"Umm... Young Master are you, okay in there?" Trisa asked as she knocked twice onto the wooden door. Suzu stood a meter behind her with her usual blank expression.
After waiting several minutes, the door connecting to the bathroom finally opened with a soft creak. "Sorry about that it took longer than expected." Alan replied, scratching his cheeks. "N-No it's fine. We're sorry for forcing you." Trisa said cheerfully.
Seeing that she didn't suspect anything Alan sighed in relief.
"So, what are we going to do to past the time? Ah, how about we play tag!"
"Eh, tag huh. Wow! It's been a while since I last played that game, okay shall we go to the garden, then?" Trisa said with a faint smile adorning her face. "Yes, let's go!" Alan replied. Soon, both Alan and Trisa promptly began their departure, until...
"Hold it!" Suzu called out. Both Alan and Trisa stopped in their tracks and gaze back at her curiously. "Umm... Is something wrong, sis?" Trisa inquired, while gazing at the serious expression of her younger sister. Suzu ignored her sisters inquisitive gaze and glanced at Alan strangely.
"Young Master... What exactly were you doing in there? I can sense traces of spiritual energy, and a large amount at that." Alan's body flinch slightly from her sharp discerning eyes.
"I... Umm. Well." For a moment he struggled to come up with a reasonable excuse. 'Shit... I forgot how sharp this woman is.' But Alan had the memories of Ellard a being who had lived for hundreds and thousands of years, his experience far exceeds their own, his expression remained calm as he feign ignorance. He skillfully kept a confused air outwardly. 'As I thought I shouldn't underestimate this girl.' Alan's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Suzu.
Suzu was the complete opposite of her usual cheerful and carefree sister. Trisa was an airhead and someone very approachable, while Suzu was cold and indifferent, she usually gives off an aura that would subconsciously keep people away.
He had been studying her character for a while, but she wasn't someone who could be read easily. Usually, she never shows any noticeable changes to the expression on her face. If he slips up here, then she would definitely deduce he was a fake. "Eh, sis what's up with that serious face your making?" Trisa frowned as she stared at Suzu's slightly stern expression.
"... Young Master please explain what happened while you were in there. I honestly thought there were an intruder in there with you a moment ago." Suzu once again ignored Trisa and kept her gaze onto Alan.
'Well, it's a good thing the original me already had something in mind in case I end up in a situation like this.'
"I... I was practicing spirit magic." Alan explained, with a shamed expression. Both Trisa and Suzu expressed surprised. "You were practicing spirit magic, but aren't you a mage?" Trisa tilted her head, clearly remembering the scene where Alan used magic in the garden.
"Y-Yes, but I also wanted to try spirit magic, is there a problem if I do?" Alan asked, with his head slightly lowered. "W-Well I guess not but... As we explained before you are not allowed to learn Magic until you come of age."
"... I-I'm sorry big sister Trisa." Alan's green, emerald eyes glisten as he made a crying gesture like that of a small child who had just done something wrong. Seeing that Trisa panic. "N-No please don't cry, young master! As long as your careful I guess we can turn a blind eye to this incident!" Alan was then enveloped in Trisa's embrace.
Meanwhile, Suzu observed this with her usual expressionless face and for a second the rigidness of her face gradually mellowed down. Despite her cold demeanor she couldn't help but find Alan cute. However, 'He was just training, wasn't that spiritual energy simply too strong to merely be considered as training?' Suzu sighed. She hadn't done much work today, but she was already feeling a bit fatigue.
"Alright... lets go to the garden." Suzu said as she walked ahead of them. Trisa continued to hug Alan close to her as they followed after her back.
...
Meanwhile, outside...
"Phew, that was close." Alan was currently staring at the window that showed Alan, Trisa and Suzu who were currently walking through the long hallway. He ruffled his slightly long silver hair as he sighed in relief.
[Not bad. Not only is she skilled in the manipulation of spiritual energy, but she is also very sensitive to spiritual energy as well. Looks like you have an interesting servant there.] Akane suddenly said in a tone that didn't hide her surprise.
