It was a long journey ahead of them, but their carriage was swift, weaving through the barren lands of greenery. If you didn't look in time, you'd miss it in the blink of an eye.
Four horses galloped along the dirt road with Jean dozing off, lying atop his sleeping bag.
It's been three hours since they left the village, traversing the Northern Empire with haste.
Grimhild, as per usual, was reading a book, and studying about the world. She might have lived for over a thousand years, but it was good to refresh her memory; Yggdrasil was vast in its entirety after all.
During creation, there were only nine realms that existed across its hierarchy, known as Asgard, Vanaheim, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Helheim, Alfheim, Nidavellir, and Muspelheim.
Most realms belonged to a specific race, while Asgard belonged to the Pantheon of Elohim.
But one day, during the Amicable Age, another world appeared.
It transcended Asgard, existing above the hierarchy of the nine realms.
They called it Mundus, the gateway to other worlds.
Nobody knows how it appeared in Yggdrasil, but the nine realms accepted its arrival.
Grimhild read her book, skimming through irrelevant text until she ended up on a new chapter talking about the four empires of Tellus.
Midgard by itself is separate from the other realms of Yggdrasil. It's an endless universe, with many stars, and galaxies. The mortals in Midgard live on a planet known as Tellus.
The Five Legendary Heroes have an empire to themselves, with each one existing on a separate continent.
The Northern Empire belonged to the wielder of Arondight, Lancelot.
The Southern Empire belonged to the wielder of Galatine, Gawain.
The Western Empire belonged to the wielder of Failnaught, Tristan.
The Eastern Empire belonged to the wielder of Longinus, Percival.
The Medial Empire, stuck between the other four empires, belongs to the wielder of Excalibur, Arthur Pendragon.
Each empire dedicated its nation to specific studies. The Northern Empire was the land of magic, the Southern Empire was the land of technology, the Eastern Empire was the land of faith, the Western Empire was the land of swords... and the Medial Empire was the land of Heroes.
"The land of heroes? I see, a lot has changed in ten years. It used to be known as the land of nobles."
Crossing her leg, the horses slowly came to a stop.
"Master Grimhild."
The witch took note of their uneasy tones and gazed upon them. "What is it?" Closing her book, she stood up, summoning her staff.
"A group of knights are blocking the road."
"Run through them."
"I'm afraid we can't."
Grimhild lifted her brows, quite shocked at their statement, but she didn't scold them, as they must have reason for denying her command.
"Explain." Said the witch.
She was unable to see the knights (kilometers up ahead), but the horses had great ears, and phenomenal eyesight, allowing them to view the entire situation with ease.
"A horde of elementals are attacking their town, and they're blocking the roads to make sure no other adventurer enters."
"I see. Even after all these years, the elementals are still a threat to human life." Grimhild adjusted her hat, facing her horses, saying, "Carry on, I'll talk to them once we reach their roadblock."
"Yes, mam."
The horses continued their excursion until they made it up ahead, halting in their tracks.
Jean was still asleep, he must've been a heavy sleeper, but Grimhild disembarked the carriage nonetheless, approaching the worried group of knights.
"I-Is that the four horses of the apocalypse? Am I seeing things...!?" Shouted one of the fearful knights.
"She made a contract with powerful spirits, she's no ordinary girl...!" Said the other knight.
"I would like to pass into this territory." Asked Grimhild.
"We're sorry, young lady, but Brundil Town is being attacked by Earth elementals, it's too dangerous to proceed. Please return to your abode at once." A brave, honorary knight stepped forward, unafraid of the spiritual horses.
"Is that so?" Stoic as ever, Grimhild lowered her brows, saying, "I'm sure you three heard of the four horses of the apocalypse, hm?"
"Huh? What are you getting at?" Asked the honorary knight.
"It would be a shame to burn your bodies with the flames of the spirit world..." A sinister glee filled Grimhild's eyes. "I heard that spirit flame burns away your body, and soul, preventing you from reaching the afterlife, and I'm certain you three men are eager to ascend to Valhalla after death, no?"
The brave knight didn't falter until he saw the look in Grimhild's eyes.
She was serious... which sent shivers up his spine.
