As Xialdre kept his eyes trained on the thick woods, shadows danced around him, shrouding the danger that lurked nearby. Suddenly, with the force of a storm, a massive snake as large as a tree charged from behind. Xialdre dodged the strike with ease, but the creature's tail swung at him with deadly speed. He narrowly avoided it, realizing in that instant that the tail's impact could obliterate a large portion of the continent.
Without hesitation, Xialdre raised his hand and conjured a powerful barrier around the snake, containing both the creature and its imminent attack. The force of the tail rebounded within the barrier, striking the snake itself. Despite this, the Ruby Boa remained unscathed, its scales impenetrable. Calm and calculating, Xialdre stepped into the barrier, and with a flash of his hand, cast an obliteration spell directly at the snake. In an instant, the mighty Ruby Boa fell dead, its immense body crashing to the ground.
The barrier surrounding Xialdre and the snake shattered along with the snake's demise, but not before it had served its purpose. The barrier had protected the continent from the devastating force of the obliteration magic. Without it, the land of Tearth itself could have been destroyed in a single stroke.
Back at the camp, Xialdre returned quietly, his expression as calm as ever. The girls were sitting by the fire, but Nina was the first to notice him, her face filled with worry.
"Did you see the Ruby Boa? Did you encounter it? Are you okay!?" Nina bombarded him with questions, her concern evident.
Xialdre let out a small sigh, reaching into his pocket domain. He pulled out the severed head of the Ruby Boa, letting its massive size speak for itself. Nina stared at the head, her face drained of color. She slowly turned to look at Xialdre, trembling as she sank to the ground in terror.
"Y-you're not human, are you?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
"I never claimed to be," Xialdre replied, his eyes shadowed by his hair, his expression unreadable as ever.
Nina's gaze dropped to the ground, her entire body shaking with fear. "What do you even need me for if you're already this powerful?" she whispered, her voice filled with helplessness.
Xialdre regarded her for a moment before responding. "Are you suggesting that you're useless to me? That I no longer need you as part of my followers?" His voice was calm, but there was an undertone of curiosity in it.
"Something like that," Nina muttered, sounding like a lost child wandering in a forest.
Xialdre sighed deeply, then spoke. "Power isn't everything. Sometimes, even the strongest have weaknesses—holes in their heart that can't be filled by strength alone. If those weaknesses remain uncovered, they can lead to greater vulnerabilities, and eventually, to ruin."
He continued, "My own weakness is that I can't show sympathy toward others. Because of this, I sometimes find myself bored, not understanding why. That boredom festers into sadness, and if left unchecked, it can spiral into depression, making death seem like the only escape." His voice softened as he reflected. "I can't say for sure that what I'm telling you is the absolute truth. But I believe this is a part of my heart that I have yet to fully understand. And that's why I need others—why I need you—to help me fill that void."
Nina listened in silence, unsure of how to respond but sensing the sincerity behind Xialdre's words. He wasn't just a powerful force; he was someone searching for something deeper.
Nina felt a wave of calm wash over her, her fear toward Xialdre dissipating. She looked up at him, her voice steady. "If that's the case, what do you need me for?"
Xialdre's expression remained unchanged, but his voice carried a quiet intensity. "I want you to remove a curse from one of our allies."
"A curse?" Nina asked, curiosity piqued.
"A curse bestowed by the Dragon Lord," Xialdre revealed.
"EHHHH!?" Natalia's voice cut through the camp, her shock echoing through the group. "Master, don't say that—" she started, but Xialdre interrupted her gently.
"I did this for you, Natalia. I can always see the burden in your eyes, how you've been weighed down," Xialdre explained calmly.
"Master, I don't deserve this much!" Natalia responded, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Don't say that, Natalia. You clearly deserve it," Isayao interjected softly, standing by her side.
"Yeah, you're probably the reason we, as Xialdre's followers, don't have any animosity towards one another," Clementine added with a warm smile.
"*Fufu*, to be honest, you're always the first to introduce yourself to any new member," Arisawa chimed in, her tone light but sincere.
"Natalia, accept it. You're one of the most valued here," Furina declared, the others nodding in agreement.
Surrounded by their support, Natalia sighed in disbelief, shaking her head lightly. "I don't know what to say," she admitted, though a small, grateful smile crept onto her face.
Nina, observing the exchange, took a deep breath. "I can actually remove the curse, but it's very difficult. Still, with your help, Xialdre—master—and with the support of the others, it should be possible," she said, her voice filled with newfound confidence.
The camp was silent, with tension crackling in the air as Xialdre nodded calmly. "Then let's do it."
"Eh, now?" Nina asked, startled.
"Yes," Xialdre replied without hesitation.
