After a long and exhausting battle, Sherry, Lidya, and Floria tried to gather iron and steel from the fallen warriors. They planned to sell the materials to finance the recovery and reconstruction of the village.
However, among the iron and steel they collected, there were some items they did not destroy or sell, such as arrows and a little weaponry for future reserves. They realized that no one knew when the next attack would happen, possibly even from the Akbar Country, which was a real threat right now.
While they were busy with their work, Sherry took the opportunity to talk to Lidya as if they had known each other for a long time.
"Lidya, thank you... I didn't expect you three to really do it."
"That's not true, this all happened because of Rudi's crazy idea. Honestly, I didn't even expect him to ask me to stand on the balcony while splitting my focus on two targets!"
What Lidya meant was how she had to split her attention between two people (Micah and Rudi) simultaneously. She remembered the moment Micah faced the flying turtle warrior; she turned to Rudi, who was sprawled on the rubble. She had to leave Micah under her sight and help Rudi fight the marshal.
"That means he really trusts you (smiling sweetly)."
"What do you mean, trust (putting on a dumb face)? He sees me more like a walking turret."
Lidya, being a mage and able to shoot at them anytime, was the most obvious reason why he saw it that way.
"Speaking of your magic... How does your magic work? I see you can unleash fire, water, and barrier magic all in one battle. Not to mention you do it effortlessly and without spelling it. Ordinary people couldn't do that."
"They couldn't?"
Of all the oddities of the three young men, Lidya's magic was one of the mysteries that still hadn't been understood.
"(Shaking her head)... No, they couldn't. Ordinary people have to reach level 80 to choose their ability among 3 other options. Without spelling, without mana, or without sacrifices. Among those, people prefer without sacrifice or mana because of their clear advantages."
So, in conclusion, ordinary people would definitely choose something more advantageous than choosing the 'without spelling' ability. However, that ability was more for quick battles; in battles of power, they would clearly lose out to those who fought without mana or sacrifice.
"So that's it, huh (touching her chin)?" Lidya felt relieved to hear that explanation.
She felt relieved because she wasn't entirely special. She was just slightly faster.
"Hey Lidya, there's one thing I want to know!"
"Huh?"
"I want to know what kind of magic you can unleash?! Is all magic can?! Fire, earth, wind, darkness, light, water, ice, and lightning, are they all?! If that's true, then you're incredibly amazing! Or more accurately! You're the king above the kings of magic! Oh, because you're a girl, that means you're a queen! So you're the queen above the queen of magic! Amazing!"
Sherry was too excited, her eyes that were previously focused on armor now moved to Lidya's face with a sparkle like a bright star in the sun. Her mouth, which couldn't stop, sprayed saliva on the serious face of the girl. Her hands clasped together like pleading to a god. Her already cute face was made even cuter to strengthen her persuasion to Lidya.
"Well... But after our work is done!" Lidya surrendered and tried to release Sherry's clasped hands.
"Yes! But unfortunately, the work is done!" With one hand raised as a student wanting to ask a question, coupled with her energetic shout, Sherry persuaded Lidya again.
"What?! So soon (surprised)?!" Lidya looked around. All the armor, arrows, and weapons had been neatly arranged and were ready to be sold to the black market.
"Ah (sighs)! Alright! Let's go!"
Lidya took Sherry to an empty spot. It didn't mean they were going to do something. They just wanted to see Lidya's magic abilities.
Outside the village, near the forest, they made a target from a wooden log resembling a standing man on the ground. The target also wore a helmet resembling a human face, giving the impression that the target looked like a real person.
"Alright, I'll put a barrier on this old man!"
*Brrr!
A dome-like shield protected the dummies.
"Whose helmet is that? From its shape, it doesn't seem like it belongs to an ordinary soldier." Sherry looked at it seriously.
"I don't know, I found it on one of the black horse's bodies. Because it looked cool, I took it."
"Oh..." Sherry accepted all that without complaint, seeming like a fool.
"Never mind, let's get started!"
"If that's the case, start with fire magic! Shoot any fire magic at that dummy!"
"Okay!"
*Dor! *Dor! *Dor!
Lidya slashed the air three times and created three waves of fire that flew toward the dummy.
The barrier covering the dummy instantly holed, making the figure of the old man invisible from the outside. All that was visible from the outside was a view of a ball of fire bouncing around there.
"Cool (clapping hands)!" (Sherry)
"Now, lightning and water magic at the same time! Electrocute that old man!"
"Alright!"
*Blar! *Zzztt!