Although Alan couldn't blame her, he was also very surprised as well. After Akane used imitate to create a copy of himself he did his best to hide the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the surroundings. Of course.
There was a limit with his current abilities but with most of the capable warriors on the battlefield, he thought it was enough to fool the personnel currently inside the dragon clan.
'It seems I underestimated that girl.' He secretly thought to himself.
[Maybe you could add her to your ranks once you reunite with that goddess.] Akane suggested.
"No way, if their gone who will I leave with mother?" Alan inquired. He knew he had to leave at some point so he trusts that those two could take care of her in his absence.
[Ara, someone is a bit overprotective~.]
"Enough of that, we should get going now, don't you think?" Alan said, casually changing the subject.
[Hmph, don't think I don't know what you are doing. Anyway, what are you going to do about your appearance? Since members of the dragon clan will be there wouldn't they recognize you the moment you appear?] Akane snorted as she asked.
"Ah, I forgot about that!" Alan facepalms himself.
As the grandson of the patriarch, Alan was naturally well known even though their influence had dwindled down considerably compared to when they were at their prime.
The dragon clan was greatly observed by the figures outside. And as the son of one of the strongest swordsmen in the past.
His name had already spread all around. Not to mention, 'Grandpa is also currently on the battlefield.' Alan was extremely close to his grandfather, he would naturally recognize his own grandson if he entered the battlefield.
"Let's go to my room and find a disguise I can wear before we leave."
Suddenly, his figure moved swiftly as he vanishes from that spot instantly.
...
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield...
BOOOOOM!
RUMBLE!
A tremendous explosion occurred once the attacks of the red dragon and lesser dragons connected with the earth.
A fierce shockwave erupted causing the land to shake and tremble violently! A dense cloud of dust rose up to the sky, obstructing the state of the ground below.
"Being burnt alive is not enough to return the favor of my fallen kins!" The red dragon narrowed its eyes towards the vast city. The dragon clan, sun clan and the royal knight's main goal is to prevent the dragons from invading the city.
With the obstructions out of the way, the red dragon turned its sights towards the humans hiding in the city next.
Standing on top of the balcony of the royal palace the king watches the battle currently taking place. "The situation isn't good. Perhaps I should join." He mumbled to himself. Floating next to him was a black sword shrouded in a strange aura. The sword wasn't a spirit sword, and yet it moved as though it was alive.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
From behind the king two figures dressed in black appeared. "Your majesty!" They both knelt onto their knees. "Explain." King Miles said without so much as a glance. "We did some investigation inside the forest and found traces of Magic being used, furthermore, we also found dead corpses of what seem to be baby dragons."
"I see. No wonder those dragons are so furious. Some fools must have provoked them." The kingdom of Nahinil was the closest kingdom to the mountains where the dragons usually resided, so they must have suspected the kingdom of Nahinil was involved.
"Sigh, what a troublesome mess this is."
...
Whoosh!
The red dragon flapped its wings outwards releasing a strong gust of wind that easily cleared the dust cloud. Once the dust had receded, and faded away the state of the ground became visible to the eyes.
The holy maiden had managed to protect the members of the dragon clan, sun clan and the royal knights with the cost of half her body. The left side of her ethereal body was completely destroyed.
Cassidy had sweats trickling down her brow, her face seemed to have lost a lot of blood as she was paler than usual. And blood slid from the corners of her lips.
In order to protect those behind her she had naturally paid a heavy price. She had completely underestimated the attack of the red dragon. Even the defensive spell "Mothers embrace" Wasn't enough to completely block the attack of the red dragon. She had to use every last drop of her magical energy to strengthen the defense.
The holy maidens body flickered until her illusionary image disappeared. "Cough." Cassidy coughed out a mouthful of blood as she fell to her knees. "L-Lady Cassidy." A member of the sun clan promptly moved to support her.
"Cough, you fool... Stop worrying about me and focus on your task. That dragon might launch another attack any moment now!" Cassidy scolds the young man of the sun clan. "... B-But."
"You should rest and allow me to take over." Cole said as he approached the injured Cassidy. Cassidy looked at Cole with strange eyes.
