice, moving her hands towards her mouth and sucking on her two thumbs. The moment she did, a massive, non-transparent blue bubble coated her entire body, resembling a balloon.


    <Commencing in 13 seonds>


    <Commencing in 12 seconds>


    <Commencing in 11 seconds>


    <Commencing in 10 seconds>


    <Commencing in 9 seconds>


    <Commencing in 8 seconds>


    <Commencing in 7 seconds>


    <Commencing in 6 seconds>


    <Commencing in 5 seconds>


    <Commencing in 4 seconds>


    <Commencing in 3 seconds>


    <Commencing in 2 seconds>


    <Commencing in 1 seconds>


    <Commencing>


    Mira, who turned around after hearing her words, not understanding what she alluded to, saw the sight in front of her and fell into a panic. She immediately ran towards a child, but the bubble was like a solid boulder, unmovable.


    Janine, who stood outside alongside Solomon, noticed something awry going on, for his body turned into ash which then disintegrated into nothingness. Panic flowing through her body, she ran into the room to tell Mira but stopped mid-way as she noticed the same sight as her.


    ¡°W-what is that?!¡± asked confused Janine, unable to comprehend anything at all.


    ¡°That is Alviona,¡± replied Mira, whose mouth was agape. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is going on!¡±


    The two of them kept staring until about thirteen minutes passed and cracks began showing on the bubble. Two minutes later, it shattered, and a girl fell out of it, who was no other than Alviona, while the scrambled pieces became transparent, being sucked back into the cut thumbs of the girl, fully healing.


    ¡°¡­ What the hell?¡± asked Janine, for the girl in front of her was clearly Alviona. Her skin color and face did not change much, except it became fuller and more elegant. Her breasts developed, having a perfectly round shape. The child¡¯s hips and thighs had also widened, and more importantly, her legs were slightly longer. Crimson pubic hair, which Mira talked to the child about was also visible. Alviona¡¯s current height was 1.72 meters.


    <Self-Diagnosis Report ¨C [Status]>


    Name: Alviona


    Primary Race: Unknown creation


    Secondary Race: Pure-blood elf of unknown origins


    Age: 1.3 years


    Physical Age: 18 years


    Your body will not progress beyond this age. Appearance is locked but may be altered later for a price. Subsequently, once the Chain level 2 unlocks, you will be allowed to create a secondary body.


    Body Condition: Fully recovered


    Mana related skills may now be acquired.


    <Self ¨C Diagnosis Report ¨C End>


    ¡°J-Janine¡­ grab some clothes, please. Right now!¡± ordered Mira, to which the girl immediately complied to and ran outside, back to the inn, grabbing every single piece of clothing that she could get her hands on.


    ¡°Child, just what the hell did you just pull?¡± asked Mira, angry and frustrated at Alviona¡¯s behavior.


    Alviona started to cough, as she needed to readjust her body to newer breathing patterns. Unlike in <Clock of Time>, she had sustained some injuries and change was too rapid. If what Mira had seen from her dreams took days or even months while the time was frozen, before activating the timer on the ability, this took exactly 15 minutes, meaning that adjusting would require rest.


    *Sigh*


    Mira approached the child and began inspecting her body, looking for any signs of injury. Relieved that there were none, she cast her [Greater Cure Wounds], [Greater Cleanse], and [Greater Heal] just in case.


    Janine rushed back into the bathing area, bringing all the clothing she could muster. Bras, Panties, and robes. She did not have much to go off for all she had aside that would be armor pieces, but those were useless.


    Mira and Janine helped Alviona to get dressed up. Once the process was complete, Alviona could finally stand up and walk a little, although slowly. The first thing that the child did was to try and call forth her wings, understanding what sort of change had occurred to her body. The limbs that appeared were twice as large as previously, signifying the child¡¯s growth. Lastly, the small horns that protruded from her head were no longer there. Instead, swirling goat-like horns were visible, that elegantly were leveled besides her cheeks.


    ¡°Grandma, I grew up. Just like you told me to. I could have performed the ritual earlier but was too excited to do so. And now, I can finally learn magic from you and the academy,¡± stated Alviona with a warm smile, and a light giggle, her eyes filled with excitement.


    ¡°Child, for the love of mother nature explain to me what just happened. What was that giant blue bubble? Why did you do that?¡± asked Mira with a saddened voice, her eyes tearing up a little.


    ¡°D-did I do something wrong? Are you not happy?¡± asked Alviona, confused and scared. Why was she always scaring everyone around her?


    ¡°Happy?! I was so scared, child! You foolish little kid! I worried about you! I understand that your body works differently from ours, I get it that you have different abilities compared to us, but me, your mother, Anita, we all love you! Why can¡¯t you understand that pulling out shenanigans like that gets us nervous? It is hard to keep a calm mind!¡± shouted Mira in frustration, walking up to her granddaughter and embracing her as tightly as she possibly could. Not letting her go. ¡°Of course I am happy if you grow! It is a wonder. Please, tell me that there won¡¯t be any more of crazy things like those!¡± she begged.


    ¡°Love¡­ I too love all of you grandma. I love, love, love you!¡± replied the girl sincerely. ¡°There won¡¯t be any more growth. I can not physically advance past this. The only thing I can grow is my essence, which has been compressed all this time. But that will happen naturally,¡± replied Alviona, rubbing her cheeks against her grandmother¡¯s, as if she were some puppy.


    ¡°A-Alviona¡­ S-Solomon¡­ H-he di-disappeared,¡± said Janine, still panicking over what happened. Seeing this child grow? Ok! Seeing Solomon disintegrate? Nope! She was chilled to bones.


    !!!


    Alviona just realized what she had performed and distanced herself from Mira, who got confused by the sudden action.


    I am so sorry for doing that, Mr. Solomon! I should have told you about my ritual! (Alviona)


    Yes, you should have. But, worry not. I understand what you did. The moment I was destroyed, I watched you. As embarrassing as it was. (Solomon)


    ¡°I will bring you back! Give me one moment!¡± said Alviona firmly, closing her eyes and waving her hands randomly. After focusing, she cast a [Summon the Cursed Man] ability, after which a giant pentagram appeared on the ground, and Solomon¡¯s body was reassembled.


    ¡°Good. Good. Splendid. Now,¡± said Solomon who walked to his mistress, chopping her with his left hand straight in the head.


    ¡°Ooowie!¡±


    ¡°This is for suddenly making me disappear embarrassingly in front of a lady,¡± he said, chopping her again. ¡°And this is for making me very nervous, you foolish mistress.¡±


    ¡°But I¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡±


    ¡°But,¡±


    ¡°No, and No¡±


    ¡°But?!¡±


    ¡°Goddess, would you like me to chop your head again?¡±


    ¡°Owieeeeee¡­ No! Meanieeeeee!¡± cried Alviona with a saddened face, trying to make herself look as adorable as possible to gain forgiveness somehow.


    Looking at her face, Solomon could not help but laugh. Turning around to Mira, he looked at her and declared: ¡°Well then, it appears that the restriction of going to the academy is no longer in effect hmm? So, shall we go?¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ what age did you jump to Alviona?¡±


    ¡°I am the same age¡­¡± replied the child.


    ¡°Your body age?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well I am now 18-year-old,¡± replied the girl, with a warm smile.


    ¡°Well then, looks like you are correct Solomon. I will book the inn for two more days. Let¡¯s re-supply our ratios, get Alviona geared up with beginner items, and we can set out. We will adventure for a few months, for that is the time it takes to get there. In between, I will teach her how to use magic. So then, Janine, what is your plan?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I want to change my profession so if it is ok, I would love to learn alongside Alviona. Although I do not understand how will you and Solomon get into the academy,¡± Replied Janine, still feeling uneasy from everything she just witnessed.


    ¡°Ha! Let¡¯s get there, and you will see. As for Solomon, silver and gold can solve everything,¡± replied Mira with a wink.


    With this, the company decided to return to the inn, and upon their arrival, three men in plated armor stood by the entrance, and at their head, was a dark-skinned woman named Spitfire.

 Chapter 25 - Gearing up and setting out for adventure

    As the company entered the inn, the barkeeper pointed Spitfire towards Mira, who was drinking light alcoholic beverage. Noticing them, she left the glass, half-full, and turned around, gazing upon Solomon whom she had met earlier yesterday. Despite not remembering his name, she would not forget his height and appearance.


    Alviona, on the other hand, was a different story. Spitfire was confused by seeing the same girl from the day before, having developed further in the beauty department, having a more adult body and taller height. This figure was not how she had marked her. Regardless, she was here to fulfill an order from her higher-up. Questioning anything not related to her mission and objectives would go against her professionalism. Therefore the woman did not end up asking anything and instead, waved to the party to come closer.


    ¡°Good morning folk. Glad to see you in good spirits. How are you today?¡± Spitfire greeted, as they approached her, putting on a smile and grinning, displaying to them that no ill intentions were harbored.


    ¡°Thank you for asking. We are doing well and are glad to be graced by your presence,¡± bowed Solomon slightly, showing his respect and greeting her back on behalf of his mistress first and then himself.


    Spitfire was taken aback by the man¡¯s gestures and his etiquette. It was rare for anyone to bow in front of her, let alone treat her with courtesy and respect. Most of the time, people did so because she was feared, but this man did not seem to care much about her rank, status or her abilities. This, for the woman who has been Lord Fornion¡¯s right and left hand, was interesting.


    *Cough*


    ¡°Ahem, I am here today to provide you with the payment as his lordship, Lord Fornion, had ordered it. First, let us move people out of here so that prying eyes and curious ears will not interfere,¡± stated the woman, snapping her fingers and ordering the guards to clear out the entire inn, including its owner and the staff. Ensuring that the place was clear of undesired witnesses, she retrieved an item granted to her from the Lord¡¯s treasury and placed it on the ground. Satisfied, she moved her hand back to the cup with alcohol and lightly sipped it, face becoming slightly red and putting it back.


    ¡°Perfect. Nobody should hear us now. Well then. Lord Fornion, in his earnest show of gratitude for saving Lady Annel Belamej¡¯s life, and to lay a solid foundation for our friendship, has ordered me to present to you his gift in the payment of one hundred and seventy thousand silver coins. Guards, please bring forth the presents.¡±


    The knights obeyed, retrieving two medium-sized pouches from their armor belts and placing them in front of Solomon¡¯s feet.


    ¡°You may open them and count it if you so desire.¡± (Spitfire)


    Solomon, who was looking at the woman all this time, slightly shook his head and bowed yet again.


    ¡°No. I would not dare to be so rude towards such a benevolent Lord. My mistress gladly accepts your offering and hopes that we can be friends in the future¡­¡± replied the man, his words being humble, truthful and ridden of any malice, ¡°However, if you somehow misuse my mistress, or break our trust, know that I will annihilate you and your Lord alongside you,¡± he finished.


    The Knights rushed their hands towards their weapons, attempting to unsheath their swords but were stopped from doing so for Spitfire had raised her hand.


    ¡°Mind me prying where that confidence is coming from?¡± she asked, curiosity overflowing her body. Nothing from what this man had stated sounded like a bluff or an act. She was a very experienced interrogator and a hunter for her Lord. As such, she understood his words clearly. The man was willing to sacrifice himself for the service of that girl, who stood behind his back, so she wanted to hear his response. Slaying others was an easy task; making a right judgment and acquiring correct assets, on the other hand, required a different approach. Lord Fornion had ensured to teach her all of this.


    ¡°There is no confidence. I would not be able to defeat an entire faction by myself, nor would I wish to make an enemy out of you or your master. I assure you that if something were to happen to her, I would be infuriated and probably level at least half of the city to the ground, be it innocent lives or not.¡±


    Despite him stating such a thing, the voice did not carry any malice or ill-will, but instead, just settled in as a warning. The grin behinds his face was also somewhat disturbing. Spitfire did not fear the man, but her gut and instincts were triggered, telling her that this opponent if he were to become one, would not let her out alive.


    ¡°Fu, fa, fua. You are indeed an interesting individual, mister. You genuinely care for your mistress, don¡¯t you? Fear not, I was not offended. The affection you harbor towards that girl is the same that I have towards my liege. We can come to terms that the feeling is mutual,¡± grinned the woman, ¡°Very well then. I am going to leave it out of my report that your companion here has grown in an overnight. We can also safely say that our conversation here has never occurred. How about it?¡± asked Spitfire, extending her hand and waiting for a response.


    Solomon shook it with his left limb without any hesitation.


    ¡°Brilliant. You interest me now. May I ask for your name? I rarely do so, but have a feeling that yours is required.¡±


    Looking at Alviona and waiting for her consent, the man nodded.


    ¡°Solomon.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Solomon. I hope to meet you again someday, preferably on a battlefield and on our side. With this, I bid you and your companions a farewell.¡± Grabbing the drink one last time, fully emptying it and putting the glass back on the counter, alongside five silver coins and fourteen copper, the woman raised her hand, gesturing to her guards to follow her, and disappearing into the street.


    The man kneeled down and grabbed the coin pouches, handing it over to Alviona, who made it disappear into her <Dimensional Loot-box>.


    *Stomach Growl*


    ¡°Well. That was quite¡­ interesting. Now then, let us not think about this incident for now. More importantly how about we eat?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Again?!¡± (Janine)


    ¡°Yep, the child is hungry.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°I don¡¯t think she is a child anymore,¡± said Janine, glancing over at Alviona, who had pulled off the strangest thing in the world. What she saw in front, however, was anything but an adult. The girl was rolling on the floor, trying to wrestle with her growling stomach, which was getting louder.


    ¡°¡­ Mira, forgive me. I never said anything.¡±


    ¡°Heh. That is fine. Let us eat and then go purchase gear. We will stay here tonight and tomorrow. Perhaps one extra day depending on when our orders will be finished. A lot needs to be taken care of. Alviona, what would you like to eat?¡±


    ¡°Bakery! Bakery, please. I would love to eat some more apple pie,¡± said the child, her eyes sparkling with excitement from hearing the topic related to food.


    ¡°Very well then. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    -----------------------------------------------------------


    After eating their desserts at Velven¡¯s bakery, it was 3 pm. The company set out towards the tailor shop where garments were sold. Upon entering the store, they were greeted by a man and a woman.


    ¡°Hello, welcome to Sarnila¡¯s tailor house. How are you today?¡± asked the man, bowing and smiling.


    ¡°Good afternoon. We are here today to purchase garments for this child here,¡± replied Mira, pointing towards Alviona, whose head was moving around, curiously inspecting everything that the shop had, her eyes sparkling at different designs of clothing.


    The man, shifting his attention to the girl, could not help but be a little hypnotized by her looks. Her entire figure screamed ¡°Perfect¡± at him. However, her horns invoked a fragment of fear.


    ¡°Sarn, perhaps you should focus on our client''s needs?¡± asked the woman who was standing beside him. She was not bothered by Alviona¡¯s figure as much as the man was.


    *Cough, Cough*


    ¡°I apologize. However, I could not help it,¡± replied Sarn, shifting his eyes at towards the girl that just spoke to him, bowing and kissing her hands.


    ¡°Hmm, Sarn¡­ If your name is that, why did you name your shop Sarnila?¡± asked Janine, not trying to disrespect the man but instead to inquire, for the name sounded a little feminine.


    ¡°Oh, that is quite simple,¡± replied the woman with a warm smile. ¡°My husband¡¯s name is Sarn, and my name is Nila. So when we opened the shop, it was decided to give it our names Sarnila, for N is the ending of his name and a beginning of mine.¡±


    ¡°Wow! That is quite fascinating,¡± replied Janine, eyes filled with awe and admiration towards the couple.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± replied the woman with a blush and a smile. ¡°Now then, what sort of clothes are you looking to purchase for your girl?¡±


    ¡°We are in need of several sets of underwear and pajamas, of no lesser quality than cotton. Next, we would like to look at some garments if that is all right,¡± answered Mira, smiling and looking at Alviona, who seemed to be carried away by the number of items available in the shop, understanding that it was her first experience purchasing wares for herself.


    ¡°Understood, then can you please come with me to take the measurements?¡± asked Nila to Alviona, taking a cloth tape measure. ¡°Rest of you have to stay.¡±


    Solomon, naturally, followed her but was stopped by a punch in the chest from Mira and Janine.


    ¡°W-what¡­ why? I was with all of you the other day!¡± he exclaimed, confused by why they were acting so aggressively.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Stop being so stubborn for once and realize that she is going to get her body measured. No peeking! No matter what!¡± they snorted.


    ¡°Ah, you poor soul. That is exactly how my wife was like before we got married. *Sigh* I feel your pain,¡± told Sarn to Solomon, his eyes slightly watering up.


    ¡°Darling, did you say something?¡± interjected Nila when she heard it, turning her head slightly and releasing a killing intent.


    ¡°N¡­ N-nothing! Carry on. We are just talking about¡­¡± (Sarn)


    ¡°Ale¡­¡± finished Solomon in the man¡¯s stead, for he seemed to be in danger of death if something was not said urgently. Nila shook her head and continued on her way to the fitting room, while Sarn glanced at his savior and grabbed his left hand, shaking it violently and expressing his gratitude.


    ¡°You do not know what you just saved me from.¡±


    ¡°And to be honest, I do not wish to know,¡± he replied with a frightened face, releasing the man¡¯s hand and stepping back, taking a seat at the nearby sofa, where Mira and Janine sat, waiting for the child¡¯s return. His gut feeling screamed at him that the high heels worn by Nila would somehow end up within his skull if he interfered again, resulting in a tertiary death experience at this point. Nope, this had to be avoided.


    In the meantime, inside the fitting room, Alviona was undressed, and the tape measure was swirling around her body. Nila was double checking everything to get this girl a perfect fit for the bras. First, she measured the underbust, which was 26.4 inches, rounding it up to 27 inches. Next, she took Alviona¡¯s overbust measurement, which was 37 inches, resulting in a Cup E size. Finishing up, she measured waist and hip size, which were respective 22 and 32 inches; in other words, a perfect hourglass.


    ¡°All righty then. You require the 32E size of bras. The thing is that I do not sell any of those and will need to tailor you one since most women in our Kingdom are either 34C, 36C, 34D and some nobles 36F. You fall in an exciting category, as your rib cage is much smaller than average and your proportions are a little too perfect. If you were to order it today, I can do it immediately and finish within 3 hours. I do have the panties for your fit, however. Anything you would like to ask me?¡±


    Alviona shook her head, as she did not understand anything from the information that the woman was telling her. She did not even know what bras or panties referred to, so naturally, her expression was quizzical. The only thing that she did understand was when asked if her current underwear was tight, to which she nodded.


    Returning to Mira, Nila talked to the elf about every measurement that she took, handing her a magical piece of paper and instructing her to keep it to get proper Armor pieces crafted. Upon finishing her report, the woman walked over to the counter and paid Sarn to sew eight sets of underwear for Alviona, paying a sum of fifty silver, due to the materials requested, magical enchantment of fitting and having to tailor it immediately.


    ¡°Alviona, we still have to pick you the basic garments, get you fitted with protection and a weapon.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°But I already have a halberd,¡± said Alviona, thinking about the weapons she had collected, but once she checked her inventory, it turned out that all of her loot except the golem, had become rusty. Seeing this, the child pouted and mentally sent a command to her inventory.


    [<Dimensional Loot-Box>: Would you like to destroy every non-currency items except the Golem¡¯s body?


    [Yes]


    Recycle is complete. No runes were gained.


    End of report]


    ¡°I was wrong. I apologize, grandma. It was all rusty,¡± said Alviona with a sad face.


    ¡°That is fine. Let us go pick out something neat for you,¡± giggled Mira, taking Alviona¡¯s hand and checking out different items, fabrics, and garments that were available. After a thorough inspection, they picked out fifteen pieces of the material comprised of various colors and lengths.


    Sadly, when it came to payment, Mira had to pay another sum of twenty-three silver and forty-four copper. The elf knew that her funds were going to drain out soon, but did not say anything. It was still sufficient for the next few months. I am the leader of this expedition and am solely responsible for funds. I should not ask Alviona to lend me any money. No. I promised when we were coming here to the mother how I would ensure her daughter grow, adventure and learn, thought Mira, shaking her head a little.


    ¡°All right! Now, child, tell me what sort of apparel and armor are we going to purchase. Let us walk towards the armory, as I explain the meaning behind my words,¡± said Mira as they walked out of the tailoring house, leaving Janine behind who was picking out her own set of clothing and such. Of course, Solomon followed his mistress.


    Mira explained to Alviona how gearing worked in this world:


    First, the armors were worn by every Magic school that was adventuring. Nobles and influential figures such as kings were often accompanied by their closest guards, equipped with the highest available gear for that kingdom. They were funded for it and even on battlefields, their equipment would be better than the ¡°Average¡± for an adventurer.


    On the other hand, the said adventurers had the luxury of going into dungeons that kingdoms had no interest in, ones where dangerous monsters spawned, lived and if slain, resurrected in, after some time. Those places contained treasures of all sorts, from gear to cursed items, class development items, weapons, etc. They even held loot such as copper and a little bit of silver. Gold coins were never available in them, as those were spawned in dungeons in veins and were gathered by the local Nobles and Kings.


    The armor acquired inside of the dungeons and or lairs had better properties than most commonly crafted items. As such, they were sought after a lot by adventurers, since they could sell the ones they found no use for to others. Sometimes, when they wanted to reinforce their weapons and armor, they could go to blacksmiths who were skilled enough, pay them a hefty price and have these metals transformed into raw materials, with which they could craft better pieces of gear for themselves, of course, for a price.


    The status of items and their durability strongly depended on the rarity of loot, ranging from Common to Legendary ranks. Some gear would have + 10 damage, others +7. Some would have a property such as an increased attack by utilizing Water spells, and if those were on martial weapons, usually they would be considered garbage for the Elemental Schools of Magic for they only used staves. As such, the said weaponn could be either scrapped to make something else or could be sold to a merchant who was interested enough.


    There existed a God level, but deities only wore those items. Sometimes the gods would choose a champion to represent themselves when a massive overpopulation of evil occurred, and they would be granted some pieces of gear that were considered ¡°Holy.¡± Those heroes would keep them until the corruption was purged, after which, the said relics would disappear.


    Lastly, there existed runes that could be extracted from some pieces, but it was tough to do and rare. So the runes were priced very highly. For example, A +5 Laceration to any weapons would cost as little as 10 gold minimum. A +10 Boost to an attribute of fire could start at 100 gold, etc. Jewelry was also costly, with good ones being made of rarest of loots smelted into metal and then forged, only to apply enchants and runes afterward.


    Monsters almost always spawned outside, in the wilderness and often formed tribes and assaulted nearby cities. So adventurers that had a good arsenal of gear and helped in exterminating them and aiding the country were rewarded well. This world never had a shortage of monster slaying activities.


    To sum it up, the world of Dedrillon had a randomized loot system, where adventurers would not know what they would get until they acquired it. The adventurers Guild was self-funded, by taking in requests from merchants, citizens, nobles or country heads to exterminate monsters, thus paying the members out. It also offered itself as a hub to gather recruits and thrill seekers, sending them on their merry way to explore different dungeons, let them get stronger, acquire friendships and gain fame and fortune.


    Entering the smithery, Alviona was excited to see all the different armors and weapons on display. Her eyes attempted to look for the halberd style weapon, but soon became saddened for they were absent. Regardless, she was still filled with curiosity, looking at all the different magically enchanted and protected glass cases that held the weapons.


    ¡°Oi, you there. How are ya? Bloody hell, a gal looking fo¡¯ some¡¯ o¡¯ me wares, a beauty no less. What can I get fo'' ya?¡± asked a stout man who walked out of the back room, grinning and gazing at the three people who visited his place.


    ¡°Afternoon,¡± replied Solomon, amused by the man¡¯s high spirits, ¡°We are here to purchase some armor and weapons for the girl. What do you have to offer?¡±


    ¡°Ho, ho! Straight to business ha, ya¡¯ lass. Me quite like it. Ya¡¯ from the noble house or an adventurer, perhaps a city guard ah?¡±


    ¡°Neither, nor.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Ah. Pity then lad. Me afraid can¡¯t quite help but sell ya¡¯ the basic leather ama.¡¯ Them quite finicky ova he¡¯e. Rules be rules.¡±


    ¡°That is quite acceptable. We understand that plate armor requires training and that it is not allowed to be sold to commoners. Her guardian will pay you for the leather armor, preferably one that can be slightly customized and where you can wear some garments under. Have anything like that?¡± asked Solomon, looking at Mira who gave the nod in approval.


    ¡°Ya¡¯ lucky bastards! I sure as heck do. Gimme but a second, I shall go grab it fo¡¯ ya kids¡± said the man with a laugh, turning around and disappearing into his backroom only to reappear with a leather cuirass in his hand.


    The item was not a bad piece. It was crafted well and had been reinforced. The cuirass was sturdy, with banded leather enhancing the waist to allow for more natural movement of the body. The shoulder guards that came with it were made of steel, with cushioned padding inside to not discomfort the user and when struck, to mitigate the damage to the shoulders. The breast area also seemed to be magically enhanced so that if a woman were to wear this piece, the armor would adapt to it, not squishing their chest and causing pain or discomfort. Thankfully, this was a standard for most armor.


    ¡°Say, why don¡¯t ya buy a steel tho?¡± asked the man curiously, looking at Alviona who definitely seemed to have interest in the Martial school of magic.


    ¡°She wishes to attend the Elemental school of magic, so for that reason we want her to get used to wearing as light armor as possible since it allows for a better breathing pattern and mana control,¡± replied Mira.


    ¡°Ah, understood ya, ma''am.¡±


    ¡°Child, what would you like me to purchase you this armor? It looks sturdy, has some positive aspects to it from what Solomon said, is light and since it is leather, it will reduce the incoming magical projectiles by 10%.¡± (Mira)


    Alviona nodded and continued looking at the many weapons available.


    ¡°Found something you like, mistress?¡± asked Solomon, who knew very well of the girl¡¯s passion towards weapons. Oh yes! came a mental, in such a joyful tone that it would feel like birds would start flying and singing around her.


    ¡°Mrs. Mira, I think she already knows what weapons she wants too.¡±


    ¡°Very well then. Alviona, could you please show the merchant what interests you?¡± asked Mira, curious to see what she would pick.


    This time around, the girl had picked out three small weapons: a dagger, a gladius, and most importantly, a wooden shield that was equipped with a boss.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ Child, are you certain that you need all of those?¡± inquired Mira with widened eyes. Magic casters were not known to utilize much of the close quarter fighting weapons. Swords here and there were acceptable, and a dagger was almost a must. However, a shield?! In the eyes of the druid, even a leather armor was excessive, for one would surely find a good set of robes sooner or later, but for now, it was required.


    Despite her question, Alviona firmly shook her head, her eyes reminiscent of a pet begging for a treat. It was too adorable for Mira to refuse, so she paid the amount of forty-five silver pieces and fourteen copper, ensuring to also purchase leather boots and steel guards for them.


    The moment Alviona received her items and they left the gear shop, she stored them in her <Dimensional Loot-Box>. The party headed back to Sarnila¡¯s tailor house, where they picked up the remaining items, urgently outfitting the child with her proper bra size and panties. Mira had ensured to purchase for her some regular clothing to wear, but most importantly, a little cloak that included a hoodie which was enchanted so that the face would be barely visible. Like it or not, Alviona had horns and was being labeled as a ¡°Demon.¡± While the citizens in the streets and guards were not aggressive or discriminating towards her, they still gave stares, mainly since the girl was so beautiful.


    Throughout the next day, the company ensured to purchase healing supplies, ratios, plenty of water gallons, camping equipment, cushions, hay bags, and blankets. More importantly, Mira bought an Ox and a magically enchanted wagon, which had extra space inside and neat compartments to seat Alviona. Naturally, she did not want to provide any discomfort for her.


    After the time was approaching 8 pm, they finally reached the inn, deciding to take a bath once again and eating dinner. Alviona quickly fell asleep after eating and ended up being carried by Solomon to her bedroom, where Mira soon joined.


    ¡°Well then. An exciting day I suppose?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Agreed,¡± replied Solomon with a chuckle, looking at the child and thinking how much his life had changed over the past week.


    ¡°Do you think we will reach the Kingdom of Dalei in one piece?" asked Mira, her voice expressing mild worry and curiosity all the same.


    ¡°Looking at this girl, I do not think we will avoid adventures. But will we reach the destination? Certainly,¡± Replied Solomon with a grin, one that Mira did not catch, for if she did, she would probably be petrified.


    The next morning, the party was ready to set out for their journey.

 Chapter 26 - What is your limit?

    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    *Yawn* *Cough, Cough, Cough*


    Hm? I am thirsty¡­ I need a lot of water today, thought Alviona as she stirred awake, not as cheerful as her usual self. Her mouth felt overly dry, experiencing dizziness and exhaustion despite not lacking rest. Looking around, she took note of Mira¡¯s absence. The room was dark, dimmed sunlight penetrated through the curtains. Not quite willing to get out of the warm bed, she thought of ways to deal with her condition. Mr. Solomon, are you awake?


    *Knock, Knock*


    ¡°Mistress, may I enter?¡±


    *Cough, Cough*


    Yes, please.


    ¡°Good morning. How may I be of service?¡±


    Sir, where is grandma Mira?


    ¡°She has gone out to settle some minor businesses and purchase more vials for the journey. Something to do with potion brewing,¡± said Solomon carefully looking at the goddess in front of him, his link telling him that something was wrong.


    She seemed overly gloomy. Her eyes seemed to lack the curiosity usually dwelling within her, and she was coughing a lot. Solomon got nervous and closely inspected Alviona¡¯s hands, noticing various cracks on her pale skin.


    ¡°M-mistress, what is going on? Are you ill? Let me get Mira!¡± However, the child told him not to do so and instead, asked him to bring her a lot of water.


    Rushing downstairs, he asked the innkeeper to provide him with the biggest barrel he had in possession, which was four liters. Filling it up with water, he rushed upstairs, not forgetting to take a clean cup. Alviona gracefully accepted it and drank the liquid in intervals of two cups, pausing for a minute until resuming. In nine minutes she had emptied the full barrel, asking Solomon to get more thus repeating the process, making the man go up and down the stairs fourteen more times, and a total of sixty liters of water were consumed.


    ¡°Puah. Thank you very much for saving me from my condition,¡± said Alviona cheerfully, drinking her last cup. Her sweet voice filled Solomon¡¯s ears, and the coughing seized. The event took three hours to complete, and as a result, the girl was rejuvenated.


    Witnessing her heal, Solomon eased up.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    After another twenty minutes passed, Janine came back to the inn, walking upstairs towards Alviona¡¯s room to inform lady mischief of their departure and guide her to Mira. Helping the child get dressed, Janine picked out a dark green blouse, black leather pants, and light brown leather boots as her apparel.


    Once everyone got together, they prepared for their journey.


    ¡°Well then, ready?!¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Yes.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Yes.¡± (Janine)


    Alviona nodded, her orange eyes filled with excitement, and so the party headed out, their destination being the Kingdom of Dalei; - Magical Institute located in the Capital city of Nan Leiuro.


    ¡°So then, here is what our route and plans look like,¡± said Mira, pointing towards the map. ¡°We are traveling mostly west, passing small villages and resupplying. In five days time, we should be able to reach a dungeon and ruins where monsters spawn. We will see if we want to join the exploration for a bit or not when we get there. Regardless, we should not stay there for any longer than three days.


    After we will move to the city of Allaqar, and from there we utilize the gate for crossing the border. Overall, we should be able to make it within two week¡¯s period at most; only a week after the semester starts thus still being able to enroll Alviona. The tricky thing is, she has to learn Magic within this allotted time, or in other words, from zero to basics within two weeks.¡±


    The Kingdom of Dalei was located right after one crossed the borders from Xanais and was not a big territory wholly. It was comprised of two cities, a capital, and a lot of ruins in the vicinity. Many argued that this Kingdom was the most neutral country on the mainland, as such, many nobles and wealthy merchant¡¯s children, scholars, as well as adventurers who had scrapped a lot of fortune were studying there.


    The first village was located just four hours from Alpall, where they stopped for an hour but did not enter. Having light lunch, allowing the oxen to rest and letting Alviona walk a little was all that they required before setting off.


    While in the carriage, Mira took time to teach Alviona of fundamental theories related to magic.


    ¡°Alviona, I want you to focus for one moment. Close your eyes and breath in. Tell me, do you feel mana flowing through your body?¡± asked the teacher to her student who immediately nodded without bothering to complete any of the stated steps. Mira was a slightly disappointed and pouted. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to feel it. I know it is there,¡± came a nonchalant reply from the child, smiling and trying to get Mira to pet her head.


    ¡°But then how will you measure your limit?¡±


    ¡°Limit?¡±


    ¡°Yes. How do you determine how many abilities you can cast? It is all proportional and relevant to how much mana can your body withdraw to create spells,¡± stated Mira, gently stroking Alviona¡¯s soft and curly hair.


    ¡°I do not know until I try it,¡± replied Alviona with a smile, thoroughly enjoying the attention that she was getting.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Hm, well then, let us experiment with your capacity for magic on our next stop.¡±


    After hours of travel, it was getting dark. Not having approached the nearest village, Mira cast [Illumination], a spell that magically lit up the small area around them and did not allow Janine to steer the carriage off the road. Few more hours later, it was decided to stop and set up a camp for the night.


    Janine strayed off the main path and into the small forestry, releasing oxen and tying them to the nearby trees with magically enchanted ropes. Solomon and Mira opened the carriage side and transformed it into a tent, laying down stacks of hay, blankets, and cushions. A small lantern was placed on one of the water barrels to illuminate the insides.


    Solomon was setting up a fire pit to cook some food and warm the others, for it was getting cold. Mira, in the meantime, talked to Alviona about fire element.


    ¡°The fire requires three elements to form. Air, heat, and fuel. The first one is naturally provided. The other two you can get by utilizing your imagination and mana. Now then. Think of warmth in your hands and allow mana to flow out of your body and into your palms. Crate flame,¡± instructed Mira while forming her flame. ¡°Like this.¡±


    Alviona tried imitating her, and the results were instant. A flame of the same color formed in her hands.


    ¡°Grandma, I do not understand. It is warm, yet I do not feel any pain. My skin is also unaffected. How so?¡± asked Alviona, curiosity filling her body.


    ¡°That is because of you. Since you are the creator of this flame, it reacts to your mana and does not harm you. If formed into a fireball and thrown, the fire will cause damage,¡± replied Mira, smiling over her granddaughter¡¯s first achievement. ¡°Now, how about you try to make a [Fireball]?¡±


    ¡°What is a fireball? Will it damage everything?¡±


    ¡°It is a name that we gave to a specific shape of a flame, that is launched as a projectile. Yes, it does damage everything,¡± replied Mira, somewhat understanding why such question was asked.


    Alviona fell into thought and after some time, pouted.


    ¡°So, if I cast a fireball and you happen to be in the way, I will damage you?!¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t want to use such abilities until I learn more,¡± replied Alviona coldly with a severe expression.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°If I hurt enemies but also harm my allies, what is the point of utilizing such a useless spell? Don¡¯t get me wrong. I want to learn how to cast that ability, but I have no intentions of doing so until I acquire knowledge on how to avoid or mitigate the damage to friends that are caught up along the way,¡± said Alviona with a saddened voice. After finishing up the dinner, the child quickly fell asleep.


    ¡°Janine, you should go rest. I will stand guard,¡± said Solomon, who did not require much sleep due to him being the Cursed Man.


    The next morning the party continued traveling towards the city of Allaqar, passing by villages, purchasing provisions from locals, and taking short rest intervals. Their second day went smooth and without any odd occurrences. Mira taught Alviona of some earth, wind, and water elements. Since the child asked, the elf also talked about druidic powers and how healing in general worked. Unfortunately, no subjects were available to demonstrate the ability.


    On their third day, a village that was being overrun by the wolves came into sight. The farmers were wrestling with the animals, but it was no use. They were poorly armed and scared, whereas the wolves ran in formations and hunted as a pack. With their combined numbers it was easy to overwhelm their prey.


    Alviona, who peeked out from the carriage had her eyes brighten up in delight. She had never seen any wolves aside Piu before, therefore making this her first-time experience witnessing such sight. The screams and panicked faces of villagers did not disturb her. The child did not understand what to feel, while Janine¡¯s and Mira¡¯s faces were frozen.


    ¡°We need to help them,¡± whispered Janine.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± replied Mira. Since those wolves were interfering with their travel and water needed to be resupplied from the well, they were forced to fight. Not willing to allow Alviona to participate, the elf decided to instruct her to stay in the carriage.


    ¡°Alviona, stay inside the¡­¡±


    ¡°Mira¡­ she¡­¡± pointed Janine towards the village, or instead Alviona who was desperately attempting to catch a wolf and ride its back.


    Hey, you! Stop! Let me bite your tail. Please? Can I ride you? You are too quick, thought the child, casting water spells and splashing the chased wolves. Upon the ability¡¯s impact, their hunting target shifted from villagers to Alviona. Now the wolf pack was chasing after her.


    One wolf pounced, its claws coming into contact with Alviona¡¯s abdomen that was stopped by her leather armor. Dissatisfied with their behavior, the girl recalled her sword and a shield from the <Dimensional Loot-Box>.


    ¡°Well then, that was rude!¡± Holding the shield to cover her weak spot, Alviona slashed the wolf¡¯s neck, its blood pouring out from the cut. Whimpering, it dropped dead.


    ¡°Mistress, please stop trying to tame the wolf!¡± begged Solomon who felt like a heart attack was unavoidable. He chanted [Bath of Flames], creating a zone that engulfed the wolves and burnt them alive. The roaring flames did not subside under any circumstances until nothing but ash remained.


    Alviona was dealing with her batch of wolves. Slicing, slashing and thrusting her sword, multiple animals dropped dead. Some wolves, noticing how well Alviona was handling herself, utilized [Dexterity] to boost the velocity at which they moved and pounced. The girl picked up their actions and moved her shield towards her chest, understanding that they were going to jump.


    Currently, Alviona did not know of any abilities that could make her swing in the 180-degree arc and cleave every assailant; therefore, she came up with a different idea. Recalling Mira¡¯s lesson about earth magic, she manipulated the area in front of her before the wolves could jump. The result was phenomenal. A boulder of her height erupted from the earth, causing the wolves to smash into it and fall. Alviona moved around the rock, casting [Fireball] and slaying the assailants.


    Some wolves that emitted a golden aura tried to heal their comrades but were stopped from doing so by Janine, casting [Control Mind] and commanding nearby defendants to assault the healers.


    Seeing the wolves gather, Mira cast her [Whirlpool of Fire], and in ten seconds the wolves were roasted.


    Most remaining wolves fell into despair and started to howl, cowering and retreating into the wilderness. Alviona was awed by sight in front of her. Turning around, she heard several whimpering sounds. Upon inspection, she found several wolves that were grievously injured.


    Solomon ran over to his mistress and checked up on her, ensuring that nothing was wrong. Satisfied, he shifted his gaze to the injured wolves and prepared to cast his [Bath of Flames].


    No! Don¡¯t touch them! Ordered Alviona, causing Solomon to stop his action for it was a direct command.


    ¡°But mistress¡­ they tried to harm you.¡±


    Yes, but now they are defeated. Those wolves are hurt and require help. How can I turn them down?! I want to pet them. She told Solomon firmly, walking towards the injured party.


    The wolves that witnessed the child¡¯s approach could not do much except to growl and warn her not to do so. They were scared and injured, life slowly draining from them. However, the girl did not stop and instead moved her equipment (except for the leather armor) back into the <Dimensional Loot-Box>.


    ¡°I understand you are hurt. Please allow me to help you,¡± told the girl to animals, who were cautious of her but did not have much choice. Alviona slowly approached them and kneeled down, attempting to heal them just like Mira had taught her. Three seconds later orange-colored aura emitted from her, mending the bones and treating the injured wolves. Satisfied, she stepped back and bowed.


    Solomon was wary that they might attack again, therefore had prepared fifteen stacks of [Seal of Lightning] in case of an emergency. However, nothing like a sudden attack occurred. On the contrary, the wolves approached the girl and allowed her to pet them before bowing their heads and running back into the wilderness.


    ¡°Farewell friends!¡± waved Alviona, rejoicing that her wish came true. Turning around, she walked back to Solomon and together, they went to rejoin their party members.

 Mistake and an update

    Good evening dear readers. I apologize for not catching this mistake earlier, but chapter 26 is a 2-part chapter that I intentionally separated. I forgot to add the Part 2. It will have a different name.


    For those that got confused why Alviona used a [Fireball] even though she said she would not, "chapter 27 - Mana is a form of power," will question and explain it.


    Now, for the update.


    Chapte 28-32 will be a small adventure Arc, where I hope to show readers how MC''S thought process works. Some already expressed to me their distaste towards the girl''s indifference to lives in general, while others said that she is overly violent. I can''t say much without spoilers so instead I will say that if you can not take her point of view... I can not do much. There are worse things that will be depicted than the criminal scene from earlier. The world is a harsh place, especially for someone who was created to be a living weapon to defend herself.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    With this, I will see those readers who continue reading in the next chapter.


    Also... Alviona is not evil. It depends on the viewpoint. However, she is labeled as an anti-hero. So, don''t expect her to save everyone.


    Post your thoughts and comments below and we can discuss anything up to this point, if you would like. ^_^. Also, let me know what do you want to see from the MC. I am curious of your opinions and thoughts. Thanks everyone for reading my dream fiction.

 Chapter 27 - Mana is a form of energy

    Mira and Janine have been helping villagers, healing and providing any form of aid that was possible. After gathering every injured person and ensuring their safety, Mira inspected the severity of their wounds. Seeing that some had deeper cuts than others, she decided not to take any risks.


    Elegantly waving her wand around, Mira used her spells: [Major Treatment], [Major Regeneration], and [Minor Vitality]. After casting her skills, the injured party recovered. The wounds closed at a rapid pace, and after two minutes they were fully revitalized.


    Talking to the chief of the village, they discovered that the wolves had attacked as a result of human¡¯s recent invasion of the forest ecosystem. Due to slacking off in the previous season, the food was somewhat lacking. Unfortunately, the villagers had overdone their hunt, resulting in a lower population of the deer. Thus wolves were forced to look for another type of food. Nothing being available nearby they decided to attack the village and steal the cattle. It also served them as the vengeance of sorts against the puny humanoids that did not know how to hunt properly.


    Seeing Alviona¡¯s figure and her actions, the villagers shrieked.


    ¡°Demon?! What? How? Why?!¡± These were the questions that rained down on Mira¡¯s head. The villagers seemed to be agitated and angry. Not understanding what was going on, she got irritated.


    ¡°Silence!¡± echoed Mira¡¯s loud and piercing voice throughout the vicinity of the village. Seeing that the villagers shrunk in size and were no longer talking, she was satisfied. ¡°Good. That girl is under my care. Mind explaining to me the reason behind your hostility?¡±


    ¡°Demons are not welcome! If she is under your care, we understand and will not go against you; but only because you saved us from the wolves. However, I warn you that inside the Kingdom of Xanais we do not tolerate demons!¡± proclaimed one of the villagers.


    ¡°How could this be? We just came from the city of Alpall! No one was hostile to us over there. The child even received a reward from the noble that managed that place,¡± said Mira, confused about the words that she just heard. How did it come to this?


    ¡°Is that so?¡± asked the village chief, stroking his beard. ¡°In that case, it should be all right.¡±


    ¡°Yet you did not answer her question. Why do you hate the demons in this country?¡± asked Janine, who was equally baffled by the sudden statement. It was a fact that throughout the world demons were an odd race. They had magical horns growing out of their heads which reduced any mental attack by 25% and were naturally adept in utilizing Elemental schools of magic. However, they could only use one element, and it appeared as a tattoo after birth. Countries feared to fight them because of the inability to utilize their spies properly, making sabotaging harder work than it had to be. But, humans were still numerous and had an edge when it came to warfare. So why did this Kingdom hate the demons?


    ¡°Because they seed chaos! A demon that can cast even the simplest fireball can destroy our crops within seconds. This season we have lower food rations. Who else but demons would mentally attack wolves and cause them to hunt us? They are probably preparing for a war of some sorts and decided to weaken us by eliminating us and cutting off the food rations to the Kingdom. Well, you know what?! Bring it on, we will survive!¡± shouted the villager, followed by others chiming in. It became clear that he was not talking on behalf of the Kingdom, but rather for the village. Perhaps this was their conspiracy theory? Regardless, it was too foolish, groundless, and laughable. And indeed, Mira burst into laughter.


    ¡°What of the king then. Why won¡¯t he support your campaign?¡± asked Mira, intending to mock them but deciding to mask it as a serious question.


    ¡°Ha! The King? He is a buffoon! Wait until his heir takes the throne, or perhaps a noble like Malavius will usurp the throne and beat some sense into this country! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!¡±


    Yep, definitely symptoms of clouded judgment. If they act like this about everything that occurs in their lives, then perhaps we should have left them to be eaten by wolves. I would not blame the animals for wanting to get rid of such noisy neighbors, thought Mira as a joke, chuckling and winking at Janine.


    ¡°Listening to you, I concluded two things. The first one is of the shock that you received from what happened to you. The second is that you do not hate demons. Instead, you witnessed the child healing your enemies and letting them go. Her actions caused you to think that she is the one who psychically attacked them and commanded them to slaughter you. Well, I have never heard of anything more stupid than this in my entire life. Congratulations,¡± cheered Mira, clapping her hands at a slow pace.


    ¡°But, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should admit that you made a mistake in your hunt and did not respect the ecosystem? Wolves do not hunt willy-nilly. No. They work together to panic a herd of deer, isolating the weak one and then swiftly killing it. You slew too many and did not leave any strong to flourish. So, what did you expect? They came here to take your vegetables and your cattle. Simple as that. Stop shifting blame to the child!¡± ordered Mira, her voice filled with anger. Her eyes fixed at the source of the commotion. Her current facial expression was so fierce that the man gulped, further shrinking in size.


    ¡°But the demons were responsible for it! How else would they attack in such big numbers?!¡±


    ¡°You truly understand nothing. Shut up, keep the silence, and be thankful that you are alive! You keep making up odd stories. How many demons have you seen in the vicinity over the past five years?!¡±


    ¡°That¡­ Uhm, none.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± snorted Mira, irritated by the man¡¯s stubbornness.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Thankfully, the village chief was aware of the situation and knocked his stick onto the man¡¯s head. He then proceeded to apologize to Mira and thanked her and the party for saving them. Bidding farewell, Mira, and Janine walked back to their carriage where Alviona waited. Seeing her, Mira got relieved. However, she was still upset with the child.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    ¡°Child, you have to be less reckless,¡± berated Mira upon her return. ¡°Those wolves could have sliced you like butter if not for that armor.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I am sorry,¡± said Alviona, getting scared and hiding behind Solomon¡¯s back. She did not understand why the scolding was received. I just wanted to pet them. Ah, it was fun! I got to play with them and even helped them out. Soft fur, gentle breathing pattern, the cold air coming out from their breathing, captivatingly fierce eyes, and a wet nose. Aaw, now I want to play with Piu. Since he is significantly taller than those wolves, his fur will be even better! I too am taller now, so I can reach his wiggling tail and then I can bite it! Ah, just imagining the fluff makes me happy, she thought while slightly peeking out to check the situation, gently caressing her cheeks as she contemplated.


    The elf was in thought, moving in circles with her right hand touching her chin. She was explaining the importance of thinking for oneself, prioritizing safety, and not attempting to play with vicious beasts.


