"II never know that we could do this without casualties. I already prepared myself to face death but I never know that it ended without heavy injuries" Leon said to his friends.
"But all of this is because of lady Elestia, right? Did she predict that there will be demon invasion?" Ray said to Leon. The topic becomes a talk between the soldiers.
"Must be. She really did exhausted herself in helping us. In this three days....I never saw her rest. She heal and maintained the barrier and i heard that she use her own mana to heal us. Seems like Sirene fall asleep after casting the hymn spell" Lucian who heard it becomes worried and rushed to his lady.
"you should rest" Elestia did not say anything and keep her duties as a medical assistance until their work finished. Her mana nearly depleted but fortunately Sirene woke up in time and so her spirit slowly recover her mana consumption.
"Let's go back home" Elestia said and preparing to leave but unexpected things happened when she turn her back. A wind cutter spell from a demon hawk that could be considered as a high level demon suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"LADY ELESTIA!!!" Elestia manage to activate her barrier but unable to withstand the blow because of the lack of mana. a clear big cut on her back can be seen. The white snow turned red and the soldiers especially Lucian panicked. The demon hawk was defeated but Elestia sustained a heavy injuries.
"Healer quick!" The five priest rushed to cast a healing spell on their lady's injuries and manage to stop the bleeding and recover the cut but unfortunately the injury left a scar. it was so big that they lost motivation to go back as soon as possible.
"Captain Lucian. we're very sorry that our lacking of skills cannot recover the scars from the injury" Elina said with a sad pale face. Even after exhausting their mana, the scars won't fade away.
"It's okay...at the very least she is saved" Lucian as the captain knight decide to camp out before going back. Not a single of soul manage to sleep that night while watching their lady fall into unconsciousness.
"Why won't she wake up?" Leon asked Elina because he feel worry and angry to himself.
"We don't know too" Sirene fly around her master as she saw a very sad face. Spirits like Sirene, a high level spirit sometimes visible to people eyes. When their master has a great mana, they can turn into a human and fight by their Master side by side.
"Ugh..." A soft groaning from Elestia really awake them from their sadness.
"Sirene?" Sirene was crying and continuously hitting Elestia with her small fist. It doesn't feel anything though.
"Sorry...I made you worry" Elestia tried to sit up but failed.
"Lady!" Lucian is the first to approach.
"What happen to that demon?" Elestia asked while drinking a glass of water from Elina.
"We manage to kill it" Lucian said with a straight cold expression.
"That's good. let's sleep first and move out tomorrow" Elina said to them and everyone finally manage to get some rest.
The next day, Elestia and a total of 1000 soldiers with five priest comes back alive without any heavy injuries. Elestia requested them to hide her unfortunate injuries and about her ability to heal. it's not much for a healer but something that Elestia dis not realize is she accidentally healed the soldiers deep injuries from their past war that cannot be cured. Even so, no one really realize it.
"Well, congratulations on coming back alive" All of the praise and hardwork was directed to captain Lucian. Even when he tried to deny that it's not him that contributed much in the war, Carmila insisted that because of his great leadership that makes them successfully exterminate the demon.
"Elestia and Carmila. I will send you both to the Wizard Association to serve for the empire. On the meantime, use this chance to establish a connection with the royal family" The same orders from the past life and that is the starting of the real war between her and Carmila.
"And you, don't even think of ruining the Ronin's reputation. stay away from carmila. You by her side will only taint her image as a saintess" Elestia never wished her father to favor her but hearing her own father refuse to call out her name is kinda hurt.
"Yes, Duke" Elestia excused herself before Carmila started to ramble out some stupid words.
"Saintess?" Elestia let out a chuckled and go back to her bedroom. She was alone in her room and just by looking at her scarred body kinda makes her sad.
"A small scar is enough to damage a woman reputation and not to mention this scar of mine" Elestia sighed and decided to take a nap.