"What exactly are you going to do? Are you forgetting you would have been turned to mincemeat if my spell didn't shield you just now."
"Perhaps, but I have an attack that could deal some damage. Until then you must recover your mana. After all mana replenish much faster than spiritual energy, right?" Cassidy only stared at him closely before ultimately sighing.
"Fine, but just so you know if you get yourself killed, I'm not taking responsibility." Her voice took on a colder tone than usual. "Heh, I don't remember ever asking you to." With that Cole's figure vanish.
The next moment he appeared before the red dragon and slash with his sword, releasing a slash of spiritual energy. From the sky, a slightly smaller red dragon appeared and used its tail to deflects the slash of spiritual energy. However, Cole didn't let up on his attacks, he continued to slash vigorously with his sword, sending multiple slashes of light towards the red dragon's.
However, all of his attacks were effortlessly deflected by the slightly smaller red dragon. It flew before the big red dragon as though to protect it.
"Give up! Your weak attacks will never graze my draconic skin."
"You even manage to survive my magic; you humans really are like cockroaches. If that attack isn't enough, then how about this!"
The sky lit up as hundreds of magic formations appeared. Those on the ground were filled with despair at the sight of all those magic formations. "Perish! Die! Allow me to cleanse the world of you wicked creatures!" The red dragon's eyes shone with a dangerous glint.
"Hey, old friend if I offer my body to you, would you be able to deal with this attack?" Cole asked his spirit sword.
[....] However, the spirit sword didn't respond. Or rather it seems as though it didn't want to. "I know our relationship had never been particularly good ever since I lost my son, but please allow me to—"
[I refuse.] The spirit sword said indifferently, cutting him off.
At that Cole could only shake his head and smiled bitterly as he watches the hundreds of meteors descended from the sky.
It was naturally impossible to use "Spirit possession" Without the agreement between both parties.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The meteors used the momentum of their fall to increase the speed and velocity! If they all impacted the ground the destruction would be devastating!
Cole sighed and closed his eyes. Although he felt bitter regret that he could not avenge his son there was nothing he could do. Cassidy gritted her teeth and extended out her hand. 'Shit. I don't have enough magical energy.' A grimace appeared on her pale face from that realization.
As the meteors appeared within a hundred meters, something strange happened...
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!...
The meteors seem to have collided with an invisible wall and exploded dramatically upon impact!
"Wh-What is happening?" Cassidy gaze around in confusion.
Those from the dragon clan, sun clan and the royal knights also shared the same thought. 'Hm?' Cole opened his eyes with a puzzled expression as he glances at the meteors exploding one after another.
"Why?! Why! Why are my attacks exploding!?" The red dragon didn't seem to understand anything either. From its side the other red dragon narrowed its reptilian eyes warily.
Standing in front of Cole was an unknown figure. The figure was clad in a black robe and wear a hood that covered his face.
Furthermore, he also wore a mask that concealed his facial features. Judging by the stature of the figure he was probably only a small child.
Cole glance at his small back in confusion. "You, who are you?" He asked. The figure slightly glances back and stared at his face closely before speaking. "... I'm here to help."
ROOOOAAAAAR!
The slightly smaller red dragon roared and fired a breath attack towards the figure wearing black. It could sense that he was a dangerous opponent despite his small frame. However, with apparent indifference he calmly gazes at the incoming attack before extending out his hand.
And from his finger a small spiritual energy converges at the tip before subsequently ascending into the sky.
Swoosh!
The breath attack from the red dragon met with the spiritual attack. However, the spiritual attack easily penetrated the breath attack and cut it in two halves! But the spiritual attack continued on its path unhindered until it appeared right before the red dragon.
ROOOAAAR!
The red dragon attack with its claws however, the spiritual attack seems to bypass all physical obstacles and entered the head of the dragon. Seeing this Alan who donned a black robe smiled behind his mask.
Seconds later the eyes of the red dragon became dull as its body fell lifelessly from the sky, and impacted the earth with a thunderous sound.
"... Secret art, soul destruction." Alan muttered.