In just a few seconds, twenty adventurers assigned to guard Ervin had been eaten by the scary monster. Ervin, who witnessed the cruelty, could no longer feel the strength in his legs and then fell miserably to the dirty ground.
"Desmond-"
Ervin's voice was cut off in the middle when he saw Desmond thrown so far and died with claw wounds thanks to the blow from the scary monster. Ervin's tears came out uncontrollably when the young prince was hurt and finally realized that he was the only one left in that place. Ervin even peed himself because he was so scared in that scary situation.
"I, mother... Father... Brother."
In a desperate situation, Ervin could only call out the names of people who were considered able to help him get out of the scary situation. Ervin became even more frightened when the monster approached him with slow steps. The prince hoped that he could run from the situation. However, with legs that no longer had any strength, Ervin could only crawl desperately.
"Sob, anyone... please help me...."
"Now, don't cry like that, little one."
Ervin turned around to see that the scary monster had stopped walking, while a beautiful fairy stood between Ervin and the monster. Ervin no longer had the strength to even be interested in Gaia, who looked very attractive to him. The young prince could only continue to sob while looking at Gaia, who smiled when she saw him.
"You know, this is why you should listen to the words of people older than you."
Gaia glanced at the body parts scattered around her, then nodded in satisfaction. "Unfortunately, you lose this game, young man," she said without showing the slightest regret.
Gaia's presence that managed to make the monster no longer move seemed to have restored a little courage in Ervin. The young prince still couldn't stand or do anything with his legs. However, he could already speak even though he was a little hesitant.
"Ga, game?"
"Yes! Game! What you played earlier was a good or bad boy game. If you had chosen to listen to the words of your other group members and be a good boy, I might have let you go back alive. But since you chose to be a bad boy... Well, I can only kill you."
Among the elemental fairies, Gaia was famous for her enjoyment of playing games. The earth fairy deliberately lets Ervin walk together with her group. Because from the beginning they were discovered by Gaia, Ervin's group had actually been trapped in a game made by the fairy.
"What a shame. I usually don't kill children, in case you didn't know."
Fortunately, Gaia was famous as a fairy who liked children more than anyone else. Ervin, who was only ten years old, seemed to still be categorized as a child for the earth fairy. Gaia deliberately came to stop the monster's intention to eat Ervin. Even though Ervin was evil, for Gaia, the child still deserved leniency in his punishment.
"Rabbit, you can go and gather with the others now. Thank you very much for your help."
After Gaia touched the monster's head, the scary figure in front of them slowly returned to its adorable rabbit form. The rabbit hopped away and quickly left the place. Gaia took a deep breath, then turned to look at Ervin, who was still shaking in fear.
"Now, it's time for your punishment, you naughty boy."
"Don't kill me! Someone, please help-"
"Shhh. I've been kind enough to give you a quick death. Now, go to sleep, sweet boy."
Gaia touched Ervin's forehead, and the young prince immediately took his last breath. The earth fairy looked at Ervin's corpse with a sad expression. Although Ervin was a dark-hearted human, Gaia wanted to believe that his crimes happened because Ervin didn't get the right guidance from the people around him.
Gaia touched Ervin's corpse and then cast ancient magic that slowly turned Ervin's body into small particles that glowed beautifully. Gaia smiled slightly and blew the particles into the air. The earth fairy stared at the particles, then whispered in a soft voice.
"May you live as a good child in your next life, Human," she said before leaving the place.
***
"... Hey, are you okay?"
"Can't you see what's happening to me?"
Kegan looked at Gaia angrily, who was crouching down next to him with his chin in his hand. It was clear that Kegan could no longer move. However, for her amusement, Gaia still pretends to be stupid to mock him for performing too much in his fight.
"Hah, you should be able to see your pitiful state, Kegan. Look, your wings are almost gone because you used up too much of your mana."
"So noisy! Are you here to mock me or help me!?"
"Tch, you're such a hothead."
Even though Gaia was grumbling at Kegan, the earth fairy still moved to carry Kegan. Gaia could see that Kegan's face was red because he was carrying him in a princess carry position. However, they had wings on their shoulders. The fairies had no choice but to carry someone that way if they wanted to carry someone.
"Kegan, your face looks like a tomato."
"I told you not to be noisy!"
Gaia frowned slightly when Kegan shouted near her ear. "Geez, can you stop shouting near my ear, Kegan? I was in a hurry to finish my fight because I wanted to save you," she grumbled in annoyance. Gaia thought Kegan would refute her as usual. However, no. The fire elf finally fell silent after hearing Gaia's grumbling.
"... So, is the human you fought evil? Evil enough that you are willing to be in this vulnerable condition?"
"He is the worst of the worst. Until the very end, he still sacrificed those who were loyal to him for his safety."
"Hah, he deserved that terrible explosion."
Gaia smiled slightly, then no longer intended to mock Kegan because the fire fairy unsealed his true power. Just as Gaia had a soft spot for children, Kegan also had a soft spot for purely evil people like Jarvis. Kegan lived long enough to witness how people like Jarvis destroyed part of the world. For Kegan, who loved living beings more than anything, Jarvis must have been very disgusting.
"Then, what about the humans you killed?" Kegan asked back. Gaia shook her head regretfully. "He didn't make me that angry. He was indeed evil. But I think it was because of the influence of the people around him," Gaia explained. The two of them didn't speak anymore after that. The entrance to the deepest part of the Audoran Forest was already in sight, but Gaia suddenly stopped moving once again.
This time, Kegan also turned his head in the direction Gaia was looking with a surprised expression. They didn't know the owner of the terrifying energy that suddenly surrounded the place. But at the origin of the evil energy, Kegan could feel Aqua's pure energy that also unsealed her power like Kegan.
"Gaia, you can leave me here. Go to that place immediately to help Aqua!"
Gaia finally put on a serious expression when she heard Kegan's words. "No way. With your current condition, you could die if someone finds you. I'll take you back first. After that, I'll go to where Aqua is."
"Gaia, I'm fine!"
"You're not fine, Kegan!"
Kegan was surprised when Gaia shouted back at him. Among the elemental fairies, Gaia should be the one who can't be serious the most and always plays around wherever she is. But this time, Gaia did look serious. The wrinkles on her forehead and the serious expression on her face clearly showed that Gaia wasn't playing around right now.
Gaia was also worried about Aqua. At least Kegan could understand that.
"I'll catch up with Aqua after I make sure you're in a safe place. I'll also try to fly as fast as I can. So, don't think about anything stupid again, Kegan."
The earth fairy accelerated her flight speed after that. Although flying while carrying Kegan wasn't easy for Gaia, the earth fairy still tried to move as fast as she could.
"Hold on for a little longer, Aqua."
Gaia could only say that before continuing her journey back to the deepest part of the Audoran Forest.