    ¡°Still, you managed yourself well. Not even once did I see you lose your composure or fail to protect yourself. I have to admit that I am impressed. However, what was it you were telling me about not using [Fireball]?!¡± demanded Mira, walking up to the child and stretching her cheeks. ¡°You were not even listening to me. Were you?¡±


    Mira¡¯s eyes shot up with flames after seeing that Alviona was in her world. It felt as if she was about to unleash a massive cataclysm onto the world, forcing Solomon and Janine to back off as to not get caught in the explosion radius. Despite this, she soon calmed down as she witnessed Alviona¡¯s current state.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drool. You just had breakfast!¡±


    ¡°I am not hungry though.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you drooling?¡±


    ¡°Because I thought of Piu.¡±


    ¡°Huh?!¡±


    ¡°Yes. I want to bite Piu¡¯s tail. Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°Tail?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the fluffy tail,¡± said Alviona cheerfully, her mind melting like sugar. What was there not to drool over?


    Observing and listening to the child Mira was unable to hold her laughter back. She had only but yesterday learned how to create a flame. How did she cast a healing spell when just the theory was explained? Furthermore, why did it take three seconds? Why did Alviona¡¯s aura emit that color? After thinking over it, Mira decided to ask her.


    ¡°Child, I have a question that you need to answer,¡± said Mira, patting Alviona¡¯s head. Seeing that she had her attention, she continued. ¡°Look. The wolves that you healed, what was the orange aura? How did you pull off such quick healing, and then how did you make them bow to you?¡±


    Alviona fell into thought, trying to understand what Mira¡¯s question meant. I did not do anything special. I don¡¯t know any abilities or skills yet that are mana-related aside the basics that Mira taught me. So does my <Self Diagnosis ¨C Status> say.


    ¡°Grandma, I did not use any spells except for the [Fireball]. I said that the ability was useless and would not use it if it meant endangering my friends. But, since you were not in its path, I was curious so ended up utilizing it. For the speed of the healing, I did every possible calculation and measurement to heal them. The aura color you speak of was pure white. I do not know how else to say it,¡± replied Alviona after thoroughly analyzing her thoughts and structuring a proper response. She then looked at Mira and saw a confused face. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No. But your speed was unusual.¡±


    ¡°I used the basics that you taught me yesterday and just formed it into a command. That is about all,¡± replied Alviona cheerfully.


    Mira fell into thought. The given information was enough to make any scholar¡¯s head explode. It would probably be dismissed by most, that is how absurd it was. However, time and time again Alviona proved to be anything but ordinary. It did not come as a surprise at this point. And yet, Mira was surprised. It was too unusual. Don¡¯t tell me that this child can control mana so well that she can look at the situation and withdraw an X amount of mana necessary for minimum applications without any restraints. Then how many spells can she cast?! Hold on Mira. I need to test this.


    ¡°Alviona, tell me. If you were to use a [Fireball], how much mana would you consume? For example, if I were to create one and toss it at an object like that boulder, I would consume 244 mana. How about you?¡±


    ¡°Hm. 50 mana to form the shape of fire and ten mana to launch it. The answer is 60 mana,¡± came an immediate reply.


    ¡°I-I see,¡± said Mira in resignation. ¡°Then, how big is your mana pool?¡±


    ¡°Mana pool?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Let me explain. The spell I talked about would use 344 mana out of 3000 that I currently have.¡±


    ¡°Oh. It would be 30% or 60/200.¡±


    Hm, so she uses that much huh? I use approximately 5%. She said in the city that her body would not grow any further, so does that mean her mana is permanently 200? No, I don¡¯t think so.


    ¡°Alviona, you used [Fireball], healing ability of sorts and also the boulder from earth. How much did your other two actions cost?¡±


    ¡°The earth element cost me 80 mana and forming a command for healing was 600 mana.¡±


    ¡°What?! Then you used a total of 740 mana!¡±


    ¡°That would be correct.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get an additional 540 mana?¡±


    ¡°From my essence core. My body connects to it. The current mana passage is rather small though.¡±


    ¡°I do not understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm, allow me to explain it differently then. Mana is fuel for magic yes?¡±


    Mira nodded.


    ¡°But in reality, mana is only a form of energy. I have a core that makes up my essence, which is made of an infinite supply of power. My mana well that you refer to is a converter. Energy is processed into mana. Currently, I can convert 200 mana per second because that is the amount that can fit through mana vessels. It is precisely why the wolves took 3 seconds to heal. I had six different set of instructions that each cost 100 mana. In other words, I did two instructions per second. Once my essence grows larger and connects to proper mana arteries, I will be able to process more mana per second. Does this help?¡± asked Alviona, excited that she was given an opportunity to discuss her body.


    Mira was confused but decided to accept everything as was given. She understood that Alviona worked differently, evident from their bath session a few days ago. Not prying about anything else, she told her that all the current questions were answered.


    Shortly after the discussion, the party took a quick break, had lunch, and continued their journey towards the city of Allaqar.

 Chapter 28 - Have some problems with a magical dungeon? No worries! Let a newbie join you

    ¡°Shit! I need some help over here!¡± Shouted a young man wearing armor that was a mixture of leather and metal. His face was covered in blood and sweat. A goblin was firmly seated atop his head, violently bashing it with a rock. Fortunately, the man was not dead. The helmet he wore for nearly five years proved to be of good use. Thanks to the soft padding inside, the shockwave was not so great to damage his head. However, the problem for this man was not the said goblin. It was the fact that he was facing three others that wore fully plated armor. If he made an incorrect move here, he would be chopped into pieces by their double-edged ax.


    ¡°God damn it! Lucas, my [Fortification] is about to run out. Help me you son of a bitch!¡± As he said this, a *swoosh* sound rang in his ears. The goblin fell off his head; sturdy arrow planted in its head.


    ¡°Finally!¡± He exclaimed, sturdily holding his shield, and stepping back a little.


    The goblins attempted to move for an attack, their battleaxes ready to chop the man. However, this did not come to pass.


    ¡°Think twice!¡± Came a loud voice that belonged to a different man. He was charging at superhuman speed; his giant kite shield raised to cover his entire body. Not slowing down, he smashed into the goblin that failed to move out of his way, driving him into the nearest terrain of the ruins and crushing its bones. Seeing that the opponent was not quite dead, the man used his mace to finish it off. ¡°Salia, help them out!¡± He ordered the woman who was standing some distance away, chanting [Fireballs], [Icicles], and [Minor Heals].


    Salia was a backline mage, specializing in dealing damage. Having studied Divine schools of magic for a while, she could also cast healing spells. Due to her potency, she quickly found good teammates in adventurer¡¯s guild. The name of the man who just smashed the goblin was Brunor. He was a man who had been in business for nearly ten years. There were four more party members, Lucas ¨C an archer who was good at long range combat, Kornel ¨C an assassin, Hayden ¨C a warrior, and Janek ¨C a recruit who had been with them for a year now but was not assigned a role.


    Finishing her business with the monstrous hounds, she quickly changed her position and began casting [Fireball]. ¡°Janek, fall back from that area! I am casting my spell!¡± She warned her companion, frustrated by the developments thus far.


    The goblins proved to be formidable opponents, much stronger than usual. Who would have thought that such vicious foes would spawn from the dungeon of Tratmul? The party was not weak in any way. However, they lacked a proper healer. Of course, picking up recruits was a possibility, but they would require adequate experience in working with their current setup. Newbies were not welcome. After all, being in such a dangerous place meant that everyone was risking their lives for exploration and treasures. A novice would drag the rest of the team down. Despite Janek being a recruit, he had been with them for quite some time and did not lack teamwork.


    Janek¡¯s [Fortification] expired as he nimbly moved back, avoiding the massive ball of flame that scored a direct hit. The goblins screamed in pain from the intense heat, running around while being charred, and dropping dead soon after. Looking around, Janek found the rest of his teammates who had finished dealing with the enemies. Relieved, he started walking back to the party members.


    ¡°Fool! Don¡¯t let your guard down!¡± Screamed Hayden, but it was too late. A goblin jumped out from the shadows running towards Janek at high speed. It was not using any abilities. Lucas was quick to react, drawing his bowstring, and shooting an arrow. However, the goblin nimbly evaded it and jumped onto Janek¡¯s head.


    ¡°Ah, kyak! Human, kyak! Tasty, Kyak!¡±


    The man was unable to react in time, and as a result, the goblin stabbed his neck with its dagger. Janek¡¯s body fell, and the creature immediately started retreating. It avoided every arrow launched in its direction.


    Salia wanted to cast another [Fireball], but her mana reserve was low, and she needed to recover. If more enemies were to present themselves and she was unable to help her party, they would be wiped out.


    ¡°God damn it!¡± Exclaimed Salia. ¡°What an idiot!¡±


    ¡°You could not have done anything there. It is the night. We all agreed to go to the dungeon during this time of the day to avoid competition. He knew the risk he was taking,¡± said Hayden, trying to comfort Salia.


    ¡°Kornel, you bastard! Why?! Why didn¡¯t you save him?! You are an assassin! An adept at using Psychic and Martial schools of magic, so why did you not use them you piece of shit?!¡± Shouted Salia at the man who had not done anything so far. Anger was boiling within her body, so much that the girl walked up to the man and assaulted him. Fortunately, Hayden quickly intercepted and divided the two.


    ¡°Salia, cut it out! He could not have made it in time. Please, stop it. We hired him to guide us through the dungeon, not to combat on our behalf. Even Lucas was unable to do much, yet he is our best fighter. What do you expect against such foe?!¡± Said Hayden, desperately trying to beat some sense into her party member and neutralize the situation. Calming her anger a little, the girl apologized and stepped back.


    ¡°We should retrieve his body,¡± said Lucas, pointing at Janek¡¯s corpse. However, their captain returned without it.


    ¡°Brunor, is something wrong?¡± Asked Hayden upon his arrival.


    ¡°Correct. There are multiple goblins down there that are adept in concealment. If we take the corpse, then they will certainly ambush us. I think we just stirred a hive¡¯s nest. Look over there,¡± said the man pointing towards the dungeon behind the ruins.


    At first, nothing was visible. However, this changed in a few minutes as twenty goblins moved out. They walked in a formation, not standing too close to each other. The front lines wore fully plated armor, followed by archers behind them, and three mages at the very back. While not engaging in combat with the exhausted party, they did take Janek¡¯s body and retreated to the dungeon. Despite the human¡¯s inability to read the creature¡¯s facial expressions, it was evident that they were grinning in satisfaction of obtaining the prey.


    ¡°Oh god! That is not good! We should retreat for today and warn other adventurers of the danger.¡± Whispered Lucas, his face pale from what he had just seen.


    ¡°I completely agree. This situation cannot be tackled just by us,¡± replied Hayden.


    Brunor and Salia nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the camp and rest for the day. We will explore a little tomorrow morning and talk to other adventurers about teaming up,¡± said the captain, removing his helmet and checking on his members.


    ¡°Kornel, you said that there are a lot of treasures guarded by different creatures other than goblins inside the dungeon?!¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± replied the assassin.


    ¡°What sort of creatures?! What else inhabits that place?¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°There are some undead skeletons, goblins, death hounds, elemental worms, and few harpies.¡± (Kornel)


    ¡°That is nothing we can¡¯t deal with. However, what are those goblins doing here then? They clearly live in the dungeon.¡± (Salia)


    ¡°No. I have not seen anything like that during the day,¡± rebuked Kornel firmly.


    ¡°Regardless, we have to go rest right now. We can think about what we saw tomorrow morning. Right now it is futile.¡± With this statement, Brunor and his party members headed back to their camp.


    ¡°Ah, good morning there Brunor. Has Ironmight finished the dungeon raid this quickly?!¡± Asked the man by the entrance, who was performing the guard duty for the night.


    ¡°No, we faced fierce adversaries and lost a member. Because of that, we retreated,¡± replied Brunor.


    Hearing his words, the man removed his hat and gave him his condolences. Without any delay, he let them into the encampment, where the party separated. Kornel wandered off someplace, while Lucas and Hayden went to their tents.


    ¡°Brunor, I¡­¡± tried Salia to speak, but was stopped by the man. He gently caressed her cheeks, slowly moving his head towards her, and landing a soft kiss on her lips.


    ¡°Keep it quiet, kiddo. It was not your fault,¡± said Brunor firmly. ¡°If anything, it is my mistake for not taking proper measures. I should not have relaxed, but I did. I am sorry Salia, I failed you as a captain,¡± he added with a saddened voice.


    Looking at the man in front of her, Salia could not help but feel guilty. ¡°No, please don¡¯t say foolish things like that. Brunor, I love you for more than just being a captain. Please, don¡¯t blame yourself. It is as Hayden said. We could not have done anything.¡±


    Brunor sighed. ¡°All right. You know what, it is getting late. Let¡¯s sleep for the night. Nothing good will come from us thinking about something that we could not have changed,¡± he said, gently grabbing her by the waist and landing a deep kiss. After a few minutes, they went to their tent.


    Salia helped in removing the plated armor from the man, carefully placing it on the armor stand. She then proceeded to check on the man¡¯s wounds, but Brunor objected. However, arguing with the girl was pointless as she was overly stubborn by nature. Seeing that he had minor scratches and bruises, Salia cast [Minor Heal] that slowly cured the man¡¯s condition. Satisfied, she landed a kiss on his cheeks and went on to boil water. Afterward, she prepared the bathtub.


    ¡°Brunor, the water is ready. Please step inside,¡± said Salia after the water temperature became warm.


    He did as told, stepping into the bathtub and sinking in for a few seconds. The warmth of the water relaxed his nerves and muscles. After a minute, he moved his hand and started washing his body. Salia helped out a little, gently scrubbing his back. Brunor enjoyed it. He was in love with this girl ever since he first saw her. Not even hesitating once, he offered her to join his party ¨C Ironmight. A few months later, he got a chance of saving her life in one of the dungeon raids that went wrong. Eternally thankful, the girl got attached to the man and refused to leave his side. After some time, Brunor confessed to her, and as a result, the two of them ended up together.


    Thinking back to the fact that it had been five years since then, the man could not help but let out genuine laughter. Salia, who was looking at the man¡¯s behavior, could not help but think what made him change his mood so suddenly.


    ¡°Brunor, I do not under¡­¡± before Salia could finish her sentence, the man quickly turned around and grabbed her wrists, catching her by surprise and pulling her towards him.


    *Splash*


    ¡°W-what¡­ you idiot! Why?!¡± asked Salia, whose clothes were completely soaked in water. Fortunately, she had removed her battle garments and changed into her nightwear, so only her white pajamas were wet. ¡°Imbecile! Idiot! Moron!¡± She kept cursing the man, trying to hit him with her frail fists. However, the man elegantly stopped her hand mid-air and moved closer to her body. Salia could hear the man¡¯s breathing getting closer, as a tickling sensation jolted through her body. *Pant, Pant.* Brunor was licking her left ear, slowly making his way towards her neck and kissing it. She could not help but give in. ¡°You idiot. If I catch a cold, I will force you to take responsibility,¡± she said with a pout, her face blushing like a tomato.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Brunor chuckled and embraced her. ¡°I am sorry, Salia. I love you too much. Let me warm you with my body tonight instead. Would that appease you?¡±


    Hearing his words, she blushed even more but did not refuse the offer. And so the two of them spent entire night making love to each other.


    ----------------------------------------------------------


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    It was 2 am in the morning. Mira and Janine were deep asleep when Alviona opened her eyes.


    Ack! I am too restless now. I wonder how those wolves are doing. If only I could play with them a while longer. They were overly adorable! Ah, I can not fall asleep today. It has been five full days since we left the city. Five full days without me extending my wings! I am not feeling well right now. Grandma, I am sorry, but I have to fly for a bit, thought Alviona as she carefully slid out of Mira¡¯s embrace and walked outside of the carriage.


    The first sight that came into the girl¡¯s view were the skies. Bright, beautiful stars of various colors were visible from Dedrillon. This sight hypnotized Alviona, her eyes sparkling from the excitement of witnessing such a portrait. The distant moon lay its moonlight on the girl¡¯s soft, pale skin. She resembled a real goddess right now. A gentle wind that carried cool and crisp air gently touched her cheeks. The sensation was refreshing for her.


    It will be even better once I am air-born, thought Alviona, extending her wings and preparing for take-off. However, she was soon stopped.


    *Cough, Cough*


    ¡°Excuse me, Mistress. Why are you not asleep and what are you doing?¡± Asked Solomon who sensed that the child was up to something.


    I am going to fly for a bit, came a quick and excited reply.


    ¡°Would Mira approve of it?¡±


    No.


    Solomon sighed.


    ¡°How long?¡± He asked, not trying to stop her.


    Ten minutes at most.


    ¡°Mistress, I will sit here and count down the time. If you are not back within it, I will chop your head with my hand,¡± replied Solomon.


    Owie! You are a meanie! No, don¡¯t do that, please. I will be back in ten minutes. I promise, said Alviona, the pupil of her left eye lighting up and turning into a clock that moved backward. There, the countdown has begun, she continued, ascending into the skies and flying away.


    ¡°Agh! I really love my mistress, but why did she have to be so disobedient? If Mira wakes up, she is going to kill me. Goddess, I pray that you return before that happens,¡± mumbled Solomon, ready to start crying from being separated from her. Was it the link that caused this? Or were these Solomon¡¯s true feelings ever since his rebirth? Whatever it was, the man loved Alviona beyond reason. He was willing to carry out any given request given by her. Thinking about his current self, he could not help but grin and chuckle.


    In my past life, I was a man of power who served a King. A fearsome enemy, but I would never say that I¡¯d die for my liege. But why is it that right now, I am willing to do anything for that girl? Why is there a nagging feeling telling me that I must protect her like my own daughter? *Sigh* I do not know what the rules will be in that academy, but no matter what, I must stay by her side. Being separated from her even for two minutes makes me feel uneasy now, thanks to what happened in that city, he thought, brushing his chin and waiting for the child¡¯s return.


    Meanwhile, Alviona was soaring through the skies, curiosity overflowing through her body. At some distance, she could see the light illuminating small black dots that were moving around. Deciding to investigate, she flew towards their direction. It was an encampment of sorts. Seeing that nothing exciting was going on there, she decided to move a little bit further. After covering some distance, a shout for help rang through her ears. Curious, Alviona flew over to see what was going on.


    The sight she witnessed was of a small, green creature hitting a man¡¯s helmet with what appeared to be a rock. Excited, she decided to fly down and play with them. However, she quickly redecided.


    No, me! I need to control myself. Grandma Mira would get mad if I played with unknown things again. I will observe for now. I think that the encampment we talked about is the one I just went to. Since we will be here tomorrow, I will ask for permission to play. Of course, grandma will question me and say that it is too dangerous, but I will say ¡°Pretty Please.¡± I will also ask her to pet my head. This way, I will not be scolded, thought Alviona as she formulated a flawless plan that was flawed beyond comprehension. Besides, Solomon will be with me. Together, we will play lots and lots! She giggled, imagining how fun tomorrow would be.


    Witnessing Brunor charge at the goblins and make them into toothpaste, Alviona was awed. Oh! That was cool! I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to do something like that though. Oh, that lady there is casting [Fireball]. Ah, the tiny green dots died. Hmm, the man is walking back. Mister, there is a thingie behind you. Should I warn him?! No, it would be unfair if I revealed the location of that creature. It is waiting so patiently. Now it is trying to hug him. Aaw, so cute! Oh, that guy is using a bow to greet it. Hmm, he missed. Ha, ha, ha! That is funny. Oowie! The man is dead now. Meanie! I thought you wanted to hug him. Why did you lie to me?! Demanded Alviona, watching the battle unfold.


    Hmm, there are more of them now. Danger! Danger! Run away! They will kill all of you, said the child, watching goblins march towards Ironmight.


    Huh? They stopped now. Oh, they are dragging the body back to their home! Ah, they probably want to play! I should go check it out¡­ No! They are meanies. They lied to me! Huh? These people are saying that they will gather more Adventurers to raid the dungeon. What do those words mean? I am interested! If they want to play, I will go with them too!


    Deciding to follow the party, she ghosted them. However, Alviona quickly stopped, her face shocked and panic overtaking her body. Nooooooo! Ten minutes were gone thirty minutes ago! I must hurry back! She thought, accelerating her flight speed.


    Mr. Solomon! I apologize! I got carried away and did not notice the time, she told Solomon upon her arrival. The man seemed to be in a state of shock; his body violently trembling. I am here. I am so sorry! She said, approaching him and hugging his body. As she did this, the man seemed to ease up a little. His pale face returned some color.


    ¡°M-mistress, w-why were you gone for so long? I was so nervous! I wanted to run after you the moment ten minutes were up, but my body would not let me. Why would you do such a thing?¡± Asked Solomon, his eyes tearing up. Separated from his goddess for over thirty minutes at such a significant distance, caused the man to get so nervous that his body fell into shock. It was an odd phenomenon, for his [Anti Magic Coating] did not seem to work on the paralysis that was self-inflicted.


    Alviona thought that the man would chop her head, as promised, for breaking her word. However, nothing like that happened.


    ¡°Mistress, may I hug you and pat your head?¡± Asked Solomon, slightly blushing.


    Seeing that the man was all right, Alviona rejoiced. Oh, yes! She replied, happy that she was about to get spoiled.


    Solomon immediately moved the girl closer to his chest, tightly hugging her, patting her head, and landing a gentle kiss on her forehead.


    ¡°Mistress, I beg you to not leave me alone for so long again. If you really wish to fly for an extended amount of time, just destroy my body and resummon me when you land.¡± He declared firmly.


    Alviona was not happy hearing this, as she was utterly against killing her closest friend. I will never destroy you! You are my friend! I can unsummon you, but I will not trade you for another person via <Subjugation>. She declared mentally, her face displaying dedication.


    Solomon did not understand what she meant by these words, for he did not know about the ability¡¯s restriction. However, he was happy hearing her response, so he nodded.


    Folding her wings, Alviona walked back into the carriage, undressed, and slowly crawled back into Mira¡¯s warm embrace. Aah! Bliss! I wonder how my two mommies and Piu are. She thought, falling asleep soon after.


    Later in the morning, Mira woke up and looked at the child in front of her. She was startled by an oddly pleased expression that the child¡¯s face harbored. Not knowing of anything that occurred earlier, she landed a gentle kiss on her granddaughter¡¯s cheeks and walked outside.


    ¡°Ah, good morning Solomon. How are you today?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Good morning, Mira!¡± Replied the man with an oddly cheerful voice.


    Why does everyone seem to be so chirpy today? Thought Mira, but then decided that it was best to not know. The day previously had made her head boil, forcing her to make a medication as a remedy.


    ¡°All right. Let us make breakfast then,¡± said Mira, gathering dry wood, putting it into the pit, pouring oil into the frying pan and starting a fire.


    ¡°What are you going to cook?¡± asked Solomon curiously.


    ¡°Ah. Well, I will make eggs and potatoes. It should be good,¡± said Mira, gathering all the ingredients necessary. First, she cut the potatoes into small square pieces. The elf then proceeded to place them in the pan, adding a pinch of salt. While roasting, she moved some chopped onions and carrots into the mix. Lastly, six pieces of eggs (thanks to Alviona¡¯s insatiable appetite) were added atop the dish that slowly started to bake. As a finisher, she applied some spices. The aroma produced from the food made its way into the nostrils of the two girls that were asleep. Janine and Alviona both jolted up, getting dressed and hurrying towards the source of this incredible smell.


    *Stomach Growl*


    ¡°Ahha! Woke you up, did I?¡± Teased Mira, seeing that both of them were in the same situation. ¡°Well then, wash your hands and faces, and we can have breakfast,¡± She told the two, especially Alviona who was attempting to dig her hands into the frying pan. ¡°Child, do you want me to get mad?¡±


    Owiee! Thought Alviona, as she rushed to wash up. Finished, the four of them enjoyed their meal. After cleaning the dishes and moving them into the magical compartment of the carriage, they set out towards the encampment.


    ¡°Greetings travelers! Welcome to the Adventurer¡¯s camp of Tratmul. How are you today?¡± Asked the man who was standing guard.


    ¡°Good morning, sir. We would like to request entry and permission to stay here for a few days. I would like to teach my granddaughter of dungeons, and provide her with some combat experience,¡± said Mira, smiling at the man.


    ¡°Oh! Good timing. The dungeon of Tratmul has a lot of loot that spawned a week ago. Nobody has wholly claimed it yet. Currently, the adventurers are recruiting healers and front-line assailants for their groups. What is your profession?¡±


    ¡°I am a druid. The girl beside me is a Psychic user. That man there is a sorcerer, and this child here is, well¡­ a newbie,¡± said Mira with a chuckle.


    ¡°Ah. Well, that is fine! Step right through. Welcome to our camp,¡± replied the man with a grin.


    Moving towards camping area, Janine parked the carriage. With the help of Solomon and Mira, they transformed it into a tent once again. She then walked the oxen to the stables and adequately fed them, instructing nearby caretakers to look after them.


    Alviona was looking around, trying to look for fun activities. A tent not far away from her opened, and two individuals walked out from it ¨C Brunor and Salia.


    Oh, aren¡¯t those the people from yesterday?! Mr. Solomon, mind coming with me for a few minutes?


    ¡°Why of course!¡± Replied Solomon immediately.


    ¡°Grandma, may I go out for a moment? I will not go far, and Solomon will come with me,¡± said Alviona with a chirpy voice.


    Mira did not see any problems with that, so she allowed it.


    Yay! Thought Alviona, as she grabbed Solomon¡¯s left hand and went after the two individuals who walked into the large tent.


    Upon entering, Alviona saw many people of various heights, ages, and ethnicity. Nobody had quite the same equipment, and some seemed to be in a possession ofbetter pieces than the others. While excited, her goal was set. Ignoring all the goodies and shinies, she approached the man who sat by a large table, talking to his comrades and eating breakfast.


    ¡°Did you sleep well Lucas?¡± asked Brunor to the man in front of him.


    ¡°Yeah, how about you Brunor?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t say that I slept much, but I can¡¯t complain.¡± Said Brunor, forcing the girl beside him to blush.


    ¡°Ah, I see. So that is what you were up to last night Salia?¡± Teased Hayden, her face carrying a bright smile.


    ¡°I¡­ Shut up!¡± Said Salia, irritated by her action. However, the girl simply winked at her. ¡°God damn you, Hayden!¡± Continued Salia, but stopped when she saw Lucas¡¯s and the girl¡¯s face frozen. Brunor seemed to pick up on it too.


    Turning around, the two of them saw why the faces of their companions suddenly ceased any motion. A tall girl, with curly, and dark crimson hair stood in front of them. Her body figure could not be described as anything but extraordinary. Her face was that of a goddess. Who was this girl? Why was she here?


    Seeing that she had their attention, the young girl grinned and opened her mouth.


    ¡°Good morning. My name is Alviona, and I have seen everything that happened yesterday night. I know of your problem, so would you like me to join and play alongside you?¡± Asked the child chirpily, her voice filling the ears of the company like a melody.


    The Ironmight was confused and unable to respond. After a few minutes of silence, Salia mustered up the courage to speak in front of this girl. However, she could not compose a proper sentence. Instead, only one word came out of her mouth: ¡°H-huh?!¡±

 Chapter 29 - Alviona teams up with Ironmight

    Every member of Ironmight was perplexed by the sudden appearance of Alviona, let alone her announcement.


    ¡°W-what did you just say?!¡± Asked Salia, her face bearing a resemblance to a ghost. The woman was not able to analyze the information that streamed into her head. ¡°Who is this girl, why is she here, and what does she mean by knowing of our problem?¡± These were the questions that flooded her mind.


    ¡°Mistress, may I speak on your behalf?¡± Asked Solomon, getting nervous about Alviona possibly giving out more information than necessary. Under no circumstances was she allowed to reveal her identity to commoners. Mira was correct in instructing him not to let this scenario developing.


    The girl smiled and nodded.


    Okie, she told him mentally, stepping back a little but not letting go of his hand.


    ¡°Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to apologize for our sudden intrusion; however, we have some business with you. Is it possible to speak to you privately, away from eavesdroppers?¡± Asked Solomon, turning to face Ironmight after Alviona¡¯s permission was granted. His tone was carefully chosen to display respect, caution, and seriousness of his words. After all, he was speaking on behalf of a goddess.


    Ironmight fell into thought.


    ¡°I understand, but this is too sudden. Do you mind giving us one hour? We will discuss amongst ourselves, and after we can meet up at your camping place. How about it?¡± Asked Brunor, tossing a glance at the members of his party. Everyone seemed to agree.


    ¡°In that case, we will wait for you,¡± replied Solomon, bowing once and taking his leave with Alviona.


    Seeing them exit, Brunor relaxed a little.


    ¡°W-what was that?!¡± Asked Lucas, whose mouth was in paralysis all this time.


    ¡°That was an otherworldly beauty,¡± replied Hayden who found herself in the same situation as the comrade next to her. ¡°Brunor, the man that talked in the girl¡¯s stead. What do you think of him?¡±


    ¡°Hm,¡± fell Brunor into thought. ¡°I think he looks like a strong warrior. Judging from his stature, I would not be surprised if he can wield a massive sword and cleave off multiple heads from his foes. His gear cloak appeared to be in tatters, and he seems to be missing a right limb. However, I do not doubt his combat prowess.¡±


    ¡°What of the girl then? She said she knew of our problem. To make it worse, she has seen us? What?! How is that possible?¡± Asked Salia confused.


    ¡°I do not know what to say about that case. I can not assess the girl either. She wore simple leather armor, one that novices purchase as their first item. Heck, I do not even know if she is a magician, rogue, assassin, archer or healer. Whatever her class is, she is a mystery,¡± said Lucas, who had sharp eyes when picking out recruits.


    ¡°So, what do we do?¡± Asked Hayden, who was getting impatient.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? We can not do anything with the given information. Recruiting newbies in such a place is dangerous. Did you forget that Janek died?! However, I can not deny that the girl is something odd. She possesses information that we have not shared with others yet. I think we should, at the very least, observe her,¡± replied Salia, looking at Brunor and waiting for his decision.


    ¡°I agree with you,¡± replied Brunor after some time. ¡°Ironmight should display courtesy and let the two of them know of our decision. Perhaps we can give them a trial run? Anyone that objects, raise your hands.¡±


    Seeing that nobody did so, Brunor grinned and stood up. The rest of Ironmight followed their captain towards the residential area, where camps were set up by various adventurers. Looking for some time, they found that the people of interest were not far away from Brunor and Salia''s tent. The guard had told them that only one new group entered the encampment.


    ¡°Whoa! Fancy tent,¡± said Lucas, pointing at the carriage that belonged to Mira. However, the people of interest seemed to be absent.


    ¡°Well, where are they?!¡± asked Salia.


    ¡°Are you looking for someone?¡± Asked a voice that came from inside the tent.


    ¡°Y-yes. You arrived an hour ago right?¡± Asked Hayden, trying to peek inside the carriage.


    ¡°That is correct. Who are you looking for?¡± Asked a young woman that came outside and leaned against the door.


    ¡°Uhm, that¡­ Good morning. My name is Brunor. I am the captain of Ironmight, a group under Adventurer¡¯s guild. We are looking for a girl named Alviona,¡± replied the man, trying not to sound suspicious or rude.


    ¡°Oh, I see. The girl just went outside the camp to hunt some goblins alongside her grandmother. You will find them there,¡± directed Janine, who was left behind to rest as she was exhausted from driving the carriage for nearly five days now.


    Brunor thanked the girl and led his party outside the encampment. The morning was still young. Most adventurers were having their breakfast or were exploring the dungeon. Nobody was visible in the vicinity. However, as the party kept moving, the sight of goblin corpses came into their view. Following the trail, Ironmight located their person of interest.


    ------------------------------


    ¡°Alviona, stop trying to hug a goblin!¡± Ordered Mira to the child, who has been trying to pull off every type of shenanigan that one could imagine.


    ¡°B-but these goblins are nice,¡± said the girl, an arrow launched towards her that she nimbly avoided. ¡°See? They are trying to greet me with their sticks.¡±


    *Special Head Chop*


    ¡°Owie! That hurts! Meanie! Why?!¡± Demanded Alviona, quickly covering the head that was not aching but did not feel pleasant at all.


    ¡°Mistress! Pay attention! That goblin is not trying to play with you. Those sticks it is launching at you are meant to harm you. The arrows are coated with poison,¡± said Solomon, pointing towards the tip of the arrow that had an odd alloy applied to it.


    ¡°H-harm me?! Aaw, I thought you were a good creature!¡± Said the child with her eyes broadened, disappointed by the inappropriate actions that the assailants committed. ¡°Mr. Goblin, You are a meanie! I will punish you!¡± She continued, randomly waving her hands around.


    Mira had asked Solomon not to interfere with Alviona¡¯s training and learning experience, so he was unable to cast any spells. However, both of them were teaching her what to do.


    ¡°Child, do not let any of those arrows hit you. You must learn how to protect yourself by utilizing the given equipment, known abilities, and your surroundings. Remember, anything can be used offensively and defensively. Just recall the boulder you summoned when fighting the wolves. Think, how can you close the distance against the ranged opponent without endangering yourself. Perhaps try using [Agility]? While I am not familiar with Martial schools of magic, the theory behind it is to boost the speed at which you move,¡± said Mira, teaching her granddaughter to the best of her knowledge. Only one week remained before arrival at the academy, and she had to ensure that Alviona would know as much as possible before enrolling.


    The girl was moving around, swiftly and nimbly dodging arrows while thinking of ways to close the gap.


    There are a total of four meanies. Two archer thingies, one with a sword and a shield, and one support. Grandma told me that eliminating supports is hard because they have barriers to reduce incoming magic damage, and can even nullify it at times. My equipment consists of a shield, a sword, and a dagger. I need to test them out first, so I have to make a frontal assault.


    Thinking this, Alviona rushed towards the goblins. Arrows were still flying her way. Since the distance shortened, the archers were finally able to hit their mark. However, the girl was unharmed. The shield she held in front of her was extended as far away from her body as possible, resulting in arrows piercing through the wood but never reaching any vital spots. The boss part also helped against incurring any damage to the hand that held the defense.


    Alviona attempted going in on the archers to land thrust at them with her gladius. However, she was stopped from doing this as the front-line goblin rapidly closed in on her. The creature halted her action with its shield, deflecting the attack, and pushing the girl back with its sturdy body. Despite its small size, the goblin proved to be a very formidable opponent when it came to strength.


    ¡°Mira, I should help her! She is not handling it well!¡± Exclaimed Solomon, who was only watching up to this point. The man was getting agitated.


    ¡°No. Do not worry, and please do not interfere. I cast a protection spell on Alviona so even if the goblins bash her with a hammer, it will be futile. Just watch. It is her first time experiencing real combat. She is against opponents that can think quickly and adapt. They have plans and strategies. You can not underestimate them, but I still think she will manage it,¡± replied Mira, silencing the man and resuming her observation.


    Alviona attempted to slash at the goblin¡¯s body, but her sword was useless against the steel armor worn by the creature.


    Hm, this is not good. I can not fight it in close combat. Furthermore, the support keeps casting some spells to strengthen the archers, as the speed at which they launch their arrows at me have increased. They are small but work well together. Aaw, so cute! I want to hug one goblin. No! Alviona, hold it together. They tried and still are actively trying to hurt me. It means that they are meanies! I don¡¯t want to play with them, thought the child as she analyzed ways to deal with this tough situation.


    Aaw, I wonder if the goblin feels hot inside that metallic armor. It must be really uncomfortable. Wait, heat¡­ Heat! Aha! I got it! But first, I need to stop the support. How can I accomplish that? If I launch a fireball, Mr. Meanie will notice it and block it with barrier¡­ Block¡­ Notice¡­ Hm, I think I have an idea. Let me experiment a little, thought Alviona, devising a method to deal with every opponent simultaneously.


    *Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock*


    [Creating instructions: Utilize Earth element to create a stone that can penetrate the body of the goblin > Analyze launching trajectory > Target: Goblin Support > Calculate kinetic energy required to pierce the target > Calculate required force that needs to be applied for the desired outcome > Launch > After impact create a flame > Heat the projectile to 800 degrees in Celsius. Total Mana cost: 473]


    In two seconds, a small rock shaped like a needle made its way towards the support. The goblin did not notice the projectile but did feel a minor jolt of pain as it pierced the abdomen, firmly planting itself within his intestines. An odd sensation was going through its mind as the object started heating up, rapidly reaching the desired temperature, and searing the insides of the target.


    ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Kyak, kyak, ACK ACK ACK KYAAAACK ACKAKCAKCAKCACK KYYYAKK KAKAKAKAK KAYYAAA AAACK!¡± Screamed the goblin from the received shock; desperately trying to cast [Self Heal] but to no avail. The object was still inside, causing significant internal damage to its intestines.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    The nearby comrades quickly shot a glance at the commotion and got confused.


    Seeing that the archers had their attention moved elsewhere, Alviona decided to make her next move. She decided to store her sword and shield into the <Dimensional Loot-Box>. Satisfied, she quickly stepped out of the goblin¡¯s way


    *Deep Inhale*


    As she inhaled the air, Alviona cast a flame in her hands, giving it a shape of a [Fireball] but not launching it. A-ha-ha-ha-ha! This will be an exciting experiment. Let¡¯s see if I can make it work. Grandma will surely tickle, pet, and hug me when I show that I learned something. Now then, let the thrilling spectacle commence! ¡­ Wait, I do not know what these words mean¡­ Regardless, let it begin!


    The flame gently lingered in Alviona¡¯s soft, elegant, and delicate hands before moving it closer to her mouth and exhaling with all of her might.


    Mira and Solomon, alongside Ironmight who was secretly observing her, thought that something like a hurricane would occur. However, nothing like that happened. Instead, the image imprinted in their mind was of a girl blowing out birthday candlelight from a cake. It was quite cute, and nobody could take their eyes off her. If a painter were present, one would most likely capture this moment of beauty and tranquility because what followed afterward was devastating.


    Nothing happened at first; however, the next second it all changed. Alviona¡¯s adorable exhale carried mana, set of instructions, and pure force. The moment the fireball faded away from the palms of her hands, everyone except the user got blinded for a brief moment. Upon recovery, they witnessed only one thing: A fireball that expanded in size as it quickly accelerated towards its target with high velocity, passing through every goblin, and setting them on fire. The earth left behind in flame¡¯s wake was scorched, and the grass in the small area around it was ablaze.


    ¡°Kkkkyaaayayayayayayakkkkkkkkkk,¡± screamed the goblins from the damage and shock inflicted to them by an unknown type of spell.


    Alviona did not stop there. Satisfied with the results from her experiment, she retrieved the gladius and moved towards the front-liner whose armor became a softer metal. As a result, her sword thrust through the first meanie like butter. Not stopping, the girl repeated the process against the archers and, finally, the caster. Once they goblins were all dead, water splashed down on their bodies.


    Yay! Alviona ¨C 1; Meanies ¨C 0. Thought the child as she began jumping around the area, chuckling, and humming from the excitement.


    Solomon was mesmerized by what he had seen. Before long, he was silently singing praises of his mistress: ¡°All hail the goddess! All hail Alviona!¡±


    Mira was surprised from seeing such a fireball. However, it was within allowed boundaries. She had witnessed things far bizarre from the child and questioning something this small would be a mockery at this point.


    The party that was secretly observing the developments thus far, on the other hand, was utterly flummoxed by the presented turn of events. How did the girl pull off such a fireball? How did she make items appear and disappear? What was with the moment of blindness? Furthermore, one versus four? Why did her comrades just watch?


    ¡°Brunor, what do you t-think?¡± Asked Hayden who was first to speak up.


    ¡°I think that if the girl offered us help in clearing the dungeon, we should not turn it down. She alone can face the goblins that we lost to the other night. I am sure of it.¡± Replied Brunor immediately.


    ¡°I am of the same opinion,¡± said Salia who was not keen on taking newbies into the team.


    ¡°I am concerned about few things¡­ First, can we really gamble this much?! Not to offend anyone, but we met her less than two hours ago. Second, if we were to accept her into our party, just how much payment would we provide her? Remember that we do not even know if the loot we obtain there will be good or not,¡± said Lucas, who was all for it as long as the end reward was worth it.


    ¡°No! Recall what Kornel said the other night? There are a lot of treasures within that dungeon, and nobody has claimed it yet! During the day, the adventurers had told us a story that some of them found the Uncommon and Rare type of equipment. I heard from Flamethorn group that they had obtained a class advancement token too!¡± Interjected Hayden instantly.


    ¡°All right, all right. I get it. Treasures are bountiful, but so is the danger level. Especially during the night.¡± Said Lucas, raising his arms in defeat and attempting to cool of Hayden¡¯s slight anger.


    ¡°Then, it is decided. So¡­ uhm, how do we approach the girl? What do we say to her? ¡°Hello, we are Ironmight, and we decided to accept your help?¡± That would be too horrid for our reputation, no?!¡± Asked Lucas with mocking laughter. However, his words had a point.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, I¡¯ll do it,¡± said Salia, stunning the party members with her words.


    ¡°Salia?! Who are you and what happened to the real girl?¡± Mocked Hayden upon hearing her words.


    ¡°Shut up, Hayden! Stop teasing me!¡± Exclaimed the girl, irritated by her comrade''s words. Hayden had a tendency to always pick on, mock, and tease Salia. It was not out of malice, and the girl knew it. However, knowing someone is irritating you because they are playful by nature does not ease up the feeling. Besides, Hayden did this all the time.


    *Smooch, Smooch*


    ¡°Do you really want to kiss her that bad?! Perhaps you want to replace Brunor with her? Or could it be¡­ Oh you naughty girl, I did not think you liked that sort of thing,¡± giggled Hayden, not ceasing her behavior at all.


    Salia opened her mouth to reply, her face turning red like a tomato from embarrassment, eyebrows furrowing up, and face twisting clearly showing expression of anger. The killing intent was being emitted from her, further causing Hayden to choke in laughter.


    ¡°Oh my, are you telling me that you would not make love to her if an opportunity were to present itself?!¡± Asked a voice not belonging to Salia.


    Ironmight turned around; their weapons being drawn as a reflex.


    ¡°Huh¡­ W-who are you?¡± Asked Lucas, confused from who he saw.


    ¡°I am not quite sure if you have a right of asking that. Did I give you permission to speak? Swallow your tongue and only talk to me when I tell you to. Now then, what was it you were hinting at doing with my granddaughter?¡± Asked Mira, her beautiful smile displaying no hint of malice until she opened her eyes and released the killing intent.


    ¡°What the hell! I¡­¡± Lucas could not finish speaking as his mouth was wholly shut by Mira who waved her wand around, casting [Paralysis].


    ¡°I do not like repeating myself twice. So then, back to our business. Who are you and what do you intend to gain from my granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°M-may I speak?!¡± Asked Salia, who understood that the woman in front of her was the same elf that sat alongside the man, and observed the child.


    ¡°Ah. Splendid, splendid. You have some manners. Yes. You may do so, child. You have my attention,¡± replied Mira, elegantly moving her hand to her chin.


    ¡°T-thank you. First, allow me to apologize for the rudeness displayed by my companions. We did not realize who we were talking to at first. The girl beside me, dumb she may be, did not say any of her words out of malice or intentions to actually harm Alviona, and Lucas was most likely late to catch up. Can you please undo your spell?¡± Asked Salia while bowing with her upper body.


    ¡°Is that so? Good girl. I like you. Very well. You are forgiven,¡± replied Mira with a warm smile, performing a curtsy, and lifting the man¡¯s condition. ¡°The name to me is Mira, and I am the grandmother to the child you just spoke of. If you have any business with her, you must talk to me first. So then, how may I be of service?¡±


    Before anyone could speak up, the child in question was seen running towards her grandmother.


    ¡°Grandma, grandma, grandma. May I play with them too?¡± Asked the girl pointing towards a giant worm, excited from seeing such creature for the first time in her life. ¡°Pretty please?¡± She continued as she bumped into Mira, hugging the elf in the process.


    ¡°Child, what can I ever do with you? Yes. Yes, you may.¡± Replied Mira.


    ¡°Yay! I will ask Mr. Solomon to Dzzzz them,¡± said Alviona ecstatically, landing a kiss on Mira¡¯s cheeks and not leaving until her head was patted. The child quickly ran back to her servant, and less than ten seconds later, a sound of electricity rampaging through the worm¡¯s body was heard but not seen. Something under the lines of ¡°Yay, Dzzz it more¡± was also heard, and a minute later, the girl returned back alongside her companion.


    ¡°Grandma, Mr. Solomon did Bzzz and then Dzzz. The worm was singing too! But it dug itself underground and ran away. I think we scared it with all the sparks. However, it was fun!¡± Said the child, her face displaying delight and happiness.


    ¡°I do not doubt that,¡± replied Mira, recalling what she witnessed Solomon do with the golem inside the Great Forest of Javl less than two weeks ago.


    I do not understand. Why is that girl acting so childish right now, when she was so firm and more serious earlier this morning? Thought Salia who paid an extreme amount of attention to the developing situation. This girl was indeed a mystery.


    *Cough, Cough*


    ¡°Oh, you are here! Hello again, how are you this afternoon? Did you think about the offer that Mr. Solomon gave you? Will you let me play alongside you?¡± Asked Alviona, who finally picked up on the situation and noticed the members of Ironmight. Her face was lit up with excitement.


    ¡°Huh? Play? Alviona, do you know them?¡± Asked Mira who seemed to be puzzled.


    ¡°Oh yes!¡± Came a quick reply. ¡°I went to them this morning to ask for permission to play alongside them. I heard them say something about ¡°Dungeon Raid?¡± I do not know what that means but if they are going to play with the goblins from yesterday, then I want to go too.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± said Mira, picking up on what Alviona alluded to. The elf was quick to understand what she meant and was even relieved to find out that the child allowed herself to fly. If it were night, nobody would ever notice her jet-black wings. Sooner or later, Alviona would need to appease her natural urges. After all, the limbs were part of her body. Having it hidden 24 hours for five full days was somewhat unfair. Recalling the bathing session and remembering the child talk about the itchiness and discomfort, it was apparent. As such, Mira did not scold her but instead, sympathized with the girl. However, the elf did shoot an electric gaze at Solomon, causing the man to shrink in size.


    ¡°So then, you sought out my granddaughter because of her proposition to party up with you earlier today, and judging by your faces, you liked what you saw. Am I correct to assume that you witnessed her combat the goblins?¡± Asked Mira, ridden of any silliness and being completely serious.


    Brunor nodded.


    ¡°Yes. We wanted to inform your granddaughter that Ironmight does not recruit newbies, but after seeing the man beside her, I thought that he would be quite potent. So we decided to allow for a trial run. However, witnessing the girl¡¯s performance, I can say without hesitation that I would like to hire you. All three of you¡± replied Brunor, without even the slightest hint of hesitation visible in his words. Looking back at his party members, nobody seemed to object either.


    ¡°If we were to agree, may I ask you what the compensation would be?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Why, certainly! I would pay you thirty gold coins for helping us in clearing the dungeon and retrieving treasures. Ten gold per member. If any of you are supports and can adequately heal, then I am willing to increase that to sixty gold.¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°And what of the equipment loot?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°We would like to keep any Rare equipment drops that are related to our team composition. However, I am willing to allow you to keep 15% of the Loot,¡± replied Brunor.


