A week later, Erine summoned Aria to her office for a new job.At Erine's office, Aria stood before her desk, her expression grave as Erine relayed urgent news to her. "Aria, I've just received word," she began, her voice expressing urgency. "There's trouble brewing in the village of Mali."Aria gazed blankly. "What kind of trouble?" she inquired."Someone attacked their village," Erine replied, her tone somber while reading the scroll. "Reports indicate that unknown forces attacked the village of Mali, and the wielders stationed there are struggling to contain the situation. Also, several people are killed," gazing at Aria.Before Aria could respond, the door to Erine's office creaked open, and Lili hurried in, her cheeks flushed with exertion. "I'm sorry I'm late, Headmistress," she gasped, her breath coming in short, hurried bursts.Erine regarded Lili with a stern expression before turning to Aria. "You're heading to Mali immediately with Lili," she instructed, her voice firm.Aria's expression darkened as Erine assigned Lili to accompany her on the urgent mission to Mali. "Erine, I work better alone," Aria protested, her face showing irritation.Erine met Aria's gaze with a steady look, her expression unwavering. "I understand, Aria," she replied calmly, "but Lili has shown promise, and this is an opportunity for her to learn and grow under your guidance.""Guida-an apprentice will only slow me down," Aria insisted."I know, but this job is urgent. Mali is under attack, and the two of you are the only available I can send," Erine said, trying to reason out with Aria.Aria's jaw clenched in frustration. She wanted to protest, but Erine summoned her for the job, and the headmistress might reject her future job if she refused. With a resigned sigh, she relented. "Fine," she conceded, her voice tight with frustration.Erine nodded in understanding. "I trust you and Lili will work together to accomplish the task."Aria shook her head in disbelief. Erine offered a reassuring smile, her confidence unwavering. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Aria," she said teasingly.For once, the headmistress wins an argument over Aria.Erine turned to Lili, her gaze softening slightly. "Consider this an opportunity to learn from her.""Y-yes, Headmistress," she reluctantly said, glancing at Aria. Unsure what to say. And with that, Aria and Lili left the headmistress' office and went to Mali.As the carriage rattled along the winding road towards Mali, Lili tried to converse with Aria, hoping to ease the heavy tension in the air. "So, Aria, have you been to Mali before?" she asked, her voice filled with a nervous energy.Aria, however, remained silent, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. Lili hesitated for a moment before pressing on. "I uhm never been there, but I hear it's a small village surrounded by different flowers," she continued, her voice more animated.With Aria's silence, Lili began sweating, unsure what to do. She continued to speak to remove the awkwardness. "I was hoping we could arrive soon to help them."Aria's patience wore thin as Lili's chatter grated on her nerves. With a sharp exhale, she turned to face her companion, her expression darkening with irritation. "Lili, please," she interjected sharply, her tone clipped. "Just shut up and do your job."Lili recoiled at Aria's harsh words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry, Aria," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.A heavy silence between Aria and Lili marked the journey to the village of Mali. Each sat in stoic silence. Aria fixed her gaze on the passing scenery outside the window, her expression guarded and unreadable.Occasionally, Lili stole glances at Aria, terrified by her presence and her mind a whirlwind of nervous energy and uncertainty. He was thinking about how she'd work with Aria on this job.After hours, the carriage rolled into the village of Mali. The village guards and some wielders from the other town met them. They explained that they had been sent from Viralinn. They were sent immediately to the village chief's office.With a sense of urgency, one guard approached the sturdy wooden structure that served as the heart of the community and told the village chief that reinforcement from Viralinn had arrived.Entering the chief's office, Aria found the village chief deep in conversation with several guards and wielders. Without any introduction, she addressed the chief, her voice firm and resolute. "Chief, we're from Viralinn," she began, her tone cutting through the room's din. "Tell us what happened."The chief's expression darkened as she turned to face Aria, her eyes weary with worry. "We were attacked," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "It was a group of unknown wielders—they came in the dead of night, seeking out a specific family."Aria's brow furrowed as she absorbed the chief's