Chapter 61: Kaksan

"Master!" Meralda's voice carried a note of urgency as she swooped gracefully towards me.

"Did you fix it?" I inquired, my gaze narrowing in concern.

Meralda nodded, her expression a mixture of relief and concern. "Yes, but it's only temporary. Even a high-ranking spirit like me can't sustain a barrier as vast as this for an extended period."

I studied the immense, seemingly invisible barrier encircling the entirety of Faerielight.

This natural barrier had been cast by the World Tree, to safeguard its elven inhabitants and itself from any potential threats or invaders.

For countless millennia, it had held strong and impenetrable. However, this was the first time that an incursion had occurred, thanks to Kaksan's potent miasma.

"Good job"

It seems my compliment got to her, as her cheeks faintly tinged with a blush as she averted her gaze.

Kaksan's malevolent miasma was a formidable force, capable of devouring the very essence of life itself. The natural energy that composed the barrier surrounding Faerielight proved to be an irresistible feast for Kaksan's insidious miasma.

As he shattered the barrier, the miasma wasted no time in greedily consuming the vital energies that held the protective ward together, making the breach in the barrier all the more ominous.

The moment Kaksan had breached the barrier, I issued a swift command to Meralda, to try to fix it first.

With her unique talents and abilities, and considering her connection to nature itself, she could potentially mend the barrier and contain the imminent threat.

An ongoing incursion into the barrier had the potential to unleash devastating consequences. This barrier was the elves' primary means of defense against the swarms of monsters that lurked beyond the forest's borders.

Any significant breach, particularly from Kaksan's malevolent miasma, would spell the end for the elves, their sanctuary shattered, and their way of life forever altered.

My attention shifted to Elowyn, who was gasping for breath, her form slightly trembling from the effort she had exerted in summoning a high-ranking spirit to amplify my mana. It was clear that the endeavor had taken a considerable toll on her, and I couldn't help but compare her to Louise's capabilities.

Although what Elowyn did was impressive it paled compare to Louise's ability to forge contracts with high-ranking spirits with little to no consequences, essentially summoning them at will, and it marked her as an extraordinary figure in her own right. She possessed the potential to command the allegiance of countless powerful beings.

No, she could probably summon dozens of high-ranking spirits at once now, right? In the novels I was heavily indicated that the only reason Louise had 2 high-ranking spirts was because she couldn't find another high-ranking spirit to sign a contract with.

In a sense I guess she's more of a monster than Tristan huh?

I extended my arm toward her, offering assistance in getting back to her feet.

"Are you okay?" I inquired, my tone laced with genuine care.

Elowyn hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting mine.

"Y-yes" she replied, choosing to stand up on her own, her hesitation palpable. It was a stark reminder that trust between us remained elusive, even after all we had been through.

Even after the skies had cleared of Kaksan's ominous darkness, a lingering dimness still clung to the surroundings as the onset of nightfall loomed.

I couldn't help but acknowledge that I had spent more time dealing with this crisis than I had originally intended. As I considered the aftermath, a wave of anxiety washed over me.

How was I going to explain my prolonged absence to the dorm master and my teacher? I had also missed yet another appointment with Euphemia, a situation that was sure to result in her playful yet persistent nagging.

There was the matter of my usual lunch gatherings with friends, and I couldn't help but wonder if they were harboring suspicions about my recurring disappearances.

Moreover, the changes in divinity unfolding within Elena weighed heavily on my mind. It was imperative that I ask my sister to hide in Elena's shadow for the time being, to help stabilize the ongoing transformation and ensure that nothing dangerous happens.

And then there was the complex matter of my deal with Schwi at least the supposed deal we were supposed to have, I wonder what happened to her there.

'.....Haah' As a heavy sigh escaped my lips, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of tasks and responsibilities that loomed on the horizon, awaiting my return to the academy.

"So, what should we do now?" Elowyn's voice carried uncertainty as she looked to me for guidance.

My response was a mix of frustration and exasperation. "???"

"What are you talking about, your highness? Of course, you and your mother should start fixing things up" I retorted with a sharp edge to my words.

"Oh, and by the way, there's no 'we' here. All this mess was originally your problem to begin with. And just like I told you, I only came to this forest to help in slaying that monster"

"And what did I get in return? A sudden ambush from your guards, and your queen even tried to murder me. Sorry, princess, but I'm done here." I nonchalantly stretched my back, showing my disinterest in the situation.

"T-that's because you were acting suspicious to begin with"

"A snake?" Reian muttered

...

In the eerie depths of the shadowy abyss, Kaksan's tentacle, akin to a sinuous serpent, slithered with a malevolent intent.

It navigated the concealed corners of darkness, fervently seeking a means of escape from the elven city.