    ¡°Hmm, that is a good deal for an average hired mercenaries. I like the fact that you are treating us as such, for you seemed to have noticed that we are not part of any guilds yet. Very well, consider yourself to be in luck. I have a class of a Druid and am dedicated support. The man over there is Solomon. He is the guardian of this granddaughter of mine. You already know her name, but allow me to introduce her again. This is Alviona, my granddaughter. She is half-demon as you can see by her horns. If any of you have a problem with that, step in front of me, and we can talk it out.¡±


    Ironmight members shook their heads.


    ¡°We do not care about race much,¡± stated Salia.


    ¡°Excellent. Then we will work it out just fine. Also, a few things to consider and take into account: 1) My granddaughter is overly curious. So if she asks you questions regarding items, please answer her. 2) She is a newbie, and it is her first ever dungeon raid. I would actually like to step down about the loot offer. Instead, give this child the two items that she desires. Whatever it may be.¡± (Mira)


    Ironmight asked for a moment to discuss this within themselves.


    ¡°So, what about it?¡± (Salia)


    ¡°I think it is an outstanding offer. As long as the items picked are not related to classes that we want, and is not the equipment that we desire,¡± replied Lucas.


    ¡°I agree with Lucas.¡± (Hayden)


    ¡°All right, Mira. You have a deal. We will allow the girl to keep any of her desired two items, so long as they do not conflict with our interests,¡± replied Brunor to Mira after a moment of silence.


    ¡°Splendid. That is completely fine by me. However, there is one more thing I need to tell you. If you talk, joke, or hint about something inappropriate with my granddaughter, I will ensure to permanently paralyze your mouth. Do you understand, child?¡± Asked Mira, her gaze directed towards Hayden who was forced to gulp her saliva in fear as she shrunk in size. Why was this elf so imposing despite her good looks? ¡°Good, I am glad that we came to terms with that.¡±


    ¡°I would like to add something,¡± said Solomon whose voice was not carrying any hint of courtesy exhibited previously. ¡°Listen to me well. If you betray us and decide to backstab my mistress even once, I will slay every single one of you just like those worms over there,¡± stated the man with a loud voice, pointing towards the earth where he and Alviona were fighting the giant poisonous worm a few minutes ago.


    Ironmight did not understand what he meant, for nothing was visible. Didn¡¯t the girl say that the worm escaped?


    However, Solomon silently formed his ability [Submerged in Water], slowly ordering the bubble to move towards the said earth. A moment later, the ground vibrated, and fifteen worms sprung out. Not even two seconds after, they exploded into a gooey paste only to be devoured by flames until nothing but ash remained.


    Ironmight stared at the man dumbfounded.


    ¡°You do not need to speak. Your expressions already tell me of your answer. I am glad that we have come to terms,¡± replied Solomon with a bright smile.


    Coming back to their senses, the written contract was formed. And so, Alviona¡¯s first Dungeon Raid commenced.

 Chapter 30 - Raiding the dungeon?! Next time, be sure to be polite and knock!

    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Mmm? Ah! I am awake! Grandma had sent me to sleep so that I would have enough energy for the dungeon raid. I slept for nearly seven hours now according to Mr. Tock.


    Alviona did not want to get out of bed quite yet. Instead, she rolled around, embracing her wings, and hugging the pillow.


    Today is going to be too much fun! I am overly excited! For some reason, I have this weird sensation going through my body that makes me a little scared. ¡°Will I do all right? Will grandma pet me in the end? Can I keep myself composed? Will my mommy be excited when I meet her again and tell her of my tales?¡± These are the questions that I keep asking myself. Aack! It is tickling me. Why, what is this feeling?! Thought Alviona, tightly holding the pillow closer to her heart that seemed to pound ever slightly quicker.


    ¡°Alviona, is everything all right?¡± Asked Mira, who picked up on the child¡¯s odd behavior.


    ¡°I¡­ I do not know grandma. I am feeling uneasy,¡± replied Alviona, holding her gentle hands around her heart area.


    ¡°Oh, my. Is it perhaps that you are nervous?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°Nervous¡­ What does that word mean?¡±


    ¡°It means that you have developed anxiety, being unable to focus at any situation given. Are you scared a little?¡±


    ¡°Just a tiny bit. It is just that, it is my first time going with anyone that is not my two mommies, you, Mr. Solomon or Janine,¡± said Alviona while wiggling her elven ears.


    ¡°Do not worry my darling. You will do fine. We have to watch our step and be careful. Remember what we practiced earlier today?¡±


    Alviona nodded.


    ¡°I must prioritize my safety first.¡± (Alviona)


    ¡°Correct,¡± replied Mirra, hugging and patting the child¡¯s head. ¡°Come now, let us have dinner before departure. Let¡¯s find you some shinies ok?¡±


    ¡°Shinies! Yay!¡± Followed Alviona, easing up her shoulders a little and rolling on the bed one more time. ¡°Grandma, is Janine not coming with us?¡±


    ¡°No. Darling, you have to understand that she is too tired. Her back is sore and requires some rest. Perhaps another time?¡± Replied Mira, tickling her granddaughter.


    An hour after the dinner was served, the members of Ironmight came over to their carriage.


    "Good evening!" Greeted Brunor who was wearing his heavily plated armor. The man had a kite shield strapped onto his back, and a mace sheathed on his right side of the belt. "Are you ready?"


    "We are," replied Mira after glancing at Alviona and ensured that she was confident in herself.


    "Splendid. While we have already met and done the introductions, we have not talked much about the distribution of roles for each member. Allow me to explain. Lady Mira, you will be assigned a support role that is responsible for healing the allies and crowd-controlling the foes. Salia will be a hybrid between offense and defense because of her ability to heal alongside you. Lucas is a ranged damage dealer, whereas Hayden and I shall be front-liners. My defensive capability is much higher so I will be a full out assault while Hayden will be a mixture of damage dealer and a defensive line to not allow anyone near the casters. Does this sound good?" Asked Brunor, who seemed to have analyzed and distributed roles.


    "That sounds excellent. But, what of Alviona?" (Mira)


    "Yes, it was going to be my next topic of discussion. I do not know what role to give her or Solomon. They are both damage dealers, this is clear. However, the problem is that the girl can easily be a front-liner. It is sad that she is ill-equipped for that. If I set her as a mage, the balance of the party will shift because protecting six back liners will prove to be challenging.¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°Wait¡­ six? I, Lucas, and Mira make up three. Who are the others?¡± asked Salia, confused by the sudden statement.


    ¡°Kornel,¡± replied Brunor.


    ¡°Ah. I forgot about that man. Where is he anyway?¡± Asked Salia with a disgusted expression.


    ¡°He should be waiting for us by the city gates. Yesterday morning he led another group of adventurers, and they all returned with some decent loot. Earlier today Might of Dadala party entered the dungeon. However, we have not heard of them since. It is not a bad idea to have a guide.¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°I heard that some people even took out gold coins! Is that true? Apparently, the dungeon spawns above the average amount of silver coins. Some enemies drop one gold coins too! Isn¡¯t that amazing?!¡± Said Lucas, his eyes shining from all the treasures that he would lay his hands on. Everyone member of Ironmight seemed to fall into the fantasy realm for a brief moment until snapping out of it and talking to Mira once again, whose face showed no interest. The elf only seemed to care about Alviona and her adventures or the experiences gained from them.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you allow Alviona and Solomon to be a squad of their own in that case?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°H-huh? But if someone attacks them¡­¡± (Hayden)


    ¡°They will take care of themselves and will still help you out. My granddaughter is an inquisitive child by nature. Solomon will not do much for you unless he is around her. So why bother creating a headache for yourself? I agree with the role you gave me. But when talking about those two, it would be much better to give them autonomy,¡± said Mira without slightest of hesitation.


    ¡°Hm. All right then. Let¡¯s do it. Though I would like to warn you. If the girl gets injured or dies, I will not carry that on my shoulders. Are we clear? It will not be my fault,¡± replied Brunor with a grin. Salia could not understand why he had agreed to such a drastic gamble but decided not to question it.


    ¡°Worry not about that. I will keep track of the child and will heal accordingly. It does not mean that I will somehow slack off and not provide the support you spoke of. I will fulfill the contract we made,¡± replied Mira nonchalantly. Irrelevant of what Ironmight could have thought, her priority was still Alviona. Despite this, as stated, she intended to help out to the best of her abilities. Unlike most, Mira¡¯s mana well was massive, and its control was excellent. After all, the elf was six centuries old and had been through a lot of adventures herself.


    The party headed towards the gate with Brunor taking the lead, followed by Hayden. Kornel joined them once he saw their approach.


    ¡°Good evening. I am glad that you decided not to delay the raid. After all, I do not get paid by the hour you know. Oh, are those new recruits?¡± Asked the man, pointing at the new members.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. We hired those people as mercenaries. Now then, let¡¯s go.¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°I-is that so? All right then,¡± said Kornel, his face displaying slight confusion.


    Interesting. That person looks different from others. It is okie though. They are friends as long as they are not meanies, thought Alviona as she observed the man.


    After walking some distance, Ironmight¡¯s party finally reached their destination. It was the same field where Janek had perished the day prior. Salia was feeling uneasy and slightly nauseous. Fortunately for her, Mira picked up on this and provided her with a potion as a remedy.


    Goblins and death hounds were actively patrolling the area, ready to engage in combat with any and all who did not belong to their dungeon. ¡°Kyak, I wonder when humans will come so we can eat them. I am hungry Kyak.¡± Said some goblins, frustrated by the lack of activity at night. ¡°Kyak, kikiki. Me too, A¡¯su kyak. Meat, kyak.¡±


    Salia was disgusted by the words that the wind carried to her ears. She was ready to cast a [Fireball] and roast those goblins on the spot. ¡°Shit. Bastards! This is what they do to anyone that is not a creature of their kind. They eat them. Janek, you poor bastard, if only you paid more attention,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°All right team. Do not forget what happened yesterday. Watch out for ambushes and be vigilant. Nobody dies today, understood?! We need to work as a team, make it into the dungeon, get the treasures, and leave.¡± Said Brunor with an inspiring voice to boost the morale of the party. It had its desired effect.


    Lucas was the first to attack. Charging his bow with the projectile and letting loose, the arrow pierced the goblin head, instantly killing the unarmored creature. While his techniques were not as good as Sofia¡¯s and apparently lacked the magical damage, the man definitely made up for it with the speed at which the arrows were drawn. One after the other, he kept launching projectiles. Despite not being one hundred percent accurate, it would not be an exaggeration to state that Lucas was handling his job well.


    Hayden and Brunor moved out of the way as Salia started chanting her [Icicles], impaling ten death hounds in the process. Meanwhile, Mira, Alviona, and Solomon just observed as they did not have to do anything so far.


    Owie¡­ Mr. Solomon, I am slightly bored, said Alviona with a pout, and looking around to find an activity to pursue. She looked in the direction of the ruins and noticed small mana patterns that were different from the current goblins that the Ironmight was slaughtering. Oh, those there! They look like ones from yesterday night. Mr. Solomon, can you come with me, please? I have to teach them a lesson. Yesterday they lied to me, so they are meanies!


    Solomon looked at the girl that was wiggling her hands and ears randomly and appeared to be utterly irritated. The faces that Alviona was making was quite cute, reminiscent of a child that got upset due to someone not purchasing chocolates or sweets for her when asked. Slightly chuckling, he nodded and took the lead.


    ¡°Wait, where are you two going?¡± Asked Salia confused, but no reply came back.


    ¡°Salia, leave them be. Like we agreed, they are their own squad of two. They have the autonomy,¡± replied Brunor quickly and focused on not letting the foes get close to the backlines.


    Meanwhile, Alviona wandered off, slowly walking towards the goblins that were hiding and preparing for an ambush. Even though the creatures noticed her and wanted to attack, they did not seem to wish to be detected this early. Walking just a little further, the girl came to a halt.


    All right. Grandma strictly instructed me to not go overboard, so I have to reveal their positions without killing them. Hmm, in that case, I will let Mr. Solomon deal with them as I launch them into the air, thought Alviona as she kneeled down and touched the ground.


    ¡°Mr. Solomon, I will use earth to launch them into the air. Can you catch them with your abilities?¡± Asked Alviona to Solomon replied with a nod. With his affirmative, she launched her instructions for power to be converted into mana. After fifteen seconds, the earth where the goblins stood in concealment slightly shook and quickly shot upwards. The enemies were launched into the air, where Solomon noticed them, casting his [Submerged in Water] ability.


    ¡°Hey, Salia. Shoot them with your [Icicles],¡± commanded Solomon once his ability caught the enemies high up in the air.


    Salia switched her attention to the man. Seeing what he and Alviona had done, she immediately cast the skill that she was told. ¡°Very interesting. Their ability combinations are something I have never seen before. Water that holds enemies mid-air?!¡± she thought as the goblins fell down with their abdomen pierced by the volley of icicles.


    Bliss! That was cool. I wish my essence had expanded a little more so that I could compress more energy into mana. I wonder if there exists a way for me to get rid of mana altogether, and instead, use the raw power. Well, I suppose I will find out when I grow up. There is no rush for it.


    ¡°Lucas, is that all of them?¡± asked Brunor, holding his shield up and casting [Fortress] to absorb projectiles flying towards him.


    ¡°Yes. Salia and Solomon already dealt with the concealed foes, so there are no ambushers left in this area. My [Tracking] is not detecting anything,¡± came a reply.


    ¡°All right then. We need to deal with those ranged creatures over there. Hayden, can you deal with it?¡± (Brunor)


    ¡°Pfft, you doubt me?!¡± Asked Hayden mockingly, tightening her grip on the battleax, and casting [Agility]. Mira, who was accustomed to the fighting style of warriors, ensured to cast [Blessing of Earth]. This ability provided extra layers of protection in the form of magic that reduced damage taken by 30% for three minutes.


    Hayden charged with all of her might, closing the distance in under two minutes. She took the arrows and small [Fireballs] head on, casting her [Strength] to boost her jumping height, landing in the middle of the horde. Upon arrival, the girl started spinning around, chopping off the goblin heads one by one. Anything that came into contact with her while she spun was decimated.


    Panicked goblins attempted retreating back to the dungeon, but to no avail. Hayden immediately dashed in front of them and struck the ground with her battleax, causing a minor tremor that knocked everyone in front of her off balance. She then nimbly retreated and allowed Salia to finish them off with her [Icicles]. Not forgetting what happened the day prior, the girl withdrew with her back facing her allies. Hayden did not intend to die like Janek did, so she acted cautiously.


    ¡°Good job Hayden!¡± Praised Brunor upon her safe return.


    ¡°So, what now? We got rid of a headache from yesterday. Still, I have a gut feeling that this is not the end. It all went too buttery smooth,¡± said Hayden whose warrior instincts were on alert. Something awry was going on here.


    ¡°I agree with you,¡± replied Salia. ¡°Something is definitely wrong here. Why is it that other groups have not encountered such creatures during their raids? How come they are in such quantities and so organized? If not for Alviona and Solomon over there, we would not have discovered the goblins that were concealed! This is too unusual. No other group earlier today or yesterday encountered any such enemies.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°It is possible that this dungeon is of advanced level,¡± replied Mira after careful thought.


    ¡°Huh? Advanced? What do you mean by that?¡± (Lucas)


    ¡°I mean that the dungeon is not a regular one that an adventurer¡¯s guild party can tackle by themselves. You would need at least three parties to clear it. Even if your comrades were doing raids earlier in the morning, chances are that the real deal is now ¨C during the night. What they have been doing up to this point was just clearing low-level monsters and perhaps some medium ones. But the boss would not be reached in the end, thus rendering entire raid useless. You would not be able to close the dungeon from respawning for a year.¡± (Mira)


    ¡°S-so, does that mean that the loot would also be better?!¡±


    ¡°While the loot is still randomized, the answer would be a ¡°Yes.¡± The items gained right now would be of far better quality,¡± replied Mira nonchalantly.


    ¡°Then should we retreat and let others know?¡± (Salia)


    ¡°Child, have you hit your head on something? How did you jump to that conclusion?¡± (Mira)


    ¡°B-but you just said¡­¡± (Salia)


    ¡°Yes, I did. I would be worth one party at least. How many years of experience do you think I have?! Besides, have you already forgotten what my granddaughter showed you yesterday? Do you really think we can not manage this? For crying out loud, she just helped you out with a headache that you had yesterday no?!¡± Asked Mira with an irritated voice. She was getting slightly frustrated by the fact that she had made a mistake. Perhaps it would have been better if only Alviona, Solomon and herself went to the dungeon. That would be a far better experience and would allow the child to experiment with her abilities. ¡°Pity,¡± she thought, but there was not much she could do right now as the contract was already established. Mira was not the sort of woman to back down from her words and neither did she want to give a bad example to Alviona.


    ¡°You have a point. Forgive me,¡± apologized Salia with a light bow to which Mira nodded and shrugged.


    ¡°All right. Let us cease the futile talk. How is everyone holding up? Anyone fatigued? Is everyone ready to continue?¡± Asked Brunor, glancing around and ensuring that nobody was in bad shape.


    ¡°My mistress would like to rest for ten minutes and drink water if that is all right.¡± (Solomon)


    ¡°Certainly.¡± (Brunor)


    Alviona materialized a giant barrel filled with water from her <Dimensional Loot-Box>. The Ironmight could not understand how it happened and were mesmerized and confused by the sudden action. It was just like earlier in the day if they had not gotten carried away with everything else that happened.


    Seizing the moment, Salia decided to appease her curiosity. ¡°Listen, Alviona, may I ask you a question?¡±


    ¡°Okie,¡± replied the child chirpily, not seizing her current action and sipping on the cold water.


    ¡°How do you make items appear and disappear?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t. I just move the items into my box.¡±


    ¡°Box?!¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Just like you can store items into magical boxes and pouches, so do I have one that allows me to store belongings in it.¡±


    ¡°Hm, I see. All right then. Thank you,¡± replied Salia who assumed that her recalling weapons were related to SoulBound items. That would make sense. ¡°And here I was, thinking that she was some sort of an illusionist,¡± thought Salia while slightly chuckling.


    After Alviona was done, the party advanced towards the dungeon. As they approached the entrance, Brunor stopped and raised his hand to halt everyone else alongside him.


    ¡°What is wrong?!¡± (Lucas)


    ¡°Shh. Something is wrong. Take a good look,¡± said Brunor, pointing towards the entrance.


    ¡°W-what the¡­¡± (Hayden)


    A large door, probably made of oak, stood tall and shut in front of the party. No matter how hard Brunor tried to open it, the entrance would not budge. Even with the help of five people, it would not move.


    Frustrated, they decided to withdraw but were soon greeted by an unknown enemy.


    ¡°Good evening there adventurers. I see that you have defeated the underlings of my K-kyak, King. I am very, K-kyak, impressed by that. For this, we have deemed that you are worthy of becoming our meal. Once we feast on your f-flesh, Kyak, we will become stronger and continue ruling the dungeon!¡±


    Once the words faded away, the earth seemed to quake as the loud footsteps were heard. From atop the dungeon¡¯s roof jumped a giant goblin that was seated atop a giant rat. The rat was fully armored in plate and chainmail, while the rider wore leather armor with riveted chainmail under it. He held a machete in its left hand and a steel shield in its right.


    The creature¡¯s appearance had tossed Ironmight into a state of shock and panic.


    ¡°W-what is that?!¡±


    ¡°T-that is not something I have ever seen in my life. Stand strong though! We will prevail!¡± Shouted Brunor who charged at the goblin first, casting his [Charing Bull] ability that made him accelerate at a superhuman speed. However, the rat nimbly avoided it and caused the man to crush into the door.


    Lucas shot an arrow at it, but the creature blocked it with the shield.


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± snorted the goblin while whistling. At that moment, the party found themselves in an awkwardly unfavorable situation. Atop the dungeon gates, on both sides of the walls, was a small opening from where smaller goblins appeared. They consisted of archers and supports. Without any delay, those that held bows started raining down arrows onto the party.


    ¡°Spread out! Spread out! Do not let them hit you!¡± Shouted Brunor, quickly moving to help Salia by covering her with his body. The shield, thankfully, deflected the arrows.


    Mira immediately cast a [Mass Greater Blessing of Earth], reducing any and all incurred damage by 50% for one hour. She understood well that this goblin was probably a captain or a guardian of sorts. It appeared that her assumption related to this place was not wrong and that it indeed was an advanced dungeon.


    Meanwhile, Alviona and Solomon, who stood a little far away, observed this occurrence.


    I think we should have knocked. Mr. Goblin got upset because we were rude. What do you think Mr. Solomon? Asked the child to the man next to her. Do you think they would be nicer if we showed our manners?


    ¡°Mistress, I think they would not care. Those creatures only care about eating whoever is in front of them. They are actively trying to hurt your grandmother, as you might have noticed.¡± (Solomon)


    Oh, yes! Don¡¯t worry I do not intend to be kind to them because of that. However, I was just wondering if it would have made a difference. Maybe after we deal with them, we can try it out?


    ¡°Well, I do not see the harm in that,¡± replied the man.


    Yay! Mr. Solomon, you are the best! You always support me and my ideas. I genuinely love you, good sir!


    Declared Alviona chirpily.


    ¡°Oh, my. T-thank you very much, goddess!¡± Whispered Solomon, who appeared to be overjoyed with her words.


    *Cough*


    ¡°Now then, your orders?!¡±


    Oh, right. Please kill every single one of the goblins. They are meanies and dared to attack my grandma and our new friends! You deal with the right side, while I will take on the left. Does it sound good? Oh, and please, no [Anchor]. I want to teach that big meanie a lesson myself.


    Solomon listened to Alviona¡¯s instructions and embedded them in his mind. Those orders were absolute and had to be carried out with extreme severity. With a grin, he waited for Alviona to move away before commencing his concert.


    ¡°There is no god damn end to them!¡± Screamed Lucas who kept knocking the goblins off the balcony one by one with his arrows. Every second one would fall, someone else would take its place. What was going on?!


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, stop focusing on the upper floors. Instead, help your teammates out with what is in front of you. My mistress and I are going to deal with upper floors,¡± said Solomon loudly enough to let every member of Ironmight know of their actions.


    Brunor and Hayden understood, as they switched to an offensive position and engaged the Goblin Captain. Mira cast [Advanced Minor heal](s) to ease off fatigue from her allies.


    Okie then. I have two objectives. First, punish the meanies. Second, get patted by my grandma. To achieve this, I need to get rid of those goblins on the balcony. Ack, they have supports again. Hmm, I have absolutely no intentions of wasting my time and making instructions for that spell again. In that case how about this? Thought Alviona who was running to the left flank of the field, dodging incoming arrows and touching the ground to quickly create a boulder that launched her towards the balcony.


    Yay! I am flying without my wings, she said to herself mid-flight. Before landing, she created instructions to create a flame and form it in her mouth followed by an exhale. Since no incantations were made for this ability and were too sudden, the supports never managed to cast the barriers at the archers. What seemed to be an infinite strand of flames breathed out by the girl soon ended up scorching the creatures, limiting their vision, throwing them into a panic, and allowing Alviona to stab at them with her sword.


    Upon landing, the girl did not stop moving. She quickly rushed into the dungeon area, breathing flame and thrusting with her sword in-between.


    Solomon had also started his job, using his [Hail Of Fireball] four times to cause debuff. However, the damage caused by the spell ended up being so intense, that most creatures perished after the second impact. To make things worse, the fireball strands emitted at the end of the spell kept bouncing off the walls continually damaging the enemies. For the man, this could not have turned out any better.


    Alviona reached a vast room that did not seem to lead anywhere. A giant crystal was located inside of it. Curious she decided to touch it, only for it to start emitting faint light and bringing forth more goblins that were slain upon their arrival.


    Oh, it is like the gate that grandma talked about back in the city. This one seems to transport goblins from within the dungeon. Wow! This is interesting¡­ perhaps I should keep it to myself? Thought Alviona as she attempted moving it into her <Dimensional Loot-Box>. Unfortunately, it did not work. This forced the girl to pout and get slightly disappointed. Well, fine then! I did not like you either¡­ Well, I do like you, but you refuse to move into my box. Meanie!


    Alviona cast her [Fireball] that ended up shattering the object with relative ease; turning it into a powder of glass. With that, the reinforcements ceased to stream in at the dungeon entrance. The girl moved towards the right side of the balcony, stepping out and waving at Solomon. She then shifted her attention to the battle that was unfolding below.


    Ironmight was having a hard time dealing with the goblin captain. The creature was far too agile while mounted atop the rat.


    ¡°Kyak, Kyak. Pathetic humans! Kikiki! Su, Kyak,¡± said the goblin, nimbly rushing at Lucas. Brunor understood its intentions and moved in on the creature, bashing his shield at it while using his [Charging Bull] ability. However, it did not work as the rat pounced and chewed off the man¡¯s arm before retreating and slashing at Hayden on its way. The warrior managed to land a hit at the rat, but it seemed to be immune to her steel weapon.


    ¡°Fuck! What sort of armor is that rat wearing?! My ax won¡¯t even scratch it. I can not penetrate no matter how hard I try!¡± Said Hayden who was not injured thanks to her reinforced steel armor that was of rare rank.


    Mira moved in on the injured party member and dragged him away to treat him. She closed his wound that was bleeding but did not do anything else. Right now, she had to be cautious and keep track of the battle to prevent the same thing happening to the rest of her allies.


    ¡°God damn it! There is not a chance in the world that we will kill this thing! It is far too agile! If only we could paralyze it somehow. Mira, can you paralyze it?!¡± Pleaded Salia, who was getting exhausted as her [Icicles] were ineffective at piercing the armor.


    ¡°I tried to. It did not work. That creature is wearing a magically enchanted armor that negates paralysis,¡± replied Mira hurriedly.


    The rider, who had been paying attention to the movements of the party, decided that it was about time to take out the support. Without it, the column would quickly fall. The rat was instructed to pounce at Mira with all of its might. ¡°And this is why you are pathetic. Nothing but filthy food, Kyak!¡± said the goblin, followed by the said pounce.


    ¡°I will kill them all, then eat their flesh. The king will reward me,¡± thought the goblin as it was mid-air. However, nothing went according to his plan from this point onwards.


    Alviona who had been watching the development of the events was irritated. The meanie is trying to take my grandma¡¯s arm! Hey you! Yes, you! Those hands pat my head! Keep your filthy mouth off my grandmother! She shouted in her mind, creating an instruction related to the earth element.


    It was at that moment that the earth shook, four tall walls erupting from the ground and trapping the goblin inside the box. Not even a moment after, the party could feel violent tremors that caused them to fall down.


    *Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom*


    ¡°W-what is going on?!¡± Asked Salia, who looked at the direction of Alviona. She seemed to be clenching her fists at the intervals that each *Boom* was heard.


    After ten minutes of listening to the sound, the child finally released her hands. As a result, the noise stopped, and the walls retreated back to the earth. What the party witnessed after was splatters of blood, minced meat, bones, and metal. The goblin captain was crushed as if inside a meat grinder.


    Brunor, Hayden, and Salia were all shocked from the sight. Salia, especially, became so nauseous that she ended up vomiting. How could this happen?! What was this ability? Furthermore, how did one person defeat the creature that they had struggled with for nearly fifteen minutes?! These were the questions that jolted through her mind.


    ¡°Child, it is all right. Calm down. It is over. Come here,¡± said Mira, embracing Salia to calm her down. As she did, the girl ended up bursting into tears. ¡°Solomon, can you please clean this up?¡±


    Solomon obeyed. The man quickly cast his [Bath of Flames] ability, devouring the remains until nothing remained. Even blood was evaporated.


    Alviona quickly came down by creating a staircase from rocks.


    ¡°Grandma, are you all right? Did that meanie hurt you?!¡±


    ¡°No, I am fine. However, Salia here has an emotional breakdown. She is apparently not used to this much gore.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ I am sorry. I did not mean to scare her. I just did not want anything bad happening to you, grandma,¡± replied child apologetically.


    After Salia calmed down, Mira proceeded to treat Lucas¡¯s injury. She grew his bones back and reassembled his limb.


    ¡°Heesh, I did not know that you could do that. Thank you very much, Mrs. Mira,¡± said Lucas with utmost gratitude.


    ¡°You are welcome. I would be ashamed to call myself by my name if I could not do this much,¡± replied Mira with a chuckle.


    ¡°So then, what now? The door still won¡¯t budge,¡± said Hayden, looking at the large entrance to the dungeon.


    ¡°Oh, I can help with that,¡± came a reply from Alviona.


    *Stomach Growl*


    ¡°Uhm¡­ that. Before I do it, can we eat?¡± She asked, her face clearly displaying a hunger for the girl was drooling.


    ¡°Yes, I made sure to bring provisions for this raid. It would not hurt to let Salia drink some green tea. Actually, no. All of you should have some,¡± said Mira, asking Alviona to take out the items that were stored in her <Dimensional Loot-Box>.


    After eating their post-midnight meal, and calming their nerves with herbal tea, Alviona straightened her shoulders and stretched.


    ¡°So then, how are you going to get us into the dungeon?¡± Asked Brunor curiously. ¡°I think that the doors are enchanted with fire-resistant alloy, so your flame won¡¯t help much.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I do not plan to use fire though,¡± replied Alviona with a childish grin. ¡°I plan to knock on it.¡±


    ¡°W-what?! Knock?!¡± Said Hayden dumbfounded, walking up to the door and actually doing what the child had just stated. Uninterestingly enough, nothing happened.


    ¡°No, no. Not like that. That is not loud enough. We have to make a loud knock so that the door opens,¡± replied Alviona, touching the ground and creating a giant and oval-shaped stone that was launched at the door, reminiscent of a trebuchet.


    *Boom!*


    ¡°Like that,¡± said Alviona, as the stone landed and created a massive hole in the door. ¡°Now we can enter. See?! Knocking is polite. Next time, ensure to always knock. Isn¡¯t it interesting, how simplest of things can become solution at times?!¡±


    The jaws of Ironmight dropped after witnessing what the girl had done.


    ¡°T-that was not a knock but a full out siege!¡± Exclaimed Hayden and Salia, but Mira stopped them.


    ¡°Trust me, kids. It is futile to argue over it. Just go with the flow. In the end, we have an entrance. Speaking of which, good job Alviona. Come here, I will spoil you,¡± said Mira.


    Hearing her words, Alviona immediately skipped over to her grandmother. She was excited about all the pampering she was to receive. Mira embraced her and patted her on the head, slightly caressing her hair and landing a kiss on the child¡¯s cheeks. As she did this, only one thought could be formed within Alviona¡¯s head: ¡°Bliss. Life is truly fascinating!¡±


    With this, the party prepared for the main raid on the dungeon. After walking into the darkness, Salia screamed.


    "W-what?! W-what is going on?!"

 Chapter 31 - Raiding Tratmul, learning of Stats, and obtaining Shinies!

    "Kyak, Kyak! Meat, Meat!"


    [Fireball], [Fireball], [Fireball].


    "Meat..."


    [Fireball].


    "Uhm, does this child not run out of mana?" Asked Salia who had been walking behind Alviona, a girl that was casting Fireball spells for nearly two hours straight now. Not even a single goblin had survived her onslaught.


    After the incident with the goblin captain, Alviona had grown weary of the dungeon raid. Her excitement, while still present, was overshadowed with slight fear and worry for the well-being of Mira. She had to protect this party from any danger, no matter the cost, even if her existence was to be questioned. After discussing the best course of action, Mira had concluded that it would be best to let Alviona take the lead. She had also instructed the child not to use any spells aside [Fireball].


    While Solomon could be forgiven due to his mana being finite and having an appearance of a seasoned mage, Alviona was not in such condition as she appeared to be too young, beautiful and frail. Mira had covered up Alviona''s mana pool statistic by tricking Ironmight into thinking that the child was an offspring of a Demon and a Pure Blood Elven male, thus resulting in her powers being ten times stronger than that of a commoner. She had also lied about their origins, stating that they hailed from the Elven Island. Fortunately, the members of Ironmight had taken the bait and had linked the events that unfolded with Alviona''s origins. It would somewhat explain why the girl could utilize so many different spells that were not known of or recorded in history.


    "Kyak! Filthy humans..."


    [Fireball]


    *Bell Chime*


    <table style="background-color: #000000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="679">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Continually casting [Fireball] has enlightened you in the path of Fire. You gain +5% permanent damage dealt bythe Fire element.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hmm?! This is new, thought Alviona, who had not read such a message before.Is there a use for increased damage though? I can just cast a different spell that is not Fireball, no? Or I could apply more force. Hm, I do not understand how any of this works yet. Ah. It is interesting. Now my curiosity is aroused.


    "Kyak!"


    Not again! Won''t you meanies stop harassing me?!


    [Fireball], [Fireball], [Fireball].


    <table style="background-color: #000000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have slain a total of 521 goblins within the last three hours. You gain a more in-depth knowledge of how to exterminate these creatures. +14% permanent damage dealt against the Goblin race.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Okie. Wait! Has it been that many meanies already?! Oh, no! I am sorry, Mr. Goblins. I promise you that if you stop trying to harm my grandma or me, I will play with you.


    "Kyak, that one is dangerous! Retreat! Retreat, Kyak!"


    Yay! Finally! I can drink water now. My skin is so itchy that I feel like I will die. Mr. Solomon, can you please take over for a few minutes? I need to quench my thirst.


    Solomon nodded and moved in front of Alviona, allowing her to retrieve her barrel and elegantly drink the refreshing liquid.


    Puah! Water is bliss. Cool, relaxing and rejuvenating.


    "Hm. Ironmight, mind stepping back a little? I would like to talk to my granddaughter in private for a few minutes. It is a girly talk, so please no eavesdropping," said Mira, getting interested in Alviona''s condition. After seeing that the members walked away, she approached the child. "Darling, is something wrong? You keep drinking too much water, and it is not good for your health. Are you experiencing dehydration? Do you want me to break the contract and let you leave the dungeon?"


    Alviona was confused by Mira''s words. "G-grandma, have I done something wrong?! Am I causing trouble?!" She asked, her eyes slightly starting to tear up.


    "No, no. It''s just that you are drinking far too much liquid. It is not normal to intake that much."


    "B-but... I feel too hot otherwise. If I do not drink this much water, my skin will peel off, and my essence might start to leak out slightly. I don''t want to damage my body," replied Alviona while sobbing.


    "It is all right, child. Please, do not cry. I did not mean to scare you or tell you something that would upset you. I understand. But why would you skin peel off?" Asked Mira in a sweet voice to try and cheer up the girl that was sincerely sobbing, beautiful tears dropping from her cheeks. Seeing her face, the elf could not help but land a gentle kiss on her granddaughter''s hot cheeks and wipe away her tears. This action seemed to bear fruit, as Alviona slowly started to calm down.


    "B-because of my temperature. I require a lot of water to keep my body cooled down. The heat emitted by me converting raw energy into mana reaches a point of 8,000 degrees in Celsius. As such, I need to keep my internal temperature as low as possible. Any water I store within three days time is used to cool my body down. However, when I am casting so many abilities I require even more cold liquid," replied Alviona who embraced her grandmother even tighter, until finally calmed down. "Grandma, can I ask a question?"


    "Yes, certainly! Go ahead."


    "Grandma, I keep hearing weird sounds in my head that are not originating from Mr. Tock. What do those words mean? It keeps saying that I acquired fire affinity and such," said Alviona with a puzzled expression. For the girl that was this young, she understood nothing of how the world she inhabited worked. She had an idea of how to use mana and how to convert her raw energy into one, but everything else aside that was a mystery for her.


    "Ok, I can explain that to you. How about I show you what my status bar looks like?" Asked Mira.


    "Yes, please. If I may."


    "All right. Take a good look; I will allow this to be revealed to you ok?"


    A moment after, Alviona witnessed Mira''s statistics information that was nothing like her <Self Diagnosis - Status>.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Mira</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Race:</td>


    <td>Pure-blood Elf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Title:</td>


    <td>Druid that tamed Alvanor


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>Druid</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class proficiency:</td>


    <td>100/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Schools of Magic:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Divine:</td>


    <td>Ultimate</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Elemental</td>


    <td>Major</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Health:</td>


    <td>


    6,322/6,322 (+15 per second)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mana: </td>


    <td>8880/8880 (+5 per second)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level:</td>


    <td>210</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Current EXP:</td>


    <td>8,243,558,487</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Next Level EXP:</td>


    <td>420,214,964</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality:</td>


    <td>58 (30+ 28)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Resistance:</td>


    <td>55 (20 +35)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength:</td>


    <td>23 (5 +18)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity:</td>


    <td>35 (10 +15)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Agility:</td>


    <td>21 (11 +10)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence:</td>


    <td>59 (45+14)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom:</td>


    <td>122 (22+100) </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Elemental Affinities:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire</td>


    <td>+20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Water</td>


    <td>+20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Earth</td>


    <td>+20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wind</td>


    <td>+3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Electricity</td>


    <td>+7</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Active Effects:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Nature''s blessing</td>


    <td>Increases healing done by 80%</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Draconic Set of Talei</td>


    <td>Increases all defenses by 7 points, Mana regeneration by 150% when below 30%, and Regenerates +15 HP per second


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Earrings of A''kai</td>


    <td>Increases the regeneration rate of armor barrier to 50 points per 5 second from its base value.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Necklace of Daiu</td>


    <td>Increases damage dealt by [Whirlpool of Fire] by 27%. </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Nosering of Ma''nej</td>


    <td>Increases Fire, Water and Earth affinities by +5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Alvanor''s Wife


    </td>


    <td>Immunity to mind control


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wand of Eternity</td>


    <td>Increased spell potency by 33%</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Grandma, I do not understand the meaning behind those numbers or words. Also, this is not what my [Status] looks like," said Alviona with a pout. The girl was overwhelmed by what she was seeing and did not understand what each statistic referred to. What is level, She wondered.


    "Ok then. Listen closely. This status bar is the most vital information for yourself and your foes. Spies will often try to find out those numbers to understand how to deal with you. The most critical information about you is your health. If it reaches Zero, then you will die. HP consists of various things, such as Fatigue, thirst, hunger, Mental Stability, Body condition, etc.


    Next, we have mana. Mana is what I already talked about two days ago. It is the total amount of mana-well that you possess.


    The level is equivalent of how many times you spent experience points to gain an attribute point. Each level provides one.


    Now for stats.


    Vitality increases your overall health pool and dictates how healthy you are.


    Resistance is related to poison, petrification, crowd control and curses. The higher it is, the more chances of you resisting said status.


    Strength relates to how heavy of a weapon you can lift. Martial schools of magic users rely on this stat to equip heavier equipment such as chainmail, plate and other types of armor that I am not familiar with.


    Dexterity relates to spellcasting speed, weapon attack speed, and the delay between spell draws.


    Agility only affects movement speed. The agiler you are, the quicker you move. Spells can influence this stat and increase it beyond the mortal realm. However, this stat cannot be raised past 25 naturally.


    Intelligence dictates the potency of your spell damage and the tier of spells that you can learn. Level 5 is the current highest known realm of our world.


    Lastly, Wisdom. This stat dictates how much mana pool you have and how quickly you regenerate it. Holy schools of magic are also affected by this stat.


    Active effects come from various sources, be it blessings, equipment, and passive skills aquired.


    Elemental affinities show how well and quickly will you learn to use said elements. That is about it. Any questions?!" Asked Mira after finishing her half-an-hour long explanation about stats window. The elf was quite curious to see what Alviona had to display for her stats since she was not an ordinary child.


    Alviona listened to Mira patiently. After she was done, the girl somewhat understood the gist of it. However, she had a few questions to ask.


    "So, if your health reaches zero, you will die. I understand this. However, how do you determine how much damage is taken? Does the armor not protect you?"


    "Yes, it does. Here, let me give you an example. Can you please touch my armor? I will allow it to reveal its stats."


    The girl did as she was told.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Draconic Set of Talei: Barrier Strength 8378. Physical Defense 49. Magical Defense 63.


    A legendary set forged by Alvanor from the remains of his best friend that protected his loved one. Indestructible by regular means and is soulbound to Mira.


    Increases all defenses by 7 points, Mana regeneration by 150% when below 30%, and Regenerates +15 HP per second


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "So, as you can see, I have quite a defense for a Druid. It is the top tier gear. However, please keep it a secret ok? We do not want anyone aside ourselves to know this. Promise?" Asked Mira, extending her pinky finger.


    "Okie, I promise," replied Alviona who understood the meaning of the gesture and replied by moving her pinky and interlocked it with Mira''s. "But Grandma, I do not understand. What if someone cuts your vital points? I learned a lot when I was inside my <Clock Of Time>. Besides, aren''t your breasts semi-exposed? Only metallic thingies cover them. Your chest area is completely unprotected and so is your abdomen. So how..."


    Mira did not reply. Instead, she stabbed her chest area with the gladius that Alviona gave her. Interesting enough for the child, nothing happened.


    "W-what?!" Gasped Alviona in surprise.


    "Well, the protection does exist. The Barrier Strength represents that. For you to touch my vitals and kill me, you would require to break my armor Barrier first. To add an insult to the injury, the said protection takes 56(49+7)% less damage from any physically incurred injuries and 70(63+7)% from magical. Does that make sense?If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Also, about the design of my armor. While I do understand why you are questioning it, I will say that it is all about practicality and aesthetics but in my case, it is also about history. This set was gifted to me by my husband, and as such, I value it a lot.


    My gear is light and is supposed to provide me the best defense while also giving me room to move, breath and cast spells in. If I wore plated armor, I would most likely choke inside of it. That equipment is heavy and requires a lot of Strength stat too. I am a druid that heals others and also provides backline support. So as you can see, my Strength is the bare minimum to wear my light armor. Rest is for healing potency or damage.


    Speaking of which, Alviona, you will find items that you will like and end up wearing yourself. If heat is really the problem for your body, I highly suggest staying away from heavy armor and instead stick to something like mine. It has good insulation. Plus... your bust size, while smaller than mine, is still large enough to be crushed in the plate. Wearing full armor with that size would be... wrong," replied Mira with a grin. "Does this make sense?"


    "I guess so," replied Alviona. "So I should not seek to wear a huge plate armor but instead find a lighter gear. I like moving around, and standing still is frustrating for me. If I have protection like yours and can keep my body cool with the sort of clothing and style of armor that you just told me about, I will be happy. As I said, I need to keep my body as cool as possible. Otherwise, I would risk damaging it. Thank you for your lesson, grandma," said Alviona chirpily.


    "You are very welcome, child. However, there is one thing I want to know..."


    "Yes?"


    "What does your status bar look like?"


    "I do not think I have one yet. It says it is not active. Hold on; I think I can turn it on though."


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td><Self Diagnosis> has been completed. After analyzing every given information acquired about this world, your status bar has been generated.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Ah, there! It has the stats that you spoke of. Would you like me to show you my <Self Diagnosis - Status>?" Asked Alviona with her eyes wide and sparkling from excitement.


    "Please. I am truly curious."


    "Okie. Let me see how I can do that. Ah, grandma, I figured it out, but you might not like it."


    "What is it?"


    "Grandma... I need you to cut your hand with one of my feathers. It will have instructions to allow you to see my status bar. Don''t worry, I did not spread my wings but removed only a feather. Here you go."


    "Uhm, sure." Mira did as Alviona told her. It was odd how sharp her feather was like, because even the slightest touch without removing her gauntlet caused Mira a deep cut. Her entire palm was now aching.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>An unknown source of damage caused you to lose 10 HP.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Interesting,thought Mira as her hand started to bleed.This innocent feather penetrated right through my armor barrier and even did damage to the actual equipment! Furthermore, corruption?!


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Corruption is spreading. -100 HP, -120 HP, -200 HP.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Grandma, relax and do not worry. I will not let harm come your way," said Alviona, seeing that Mira looked confused. She quickly finished her instructions and sucked onher grandmother''s bleeding thumb. A few seconds afterward, Mira''s health returned back to normal, corruption stopped spreading, and an image was revealed withinher mind:


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Alviona</td>


    <td>Physical Body Stats:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Primary Race:</td>


    <td>Unknown Creation</td>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>-566</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Secondary Race:</td>


    <td>Pure-Blood Elf of Unknown Origins</td>


    <td>Resistance </td>


    <td>99</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Ultimate Creators:</td>


    <td>Reiolle - Mother; Archill - Father</td>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>1</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Biological Parents:</td>


    <td>Sofia - Mother; Duncan - Father</td>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Essence Age:</td>


    <td>1.3 years</td>


    <td>Agility</td>


    <td>5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Physical Body Age:</td>


    <td>18.3 (Permanent)</td>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>-537</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level:</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>-884</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Health:</td>


    <td>Obsolete for Essence</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mana:</td>


    <td>Obsolete for Essence</td>


    <td>Health:</td>


    <td>10,387/10,387 (-0.03 Per Second)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Power:</td>


    <td>Infinite</td>


    <td> Mana:</td>


    <td>0/200 (+200 per conversion)</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "S-say what?!" Gasped Mira, confused by what she had seen. The image faded away fairly quickly, and yet she remembered everything she read. "C-child. Why are your attributes in negatives?! And... Oh my god, you are dying every second that you exist!" Exclaimed Mira in shock, panic, and surprise. What in the name of all Gods of Dedrillon and Mother Nature was going on?!


    "My mommy made my body, so I can not answer. There are no records of this for me. Why, is there something wrong?!" Asked Alviona hurriedly.


    "Y-yes. There is a lot wrong with your stats. No creature in this world has a stat below 0. You have a whopping three of them and in numbers that are greater than 30! I am six centuries old, and in my entire life, I have never heard of or seen anything like this. Ever," said Mira in a low voice so that she would not scare the child like she had several times already. The elf did not want to see her granddaughter cry again. However, this situation was too odd, and dangerous.


    Forget about the stats. I can take that much shock knowing that Alviona is not of this world. But, what is up with her body dying at such a rapid pace? If my calculations are correct, she is supposed to die every 96 hours!Oh my god! Don''t tell me that the amount of food she consumes alongside this much water... No, it is the only explanation. Could it be that the heat she produces within her body causes this?! Her cells are probably dead, and the blood is getting evaporated. It explains why she also gets dehydrated so quickly. Good grief. This is just ridiculous. Then... Did her creators not think of this?!


    "Alviona, are you feeling all right? Do you need some more water? Are you perhaps, hungry? Do you feel any itchiness?" Asked Mira in panic and to help out the child as much as possible. She was surprised when Alviona grinned and shook her head.


    "No, I already ate enough. Thank you very much for asking, grandma. As for water, I already had enough intake. My body has cooled down now. Do not worry, I am feeling all right! Let''s continue exploring. I want to play more. Please? Pretty please?!" Asked Alviona with her large, adorable, and pleading eyes. Seeing that the girl was in high spirits and did not suffer anything unusual, Mira nodded. However, the elf was not able to shake off the shock that she had received. Her alert level to the child''s well-being was through the roof.


    ************


    [Fireball], [Fireball], [Fireball].


    "Kyak! Ack, ack, ack, Kyak!"


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have dealt 380 damage to fifteen goblins and have slain them instantly.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alviona and the party have followed Kornel''s directions for nearly one hour and a half. With the child taking the lead, many goblins have been exterminated and nobody had been injured yet. However, no matter how long they walked, the dungeon seemed to be endless.


    "Kornel, I do not understand. Why are we not near any treasures so far?! What the hell is going on?" Asked Brunor who was starting to get impatient. The rest of the Ironmight party was of the same opinion. Only Alviona was enjoying this trip so far.