"Y-You're being for real?"
"L-Let her pass! It's not worth it, man!" Said the coward knight.
"Y-Yeah, there's no way in hell I'm gonna stop her from going though, just let it be!" Said the other weakling knight.
"You're willing to kill three men, just to run into danger? Are you mad?"
"You humans are too weak to deal with elementals even after all this time, you should be ashamed of yourself."
The brave knight mutated his expression into a frown, angry at her words.
"So, you aren't human? That tells me a lot about you, mage." Proclaimed the knight. "Do not look down on mankind, we may be weak, but we have an indomitable spirit that no race can hope to achieve."
"Fumu." Grimhild snickered at his words. "Well, aren't you the golden apple in a basket of red. What's your name?"
"I am... Siegfried."
"Siegfried?"
"Aye." He nodded.
"...I see." Grimhild looked confused as if something was wrong, but she shrugged it off. "My name is Grimhild Yorgana, let me handle the problem in your town, and I'll be off."
"Are you certain? You're strong enough to defeat an elemental?" Asked Siegfried.
"Such a foolish question to ask when you see the four horses of the apocalypse behind me."
"Oh..." Siegfried glanced at the spiritual animals before stepping to the side. "Please be careful, Grimhild Yorgana."
"Likewise."
The witch walked past the cowardly knights as the horses followed behind her, neighing at the fainthearted men.
"Eeek! Don't eat me, please!"
"I want my mommy!"
They both cried like little girls, and one even shat their pants, getting a laugh out of the four horses.
"W-Wait a second, did those horses just laugh at us?"
"They're spirits, you dumbass, of course, they did- wait, what's that smell?"
Carrying onwards, the petite witch embarked on the carriage with the sleeping Jean, smiling at his adorable position. The four horses took their time approaching the town and preparing for the elemental creatures nearby.
"Elementals are magical creatures who embody a force of nature. It's dangerous to approach them without caution, so be careful."
The Earth Elementals are most common in Midgard, carrying out the force of Mother Nature by growing entire forests, and ensuring balance for all life.
Just walking on solid ground was dangerous, because they reigned supreme over the earth, hence their name.
"We're nearing Brundil Town, Master."
"Alright, stop here, I'll take care of the rest."
They followed orders, before Grimhild casted magic, saying, "Flonta." She took flight, approaching the town from above, and holding onto her hat.
The entire place was abandoned.
The townspeople must've evacuated early, given that there were no corpses lying around.
Slowly descending onto the pavement, Grimhild remained stoic, searching the town all around her.
There were no signs of life or any elementals nearby. It was just an empty town, with minor damage here and there.
"Hm?"
But something stopped Grimhild in her tracks; she noticed the smallest change in the atmosphere, alerting her senses. Before she knew it, pillars of rock shaped in the form of spears would shoot from the ground, aiming at her back. But it was quickly stopped by a barrier.
"She casted Gilfronta at the last second!"
An elemental appeared from thin air, as the others did the same.
They appeared as glowing, humanoid figures, shining with a green light.
Some were featureless, while others had a resemblance to humans.
There were at least hundreds of them surrounding the town.
"Using magic to conceal your presence? I see that you Elementals are experienced in the art of combat. How rare." Monotone as ever, Grimhild turned around, facing the horde of entities.
"We've come to annihilate this human town for their irredeemable acts of destroying our home!" Shouted an elemental.
"I'm guessing they chopped down a few trees and harvested fruits and vegetables from the forest." Said Grimhild.
"What? How did you know? You're an outsider!"
"Honestly..." Grimhild sighed. "Humans have the right to harvest food, and resources, isn't the whole purpose of nature to provide?"
They scowled at her words.
"It was our territory, they should've looked elsewhere! We won't idly sit back and let them take what was ours!"
"So... your method of revenge is killing them?" Asked Grimhild.
"Yes. They killed the trees, so they deserve a just death!"
"I'm afraid not. I'll be the one to give them what they deserve. Only I decide the Justice of the innocent and the wicked."
"You insolent mage! You speak as if you're some sort of God!"
Grimhild lifted her hand, casting a magic circle.
"Don't compare me to some measly God."