words. "Which family?" she inquired, her voice tinged with urgency.The chief's voice barely above a whisper. "The Orzo. They are just a small family living in the farthest part of the village," he replied, his tone heavy with sorrow."Why would anyone want to harm them?" Lili said she mused aloud, her mind racing with worries.The chief shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "But we need to act quickly. We can only show you the trace where they follow the family."Aria nodded in agreement. "Show me," she declared, her voice unwavering.A wielder from Arcupil showed them the trails from where the enemy went. They darted through dense foliage, taking every turn to confuse the wielders. Finally, they found a hidden path, disappearing more profoundly into the forest, leaving the wielders behind."We lost some of our allies. We are stationed to protect the village chief," the wielder said to Aria.As Aria and Lili followed the trail left by the attackers, they stumbled upon a secluded clearing in the forest. There, amidst the tangled underbrush, they spotted two children huddled together, their faces contorted with fear.Approaching cautiously, Lili knelt beside them, her voice gentle yet firm. "It's alright, you're safe now," she reassured them, her tone soothing. "Can you tell us what happened here?" Lili said, worried.Aria quickly looked around to make sure it was safe. Her gaze flicked from side to side as she surveyed their surroundings. Satisfied that everything seemed calm, she looked down at the children. She relaxed slightly but remained alert, ready to react at the first sign of trouble.The children glanced up at Aria and Lili, their eyes wide with terror. "The bad guys came," one of them whispered, her voice trembling. "They hurt our family and killed our parents away." and both of them started crying.Lili's heart clenched at the children's words and tears, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "Do you know where these bad guys are?" she inquired, her voice edged with urgency. She wanted to help these children.The other child shook her head, her lower lip quivering. "We ran here and lost them," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, you have to help us." the child added between her sobs.Lili placed a reassuring hand on the children's shoulders, her expression filled with determination. "We will," she vowed, her voice steady. "You have our word."Lili looked at Aria while the latter looked away. Lili helped the children to their feet, but before they could even walk, a sword hurtled through the air toward Aria, which she immediately countered by swaying her sword fast. The children suddenly screamed out of shock.Lili pulled the children to the back of a big tree to keep them safe. Aria looked at where the sword flew from. Another sword hurtled through the air again towards Aria. She reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, dodging the deadly blade with a graceful sidestep. Her eyes are narrow where the swords are coming from as she assesses two enemies submerged in the shadow.Lili hugged the kids as the kids felt terror upon seeing the enemies, mumbling that they were the ones responsible for killing their parents.One of the enemies, a lean wiry with a scarred face, stepped forward. Her gaze landed on Aria, and she cast a disdainful glance at Aria, her lips curling into a smug smirk as she sized up her opponent. While the other one was tall and muscular, his silent demeanor hinting at his strength."This is their reinforcement. I had killed thousands of your kind," with an arrogant tone, the enemy boasted. "Anyway, hand over the kids.""Of our kind, you're a wielder, " Akan reminded Zishita."What? Akan, Shut up!" Zishita pouted in irritation.Zishita, with her icy stare and a swirling vortex of shadows, launched the first attack, conjuring bolts of darkness aimed straight at Aria. Aria deflected the projectiles with a swift twirl of her sword. Each clash sent sparks flying into the night.Meanwhile, Akan charged forward with his brutish strength and fiery aura, swinging his massive axe with unrelenting force. Aria danced between his strikes, her agility unmatched as she darted and weaved through the chaos.With Akan and Zishita's attacks, Aria remains defensive. Zishita lunged at Aria, her shadowy tendrils slashing through the air with deadly precision, aiming to trap her in darkness. The clash intensified as Aria's blade met Zishita's dark tendrils, each strike resonating with the clash of opposing forces. Sparks flew, and the air crackled with energy as they battled for supremacy.Akan's rage fueled his attacks as he swung his axe with savage intent. But Aria, undeterred, met his strikes head-on.Aria unleashed a flurry of strikes, her blade a blur as it sliced through the air with precision. Zishita and Akan faltered under the onslaught. As Aria swung again, she