    "I am telling you, we should be close to the entrance that will lead us to the lower floor and the treasury. There will be a goblin fortress soon and afterward; we are gold!" Replied Kornel nonchalantly.


    The man did not lie. After walking for fifteen more minutes, the said fortification came into view.


    *Swoosh, Swoosh, Swoosh*


    The sound of arrows being loosened rang throughout the dungeon. Over 300 arrows were launched towards the party. Mira was quick to react and cast her [Mass Greater Blessing Of Earth]. Alviona''s shield, thankfully, had blocked the arrows with the help of Mira''s ability.


    The goblins that witnessed their attack fail decided to hit the giant drum. As the sound rang through the ears of the party, the doors of the fortress opened, and the sight of goblins fully covered in plate armor came into view. Harpies were visibly flying behind them, preparing their Electricity based shock attacks.


    "Crap! Harpies! Move aside..." (Brunor)


    Before Brunor was allowed to finish his sentence, Mira who was fed up watching the developments decided to switch her role from support to full out offense. Waving her wand around, she cast her [Mass Paralysis] and [Whirlpool Of Fire], and after ten seconds, both the goblins with their death hounds and the harpies perished.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have dealt 88,360 damage in an area. You have slain 19 goblins and 23 harpies. You gain 3,312 Experience points.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Oh, my God! You people aretoo strong! Madame Mira, I was not aware that your damage dealing abilities were on par with your healing," said Salia in awe. It was hard not to be inspired by the elf that had displayed potency both in Divine schools of magic and Elemental. Mira did not seem to pay much attention to Salia and instead was watching at the fortification.


    "The situation is not good. Take a good look over there. Do you see the undead skeletons past the goblins? There is an undead Lich there. The air feels too chilly and heavy. I can not deal with that type of enemy. It is impossible as I have no Divine weapons or spells in my arsenal." Said Mira a severe tone. The situation was bad. Nobody appeared to possess any means of defeating an undead Lich, a being that could cast protection barrier on all of its lesser creatures and atop that cast curses to weaken the enemies. The worst part of this case was that the said barrier would reduce incoming physical and magical damage by 95%. The only way to deal with such foe was with Holy weapons or enchantments.


    "I can help you with that," said Alviona with a smile.


    "Child, we understand that you are very powerful, but in this scenario, it would be impossible for you to do anything," said Brunor and Salia. Mira seemed to agree with their statement and nodded in affirmative.


    "I think we should hear her out. Look at her eyes filled with determination," said Hayden who was looking into the mysterious bright orange eyes.


    "All right. Fine. What is your plan kiddo?!" (Brunor)


    "Yay! I need Lucas to give me his bow, please," said Alviona chirpily.


    Lucas did as he was told and gave her his item.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ebon Longbow.


    Rank: Rare.


    PhysicalDamage 483, Penetration 10, Magical Damage Modifier 3.


    Active effects: MultiShot - Ability to fire over three arrows simultaneously with 29% (+0.7 per dexterity stat) accuracy.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alviona handed the bow over to Solomon and gave him her command, to which the man nodded.


    "Now, I would like all of you to wait until we finish," said the girl as she touched the ground. A massive wall erupted between her and the party. Only Mira was left inside to watch the event unfold.


    "So, what are you going to do?"


    "Hehe, I won''t do anything. Mr. Solomon will," replied Alviona chirpily.


    As she said these words, Solomon removed an arrow from his magical pouch. It was the one he had picked up from Sofia, when she attacked him as a warning, back when they first met.


    "Well then, let''s test this," declared the man as he moved his right limb for Mira to see. It was the first time he had revealed his skeletal arm that was pulsating with mana.


    "Oh, my!" Gasped Mira in surprise from what she has witnessed. "S-Solomon, are you... an undead?!"


    "Is it even relevant when we talk about the fact that I am Alviona''s creation?" He asked mockingly to tease Mira.


    The elf ended upbeing left speechless and nodding. What she witnessed afterward was Solomon charging the bow and letting loose. A bright light was emitted from the arrow as it flew towards its target - the Lich. After the impact, a ghastly scream resonated throughout the area. Shortly after, bones started to fall all over the place as there was no mana to feed the undead skeleton bodies. This confirmed the target''s annihilation.


    Solomon handed the bow back to Alviona and moved his limb back to its original place, concealed. With this, Alviona undid her ability and moved the earth back to its place.


    "Here you go, Mr. Lucas. Thank you very much for... uhm, Mr. Solomon, can you dispose of that man?" Asked the child with a bright smile, pointing at Kornel who seemed to be preparing his dagger.


    Solomon jumped to immediate action as he cast his [Chains of Darkness] ability, allowing three black chains to appear from his thumbs and latch onto the man. Slowly but surely, Kornel''s life force began draining.


    "W-what?! W-why?! What is the meaning of this? Have you betrayed us?!" Asked the Ironmight members as they readied their swords and pointed them at Alviona. However, what followed afterward was not what they had expected.


    "K-kyak! H-how?! How did you know?! K-kyak!" Asked Kornel who was paralyzed and dying.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>-50 HP, -80 HP, -300 HP, -400 HP.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Well, Mr. Goblin, that is a secret. I told myself yesterday that as long as you were not a meanie, I would not harm you. But, you were about to stab our friends! Friends don''t hurt friends. So you had to be punished," replied Alviona with a bright smile. Her voice was reminiscent of a song sung before a good night''s sleep. With that, Kornel perished and instead of a man''s corpse, a tiny goblin remained with a vial of transformation potion.


    "B-bastard! So he had planned it all along?! Oh, my god!" Said Salia after seeing what had happened. It all made sense now. The goblin lured adventurers and gave them little treasures so that more would be interested and start streaming in. After some time, it would lead the groups from weakest to strongest and get them slaughtered. Rinse and repeat. After entering the dungeon, it became evident for the Ironmight discovered missing party members that all had their faces chewed off, and nothing but their equipment remained.


    The treasures were still vast though. Anything that did not belong to the deceased adventurers was moved into Ironmight''s inventory for sale, personal use or trading. As promised, Alviona was allowed to pick out two items of her choice.


    After careful consideration, the girl looked at three items and debated which one to take.


    The first item was a lance.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Lance of Spite.


    Rank: Uncommon


    Physical Damage: 77


    Magical Damage: 122


    Active effect: Any ability damage dealt by your Martial or Magical abilities, will deal 3x more damage.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The second item was a Hat.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Needlessly Large Hat of a Witch


    Rank:Legendary


    Barrier Strength: 900


    Requirements: 50 intelligence, 50 wisdom, and 35 Strength. Will become Soulbound upon equipping.


    Active effect: Wearing this hat will make people unable to see your face properly.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The third item of interest for the girl was a broken purple-colored stone that had no stats except for a "Legendary" rank.


    Without any hesitation, Alviona pointed towards the Lance and the Hat.


    Mira sighed. "All right. And are you sure that you want to keep that useless hat and the lance?!"


    Alviona nodded, her mouth forming the brightest smile existing in the world and her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Ok. Brunor, may we keep these two items as per our contract agreement? Do you have any need for them?"


    "Nope. You may keep it to your heart''s content. Heck, tell you what. Since Alviona liked thebroken crystal so much too, how about she keeps it? Consider this as a gift for helping us clear the dungeon and saving our lives from traitors. I am forever in your debt. All of us are. Also, please do not get discouraged. As useless as these items might seem, your granddaughter is truly an amazing person. She seems to have keen eyes so I won''t be surprised if this junk will somehow become pure gold. Mark my words! Ha, ha, ha!" Laughed Brunor sincerely. Nothing but oddity came out from this raid, and yet they had survived thanks to the girl.


    With that, it was decided to allow Alviona to keep the three most useless items acquired in the loot history of the world.

 Chapter 32 - A dwarf with an ambition to pursue magic!

    Osh¡¯Vaelie, a vast and prosperous country of Dwarves was located 994 miles away from the Kingdom of Dalei. Population 4.2 million dwarves, 528 thousand humans, 180 thousand elves, and 33 thousand orcs.


    The country is known for rich minerals excavation, metal production, magical crystal trading, gold coin crafting, small dungeons that spawn orichalcum, and jewelry-crafting. An enormous country whose territory is surrounded by state of the art walls that are alloyed with the anti-fire magical coating. A solid object that can withstand even a dragon¡¯s attack. Atop its massive walkways stand guards armed with various weapons. From anything that is a two-handed Ax to swords and hammers. Most carry a small pistol or a crossbow on their belts.


    The guards are approximately 1.37-1.41 meters tall. These men and women are known as dwarves of Dedrillon, a race that does not use magic too much. Instead, they are adept in engineering, crafting, and inventing. In their ranks there exist only four rules and tenents of Dwarfism:


    1) Drink good alcohol, eat good food, and get a good ingot for crafting,


    2) Always finish the started work to the very end, no matter how bitter or hard it may be,


    3) If you make a promise, keep it!


    And,


    4) Love your spouse and friends just as much as you love drinking and crafting.


    Despite what most Dwarves may say about their rules, these four always remains a constant. Never broken, never turned down, and never refused or forgotten. Everone of this race cuts their flesh, embeds these laws into their heart, mind, and soul and intertwines it while curing the wound.


    *Yawn*


    ¡°Oh, my god. I am so tired today! I want to be inside of my cozy bed with my good drinking cup. Nothing would beat sleeping with it!¡± Said a dwarf standing guard on the southeast part of the wall who removed a flask and drank an oddly colored liquid. His comrade was patiently listening to him with his eyes widened.


    ¡°Hey, hey! Are you telling me that you have been hiding such an excellent piece of art inside your flask?! And then, you have a gull to talk to me about being tired while you sip on it without even asking your fella if he wants a share? Come on! I thought we were best friends!¡± Replied the man while trying to snatch away the flask.


    ¡°Huh?! It is my bloody first day working with you! I have absolutely not the slightest idea what you are talking about,¡± replied the man with an innocent grin, moving out of his friend¡¯s way and drinking some more.


    ¡°Bastard! I will bloody tell your wife of your pranks here! I promise you that if you don¡¯t let me have some, I will¡­. I will not share the mead that I have at home!¡± (Dwarf 2)


    ¡°Huh?! You have a bottle of mead?! Here, here! Fine. Have some whiskey. Now, can you bring it tomorrow? We are best friends after all, are we not?!¡± (Dwarf 1)


    ¡°Oi, wait. What is that sound?¡±


    ¡°What sound?! You ain¡¯t even bloody drunk yet¡­¡±


    *Growl*


    ¡°Oi, bloody hell. You are right there mate!¡± (Dwarf 1)


    The two dwarves looked down from the wall. Despite it being past midnight, the magical crystals illuminated the area in the vicinity quite clearly.


    ¡°Ah, the typical undead and the foolish death hounds. God damn it! Here I was, thinking that tonight I might get to sleep while on duty and wake up tomorrow morning to only fall back asleep for the good night¡¯s work. I hate night shifts!¡± (Dwarf 1)


    ¡°Oi, Oi! Quit complaining ya fatass! We gotta deal with that noise. Me ain¡¯t gonna listen to this bloody growl all night. If ya think I will, might as well shoot me in the head now and end my misery.¡± (Dwarf 2)


    ¡°Oi, Oi. You are overexaggerating it. What is the worst that can happen?¡±


    ¡°Hm, are ya forgetting about our fella from yesterday? He bloody got drunk, listened to the creature''s howl. Got pissed off and tossed his armor away, jumped in naked in front of the hounds and bloody killed them with his posture. Ya don¡¯t wanna embarrass yourself like that, do ya?¡¯


    ¡°Ah, that fella. Well¡­ granted he had good muscle build! But yes, I remember that. Say, how long did he last before crying to want to go to the infirmary?¡±


    ¡°Not even an hour! He was begging for more drink, and when he was excused the nurse happened to be his wife on duty. She dragged his sorry ass home and grounded him for a full week with no drinks at all! Can you imagine that?!¡±


    ¡°A full¡­¡±


    Without finishing his sentence, the faces of both dwarves went pale.


    ¡°We better do our job then, no? I wouldn¡¯t want to face that lady if something were to happen.¡± (Dwarf 1)


    ¡°Agreed. Then who goes for this round?¡± (Dwarf 2)


    *Rock, Paper, Scissor.*


    ¡°Rock!¡± (Dwarf 2)


    ¡°Scissor¡­ bloody hell, ya cheater!¡± (Dwarf 1)


    ¡°What?! How do ya even cheat in a rock, paper, scissor?! Sorry mate, but ya lost. You know the rules!¡± Winked the dwarf who was excited to receive the flask from his friend.


    ¡°Ya better bring that mead you spoke of tomorrow, else there ain¡¯t no avoiding of whooping your ass!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Now hurry!¡±


    *Sigh*


    ¡°DEATH HOUNDS, YA PIECES OF SHIT! YA BETTER BE READY FOR MY WRATH FOR YA HAVE DISTURBED ME WHILE DRINKING ON MY DUTY. THIS IS MY VENGENCE!¡± Shouted the man, getting a grip of his two-handed hammer and jumping down. If one were to describe his landing, it would be a man falling flat on his butt. The dwarven males had a tendency to be more muscular and much stouter compared to their counterparts. Getting up, he gently touched his braided beard and grinned.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have used [Charging Bull]. -200 Mana. The target is paralyzed and will receive +20% damage from blunt weapons.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Woohoo! Now, kiss your bony bones good-bye,¡± said the dwarf while starting to spin around with his hammer. The man did not use any form of magic or martial arts.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have dealt 4,322 damage to the Death Hound. The creature dies Instantly. +200 experience gained.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Hey, hey! There is a Lich right there,¡± yelled the dwarf¡¯s friend who was sipping the alcohol from the flask while ecstatically observing the battle.


    ¡°Ho, a Lich?! A LICH THINKS IT WILL STOP ME?!¡± Shouted the man in anger, taking out his pistol and a small vial filled with a bluish liquid of sorts, loading it into the weapon, and hitting it three times before pulling the trigger.


    *Boom*


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Your Pistol has dealt 500 Holy Damage and has weakened the Lich. You have decreased its defenses by 30%</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Ha, ha, ha! Weakened now aren¡¯t ya?! It is ok. You will join your friends soon enough,¡± said the man while charging at the Lich. Despite its weakened state, the creature managed to pull off an [Advanced Fireball] that was meant to deal significant damage to the dwarf and allow for its retreat.


    This did not happen.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>The lich has damaged you with a [Fireball]. -500 HP. The [Dwarrven Metabolism] has kicked in. You are immune to pain for 10 seconds.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The man took the spell aimed at him head-on, shrugging it off, and hitting the lich with his mighty hammer. ¡°Oh, I am sorry. I did not know you wanted to taste the other side too. Here you go,¡± said the dwarf as he hit the creature¡¯s face and broke its bony structure.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have dealt 2,300 damage to the Lich. Your second strike has dealt critical hit. Damage modified by 1.5 You have dealt 5750 damage. The lich dies instantly. +1200 experience.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Satisfied, the man removed the blue crystal from inside the skull and walked away while ever slightly cursing.


    ¡°And may I ask how do you plan to get up here Yotgrom?¡± Teased the dwarf from atop the walls.


    ¡°Shut up and drop the ladder, I am agitated now!¡± Replied Yotgrom whose mood turned sour. After he climbed up, he did not talk much. Instead, the man looked in the direction where the sun would rise from in a few hours.


    ¡°Oi, Oi! Ya fatass, don¡¯t tell me that this is because of Mimi?¡±


    ¡°Certainly is! I was hoping to shrug it off with a drink, but I can not seem to pass the fact that my daughter is going out to a Magical Institute of Dalei Kingdom as soon as later this morning. Bloody hell. What a shame! The girl is like her mother. She is overly stubborn and won¡¯t even listen to me. What magic? Why study magic when you can craft to yer heart¡¯s content?!¡±


    ¡°But she does like crafting, doesn¡¯t she? Relax Yotgrom. Don¡¯t forget how we dwarves are. Besides, I think yer anger is not about her wanting to learn magic but because you don¡¯t want let your precious princess go. Bahahaha, ha, ha! She is like Viola eh?¡±


    Hearing the man mention his spouse¡¯s name caused his face to twist several times before taking a saddened look.


    ¡°¡­ I am sorry. I did not mean to.¡±


    ¡°No, it is okay. It is just as you say. Bloody hell! One in one. Ha, ha, ha. Tell ya what mate, tomorrow yer off-shift no? We should definitely hang out and make a toast for Mimi¡¯s departure. Does not matter how insane her dream is, she is a dwarf! We never back down from our goals and finish the work we start,¡± declared Yotgrom with a bright smile and a grin. ¡°Come now, we have more patrolling to do.¡±


    ¡°Welp, true enough,¡± agreed his friend and the two carried on with their work.


    ****


    *Ting, Ting, Ting*


    ¡°How many hours has she been doing that?¡± Asked a human male to his dwarven colleague.


    ¡°Dunno there mate. She is an odd one. Better ask for how many years has she been working here,¡± replied the man with a shrug.


    ¡°Still¡­ it is 3 am in the morning. You know, most children sleep at this time of the day.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey! Keep your voice low and don¡¯t call her a child,¡± said the Dwarf, gesturing to the man to zip his mouth. ¡°She turned sixteen years old an hour ago. You do not want to anger that one.¡±


    ¡°Wait, is that the girl everyone keeps talking about? The crazy girl?!¡±


    ¡°Not crazy, just an odd one. There is a difference.¡±


    ¡°What is her name again?¡±


    ¡°Hey, you two there! Shut up and keep working!¡± Snorted the orc overseer that came over after hearing a disturbance with the rhythm of mining.


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± replied the human who picked up his pickaxe and continued mining the mineral rocks. ¡°And still, what was her name again?¡± He thought.


    *Ting, Ting, Ting*


    The girl kept mining the rocks, not ever paying the slightest attention to people walking around or talking about her. She was a slim girl, with A ¨C cup sized breasts. The girl was much taller than average dwarves at 1.48 meters. Part of this was due to her mother being a human while her father was a dwarf. The girl¡¯s most prominent features were her large hazel-colored eyes and blonde hair, a rare color for dwarves as most had brown or black.


    The name of this girl was Mimi, and she was the best miner known in the entire country. The speed at which she got the job done, the long shifts she worked, and the many ways and tactics the girl had shown her colleagues to increase efficiency while reducing fatigue level incurred were extraordinary. Furthermore, the fact that this young girl had started working at the mine when she was seven years of age had been known to every single person in the country of Osh¡¯Vaelie.


    Nobody quite understood why the girl started working at that age. Most children that were of the dwarven race would typically be interested in crafting. Mimi was no different, except she was born with a gift in Summoning schools of magic. Her intelligence stat was rather high for her race, and as such had spent the majority of her life infusing her talent with crafting.


    At the age of six, she had already started developing wobbly sketches and blueprints of her biggest dreams. She was fond of mini machinery that dwarves carried as their secondary weapons. Mimi was also obsessed with golems because her mother was able to create Elemental Water Golems and as such, she dreamt of learning more about magic. Dwarves being dwarves, it was impossible and futile to make her redecide much to her father¡¯s dislike.


    Over the past nine years that Mimi had worked at the mine, she had gathered more than enough wealth to pay for her tuition all by herself. Yotgrom was a man that was getting well-paid, but the girl hated to bother him or ask for money. Especially when her ambitions were this odd for dwarven society.


    *Ting, Ting, Ting*


    ¡°Hey there, Mimi. It is almost 5 o¡¯clock in the morning now. You should get going home. I understand that you never slack off during work, but don¡¯t you have an important event going on today?¡± Asked the overseer after checking on the girl. Despite many workers commenting on this orc being very rude and of hellish origins, the man was fair and paid well. He also had an affection towards Mimi, as he was a father himself. Seeing such a young girl work from the very early age of her life had inspired him to succeed in life and caused him to work harder, thus acquiring enough wealth to buy out the mine. Soon after, he got married and had a son and a daughter.


    ¡°Ah! You are correct. T-thank you very much, uncle Gruul,¡± said Mimi, putting down her pickaxe and walking towards the office to clock out.


    ¡°You are welcome, kiddo. Here is your payment for today. Also, take this,¡± said Gruul, extending a pouch that seemed to weigh heavier than usual.


    ¡°What is this?!¡± Asked Mimi with broadened eyes.


    ¡°Happy birthday! I know that you are leaving the country today and that you are heading towards the Magical Academy of Dalei. I wanted to personally give you this gift. It contains some metals that you can use to do jewelry-crafting. I also ensured to purchase some amethysts for you. Please, Mimi. Accept this from me. You have been my greatest worker for nearly ten years now. I want you to not forget me for the years that you will be gone for your education,¡± said Gruul with a grin. Despite the man being an imposing, muscular, and bulky orc, he was a very kind-hearted man.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Uncle Gruul, I¡­¡± The girl burst into tears, running up to the man and kissing him on his cheeks. ¡°T-thank you very much! I love you!¡± Said Mimi sincerely, not being able to quite hold her emotions. After all, this man had been like her beloved father and a caretaker. If this man were a female, she would not have hesitated to call him her mother.


    ¡°Tehehe. Thank you, kiddo. I love you just as much. You are like a daughter to me. Send my best regards to Yotgrom, ok?¡±


    Mimi nodded and headed home, excited from everything that was going to happen within the next few hours. As she got there, she went to take a quick shower. Dwarven cities and homes were far advanced from the regular norm of Dedrillon. As such, automated pumps that sprinkled water for a more modernized shower were available. It was quite unfortunate that other Kingdoms had not started utilizing such system. However, the cost associated with it was high thus Mimi understood.


    Washing her head, scrubbing of dust and dirt off her hands, and splashing her face, the girl turned the pump off and got out from the shower. She then proceeded to grab a nearby towel to dry herself. After the process was done, Mimi approached her bed and put on her nightwear.


    ¡°All right! I will put the timer for exactly 10:40 AM and will sleep for a while,¡± said she while priming the alarm clock and removing two letters from her drawer to read them.


    ¡°To Mimi Dalenforn,


    We are pleased to inform you that your essay submitted about Summoning schools of magic has been deemed praiseworthy and that it has displayed your in-depth knowledge about the subject. Your intelligence Stat is passing our bare minimal criteria to be accepted into the Magic Academy of Dalei.


    The sum of your admission fee is 25 thousand silver and forty-four copper and will cover two full years. We will be happy to pay for 10% of this sum as a scholarship. Textbook fees are not included. Please note, that the minimum payment of 400 Silver coins to reserve your spot must be sent via magical carrier no later than January 13<sup>th</sup> of 436.


    Sincerely,


    Academy¡¯s Administration.¡±


    The next letter informed Mimi of accepted payment. The girl had available funds of thirty-five thousand silver. When she was six, the girl had asked her father how to learn magic. The man had told her to get a lot of money first and then they would talk.


    The child had not slacked off ever since. She had planned to attend Academy since she was ten-years-old and had spent a lot of time and careful consideration over which one to go to. After three or so years, her father had grown weary of her efforts and decided to permit her to pursue her dream. After all, he had promised her and dwarves never broke their promise. Such were the tenets of dwarfism.


    ¡°Oh, my god! I am too excited!¡± Said Mimi, moving the letter closer to her heart and giggling. ¡°Magic! I will be the dwarf that will craft magical items and summon golems!¡± Soon after saying this, the girl fell asleep. Yotgrom came an hour later.


    The man approached his daughter¡¯s bed and grabbed the letters she had clutched close to her chest, moving it back into the drawer. He then landed a gentle kiss on her cheeks.


    ¡°Good grief. Time flies by too quickly. How is life ever fair, if I can not even hold my daughter in my arms anymore? Children grow too rapidly. Ya can not even turn around before they are already at an age where they want to go out and explore the world. Viola, if only ya were here me love,¡± muttered the dwarf as he moved the blanket over to cover Mimi.


    *Sigh*


    Yotgrom moved out to the balcony and lit up his pipe.


    ¡°Magical Academy huh? No, the girl is too much like you. Thankfully she loves ingots like I! Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha! In the end, I suppose she is like both of us. The girl is just as stubborn as I am. ¡°Daddy, how can I learn magic like mommy?¡± I remember her asking that when she was six. Oh, my god. This is too much,¡± laughed the man as his eyes started to water up slightly. ¡°I have not gone out to have a good drink with my friends for almost a decade now. I suppose today would be the perfect day to do it. Mimi deserves a toast in her name,¡± thought he as he let out smoke.


    *Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding*


    Precisely at 10:40 am, Mimi¡¯s alarm clock rang and the smell of pancakes entered the girl¡¯s nostrils. She did not get up and instead silenced the alarm with her small hammer that was always kept under her pillow. At that moment, the girl felt somebody touch her shoulders and shake her.


    ¡°Nnn, mom. I will get up in an hour. Just let me sleep for a bit,¡± said the girl while slightly drooling.


    ¡°Oi, Oi. What the hell? Ya set the alarm and ya ain¡¯t even waking up?! Get up ya sleepyhead!¡± Said Yotgrom loudly, removing the girl¡¯s blanket and splashing her face with little water.


    ¡°Eeek, c-cold!¡± Exclaimed Mimi who jolted up, covering her body, and shivering. ¡°D-dad, w-why?!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t Why me! It is 10:44 am!¡±


    ¡°It is¡­ what?! Oh, my!¡± Said the girl as she ran to her dresser and began combing her hair, quickly swirling it. ¡°D-dad, can you help me with it?¡± She asked with a blush.


    ¡°Oi, aren¡¯t ya a bit selfish? Fine, what is my princess ever gonna do without me hm?¡± Asked the man with a teasing tone while shrugging, approaching his daughter, and gently gathering her hair. ¡°Single ponytail or double?¡±


    ¡°Double please!¡±


    *Sigh*


    Truly like her mother, thought Yotgrom as he did his daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°Ta-da! Now, go eat kiddo. I already packed your luggage, so ya don¡¯t have to rush. I left everything by the door.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you are the best!¡± Said Mimi, as she kissed her father¡¯s cheeks and ran towards the table to eat the freshly baked pancakes. After gently nomming on the food and ensuring to drink the cold milk afterward, the girl walked over to the entrance and checked her backpack.


    Let¡¯s see. Crafting hammer, check. Backup for crafting? It is here, good. Letters of acceptance, check. Proof of payment for a reservation, check. Map, check. Heat resistant gauntlets are here too. Clothing, check. Good! Everything is here, thought Mimi as she inspected the contents of the backpack.


    The girl took the brown winter-coat and equipped her backpack. Before she was about to leave the door, she was stopped by her dad with a cough.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Asked Yotgrom with a teasing voice, waiving scrolls in his hands.


    When the girl saw the objects in his hands, she immediately rushed over at him and attempted to take it away, but the man kept teasing her and avoided her attempts to steal them from his hands.


    ¡°Dad, please! I need those!¡±


    ¡°He, he. You are leaving for an Academy for two years and are not even saying goodbye. On top of that, you are forgetting the blueprints that you were sketching and planning out for nearly six years. What am I supposed to do with you, you clumsy child?¡± Asked the man while knocking on the girl¡¯s head once and bursting into laughter.


    ¡°Dad, shush! I am a dwarf,¡± said the girl with laughter while embracing her father and holding him tightly, landing kisses multiple times and allowing small droplets of tears to stream down her cheeks.


    ¡°Now, now. Don¡¯t cry. Aren¡¯t ya a dwarf?! Dwarves don¡¯t cry!¡± Said the man while patting the back of her daughter. ¡°Here ya go. Go on now. And remember, we are dwarves! What do ya say?!¡±


    ¡°We are dwarves! A good drink is our blood, great food is our flesh, and an ingot is our soul!¡± Declared Mimi chirpily and with pride.


    ¡°Ada girl! Mimi, take care of yourself ok?¡±


    The girl nodded and left the house, her destination being the train station that would take her to the Administrative center where the teleport gate was located. After she arrived at the station, she provided a payment of forty-four copper coins and received her magical ticket.


    *Whistle*


    ¡°The train going to the warehouse district is arriving in ten minutes! The train heading to the Alvala center in five! Administration district in two! Everyone prepare your tickets for inspection,¡± instructed the human female who was walking around with a baton, moving the citizens around and gathering them in a line for checking their tickets and ensuring that they were at the correct station. Once the inspection was complete and the first train arrived, the girl and her dwarven colleagues also directed citizens to allow for passengers to get out first before boarding. They also helped out with direction when asked.


    *Whistle, Whistle*


    ¡°All travelers moving to the Alvala center please board the train now. Ensure to seat yourself properly and strap on the seatbelts. Remember, no walking around while inside the train.¡± For Mimi, this was not the first time taking the magical train; however, the city council decided to always have conductors and guides available at all times to direct and help out the citizens or new travelers with orientation. Transportation system inside Osh¡¯Vaelie was far too advanced and dangerous for those that were not accustomed to it. Since a lot of people from the world traveled in and out of the city, it was a necessity to have safety measures ready at any times.


    There were a total of one hundred and fifty-eight train stations located throughout the country. There were no cities, and the entire landmass territory was surrounded by walls. In one sentence, the whole country could be counted as a city that was divided into districts that were the size of small towns.


    How did people travel such a significant distance, one might have asked? The answer was the dwarven state of the magical art trains that could deliver anybody from any point within an hour.


    Every country leader and head of the state had sought out dwarves and hired them to create such system but for no good. This magical railway was a gift from the gods that had been given in compensation for the armageddon incident that occurred with former dwarven kingdoms five hundred years ago. As such, it was decided to allow the race to live together under one banner and one land with this system to allow for quicker defense reaction, meeting with siblings, work allocation, and movement to the outside world. Dwarves had also received an attribute boost to base Strength, Vitality and Dexterity stats. The average lifespan for dwarves was 500 years, and 100% dwarves could even be considered immortal like elves. The problem was that Pure-blood dwarves were rare and most Dwarven population were comprised of semi-dwarves.


    Mimi was an exception, as her father was a pure-blood dwarf that was almost 400 years old. Irrelevant of one¡¯s dwarf origins, dwarven tenents remained constant. It is what proved one¡¯s dwarf genes.


    After an hour of travel, Mimi reached her desired station and got off.


    ¡°Good morning officer. Can you please tell me how to get to the teleport gate for the Kingdom of Dalei?!¡± Asked Mimi to the uninformed dwarf that was smoking his pipe.


    ¡°Oi. Good morning. Sure can missy! Enter the administration building over there and pass a security check. Afterward, you will be directed to the underground vault where you may pay a fee and be transported to the desired location.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Most welcome! Have a good day and best of luck on your journey! We will await your return, citizen.¡±


    After every procedure was completed, Mimi was teleported to the Kingdom of Dalei, the capital city of Nan Leiuro. As she appeared, the guards came over to inspect her and moved her to the infirmary for a quick inspection. After settling the business and registering in the city, she took a nearby carriage that brought her to the Academy. Fortunately, no classes were underway, and it was still four days early before anything would start.


    Mimi was guided to the student¡¯s help center and tuition hub by the entrance attendants and guides, soon reaching the place and enrolling for her studies. The Academy demanded her to present her Status information so that the girl could be allocated to the proper level of training.


    <table width="727">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Mimi</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Race:</td>


    <td>Pure-blood Dwarf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Title:</td>


    <td>None acquired</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>Not chosen</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class Proficiency:</td>


    <td>0/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Schools of Magic:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Summoning</td>


    <td>Minor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Health:</td>


    <td>1,199/1,199 (+2 per second)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mana:</td>


    <td>1,200/1,200 (+0.3 per second)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level:</td>


    <td>13</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Current EXP:</td>


    <td>5,037</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Next Level EXP:</td>


    <td>2,033</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality:</td>


    <td>11 (8 +3)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Resistance:</td>


    <td>12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength:</td>


    <td>18 (14+4)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity:</td>


    <td>13</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Agility:</td>


    <td>13 (10 +3)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence:</td>


    <td>10 (7+3)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom:</td>


    <td>12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Active Effects:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Blessing of Strength</td>


    <td>Increases base strength stat from 6 to 14</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Blessing of Vitality</td>


    <td>Increases base vitality stat from 4 to 8</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Blessing of Dexterity</td>


    <td>Increases base dexterity stat from 8 to 13</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dwarven Origins</td>


    <td>The tenets must be obeyed</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dwarven hands</td>


    <td>Crafting is life! You gain a +20% boost to crafting regardless of what it may be.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Excellent. Miss Dalenforn, we have come to a conclusion that you should be attending beginner¡¯s classes first. Is that all right with you?¡± Asked the woman who sat behind the counter.


    Mimi understood and nodded in excitement. She was overly ecstatic.


    ¡°Perfect. Then can you please sign here to show us that you have arrived? Also, please provide the payment at the next counter. Thank you very much and welcome to the Magical Academy of Dalei.¡±


    The girl did as she was told. After a few minutes, the attendant showed her to her living quarters that was a large and a spacious room. It even had a magical corner to place her forge at. The only thing that was slightly unusual was the lack of a roommate. There was one room available with another girl, but since nobody was joining the Academy and the deadline had passed, she was allowed a place for herself. With a grin, Mimi unpacked her belongings and went to bed.


    ¡°Finally, I am here. Mom, watch me become a dwarven summoner!¡± She declared with a grin, stretching on the bed and closing her hand into a fist. ¡°Such a big room. I suppose I am the owner of my small keep here, no?!


    The girl got quickly used to the peace and quiet that this place provided, unlike her country life where the noise of citizens and walking pedestrians could be heard all over the place. And yet, she slightly missed her home and her father. ¡°I wonder what Dad is doing right now,¡± she thought with a grin.


    In the meantime, Yotgrom sat inside his house loudly sobbing. His friend had come over for a celebration, but when he knocked nobody answered the door.


    ¡°Oi, Oi! Yotgrom, it¡¯s me ¨C Tugnig!¡± Said the man who was still knocking on the door. After a few minutes, it finally opened and revealed a red face that was about to choke.


    ¡°H-hello, Tugnig. S-sorry, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Ya bloody fatass. Don¡¯t tell me you are crying cause your daughter is gone? What the hell, aren¡¯t ya the man who always says dwarves don¡¯t shed tears?! Ya sissy!¡±


    *Sob, Sob*


    ¡°Oh, for crying out loud! I brought ya the mead! Me gonna turn around and go home if ya ain¡¯t in the mood!¡±


    Yotgmor grabbed the man by his collar and slapped his face few times while still weeping.


    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s just me saying hello this way,¡± he said without ceasing to cry. ¡°Come on in, come on in. We drink the mead ya bloody piece of filth.¡±


    ¡°Oi, Oi! Who is throwing the insults when being a sissy?! Mate me never gonna understand ya!¡±


    With these words, the two of them began drinking and celebrating Mimi¡¯s departure. Yotgrom had raised the toast over fifteen times. Neither of them feeling or getting drunk, they decided to head out to a local beer pub where food and stronger alcohol were served.


    A week passed, and Mimi¡¯s academy life began. It was an exciting experience because she got a chance to speak to and meet different people from various countries and kingdoms. The first week of education rolled by fairly quickly and no homework was issued due to it being the first week.


    Mostly the students were guided around the academy and shown where to eat, what the proper etiquette was, and how to settle any and all disputes if they were to arise. Clubs also began forming and inviting new students. Sometimes upper classmates could be seen bullying newbies, but it was nothing out of proportion. Teachers were quick to react and eradicate any unacceptable behavior.


    As the weekends approached, Mimi started dreaming of the classes that would begin in two days. However, it was then that something unusual happened. A teacher entered her room on Saturday evening at 9:00 pm and informed Mimi that two new students would be joining the academy effective immediately.


    The first student was placed with the girl that had the said earlier room available, while the second one was to be put with Mimi. Furthermore, the words that the staff spoke after her explanation caught the dwarf by surprise:


    ¡°She will be accompanied by a man. We understand that this is a Female only dormitory. However, the Academy is making an exception. This is coming down from the headmaster. We apologize for any inconvenience.¡±


    Every student was notified of this, not just Mimi. The girls started to feel somewhat uneasy, but they could not argue or do anything as they were promised that the man would not do anything lewd or awkward and that their privacy would Not be invaded. Apparently, he was to be stationed as a 24-hour guard. Students were curious as to what the identity of this new arrival was. To make it more suspicious, the Academy was known for not allowing students in if even an hour late for enrollment, so what had happened?!


    Everyone waited around to see when the said party would arrive, but nobody showed up. After an hour, it was decided to go back into their rooms and sleep.


    Another hour passed and the door leading to Mimi¡¯s quarters opened, and a girl walked inside. The dwarf that was sitting on a sofa on the second floor and read a book heard the door opening and walked over to take a look at her supposed roommate.


    Looking down, the sight she witnessed was of a giant hat that was so large, that nothing was visible under it. It was as if an umbrella was covering the girl. Mimi walked downstairs to greet her, and her sight came into view, the girl was unable to see the full face for some odd reasons. It was as if a shadow was covering the eye area of the visitor.


    ¡°Uhm, hi. My name is Mimi. I am glad to meet you, uhm, miss. What is your name?¡± Asked the girl while extending her hand.


    The girl did not reply immediately but instead removed her giant hat and made it disappear into nothingness. What the dwarf witnessed afterward were the beautiful orange eyes and facial structure of a beauty that she had never seen throughout her life.

 Chapter 33 - The cost of Power

    An ecstatic girl ran towards the carriage where Janine had been resting. She was in high spirits and overly chirpy.


    "Mira, what happened? Why is she like that?" Asked Janine confused as she saw Alviona dancing around and giggling for no apparent reason. If she were to describe the sight in front of her, it would be of a girl that was asked out on a date for the first time in her life. Had Alviona fallen in love?


    The elf sighed and shook her head before looking at Janine and answering her question.


    ¡°She acquired her first loot,¡± replied Mira with a face that showed she had given up. ¡°The girl has been like this for the entire trip back. I am dying from worry here, and she is just skipping around all over the place. I do not know how to approach her,¡± said Mira, biting her soft lips with such intensity that they started to bleed.


    Janine did not understand how to answer. What had happened, she wondered.


    Janine glanced over at Solomon and Alviona. From the corner of her eyes, she could see an image of Mira whose forehead veins were bulging out and eyebrows were furrowed. The woman appeared to be in thought. Not willing to get involved in a conversation that could become tense, she nodded and retrieved a handkerchief.


    ¡°Here you go. Please, calm down and wipe your lips. You are bleeding.¡±


    ¡°Ah, thank you. I apologize,¡± said Mira as she gratefully accepted the cloth and wiped away her blood, casting [Minor Heal] to cure her wound.


    ¡°Janine, Janine! Look, look! Look at my treasures,¡± said Alviona as she skipped over to her and displayed her Lance of Spite and Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch.


    ¡°T-that is trash,¡± said Janine with a chuckle but when she saw Alviona¡¯s puffed cheeks and a pout, she burst out into loud and sincere laughter.


    ¡°What is so funny?¡± Asked Alviona who did not understand what her words meant.


    ¡°S-sorry,¡± kept laughing Janine as she watched the puzzled girl in front of her. The hat was a horrible piece of equipment, and a legendary one too. The Lance was not too bad, but it had a negligent number for Physical damage and was obsolete because only Martial schools could be used with weapons that were not considered as catalysts.


    How else could a person react to a girl that was beautiful beyond any reason or comprehension, but acted as if she was in her pre-teens?


    However, Janine soon ceased her laughter. No matter what one might have thought, she understood that the girl in front of her was a potential monster. She acted so obliviously and childishly, and yet the aura of mystery surrounded her.


    Alviona¡¯s powers were unknown. At its core, from the very little information that they possessed from the very source, the girl had a potential to do anything. In that case, what impact would she have on society¡¯s norms?


    ¡°Janine, can we get going, please? I apologize for rushing you, but there is a lot we need to do within next few days,¡± said Mira after snapping out of her thought.


    ¡°Already?! I thought we were going to stay here for a few days.¡±


    ¡°No. We can not stay here any longer. Ironmight group has already cleared out the dungeon, so there is absolutely no reason for us to be in this place,¡± said Mira firmly.


    ¡°Well, if you say so,¡± replied Janine. Based on the way the elf was behaving, it was evident that something relevant and significant had happened.


    Without further delay, Janine went over to the stables where oxen were resting. As the sun rose, the group moved out.


    ***


    Alviona fell asleep an hour after the party set out towards the city of Allaqar. Nobody spoke much on the trip, which was unusual.


    Janine felt uneasy about the silence.


    ¡°Solomon, may I ask a question?¡± asked Janine without taking her eyes off the road.


    ¡°Certainly, you may,¡± replied the man without opening his eyes.


    ¡°What exactly happened in your dungeon raid? Why is Mira like that?¡±


    ¡°I do not think that it would be wise of me to speak on her behalf,¡± replied the man nonchalantly.


    ¡°Mira, please snap out of it. What happened? What are you thinking about? It is becoming rather creepy. We are heading to the same destination and are dealing with the same girl. Please, do not hide anything from me,¡± said Janine as she glanced over at Mira who did not seem to respond.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± replied Mira after a brief pause. ¡°However, I do not know how to answer your question or what to say. Thissituation is all too confusing. But perhaps talking to somebody else will make a difference.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Janine, please listen to me carefully.¡±


    Janine nodded. An odd feeling was dangling in her heart, but she decided to pay attention. As a result of her action, Mira¡¯s face appeared to soften a little.


    ¡°Let us start by asking a question. In your opinion, based on what you have seen and heard in the past three weeks, what is Alviona?¡±


    ¡°Well, this is not an easy question. When I first met the girl, I thought that she was just a lamb whom I would toy with to force her mother to give out information. However, after seeing what she had done to me and what she did to Solomon, I thought that she was a champion of gods. And yet, after witnessing her growth in the bathing area, I can not help but say that she is something else entirely,¡± said Janine after a long pause, her body sweating ever so slightly.


    ¡°Correct. I am glad that we are of the same opinion. I too think that Alviona is something else entirely. Not a champion, and clearly not a god. At least not in our sense of understanding,¡± said Mira while brushing her chin.


    ¡°Mira, we have agreed that questioning the girl¡¯s origins would be futile. So tell me, what bothers you and why are you bringing this up?¡±


    ¡°Well, earlier this morning when we were raiding the dungeon, Alviona displayed a condition that scares me. Solomon, I am pretty sure that you are aware of what I am hinting at, no?¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about her intake of water, or are you referring to something else?¡± Asked the man curiously.


    ¡°Both,¡± replied Mira. ¡°Her condition is alarming. Perhaps the girl is a quick thinker when it comes to combat and has body function that we do not. Denying this is not wise, considering what we have seen up to this point. She also has a better understanding of how mana works. However, the cost of her power, if my assumptions are correct, is too high. A price that one would not want to pay.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? How much mana does she use?¡± Asked Janine with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°That is the problem, Janine. She does not really use mana. It is all a fake,¡± replied Mira with a saddened face.


    Janine was unable to reply. What could the elf mean by her words? How was this possible? If one wanted to use any form of magic, mana had to be spent. This was a fundamental rule of the world that even gods obeyed.


    ¡°What Mira is alluding to is something that I have concluded a while back. It is as she says, my mistress does not use the mana like you, and I do,¡± said Solomon, causing Janine to become even more confused.


    ¡°I am aware of that. Did Alviona not say that her body worked differently from us? I can and have accepted it. So have you. Then what is wrong? What are you two worried about?¡± Asked Janine who was getting slightly irritated.


    ¡°It is the fact that the girl has not told us what happens when she converts Energy to Mana. Janine, imagine yourself going on without water for a few days. What would happen to you?¡± Asked Mira.


    ¡°My skin would start to become dry. I would start hallucinating after going on without water for an extended period of time. If left completely unattended, my organs would start to shut down, and my brain would not function properly. Death would most likely¡­¡± Janine paused, gasping, and covering her mouth in shock. ¡°D-don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Now here is a better part. How often does Alviona go out to excrete or urinate? The answer is never. We know that this is due to her being made in a specific way. She eats food and can taste it, thus has taste buds. She also drinks water. But where do the nutrients go? Our stomach generally separates the useful nutrients from the waste. Then we go and excrete. Any toxins or waste found in the blood is washed out in the form of urine thanks to our kidneys,¡± said Mira with her eyes starting to slowly tear up.


    ¡°So you are hinting that Alviona has no kidneys or stomach?!¡± Asked Janine who was getting confused.


    ¡°No. The girl has the said organs, but the purpose they serve is different. If I were to guess, I would say that she has everything similar to us, but they have extra functions and are devoid of others. For example, Stomach digests all the food and leaves no feces. Kidneys don¡¯t cleanse the blood from toxins but instead, send them to her wings. Yes, you heard me right. Alviona¡¯s wings are actually a weapon! The proof to that is the corruption that spreads in your body if it penetrates you in any way. Lastly, she probably has an extra organ that freezes or keeps her mana gland cooled down,¡± concluded Mira, explaining as slowly as possible to not confuse Janine who was patiently listening.


    ¡°But then¡­ what does dehydration have to do with¡­¡± at that moment, Janine¡¯s brain snapped the puzzle pieces together. ¡°Oh no. Every time she casts spells and converts energy to mana¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. Utilizing mana-related spells causes damage to her body. Especially if those are the spells that cost more mana than her gland can process. If I were to use my abilities that cost 1,000 mana, she would need to transform energy into mana five times. In other words that is whole five seconds of having your body at 8,000 degrees Celsius. She stated inside the dungeon that even more cool liquid is required to maintain her temperature. Now, I do not know how it is done, and I do not intend to figure it out. However, the fact remains: The power that Alviona keeps displaying, comes at the cost of her life. Literarily. If she slips even once during combat, she will die. For this reason, I am begging you that you keep her safe. Janine, please,¡± said Mira as small droplets of tears slid down her cheeks.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Janine looked at Mira and then stopped the carriage and shot a glance at Alviona. The child¡¯s face was entrancing. ¡°Oblivious to reality, childish, powerful, and yet such a frail creature that has a potential of becoming a monster. All this is inside of one girl. And yet, I do have a slight desire to help her. Why? What the hell is going on with me?¡± Wondered Janine as she looked at the sleeping beauty. Her heart was pounding slightly faster. Was this due to fear? Indeed, what else could it have been? After all, Janine understood very well that this girl could become something that everyone would want to seek for their own gain. If she produces infinite energy, how many countries would want to enslave her? What of the gods? Would they allow her existence if she were found out? My gut tells me that this girl will either be my golden ticket to the good life or my downfall into a pit of darkness. So, should I gamble? God damn it! I don¡¯t think that I have a choice. If I run away, Solomon will squash me like a fly. Besides, her mother was kind enough to allow me to live. Mira has done the same for me. So this could be my only chance of getting out of the gutter. The only chance to cut ties with my bloody family.


    ¡°What about you, Mira? Are you not going to attend alongside us? Was that not the plan?¡± Asked Janine suspiciously after finishing her contemplation.


    ¡°Correct. I am coming with you. However, I will be registering as a scholar. I need to do some research related to Alviona and on top of that, figure out of there is anything we can do about her stats. I have not told you, but three of them are in negatives and over 500,¡± said Mira severely.


    ¡°W-what?! Then how is she going to get enrolled? You know that they will check her stats right? What the hell are we going to do?¡± Asked Janine, her face showing panic and disbelief.


    ¡°I am aware of it. However, the least we can do first is to get to the place and talk about requirements and curriculum to get accepted. We are running late as is. The term should have started two days ago. So we have a lot to do.¡±


    ¡°And what about Solomon?¡±


    ¡°He is another problem, but I can solve it with money. He is not such a big deal, as long as he keeps his right arm concealed,¡± said Mira after remembering what Solomon was.