Nina began drawing a magical circle on the ground, her hands steady despite the pressure of what was to come. "Natalia, do you think you're strong enough to stay conscious while we remove the curse?" she asked seriously.
"Um... why?" Natalia replied, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Because," Nina explained, her voice grave, "if you fall unconscious during the ritual, the curse will drag your soul along with its removal. It'll kill you."
Natalia's face grew pale, and she repeated her understanding, "So, if I lose consciousness while the curse is being removed, I'll die?"
"That's right," Nina confirmed. "I believe you're strong enough to stay conscious, but... it's almost impossible to endure if the Dragon Lord himself cursed you. The sheer power behind it is overwhelming. And I suspect he cursed you because he overpowered and defeated you."
Natalia's expression shifted from worry to determination. "I understand your concern, Nina, but I can handle this," she declared confidently.
Nina gave her a small smile. "Alright, I'm just warning you about the risks," she replied, her tone lightening as a small laugh escaped her.
The two shared a brief moment of positivity, easing some of the tension in the air. Meanwhile, Xialdre and the others busied themselves with the ritual preparations. Xialdre placed candles around the magical circle, which Asabe lit one by one. Furina conjured fresh water with her magic, letting it flow gently around the circle, while Emiko controlled the wind, creating an ethereal current that intertwined with Furina's magic. Together, their combined elements created a mesmerizing, colorful orb that shimmered in the dim forest.
The temperature dropped sharply as Xialdre manipulated the earth, summoning solid foundations for the ritual. Asabe joined in, adding fire to the mix, which fused with the other elements, creating a vibrant violet and purple glow.
Nina opened a worn tome, flipping through its ancient pages as her eyes turned a brilliant white. The book floated in the air, radiating with power. She placed her hands gently on Natalia's chest.
"Are you ready?" Nina asked, her voice steady.
Natalia glanced at Xialdre, whose expression remained stoic, though she felt a faint undercurrent of emotion in his demeanor. She turned to Clementine and Isayao. Clementine appeared calm, her trust in Natalia unwavering, while Isayao seemed slightly worried but hopeful. Natalia then looked toward Rain, Asabe, and Xyrene. Rain and Asabe both wore faint smiles, mirroring Xialdre's reserved demeanor, while Xyrene gave Natalia a wink of encouragement.
"Fufu, this is getting interesting," Arisawa remarked, observing the scene with quiet amusement.
Emiko and Furina completed the final placements for the ritual as Nina began her chant.
"Nawa'y sirain ang sumpa ng tatlong diyos na hindi nakikilala. Ang mga diyos na kilala, kilalanin sa oras lang na ito, at basagin ang sumpa nitong hamak na panginoong dragon!" Nina chanted, her voice ringing with power. The earth trembled, the vibration rippling through the entire forest and scattering insects and beasts alike.
"Ang aming diyos, Azathoth, Adonai, at Cosmic, tulungan mo kaming alisin ang sumpa ng mabangis na DRAGON SA KATAWAN NI NATALIAAA!!!" Nina's voice boomed as the chant reached its climax. Each word sent shockwaves through the air, turning the forest into a blinding expanse of white light.
Natalia screamed as lightning struck her repeatedly, her body trembling under the intense energy. Blood spilled from her lips as she struggled to stay conscious. Her breathing slowed, and her body weakened under the overwhelming pressure.
The girls struggled to see through the radiant light engulfing the ritual. Only Xialdre and Arisawa, with their heightened awareness, could see what was happening clearly. They watched as Natalia teetered dangerously close to losing her soul.
But Natalia didn't give in. She clung to her resolve, refusing to let the curse claim her.
When Nina's chant ended, the light faded, and the forest returned to normal. The girls rushed toward Natalia, who had collapsed onto the ground. Xialdre reached her first, gently cradling her in his arms as Nina fell back, exhausted, panting heavily.
"Natalia, are you okay?!" Xialdre asked, his voice laced with rare emotion. His stoic facade cracked just slightly, revealing a flicker of concern.
The others surrounded them, their faces painted with worry. Isayao suddenly gasped, her voice cutting through the tension. "Wait... didn't Nina say that if Natalia lost consciousness during the ritual, she would lose her soul?!"
Panic rippled through the group as they looked between each other, their expressions growing more frantic.
Arisawa, standing a little apart, remained calm. "She survived," she said confidently.
"What do you mean?" Clementine asked, still shaken.
Xialdre looked up, his voice steady as he explained. "Natalia didn't lose consciousness during the ritual. She only collapsed afterward. That means she kept herself awake long enough to see it through."
He placed a hand on Natalia's wrist, checking her pulse. An expression face still crossed his face. "She's still breathing. Her soul is intact."
Relief flooded the group as they gathered closer, their initial panic giving way to tentative smiles. For now, they had succeeded—but the scars of the ordeal lingered in their hearts.