A scream rang out in the forest, however, the one inflicted was not Valerian, but the guard captain sitting on the black horse. The black horses were all magical beasts too. The wraith was a horse-type beast, that could run thrice faster than a normal horse and was an omnivorous creature.
It was said that once the Wraith has evolved enough, it will gain flesh wings and will be able to fly. The loyalty of this beast was unquestionable. However, just now, the wraith suddenly stood up on its hind limbs, making the guard captain miss the attack.
Even if it was a beast, it could understand what Valerian was doing, why he was doing it and also, Valerian used the linguistics of the beast kin. Mathiyus tried to jump between the sword and the child. This display of sacrifice was enough to tell the beasts what they needed to do.
The guards were all shocked, thinking that the Wraith of their captain was startled by the sudden appearance of the leopard, they decided to finish what their leader could not. However, their wraiths did not move forward, it was as if they were frozen.
Rectus was shocked, he recalled something and said, "Stop, do not attack the child."
The princess was standing behind the coachman, Quies, watching all this unfold from a distance. Rectus's call made the guards halt but Emundatio was another case altogether, he said, "Die, you cursed child."
He had been accumulating mana around his palm from the moment the royal convoy appeared, and this was his chance to use it all. He did not wish to see this child live any longer. Raising his hand Emundatio said, "Ustilo."
Rectus opened his eyes wide and wanted to counter this spell, but the degree of this spell was too big for him to jump in unprepared. Valerian could see a cloud of flames coming his way and he raised his hand, a spell formed in his mind, without caring about revealing his secrets, he thought of a shield of wind around his body.
'Ventus Scutum.', this spell formed a bubble of wind around Valerian, this spell did not need much mana, and neither did it prevent the heat from scalding his skin. However, it did stop the flames from turning him into a pile of ashes.
But this was all temporary, the mana in his body will run out, and then he will die. Just when Rectus was ready to use his spell. A bleat echoed in the surroundings, the princess turned back and witnessed, that one of the deers tied to her carriage had a blue orb slowly spinning between his antlers.
After the bleat faded, the orb shot forward and in a blink it hit Emundatio. The fake priest did not even have the time to understand when his body was suddenly frozen. The cloud of flame vanished, and the shield broke down.
Everyone saw a stumbling Valerian falling to the ground. Rectus rushed forward to check on the child, but Mathiyus bared his fangs at the man. A bleat sounded again, and Mathiyus calmed down. He took a step back and let the man rush and check up on the child. Yet he did not lower the vigilance of the surroundings.
Rectus frowned and said, "He is scalded all over."
The princess glanced at the frozen statue and walked forward. Quies said, "Your Highness, it…"
The princess has already waved her hand to silence him, she was aware that things might not be very safe but she wanted to help. Getting closer to Valerian, she said, "Curatio Lucis."
This was a healing spell, but the degree was higher than the normal healing spell, Sanatio Lucis. A pale blue glow radiated from the palms of the princess and covered Valerian. Gradually the scalding all over his body was cured.
Rectus gazed at the boy and said, "The treasure of my sister, Valerian."
Mathiyus and the princess gazed at the man together. Rectus said, "He is Valerian, the first and the only child my sister looked after. When he was a child a traveling prophet proclaimed him to be cursed. Born without the ability to speak, and cry. He was the only person my sister loved more than me."
The princess nodded and said, "Then why was he able to cast that spell just now, I am sure no one heard him speak."
Rectus was surprised but then he recalled an incident. He said, "My sister asked me a few nights ago if it was possible for anyone to cast spells without the incantation. It seems like, this child really is a treasure."
The princess nodded and gazing at Mathiyus and the beasts around them, she said in her soft voice, "He is more than a treasure, Mage Rectus."
Rectus was confused but after following the line of her sight, he found what she meant. The princess straightened her back and said, "Whatever happens here shall not be spoken again. This is my command."
The guards were all loyal to her, and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
The two people then decided to wait till the child has woken up before asking him anything else. Rectus watched Valerian lying on the ground from the side, his gaze fell on the bloody trail of tears on the cheeks. He sighed and said, "What did you face child, to have shed tears of blood?"
Mathiyus gazed at Rectus and turned his head away. After a few hours, Valerian woke up and was surprised to look at the man beside him. Then his memories came back to him, quickly he stood up and distanced himself from Rectus.
The man smiled and said, "I am Rectus, Sister Dil, must have told you about me, right, Valerian?"
The young boy was shocked. He could see the guards and a lady with blue hair paying attention to him. He understood that he was cornered. He weaved his signs and asked, "What is the proof that you are who you say you are?"
Rectus nodded and gazing into Valerian's cold silver eyes, he said, "Have you ever read about the Anima Signum?"
Valerian recalled something he has read in the books back at the orphanage, and nodded, Rectus then showed him the bead in the glass bottle. The close distance made the rosary around Valerian's neck tremble slightly.
Mathiyus growled from the side, 'He is not malicious. He did know that lady from the shore.'
Valerian shivered, he nodded to Rectus and bowed to him, 'Thank you for saving me. Can you tell me where is that man?', using his signs.
Rectus knew he was being asked about Emundatio, pointing in a direction, and he said, "What are you going to do?"
Valerian raised his head and said, 'The same thing he did to my mother.'
Then without wasting time, Valerian walked to the side where Emundatio was tied to a tree trunk. He looked at the man and picked a stone from the side, and before anyone could understand his intentions, Valerian hit the man's face with the stone.
The strong pain from the hit made the man wake up with a grunt. Valerian looked at him with no emotions, and the man realized that he was tied. He tried to accumulate mana when a soft voice was heard from behind, "We gave you some coxia. You cannot use your mana now."
Valerian gazed at the source of the voice but after a nod, his focus was again dedicated to Emundatio. He had a lot of things to say but he only raised his hands and thought, 'Ignis.'
A small ball of flame emerged from the tip of his finger and flames covered the phony priest. The man wailed and the scene shocked the people around, they did not expect Valerian to be so cruel.
The child stood a few steps back and watched as the man wailed and cried. Just when the wails were starting to sound lower, Valerian made a bleating sound from his mouth, 'Can you put out the flames on him?'
The people were confused, first, he roared and now, he is bleating. What shocked them to the core was a reply from the blue deers, the strongest of them bleated and replied, 'Yes.'
With a breath of the beast, a cold wind extinguished the flames on the man, leaving him tender, and beyond recognition. Valerian gazed at the moons in the sky, and then at the light amber scattered on the horizon, the sun was about to up. Valerian sighed and again set the man on fire.
This time he did not extinguish the flames, but watched as the person who took away his most precious person, turned into a mound of ash.
Rectus walked over at this moment and asked, "Are you not afraid of making us your enemy?"
Valerian cast him a gaze and using his signs he said, 'I was born as the enemy of this world. The sinful and cursed. I already have a whole town as my enemy, you should queue up.'