    ¡°Huh? I thought he did not have a right arm,¡± said Janine, looking at Solomon and inspecting him. The left shoulder pad was still somewhat creepy to look at. If this man were on a battlefield, people would undoubtedly cower from his sight.


    ¡°Oh, right. You have not been with us during the raid. I apologize. I forgot. You see, Solomon is¡­¡±


    ***


    A figure resembling a young woman floated on a platform. She was moving in a straight line, never deviating away from the dark squares that were presented within her eyesight. The area was illuminated by stars of all colors that shone brightly. Various doors were visible in the vicinity, but the girl never stopped moving. These doors were of no interest to her. After a few minutes, she reached the end of a line, and a large mirror greeted her that illuminated the girl¡¯s figure.


    The reflection showed not a typical girl, but a beam of energy that took the shape of a woman. It was dark blue in color, with outer lines resembling void. Various stars floated within her body. Her hair was long, and it emitted the darkest aura that one could possibly imagine.


    Looking inside the mirror, the woman saw a different background from her current location. Without further hesitation, she slowly moved towards the mirror and then turned around. The landscape had shifted, and now she found herself in a vast library. Various crystals illuminated every floor, making the place well lit for her.


    Now then, what shall I do today? Wondered the girl. Should I read more books relating to higher existences, or should I do some research about the structure of the world? Ah, my body feels too good. It is also beautiful beyond description. I wonder if I can¡­ No, It is out of the question. This is too precious, mother. Thought the girl as she hugged herself. All right. There are many things that I need to learn. I keep scaring and worrying everyone, and that is not a good thing. I need to understand more. I must learn how to control myself. But I will not be able to study that overnight. Good grief. So many good reads, so little time. Even though I take milliseconds to read a page in a book, there is an infinite number of manuscripts and information here.


    Resting is good.


    Learning is even better!


    But resting after you have learned something significant is the best! Putting that knowledge to the test and experimenting is also bliss.


    Ah! Life is too good. Dear mother, and father. Thank you for creating me and allowing me to live. I love and cherish both of you.


    Now then, should we drink some tea? Thought the girl as another female approached her. It was Alviona.


    ¡°Why are you¡­ in that?¡± Asked Alviona.


    ¡°Because I was curious,¡± replied the girl.


    ¡°Well, fair enough. I understand you,¡± replied Alviona with a chuckle. ¡°So then, let¡¯s relax a bit and drink some tea. I went to the 45<sup>th</sup> floor and grabbed essentials that I think are absolute must-read today. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, Alviona,¡± said the girl gratefully, not forgetting to bow in front of her.


    ¡°You are very welcome, mistress. Please, do not bow. After all, I am but a¡­¡± said Alviona, but was stopped by the girl in front of her that shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°It is all fine. After all, you are part of my instruction. I apologize for using you like this, but it is too lonely here otherwise. I want to call Solomon here; however, he will get mad at me and will chop your head. So it is best to avoid doing this for now. Library, how many books have we read so far?¡±


    ¡°Well, the record indicates that our total is currently at 3,312 books if you include your latest read related to the societal structure of higher deities,¡± replied Alviona. ¡°If you were resting and reading a bit more frequently, you would easily reach more.¡±


    ¡°B-but¡­ I want to do other things too,¡± said the girl, ever slightly blushing.


    ¡°Like going to your room and thinking about biting different creatures and playing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Replied the girl with a blush.


    ¡°Well then. That is a noble goal, no? However, do bear in mind that not everything is lovely. Life, while fun, is filled with danger and meanies. You should avoid extended uses of your abilities. Safeguards will not always save you,¡± said Alviona coldly.


    ¡°I am well aware of it and do completely agree with you,¡± replied the girl. ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Now then. Here is your tea, mistress,¡± said Alviona as she placed the cup and poured some water. She also ensured to set a book on the table in front of the girl. Afterward, she landed a kiss on the entity¡¯s supposed cheeks and vanished.


    Only Alviona remained sitting on the sofa, a cup of tea presented in front of her.


    ¡°Well then, let me start reading for a bit. After two hours, I will go to sleep. Resting is crucial. And today, I had a lot of adventures. I learned so much. The library has new records added to it now, so I have to make sure to re-read what knowledge I acquired today and master it. Perhaps over the next few months, I will be able to find a correlation between my records and this world. It appears to be operating much differently from the knowledge that I possess,¡± said the girl to herself in a low voice.


    After the said time elapsed, she closed the book and placed it inside a return box, which made it disappear back to its original shelf. Alviona stretched and touched her curly crimson-colored hair, twirling it around her fingers.


    All-right then. It is time to go sleep, said Alviona as she moved back to the mirror. Touching it, she found herself on a green field, bright sunlight illuminating the beautiful sight. Crispy, fresh, and a relaxing wind stroked the girl¡¯s cheeks. A short tree was visible that cast a shadow over a large, comfortable bed. It had three large pillows on it and a big blanket. A sizeable mechanical clock also stood tall right beside the bed. It was emitting the sound Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock.


    Seeing the sight, Alviona grinned and undressed. After placing her clothing inside the nearby drawer, she crawled into her bed.


    Ah! Bliss. So comfortable and cozy. The breeze keeps me refreshed while those blankets keep me warm. Mr. Tock, please wake me up when the need arises or when I am fully rested, please. I am somewhat tired today, said Alviona as she moved her hand towards the clock and gently rubbed it. You are my good friend, she thought.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Alviona chuckled. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± she said after closing her eyes and falling asleep, her face showing a bright smile. The girl was overly ecstatic over everything that occurred within the last few days. It was an experience of a lifetime for her, as such she had ensured to engrave this memory inside of her library.


    Seriously though, I do need to be more vigilant. I have no idea what sort of dangers await me. I can not keep being oblivious to my own condition. My body is not perfect. I am not in a form like my mother was. I am not even using my essence form when inside my world. It is not grown, and until it is, I have to be overly careful and plan my steps ahead of time. If I damage my body, I will not be able to forgive myself. This is the most significant gift that was given to me by my two mothers. How can I disrespect it?


    Grandma was scared this morning. I could tell. I dislike making my relatives worried. So, Alviona, promise yourself that you will think before you act. And even when I do act, I still have to take alternatives into consideration.


    It was reckless of me to order Solomon to kill the goblin without letting others know of its identity. Perhaps I should have even warned them from the getgo? And what of the academy that grandma keeps talking about? I am nervous. It is scary thinking about the unknown. And yet, I am overly curious and interested. How well will I do? Can I learn to control myself? Will I learn new abilities? All these questions are relevant to me.


    As Alviona contemplated over this, she steadily fell asleep.


    ***


    Alviona did not wake up for two full days. She was deep asleep. Mira got nervous over this, but seeing that on the third day the girl woke up, she managed to calm down. Uninterestingly enough, the first thing that the child did once she opened her eyes was rubbing her stomach.


    ¡°Good morning grandma. Can we please eat? I am famished,¡± said Alviona with pleading eyes. Janine and Solomon both burst into laughter. They could not help it. For this, Mira ended up scolding the two of them.


    After feeding Alviona, the party continued its journey and reached the city of Allaqar within four days. It was Thursday afternoon. Not willing to lose any time, they moved to the gate and made it to the Kingdom of Dalei ¨C Capital City of Nan Leiuro.


    Mira ensured to ask for direction to the nearby inn. Upon entering, she booked the rooms for three days and provided a payment of 48 silver pieces. Like it or not, the prices were much higher compared to the port city of Alpall.


    After settling in, the party headed out to the local bathing area to wash up and ease some stress off their shoulders. Janine, for example, had been screaming for nearly two hours after Mira told her that Solomon was an undead.


    At 8:30 pm, they had dinner, and at around 9 o¡¯clock Alviona got tired and headed to her room to rest. This time, Janine went with her, and they decided to sleep in the same bed. Solomon and Mira stayed behind.


    ¡°May I ask you a question, Solomon?¡± Asked Mira after the two girls were gone.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± replied the man firmly.


    ¡°What do you think should I do? I am too nervous and worried. How do you manage this? Aren¡¯t you worried about Alviona and her well-being?¡±


    ¡°I most certainly am. More than, you by the way, because my life is directly linked to hers. This said I do not think you should worry too much. Regardless of what one might think, pay close attention to the girl¡¯s actions, and you will see a brilliant mind that gets overshadowed by her curious and childish nature. If you were in the same scenario, would you not act the same way? From my understanding, every experience is new to Alviona. Therefore, it is natural that the girl is adventurous. However, do not be fooled. I have witnessed her analyze dead corpses when inside her <Clock of Time> and I promise you, she can handle things that even a seasoned veteran can not. She is calm, composed and witty. Alviona is a quick thinker, and she never does anything reactively. Recall everything that happened up to today, and you will understand that she plans everything to the last detail. She is proactive. She leads the battle. As for outside of combat, she is developing. Give it time, Mira. Neither of us knows what is going on in her head,¡± said Solomon firmly to cheer Mira up.


    Hearing his words, the elf could not help but burst out into laughter. ¡°You do have a strong point there. The girl is learning. We are here to support her. I appreciate and thank you for your insight on the matter, Solomon. I am tired now so I will get going. Have a good night,¡± said Mira, getting up and walking upstairs. Solomon followed suit soon after.


    The next morning, a realization came to every party member''s head. Alviona was actually able to wear the Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch.


    "W-what?! H-how?!" Exclaimed Solomon, Mira, and Janine simultaneously.

 Chapter 34 - Enrollment

    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Mm. Good morning, thought Alviona as she gently opened her eyes. The sun was not up yet, and she could not see much. However, she could feel the breathing and warmth of Janine who slept beside her. Alviona could feel the girl''s slender hands around her waist. For the child, it was an odd feeling. She had slept with her mother and Mira. However, with Janine, it felt strange. Her heart seemed to race a little faster than usual, and while she did not mind it, the sensation was still new to her. Alviona ended up blushing and became slightly uncomfortable. And yet, she did not want to get out of the bed. I think it is best to wait until sunrise, she thought. I do not want to wake her up with my movement. Grandma said many times that Janine was tired because of driving the carriage. Yes, I should let her rest. I will go to sleep too.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Three hours later, Alviona woke up and Janine appeared to be up and out of the room. Solomon sat on the chair opposite the bed.


    ¡°Ah. Good morning, mistress. How are you today?¡± Asked the man with a smile.


    ¡°I am good. Thank you for asking, Mr. Solomon. How are you?¡± Replied Alviona chirpily, her eyes displaying curiosity and excitement. After all, today they were going to enroll at the Academy of Dalei.


    ¡°I am also well. Hearing your beautiful voice makes me feel refreshed. So then, shall we get going? Mira and Janine went out to retrieve some information related to the place of the institution. Breakfast was already served, but in this inn, we are allowed to request additions free of charge. So if you are hungry, it would be a great time to fuel up,¡± said Solomon, getting up, approaching Alviona, and asking for permission to pat her head. Hearing her excited voice in his head, the man pampered his mistress.


    After getting spoiled, the girl got out of her bed and dressed up in her usual attire. She still wore her green blouse, black leather pants, and light brown leather boots. Now it was time to equip her treasure. Excited, she recalled the Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch from her <Dimensional Loot-Box> with an instruction to auto-equip it. However, nothing happened. Instead,a sound rang through her mind.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alviona tried again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You lack the required Stats to equip Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch. Raise your Intelligence by 487, Wisdom by 834, and Strength by 31 points to equip this item.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    After trying it over one hundred times, and listening to the same message, she attempted to equip the hat one last time.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>I am serious. You lack the required Stats to equip this item. Please, stop trying to do so until you have 50 Intelligence, 50 Wisdom, and 35 Strength.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Reading the last message, the girl grinned.


    Mr. Solomon, can you please go downstairs and order me a lot of food? I will come down in about three minutes.


    The man nodded and left the room.


    "Excellent. Now then, Mr. Hat. We are going to have a severe talk," said Alviona with a bright smile as she removed the item from her <Dimensional Loot-Box>. "You have two options here. One, get equipped on my head and live a happy life. Two, get permanently erased from the existence inside of my inventory. I will eat the leftover atoms with a gentle nom. Either way, it is a win/win for me." The girl placed the hat on her bed and stared at it with her puffed cheeks and pout. "The choice is yours," she said, waiting for a reply.


    No reply came.


    "Well, that is a pity. I liked your style, which is why I picked you up from all the other shinies. But if you don''t want to be mine, then I will discard you. Here I was, thinking that we would negotiate. But, alas. Farewell, Mr. Hat, I will miss you," said Alviona with saddened voice and face, preparing to move the item back to the storage and delete it. However, before she could do so, a new message popped up in her head. It was not from the world, but instead, from her database.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Maximum affinity gained with the Needlessly Large Hat of a Witch. Your words have defiled the system. Viewing this item as apparel and, for the first time, not calling it useless, you have gained full ownership of the hat. You may now equip it free of charge. You have earned a title: A Monster Whose Offer Is Hard To Refuse. You gain a level. You may spend it to level up anything. Would you like to use it now or save it for later?</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Excited, Alviona decided to keep the level for later. Right now, she had no use for stats that did not and could not affect her in any way. After her essence expanded, it would be different. Carefully analyzing and solidifying her decision, she chose the appropriate option and lifted the hat.


    "Now, I am happy. I knew you would like me too. Come here, and sit on my head," said Alviona as she equipped the hat. The item, while too large, did not seem to obscure Alviona''s vision. Except, getting in and out of doorways would seem to be a problem.However, she soon discovered that the hat could slide through the door frame without falling off."Hm. Interesting. It defies physics. Truly a magnificent item. I am glad I picked it up."


    Walking downstairs, she noticed that Janine and Mira had returned and were waiting for her. Sadly, before she could even greet them, Alviona found herself bombarded with questions on how she equipped the hat. Not understanding how to explain the occurrence, she decided to pass the item around. Everyone was baffled by the fact that the Stats required to equip this useless item were gone. Furthermore, what interested them was the fact that it only stated one condition for fitting: Must be Alviona. Thisfact meant that she had not altered the item in any way. At least, not directly. The Legendary status was still present, and the barrier amount was identical.


    After contemplating about the situation, the party gave up. Alviona did not seem to be willing to explain how she did it. Instead, the girl kept grinning and said that it was "A secret," causing Janine to shrug and Mira to facepalm. A brief moment afterward, both girls chuckled mildly.


    "All right. Sinceyou say so, I will not pry. Now then, Alviona, please have your breakfast. We have a lot of things to do today," said Mira as she caressed the child''s cheeks.


    ***


    Approaching the academy territory, neither Alviona nor Janine could hold their breaths. Tall castle-like structures and towers were visible. The place occupied a massive amount of land. Just by looking at the vast area visible, the two girls could guess that the institution could house roughly three to four thousand students inside the classes. Separated green fields for physical training were also visible, alongside training grounds to practice magic. An oval-shaped facility also appeared in front of them. Janine concluded that it was a dueling area of sorts.


    "G-grandma. Am I dreaming? Or am I trulygoing to live and acquire knowledge in this place for the next two years that you spoke of?" Asked Alviona in disbelief. Despite her being accustomed to the beauty that was above mortal comprehension, the experience and the purity of the place presented in front of her was still entrancing. It was a landscape worth dedicating a book to and placing it within her personalized library.


    "Well, that remains to be seen. We still have not asked about the enrollment requirements. To add some salt to the injury, we are running a week late. Now then, let us head in," said Mira, directing the party to slowly descend from atop the mountains and not deviate away from the spiraling path. Just in case, she ensured to hold Alviona''s hand.


    As they approached the gates, the two guards dressed in fully plated armor greeted them.


    "Good morning there. Are you here to visit someone? Or are you perhaps trying to check out the campus before attending?"


    "We are here to seek information about enrolling. Is the registry open? Would we be allowed to arrange a meeting?" Asked Mira politely.


    "The registry is open. We are allowing for early enrollments for next year, so absolutely. You may arrange a meeting. When would you like to book it? We have guides and teachers that will be glad to show you around and demonstrate what the world''s best Academy has to offer. The reservation is available for next month and you can..."


    "No, no. Gentlemen, please. We can not wait for so long. I was referring to booking an appointment for right now," replied Mira with a smile.


    "W-what?! T-that is impossible, madame."


    "Really now? Not even for ten gold coins?" Asked Mira while removing a pouch and lightly shaking it. The jiggling of coins had its desired effect as both guards seemed to gulp.


    "Ah. I understand. You are a nobility. Yes, madame. In that case, we will send for someone to guide you immediately," said the guard, slightly bowing and disappearing behind the gates. Twenty minutes later, he came back alongside a man who appeared to be some administrator. He wore expensive robes.


    "Greeting travelers. My name is Rufus, and I am in charge of registrations that occur at this institution. Please, follow me. We shall discuss everything once we reach the registry," said the man with a warm and a welcoming smile.


    Mira nodded and gestured to the party to follow along.


    The streets were wide and had a unique, gothic look to it. Alviona observed the different architectures with excitement, ensuring to inscribe everything within her mind. After some time, they reached a tall building with the flag of the Dalei Kingdom hanging from the balcony. It was an elegant piece of work that was blue as its background and an emblem that depicted two knights bowing to the golden falcon. The fabric was made from an exotic material.


    After entering the building, the party was guided towards the registry. A woman sat behind the desk, slowly writing some form of a document. Hearing the sound, she lifted her head and greeted the man.


    "Good morning, Mr. Rufus. Are those the applicants that the guard spoke of?"


    "Correct. Those people are going to be our special guests for today. So then, may I ask where do you hail from and what business have you with us today?" Asked the man after he moved behind the counter.


    "My name is Mira. This girl is Janine, and that girl over there is Alviona. The man''s name is Solomon. We are here today to inquire about the basics of enrollment. What are the requirements?"


    "Hm. Have you never read our pamphlets or information booklets? Normally, the information guilds are quite potent at providing those."


    "No. Unfortunately, we are coming from a warring Kingdom. It is located some distance away from here, on an island. Therefore, we do not have much knowledge about how this Academy operates or what the enrollment criteria is," replied Mira firmly and with a warming smile.


    "I am sorry to hear that, madame," replied Rufus sympathetically. "In that case, I will provide you with all the necessary information. First, to get enrolled in our place of an institution, one must write a formal introductory letter. Second, all applicants must have a basic understanding of the two schools of magic that they wish to pursue. Third, some display of knowledge has to be performed. It can be either in written or practical form. If it is the former, then you may send it alongside your application. If it is the latter, the skill appraisal has to occur here, within Academy walls. Lastly, all applicants are to provide a minimum payment of 400 silver as a deposit if wishing to reserve a spot. A sum of 25,000 silver has to be paid two days before the beginning of classes. The prices are as stated and can not be negotiated. Furthermore, the minimum deposit is a must for everyone. Just to give an example, this year we have two open dormitory rooms available for females and three for males. This is because four of our applicants ended up deciding to attend their native Academies and one decided to void it all together. We are also short on staff. Our nurse decided to retire a month ago, and we were unable to find a replacement for her as of yet. As such, we are paying out extra wages to the labor force for working overtime and 24/7 in the health department," said Rufus with a severe tone. He appeared to be irritated by the situation.


    Mira fell into thought. This situation could not have been any better. For starters, the institution appeared to have a vacancy. "The payment was not that bad either. Twenty-five gold coins? I can afford that," thought Mira. "And what of the stats requirement?" She asked.


    "It is proportional to your school of magic. We have no specific requirement, except you show your interest. However, we do recommend specific courses if a student is changing schools of magic, or is learning from scratch. The higher your stats, the more advanced classes you can handle. Note that it is a recommendation, and is highly advised. However, sometimes students want to challenge themselves, and it is fine. We can accommodate that. But if you get injured, it will not be our fault, and we will not refund your money just because you chose a course that you have no understanding of," said Rufus with a grin.


    Mira nodded and turned around to face her party members. "All right girls, and Solomon. We seem to be in luck. Now comes the tricky part. Please do not interrupt me and don''t answer any of their questions unless I tell you to. Let me do the talking," said Mira with a grin. Alviona and Janine nodded, while Solomon did not care much.


    "All right. When is the closest window to register for courses?" Asked Mira.


    "You may enroll as early as right now. However, the classes will not start for you until next year, unless you want to enroll for summer courses. If you decide to do so, it will be only 7,000 silver. Otherwise, the standard tuition includes it."


    "I see. And is there any way to enroll for the current semester?"


    "Out of the question! The classes started a week ago. The enrollment for the current semester is already well past its due date. We are very strict when it comes to the deadlines. I apologize madame, but the soonest you can enroll for would be summer courses or next year''s term," said Rufus, not leaving any room for negotiations.


    "And what if I were to say that I can solve your problem with the nurse? I am a professional druid and can work for free, as long as you allow us to enroll for the current semester. You may test my abilities if you so desire. Would it not be delightful to cut your costs?" Asked Mira, hitting the man''s weak spot.


    Rufus appeared to ponder for a moment but still shook his head. "I apologize, madame. I truly do. Your offer is very appealing, but rules are..."


    "I do not care for your rules," said a voice not belonging to Mira. Everyone''s attention shifted towards the source, whose face was obscured by a giant hat. "You want to get that nurse, correct? My grandmother is willing to lend you a hand for my sake. You are irritated that you have empty classes, no? We are willing to register right now and pay you immediately. If you need further motivation, I will sweeten your deal. How about, a payment of 25,000 silver to enroll just me, 25,000 to enroll Janine, 20,000 silver to have you stop declining Mira''s offer, and an additional 10,000 silver to forget that we had this talk?" Asked Alviona, who appeared to pass a hint of irritation from her voice. She was not chirpy at all.


    Rufus began sweating. "W-who? Who is this girl? She just tossed in such a deal so firmly. Furthermore, what is with that hat? Is there a gambling demon under it? What is going on?" He wondered.


    "Time is ticking, and you are not answering me. Would you like Mr. Solomon to teach you how to speak?" Asked Alviona sternly.


    "N-no. There is no need for that. I am sorry, ahem, madame. Rules are..."


    "I see. Very well then A pity. I thought that this Academy was supposedly a prestigious place. However, I see now that this is not the case. Farewell then," said Alviona as she turned around and began walking away, Solomon slightly bowing in front of Rufus and following the girl.


    Mira and Janine were left behind, with their mouth agape. Rufus was in the same situation.


    After a brief delay, Mira apologized and followed her granddaughter. Janine followed suit.


    "That. What was that?" Asked Rufus with his eyes widened and sweating profusely. "That girl roasted me!" He exclaimed in his thought.


    "Sir, what are you going to do?" Asked the receptionist.


    "Nancy, to be quite honest, I do not know. We need to let the headmaster know of this though. I think we just angered a high-ranking nobility. Please, excuse me," said Rufus as he moved away from the counter and ran towards the headmaster''s chamber.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ***


    "Alviona, why did you do that?" Asked Mira, frustrated from what the girl had done.


    "I am sorry, grandma. But that man kept declining your offer. An odd emotion tickled my body, and I got overly nervous and irritated. I am sorry," replied Alviona sincerely.


    "Hm. All right then. It did not seem like the man was going to accept either way. However, do remember for next time, that Patience is a Virtue," said Mira as her face softened, gently patting Alviona on her head.


    "Okie," replied the girl who enjoyed every moment of getting spoiled. She moved towards her grandmother and tightly hugged her. "I love, love, love you, grandma."


    "So do I, kiddo," replied Mira. "Now then, I suppose we have a change of plans. Fortunately, we are in luck. I have prepared for this. We are going to utilize the teleport gate to reach the Kingdom of Athamas. There is an institution there that has second best education about Elemental schools of magic. While its library is not as vast, it is still a rather good bargain. We will stay in this city for today and will move out tomorrow morning. Sounds good?"


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    ***


    "Come in."


    "Headmaster, I apologize for intruding. However, I have an emergency case to report."


    "Rufus, calm down. What is going on? Are you all right? You are out of breath. Here, have some water," said the headmaster as he moved his hand towards the jug filled with liquid and passed it to Rufus. The man gladly accepted it and poured some water.


    "I... I think that I angered a great nobility," said Rufus, choking and gasping for air.


    "What do you mean? What happened?"


    "Headmaster, there was this person here half-an-hour ago accompanied by three people. She made an odd offer, stating that she was going to pay us a lump sum of 80,000 silver!"


    "And their demands were?"


    "To be accepted immediately for the current semester. Furthermore, the female elf said that she was willing to solve our cost problem with the overtime of our nurses by working for free. She said that she was a druid."


    "And you declined?"


    "yes, as per your orders. However, when I did, the girl did not propose anything else. Instead, she said that she was disappointed and simply walked away. Never apologizing or regretting her action. The man accompanying bowed in her stead and left."


    "Interesting. The way you are describing it does make her sound like someone that is not from our usual clientele. Perhaps, she is strong? It would be good publicity for us to have such a noble attend our institution, no? Even if she turns out not to be one, we can show the world that sometimes exceptions can be made. This way, would other nobles not want to bargain and give us more funding? Again, publicity," said the headmaster as he stroked his beard.


    "I... are you sure of this?"


    "Yes. Rufus, please send out information to the town center. Seek these people out if they are still in the city. Did any of them mention their names?"


    "Yes, the elf introduced herself as Mira. However, I forgot the name of the other three," said Rufus who was far too excited.


    "Mira. Hm. Somehow, the name sounds familiar. Also, Rufus, please allow them to know that I would like to test that girl''s ability personally. Thank you," said the headmaster as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to contemplate.


    "Yes, headmaster," replied Rufus, who walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.


    ***


    In the next morning, Alviona, Mira, and Janine were having their breakfast when the innkeeper approached them.


    "Excuse me, lady Mira. There is a person who would like to speak to you," said the man.


    "Huh? Me? Who is it?" Asked the elf with a puzzled face.


    "I do not know. The man said that he is from the Magical Academy of Dalei."


    "Oh, my. Please guide that person to me then," replied Mira with a nod. What did they want?


    A tall man dressed in black leather armor approached her.


    "Good morning. Mira, I presume, yes? My name is Qatmash. I was sent to seek you out as a headmaster of the Academy is willing to make an exception and accept your request in joining the current semester. Are you still interested?"


    Mira was surprised. She shot a glance at Alviona, who was gently nomming on her food. Seeing that she nodded, Mira replied in affirmative.


    "Brilliant. Please come today at around 7:00 pm. The headmaster would like to personally test this child," said the man, bowing and leaving the inn.


    "Well then. That... worked out I suppose?" Said Janine with a chuckle. "But I am not surprised."


    "How so?" Asked Mira.


    "Because of politics. What Alviona told them yesterday probably stirred something up. I do not know the details, but I do know how nobles work. After all, I am one of them. To retain a good reputation, they are most likely trying to use her as an advertisement of sorts," replied Janine with a grin, looking at Alviona and finishing her food.


    The party arrived at the registry at the agreed time. As they entered, the headmaster greeted them.


    "Good evening," said the man with a black beard, brown eyes, and a delicate nose. He wore an expensive robe that was of no lesser quality than Legendary. It was an exotic piece of equipment, one that could rival Mira. Jewelry was masterfully carved in, forming a shape of a falcon. "I am excited to meet you," continued the headmaster as he shook Alviona''s and Mira''s hands.


    "The feeling is mutual. So then, we were told that you had decided to affect our offer. Am I correct" Asked Mira suspiciously.


    "Indeed. That is the case. Please, come over here. We have prepared some tea for you. I apologize for earlier, but you must understand that our Academy likes to keep a high profile. As such, we are strict with schedules and deadlines," said the headmaster as he leads Mira, Janine, Alviona, and Solomon to the small room, where chairs were set up to write an exam and training dummies were placed to display skills if one so desired. "Now then, who is doing what? Nancy over here and Rufus will ensure to record our conversation on a crystal that will be passed to you. It will be proof that you had enrolled in the institution. We are also going to perform a contract here."


    "I do not see any problems with that. However, is there only one crystal?" Asked Mira.


    "Correct," replied the headmaster honestly. He was not lying. Mira cast an ability to ensure the truthfulness behind his words and was relieved to see that she was not being tricked.


    "Alviona, Janine, please let them know what schools of magic you would like to attend," said Mira with a smile.


    "I would like to switch mine from Psychic primary to secondary with Elemental as my major," said Janine.


    "Excellent. We can teach you that. And what about you, miss?" Asked the headmaster to his primary guest.


    "I would like to take Divine and Elemental as my two main schools. However, I am willing to take any classes related to every other school of magic. I also require full access to your library. This is for purely scholarly purposes," said Alviona. The girl was well prepared to answer this question because Mira had been relentlessly training her for this moment.


    "Ah. An odd combination. It is not a popular one. So far, we only know of bishop classes that use this combination. Well, druids also do this. However, they are rare. Very well then, your schools have been announced. Now, how would you like to demonstrate your knowledge?" Asked the headmaster curiously.


    "I will take a written exam, please," said Janine.


    "I would like to conduct a physical appraisal," replied Alviona.


    Janine wrote a dissertation related to the Elemental and Psychic schools of magic. She explained in detail how both of them operated and what were their drawbacks and weaknesses. Upon reading her thesis, the headmaster was pleased and gladly accepted it.


    Alviona, on the other hand, was an entirely different story.


    "All right. For your test, I would like you to show me your abilities. Since you said you want to learn Divine schools of magic first, I am going to create a scenario. Rufus will be my assistant," said the headmaster.


    Rufus moved towards the training dummies and equipped an armor.


    "Ok. Now, observe carefully. I do not want you to heal the injuries. Instead, I want you to cast a barrier on Rufus as support. Remember, Divine schools of magic are not just healers. They control the battlefield by strengthening allies, healing those that require medical attention and weaken their foes. Can you do that?" Asked the headmaster.


    Alviona fell into thought and analyzed what the man told her. After a brief moment, she asked a question.


    "Yes, I understand. However, am I allowed to use any ability?"


    "Yes. Anything that will strengthen, heal, or weaken the foes."


    Alviona hesitated and fell into a ponder.If I utilize the concept that I want to experiment on, then I will undoubtedly scare my grandmother andattract unnecessary attention. I promised myself that I would be more careful. If I use a mana based ability, it will be all okie. So then What should I do? I don''t know how to cast the barrier that he spoke about. Nor do I understand how the concept of weakening the foes works. So then, this leaves me with just the healing.What can I do?


    "Ready?" Asked the headmaster.


    "Almost. I have one last question. Can you explain to me the idea behind a good barrier?" Asked Alviona.


    "Hm. Do you not know? I am slightly surprised. Well then, the barrier is a form of ability that supports cast on their allies to reduce any incoming magical damage. Does this help?"


    "Absolutely. Thank you very much," replied Alviona with a grin, recording this knowledge in her mind.So the barrier does that. All right. This world is truly different from any of my records. Think quickly. If the barrier can stop any magic, regardless of what spell is cast, it can only mean that it is the sort of ability that picks up and absorbs the mana pattern. It can not be anything else. Otherwise, it would not make sense.Less than three seconds passed as Alviona analyzed this. "I am ready. However, would it be all right if I moved beside that man? I want to imagine myself casting a barrier on him as if in a real combat scenario," said Alviona firmly.


    "Oh. That is quite acceptable. Very well then. You may do so," replied the headmaster with a grin.


    As the girl moved by the man''s side, the headmaster counted down three seconds and clapped his hands.Oh. That. I did not think he was going to do that, thought Alviona as she witnessed small sparks within the hands of her opponent.Well then, let''s see if this barrier blocks it.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Creating instructions: Form a transparent protection barrier utilizing mana. Cost 84 Mana > Target: Rufus. > Upon being struck by electric discharge, act as an insulator. Cost: 220 Mana.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Four seconds later, Alviona''s ability activated.


    "Ready?"


    "Yes," replied Alviona. As she had expected, the man discharged electricity. The moment it touched her barrier, the ability disappeared. Rufus appeared to be uninjured. The man did not even flinch.


    "Oh, my. Interesting. Rufus, are you injured?" Asked the headmaster.


    "Not at all," came a reply from the man.


    "Interesting. Miss Alviona, how did you do it? The armor that the man wears will reduce the damage taken by 20%. I ensured that I would not deal fatal damage. However, how did you make a barrier that completely negated my lightning? This element is known to penetrate through any barriers, and since Rufus was wearing a metallic object, it was supposed to go through it."


    "I saw sparks. You gave your ability away, and that allowed me to prepare a stronger barrier," replied Alviona after a thought. She had to ensure that nothing she said would sound suspicious.


    "Ah. A mistake on my part then. Regardless, you did a good job. A phenomenal job actually. The strongest barrier I have seen in a while. Congratulations, you pass," replied the headmaster with a grin and a clap.


    "T-thank you very much," replied Alviona.


    "Now then, about your stats. Janine, you are first. Please touch the magic stone over there so that we can give you proper advice on where to start," said Rufus as he approached the object.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Janine</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Race:</td>


    <td>Human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Title:</td>


    <td>None acquired</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>Notchosen</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Class Proficiency:</td>


    <td>0/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Schools of Magic:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Psychic:</td>


    <td>Minor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Health:</td>


    <td>1,233/1,233</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mana:</td>


    <td>1,400/1,400</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level:</td>


    <td>9</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Current EXP:</td>


    <td>2,333</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Next Level EXP:</td>


    <td>749</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality:</td>


    <td>8</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Resistance:</td>


    <td>12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength:</td>


    <td>9 (8+1)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity:</td>


    <td>10 (5+5)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Agility:</td>


    <td>8 (7+1)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence:</td>


    <td>10 (8+2)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom:</td>


    <td>7</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Excellent. You are advised to start with the basics. However, you do have an in-depth knowledge of the subjects based on your thesis. So as long as you practice, you should do well. Now, miss Alviona, your turn," said Rufus.


    Mira and Janine gulped. What was going to happen?


    The girl approached the stone and put her hands on it. Interestingly enough, nothing happened.


    "Huh? Can please step back a moment and try again?" Asked Rufus.


    Alviona did as told. This time, the glass stone shattered into pieces.


    "..."


    "Hm. Rufus, can you bring a new stone, please?" Asked the headmaster. However, the results were identical. Five stones were changed, and all of them broke once the girl touched them. "Interesting. Very interesting."


    "W-what is going on?" Asked Rufus who appeared to be confused.


    "Well, nothing is going on. This occurrence is odd, but it has happened before on several occasions. The girl might have an active ability that is interfering with the stone trying to read her stats. If that is the case, it is okay. Or it could be that the magic crystal cannot measure her statistics. The former is likely. The latter is impossible. Well then, lady Alviona. Where do you think you belong? Should we put you into adept training courses perhaps? Your barrier was of that level at least," said the headmaster with a grin.


    "No. Please put me on the same level as Janine. I would like to start from scratch and work my way up. Also, if possible, I would like to request that I share a room with her," replied Alviona firmly and without any hint of hesitation.


    "Hm. Unfortunately, the roommates were already distributed. Only two rooms in the girl''s dormitory are available right now. One is slightly bigger than the other so you can decide which one do you want," replied the headmaster.


    "I will take the smaller one," replied Janine immediately. The more space Alviona had, the better. After all, she kept stating how many books she would be borrowing from libraries. Giving her a place with the larger area was preferred.


    "All right then. Anything else?" Asked the headmaster.


    "Oh, yes. Mr. Solomon has to come with me. He is my guard that is to be alongside me 24/7," said Alviona.


    "That I can not do. Men are not allowed into female quarters," replied the headmaster with a chuckle.


    "I will pay an extra 30,000 silver if you close your eyes on it. He will not harm anyone. But I require his company at all times," replied Alviona firmly.


    "T-thirty thousand? Oh, well. Fine. You may have him. But be warned, if he commits any sexual atrocity, peeks on the girls or scares them in any way, you will be expelled. Are we clear on this?" Asked the headmaster.


    "He won''t do anything of the sort. However, if anyone harms me, I am allowing him to act accordingly. Do we have a deal?"


    "If it is only for self-defense or to protect you, then yes. It will be allowed, and you will not get into trouble. However, we will require proof. As such, I will instruct one of the students to accompany you as a witness. Would that be fine?"


    "I am on terms with that," replied Alviona.


    "Then deal?" Asked the headmaster as he extended his hand.


    "Deal!" Replied Alviona with a grin, shaking the hand and thus forming a contract.


    "You know what? I do not care if you are nobility or not. You are a fascinating person, and a sound businessman," said the headmaster. With these words, he began walking away. "Oh. Forgot to ask one more thing. Uhm, Mira, correct?"


    The elf nodded.


    "I have been thinking. Are you by chance the same Mira that is a legendary druid that the elven continent has written a book about?"


    "That would be me," replied Mira with widened eyes. She was surprised that the man had heard of her.


    "Well, I am pleased to say that I have read it. Lady Mira, would you be willing to take up on the offer you mentioned earlier and work with us as a nurse? I am willing to provide compensation for you. As an employee, you will have full access to all of our facilities, including the library. If you wish to increase your knowledge of healing arts, that is. A lot has changed over the past few decades, and you will find our advancements quite intriguing," said the headmaster with a grin.


    "Absolutely. I was planning to register as a scholar regardless. Thank you for the opportunity. However, I am willing to stay here only as long as my granddaughter is. Please bear that in mind," replied Mira sincerely.


    "That is not a problem. I will employ you. Rufus, please prepare a job application for her to fill out. Also, provide her with the job description. Thank you," said the headmaster.


    "Worry not, sir. It will be done."


    "Splendid. Now then I will get going. Oh, before I forget." The headmaster stopped before exiting the door and glanced at Alviona. "Nice hat, kiddo," said the man. After this, he exited the room.


    Soon after, the party moved back to the inn to gather their belongings. Alviona moved everything into her <Dimensional Loot-Box>.


    "All right. Listen to me, Alviona. We will take the same classes, ok? This way we can be on the same page. I will also study hard alongside you. Sounds good?" Asked Janine, with an excited face.


    "Okie," replied the child while blushing ever so slightly. For some reason, she could not shake off the feeling from the previous morning. She was excited. After all, she was going to finally start learning about how this world and its magic worked. With this knowledge, she would be able to go back to her mother in two years and protect her. Her essence would also grow so there would be no need ever to worry.


    My dear two mommies. Wait for me. I will show you that you can rely on your daughter, thought Alviona.


    After gathering their items, the party moved to the Academy dormitory. Mira stayed in the inn for the night.


    Entering the room that Alviona was directed towards, a small girl appeared in front of her and greeted her.


    "Hello, my name is Mimi. Uhm, what is your name, miss?" Asked the dwarf.


    Alviona gently touched her hat and removed it, making it disappear into her <Dimensional Loot-Box>. She observed the dwarf for several seconds.


    "Ah. Too cute! You are adorable!" Exclaimed the girl as she hugged Mimi as tightly as was possible.


    "W-what? Huh? Let go of me," said the dwarf, but Alviona did not do so. Instead, Mimi''s head was being patted.What is up with her? Wondered the dwarf. However, as she looked at the beauty in front of her, she could not help but give in. "Can you please stop?"


    "No. You are too adorable. So small, and cute. Too cute, much too cute!" After enjoying patting Mimi''s head, Alviona backed off and performed a curtsy. "Good evening. I apologize for my behavior, but I have never seen anyone quite like you. My name is Alviona. It is a pleasure to meet, you," said the girl as she extended her hand.


    "You are weird. But, I suppose I can forgive you this one time. Like I said, I am Mimi. I will be your roommate from today onwards. A pleasure to meet you. Please avoid patting my...."


    Alviona did not listen. She was already caressing the girl''s head. For some reason, Mimi appeared to enjoy it.


    "Ugh. Fine. You can pat my head, but only because I do not know what to do with you."


    With this, Alviona''s school life was about to begin.

 Interlude - ZarHakal

    Five years before Alviona¡¯s creation.


    A humanoid dressed in exotic robes walked towards a large tent that was located in the middle of the fortified zone. Despite the man being comparably smaller in height to the on-duty guards, nobody appeared to check for his identification. Instead, he was allowed to enter without further delay.


    ¡°Ailus oush¡¯ tazar,¡± said the man upon entering the tent, not forgetting to bow before the creature that sat in front of him.


    ¡°Ah. Human. It is rather amusing how you came to know of our language and culture formalities. I can not get used to this despite our partnership for nearly a year now. Yes. Greetings to you too, friend,¡± said the minotaur that had his right horn shattered and his left had some form of toxin or corruption visibly spreading through it. Looking at the bull¡¯s eye sockets, one could come to a conclusion that the creature was blind in his right eye.


    ¡°I would highly appreciate that you do not refer to me as one of the puny, disgraceful, and weak atrocities that inhabit this world,¡± replied the man coldly.


    ¡°Forgive me then. Now, what brings you here today? Are you here on behalf of¡­¡±


    ¡°Correct. I am,¡± replied the man, gesturing to the minotaur to stop talking and instead listen. ¡°Warchief of the Tazal tribe, listen to me carefully,¡± he continued. However, unexpected guests barged into the tent and interrupted the man¡¯s speech. He was followed by a small group of minotaurs that were armed with different weapons.


    ¡°What Is it? Who allowed you to enter?¡± Asked the war chief calmly.


    ¡°It is irrelevant,¡± replied the one who wielded a two-handed hammer. ¡°We are dissatisfied with the results of the war that you wage. We believe that you are outdated as a commander and out of touch with the reality. Our food rations have dwindled. Our battle spirits are shattered, and you have a gull to make deals with humans such as that one over there?! Where has your honor gone, Grimorion?¡± He scoffed.


    Gimorion looked at his guest and apologized. He then slowly got up from his throne and before anyone could blink the creature was already holding the rebel by his throat, slowly and steadily choking him. The rest of them attempted to encircle and swing their weapons down at him; however, this did not come to pass. A mighty roar rang through the vicinity that caused the assailants to cover their ears as the intensity of the sound was deafening, so much that many fell into a state of shock and fear.


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± said the war chief, as the dead body dropped on the ground. ¡°You are all pathetic. I am ashamed to think of you as brothers in arms. Guards! Take these men and get them executed immediately. I have no tolerance towards deserters and cowards. Let their blood wash away their names.¡±


    The summoned men did as told.


    ¡°Hm. It appears that some of your troops are beginning to doubt you,¡± said the human that observed the situation. Despite the brutality he had just witnessed, the man did not appear to be shaken in any way. His speech was ridden of any emotions. Instead, the eyes that were barely visible through the wooden mask were fixed on the war chief.


    ¡°Ungrateful pigs,¡± scoffed Gimorion. ¡°They always forget who is in charge and how to speak to their elders. I apologize for this sight. However, it was necessary. Now then, please, continue your speech.¡±


    ¡°Very well. We have observed you for quite some time now, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that your crusade for taking over the kingdom of Ateilla is not going so well. Am I correct?¡±


    The minotaur clenched his fists in anger but nodded.


    ¡°In that case, our organization is willing to lend you a hand. I can provide you with a one time use magical artifact that can cause an earthquake at the desired location. It will bypass any defenses and can level the fortification that is currently holding your advance to the ground. How about it?¡±


    ¡°And what is the price for such service, tazar?¡±


    ¡°Right now, nothing. We only demand that when the time is right, you will kneel in front of our master and become his subordinate. An eye for an eye, as the humans say it.¡±


    The war chief nodded because he had already come to terms with this much. The creature was willing to sell his soul if it meant defeating the humans of this kingdom. It would bring unimaginable dominance to his tribe over the others. Within two hours the contract was signed. Soon afterward, the mysterious man disappeared.


    After one year of ferocious battle, the minotaurs emerged as victors, and in the process, Ateilla was wiped off the face of Dedrillon.


    ***


    Four years before Alviona¡¯s creation


    Inside a dungeon in an unknown place, a tall demonic creature stood proudly in front of his subjects. His body was emitting a constant stream of fire. Various beasts and humanoids were presented before him.


    ¡°Lord of Fire, we are pleased to inform you that the invaders have been vanquished. They appeared in front of us over a couple of months now. The report states that their prominent features include wooden masks, exotic robes, and an Epic gear to say the least. We have yet to figure out who these men and women are. However, they do have one thing in common. Upon death, their bodies turn into ash.¡±


    ¡°I am aware of it Minerva. Thank you for your report. However, this is not what I wanted to hear. My question still remains unanswered. Why do they keep coming to my lair? What do they want?¡± Asked the Demon Lord whose body emitted twice as much heat and under whose feet the earth began shaking.


    ¡°I apologize, master. But I do not have an answer to that. Every time we attempt to take one captive, they commit suicide. We can not torture them, we can not approach them. It is all unknown to us,¡± replied Minerva who was trembling with fear.


    ¡°Is that so? And if you were to guess?¡±


    ¡°I would state that they appear to be from the dungeon as well. However, how this is possible remains a mystery. We, creatures, are not allowed to go out of our place of inhabitance if birthed inside this prison. Perhaps they are using some kind of trickery to defile the laws set by gods? In that case, we need to document, analyze, and learn from them.¡±


    ¡°That is something that I can agree on. If the world is evolving, so must we. And yet, I am uneasy about all of this. According to our records, my dungeon has never been defeated before. No hero has ever escaped, and nobody from the surface has ever correctly invaded us. Humans are weaklings, so are the rest of the races. If our shackles were not binding us, I would gladly order our troops to move out and begin our feast,¡± replied the Lord of Fire with an amused tone.


    ¡°Your lordship, perhaps the reason other creatures might be able to escape the dungeon is due to the world balance?¡±


    Minerva¡¯s words caught his attention. ¡°Continue and elaborate,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes. What I am trying to say is that you are the most powerful being in this world, on this planet. All of our records confirm this. There exists nothing above you. Not even gods can defeat you one on one. So then the only reason we are trapped here is due to the collaboration between many gods. They are supplying an intense amount of mana to keep our shackles on at all times. So perhaps it is possible that their power began dwindling? In that case, would it not explain how other monsters are able to get out of dungeons now? I think that over time, our opportunity will also arise. And then, by your decree, we will show the world who is at the top of the food chain,¡± said Minerva, causing the Lord of Fire to ponder for a moment until he smashed his fist into the nearby rock that shattered upon impact.


    ¡°Excellent conclusion. I could not have expected anything less from you, Minerva.¡±


    The female creature blushed, fell down on her knees, and pledged her uttermost loyalty to the lord in front of her. After all, this was Lord of Fire, the one being in existence that could cause pure chaos.


    ¡°Please, do not praise or value me this highly. I am but a mere servant.¡±


    ¡°Despite it being as you say, the fact remains as is. Unless proven otherwise, you are the only one worthy of becoming my general. Perhaps, even my wife.¡±


    Minerva swallowed her tongue and did not respond. Yes! She exclaimed in her mind. I have been working very hard for over one thousand years for this moment! Finally, he is seeing me as something other than his subordinate. I love him too much. O demon lord of fire, I hope that I can give you anything that you desire in this world and that you will make me your spouse. I promise that I will birth your children that will be as potent as yourself.


    ¡°However, we must get rid of our shackles first. Remember Minerva and my loyal subjects. We are strong, but it does not mean we should be reckless. Information gathering is a priority. We are to not act until we are sure of our victory. Remember that overconfidence will lead to an early demise.¡±


    With his last words, every subordinate bowed and pledged their loyalty in front of him.


    Two years before Alviona¡¯s creationThe tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ***


    Inside the capital city of the Kingdom of Vaalmer, two men that did not stand out in any specific way walked down the street. They appeared to be slightly in a rush.