heard Lili shout from behind."ARIA!"An arrow whistled through the air, finding its mark in Aria's right arm. She stumbled backward, the force of the impact sending her crashing to the forest floor.Gritting her teeth, Aria stood up. Blood seeped from the wound, staining her sleeve crimson. Lili tried to rush to Aria's aid, but Aria told her to stay. "Just stay! Get those kids out of here and find that Arcupilian."Unsure of what to do, Lili grabbed the kids and ran away."Not so fast." Zishita tried to follow them, but a sword swung over her face and stopped her. She looked at Aria, who was standing with her arms bleeding."I'm your enemy," Aria said. "Shit," she removes the arrow from her right arm, and blood drips from it.Aria faced Zishita and Akan. She lunged forward, her blade cutting through the air with a fluid grace honed through years of training.Zishita and Akan, caught off guard by Aria's sudden attack, scrambled to react. Zishita conjured swirling shadows to deflect the incoming strike while Akan raised his massive axe to block the onslaught.Aria pressed on, her movements calculated and precise as she danced between her opponents' attacks. With each slash of her blade, she sought an opening, a weakness in their defenses that she could exploit.Zishita retaliated with a flurry of dark tendrils, each strike aimed at disorienting Aria and throwing her off balance. But Aria remained steadfast, her focus unwavering as she deftly dodged the incoming onslaught.Sensing an opportunity, Akan charged forward with brute force, his axe swinging in a wide arc aimed at Aria's midsection. Aria narrowly avoided the blow with a quick sidestep, her heart pounding with adrenaline as she continued to press the attack.Aria's movements became more fluid and instinctual as the battle raged on. She could feel the ebb and flow of the fight, anticipating her opponents' every move before they even made it. As Zishita and Akan simultaneously attacked Aria, Zishita found an opening between Aria's attacks. She aimed her dark magic towards Aria's right arm, where the arrow had struck her earlier. But to her surprise, the wound is gone.Zishita backed down, so Akan as he noticed Zishita's confusion. "You were shot earlier," she muttered. " but your wound is gone?!" she shouted at Aria."What are you saying, Zishita?" Akan asks out of confusion."IMPOSSIBLE! Akan, her wound. You saw it. Fali shot her. It's gone," Zishita said hysterically."What are you saying? You saw her bleed, Zishita. Are you nuts?" Akan retorted back."No! Look closely. Her wound is gone, Akan! Look!!!" pointing at Aria's arm.As Zishita pointed at Aria, Aria seized the moment, charging forward. With a battle cry echoing in the air, she instantly closed the distance between them, her blade gleaming as it sliced through the darkness toward Zishita.Because of Aria's sudden onslaught, Zishita barely had time to react. With a desperate gesture, as she swung her sword, she summoned a barrier of shadows to deflect the incoming attack. Still, Aria's strike was too powerful, shattering through the barrier like glass.The force of Aria's blow sent Zishita staggering backward, her defenses crumbling under the relentless assault. Aria pressed on, her movements are fluid and precise as she unleashed a flurry of strikes, each driving Zishita further back.Before Aria could deliver the final blow to Zishita, Akan, fueled by rage and desperation, came to her rescue, charging forward with a primal roar. With his massive axe raised high, he swung it towards Aria with all his might, aiming to strike her down and avenge his fallen comrade.Aria, taken aback by Akan's sudden attack, barely had time to react. She parried his blow, the clash of their weapons reverberating like thunder.Akan's attacks were relentless as he unleashed a barrage of strikes, each fueled by his burning desire for revenge. But Aria met his onslaught, she danced between his blows, always one step ahead.Aria could feel the weight of Akan's fury with each strike, she could sense his strength faltering, his movements becoming more erratic as exhaustion began to take its toll. Aria launched a counterattack, her blade flashing with renewed vigor as she pushed Akan back with a series of calculated strikes.Akan, realizing that he and Zishita were outmatched by Aria's skill, reluctantly backed down, his rage subsiding as he lowered his axe. Zishita, her expression twisted with frustration and disbelief, cursed under her breath, unable to comprehend how they could be bested by someone who hadn't even tapped into their full power."This can't be!" Zishita gritted her teeth, unable to accept defeat, mainly because Aria wasn't using her power. Deflecting their attacks using merely her sword alone hurts their pride.Zishita, consumed by a burning desire for revenge, rallied Akan for one final, desperate attempt to overpower Aria. With a fierce