Chapter 41: Homecoming Day (8)
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
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When Astina's flames vanished, the two figures appeared before us, their bodies charred and scorched.
"Are... Are they dead?" Luna asked, her face filled with shock.
Astina responded with a smirk, "They'll probably be fine. They've fortified their bodies."
Upon closer examination, it became clear that they were merely unconscious, still breathing.
Deciding that the two were no longer capable of combat, I turned to Astina.
"I have somewhere to go, so I'll be leaving first."
"Somewhere to go?"
Luna frowned at me.
"I have something to confirm."
"Something to confirm?"
BOOM!!
Astina seemed puzzled, but the distant explosion provided the explanation on my behalf.
"What was that?"
Could it be Serina?
A feeling of unease surged within me.
"I'll go and check it out."
BOOOM!
Another explosion reverberated.
Thud...
Then came the sound of rocks tumbling onto the roof of the training ground.
Rocks falling on the roof.
Which meant...
Astina also realized this and opened her mouth.
"No need to go."
CRASH!!!!!!!!!!Yôur favorite novels at n/o(v)el/bin(.)com
Someone crashed through the roof of the training ground where we stood and descended.
The figure of a person appeared, riding on the shoulder of Clay, an intermediate earth elemental.
It was Serina.
Following her descent, a green hawk pursued her.
Sylph, the intermediate wind elemental.
The hawk clutched a black bag in its beak.
From its size, it seemed perfectly suited for carrying a sword.
She had successfully stolen Priscilla.
I thought that the two of them might have run into each other before arriving at the training ground.
But it seemed that wasn't the case.
The story had changed due to these two who came to kill Astina.
These two had taken control of the training ground, preventing Evan from reaching Serina.
And with no one to stop Serina from stealing the sword, she ended up with it.
"Haah...."
I sighed.
The silver lining was that she hadn't formed a contract with Priscilla yet.
There was still hope.
"What are you doing?" Astina asked as she approached Serina.
"Last time... I saw you all."
Serina glanced at us as she spoke.
"I don't want to harm you."
"Ser... Serina."
Luna looked surprised, her gaze shifting between us.
I placed a hand on Luna's shoulder and offered her a reassuring smile.
"Luna, it's alright."
I stepped forward and faced Serina.
"Just return Priscilla. You're not ready to use it yet."
"...You know about Priscilla?"
Serina's eyes widened at my words.
"Yes. If you give us the sword now, we can resolve this without any trouble."
I tried to persuade her slowly.
I thought we could solve this through conversation.
"You'll have the chance to meet Priscilla in due time. But if you run away with the sword now, everything will be ruined. Both for you and Priscilla."
"What are you talking about...? Why would I be ruined by taking the sword?"
Serina tilted her head, questioning.
"Because you can't handle Priscilla. So, take it slowly, grow stronger, and make a proper contract. It will be better for both of you."
Astina approached me and whispered, "What do you know?"
I didn't answer her question, simply gazing ahead.
"Serina, if you listen to me now, we can make it as if you never stole the sword or attacked the guards."
We could shift all the blame onto the two unconscious individuals.
Serina stared at me.
I didn't know what she was thinking behind her stoic expression, but the fact that she hadn't attacked us yet was a positive sign.
"Hand over the sword."
I reached out towards Serina.
She hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, I won't make the same mistake again."
Serina reached out towards us.
"I won't... lose my family again."
"Astina! Luna!"
At that moment, Sylph, who stood beside Serina, released a blade of wind, while Clay struck the ground.
"I know."
"Clay!"
Serina tried to impede my progress with Clay, but Astina was not just standing by and watching.
"Gravity!"
Astina employed gravity to suppress Clay's movements.
"Grasp."
Without delay, Astina cast another spell.
In an instant, Priscilla was wrenched from Serina's grasp.
The sword soared towards me, and I reached out to claim it.
"I've got it......"
As the sword made contact with my hand, a sensation coursed not through my hand, but my abdomen.
"Ah......"
A wind-formed spear had impaled my stomach.
In the brief moment I had stopped moving, Sylph had launched a powerful attack.
"Cough......"
I felt intense pain, but I kept my focus and clung to the sword.
I crumpled to the ground, sword still in hand.
"Rudy Astria!!!"
Astina cried out, her expression one of astonishment.
And she began to run towards me.
"Sylph, Clay."
Serina took advantage of Astina's confusion and issued commands to her two elementals.
Astina also tried to respond by using magic.
"Psychic Barrier......"
Zap!
"Ah......?"
Astina abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"The magic didn't activate......?"
Could it be......
Was it Ian's magic?
Astina looked at the incoming attack, her expression filled with surprise.
Unable to use any magic.
"At a time like this......"
I tried to use magic, but it was too late.
By the time I get up, the attack would've already landed.
It was my mistake.
I failed to understand Ian's magic.
I placed too much trust in Evan.
I created too many variables and didn't account for them.
Even after altering the storyline, I grew complacent.
It was all my fault.
"Ah......"
The attacks flying toward Astina seemed to be moving in slow motion.
As if time was moving slowly.
I had heard that during a crisis, time could appear this way.
It's even more traumatic as a result.
The sight of someone getting hurt because of my mistake.
It was a desperate situation.
But, I felt something strange.
The elementals' attacks were slowing down, and stopping near Astina.
I stared blankly, unable to understand what was happening.
"Hey, kiddo?"
Then, I heard a somewhat androgynous voice.
"Hey, kiddo~~."
The voice carried a playful tone.
I tried to turn my head to find the owner of the voice, but I couldn't move.
I was Immobilized, I couldn't make the slightest movement.
And then the voice echoed again.
"Kiddo, don't you want to save that lady?"
Yet, I couldn't respond.
My mouth refused move.
"You don't have to voice it. Say it in your head."
Immediately I thought the words.
I want to save her.
Please, I want to save her.
"Is that so? Then let's make a contract."
Ah......
When I heard those words, I knew who the owner of the voice was.
The sword I held.
"If you make a contract with me, I'll save that lady."
It was Priscilla.
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