    ¡°Brother, are all preparations complete? Are you certain that the new emperor will uphold our standards?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Never doubt the words that our master says or the orders he gives. Do not, ever, question his logic and you might find the life that all of us dream of. Do you not want to change the world for the better?¡±


    ¡°Why, yes, of course!¡±


    ¡°Splendid. Now then, let us make haste. We need to meet Basra.¡±


    The two individuals soon found themselves in a shady alley near the brewery. Looking around and ensuring that nobody was spying on them, the senior of the two cast an advanced form of [Tracking] ability. It was customized and allowed him to see anyone that was actively attempting to pursue them. The skill also revealed anyone that was trying to utilize concealment ability, be it potions, invisibility, or equipment. Satisfied that nobody watched them and they were operating in secrecy, the two approached the brewery and knocked three times. After a minute delay, they repeated the action two more times in intervals of fifteen seconds.


    ¡°Zar¡¯Hakal?¡± Came a voice from behind the door.


    ¡°Zar¡¯Hakal!¡± Replied the senior member.


    ¡°Welcome,¡± said the woman who invited the two of them into the brewery. ¡°I assume that nobody followed you?¡±


    ¡°Negative, Basra. Are the preparations for assassination complete?¡±


    ¡°You bet,¡± replied the woman who took out a report and showed it to the senior.


    ¡°Excellent. Now then, you understand what our plan is, right?¡± Asked the man to the junior member who in turn nodded.


    ¡°We are to kill the emperor that is heavily protected day and night. You have found a way to achieve this by kidnapping one of his servant and a concubine. After, we will use transformation potions and approach the emperor. We will perform the regular duties and then when opportune time comes, we will dispose of him silently to allow our pet to usurp the throne. And then, the war between the two Kingdoms should occur. Am I correct¡­¡± asked the man in a low voice. He observed the two personae in front of him and did not understand why they were grinning in such an evil manner. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± He asked confused,


    ¡°No, no. Not at all,¡± replied the senior member who patted the man on the shoulders. ¡°You have a bright future, my boy. A bright future,¡± he continued.


    A slight jolt of pain pulsated through the junior¡¯s neck. There were many mosquitos and flies flying around, so he did not pay much attention to it. After all, this was a brewery and insects were common here.


    ¡°However, there is one problem. You did not understand it properly,¡± said Basra who moved behind the junior member and licked his neck. ¡°You see, we don¡¯t recruit new members like you thought we did. Nor are we planning to abduct a servant. Instead, it is you. Or did you think that we do not know why you sought us out?¡±


    The man¡¯s face went pale.


    Shit! They figured it out? How?! We had planned everything inside out. There is no way that their intelligence network is this deep. Who are these people? I need to get out. I need to escape. I should definitely use my smoke bomb and¡­ what? Fuck! Bitch! What did she do to me? I can not move my hands. I can not¡­ speak. What? Huh? Why is she undressing me? No, leave me alone! Stop stroking my genital! W-what? Why is she¡­ I can not hear anything at all. Her lips are moving, but I can not read them. My eyes are blurring out. What is she doing? Why is she rubbing the middle of my chest area? Huh, blood?! What, how¡­ Eeek! Wait¡­ I can still feel the pleasure though, but there is no pain. While good, I do not want any of this! Leave me alone. Please, stop. Just kill me! End my misery and stop humiliating me! Screamed the man in his mind as his chest was split open and the woman removed his heart. The man beside Basra appeared to be chanting something, but he could not hear it. Instead, his mind was torn between the pleasure that Basra provided and the severity of the situation he found himself in. He was going to die, he knew it. The question was when and how. It could be any moment now, or it could be in an hour. Perhaps they would keep him as a slave?


    The answer was different from what he had expected.


    ¡°Basra, my spell is complete. I can change the body now,¡± said the senior member who bit his thumbs and began to bleed. As he touched the heart that the woman provided, his physical body scattered into ash and entered it.


    Basra moved the organ back into its position and cast [Major Regeneration]. As a result, the body was fully healed, and the blood vessels were reconnected without any problems. Furthermore, the ash that was inside the heart now made it into the blood-stream and finally into the victim¡¯s brain. After three minutes of screaming, the man finally stopped and grinned.


    ¡°It is done,¡± said the Junior member.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± replied Basra. ¡°Now, only the concubine is left. You can use that body to draw her out. The Emperor trusts that vessel, and as such, you should not have any problems entering her chamber. She is his most beloved toy,¡± continued the woman with a grin.


    ¡°Correct. Basra, you did an excellent job. Because of you, breaking this person and killing him was more natural than usual. You truly are something. Our master was brilliant for assigning you this mission. If not for you, perhaps the entire plan in this kingdom would be jeopardized,¡± the man paused and bit his lips. ¡°However, was it essential to humiliate him that much?¡±


    ¡°I am not happy about doing it either. What am I, a whore? I had no sexual interest in him whatsoever and would have avoided humiliating him. However, you have to understand that it was the best I could do for him. The drugs can negate the pain, but there was a chance he would die from shock. In that case, his brain would be dead, and that body would be wasted. Win, win for you and him I suppose. Besides, count it as a gift. He died while experiencing the pleasure that everyone desires. Would that not be the most painless way to perish?¡± Asked Basra sternly.


    ¡°Well, I suppose you are right. Truly, for a monster, you are too gentle of a creature.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my¡­ T-thank you,¡± replied the woman with a blush.


    ¡°All right. Do you have any questions for me?¡±


    ¡°Just one. I do not doubt our master, and I support his goals. However, what of the other members of Zar¡¯Hakal? Not everyone is of the same opinion so would it not be better to get rid of them? We have made no progress with the Lord of Fire whatsoever. It is crucial that we get him on our side as an ally, no?¡±


    ¡°Correct on that. If we get that monster under our wing, the world will end, and our new order will rise. The problem is that the Lord of Fire understands that. He is not a fool. From what little we gathered, every servant of his is potent and extremely dangerous. It will take a long time to get him on our side. But it is going to happen eventually. If not, then we will have to make up for it elsewhere. And yet, he is a valuable asset. Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Are you confident that everything will go according to our plan? Will we honestly be able to gather the undead and the wicked ones from the east?¡±


    ¡°No. That is impossible. The Lich King currently ruling them is far too potent, talented, and smart. He has declared an alliance with the entire zone, and it will be impossible to talk to him. Remember that we are immortal, but it does not equate to invincibility. If we stay exposed more than necessary, our weaknesses will show, and we will perish. Secrecy is what keeps us alive and afloat to carry out our mission. Do not forget this Basra,¡± said the man coldly.


    ¡°I understand,¡± replied the woman, kneeling down and asking for forgiveness.


    ¡°Excellent. Now, let us complete the stage two of our plan.¡±


    ¡°Oh, before I forget. This time, I want you to do the same to the woman to make my life easier, please.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you behave then all right. But please, do not expect me to use this man and humiliate his corpse even more.¡±


    ¡°No, no such thing. I am not asking you to go all out on in on that concubine. However, I do want you to tease her like I did with this man. I do not want people to die and not experience one last pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Even if they are no better than us? You do realize that the person we are about to abduct is just as much a monster as us? She has ordered the execution of over five hundred civilians, including children because they failed to adequately show her respect and did not deliver taxes on time to the Emperor. A manipulative one that feels no remorse whatsoever. You know, sometimes I question myself who the real monster is. One that hunts to satisfy the basic needs, or one that enjoys killing for the sake of it?¡±


    ¡°I do not think that we will ever get to know of this,¡± replied Basra with a grin.


    ¡°I suppose we will not.¡±


    After a month of preparations, the Emperor was pronounced dead. The blame was shifted towards the undead that has been massed around the border at the eastern side of the Vaalmer Kingdom. Everyone knew of the crude Lich that had a dream of taking over the entire island. An evil that needed to be purged. The citizens were not too mournful over the death of a tyrant.


    Furthermore, the next emperor that climbed the throne became popular all too quick. He immediately jumped into action and began large-scale military mobilization.


    Meanwhile, the culprits that staged all of this were promoted in rank inside the Kingdom as per the directive of the Emperor. The concubine officially became an Empress while the servant was moved to the strategic department. Despite many being disgruntled over this, the man proved to have a sharp mind. This act ensured that the Emperor was in a right spot and that his rule would be extended.


    ¡°Just to make sure that we understand each other, what is your condition again?¡± Asked the Emperor to the two people who were secretly meeting him inside his hidden chamber.


    ¡°Simple. When the time is right, you are to answer the summons of our master. We are looking forward to an alliance with you. To further strengthen the bond between us, me and Basra over there will be under your wing. We officially serve you. But be warned, if the loyalty between you and our ruler is shaken, our organization will swallow you whole. Do you understand?¡± Asked the man with an evil grin.


    ¡°Yes,¡± replied the Emperor with a sour face. He was not entirely pleased that an ultimatum was being issued for him. However, he understood the potency that this organization provided. After all, they had arranged all of this. So what that he had to become a temporary puppet? In return, he had a good life now.


    ¡°Excellent. I am pleased that we have a mutual understanding,¡± said Basra with a grin. ¡°Just a warning though. I am your Empress by status. But don¡¯t even think about doing anything to me, or else, I will cut you like a pig and instead, let Tarmaiel over here take over your body. Do we understand each other? My love has not blossomed yet, and I am still waiting that perhaps in a century or two, a special someone will take me away. So no, you are not allowed to defile my body in any way. Are we clear?¡±


    The man nodded. Despite it being true that the concubine in front of him was beautiful, he had many other toys at his disposal. This was not that big of a deal for him. Besides, he had no willingness to actually make love to a monster.


    ¡°Wonderful. Now, if you excuse me, I have a political errand to attend to. Have a good night, your highness,¡± said Basra as she stood up and left the chamber.


    ¡°Hm. There is one thing that I forgot to ask. What is the name of your organization again?¡± Asked the Emperor to Tarmaiel who remained.


    The man chuckled and grinned.


    ¡°That is a secret.¡±


    ¡°Even if I am an ally?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You must understand something. We will tell you what we want you to know when it is necessary and when we want to. Never earlier or later than that.¡±


    The emperor was not pleased with his response, but there was not much he could do. Instead, he took a glass of wine and quickly drank it.


    ¡°I understand. I hope that you will notify me on time then.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. Do not doubt this,¡± said the man as he shook his hand with the Emperor and left the chamber. Basra waited for him outside.


    ¡°Ah, so you lied?¡± He asked the woman in front of him.


    ¡°Correct. I want to ask you a crucial question. Do you believe that this pig will remain loyal?¡±


    ¡°No, which is why we are here.¡±


    ¡°Good, I am glad that you are of the same opinion. Now. What is our next move, Tarmaiel?¡± Asked Basra, excitement flooding her body.


    ¡°Well, military wise, we have to utilize the wyverns that spawn inside the dungeon in this Kingdom. It is an invaluable resource, and I believe that they are not getting treated well. Politically, we should look to establish trade routes with the neighboring Kingdom of Damas.¡±


    Basra looked confused. ¡°Listen, Tarmaiel. Why are we not going after every country? Why pick ones that are so small?¡±


    ¡°Because controlling creatures under one banner is easier than races like dwarves, humans, elves of all kinds, and demons. The smaller the nation, the easier to penetrate it and spread the roots. Those species do not like being dominated and are blessed by the gods. No matter how hard the truth hits, it is a fact. They are sentient beings and do not elect leaders based solely on raw power. As such, numerically superior and intelligent, they can easily find out our schemes. Just the man whose body I currently have is a great example of this. He figured us out, although failed to comprehend how deep our research on them was. Is it not fascinating? Now imagine how many more people like them are there, unlike us who are in hundreds or thousands in numbers. This is why we must act cautiously and be secretive about everything we do. Do not forget this, Basra.¡±


    The girl nodded.


    ¡°So if Damas refuses your trade offer plan, what then?¡±


    Tarmaiel chuckled and grinned, slowly patting the woman¡¯s head in front of him. ¡°Silly Basra. We will trample them,¡± replied the man nonchalantly.


    In the end, both ended up laughing before separating and going on to pursue their duties. A lot needed to be done and their plans were slowly coming together. Only, little did either of them know how different the reality would prove to be ten years into the future. But as was right now, everything went according to plan.

 Chapter 35 - A Meeting between Alvionas and the Core

    On a Sunday morning, at 7:03 am, a knocking sound resonated through the chamber where Cornelia Davenfall and her four roommates resided. Out of the five living inside these quarters, only the said girl was not awake. The noise did not bother her and nor did she want to get out of her bed, that is until her roommates wildly shook her and forced her out.


    ¡°What is it? Why are you waking me up on a Sunday morning for crying out loud?¡± Asked Cornelia nonchalantly.


    ¡°The headmaster wants to talk to you,¡± came a reply in unison.


    ¡°And the four of you have to yell at me for that? Bug off and get lost,¡± replied the girl who went back to sleep, not forgetting to cover her body with a warm blanket.


    ¡°You don¡¯t care at all, do you? Why are you even studying at this academy, Cornelia? Your grades are rubbish, your criminal record is not washed away, and the only thing retaining you here is the talent that you possess. Hell, it is not even that but the high affinity to electricity. Rare, yes, but this does not give you any right to be in this place. The headmaster whom you owe so much is asking for you, and you are too lazy even to get up? Are you fucking kidding me?¡± Said the most senior of the four girls.


    ¡°Why should I bother? Like you said yourself, I am trash. I will be expelled in a month. Now, leave me alone and let me sleep, Dania.¡±


    ¡°That is the thing, you foolish girl! The headmaster is waiting for you with an offer. Get up, and you might get a chance to continue your lazy life here,¡± replied Dania who genuinely seemed to care about the current situation more than the person it was related to.


    Cornelia fell into thought for a moment. After analyzing the situation, she slowly crawled out of her bed. ¡°Fine. You win. Please let him know that I will get dressed. Give me ten minutes.¡±


    Dania nodded and left the room, allowing the girl to get dressed up and fix herself. Fortunately, Cornelia''s hair was not long so combing it was not too much of a hassle. As she washed her face, the girl looked into the mirror.


    Dear god. If you exist, I hope that someday you will fall into the pit of the abyss while I stand at the top and laugh. Perhaps I will even get a chance to spit at you. Rot in hell for creating me. What did I ever do to deserve being born into a family that raised her daughter on the streets? Why did I deserve to be abused and sold into slavery? But then again, I am here now. In a place where I can start a new life. Heh. If only it were as easy to fulfill as to tell.


    Finishing up, she walked downstairs and joined the party.


    ¡°Good morning, headmaster. Did you ask for me?¡±


    ¡°Hello to you too, Cornelia. Indeed I did. I have excellent news for you. As is of today, you are to begin a particular errand. Complete the simplest tasks, and I will allow you to accumulate points.¡±


    ¡°I do not understand. Can you please elaborate? If I remember correctly, I am to be expelled if I fail next month exam.¡±


    ¡°Yes. And that is the beauty of it. First, let me say that this will not come to pass; so long as you take care of a special guest who got admitted into the academy as of yesterday. You have heard the news, yes?¡±


    ¡°I apologize, headmaster, but she has not. Cornelia was asleep,¡± replied Dania in her stead.


    ¡°Ah, I see. Well, that is irrelevant. All you need to know is that there is a new student and she is officially being assigned to your care. You are to keep her company, show her around the academy, show her our various facilities, explain to her our dress code, and more importantly - learn alongside her.¡±


    ¡°W-what? Can you repeat that? Are you suggesting to me that I become a babysitter and in return, I will not be expelled?¡±


    ¡°Correct. And to make it even better, you will not have to pay for the tuition fee. The two years that the student plans to stay here will be included in my deal. How about it?¡±


    ¡°It sounds¡­ promising. And if I refuse?¡±


    ¡°Girls, would you mind leaving the room for a few minutes?¡±


    Dania nodded and gestured to other roommates to follow her out.


    ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Asked Cornelia nonchalantly.


    ¡°Look, child. I understand everything that has happened in your life. It is tragic, yes. But hear me out, please. I had a daughter, and she was just like you. Genius level when using electricity based magic. I know that behind your hardened mask cowers a girl that is scared, misunderstood and broken. A talented and a witty mind that wants to be free, explore, and live. A girl who lacks love, passion, and motivation in her life. A child that wishes to grow but is scared to do so. I know of your present situation and am providing you with an opportunity, a gateway of sorts, to exit your cage. This new student is exciting. I think you might learn from her.¡±


    ¡°No. Stop. What gives you the right to dictate the flow of my life? I understand and appreciate your care. Headmaster, you are the only person that took me into this place and accepted me for who I am. I am eternally grateful for saving my life from execution after the incident. However, you said it yourself. You understand what I have been through. But you can not honestly see what is happening inside of my mind, can you? Why is it so easy for everyone to tell me how simple it is to start a new life when in reality it is not.¡±


    ¡°But if you were my daughter, how would I be able to endure this? How would a parent feel, watching her offspring be this devastated?¡±


    ¡°Stop trying to make me into your daughter. She is dead and can not be brought back. Taking care of me will not solve your problem! I hate this world! Stop trying to help me because you feel bad or because I resemble someone close to you!¡± Shouted Cornelia, tears welling up in her eyes.


    ¡°I-I apologize,¡± said the headmaster wholeheartedly. ¡°However, I still care. Even if you tell me to do otherwise, I am selfish and stubborn. Please, think about my offer and come back to me in an hour. Thank you,¡± said the man as he bowed to the girl and started to walk out of the room.


    Cornelia felt as if the ceiling of the dormitory was about to collapse on her and the walls were to squish her. I am an idiot. Why did I shout at him? He is the only person who is remotely caring about me. I hate my life! I hate my temper! I hate my misery. I¡­ The girl ran towards the headmaster and tightly hugged him.


    ¡°Stop. Please. I am a fool. I apologize for my bad behavior; please do not leave. I will accept your offer. I am sorry for what I said. I did not consider your feelings,¡± said the girl, elegant tears sliding down her cheeks.


    Seeing that the feelings were sincere, the man gently rubbed her cheeks and landed a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Look, kiddo. As I said, I know what hides behind that mask of yours. I genuinely believe that the new student will be able to become your real friend. Now, come here and let me comb your messy hair, miss sleepyhead,¡± he said with a chuckle.


    The girl snapped back into reality and lightly kicked him in the gut.


    ¡°Ow, why though? What did I do?¡±


    ¡°You woke me up! This is for making me cry,¡± replied Cornelia with a giggle before embracing him one more time.


    Yes, I know my life up to last year was horrible. A lot has happened to me. However, this one man, I can honestly treat him differently, said Cornelia as a light sensation of joy jolted through her body.


    ¡°Now then, allow me to explain what you will be doing, ok?¡±


    ¡°All right. I am listening,¡± replied the girl sincerely, taking a seat and tilting her head towards the speaker.


    ¡°As I said, you will not get expelled. I have ensured to communicate this to every instructor. However, you are to begin studying. The new student I mentioned is going to be primarily focusing on Divine schools of magic with elemental being her back up. Regardless, the barrier she has shown me is rather impressive. It wholly devoured my electricity. So I would still be careful around her.¡±


    ¡°I understand. And the points that you mentioned, I assume that those were said to hide your intentions in front of my roommates?¡±


    ¡°Correct. Speaking of which, it has been over seven minutes now. It is best that I get going as I have my errands to run. You take care of yourself, Cornelia and please, go to her as soon as you can. She has not registered for any classes yet, and I am allowing you to change yours. Here are a letter and a seal for it. Good luck.¡±


    ¡°Wait, where is she anyway? What floor do I find her on? And uhm, what is her name?¡±


    ¡°Oh. My mistake. I forgot. The girl is on the fifth floor inside the majestic quarters. Her roommate is a dwarf. You will not miss the room as she is accompanied by a male guard. The name to her is Alviona. Her companion is Janine, but I do not remember where she was placed.¡±


    ¡°All right. I will get to work right away. If you think that the girl can help me, then I will believe you. Only this one time. Remember, trust is easily broken,¡± said Cornelia coldly.


    The headmaster grinned and left the room.


    ***


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    ¡°Ah, good morning, Mr. Tock. How are you today?¡± Asked Alviona as she opened her eyes and looked at the clock that stood next to her.


    *Tock, Tick¡­ Tock*


    ¡°Lovely! I am happy to hear that. I am also good, thank you for asking,¡± replied Alviona to the clock that ran in its usual rhythm. Looking beside her, Janine was still holding her waist and appeared to be asleep.


    I do not understand this at all. Why do I not feel anything right now? Argh, this is a mystery to me, thought Alviona as she got up and stretched, not forgetting to glance at the body. Despite not feeling any emotions, the girl still ended up slightly blushing.


    ¡°You know, mistress, I do not understand why you wasted precious amount of your energy to create me,¡± said Janine as she opened her eyes.


    ¡°I am sorry, me. It is because I wanted to experiment. For some reason. I can not get rid of the feeling from the previous day,¡± said Alviona with a guilty face.


    ¡°Well, understandable. However, would it not be wiser to ask grandma Mira or Janine herself? Why make me?¡±


    ¡°Because, as selfish as it sounds, I wanted to replicate the emotion. Alas, it is not the case. I apologize. Would you like me to move you back to the core?¡±


    ¡°Yes please,¡± said Janine with an excited face. ¡°That is where I belong. Performing an infinite amount of tasks is what makes me happy. Motion is my life, nothing less and nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Very well then. But first, would you mind telling me if I look good in this shape?¡± Asked Alviona as she took the shape of her father.


    ¡°Yes. That is a magnificent sight. However, you might want to make it a little more substantial. Otherwise, it is hard to see as you are the primary source of light right now.¡±


    ¡°But aren¡¯t I pretty?¡±


    ¡°Words can not and should not describe your beauty, mistress. Your father was the spear of the sunlight clan, the highest rank achievable by the overseers. You should avoid falling into such pits,¡± scolded Janine.


    ¡°I apologize me. You are correct. I also appear to be delaying your work,¡± said Alviona as she clapped her hands once and dissolved Janine into the particles, gently sucking in and nomming on every remain.


    Now then, I am awake, but my body is not. What should I do? Well, there are still three hours to go before it is waking time so perhaps I should hold a discussion? Oh, an excellent idea. I know what the topic should be, thought Alviona to herself as she exited her resting dimension and moved into her library.


    ¡°Good morning, library!¡± Shouted Alviona joyfully towards the red beam of energy that had a humanoid shape and appeared to mind its business.


    ¡°Good morning, mistress. Did you sleep well¡­ why are you dressed in that today?¡±


    ¡°Again, curiosity. That set aside, library, can you arrange the space? I want to hold an important discussion.¡±


    The figure obeyed. Various comfortable sofas materialized inside what appeared to be an infinite space. Library also ensured to bring out teacups and placed them by the table for each member that was to present itself.


    ¡°Excellent. Now then, allow the discussion to begin. Library, I would like you to stand beside me and help me ask relevant questions. I also want you to help me find some answers if I fail to formulate my own. Is that all right?¡±


    ¡°Quite,¡± came a reply. ¡°However, would you like to be addressed by your name or would you like the members to use your father¡¯s name?¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Hmm. A good question. Well, no. Using my father¡¯s name, no, I would not dare to. It is okie, please refer to me as me,¡± said Alviona with genuine laughter.


    The library nodded in affirmative.


    ¡°Ahem. Now then. Dear Alvionas, first and foremost, I would like to welcome you to our first important meeting ever since our creation. Are we in good spirits today?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes!¡± Came a reply in unison. The former space was now packed with multiple Alvionas, each having a distinct hair color and eyes, but otherwise resembling her true self.


    ¡°I am rejoiced to hear that. Is every me excited that we are going to learn more about this world and how its magic operates?¡±


    The question was met with cheers, applauds, and whistles.


    ¡°Well then. First, let us discuss our security. Yes, Alviona #233, you raised your hand first. You are permitted to begin.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, mistress,¡± said the girl that walked up to the stand. Her hair was pitch black, and her eyes were crimson. ¡°I would like to ask everyone present to pull up their {<Self-Diagnosis>} screen.¡±


    <table style="background-color: #251d82; float: left">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    {<Self-Diagnosis>} - Status: Active


    Permissions: Sub-Administrator


    Access Level: 3


    Username: Temporary Alviona #233


    Origins: Main Core


    Replicating...


    Replicating...


    Replication complete. All panels are functioning as normal.


    </td>


    <td>


    <table style="border-color: #000000; background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Alviona</td>


    <td>Health01</td>


    <td>Obsolete for Essence</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Primary Race:</td>


    <td>Unknown Creation</td>


    <td>Health02</td>


    <td>10,387/10,387 (-0.03 Per Second)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Secondary Race:</td>


    <td>Pure-blood Elf of Unknown Origins</td>


    <td>Mana01</td>


    <td>Obsolete for Essence</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Age:</td>


    <td>1.4 years</td>


    <td>Mana02</td>


    <td>0/200 (+200 Per Conversion)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Physical Age:</td>


    <td>18.3 (Permanent)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Physical Body Stats:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Known Intrinsic Abilities:


    </td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>-566</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Self Diagnosis></td>


    <td>Always Activatable


    </td>


    <td>Resistance</td>


    <td>99</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Subjugation></td>


    <td>Obsolete (Will become active if Solomon is erased)


    </td>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>1</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Non-Dominatable></td>


    <td>Always Active</td>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Clock of Time></td>


    <td>Obsolete; Disabled (Will become Activatable upon meeting certain conditions)</td>


    <td>Agility</td>


    <td>5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Dimensional Loot-Box></td>


    <td>Always Activatable


    </td>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>-537</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td><Untraceable></td>


    <td>Always Active


    </td>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>-884</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The audience fell into a state of panic upon seeing their diagnosis. It was horrible. Disgruntled and confused voices filled the library.


    "We are well aware of the situation, correct?" Asked #233, waiting for the response. However, there came only silence. "Look. I understand what we are feeling. All of us are a part of one system and one entity. Right now, our mistress was kind enough to use her precious core''s infinite supply of energy to summon us and address several concerns that we have. Please, we need to co-operate during this dire situation. Silence is understandable, but I urge you not to panic this much. I have come up with several answers as to why we are in such a state. But first, I would like to allow Library to share her findings."


    "Thank you. All right Alvionas, listen up. There are three facts that we all must go over. It is crucial that each and everyone one of you understands this.


    First, we must discuss our knowledge of this world. It is unfortunate, but we must understand that being alive is a new concept for us. We have an in-depth understanding of how to deal with deities and what the scope of our abilities are if enemies such as overseers of balance were to present themselves. However, when it comes to microorganisms that inhabit this place, we are in for a blind trip.


    Second, mortals work much different from us. We are slowly learning about mixed emotions and what they do. On the other hand, these beings and creatures are born with it.


    Lastly, our food consumption rates are insufficient. We are not intaking enough required nutrients to keep up with the blood production. This can be mitigated when our essence expands, but right now, most of our energy goes into doing just that.¡±


    Alviona sitting in the far end of the row raised her hand.


    ¡°Yes, Alviona #399. You may speak,¡± said the Core who observed the discussion.


    ¡°T-thank you very much. I would l-like to a-ask a question. If I may.¡±


    ¡°Proceed.¡±


    ¡°All right. This question is directed to the Library. If food is our concern, why do we not nom on the creatures such as meanies that we slay? What about the corpses from the battlefield that we saw back in the forest? Surely if we were to find such objects in higher volumes, the core could transform it into its primitive form? Atoms are edible, and we can rearrange them to get the proper nutrients that you speak of. The best part is, we do not need to be meanies to achieve this. All we need to do is find a battlefield likes of the one that Mr. Solomon spoke of and gently nom on the corpses. We do not need to do anything else.¡±


    ¡°Your point is valid. However, it is flawed. By your logic, eating corpses is fine. Ok, well what if our mother was to become a corpse like that? What of Mira, or Anita? Or Janine? Would you be able to eat them?¡± Asked the library coldly.


    ¡°N-no. Of course not,¡± replied Alviona #399 with a saddened face, realizing the mistake that she had committed.


    ¡°Look, it is a good idea. Do not get me wrong. But if you are applying one concept, you must use the same thought process for both ends. You can not be selective in this scenario. Besides, you can not expect that you would not be labeled as a monster, right? Our body is already different from the inhabitants. Mira confirmed this.


    Furthermore, our status is a mess. We are an unknown race. If this information was somehow leaked, what would the world think of us? This is the reasoning behind my refusal of your suggestion.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Alviona #399 with a grim expression, her eyes widened from shock, and fully understanding the horror she had suggested. It was a horrible idea. ¡°In that case, may I ask a different question? This one is for #233.¡±


    ¡°Permission granted,¡± said the core.


    ¡°#233, how will we protect ourselves if our condition is this dire? I do not think that it is feasible for us to utilize something such as [Spectral Prison] to contain these lifeforms, no? Plus, who or what are our priorities? It is rather scary not to know what the dangers are.¡±


    ¡°Fair point,¡± replied Alviona #233. ¡°I am going to address it right now. Thank you for your concerns. You are correct; we can not use that ability for microorganisms. Our priority is to protect those that we care for, and live our life. There is nothing else to it. Our ambitions and dreams can come and go. They can sprout or wither. It is the way of life, or so I read in one of our books that mother Reiolle wrote for us in our world. The critical point is to live and be happy. What this thing is depends on our point of view. However, I am sure that the Core will agree that being Alive is already happiness. Ability to talk to different creatures, play with them, learn from them or even teach them at times, and being loved by our mothers, grandmother, Janine and even Solomon. All of this adds up to what we define as this emotion. Our parents sacrificed their essences to create us. The core¡¯s existence signifies their determination and is proof of them being alive as part of her. As such, we have a responsibility. It is why we must do whatever we can to live and be happy. Do not forget this under any circumstances.


    Now, let us start addressing the actual security. As you may have noticed, <Subjugation> and <Clock of Time> are disabled. We are vulnerable until the essence reaches stage 2. Unfortunately, as Library noted, we do not know too much about how this world works. Remember how exhausted we became after the dungeon or how much water we had to drink? Note how our grandmother got scared? It is awful. We must start prioritizing our safety first. As such, I urge the core not to utilize more than five set of instructions per spell and to limit Power to Mana (PtM) conversion to three rounds, or 600. Anything beyond this and our vessel will get damaged. Everyone content with this decision, raise your hands."


    All Alvionas, including the core, fell into thought. After a few minutes of glancing at each other, everyone simultaneously did as told.


    ¡°One last thing. If we are to ever engage in combat with any gods, I want to ensure that all of us understands what needs to be done.¡± Seeing that everyone nodded, #233 grinned. ¡°And if the overseers are to hunt us?¡±


    ¡°Non-Existence!¡± Replied all Alvionas in unison. It was a perfect reply.


    The core looked around. Seeing that there was no need for any further discussion, Alviona looked at #233 and expressed her personal concern.


    ¡°Listen, there is one thing that bothers me¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you referring to your odd tickling feelings towards Janine?¡±


    Alviona nodded. ¡°I can not comprehend what it is. I love her just as much as I love every other important to me people. And yet, when I slept with her the other day, I had this odd desire not to wake up. A strange, nagging feeling that I could not shake off. What was it #233? Why am I so¡­ out of my character?


    ¡°Honestly, core. I do not know. I think that we will find out as time moves on. The Library is here to give you advice for it. In the meantime, do not let it bother you. We are always here to talk if need be. Remember, you are the core. One and only. The real and true Alviona. You hold the keys to every door. However, there is one advice I would like to give you personally. Please do not get upset with me and think about it. Not right now, but over time. Will you do it?¡±


    Alviona was confused. Why would she ask herself such an odd question? Curiosity took over her body as she nodded to allow #233 to speak her mind.


    ¡°All right. Thank you very much, mistress. Now here is what I wanted to tell you. Understand that your body is imperfect. I am aware that our supreme parents created it. However, if this world is genuinely this different from our records, it means that the vessel is severely flawed for this place of inhabitance. Bare this in mind. I think, at some point in time, you will have to choose what race you belong to¡­ I. No. It is fine. Please, ignore me,¡± said #233 as she tightly embraced Alviona and landed a soft kiss on her cheeks. ¡°Be careful, ok?¡±


    The girl felt slightly irritated. What could her words mean? And what was she about to say? Why did she not finish the sentence?


    It was all irrelevant then, for a moment afterward Alviona woke up.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Getting up, Alviona got dressed up and walked downstairs. She was greeted by Mimi who gently sipped on her red tea.


    ¡°Good morning to you too, Mimi,¡± replied Alviona.


    ¡°Huh? What is wrong. Yesterday you were all chirpy. Now you look and sound somewhat sad. Do you miss home? If so, do not worry. I had that happen to me last week too! Heh, could not help but wonder how my papa was doing. Silly one he is,¡± said Mimi with a grin. ¡°Worry not. Sending a letter to your family eases that feeling. Do you want to try writing one to your mother or father?¡±


    ¡°I do not know. Right now, we are in a state of war of sorts. This is what my grandmother told me so sending mail would probably not work.¡±


    ¡°Ah. I see. Well then, it is ok. By the way, did you receive your uniform yet? You do not seem to be wearing it.¡±


    ¡°No. I have not received anything school related. I believe the headmaster said that there would be someone coming here to help me with that.¡±


    ¡°That would be me,¡± said Cornelia as she entered the room. ¡°Greetings. My name is Cornelia. I will be your¡­ oh my. You are a demon, like me. How interesting,¡± said the girl as she looked at Alviona. ¡°And a pretty one too,¡± she mumbled. Her heart seemed to skip a beat but quickly managed to come back to her senses. ¡°Are you Alviona?¡±


    Huh? But I am not a demon; I am an elf, thought Alviona. Her eyes displayed excitement from seeing a creature that also had the similar features like herself. ¡°Oh, if you are like me, does this mean that you have wi¡­ wiggling ears?¡±


    ¡°Uhm, no. I have ears that somewhat resemble elven, but they are pointier and shorter. See? Hm, are you perhaps a crossbreed between elven male and a demonic female?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± replied Alviona with confidence since Mira had prepared her for this.


    ¡°I see. The headmaster was correct when stating that you were interesting. Regardless. We only have today to get you enrolled in classes that you desire so let us make haste. It is also crucial that we get you a proper uniform.¡±


    ¡°In that case, can we please meet with my companion? She and I are going to take the same classes preferably.¡±


    ¡°That is doable. Is it Janine you are speaking of?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± replied Alviona with a slight blush.


    ¡°I see. And what about the man that was supposed to be stationed outside of your chamber, where is he?¡±


    ¡°Well, he, erm. I sent him to guard my friend¡¯s chamber so that I would know where to find her. They are on their way right now,¡± said Alviona chirpily.


    Two minutes later, Solomon and Janine entered the room and introduced themselves.


    ¡°Well then. Let us get going. There is a lot that needs to be done today.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Mimi. Would you be willing to accompany me?¡± Asked Alviona curiously.


    ¡°Well, I have nothing to do except to read some books, so I do not see any harm in that. Let¡¯s go,¡± said the dwarf who finished drinking tea and moved the dishes into the sink.


    As they were exiting the room, Alviona stopped mid-way and looked around.


    ¡°Are you all right, child?¡± Asked Janine who picked up on the girl¡¯s behavior. Something was wrong. ¡°Uhm, you guys go ahead without us for a moment, we will catch up.¡±


    Cornelia nodded, while Solomon understood that something was awry. However, he decided that it would be best to leave his mistress be with Janine. If anything, he would immediately rush to help.


    ¡°What is wrong, Alviona? Please, tell me,¡± said Janine softly, gently placing her slender hands on the girl¡¯s shoulders.


    Alviona felt odd. A sensation of heat jolted through her body, reminiscent of her utilizing the Power to Mana (PtM) conversion. However, it did not feel uncomfortable. It ached, but for reasons that she was unable to comprehend. She was confused by the current situation and furthermore, kept thinking back to what #233, #399 and the library had told her. Without realizing it, her hands were touching Janine¡¯s.


    ¡°I-I. I do not know. I am sorry. Janine, what do you see in me? Do you like me as a person? Or am I like the goblin meanie? Am I scary? Am I a monster? ¡± asked the girl, her eyes welling up with tears.


    ¡°What? No. No. Stop, come here. You are not a meanie. You are Alviona, a girl that spared my life. Yes, you are somewhat odd, but that is about it. Me and Mira, we know of your background. We both understand what you are going through, kiddo. So do not worry. Aren¡¯t I here? Is it not the reason why I want to take the same classes as you? Cheer up. Of course, I like you as a person. You are wonderful,¡± replied Janine, taking out a handkerchief and wiping away Alviona¡¯s tears. ¡°Now, now. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can not answer you truthfully without giving out some information that might change the way you and everyone perceive me. I am not as gentle of a creature as you believe me to be. I apologize, Janine. Thank you for your words. I also like you, a lot. I love you the same way I love Solomon, Mira, Anita and my mother. Again, I am sorry,¡± said Alviona as she stepped back from Janine and walked some distance towards the door. Tears seemed to have dried up from the heat that her body currently emitted due to the PtM being used for an unknown instruction. ¡°Okie, let¡¯s go. Today will be a lot of fun!¡±


    ¡°A-are you sure you will be all right?¡± Asked Janine suspiciously.


    ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Replied the girl in her usual chirpy voice. ¡°Hurry,¡± she added with a giggle.


    A meanie, huh? What was that all of a sudden? Yes, she has a potential of becoming a monster. And yet. Good grief. Why did she ask me if I liked her as a person? Was she implying if I viewed her as a friend or a foe? Did I answer correctly? Thought Janine as she followed Alviona.


    Catching up to Cornelia, the party exited the female dormitory. Despite Alviona acting as chirpy as possible, fear still loomed over her essence. Fortunately, she was soon distracted by the excursion that was about to begin.

 Chapter 36 - You, me, and duel!

    A cold wind of February stroked Alviona¡¯s cheeks as she followed Cornelia. Despite the disgruntled complaints from Mimi and Janine, she did not feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, the chill originating from this natural phenomenon was pleasant. The girl¡¯s body was still emitting heat. Excitement, joy, and the thrill of the unknown flooded her mind.


    First of all, Alviona was walking beside Janine, listening to her breathing patterns, and glancing at her hot red cheeks caused by the low temperature. Second, she kept thinking about various literature she would gain access to starting the next day. And lastly, she was excited to venture into unknown to her world of magic.


    On the macro scale, the girl knew and understood a lot more than the average mortal or even a deity. However, as she had thought, utilizing her abilities that did not obey the realm she inhabited could prove to be fatal. What if she were to create a black hole? Would the mass not destroy the entire planet, even if it were the size of an atom? What if she were to create a solar flare, or accidentally attract a meteor to the world? Would it not wipe out all life?


    A chill ran down her spine as she thought about the possibilities. If there was one thing that kept her sanity together, it was the fact that she was not ready to face anyone in her current state. The essence was still at its infant stage, and due to her curiosity, she had triggered the growth prematurely. This situation was horrid, one that the child was fully conscious of and regretted.


    When discussing the micro level of magic, one that was mostly used by the gods and mortals, Alviona found herself to be staring at the light in its purest form. Not only was it blinding, but it also became difficult to distinguish which color to pick. Some could be welcoming, while others had a possibility of being invisible to the naked eye. How would she be able to tell what the right spell or effect was? Contemplating over this, the words spoken to her by #233 slowly crawled back into her mind.


    Is my body this flawed? But then, if I was to create a second one when my essence stage 2 unlocks, would I not be going against the judgment of my creators? Besides, this is all my fault. If only did I not become curious when I witnessed Anita play with water a few weeks ago, none of this would have happened. Alas, it is too late to think about that now. The best I can do is deal with the current situation and plan for anything unexpected accordingly. I need to gather knowledge and see what I can find.


    ¡°Ah, Alviona. Your body is so warm,¡± said Mimi who was bothered by the cold so much that she ended up clutching the 1.74-meter tall elf, catching her off-guard, and causing her to fall. ¡°Whoops. I am sorry. I did not measure my strength.¡±


    ¡°It is all right,¡± replied Alviona with a chuckle. ¡°Mimi, you are very strong.¡±


    ¡°Hmph. Of course, I am a dwarf. And, not an average one either. I am Mimi, a girl that will learn the summoning magic and create mighty golems,¡± said the girl with pride, not forgetting to rub her chest lightly.


    ¡°Golems are great,¡± replied Alviona with a smile.


    ¡°Right?!¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes!¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, girls. I think that you should tell me what faculties you are taking so that we can visit them right away. We do not have all day, you know,¡± said Cornelia who was also starting to get bothered by the cold.


    ¡°Well, I am taking the elemental school of magic. This girl here is going to study the Divine one as her major, but elemental as her minor. Does that sound good?¡± Asked Janine as she clutched Alviona like Mimi and enjoyed the heat emitted from her body. Unlike the dwarf, she did not feel too comfortable doing this but could not give up the spot for some odd reason.


    ¡°I see. So you two are planning to attend same classes related to elemental and divine. That makes it easy, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°No. Only elemental classes and electives. I am taking psychic as my minor since I am already familiar with it.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Are you trying to acquire that newly discovered class by chance?¡± Asked Cornelia, with her eyes displaying curiosity.


    ¡°The ShadowMage, correct. I need to raise the proficiency level of my elemental class to 80% and have 50% in psychic. Then I need ten eyes of a cyclops, fifteen pieces of troll¡¯s hide, a lich king¡¯s skull, the blessing of silence from Monastery of Despair, and a tear of a dragon. That is about it if I remember correctly.¡±


    ¡°Do you not think that this ambition is a little, too much? I heard that only one person acquired the said profession and he is a mystery. If the rumor is correct, he made a bargain with the god of death. In exchange for defeating his enemies, his soul is to eternally serve the deity after one hundred years from the acquisition of the said class, and his body is to be used for creating a new type of guardian,¡± said Cornelia whose facial appearance indicated that she was serious.


    ¡°Well, I plan to make no such bargains. It is my goal though. And yes, I am serious,¡± replied Janine with a grin.


    Alviona, whose body was heating up even more due to Janine tightly holding her arm, could not keep up with anything that was being discussed. What is a class? What is a profession? She wondered.


    ¡°Speaking of which, the two of you seem to be enjoying holding her. Is she that warm? Here, let me join in,¡± said Cornelia as she took Alviona¡¯s gentle, slender hands, and rubbed her fingers. ¡°What, the heck. You are indeed too warm. Ah, stand still and do not move. Oh god. It is as if the cold does not exist right now.¡±


    Alviona¡¯s body temperature kept increasing, so much that she was becoming dizzy from the heat. A status window appeared inside of her mind that notified of the severity of her condition.


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Your health is rapidly deteriorating. -3, - 10, -23...</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    No! Not good! Screamed Alviona in her mind, panic entirely taking over her body.


    "I apologize, but you need to excuse me for a few minutes. I will be right back," said Alviona as she ran away, cowering behind a tall building, extending her wings, creating an instruction to become invisible and silent, and flying up as quickly as was possible. Her skin was starting to peel off slowly.


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>You have used over 1400 Mana, - 6000 HP. Current status: Health02 - 3,638/10,387</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Being aware of a lake that was outside of the academy perimeter, she flew towards it. Without slowing down, the girl moved her clothing to the <Dimensional Loot-Box> and cast several fireballs at the ice. Seeing that the hole was large enough, she plunged into the depths of the deadly cold lake. After fifteen seconds, she swam towards the surface, her eyes widening, gasping, and coughing severely while vomiting water in the process.


    Goodness. That was too close. Better yet, now I need to undo this condition, thought the girl as she prepared instructions to create a water bubble around her head for air supply. Seeing that it was useful and choking was no longer a hazard, Alviona plunged back into the depth of the water with another order. This time, it was different from anything she had done prior.


    <table style="background-color: #000000">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Adjust the 90% power to Essence ratio to 70%.</td>


    <td>Maximize PtM Transfer. Ignore the limit and allow the injury.</td>


    <td>Send the remainder 20% of Energy into recovering the body from any, and all damage.</td>


    <td>Disable Motor part of the Central Nervous System for the duration.


    </td>


    <td>Populate the body with missing blood cells.</td>


    <td>Send a jolt of electricity to wake up the user upon completion.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Upon activation, Alviona''s mind faded into nothingness. She did not return to her dimension. Instead, she was wholly unconscious. Only after fifteen minutes elapsed did she feel a jolt of electricity through her body, forcing her to snap back. The first sound she heard was of her eternal clock that was tocking violently.


    It is all right, Mr. Tock. I apologize for my actions; however, I do not think there was much else I could do. I panicked and did not want to scare others.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Thank you for understanding. I love you just as much.


    Alviona did not move until her vision came back. After it did, the girl swam up towards the surface and got out. Her body was violently shivering as the result of spending too much time inside the lake; however, it rapidly regulated the temperature back to the acceptable limit. Since her instruction for invisibility and silence was still active, Alviona extended her wings once again and retrieved her clothing from the <Dimensional Loot-Box>. Afterward, she returned to the confused party members that were left behind.


    "... And I plan to make golems so that our dwarven kingdom will not have an infestation again."


    "Well, that is truly interesting, Mimi. I respect your dedication and ambitions, even if it is uncommon for your race," said Cornelia with an excited face.


    Seeing that Alviona was back, the party''s attention shifted to her.


    "Welcome back. I am glad to see you in one piece. Is everything all right? What happened? Oh, don''t tell me that you ran back to the dormitory only to grab that," laughed Mimi as she saw her roommate wear her unusually large hat.


    "That, uhm, yes," replied Alviona with nonchalant laughter. "It is my treasure, and I had to bring it."


    "Good grief, kiddo. You do scare me at times," said Janine coldly.


    Looking into the girl''s fierce eyes, Alviona could tell that she was concerned, angry, and confused. I am sorry for lying to you, dear friend. But until I figure out what is going on with me, I can not tell you the entirety of the situation.


    "Mistress, are you certain that you will be fine?" Whispered Solomon who considered the girl''s feelings.


    Yes. I appreciate you caring for me. Please, do not tell others. I will explain everything to you at a later date.


    ***


    For three hours, Alviona was unable to make up her mind on which classes to take. Janine was content with taking anything as long as she was placed in the same courses as her.


    ¡°Tell you what, since you enjoy using martial weapons, why don¡¯t we sign up for martial class? It is two hours long every day of the week. Your body needs strengthening, correct? It could also help me to understand how to deal with various physical attacks instead of relying solely on the barrier provided by my gear. Perhaps I will learn how to protect myself from rogues,¡± asked Janine after seeing that the girl was ready to start crying from all the options.


    Alviona blushed, thought for a moment, and nodded. ¡°Okie! Thank you, Janine. In that case, would you mind taking potion brewing as a second elective? Grandma knows how to make these so she can teach us some valuable techniques. I am also very interested due to the concept that this booklet says about potion making.¡±


    ¡°A sound plan. Mimi, pry I ask what your electives are?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you want to take some with me too? Well, I am currently enrolled in forging, jewelry crafting, counter spellcasting, automation, and amalgamation.¡±


    ¡°Would counter spellcasting not fall under the divine category? Is that not what barrier does?¡± Asked Alviona with a puzzled face.


    ¡°Not quite. This subject teaches how to interrupt spells while the caster is performing an incantation. You can break the core spell and direct it against its own user. While a beneficial subject, it is also rather complicated and does not warrant one hundred percent success rate.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Alviona looked at Janine and back at Mimi. Analyzing the words spoken, she concluded that this subject was of interest for her.


    ¡°Well, that leaves us with two more electives,¡± said Janine who was looking through the screen to find anything of interest. ¡°Ah. There, I would be interested in archaic spells. Alviona, how about you? Would you like to join me?¡±


    The girl shook her head. ¡°I am sorry, but I need the two electives to be an open book for me. I need it for my research on everything else,¡± replied Alviona with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, right. I forgot about that. Well, how about I do the same then? Would it not ease up your search for specific materials and documents if I were to come with you?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? Would it be fine?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can study the archaic spells from the books while you do your research. Besides, I promised Mira that I would take care of you,¡± replied Janine proudly.