determination in their eyes, they launched themselves at Aria with all the strength and skill they could muster, their dark magic swirling around them like a tempest of shadows.Aria, sensing the renewed assault, braced herself for the onslaught, her blade at the ready as she prepared to face her adversaries once more.The clash that followed was nothing short of epic, the air crackling with energy as Aria and her foes engaged. Zishita's dark magic clashed against Aria's blade with relentless force, while Akan's brute strength threatened to overwhelm her at every turn.But despite their best efforts, Zishita and Akan found themselves powerless against Aria's unmatched skill. Aria launched a final, decisive strike as the battle raged on, her blade finding its mark and striking Zishita and Akan down with a single, swift motion."NO!" Zishita muttered before falling into the ground.As their body fall on the ground, Aria stare at their body for a moment when she heard a voice from behind. It was Lili. As Lili saw their enemy's bodies on the ground, she went straight to Aria."How was your arm, Aria?" she sounded worried.Aria's eyes widened. Before Lili could reach her to aid, Aria quickly covered her right arm with her left hand, concealing the wound from Lili's view. "I'm fine,".Lili opened her mouth to protest, but Aria silenced her sternly."The kids?" Aria asked to change the topic.Lili nodded, her gaze flickering towards the two children who stood nearby, their faces filled with apprehension. "We're okay," she replied, her voice soft but steady. "The children are unharmed. I also handled that archer but lost most of my daggers."Aria watched the children approach, their eyes wide with curiosity. "Is it safe now?" one of them asked, their voice trembling with uncertainty.Lili offered them a reassuring smile, her heart swelling with pride at their resilience. "Yes, it's safe now," she replied, her voice gentle yet firm. "You're both very brave."As Lili talked to the kids, Aria tore a piece of fabric from her clothes and tied it on her right arm, where the arrow hit her.Dras, the older child, approached Aria, pulling her clothes. Aria looked at the kid curiously. "I need to tell you something."Aria hesitated momentarily but knelt beside him. "What?" she asked.The young child Lotti stepped forward, clutching the small box containing their family heirloom tightly to their chest. "We're being pursued because of this," they explained, their voice barely above a whisper.Lili's eyes widened in realization as she took in the significance of their words. "Is this why those enemies were after you?" she asked, her tone filled with concern. "What does it contain?"The children nodded, their faces pale with fear. "Yes," the older child confirmed. "This is from our great-grandfather. He said it's a treasure, a family heirloom we must protect."Lili's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. The children exchanged a glance before the older child spoke up. "Our father died protecting it," they explained.Aria nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "May I?" pointing at the box.The kids nod, so Aria takes the box and opens it. Aria's eyes widened in astonishment as she realized the gravity of their discovery - the box contained a half-torn scroll, to be exact. They had the same texture as the one retrieved at Paha. She immediately closed the box and spoke without thinking. With that, Aria rose to her feet. The kids were worried because of it and asked Aria what it was."Miss? Is something matter?" Dras asked worriedly"We'll take you back to Mali."Aria and Lili escorted the children back to the village safely. Upon arrival, Aria asked the chief if she could talk to him and the kids alone.Aria explained the importance of the scroll, and why it should be in a safer place, the chief and even the kids understand the gravity and seriousness of this matter.As Aria was about to leave, Dras and Lotti approached Aria with a hesitant expression. "Miss Aria," they began, their voice quivering slightly uncertainly. "Can you... can you promise to protect this?"Aria's eyes widened in astonishment."We are just kids. Our parents were killed because of this. Also, you protect and saved us from the enemy. We believe you can protect this more than us." Dras said."We don't want to bring trouble in our village," Lotti added.Aria nodded in agreement. Lotti reached into her bag and produced the small box. "Please take it," they said, their voice barely above a whisper. "We can't protect it, but we know you can Miss Aria."Aria couldn't utter a word but just force a smile at the kids. The kids hug her for their gratitude while Aria stood stiff.After their conversation, Aria and Lili bid farewell to the children and the village chief. Aria's mind was filled with one thing on their journey home. Someone is after the relic weapons, but who and why.