Lidya sprayed water from the top of her staff, then followed by conducting high-voltage electricity through the bottom of her staff.
The grass around the dummy instantly died, leaving only the humus soil that would be replaced. The effect was too strong; if it had hit a human, it might have ended fatally.
"Wow (her eyes sparkling)!" Sherry looked entertained as if a baby seeing rain for the first time. "Now, (jumping up and down) now! Try wind magic! Make all the trees and grass here blow vigorously! But remember not to knock them down, okay?!"
"Hmm (nodding)!"
Lidya held her staff with both hands. She lifted the staff horizontally and tried to focus on her surroundings.
Slowly, the wind began to blow the grass and trees. The leaves began to dance rhythmically. The natural music formed from the wind hitting the leaves began to be heard.
The wind blew harder, now not only the grass and leaves were blown away. Small pebbles began to fly around them. Lidya tried her best to control the wind to avoid hitting Sherry who was nearby.
However, everything didn't go smoothly because *Thud! "Urghh!". Someone was hit by the flying pebbles.
This instantly made Lidya stop. In an instant, everything became calm, and the flying pebbles fell to the ground like normal.
"Who's there?! Are you okay?!" Lidya illuminated the source of the sound.
A small figure emerged from behind the trees, crying. A large bump was visible on her head. "You...! Evil! It hurts!"
"Floria?!" Sherry was surprised and immediately approached the little girl.
"Floria (tilting her head)?!" Lidya had never met the girl. Only Rudi and Micah had met her because they were the ones in charge of strategy yesterday.
"Forgive us, I didn't mean to!" Sherry tried to stroke the swollen part, but "Don't touch me!" that word was shouted angrily by Floria.
"Don't act like we're family! My only family just my Big Brother Doris! Remember that!"
"Floria..." Sherry said with concern.
She had been like this since Doris married Sherry. Floria always harbored hostility towards her sister-in-law. Sherry knew the reason. She could only remain silent and try to persuade the little girl to accept her presence.
"You (looking towards Lidya)... You're friends with this liar, aren't you? Be careful... She's dangerous."
Hearing Floria's explanation, Lidya couldn't properly express herself except to feel confused. "What do you mean, Floria... Why do you hate her?" Lidya didn't understand at all the meaning of Floria's words.
"Because she's evil! She's the daughter of a rebel named-"
"Enough, Floria! It's better if you don't reveal her past identity! She's trying to change!" It wasn't Sherry who tried to counter Floria's hostility, but Lidya. She stood there defending Sherry, who seemed already worn out with all her regrets.
No one cared about what someone had gone through. They only cared if it was something bad. It was the same hatred that Lidya felt at home. Lidya knows how Sherry is feeling.
"How do you know it (narrowing her eyes)?"
"(Holding her own chest) Ah (sighs)... Because I'm an adult too. I've been in that position before. I thought no one would accept me. Luckily I was saved by Micah and Rudi. If they hadn't reached out, I would never have been able to become what I am now. Plus, since my friend Anita joined. I became more aware of how I had forgotten my past."
"Sherry tries to forget her past and start over from scratch. And I know, Doris must have been the one who reached out."
Sherry's cheeks immediately blushed. Lidya's words earlier meant it was true. What saved Sherry from her past was her current husband.
"Is that all?" Sherry asked back to Lidya, her tone sounding sad.
"No! Honestly, your joyful nature actually disgusts me. That nature is clearly used to cover up wounds!" Lidya said bluntly while looking at Sherry.
"Shut up! What do you know?!" (Floria)
Lidya was momentarily stunned. She then smiled thinly and looked at Floria brightly.
"Big Sis(Lidya proclaimed herself as a family) doesn't know anything. But it's normal."
Sherry and Floria were immediately shocked. Their eyes widened at the words.
"Lying to yourself is a must to be accepted by society. So... (walking closer) I don't mind."
"Try to talk to her, hate her! But don't harm her!" Lidya sat down and stroked the girl's soft hair. Unlike Sherry, Floria accepted Lidya's caress more.
"Why did you say something scary like that?!" Sherry returned to her usual self.
"It's okay, sometimes children are better off like that (giggling softly)."
But it seemed that Lidya's earlier words offended someone.
"I'm not a child!"
*Thud!
Floria punched Lidya in the stomach. The pain in her stomach was felt by anyone who saw Lidya's wrinkled face.
The unfortunate girl fainted immediately.
As a result, Lidya didn't have time to inform her departure to them. However, Lidya would still tell them, even if it was sudden.