    Alviona''s body and mind were filled with joy. Her heart skipped a beat, as she cheered for victory. Despite being unable to comprehend or understand what these emotions were, she was satisfied. Right now, this child was the happiest person that one could imagine. Her eyes were displaying excitement, and her body trembled ever so slightly.


    ¡°Janine, thank you very much. I truly appreciate your help. Yes, I would be more than glad to be graced by your company,¡± said Alviona as she performed a slight bow.


    ¡°Pfft. No worries, kiddo,¡± replied the girl with real laughter. Her words prior were also genuine.


    After completing registration, the party moved towards the registry desk and received student cards. Once this was complete, they went to the shopping area to receive uniforms, and after that was done, they purchased necessary utilities such as feathers, pencils, erasers, magical scrolls, blank pieces of paper, and ink.


    ¡°Uwah! This is too much fun!¡± Said Alviona ecstatically. ¡°Say, what is that large building over there?¡±


    ¡°That? That is a dueling arena,¡± replied Cornelia.


    ¡°What does that word mean?¡±


    ¡°Dueling means that people fight each other to practice, prove that one side is correct while the other is wrong, and to settle disputes. Duels come in many forms; however, in this academy killing is prohibited. As such, the arena has been enchanted for centuries by the angels. If a fatal blow were dealt, automatic resurrection would come into play.¡±


    ¡°I see. Is it possible for us to enter it? Is there anyone fighting? I would be interested in watching,¡± said Alviona, curiosity taking over her body.


    ¡°I do not see why we can not. Let¡¯s go,¡± replied Cornelia, leading everyone into the building. Upon entering, they were greeted by a clerk who inspected the student cards. Seeing that everything was in place, he allowed them to proceed.


    A loud noise of metal clashing against each other resonated throughout the arena. Several students appeared to observe the performance. Some girls and boys were cheering while others wrote down notes.


    ¡°Hey there, Cornelia! Here to see the duel? Kastor is fighting against Bastion!¡±


    Alviona looked at the combatants. A giant red circle with numbers floated above their heads. She had never seen anything like this before.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Kastor HP: 6,788/8,377</td>


    <td>Bastion HP: 4,332/5,549</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Barrier: 1323. Physical Defense: 14. Magical Defense: 22


    </td>


    <td>Barrier: 2200. Physical Defense: 23. Magical Defense: 15


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Both men were breathing heavily.


    "Are you not giving up yet?" Snorted Bastion.


    "As if!" Shouted Kastor, using [Agility], [Blink], and [Backstab] abilities. The man instantly teleported behind his opponent and stabbed at him with the dagger, leaving a form of light behind where his weapon was. It happened so instantly that if Alviona or the observers were not paying enough attention, the motion would be wholly missed.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion is dealt a Critical Strike. 2,600 damage. Barrier falls to 198</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The man attempted to follow up with a regular attack but was stopped from doing so because Bastion slammed him with his back, creating distance, and directing his sword towards his opponent.


    "Eat the [SwordDance]," he shouted as he performed an odd slashing motion in three separate directions. Alviona did not understand what the ability did; however, the rest of the audience appeared to cheer.


    "Bastion! Go Bastion! Make him dance towards his grave!"


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Kastor is dealt 1,388 damage, followed by another 300 from regular attack. HP - 128.68</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Shit!" Kastor blinked away a short distance and tossed few projectiles at his opponent. Despite Bastion moving away, one dagger still ended up hitting him in his shoulder.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion is dealt 10 damage from the shock dagger. 2-second paralysis is in effect.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "What?!" Bastion''s eyes widened as he realized the attack that the opponent performed. Kastor did not miss the opportunity and repeated his [Blink] and [Backstab] combo, followed by [Death''s flurry]. As the ability activated, the opponent fell to the ground with his breathing seizing.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion is dealt a Critical Strike. 2,300 damage. [Death''s Flurry] deals fifteen swift strikes totaling 4,220 damage. HP - 4822.40</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "There! I win. Pfft. Tell me again that you are tough and I will laugh in your face," snorted Kastor with spite. However, his moment of victory did not last much longer. Bastion opened his eyes and got up. "What? How?"


    "Passive ability that does not let my class die. Did you not know that Divine Defenders cannot die unless killed twice? Oh, and I am invincible for 2 seconds so do not even try blinking. Instead, fall." With his words, Bastion utilized [Amplify Strength], [Sacred Ground], [SwordDance, and [Justice].


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Kastor is dealt 2,488 damage. Bastion is healed for 23% of damage dealt and regenerates 700 barrier. Kastor receives [Justice], 1200 damage. HP - 3688.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It is fine! I still have 3,359.32 HP left. I can win! Thought Kastor as he prepared another dagger and tossed it. However, Bastion appeared to welcome it. What?


    "You fool. Attacking inside the sacred ground, are you kidding me? Any negative status is deflected back to the attacker. Good job. Bravo," said Bastion as he repeated his offensive abilities. This time, Kastor dropped dead, his body disappeared, and the arena crystal announced the winner.


    "BASTION! BASTION!" Cheered the crowd as they watched the victor.


    Cornelia turned to Alviona. "Well, what did you think?"


    "I... It was strange. I did not imagine that combat would be like that," replied Alviona.


    "Ah. Yes, Bastion is our strongest duelist for a full year now."


    Alviona nodded; however, this was not what she referred to.


    I do not understand, she thought. What model is this world based off? Why make things so overly complicated? If the person was struck in the vital, would they not bleed to death? If that man got paralyzed, why was the person with the dagger not able to find a weak spot inside of his plate and strike it? I know that grandma talked about the barrier. And yet, this concept is so... odd. I could accept magical defenses existing as it is mana reliant. But the weapons make no sense! A spell potency can depend on the limit and knowledge of the spellcaster. But, do the instruments of war not rely on sharpness? Ah, this is giving me a headache.


    "Who else would like to fight Bastion? Are there any contenders who wish to challenge him?"


    Hmm... Perhaps it would not hurt to test out how these mechanics work? Of course, I will not allow him to damage my vessel.


    "Janine, do you think it would be all right if I challenged him?"


    "Oh, a brave one, aren''t you?" Asked Cornelia with a mocking giggle.


    "No. That is out of the question. You will bloody murder that man! Remember what Mira told you not to do? Please, do not do it."


    "But... I will not use anything overly dangerous. I will not let him damage me and nor will I let myself slip and win in one swoop," said Alviona with a pout. For some reason, she also had an urge to perform well in front of her companion. Besides, I wish to test a theory. I need to experiment!


    "Fine," said Janine. "But, you must promise me that nothing will explode, no one will die, and that you will not damage your body. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, I agree to your terms. I promise you, Janine," said Alviona as she tilted her head and landed a soft kiss on the girl''s cheeks, catching her entirely off-guard, forcing her to blush and slowly caress her cheek. Janine''s heart also skipped a beat, and her body began to feel hot. She was slightly turned on. However, the feeling soon dissolved since Alviona was known to hug and kiss those that she loved.


    I am her friend. That is all.


    "I would like to duel, please!" Said Alviona chirpily, as she walked downstairs, towards the center of the arena.


    "We have a new contestant! Hello, please put your student card inside that keyhole over there. It will allow you to display your Health and Barrier status. Nothing else will be revealed. Are you consent with that?"


    "Yes," replied the girl.


    "Great. In that case, please pick your gear and weapons from the counter over there. You may keep any one item from your present inventory.


    "Okie. May I keep my hat then?"


    "Certainly. I assume you have no jewelry then?"


    "No. And I do not know what that is," replied the child with a smile.


    Alviona moved towards the counter and picked up her items of interest - metallic staff, a pair of knee guards, and a light robe. A status screen appeared in her mind:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Training staff


    Rank: Common


    Physical Damage: 366


    Magical Damage: 50


    Active effect: none


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Training knee guards


    Rank: Common


    Physical defense: 2


    Magical Defense: 9


    Barrier: 150


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Training Robes


    Rank: Common


    Physical Defense: 5


    Magical Defense: 14


    Barrier: 400


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Are you set?"


    "Yes. Also, is it ok if I cut my finger a little?"


    "Do whatever you like," replied the man with a smile.


    "Thank you," said Alviona as she moved the index finger of her right hand towards her horns and applied small pressure to create a slight cut. Library, I would like you to write down the results of this experiment inside the book. I am going to disable PtM and instead, will release 0.3% of power from my main core. I will gradually adjust the number if it is insufficient. Well, let''s go!


    Bastion and Alviona stood in front of each other. Both were told to perform a light bow. Afterward, they were seperated some distance and were told that countdown would begin.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion HP: 5,549/5,549</td>


    <td>Alviona HP: 9,478/10,387</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Barrier: 2,200 Physical Defense: 23 Magical Defense: 15</td>


    <td>Barrier: 1450 Physical Defense: 7 Magical Defense: 23</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    10...


    9...


    8...


    7...


    6...


    5...


    4...


    3...


    2...


    1...


    "Go!"


    Bastion was first to move by casting [Agility] and charging at a tremendous speed, shortening the distance and utilizing his martial arts [SwordDance]. However, his opponent nimbly dodged and counter-attacked with her staff.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion is dealt 281.82 damage. Barrier falls to 1918.18</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Owie. While my body is moving much faster, 0.3% is not sufficient to do much. Hm, let me try 0.7%.


    The man charged at her again, swinging his sword several times and not activating any abilities. Alviona moved her staff to block the incoming attacks before pushing herself back and creating distance. Observing his movement pattern, the girl predicted that he would utilize the ability from earlier.


    "Dodge this, girl!" Shouted Bastion as he unleashed [SwordDance]. Alviona patiently waited for this moment to observe the ability. Without seizing her retreat, the girl ensured to pay attention to any pattern that could be detected.


    <Analyzing, Analyzing, Analyzing> Status: Complete. Name: [SwordDance]. Skill type: Martial. Description: An ability that utilizes quick bursts of Mana to direct user''s sword swings in a 180-degree arc. The opponent will not be able to accurately predict when or where inside of the cone will the strike come from, hence the name "Sword Dance." The motion will randomly vary between thrusts and swings. An excellent ability when dealing with multiple adversaries simultaneously. Drawback: When utilizing this martial art, the user is locked in the said direction until the end of the performance.


    "Perfect!" Thought Alviona as she quickly mounted her staff and launched her body over her opponent. The cut finger had not healed and was ready to unleash her experiment. Not willing to delay any further, she moved towards the man who was unable to stop and pressed her finger onto his neck. And now, let there be some electricity. As she finished her thought, a quick jolt of light passed through the man that inflicted paralysis.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Bastion is dealt one damage. Paralysis is in effect for 10 seconds.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "Now then, mister. Would you like me to whack you with that staff one hundred times while refreshing this state of yours in a loop, or will you be kind enough to surrender?"


    The man was speechless. What sort of magic or ability has the girl used? Was she an elemental user that was gifted with rare affinity to electricity? But even if this was the case, he has faced few adversaries in his life who wielded such power. It was not comparable. What was going on?


    "I surrender," declared the man.


    "I surrender," declared Alviona.


    The referee was confused.


    "C-can you please repeat it?"


    "We surrender," replied both of them simultaneously.


    "It is a draw!" announced the referee who was unusually confused.


    Janine, Cornelia, and Mimi who were all avidly watching Alviona''s duel unfold could not help but exclaim the same question: "Wait, what?!"

 Chapter 37 - Alvionas trickery

    My name is Ydos, and I was a mortal once, an adventurer, a rogue, a thrill-seeker, a man with not much to do in life aside slaying creatures in this wretched world. I have consumed many crystals that randomly drop from dungeon monsters, and have gained tremendous experience points from them. Seeing how powerful I became, I hungered for more. The more creatures I slew, the more my mind was filled with ecstasy. The fresh smell of blood, the stench of mutilated corpses, and the groaning sound of your companions for taking away their trophies. Yes, it was a wonderful life of an adventurer.


    And yet, it was not enough.


    For twenty-five years I searched for a challenge; traveling between continents in pursuit of the new creature that would further develop my abilities, one that would get me closer to the strength required to qualify as a god. I achieved it. In the desert of Almesh, I was given a chance to fight a great monster, one that would have brought a devastating cataclysm into our world. I had ten party members that followed me for the thrill of the adventure, obtaining riches, and making names for themselves.


    As a conclusion of the ferocious battle, one in which six of my ten group members met their death, we emerged as victors. Of course, as a leader, I reserved the right to distribute loot. Everyone was content with me keeping the crystals for they received everything from swords to shields and other types of epic gear.


    Few years passed, and yet, there was no new quest available for me, no further requirements to attain the class or ascend into the realm of gods - nothing. I was disappointed, confused, and angry. ¡°Pathetic deities!¡± I screamed to myself. ¡°You are paying no attention to the man that has done so much for your pathetic world! When will you grant me more strength?¡± These thoughts were genuine. I honestly hated the gods then.


    More time passed. I was fifty years old then and still retained my full strength. I never ceased to hunt creatures. It was my obsession, after all. The more enemies I slew, the more I became paranoid. At some point in time, I lost track of passing years. I kept recruiting new party members, used them to slay tougher monsters that I alone could not fight, and then when these men and women would get tired and excited as a result of protracted battle, I slew them too.


    Am I a bastard? Am I a monster? Of course, I am. But you know what? I am okay with it. You know that nagging feeling that you get once in your life telling you that you are unique, you are the chosen one, the right person in the right time but nobody ever listens to you? I was enlightened. I had to become stronger than anyone in the world, force my way into godhood, find rest of the deities and teach them proper order. I am a messiah, I thought. Perhaps that is the reason why one day, after finishing up my business at one of the dungeons, a man presented himself in front of me. He wore expensive robes, and a wooden mask covered his face.


    "Who are you?¡± I ask him, directing my blade - that has fresh blood dripping from it - to his neck.


    ¡°Greetings, adventurer. I am a member of Zar¡¯Hakal. My name is irrelevant. I am here to deliver a message.¡±


    I think for a moment and shake my head. Whoever this person is, I do not care. He has seen me kill my fellow party members. This man needs to die. Without further delay, I cast [Blessing of Fire] onto my sword and hit him once, immediately following up with [Scissor Stab].


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You deal 1200 + 7800 damage from the basic attack. Your ability deals 1200 + 18,665 damage. The apostle of Zar''Hakal dies.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    As the man drops dead, I see a message pop-up inside my mind. I have not seen it for a long time.


    <table width="685">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You have reached level 70. Congratulations! Your stats, skill, and lust for power leave you with only one adequate class to choose. It is considered a Legendary tier and can be upgraded further upon devouring more creatures.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Class name:Fateweaver


    Class specific abilities:


    Analyze: You will be able to analyze any creatures (human or non-human), and find a critical Actor that is a most suitable target for your hunt.


    Opportunist: You will be able to calculate the future events that have a high potential of occurring within 24 hours in a small vicinity based on the analysis that you conduct, giving you an opportunity to strike at your opponent during the peak of their weakness. This ability is only usable once a week.


    Fateweaving: Activates automatically upon using Opportunist. If the opportunity to devour the target does not present itself in the scenario, then the skill will force a script. Requirements: The prey needs to be a Key Actor.


    Warning, you have accumulated over 150,000 points in negative Karma. Having slain over five-hundred adventurers due to paranoia and lust, you will no longer be able to retain your current body. If you accept to take this class, you will be transformed into a new monster and will be hunted by the non-monster races. The user will not be considered as part of the dungeon system or any other naturally respawning inhabitants. Note that other monsters also fight for power and some are more complex than others. The race selected for you is known as the Golem. Upon transforming into such a creature, you will be moved to the adequate beginner area. Would you like to pursue this career?


    Yes.


    No.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I fall into thought as I read the message.


    "What is there to lose? The class offers excellent benefits, and the power it provides sounds reasonable. I have been waiting for this for quite some time now and, as such, I do not think I can refuse. It appears to be my only option," I say out loud. "And yet, becoming a monster? What the hell is up with that? Did I commit homicide in that quantity?"


    I become baffled, and a sensation of guilt floods my mind. A sudden chill runs down my spine and forces my body to tremble. However, for some reason, it soon dies out. I decide to gamble. Life is already boring for me otherwise.


    "Pft. It is irrelevant. In the end, I chose to be like this. I gave up my humanity for eternal power. It is my obsession, my lust, and my payment in exchange for growth," I chuckled. Do I feel remorse? To a degree, yes. However, I quickly make up my mind and agree to the terms. A moment afterward, my consciousness fades into darkness.


    After waking up, I am greeted with an odd sensation. My body feels more cumbersome than the usual, and a tremendous amount of power seems to be pulsating through it. A new message pops up in my head that displays my status bar:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Name:


    </td>


    <td>


    Ydos


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Race:


    </td>


    <td>


    Golem


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Title:


    </td>


    <td>


    A man who gave up his humanity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Class:


    </td>


    <td>


    Seeker of Power


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Class Proficiency:


    </td>


    <td>


    100/100


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Health:


    </td>


    <td>


    80,733 (+7 per second)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Mana:


    </td>


    <td>


    1,178 (+0.3 per second)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Level:


    </td>


    <td>


    70


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Current EXP:


    </td>


    <td>


    2,144,679


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Next Level EXP:


    </td>


    <td>


    83,472


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Vitality:


    </td>


    <td>


    56 (40 +16)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Resistance:


    </td>


    <td>


    42 (22 +20)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Strength:


    </td>


    <td>


    70 (50 +20)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Dexterity:


    </td>


    <td>


    20 (19 +1)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Agility:


    </td>


    <td>


    12 (10 + 2)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Intelligence:


    </td>


    <td>


    33 (24 +9)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wisdom:


    </td>


    <td>


    10 (8 +2)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Active Effects:


    </td>


    <td>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    The Body of a Golem


    </td>


    <td>


    Strength +50; Vitality +40. Your [Shockwave] will scale off STRT and INT


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    The Core of a Golem


    </td>


    <td>


    Resistance +22; Intelligence +24. Your health is increased by 75,033


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    No more Loot


    </td>


    <td>


    No crystals or other loot will drop for you. To make up for it, you can devour the creatures and obtain extra EXP from them. Stats will work differently and will be explained after your first meal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I look around and find myself inside of a forest. It is dark, but I can see the environment vividly. Despite me not having a face anymore, I grin. I move my body around to get a feel for it. Soon I discover that I have a mouth, but it is an odd concept. I look around a little and do not find any lifeforms. No humanoids or beasts.


    "This is odd," I think to myself. As I move around, I hear a chatter between two people. My heart races as I become excited.


    ¡°Are we perhaps lost?¡± Asks the man.


    ¡°It is possible, for I have come from a different direction and have never walked in or out of the forest before," replies a female. Judging from the pitch, I can tell that the girl is very young.


    Well then. My first prey, I think to myself as I hit the ground and send [Shockwave] - a new ability that I acquired as part of transformation - towards the two people. I attempted utilizing [Analyze], but for some reason, it did not work.


    I fight the man for six full hours. It is exciting, but I do not understand why he does not run out of mana. The girl is avidly observing and cheering for him. Is she dumb? Does she not understand what situation she is in? I am about to devour both of them; however, I soon get trapped inside a water bubble, and a message pops up in my mind:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    An unknown spell has dealt you 9,387,199 damage. A strange phenomenon is not allowing you to die, three seconds before restoring health back to normal.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "What?!" I exclaim in my thought, but before I can come to my senses, my mind fades into nothingness.


    An odd sensation jolts through my body. It is a mixture of pain and unknown burning sensation, and a desire to feed. A noisy sound is also heard within my mind. I open my eyes and find myself in an odd area. It is a wasteland of sorts that appears to have no skies but is well lit regardless. I look around and see various weapons piled up; corrosion is actively spreading through them.


    *Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock*


    ¡°Where am I?¡± I ask myself. Furthermore, why is there such a loud sound of the clock?


    I try to use my [Analyze] over and over again. However, no results. I attempt using [Fortunetelling] and yet, nothing.


    ¡°Shit!¡± I yell, but nobody is here to hear me. ¡°What is going on? Hello? Where am I?¡±


    No answer, only the sound of a clock. I try to move around this place. One hour, two hours¡­ fifteen hours. I covered who knows what distance. There is no end to this place. Did I die? I wonder. Moving my hand, I strike the ground and yet nothing happens. There is no damage, not even a dent in the soil. Suddenly a message pops up in my head:The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    <Dimensional Loot-Box> report: Every non-currency item has been deleted.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    What the hell was that? I look towards the objects that were shining a moment ago, but I do not see it anymore. What happened? Deciding to stay alert and be prepared to face enemies, I keep walking... walking.... how long have I been walking?


    Ten hours, one week, two weeks, a year, ten years, just how much time has passed? What is going on? Not even a single humanoid, monster, or a deity has shown itself. Where am I? Why do I not get exhausted? Well, to be honest, I do know that I am no longer a human. However, the fact that my health does not deteriorate or that my mana does not go down is alarming.


    As I sit down to rest for a little and analyze my situation, a sudden realization comes to my mind. My body can not reflect it, but my sanity is starting to dip into the depths of the abyss. My heart races erratically, my soul is chilled to its very existence as fear takes over me. I desperately try to gasp for air, despite not having lungs or needing to breathe, as I realize how isolated I am inside of this space where nothing exists.


    Is this a bad dream, one that I can not wake up from? I wonder. I try to utilize my [Analyze] again but nothing happens, or so I thought. A sudden stream of energy enters my body.


    ¡°This! Oh, my!¡± I exclaim in ecstasy as beautiful lust for power awakens within me. I slowly begin to understand what is going on. Memories flood my head as I create a vague image of a girl with crimson-colored hair.


    I see. So that is what happened, I laugh sadistically. Perfect. If this being is as powerful as its energy describes, then I will be more than glad to abuse the physical body¡¯s weakness to plan my escape! Perfect. I will wait for the opportune time and strike her when she is at her limit. Afterward, I will take my revenge and toy with her, break her mind, and only then will I devour her body and take this limitless power. With that, I can finally become¡­ No. This word is out of context here. Not become, but exceed. I will surpass the gods!


    Two days pass by. There appears to be no gap whatsoever. The clock is slowly tick-tocking in its usual rhythm. ¡°It is all right,¡± I tell myself. ¡°I need to be patient.¡± And yet, my gut tells me that something is awry. I get a nagging feeling from deep within my mind screaming at me that I am being observed and evaluated.


    ¡°I am not going to drop my guard down,¡± I silently tell myself as I attempt to use my [Analyze] ability. Eventually, after several days, pleasant news floods my mind:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    [Analyze] is complete. The focus actor - Alviona - has been discovered. She is at her uttermost weak when dealing with high temperatures. Side noise: Cornelia, Mimi, Janine, and Solomon. Situation analysis: It is very likely that due to the overly curious nature of the primary target, things will go awry. However, no such scenario was found. Would you like to use [Opportunist] now? Yes, no?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I get excited. Finally, my abilities started to work. And yet, I am somewhat frightened. Why was there no scenario at all if the girl is so fragile?


    I shake my head and focus on her stats again. Without even slightest hesitation or delay, I select the [Yes] option.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Opportunist has been activated. The actor''s fate has been weaved. Surrendering will signify the weakened state and ability to devour. Send a [Shockwave] into the soil to break the <Dimensional Loot-Box> and begin the end...


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Excellent! I tell myself, with a grin. This is, indeed, good news.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    Time passes by. The longer I wait, the more anxious my mind becomes. A message pops up in my head, stating that less than half-an-hour remains until the due time. My heart skips a beat. If I had a human body, I would be profusely sweating. Excitement, fear, and impatience are the words that currently describe my condition. Eventually, I hear a man¡¯s sound stating that he is Surrendering, followed by a female¡¯s voice reciting the same words.


    Now!


    I send fifteen [Shockwave(s)] into the soil, forcing the earth to tremble. As I do, a small gap is formed that sucks me in, and the next moment, I find myself on an arena of sorts. Quickly looking around, I understand where this place is, but more importantly, I switch my focus towards my target.


    ¡°Piece of trash!¡± I yell at her, catching the girl off-guard, and rushing towards her with the elemental stones swirling around my right arm, attaching and transform it into a mouth of a monster. As I collide with the girl, I hear a crunching sound of bones, and my mind goes into ecstasy. She is not quite dead yet.


    ¡°W-what?¡± gasps the girl, her eyes expressing shock as my left-hand holds her in the air, ceasing her desperate attempt to escape.


    ¡°You pathetic, frail, and foolish little creature. How long were you going to hide from me? Or did you think that I would not find a way to escape? Such a beautiful body,¡± I say as my tongue licks her face. What a delicious taste. If I were human and had met this person many years ago, there is no doubt in the world that I would thoroughly enjoy her body. Without further delay, I swallow the girl and a sensation of fulfillment jolts throughout my body. A golem? Heh, that is irrelevant now. With this limitless power pumping through my body, I can become whatever I want! Ha, ha, ha!


    ¡°Alviona, no!¡± Yells a woman that sat alongside other students and was observing the duel.


    ¡°Is that what her name was? Ah, regrettable. Don¡¯t worry there madame, you can join her if you want,¡± I say with a smile, jumping towards her and crushing her skull with my mouth. Yes, for god knows how many years I was imprisoned inside an endless box, and now I can finally see, smell, and taste it again ¨C the fresh blood.


    The dwarf and a demon that stood beside the girl are in a panic, unable to move from the shock that they received. Worry not, I will feast on you too. I will devour all of you! I scream in my mind, as my teeth grind through the flesh and bones of the two girls. Delicious!


    The man who was dueling with Actor earlier charges at me in a futile attempt to stop me.


    Why bother, why resist? What do you change? You were unable to defeat the girl whom I ate, so how do you plan to face me?


    I dodge his incoming ability and send [Shockwave] towards him, knocking him down, and eating off his legs. The man¡¯s screams and agony is music to my ears.


    ¡°Do not worry, I will not kill you. I will let you bleed,¡± I say in amusement as I watch the idiot die from bleeding.


    Various messages flood my mind, but I ignore them. My current objective is to finish eating the remaining students and leave. Staying here any further is somewhat dangerous.


    ¡°Hm, I see. So that is what the library was talking about in the report. Well, it is all okie. Now then, ahem, mister. Do you not think you nommed on enough people? How much can your belly fit?¡± Asks a voice that catches me off-guard. This sweet sound is all too familiar.


    ¡°What? How? I ate you! Where are you?¡± I yell, frustrated by not understanding what is going on. ¡°Are you inside of my mind?¡±


    ¡°I do not know what you are talking about. I am not inside your mind, rather, you are inside of my world. Welcome, Mr. Golem. I am glad to be graced by your presence,¡± said the voice. It did not appear to be distant, and yet, no matter where I searched, I was unable to locate the source.


    ¡°Really? Then how about you show yourself instead of cowering?¡±


    ¡°I do not know what that word means. However, you are correct that I should come out and say hi. After all, talking to someone and not doing a handshake is rude,¡± says the voice with a giggle, and materializes out of thin air in front of me.


    The girl extends her hand that I instinctively tear off.


    ¡°Hm, I understand that you are hungry, but can you avoid salivating my delicate limb? It is tickling, yes. But, I do not like it. Give it back, you!¡± Says the girl, puffing her cheeks and furrowing eyebrows.


    I stop for a moment and observe her. The girl does not look to be too disgruntled from losing her limb. On the contrary, she appears to be calm but slightly irritated. It amuses me. Her deep emerald-colored eyes, beautiful facial complexion, and long, green hair that is pushed back from the breeze. Yes, at this moment, I wish I was human again.


    ¡°Well? Are you not going to return my arm? I am waiting,¡± said the girl severely, causing me to burst out into laughter.


    ¡°You really are amusing,¡± I said, spitting out the remains of her limb. To my surprise, the girl kneeled and actually picked it up! What? Why? That is useless. You can not¡­ What? She actually re-attached it?! Wait a moment, why is she not dead from bleeding? What is going on?


    ¡°Thank you very much,¡± said the girl, folding her arms and smiling. ¡°I have to admit, it is sticky, and I do not like it, but at least you showed some manners.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, little miss. Are you not scared of me?¡± I ask her mockingly.


    ¡°Scared? Why, is there a reason for me to fear you? Or, are you telling me that you lack intelligence? Did I overestimate your thought process?¡± Asks the girl nonchalantly.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I ask her, not satisfied with her tone. ¡°When those that are powerful and pose a threat stand in front of you, should you not be more respectful and perhaps kneel down and start begging for mercy?¡±


    ¡°Mercy? What is that?¡±


    ¡°What an idiot, mocking me at such a time. Well then, take this!¡± I yell, as my tongue becomes as hardened as a blade, penetrating the girl¡¯s chest, driving it to her head, and laughing while having the moment of my life.


    As I look at what I sculpted, my mind is filled with joy. Ah, now I want to mutilate her head and eat it.


    ¡°Well. Now, I am dissatisfied. This is utterly disgusting, and you are to be blamed for it,¡± says the headless figure that fixes itself.


    ¡°Impossible!¡± I yell as I move my mouth to wholly devour her body.


    ¡°Quite possible. Hey, who told you to move when permission was not granted,¡± says the girl and immediately after it, my limb is frozen midway.


    ¡°W-what?¡± I ask with fear, as realization floods my mind: I can not move my body.


    ¡°Cease talking,¡± ordered the girl with a smile. ¡°Now then. What should I do to you? Initially, I planned to talk to you. However, Mr. Tock and Library adamantly insisted that I conduct an experiment. I have no records of this world, and everything for me is a mystery. As a security measure, I created this beautiful world for you. I even allowed you to use your abilities to probe the outside and come back with the results. The library was quite pleased with the new records that she received. I know what you are thinking,¡± the girl stopped and pouted. ¡°Are you trying to say something? Ah, sorry. You may speak, but please, be brief. I need to leave soon.¡±


    ¡°What are you?! I clearly ate you! And I realize it now. When or how did you change your hair color, and why are you so young when almost a century has passed since I last saw you?¡±


    ¡°Ah. Well, I do not know how to explain. A lot has happened, and I think it would be a useless detail for me to tell you about it. My hair color, oh. You noticed. T-thank you very much, but I will not answer that question. As for the time. Well, how do I say it? Uhm, my time flows differently here because you are inside of the core, and not in the real world.¡±


    ¡°Real world? So are you telling me this is not real? Those people whom I ate, none of it is a thing? Your name is not Alviona?¡±


    ¡°It is my name. Oh, I see. You have not figured it out. Well, it is all irrelevant now,¡± said the girl with a bright smile. Despite it being adorable, I catch a hint of evil in it.


    ¡°You are planning to do something. Stop with that innocent smile! What is going to happen to me?¡±


    ¡°Hm? I do not think that I can do anything to you. I merely wanted to talk, but you assaulted and ate the core. She is disappointed, which is why I am here instead.¡±


    ¡°What is core? What are you? You are going in circles and are not answering my question!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I apologize. Here is a simple overview. You are an unknown thingie that caused disturbance inside of my <Dimensional Loot-Box> a few weeks ago. I got curious, and after I gained access to my library, I decided to investigate everything. There is not much else to it except for the fact that when you used your ability, I allowed you to probe the real world. As I analyzed what you were doing, I created the world according to your Fateweaving and allowed it to manipulate me. However, we are in my world. Therefore, I retain full control over it. So, to summarize it, I think I lied to you. Wait, does that mean I am a meanie?!¡±


    ¡°But I ate your core! Should that not mean that it belongs to me? Is power not flowing through my body?¡±


    ¡°Power, flowing, body. I do not understand. Are you referring to me giving you false data? Who knows. Regardless, I came to a conclusion. I agree with myself on this. Since you ate the Core, I am disheartened and cannot call you a friend. You are a true meanie. As such, I give myself a permission to eat you. I said that it would be a bad idea to nom on corpses; however, you are no such thing. Therefore, it is okie to eat you. Now then, come here, food. Let me bite you!¡± Said the girl as she joyfully approached me. A moment later, I began losing my memories and soon after, I died.


    ***


    Upon eating the atoms of her adversary, Alviona #399 stepped back, and her hair changed to crimson.


    ¡°Do you understand what I meant now?¡± Asked the library that gently patted her on her shoulders.


    ¡°I do. But still, tell me, why did that ability force me to get hot when nearby Janine?¡± Asked Alviona, her face expressing confusion and frustration from the events that unfolded so far.


    ¡°Mistress, as you told yourself earlier, I think you will find an answer at a later time. For now, let me know what you would like me to do with the golem¡¯s remains?¡±


    ¡°Well, if what this person weaved is correct, and I believe it to be accurate with deviations from the truth here and there, for he could not find any opportunities to strike at me, then I can say that his body should be further analyzed. I did not know when Solomon fought him, that he was not the same thing that Anita created,¡± replied Alviona with a smile.


    ¡°I understand. In that case, I will move the body back to your <Dimensional Loot-Box>. I have completed writing down all the records. The man did give us some good insight on some subjects that you can take, so that was interesting. By the way, mistress, is it not time to wake up?¡±


    ¡°Oh my! You are correct, me. I am excited. I will get to see that girl who has similar features to me and will become her friend. On top of that, I will get to spend time with Janine and Mimi. I also need to talk to my grandma about several things. She is wise and will be able to help me out. Ah, bliss! Life is fascinating,¡± said Alviona as she waved goodbye to the Library and went back to her resting chamber.


    *Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*


    ¡°Hm? I did not think you would be up this early, Alviona,¡± said Mimi who was reading a book and sipping on her tea. The aroma caught Alviona¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Mimi, may I join you? Please?¡±


    ¡°Why of course. Would you like some cake too? I saved it for you.¡±


    ¡°Mimi, you are truly an interesting person. I really admire you. Say, do you have any questions for me?¡±


    ¡°Hm, not that I can think of. Well, have you by chance received your uniform?¡±


    ¡°No, but there should be a girl coming here any time now who will help me with that,¡± said Alviona as she looked towards the door.


    ¡°Good morning, Alviona,¡± said Janine who was first to enter the room, followed by Solomon and Cornelia. ¡°This girl here is¡­¡±


    ¡°Cornelia?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Wait, what? Have you two already met?¡± Asked Janine who was caught off-guard.


    ¡°You could say so,¡± replied Alviona chirpily. Janine gave her an odd glance, and the guest also appeared to be confused.


    ¡°This is my first time seeing her. How could I have met her? I received the assignment from the headmaster as early as two hours ago and went to your chambers first. Since the girls in the hallways kept talking about a tall man standing beside your room, I got curious. I was surprised to hear that you were not Alviona,¡± said Cornelia to Janine.


    ¡°Well, trust me, perhaps it is for the best. One Alviona for the world, is already one too many,¡± replied Janine who glanced at the girl in question and began hysterically laughing for no apparent reason.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Asked Cornelia.


    ¡°Quite. Forgive me, I just had a weird thought cross my head. Well, since there is no need for introductions, let us not waste time. We need to get a lot done today.¡±


    The day passed by usually. Just like the man had fate weaved, Alviona took the same classes; however, she never got as hot near Janine as she was forced during the experiment. This eased her mind.


    ¡°Say, Cornelia. Can we please visit the arena? I want to check one last thing,¡± said the child with pleading eyes.


    ¡°Ah. Interested in duels are you?¡±


    ¡°No. No such thing. I want to see the concept though.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, I do not see any harm in that. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Cornelia led the way. Alviona kept observing every movement that was made by everyone present inside the arena. After watching Bastion win, she grinned from the satisfaction of concluding her experiment.


    Interesting. So the fate weaving passive really did create a truthful to the world scenario. This world is indeed a mystery. I should watch out for the enemies in the future. The golem being inside of my world was unacceptable. I should have been less reckless in the first place.


    With that, the party went to the bookstores and purchased necessary documents. Alviona was also introduced to the library of the Dalei Academy located in southeast part of the institution.


    The nighttime was approaching as Cornelia finished her tour. After waving goodbye and letting everyone go back to their resting quarters, Alviona and Mimi decided to return to their rooms and rest for the day.


    Unfortunately, Alviona was unable to properly fall asleep. She was too excited from the events that unfolded throughout the day. The child was also rejoiced by being around Janine, and from the fact that nobody was hurt or eaten. Unable to settle down, she opened the window and stared into the dark landscape illuminated by the moonlight.


    With a grin, Alviona extended her majestic wings that blended in with the night. Without further delay, she set out for a quick flight and one more tour of the Academy. It did the trick. Upon her return, the girl steadily fell asleep.

 Chapter 38 - Alvionas first day of school turned out to be queer

    Early in the morning, Alviona woke up and got dressed in her school uniform that had the emblem of the institution embedded on the back of the cloak. Going downstairs, she was greeted by Mimi who was kind enough to put away the breakfast meant for her. ¡®Excited to go to your first class?¡¯ Asked the dwarf curiously as she watched the girl devour the food.


    Alviona smiled and nodded, but despite this, an odd feeling of uneasiness crept into her body. After the breakfast was complete, she headed towards the Divine department of the academy. Many students, professors, and scholars were moving in and out of the different buildings, causing a chaotic ruckus on the street. Everyone appeared to be in a rush, and, for a child who was not accustomed to such rhythm of life, it became a cumbersome task to make it to her destination in one piece without running late. Furthermore, it was the first time that Alviona found herself wholly alone. Despite her wanting to bring Solomon into classes, it was a no-go due to his origins.


    ¡°Are you lost?¡± Asked the professor upon greeting her. ¡°I am sorry, young miss, but if you have the Elemental course as your first class, then you are in a wrong building. We teach Divine magic here,¡± scoffed the man who was taken aback by the girl¡¯s unusually large hat.


    ¡°Not at all. Here is the headmaster¡¯s letter,¡± replied Alviona as she passed the parchment, which the man quickly glanced over before surrendering and nodding.


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there. Come on in,¡± said the man, waving his hand and gesturing to the girl to come along.


    Upon entering, Alviona could feel the eyes of thirty attendees quickly shift towards her, causing her to feel uncomfortable from the attention she was receiving. ¡°Am I doing something wrong?¡± She asked herself in confusion as anxiety settled within her mind. It was further made worse by the fact that the students began chattering in a low voice ¡ª some mocking her hat, while others talked about her sudden appearance. It became evident that not just the girl¡¯s dormitory, but the entire academy had received the news of a fresh student being accepted despite the harsh rules.


    ¡°Good morning class,¡± said the instructor that gently put his hands on the girl¡¯s shoulders. ¡°This is our new attendee from this day onwards. While I understand that this is uncommon and such a situation does not occur often, I still expect that you will treat her with courtesy. Now then, Miss, would you like to introduce yourself?¡±


    The girl was nervous as a result of multiple students staring at her. It felt as if Alviona had shrunk in size and became a fly that was waiting for these giants to squash her. She attempted to gulp and muster up the courage to speak up; however, the girl quickly discovered that her throat was aching and burning. ¡°M-my n-name is A¡­ My name is A-Alviona,¡± said the girl, stuttering and gasping for air. Despite Mira and Solomon preparing her for this, she found it challenging to gather her thoughts and speak.


    ¡°That, uhm. Good. Welcome, Alviona,¡± said the instructor with a small clap, gesturing towards the students to follow suit. This, in turn, caused Alviona to ease up a little as she took the front seat of the row.


    The class moved by slowly. Alviona kept avidly listening to the instructor as he spoke about different spells that the Divine schools of magic had under its wing. Some students asked questions perpetrating the correct usage of spells and their appropriate mana cost. It was an interesting chat, one that soon turned into a mild debate. For the girl, it was all relevant and exciting.


    ¡°Mr. Baiul, can I ask a question?¡± said Alviona as she raised her hand. Seeing that the man nodded, she continued. ¡°Why are Divine teachings of magic referred to as such? Do we receive the powers from gods?¡±


    ¡°That is an interesting question. I am glad you brought it up, as I discussed this last week. Class, which one of you remembers the answer?¡± Asked the man with a chuckle. ¡°You there, Karl, can you answer?¡±


    ¡°Aw, come on! Why me?¡± said the young lad who stood up. ¡°The Divine teachings is considered as such due to its nature to Protect, Heal, and Cure the Negative Effects from your allies. It has nothing to do with the gods.¡±


    As the man¡¯s words flowed into Alviona¡¯s mind, her eyes widened from disbelief. ¡°Are you certain?¡± She asked just to confirm. ¡°Clearly, there has to be a misunderstanding ¡ª¡± she thought. And yet, the man repeated his words.


    ¡°Correct. The Divine school of magic has an origin that stems from the deities, but that is about it. The only real spell that falls under Holy or Gods realm would be [Ressurection] ¨C an ability to fully restore the dead and bring the consciousness back into them,¡± replied Baiul with a nod.


    An hour slowly passed by. The professor included an overview of how magic in this world worked, and how the inhabitants could choose up to six primary, four secondaries, and two utility skills to be most useful as a supporting class. Alviona also learned about various types of spells that were readily available under the Divine category. Towards the end, Baiul was kind enough to perform several demonstrations of spells such as [Minor Barrier], [Rally], and [Fortified Spirit].


    ¡°One last thing. Remember that even if you are currently locked in a Minor or Major for the Divine school of magic, your profession, spells, and stats will still depend upon your training and exploration,¡± concluded the instructor sternly.


    After the class was finished, Alviona approached the professor with a puzzled expression. ¡°Mr. Baiul, may I ask several questions?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± said the man as he leaned back in his chair. ¡°What would you like to know?¡±


    ¡°I apologize if I sound rude, but are you sure that using Divine magic has absolutely nothing to do with the gods?¡± Asked the girl, her voice trembling and cracking down as she mentioned the hunters that she was desperately trying to avoid.


    ¡°I already explained. Why are you so interested in this matter?¡± Asked the man with a quizzical expression, uncertain of what to make of her question.


    ¡°No, I understood the concept; however, I am an atheist yet have a gift in Divine arts. I hope I won¡¯t face any complications,¡± said the girl sincerely.


    ¡°Well, let me say it this way: in our world that we call Dedrillon, Gods do not do much as their primary role is to keep the dungeon monsters at bay ¡ª¡± Alviona avidly listened, not forgetting to write down mental notes. ¡°There are various legends of heroic deeds committed by several adventurers, hinting at their ascension to godhood¡­¡±


    ¡°Have there been any instances when the deities have interfered with the world?! Any at all?!¡± Interrupted Alviona immediately, slamming her hands on the desk, and leaning forward.


    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, and why ask such a stupid question?!¡±


    ¡°I apologize. I did not mean to insult¡ª¡± said the girl as she jolted her body back.


    ¡°Your question is nonsensical! I already answered you, yet you are asking the same thing albeit in a different format,¡± shouted the man with spite, furrowing up his eyebrows and gritting his teeth.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± said the girl, her voice cracking down.


    Seeing that the mood changed and that he scared the girl, the man sighed and softened up a little before speaking. ¡°The gods do not get involved. The angels are a faction and a race that is known to most closely resemble the deities, and these creatures do what you spoke of¡­ That¡¯s all I will say, and for the next time, do not ever bring this subject up with me,¡± said the man, his eyes bloodshot.


    Alviona felt an odd sensation of uneasiness crawl into her mind. Understanding that the mood was tense, she decided to perform a light bow, thank the professor, and move on to her next class. Upon exiting the room, a sound of something smashing resonated in her ears, forcing her to quickly clear the area, and head towards the Elemental faculty department.


    ¡°How long are they planning to follow me?¡± Thought the girl as she quickly glanced behind her back, towards the students that did not attempt to mask their presence whatsoever. It would be understandable if they had the same faculty chosen as her; however, their facial expression was giving the girl another vibe ¡ª hostility.


    ¡°Have you business with me?¡± She asked nonchalantly, stopping in her tracks. Fortunately, the stalkers got uneasy and walked their own way, never answering her question. The girl did not understand what to make of this scene. ¡°How peculiar¡ª¡± she thought, as she continued towards her destination, contemplating over the words spoken during the class, and trying her inner best to make sense of it. ¡°Angels perform the duties of the administrators. But then¡­ Is there a possibility that I am overly protective and nervous for no reason?¡± Kept the girl thinking as a creeping chill ran down her spine, reminiscent of ants crawling on her body. Someone was touching her back, hands were slowly creeping up towards her shoulders.


    ¡°Booh!¡± Said a voice, causing the girl to jump into the air and fall flat. ¡°Gotcha!¡±


    Alviona slowly crawled up from the ground, quickly glancing towards the source of the musical laughter that filled her ears. ¡°Janine,¡± she pouted, ¡°why would you do that to me?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, kiddo. I noticed you walking towards the class and could not resist the temptation, seeing that you were carried away,¡± said Janine with a grin. ¡°Everything all right?¡±


    The girl nodded and gracefully accepted help in getting up. After hearing alviona¡¯s story, Janine fell into thought. ¡°You know, I really hate the fact that you are keeping me in the dark¡­ always avoiding talking to me¡­ it¡¯s as if I am nothing but a hindrance to you.¡± She turned her back on Alviona and created some distance. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me at all, do you?¡±


    ¡°That is not the case,¡± exclaimed Alviona with a sudden outburst of frustration, causing some passerby people to stop and give her an odd stare. Janine was taken aback by the sharp tone displayed by the girl, for this had never happened before.


    ¡°Having some lovey-dovey quarrel, aren¡¯t you?¡± Teased Cornelia who popped into the conversation, forcing the two girls to shift their attention at her.


    The girl looked creepy. Messy hair, bagged eyes, tie not appropriately worn, and her face had an expression that of a ghost risen from the dead to scare the dead.


    ¡°Bloody¡­ what happened to you?¡± Asked Janine who was most disgusted by sight. ¡°And what do you mean Lovey-Dovey? We are friends, that¡¯s all ¡ª¡± she scoffed, the words still causing her to blush ever so slightly. Alviona¡¯s heart, on the other hand, appeared to race as if on an ultramarathon.


    ¡°Stuff. I¡¯m just teasing you. Be at ease. Although I will admit that the way you two behave makes it look like it. You are oddly close,¡± said Cornelia with a sadistic grin. After some argument with Janine, she teased Alviona slightly until giving up as she got no reaction from her whatsoever.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Walking into the classroom, the two girls were greeted by various students who inspected their figures. Janine was of most interest to them due to her tanned skin complexion, a color that was not common on the mainland.


    ¡°Wait, so these are the new attendees to whom an exception was made by the headmaster?¡± Whispered several students to each other.


    ¡°Yes, I believe so,¡± replied a girl from the crowd with laughter.


    ¡°Is she not creepy? What¡¯s with that hat?¡± Said several males mockingly. ¡°Is her bodyguard not attending classes?¡±


    ¡°She has a bodyguard? Wait, did I miss that?¡± Said some girls in shock.


    ¡°Hey, you, cut it out! She stands right in front of us!¡± Came a reply.


    ¡°But I am interested!¡± Whispered several students with excitement. Some of them attempted approaching Alviona but got discouraged due to her inactivity and lack of interest. And yet, the girl became a hot topic amongst men and women for different reasons. Some were attracted to her figure while others were curious about the visage beneath the extraordinary hat, but all of them were interested in seeing what the girl had up her sleeves in spellcasting. It was unfortunate that she had not enrolled during the beginning of the semester when students were required to perform a ¡°Show¡± of their talent and knowledge. Now there was no way of testing her outside of a duel in the arena, or fighting clubs that the Academy hosted.