The tendril's movements were both calculated and relentless, driven by an insatiable desire to free its monstrous master from the confines of the elven domain.

Gradually, the writhing tentacle began to undergo a transformation. The sinews and appendages constricted and coiled upon themselves, converging into a smaller, more compact form.

As the process unfolded, the monstrous essence of the night, Kaksan, regenerated itself once more. However, this time, the result was a far cry from the colossal being that had wreaked havoc upon the city.

Kaksan emerged from the shadows in a reduced and altered state. In stark contrast to his towering, monstrous form, he was now a mere fraction of his original size.

The once-formidable creature had metamorphosed into something more manageable, a change that held a certain element of intrigue and unpredictability.

As Kaksan slithered through the grim aftermath of his destruction, his predatory instincts heightened. In the midst of the rubble, he spotted a young elven child, grievously wounded and struggling to navigate the chaos. The sight of the injured child invoked a sinister hunger within Kaksan, a chilling anticipation of the impending feast.

With alarming swiftness, Kaksan's tentacles darted forward, depriving the child of any chance to react. In a heartbeat, they severed the young elf's fragile form, and in the blink of an eye, Kaksan's monstrous body underwent a grotesque transformation. His sinewy appendages coiled and squirmed, reshaping into a colossal, gaping maw that yawned open hungrily.

Before the child could even comprehend the impending doom, the massive mouth enveloped them entirely, and the horrifying sound of chomping and swallowing echoed through the desolate landscape. The child was devoured whole, their fate sealed by the insatiable appetite of the nightmarish entity that was Kaksan.

A sudden and inexplicable transformation overtook Kaksan, altering the very essence of its being. Now, its entire appearance had seamlessly shifted into that of the elven child it had ruthlessly taken the life of. With blue hair cascading down its shoulders, striking blue eyes that sparkled with innocence, and a cute, cherubic look that masked the darkness within, Kaksan had become an almost perfect replica of the girl it had devoured.

Kaksan tentatively stretched its hands, flexing its fingers as it gingerly tested the limits of this new, unfamiliar body. It jumped up and down, trying to adapt to the newfound agility and grace.

A smile graced its face, though it was no longer the twisted grin of the sinister creature it had once been; it was a genuine, innocent smile. Kaksan had realized that the child it had consumed was a girl, and this revelation had resulted in its transformation into a young female elven child.

With her newfound form, Kaksan shrouded herself in the enveloping darkness, reaching deep within her own chest to touch her rapidly beating heart. Overwhelmed by the sensation of the deep and dense mana filling her, she couldn't help but feel an immense surge of happiness.

"Ahh! Oh, Father, I am truly grateful for your gift" she exclaimed in a hushed, reverent tone.

In the distance, the sounds of approaching rescuers became more distinct. They were on the way, searching for any survivors in the aftermath of the chaos. On Kaksan's new body, her tentacles emerged once more, slashing at her own flesh, resulting in painful bruises and cuts. Her previously pristine, naked body had been marred, reverting to the state it was in just moments before the transformation.

Kaksan, now concealing her dark nature, cut off the darkness that surrounded her and withdrew her tentacles.

"Hey, over there, there's a child!" one of the rescuers called out.

"Call the healers immediately; she's bleeding heavily," another urged.

"Don't worry, child, you're safe now," one of them reassured her. They carried Kaksan to safety, wrapping her naked form in a large cloth for protection and modesty.

Behind the carrier's back, Kaksan's smile, though wretched and hidden, the anticipation she felt about the day when she could finally meet a member of her kind.

Although still shrouded in uncertainty, the dense, purple energy coursing through her now was surely identical to hers and being a creature that was the only of its kind, she had only felt this type of energy once in her entire lifetime, that was when her parents gave her energy to feed on, she wasn't really sure about her attacker's identity but she doesn't care.

In the midst of the intense battle, she etched the face of the being who had launched the condensed mana projectile at her into her memory.

The image of the attacker's dark hair, ashen-gray eyes, and the striking yet handsome features for human standards was indelibly imprinted in her mind.

The perplexing situation surrounding her didn't seem to make sense, and her memories remained shrouded in a fog of confusion.

Yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, she found herself strangely detached from the puzzling circumstances.

What mattered most at this moment was the steady pulse of her beating heart and the familiar density of energy that coursed within her.

Kaksan touched her heart again and held the hope of something she had yearned for throughout her millennia of existence—a family.

"Wait for me, Father. I'll see you soon" she whispered softly, her voice filled with hope and longing.

.....

"Achoo!"

Amidst the brisk wind as Adrian soared through the night sky on his way to the academy, a sudden and unexpected sneeze overcame him.

"Is someone talking bad about me?"