[PoV Loki]
That night was so silent. There was no sound except for the faint rustling of leaves stirred by the cold winter wind. The crescent moon hung on the pitch-black curtain of the night, hiding behind the clouds, adding to the deep sense of solitude.
In that moment of peace, I sat at my desk, continuously channeling magic into the crystal ball in front of me. I had been focusing on it since morning, yet the crystal ball hadn't shown me what I was looking for. Only a thick, dark mist swirled inside.
I let out a tired sigh, realizing my own inability. "Where exactly have you been cast away, little raven?"
Actually, this was a normal occurrence. As I had mentioned before, it usually took at least two or three days to find someone who had gone missing. The farther away they were from me, the longer it would take to locate them.
Additionally, the small amount of mana I had left and Yatagarasu's weakened magical energy made it even harder to detect him with my magic. Luckily, the feather he left behind was a powerful tool to aid in finding him. However, I still wasn't confident I could find him in just one night.
"I'd better add a little more potion."
I picked up a small potion vial lying beside me and dripped it into the crystal ball. Then, I took the raven feather Fenrir had given me earlier, staring at it with hope.
"This is the last one."
I placed the feather on the crystal ball and burned it into ash. For a moment, I watched the ashes scatter and vanish into the empty air. Then, I turned my gaze back to the crystal ball, but there was still no sign of any change.
"Damn it, what should I do now?"
But slowly, the thick, dark mist began to thin, revealing a shadowy figure seated in the middle of a dense pine forest. I stared at it until the figure became clearer.
"This..." My mouth gaped in disbelief.
******
[PoV Yatagarasu]
Amid the silence of the night, I was surrounded by the towering shadows of pine trees. The scent of frozen snow mingled with the metallic tang of blood that filled the air.
The darkness and stillness seemed to create a space where time momentarily stood still. But that peace didn't last long.
Crash!
A loud sound shattered the night's quiet. My body was flung backward and slammed hard against the sturdy trunk of a tree. My back felt as if it were broken. Pain spread rapidly, leaving my entire body momentarily paralyzed.
I tried to move, but my body trembled uncontrollably. My breathing was labored, and my chest felt tight. Slowly, warm red liquid trickled from the corner of my lips. The metallic taste of blood returned to my throat.
I quickly spat out the blood pooling in my throat and wiped the remnants from the corner of my lips. "Tch, throwing up blood again."
With great effort, I forced my head to turn downward. My gaze fell on the eggs I held tightly against my chest. I exhaled in relief, realizing they were still intact, not a single one cracked.
"Thank goodness…" I mumbled, my voice barely audible. "They're safe."
But that relief didn't last long. When I looked up, the three T-Rexes were still advancing steadily. Their steps were slow, their crimson eyes radiating an aura of intimidation and bloodlust.
I tried to move my legs, forcing my body to stand. But nothing happened. My muscles felt numb, my strength completely drained. All I could do was sit on the snow, watching the monsters draw closer.
"This is so annoying." A bitter smile appeared on my face. I knew this situation well.
The truth was, I was now at the brink of defeat. I was weak and unable to defeat them. Let alone kill them, I had struggled to even slightly injure them with my barrage of attacks.
At this moment, I was trapped in a difficult choice. I could choose to save these eggs, but that would mean sacrificing myself. Or, I could surrender to my selfishness and save myself by running away.
I tried moving my fingers, ensuring my body could still respond. My fingers twitched slightly, enough to gauge how much strength I had left. "Looks like… I still have a bit of mana left in me."
In this situation, I only had one last chance. At the very least, I hoped to deliver one final blow with the mana I had left.
I took a deep breath, calming the fear and despair flooding my mind. I focused my energy into my right hand, gathering what little mana still flowed in my veins.
"If this fails…" I mumbled with a trembling voice, "I won't hesitate to transform and save myself."
I extended my right hand toward them. An orange magic circle appeared in front of me. After a moment, a small spinning flame emerged in the center of the circle.
I focused my mind on an intermediate-level magic spell Loki had taught me, hoping this remaining energy was enough for a final attack.
"Ildtornado!"
My shout echoed through the air. The flame in my hand grew rapidly. In an instant, a massive fiery tornado formed before my eyes, spinning violently and heading straight for the three T-Rexes in front of me.
The fierce heat was enough to push them back gradually. Its searing intensity starkly contrasted the cold atmosphere, melting ice and creating a thin mist that lingered around us.
A faint smile appeared on my face. I thought the mist would envelop the area after my magic ended, giving me a chance to slip away and escape from the monsters.
Seeing them pushed back, a small hope began to rise in my heart. The heat from the fire seemed sufficient to burn their skin, at least on the surface.
"It seems this worked!" I shouted excitedly.
I tried to maintain the spell longer, squeezing out the remaining mana within me.
"Hyahhh!" I yelled with determination, caught up in the moment.
Deep down, I still hoped I could drive the T-Rexes back with this last-ditch effort, ensuring my struggle to protect these eggs wasn't in vain and that I wouldn't return empty-handed.
But like a candle running out of wax, the tornado's flames gradually dimmed. When my mana was entirely depleted, the spell vanished, leaving behind a thin mist that filled the area, just as I had expected.
Panting heavily, my body felt heavier than ever. I stared at the three T-Rexes, hoping the earlier attack had been enough to make them retreat. But once again, reality disappointed me. They still stood tall, though their bodies bore a few burn marks.
"Damn it, after all this…" I gave a bitter smile, realizing how weak I truly was. "I can't believe I only managed to give you some minor burns."
One of the T-Rexes let out a low growl. I could see a mocking grin in the glint of their sharp, gleaming teeth.
I knew I had no other choice. I had to transform to save myself. With a heavy heart, I prepared to leave the eggs behind. But just as I was about to activate my rune and transform, my earlier hope was fulfilled.
A massive magic circle suddenly appeared between me and the three T-Rexes. A bluish-purple light radiated brightly, enveloping the area with magical energy so powerful that the monsters froze in their tracks.
I stared at the magic circle, my eyes wide. I knew it. I couldn't possibly mistake it. "This magic circle…"
A sharp, wide grin spread across my face, curving perfectly along my cheeks. "Finally, you're here…"