    Upon taking their seats, a tall male (probably in his thirties) entered the room who wore exotic robes with blue crystal pauldrons that emitted an odd aura around him. The closer he got to students, the heavier their breathing became. Everyone¡¯s throat appeared to be parched. It was as if death lurked right around the corner. Many began shivering from the phenomenon, and their noses started bleeding.


    ¡°I think that is enough, Mr. Bernstein,¡± said Cornelia who was irritated by the instructor¡¯s behavior. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she used her [Lightning surge] that caused the man to focus his attention on her. Despite the spell going through him, the man merely shrugged it off and grinned before summoning an icicle that steadily floated at Cornelia¡¯s throat, threatening to puncture and end her life in an instant.


    ¡°Oh, my. Miss Davenfall has graced my class with her presence? That¡¯s some extraordinary development there,¡± said the man as he turned his gaze towards Alviona and Janine, slowly caressing his black beard. ¡°Splendid. Welcome to my class, rookies! A forewarning since you skipped last week; I take a practical approach to everything so be ready to do some work. That set aside, I hope you find my company a blast. Yes, yes. Elemental magic is the mystery and the real joy of life.¡± With his last words, Bernstein turned his attention to the training dummies and, with a waving motion of his hand, redirected the spell towards them, puncturing the primary (middle) target. After two seconds delay, the rubber doll exploded, and various shards flew towards every direction. The dummies were lacerated, and red liquid streamed towards the floor; the students were safe thanks to the wall of ice that the instructor created.


    ¡°That is unacceptable!¡± Shouted a girl who jolted up from her seat with her eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Why on earth is that loser here? WHY?!¡±


    ¡°Oh, Miss Abelson. As far as I recall, I forced you to retake the course, no? How are you any better?¡± Asked the man with a bright smile as he looked at Cornelia and laughed. ¡°Truly amazing. The old bastard actually managed to get you into the class! Well then, this ought to be fun.¡±


    ***


    The cafeteria was packed. Students, instructors, and scholars were desperately rushing towards the line to get their hands on the ¡°Today¡¯s Special¡± ice-cream considered to be exotic throughout the world. Alviona followed Janine, excited but exhausted from the school activities they participated in.


    The martial classes proved to be challenging for Janine, especially when she insisted on partnering with Alviona. ¡°Bloody hell. She was holding back the whole time, yet I could not beat her even once!¡± She thought, glancing at the girl in question who was deep in thought, salivating from all the choices that were presented. Unfortunately, the two girls only managed to scrap the bare lunch consisting of basics. No desserts were offered to them.


    ¡°Wait a moment. I do not understand, why does everyone else get the sweets but we don¡¯t?¡± Asked Janine, baffled by the oddity.


    ¡°Simple,¡± replied the cook. ¡°You do not have the custom golden ribbon on your ties. Only nobility is allowed to get exotic treats. My sincere apologies.¡±


    The man¡¯s words slowly settled in within Janine¡¯s mind. She was well acquainted with the politics games behind the educational system, but this was absurd. Looking over at Alviona¡¯s pleading face, the girl could not do much but to feel disheartened. ¡°Here,¡± she told the man, removing a golden insignia from her pocket ¡ª ¡®Will this work?¡¯


    ¡°Ehmm.. yes. That is acceptable,¡± replied the cook, handing over a plate and a scoop of the novelty.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, kiddo. I will share with you,¡± said Janine, causing Alviona¡¯s concealed visage to light up with glee. As the child devoured the food, Cornelia and Mimi joined in, creating a comfortable and a friendly atmosphere; something that both girls wholly enjoyed.


    Several students passed by their table, giving an odd stare until disappearing amidst the crowd. As the silly talk between Alviona and her friends moved forward, Janine could not help but notice more and more students streaming in and circling around their table.


    What¡¯s with this foolish act? Don¡¯t tell me that they think we are dumb and won¡¯t notice it. What is their goal, and even if I figure it out, what is the motive? Is it a sort of initiation or could it be that Alviona¡¯s identity has been compromised?


    Absurd.


    Janine shook her head in denial. Their stay at this Academy had been far too short to cause such a scenario. It meant that something else was going on¡­investigation was in order. Yes, there was only one way to find out. Mustering her resolve, Janine cast her Mind Control ability on one of the younger students who had his hand trembling, eyes widened, and lips devoid of any moisture ¡ª the weakest of the flock, one that could easily spill out the necessary information. Yes, three more seconds and she would figure it out. Two¡­ one¡­.


    And the [Mind Tap] was in effect.


    Going through the man¡¯s most recent memories, the girl was relieved and shocked simultaneously. The bright side was that Alviona¡¯s identity was incognito; the unnerving part was that the man harbored intense, Murder-like enmity towards Cornelia. To be more precise, the demon was the reason why the students were behaving like this. The two newbies being around the resented girl caused a commotion.


    ¡°Wait a second¡­ This¡­ is this a note?!¡± Thought Janine, but before she could investigate further, one of the female students approached and slammed her hands on the table.


    ¡°I understand that the two of you are new here, but we need to talk.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, her gaze directed at Cornelia who nonchalantly carried on with her lunch. ¡°Piece of shit! You dare to¡­¡±


    A sudden outburst of noise forced the girl to cut off her sentence as the instructors streamed into the cafeteria, dismissing the students and bringing the order. The lunch-time at Dalei¡¯s Academy lasted two hours, and because the time was not up, most attendees remained in the cafeteria. Despite the commotion ending, their eyes were still solidly fixed upon Cornelia.


    Alviona watched the occurrence, puzzled by the situation, and slightly dissatisfied due to the inability to finish the meal in one peace. The hostility displayed made her feel uneasy and alert. ¡°Should I intervene?¡± She thought. Looking at Cornelia and Mimi forced her to shake her head as neither of them were affected or bothered by this situation.


    ¡°Janine, mind if we move elsewhere? I am not feeling comfortable¡­¡± said Alviona in an attempt to lighten up the atmosphere a little. Part of her also wanted to spend some time with Janine, preferably alone. The girl appeared to be in thought and did not pay much attention to her request. ¡°Please? Pretty please?¡± Continued the child, lightly nudging her to get the attention.


    After finishing her thought, Janine nodded, excused herself in front of the two students, and followed Alviona out of the cafeteria, towards the rooftop of the academy. A cold wind caressed their cheeks as they sat and enjoyed their quiet meal, both feeling awkward and a little anxious. From the corner of her eyes, Janine could see the elation on Alviona¡¯s face who was gently nomming on the ice-cream, getting her mouth sloppy. The girl could not hold her hysteric laughter back. ¡°Kiddo, you really are something,¡± she said, grinning and wiping away her face.


    ¡°Uwah, but it is so good! It¡¯s soft and cold¡­ sweet¡­¡± Said Alviona, gently nomming on the novelty. Glancing over at Janine the girl could not help being captivated by the thin, red lips. She slowly extended her hand, trembling from excitement, her heart beating more and more rapidly until reaching for Janine¡¯s lips with her pinky finger, swiping and cleaning off the remains of the novelty.


    ¡°W-why did you do that?!¡± Demanded Janine who jolted back, her eyes widened from the sudden motion performed by the girl. Instead of replying, she witnessed the mysterious elf quickly extend her wings¡ªcausing her hat to fall off, revealing the joyful visage¡ªand swiftly devour the treat, while flapping them erratically.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Exclaimed Alviona in her mind, ecstatic from the victory that she achieved. ¡°This emotion¡­ this sensation ¡ª it is indeed bliss! More¡­ p-please, l-let m-me have more¡­¡± Unfortunately, she was snapped back into the reality as Janine began pleading for her to hide her limbs. Understanding what she did, the child surrendered. Seeing that she caused Janine to worry, the girl got even more disappointed in herself. The sudden outburst of joy was suppressed.


    ¡°I understand your curious nature and that you have a condition, but that is not an excuse to be so rash. Be careful,¡± scolded Janine who was accumulating stress from the current developments. ¡°No matter what, something is wrong here. What is going on with that Cornelia girl, and what was that note¡­¡± Her thought was cut off due to Alviona rubbing her cheeks against hers, acting as if she were a puppy. Janine welcomed it. She did not have that many friends, and the memories of her past still haunted her. If her only true friend acted in such a way, then it was acceptable. Besides, she knew a little about the girl¡¯s origins and understood what she was or had a potential of becoming. And yet¡­ ¡°Lovey-Dovey¡­ you two are unusually close¡­¡± still echoed within her mind. Was there a chance that¡­


    Shaking her head, Janine decided that something needed to be said. The silence was far too unnerving, and her head was ready to boil.


    ¡°Alviona, how would you describe the ice-cream? Did you like it?¡± She asked curiously, forming a faint smile and trying to change the topic.


    The girl looked at Janine, pondering and seeking an answer, blushing and shaking her head several times while caressing her cheeks. One minute¡­ two¡­ four¡­ Janine could see a sort of steam being emitted from Alviona¡¯s head; her puffed cheeks and confused eyes forced her to chuckle several times. She thought it was quite cute.


    ¡°Meanie! This is not easy,¡± said Alviona who did not enjoy getting teased and whose feelings were slowly developing. Thinking back to what the taste of the novelty was, she gulped and answered.


    ¡°Whimsically delicious, sparkle-sparkle delight of frutopic chocolate melt,¡± replied Alviona so quickly that Janine could not make out even a single word. Seeing this, the girl repeated her words slowly, and yet to no avail. With a loud sigh, she mustered up her resolve and imagined every sensation that she just experienced:


    ¡°Whimsically delicious,


    ¡®Sparkle-Sparkle¡¯ delight


    Of Frutopic Chocolate Melt,¡±


    Said the girl, controlling her breathing pattern and her anxiety as the aforementioned taste of Janine¡¯s lips replicated inside of her mind, a feeling that she embedded deep within her core, one that she refused to let go of.


    ¡°Where did the Fruit part come from?¡± Wondered Janine as she finished eating her share, not forgetting to take out a small pocket watch to check for the time. Seeing that the lunch was almost over, she stood up and patted Alviona¡¯s head, informing her that the library would be opening up soon.


    Alviona was excited. She would finally be able to commence her research on all the deities that inhabited this world. And yet, a slight sense of uneasiness crept into her mind as she watched Janine who had her arms crossed and appeared to be in thought.


    ¡°Kiddo, I am sorry for being so sudden, but I need you to do me a favor¡ª¡± she said, causing a chill to run down Alviona¡¯s spine. Seeing that she nodded, Janine eased up, her fierce eyes relaxing a little. With a slow motion, she wrapped her hands around the girl¡¯s shoulders and landed a soft kiss on her cheeks. ¡°I want you to forgive me for breaking my promise. I can not come with you to the library for a while. There is an important matter I have to discuss with Mira, and an investigation is also in order.¡±


    Much to Janine¡¯s surprise, the reply that came from Alviona baffled her. She was not angry or frustrated; instead, the girl downright allowed it. ¡°It is okie,¡± she said. ¡°I will ask Mr. Solomon to come with me. I also have to do research that is slightly different from the one I originally intended,¡± said Alviona cheerfully.


    Janine was the first to leave the rooftop upon Solomon¡¯s arrival. ¡°Take care of her,¡± she told the man nervously. Seeing that he nodded, the girl grinned and exited the building with a Quest to find the meaning behind the hidden note.

 Chapter 39 - Emotions Stirred

    ¡°I did not see you return last few days. Is everything all right?¡± Asked a concerned voice.


    An intense pain pulsated through Janine¡¯s body as she opened her eyes and attempted to get up, her blurred vision slowly clearing up. ¡®H-how long have I been out?¡¯ she thought, unable to feel her hands or feet for a few minutes.


    ¡°Janine, are you listening? Do you want me to get the nurse?¡± Asked the roommate, disturbed by the silence and Janine¡¯s erratic movement of the eyes.


    ¡°T-thank you, but I am fine,¡± replied the girl as she slowly crawled up ¡ª head spinning and causing nausea. ¡®On second thought, perhaps it¡¯s best that I go and get myself checked¡­ I need to discuss this with Mira¡­ crap, this hurts¡¯ thought Janine as she touched her burning forehead, little droplets of blood visible on her hands.


    Folding her pocket watch, the girl got up and quickly got dressed in the casual clothing that was scattered around; going to the restroom and cleaning her face up. Janine was messed up, her eyes bagged, her lips burst, and her hands slightly trembling as she washed them and reached for her mouth, removing a broken tooth, and spitting out blood.


    ¡°Fucking psychos,¡± murmured Janine as she watched her reflection and recalled the night before; anger overtaking her before slamming her fist into the wall.


    The girl had been in pursuit of the mystery behind the hidden note for quite some time now. No matter how hard she searched, the student had miraculously disappeared ¡ª gone without a trace. Having recreated his image within her mind, Janine went as far as going through the archives of every student attending the Academy of Dalei, a feat that took her many sleepless nights to achieve. In the end, she could not get any lead: No name, no picture, no documents of him even existing ¡ª nothing.


    And yet, the girl did not give up. This matter was alarming for such notes could only be planted by top-tier spies when an exchange of information was due. It could be some students learning and testing their skills with the said profession in mind. Yes, probably that was it. However, that did not shed any light on the unusual disappearance or rather non-existence of the said person; neither did it excuse the usage of such ability or methodology inside the institution.


    Who permitted it?


    Furthermore, the person was clearly nervous; perhaps scared of the deed he was to commit.


    Was he forced to do something?


    If this were the case, then Janine had to investigate and gather enough evidence before making any accusations and bringing the headmaster¡¯s attention to the matter.


    Cleaning herself up and putting a bandage around her wrist that had a deep cut, Janine moved towards the door.


    ¡°Hey, you are right. I do need to get a check-up done, so I¡¯ll go to the nurse¡¯s office. Are you going to be all right? Do you want me to get anything on my way back?¡± Asked Janine to her roommate who was combing her hair.


    Why did that girl not care too much? Was she also involved? ¡°I think I¡¯m gettin¡¯ paranoid,¡± thought Janine with a pout.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s okay. Just be careful. Don¡¯t get yourself beaten to a pulp again; try to avoid that group¡­¡± said the roommate in a low voice as if to avoid prying ears inside the room, which Janine had checked and knew was empty.


    ¡°You appear to be terribly nervous. Anything you want to tell me?¡± Asked Janine with a firm and a severe tone, preparing to [Mind Tap] inside the girl¡¯s head if need be.


    ¡°N-no¡­ Just that group¡­ They are bullies of sorts, obsessed with making Cornelia Davenfall¡¯s life as miserable as possible,¡± said the roommate nervously.


    ¡°And why is that? Care to enlighten me?¡± Asked Janine, leaning her body forward as to slightly intimidate the girl.


    ¡°I-I dunno,¡± she replied with a saddened expression. ¡°But I do feel bad for that student. From what I was told, she¡¯s been harassed ever since she began studying here. Something to do with her background?¡±


    Yes. Of this Janine was aware. She had thoroughly investigated Cornelia, despite the documents being kept in the secret archives that were guarded by several high-ranking officers. While they were trained to resist common Psychic attacks, for a professional illusionist, who had years-upon-years of experience from battlefields it proved to be rather easy to penetrate the defenses. Guarded or not, this was not a battlefield; the officers could keep the spoiled children of the nobles at bay but not Janine.


    ¡°I suppose I am glad that I hid my stats when we enrolled,¡± she thought as she walked towards the medical building.


    It was the middle of the spring season; the smell of tree bark post rain, the sweet aroma of flowers blossoming, and the itchiness caused by pollen spreading in the air caused Janine to recall the nostalgic feel of her country. How long had it been that she had the freedom of experiencing such a simple pleasantry? True, she was in the military, but when being distracted by training, preparations for war, and her family feud, there was little time to stop for a minute and enjoy the purest joys of life such as nature.


    ¡°Funny,¡± she thought as she recalled how she came to be in such a situation. Janine did not hate her life, per say; nor did she resent the entirety of her family. Her mother was a gentle woman who had raised the child to the best of her ability. Her father had passed away while quite young, but she still remembered the kind-hearted man.


    No, what Janine hated was what came after that.


    ¡°Whatever. It is irrelevant now,¡± said the girl with a loud sigh as she approached the door that read ¡°Mira¡± on it.


    Knock, Knock.


    Nobody answered.


    Knock, Knock.


    Silence.


    ¡°Hm, is she out? Perhaps I¡­¡± Janine could not finish the thought as she heard Mira¡¯s voice down the hallway, talking to someone. It was Alviona¡¯s voice. ¡°Damn it! I can¡¯t let the curious one see me like this. I gotta hide,¡± thought Janine as she quickly moved the plant that stood beside the door, taking its place ¡ª in shadows ¡ª while casting [Scrambling], [Active Camouflage], and [Silence].


    ¡°Grandma, do you truly believe that I can do it?¡± Asked Alviona chirpily, her eyes sparkling as she followed Mira.


    ¡°It sure will! I really like that idea of yours. It resembles a concept that I am well acquainted with,¡± replied Mira, stopping to pat Alviona¡¯s head who in turn became ecstatic from the usual pampering received.


    Observing them, Janine could not hold her grin back. ¡°Good grief, kiddo. You really love getting spoiled. Just like a child,¡± she thought. And yet, the girl was not fooled. She knew very well what was hiding beneath what Alviona called a Vessel, the inner beast ¡ª something that she had not told anyone back in residence. ¡®Gotta be careful. That voice¡­ I will never forget the whispers¡­ they ring in my mind even today, and it¡¯s been nearly three months now!¡¯


    And yet, whenever she checked the condition window, nothing abnormal was displayed.


    Odd.


    Mira approached the door and stopped her chatter, ears wiggling several times before slowly turning the knob and entering her office.


    ¡°What?! Did she sense my presence?¡± Wondered Janine as she eavesdropped the conversation that the two party members were having. Speaking of which, where was Solomon?


    ¡°Grandma, I keep telling you¡­ whenever Janine is not nearby, I feel sad. Did I upset her somehow? Almost two months passed since she told me that she would come with me to a library¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°I can assure you that she is doing something important.¡±


    ¡°But can¡¯t I help her?¡± Asked Alviona, her voice expressing frustration.


    ¡°I am sorry, kiddo¡­ I really need to get to the root of this,¡± thought Janine as she kept listening, slightly disappointed by her own actions and inability to get any results. To some degree, she was also trying to avoid the child so that any feelings she might have harbored towards her would be figured out. Cornelia¡¯s ¡°Lovey-dovey¡± remark bothered Janine to no ends as if a splinter was stuck inside of her body that she could not remove. Was there a possibility that Janine was in love with Alviona? She did not admit it, but then she did not deny it either. ¡®I¡¯ll give it time¡ª¡¯ she kept thinking.


    Carried away in her fantasies, Janine missed out on the rest of the conversation, and Alviona slowly walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind her. Seeing her face, Janine could not help but ponder as to what made her go into that state. The child¡¯s visage was lit up with excitement, slowly caressing her cheeks and having a smile reminiscent of a pink rose to blossom. It was entrancing, so much that had she not paid attention and kept calm, her concealment would have come off. Even so, part of Janine wished that she could apologize to Alviona right here and now, offering her to share another ice-cream¡­ ¡°God damn it! Sparkle-sparkle delight. I am such a loser.¡± Watching the child leave, the girl was finally able to ease up and control her breathing pattern.


    ¡°Well, you can come out now. I know you are here,¡± said Mira who poked her head out of the office.


    ¡°What?!¡± Thought Janine as she walked from her position, removing her camouflage and giving Mira a dumb stare.


    ¡°Oh, my. What happened to your face?!¡± Asked the elf as she dragged the girl inside, closing the door behind and securing it with the lock. ¡°[Silence], [Fortification], [Untrackable]¡ª¡± chanted Mira, before turning to her patient and thoroughly examining her. ¡°Well, I am waiting.¡±


    ¡°Hooligans,¡± scoffed Janine as she told her of the encounter with the noble family of Laveius, the two siblings that were actively trying run a group of sorts that discriminated and aimed to separate the lower class attending the Dalei Academy from the upper ones. Even the middle-class nobility was not immune from their behavior. Best part? The Institution closed their eyes on most of the happening due to the amount of reputation gained from their house. What could one do? Such was the societal norm.


    ¡°I bit off more than I should have and did not watch my back. I was far too overconfident, as such here I am, beaten. I apologize, madame Mira.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± replied the elf with a concerned face as she disinfected Janine¡¯s wounds, healing them up. ¡°You haven¡¯t checked the rag under my door that got soaked, your footprints were visible.¡±


    ¡°I am losing focus!¡± Janine was not pleased by the developments thus far. ¡°Look, Mira. I need to figure this out¡­ I do not think that being around Alviona¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you heard what she told me?¡± Said the elf curiously with an impish grin.


    ¡°Part of it, yeah. She is disappointed in me, isn¡¯t she?¡± Said Janine saddened.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Not disappointed, but confused. Alviona believes that she has angered you. Currently, the girl is trying her best to train her water-related abilities to impress her two parents ¡ª working day and night for it. On top of that, she is doing her research. There is something else¡­ but I should not say it for it would be too cruel of me,¡± said Mira with genuine laughter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Regardless, how did things go on your end?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s as if he never existed.¡±


    Mira fell into thought and walked towards a drawer, opening and removing a vial from it.


    ¡®That. Is that¡­¡¯


    Looking at her demeanor, the elf grinned and nodded. ¡°Yes, it is possible that somebody is illegally using something similar to this. What do you think?¡±


    It was possible, considering that the institution had a class dedicated to potion-brewing. But then, who was producing such a high-quality transformation potion? Mira was a legend, this was undisputed, but she was on Alviona and Janine¡¯s side. Then, an instructor?


    Foolish.


    Only but one person in millions would be gifted enough to brew such a rarity; then there was the part of obtaining materials. Was it Possible?


    Impossible.


    Why would a teacher want to go out of their way to spend so many resources on one particular subject? What did it achieve? If they had the funds to brew that, then it meant that they probably could hire an assassin, no?


    Alviona¡¯s identity was unknown to the students. Currently, she was safe. Solomon being with her would get rid of most bullies or idiots that would try to harm the girl. That and Janine herself was not going to allow anything happening with the child. After all, she had dealt with her assailants by [Mind Tapping] and erasing the memories of her encounter. Then there was Mira.


    ¡°Is Cornelia even worth it?¡± Wondered Janine as she battled herself with logic, trying to make sense out of this mess. ¡°Mira, can you give me anything to boost [Mind Tap]?¡± she asked in hopes of preparing in case something urgent happened.


    The elf pondered for a moment


    ¡°Just give it up,¡± said Mira with a severe expression, handing Janine two different potions from underneath a hidden compartment in her desk. ¡°Here, if someone shows up again drink the yellow vial first, it boosts the sensory nervous system. Your potential of penetrating someone¡¯s mind will also go up significantly. Beware, I only have this one potion so do not use it unless it is an emergency. After ten minutes, drink the green vial. It will help with the side-effects.¡±


    ¡°Are you¡­¡±


    ¡°I am sure. Leave the matter for now, and observe. When the opportunity presents itself, strike at it like a vicious snake.¡± Mira turned her back and walked some distance, not paying attention to the puzzled girl. ¡°Leave the professors to me. I am monitoring them. If anyone makes some sort of dumb move, I will catch them like mice.¡±


    ¡°A witty woman,¡± thought Janine as she listened to the elf. ¡°We are on the same page then,¡± she said.


    ¡°Mhm. Anywho, Cornelia was permanently assigned to Alviona for the duration of her stay. I think you shouldn¡¯t worry about seeking trouble as it will naturally find its way to you¡­¡±


    At that moment Janine spotted something within Mira that she had not seen before, something abnormal ¡ª the elf was grinning like a predator. A druid, one that people would go to for healing, was actively displaying a face akin to professional assassins¡ªones that were devoid of any emotions.


    ¡°¡­Thing is, little does it know that we will wait for it, prepared,¡± finished Mira with her light-hearted smile, causing a chill to run down the listener¡¯s spine.


    After finishing the talk with Mira, Janine inspected her watch before heading towards the bathing area. The warm water should have relaxed her nerves and ease up the psychological battle she conducted the other day. She soon found herself stopping in her tracks.


    ¡°I wonder what¡¯s Alviona doing right now,¡± she thought as a hand touched her shoulder, causing her to jump some distance with her [Escape] ability, drawing out her small orb and preparing [Mind Tap] before stopping.


    ¡°How did you creep up on me? My passive ability (Heightened Senses) should have picked up on your presence!¡±


    ¡°Even I do not quite understand this,¡± replied Solomon with an amused voice. ¡°From the little that I am allowed to know, my goddess¡¯s passive ability affects me as well.¡±


    Janine knew nothing about Alviona¡¯s abilities. Not that she was not curious, but instead she was afraid to be curious. And yet, here she was asking Solomon about the child¡¯s well-being.


    ¡°Is she taking a bath? Is that why you are here?¡± She asked.


    The man nodded and allowed Janine through.


    ¡°Erm, that. Perhaps I should turn around and leave?¡± Thought the girl as she walked forward. After passing the changing room which would usually be filled with students, Alviona¡¯s figure came into view. She was sitting by the pool, staring at her reflection, and appeared to be carried away in thought. Her majestic wings were revealed and were resting on the ground, resembling a black gown.


    Splash, splash.


    Janine looked towards the origins of the sound and witnessed liquid attempting to get out of its original space only to splash itself back, sprinkling all over the naked girl.


    ¡°How peculiar!¡± said Alviona rapturously as she replicated the phenomenon. ¡®Life is truly fascinating!¡¯


    Janine could not hold her laughter back, causing Alviona to look behind and quickly get up ¡ª her eyes lighting up and a clock appearing in her left one before settling down.


    ¡°You truly scared me. How are you, friend?¡± Asked the girl politely, but not being able to wholly cover her excitement.


    Guilt flooded Janine¡¯s mind as she watched the innocent girl flap her wings. With a deep sigh, she moved towards her and extended her hand, patting the child¡¯s head as if she were a domestic pet, never taking her eyes off her mesmerizing visage or figure.


    Alviona seemed to welcome and enjoy it.


    ¡°I am sorry, kiddo. I had to take care of some serious matters and was unable to spend much time with you after classes. Please, forgive me.¡±


    Getting over pleasantries and getting into the bath, the child caught her up to everything she has learned from the past three months, surprising Janine by her advanced knowledge of mechanics behind magic spells. Alviona was currently working on an ability that would splash the allies and heal them, while de-buff enemies and restrain their movements. In other words, a combination of Divine Healing properties and an offensive Water Element ¡ª Crowd Control.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± said Janine as Alviona finished her story. ¡°Kiddo, you are truly amazing.¡±


    ¡°Can you please stop calling me that? It is rather unnerving,¡± replied Alviona with a slight blush.


    ¡°What do I call you then? Aren¡¯t you younger than me in every way¡ª¡± teased Janine.


    The girl pondered before quickly shaking her head and lightly pinching Janine¡¯s arm.


    Ow!


    ¡°Meanie,¡± chuckled Alviona as she slowly landed her head against Janine¡¯s shoulders, manipulating water and splashing the warm liquid against her cheeks.


    ¡°You!¡± Thought Janine as she laughed and splashed water against the child¡¯s face, causing an all-out battlefield between them. After settling down, both girls grinned and chuckled wholeheartedly.


    Alviona¡¯s innocent, sincere, and an ecstatic visage trapped Janine ¡ª causing her to slowly mover body forward and leaning against Alviona, cornering her against the wall of the bathing pool ¡ª unable to resist looking into her mysterious eyes.


    The child was taken aback by the sudden actions taken by the human; so much that Janine could hear the loud, erratic heartbeat of the girl in question. Her widened eyes, blushing face, and pink lips were entrancing.


    How did the students resist their sexual urges? How did Solomon, a man who was linked to the beauty, resist this girl¡¯s charms? How come nobody had confessed to Alviona yet?


    These were the questions that flooded Janine¡¯s mind. ¡°Would it be all right for me to take her first kiss?¡±


    ¡°Kiddo, do you like me?¡± Asked Janine with a firm tone.


    ¡°Of course I do!¡± replied Alviona instantly, her eyes trembling and her face blushing from angst.


    ¡°But do you love me?¡±


    The child nimbly jolted her head forward, landing a kiss on Janine¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I love, love, love you¡ª¡± she replied.


    Janine was taken aback, unknown to her emotions slowly settling within her heart and mind.


    ¡°Child,¡± she said with a trembling voice, ¡°Are you certain that you understand the meanings behind your words?¡±


    Seeing that she pondered for a moment, Janine was relieved. ¡°But what is there to be relieved about? It¡¯s my fault. Didn¡¯t I just allow my sexual drive to get the better of me? Besides, she is a monster! I can¡¯t have a relationship with her!¡±


    ¡°I am sure,¡± replied Alviona with a grin, gently moving her hands to caress Janine¡¯s cheeks.


    What?!


    Without realizing it, she reached for Alviona¡¯s wings ¡ª an action so out of the blue that the child could not react in time ¡ª causing her breathing to intensify, and her body to tremble.


    Realizing what she had done, the girl let go of her limbs, apologizing for her actions.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s fine,¡± replied Alviona with erratic breathing, desperately trying to get some air into her lungs. After a moment, she plunged under water.


    ¡°What the¡­ why is the temperature of the pool rising¡ª¡± thought Janine as she witnessed bubbles coming out from beneath the water that danced around where Alviona had submerged, only to be popped shortly after her surfacing.


    For a moment, she could have sworn of catching a glimpse of an apparition that slowly floated out and away from Alviona¡¯s body, melodically rejoicing by the events thus far.


    ¡°Are you all right,¡± asked Janine, panicked from what she was witnessing.


    The hair color changed too rapidly. One moment it was blue, then pink, then green, pitch black, orange, white, silver, grey¡­ Every color and every shade existing in the world, some even invisible. What was going on?


    ¡°Kiddo¡­¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°Kiddo?¡±


    No reply.


    Fear overtook Janine¡¯s body. No, it was a worse than that. Her breathing became heavy, the air felt dry ¡ª every inhale scratching her lungs ¡ª her hands trembled violently, and her face expressed the definition of horror.


    ¡°What have I done?!¡± She thought, dragging her out of the water, checking her pulse and breathing pattern.


    Everything was normal. So then why was the child displaying such an unusual condition? But then again, the child was extraordinary, and this was further proved by her gently opening her eyes and coming to senses; hair turning back to original color.


    ¡°W-what did you just do?¡± Stuttered Janine as she embraced Alviona, not willing to let go of her.


    Regardless of what happened in the past, Janine was thankful to this girl for sparing her life and bringing her on an adventure. She was grateful for the little joys she had experienced over the course of three months spent with the company.


    At that moment, the girl realized something ¡ª hugging Alviona even tighter than before ¡ª slight droplets of tears falling from her eyes.


    ¡°Not like my little brother! I won¡¯t let the same fate befall you! No, never! I refuse¡ª¡± screamed Janine in her mind, landing multiple kisses on Alviona¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Kiddo, I too love, love, love you!¡±


    Yes.


    Finally true to her feelings, Janine rejoiced. Why did she deny this for so long? For now, it was a small crush. But essentially, it was a start ¡ª a solid foundation for a future relationship. No matter the cost of sustaining this feeling, she was willing to sell her soul just to cling to it, enjoy it, and never let go of it. Except, she had to do none of this, for her happiness was right in front of her.


    Cornelia was right. They were close, just like ¡°Lovey-Dovey.¡±


    Janine could tell that Alviona¡¯s feelings were similar, but lacked direction. She too was trying to figure it all out. It did not come as a surprise, for she was still young to this world. 18-years-old or not, the child was still learning alien to her concepts. Janine respected that, and it was for this reason that she refused to take her first kiss. Looking into the mysterious, orange-colored eyes, she knew that neither her nor Alviona was wholly ready to commit to each other. Both of them had to work for it.


    Seeing the child¡¯s blushing face, Janine realized how long she¡¯s been in her embrace.


    ¡°I apologize, kiddo,¡± she said, slightly separating herself from the girl whose face was as red as a tomato.


    No more words were necessary. Looking at Alviona¡¯s entrancing visage, Janine chuckled and extended her pinky.


    ¡°I promise that we will figure this out, together. And I will start spending more time with you,¡± said Janine with a chuckle.


    Alviona understood and responded similarly, her heart beating ever so slightly faster.


    Finishing up their bathing, drying up and changing into the casual clothing, Janine left Alviona in Solomon¡¯s care before separating.


    Tired but relieved from stress, she could not help but once more be entranced by nature around her; stopping in her tracks before contemplating over the recent developments. A hint of fear and a premonition of the storm heading towards the world was something she could not shake off. Something was going to happen.


    ¡°But it is irrelevant right now. As Mira said it, I should focus on the present and not chase a ghost that fell into the abyss. A mysterious note, and Cornelia¡¯s situation. I do not care! If she is a friend of Alviona, I¡¯ll swallow and tolerate it. Try and get near her, and I will chew you alive. I want to protect her. I want to love her. I am not bound by anything, it is my choice. My FREEDOM¡± thought Janine as she looked into the distance at the descending sun.


    Everything was irrelevant. A monster hiding beneath Alviona? So what! It did not matter to Janine anymore. She had made up her mind, and for the first time in her life, it was her choice.


    Looking back at her life, a miraculous thing happened to Janine. Something she has not experienced in fifteen years.


    A sincere smile, one birthed from pure joy.

 Not a chapter, but a Q&A. Everyone is welcome!

    1) Author, why did you info dump so much in chapter 2.


    Answer: Well, this is my first time writing any form of fiction. My influences take after Tristram Shandy''s "Gentleman" novel. I did not know how much was "All right," until chapter 32.


    2) Why is Sofia (MC''s mother) portrayed to be so weak in earlier chapters when in reality she is strong? Why is she not swimming in fame and gold?


    Answer: There are several reasons why Sofia is not swimming wealth. The best answer I can give for now is that it is because she does not care for wealth or fame. What I mean by this is that she hunted the assassins told in chapter 15 and then settled down in the village of H''ulm where she presumably met her husband Duncan and got pregnant with Alviona.


    3) Why is Sofia so useless in chapter 3. WTF? She''s not pregnant then, right?


    Answer: No. She is not. However, it is illogical to retaliate against a person in power without proper evidence. Yes, the man admitted his deed; however, he keeps that place employed currently. It would be a dis-service for everyone for her to cause a fuss.


    4) Why the constant switch of POV that does not feel organic in earlier chapters. More specifically, chapters 1-9.


    Short answer: Inexperience. This really is my first fiction ever. I have never written any literature in my life.


    Long answer: Inexperience yet again. I was hoping to provide a dynamic switch without ever saying that POV was switching. I genuinely hope that the later chapters have it in such a way that it does not feel forced. Often times I try to separate when POV switch happens by *** stars.


    5) Sofia pisses me off! Why did you make her that way?


    I had a very long answer planned for this until I realized that it gives me a migraine. Let us leave this question out. I sincerely apologize, but it is far too opinionated Reader''s perspective wise, and from me also. Part of me says I tried conveying the feelings of a mother who is in a situation that she has to deal with but can''t because she understands nothing. Another part of me wants to say that she is a mistake, sparked by an emotional breakdown as I felt like a bastard if I were to kill her as planned. Well, that sure did create a massive headache for me in the end (regardless of scenarios). The complete fiction was altered to accommodate her.


    6) Author, the novel is really oddly paced. Sdeligar mentioned in his review that everything feels rushed.


    Answer: Yes. While I disagree with Sdeligar regarding his comment about Solomon not mentioning to others about the money, I do agree with him about the pace. It is caused by inexperience and my wish to get rid of several chapters as quickly as possible so that I can get to the main course of the story. I will explain things on this end once we reach the conclusion of the Q&A.


    7) Author, Chapter 10 WAS AMAZING! Are there more of those?


    Answer: Absolutely. If you enjoyed the Omniscient POV in that chapter and enjoyed the character development, I am glad since that chapter is coming from the original manuscript and not the altered one. That chapter was initially C23 ¡°Solomon¡¯s death,¡± it tied in with Alviona witnessing a battle unfold post her grief and observe it from the shadows ¡ª willingly giving the man a choice to live in exchange for loyalty and friendship.


    8) Hey aggregator, I have a question. This is related to the whole thing with Alviona¡¯s (The sole true protagonist) body. Why is she in such a condition? It is kinda irritating¡­


    Answer: I dislike having a protagonist that is so Powerful that they are ¡°Plot Armored¡± to the teeth or have this odd way of coming out from the situation through sheer strength. For my protagonist Power comes at a Cost. That cost is something she values ¡ª a vessel that her two parents made for her. Basically, the idea behind her is that her raw Power is so massive and unimaginable that despite Reiolle making a somewhat mortal body (doll body mind you) to accommodate for her, it is still not enough. Neither Archill nor Reiolle could really predict how big Alviona¡¯s power surge would be. Essentially they created a being that surpasses them for all I (Author) know.


    9) An odd question but gets asked so frequently that as of chapter 39 I can not rebuke. ¡°Author, does Janine x Alviona boat sail?¡±


    Answer: You mean person Leftarion, you. Yes, Janine x Alviona is one of the few ships that sails. However, I will put a line here. I dislike giving out treats willy-nilly. IT needs to be deserved.


    With this said, I will answer question 10.


    10) Why the hell was chapter 15 so much info-dumping? Yes, I loved the fluff. Yes, I loved the kissing scene, or it was not my thing because the girl on girl thing is not my cup of tea, but I will stick around for the plot because it is interesting; regardless, why (judging from your answer to question 9) did you make it that way? It really feels forced!


    Answer: The one trap I am aware of when writing in omniscient POV is that you can easily fall into it as ¡°Tell, tell, tell.¡± (this fiction is written a lot in this manner, and it does not mean that I can not show emotions and still tell a slightly more historical portion of a novel like a battlefield in chapter 10 but show character 3<sup>rd</sup> person limited POV for Solomon for example). It is said to say it, but I fell into that trap. I was hoping to give readers this idea of a mother who was Desperate to get some comfort when in a situation that she could not comprehend. Her daughter grew up, sprouted in front of her eyes plus murdered people! This is something she could not come to terms with and be somewhat traumatizing.


    11) Author, about LITRPG and Stat table that you made in chapter 31 and such¡­.


    Answer: I won¡¯t consistently show that status bar, nor will I state how much damage was dealt with anyone in every chapter. It is wanky and distracts me from the flow of the fiction. However, I will bring it up from time to time. Levels are going to be used for something else as the MC moves forward.


    12) Talk about the world Fantasy levels and how it is grounded.


    Answer: The world is grounded in a high Fantasy setting. Its inhabitants are constrained by Weapons and Magical abilities. While combination and amalgamation of magic is a thing, I still have certain limits such as Fireball not being able to combine with Heal in one spell. Mira enchanted the lake with healing property. Chapter 39 touched that Alviona is trying to make similar to that spell that will splash allies and heal them. We will uncover mysteries on how all of it was done by Mira slowly. I hope you readers are enjoying character developments thus far past chapter 20.


    For the High Fantasy part, Elemental users cannot cast magic without a wand, orb, or a staff.


    Healers can not Heal without a wand. Mira¡¯s item is special. She is not OP because ¡°Story¡± but rather because she already went through her life. She is done with adventuring and only recently resumed it.


    13) Did Solomon lose his magic knowledge of [Incinierate]?If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Answer: No. Instead, it became [Bathed in Flames]. It evolved if anything.


    14) Why can¡¯t Solomon teach Alviona magic in chapter 14 (when she asks), when he can explain the theory? IT sounds like a PLOTHOLE.


    Answer: Two reasons and both might sound cheap.


    One: He can not teach the MC spells that he received from her ability.


    Two: He is Fire affinity mage that specialized in learning fire spells. He is constrained, even if Alviona¡¯s <Subjugation> over-rules that, by the world. You can not teach anything to someone as a mentor who is 50 levels different from you. Alviona is level 0. Solomon is level 50 during their meeting.


    15) Seriously, what is Alviona? I am still confused by this vessel thing.


    Answer: From the prologue, Reiolle and Archill created a new life, something that was inherently different from them. Something bizarre. This is Alviona. Yes, she lives in her vessel, but she is still herself. A person that is trying to learn to be Humane. Yes, she is eldritch, yes she is enigmatic whatnot, yes she is oblivious! However, she is still herself. A creature that is trying to fit in and learn. She doesn¡¯t have an ambition like World domination even if she has power for it. No, she just wants to live and enjoy life. Problem is, life always gets in the way.


    She is someone readers should be able to sympathize with. A character who is a real sweetheart but unfortunately has her life turned upside down, while still trying to figure out the purpose behind her existence. This is slowly going to develop. I genuinely hope you like her, as a lot of blood and sweat went into her personality. Yes, I understand my fiction is very slow paced (picked up post chapter 38 and in 39 we had 3-month time skip), but I hope she is relatable. She has a long way to go yet, so there is that too.


    16) Author, what is the difference between the Core and Alviona?


    Answer: The core is Alviona. On and true, the only main protagonist. The core is the same as Alviona, but it describes a different presence. It is the alternative to the Brain of humans. Remember, Alviona¡¯s body is a vessel, and her core would be her brain. Not in the sense of a spirit, but rather as the Command Center. Need power? Has to come from the core. Need to breathe? Has to be done so by the core through instruction. As I have shown in chapter 36, Alviona manually manages her nervous systems. Automated, but still manual judging from the fact that she could disable her CNS.


    17) Why is Alviona infertile and why can she not fall in love with a boy?


    Answer: She can fall in love with a boy! Thing is, she won¡¯t precisely due to her being infertile. The world she lives in is one where Monsters outnumber other species. They naturally respawn and roam in the world. I won¡¯t spoil the story. However, I will mention that reproduction is crucial to survival. Alviona is infertile due to three reasons:


    <ol>


    <li>Alviona was created by overseers of balance. They know it was a taboo to make her the way she is, but they did it regardless due to their selfishness. However, they still counterbalanced themselves due to their nature. As such, the MC has no DNA.</li>


    <li>The Protagonist was made by those who did research about how societies worked, and races interacted, but they don¡¯t know how mortals really reproduce. It is a concept they cannot comprehend (as stupid as it sounds).</li>


    <li>Technical reasons set aside, it was my personal choice. I have only lately started catching up with forum threads saying how there are so many Heroines and so much Girl On girl going on that it is jarring. But it was my honest choice. You can ask ¡°Why,¡± and I will counter that with ¡°Why not?¡± It¡¯s not like all my other characters who are introduced or are to be introduced won¡¯t have their significant other? Most of them are straight if you want that. Heck, I will even let you vote if you want to see a unique mixture together because I can do that. Except for Solomon. He has someone specific and I can¡¯t and won¡¯t change that.</li>


    </ol>


    18) Alviona does not feel like an antagonist or an anti-hero.


    Answer: An anti-hero is someone who acts out of their own personal motives and gains. They are not necessarily villainous or evil. Alviona is an anti-hero because in chapter 12-14, she is shown to not care much or be distracted by the gore. She kills the assailants without mercy, because they are in her way and threatened her mother. She spares another person because she feels bad since she asked for saving. For now, in that chapter, it is all fine and dandy.


    Ok, what about chapter 21? She knows what gore is. She plays with a man, making him gauge his own eyes out. She ¡°toys¡± with his mind instead. Ok, Cyan snake in pre chapt 27 said this


    ¡°I really like Alvie''s character, I don''t find her dark or anything. She is learning. It''s like if you knew nothing about car crashes and saw someone that''s going to get hit, how would you know that they are going to be hurt? There is no fear associated with what''s going on so there is no reason to help them and you would most likely just watch to see what happens. Learning by observing. With the guy in the alley, she legitimately thought he was having fun with the girl, so had him do the same thing to himself to have even more fun.


    It''s dark when considering that a child is witnessing all of this, but I don''t think any of that makes Alviona dark/bad or anything, it makes a child that is observing the world and learning from it.¡±


    No problems! Trust me though, she is an anti-hero because she genuinely does not care for your well-being if you are not too close to her. She does develop humanity and moral compass, even if twisted whatnot because her knowledge of what she is still conflicts with it. And that is one of the conflicts of this story. Trust me, she becomes much, much more grounded and different when some chapters pass by. Everything up to these chapters are introduction and development.


    I know my fiction is slow, but there is a reason for it. When we hit the main stage of the novel, I hope all readers so far will look back and say: Wow, it really doesn¡¯t take much to go from being a wonderful person, to a thing that can be hated. Now, is she evil? No. But she will be considered Evil for what she will do. This is also why I wanted to use Omniscient POV instead of 3<sup>rd</sup> person Pov limited (though I will use that POV when necessary. More on this in a sec).


    19) Chapter 35-36-37. Explain, please!


    Answer: As you wish.


    Chapter 35 introduces Alviona¡¯s ¡°Dreamland¡± or rather inside of her vessel. So a core. It develops upon chapter 33.


    To understand chapter 36, you need to understand what is going on in chapter 37.


    In chapter 37, we get a background of a man named Ydos in a first person self-biography style of a story. The reason this is done is to hint that Alviona is already devouring him. He himself mentions many times that he is being watched. This golem is our friend from all the way back in chapter 14. The golem that made it into Mc¡¯s clock of time. Ydos gave up humanity for power. Unfortunately, he is in a wrong place at a wrong time. We know what happens to him. Now, we are seeing what is going in between chapter 24-37. For all the weeks that Alviona is on an adventure with Mira, this man is figuring out where the hell he is. If you paid attention to his story, the time inside the Core¡¯s world is convoluted. Centuries pass, which is also why when in chapter 24 Alviona looks at her weapons, they have corrosion actively spreading. So this man, this Ydos, he does things to attract the MC¡¯s attention. I never revealed this because I am slowly learning how to properly use Omniscient and at the same time 3<sup>rd</sup> person limited POV and make reading enjoyable by not crushing mystery.


    So chapter 37 shows the man use Fateweaving ability and chapter 36 shows how Alviona plays along to make it authentic as she is also curious. She doesn¡¯t know anything about this man or his abilities, so she is experimenting. Fateweaving works off ¡°the most likely scenario¡± to happen. So to Understand chapter 36, the flow would be: Chapter 14 ¨C 37 -24 ¨C 35 -36. However, it is not necessary to read it in this order. All I am trying to say by this is that I do not plan to reveal every mystery right away. What¡¯s the fun in that?


    Finally Question 20.


    20) Do you think you will do a re-write?


    Honestly, this is up to you. Do you want to see the Limited 3<sup>rd</sup> person POV of Alviona only and the Original manuscript? If you say yes in comments and its 90% majority, I will do it.


    Otherwise I plan to do no re-writes.


    However, I do plan to do editing! Once Academy Arc is over, I will be doing editing of Style in every chapter except 10, 14, 23, 32, 35, 36 (might do some slight adjustments in 36), 37, 38 and 39. These chapters are by far the BEST I have written. Can they be improved more? Yes. And I will improve them more when I become even better at writing. But for now, they are great. WriTe member have all read my chapter 37 and 38 and agree that the style has improved Significantly.


    Warning: IF somehow people tell me to really do a re-write, I am warning you that the story you will end up with will be very tragic from the one you are currently seeing. There is nothing but misery for the MC in the first 9 chapters. Just had to throw this here because not everyone wants to see that world.


    Bonus for this: I might make an Alternate Saga of Alviona that will have a different take after this one is complete. For now, I¡¯d say take my advice because I debated this a lot with myself today and other members of WriTe that we should leave the re-write out of the question. Editing is fine! I will fix the style of characters as in, make chapter 1-9, 11-22. Etc. Dialogues are also fixable ??