The Village of Goliath was hidden from the outside world by a Sigil placed in the middle of the village square, shrouding it in an invisible barrier.
Sigils were known to contain immense magical power, primarily coming from Mana Conversion.
It is common for Mana to be converted into different types of energy and or concepts.
Since Mana is solely Information Particles, it can have its information changed to create certain phenomena, like magic itself.
Magic is a literal concept in a tangible form that can be created by merging information particles together.
The concept of magic appears as a magic circle that can conjure spells and supernatural phenomena through one's willpower. Sigils were similar, though functioned differently.
Instead of converting mana into creating magic, one will convert it into creating a sigil.
These are symbols that operate from the collective desires that come from people's willpower, unlike magic circles that are solely limited to their caster.
The Golems of Goliath Village wished to be hidden from the outside world, which only fuels the sigil's power. As long as their collective desire is strong, the sigil will remain active, concealing them from the inhabitants of Midgard.
Grimhild and Chroliosa were guided by Samuel, who led them to the mansion in the Village Square. Many Golems glanced at the outsiders, while some were baffled to see Grimhild.
She must've had quite the reputation around here—
"So, you Golems use a Sigil to keep this village hidden?" Asked Chroliosa.
"Yes." Nodded Samuel. "As long as the Sigil remains, Goliath Village will be hidden from the outside world."
"How did you manage to come up with such a powerful Sigil?" Questioned the former spirit.
"Through the Goliath Network... though some Golems call it the Gulielmus Network." Proclaimed Samuel.
"I see." Chroliosa crossed her arms, slightly intrigued by their culture. "I'm assuming every Golem has this Network?"
Samuel shook his head.
"No, I'm afraid not, only the sentient Golems possess this network. But with it, we can transfer information to one another via electromagnetic waves, allowing for long-distance communication."
"Interesting..."
Samuel chuckled.
"Ahahaha! Yes indeed! With shared information, we were easily able to build a powerful sigil fueled by our willpower!"
Desire, determination, logic, and reasoning, all of it was connected to willpower.
It was an all-encompassing force possessed by all living things that could shape the fabric of reality to their heart's desire. Mainly through manipulating mana, and other forms of information.
"Unlike your average magic circle, sigils are reliant on a collective." Said Grimhild.
"I've never used a sigil..." Claimed Chroliosa as they continued onwards. "It's far too complex."
"It's quite simple. Think of it this way; Magic Circles are empty, like a blank canvas, so a magician must paint the magic circle with their willpower by enforcing their desire onto it. This in return creates a spell."
All spells in the world of magic were desires created by magicians that would allow them to shape reality to their will.
"A spell manifests inside the magic circle and is dependent on the user's mana. It's essentially the spell's fuel. Certain spells vary depending on one's intelligence and willpower." Grimhild would cast a magic circle, conjuring flames above her hand. "The more you understand the concept of fire, the more potent your fire spell will be. That's why it is necessary to study the concepts you're trying to manifest with magic."
"And that is why I am proficient in the arts of Time Magic." Proclaimed Chroliosa. "It makes perfect sense."
Grimhild dissipated the magic circle.
"That is exactly why." She nodded. "A Sigil functions similarly to Magic Circles. It acts like a spell, except it's reliant on a collective who wants the same thing; in other words, desires."
"If everyone was to stop wanting the same thing, then our Sigil would disappear." Claimed Samuel.
"Perhaps I must study in the arts of Sigils..."
"That will be another time." Said Grimhild. "We've arrived."
Both Grimhild and Chroliosa were standing in front of Goliath Mansion which was guarded by two giant golems made out of rock and clay.
"Masa and Mune, these are the guests of Goliath." Samuel extended his hand, introducing the outsiders behind him.
"Guests of Goliath?" Masa and Mune glanced at each other. "Bwa ha ha! What makes you think we'll let these puny humans through?" Said Masa.
"Yeah, no way in Muspelheim they'll be allowed through!" Said Mune.
"...I was afraid this would happen." Samuel lowered his head, sighing.
"What's the problem?" Asked Chroliosa.
"Masa and Mune are reluctant to let anyone visit Goliath... mainly because-"
"Gwaaahhh!"
Both Golems suddenly fell unconscious, landing face first into the ground.
"What the..." Samuel turned around, realizing Grimhild was walking toward the door.
"Well? We don't have all day." Claimed the witch, glancing from behind.
"You knocked out Masa and Mune with magic...?" Questioned Samuel.
"Of course I did—they were in the way."
Chroliosa stepped over the Golems with a cringed expression, feeling slightly bad for them.
("How absurd. Both Masa and Mune are known to be the most fearsome Golems in Goliath Village. Their bodies can reflect all magic, and yet... she bypassed that?")
Samuel observed the sight before him, visibly baffled.
"You truly are one of a kind... Grimhild."
Samuel closed his eyes before giving a gentle bow of respect.
"I will handle these two if they are ever to awaken. Please take your time."
Grimhild nodded before opening the door and heading inside. Chroliosa followed in her footsteps, leaving Samuel behind.
"...I'm glad Grimhild is on our side." Said Samuel with a look of relief.
+
"Conditions to a duel?" Lancelot was sitting on his throne, face to face with one of his knights.
"Y-Yes sir! A delivery owl by the name Zarutha arrived not too long ago, delivering this letter directly to you." The knight extended his hands before bowing his head out of fear.
"Hmm?" Lancelot took the letter, unfolding its contents.
There was an eerie silence as the knight before him shook inside his knees, barely able to stand.
"Pwa Ha Ha Ha!!" Lancelot threw his head back in a laugh.
The guards surrounding his throne glanced at their king, puzzled by his tittering.
"So, the Witch of Destruction wants me to cease my actions around Mesnil, does she?" Lancelot neatly folded the letter, placing it on his lap. "And if I don't, she won't participate in the duel?" He grinned wide as ever. "Well then, how can I refuse?" She leaves me with no choice."
"Sir?" Questioned the knight.
"From now on, there will be no more starvation, poverty, homelessness, and death. I will cleanse the streets of my Kingdom, and lower taxes, as long as it pleases this Witch."
"B-But sir... we need to keep taxes increased for our army! At this rate, Nosferatu will overrun us! N-Not to mention, Dracula's army has increased greatly in size, we will stand no chance—"
Before the knight could finish his rambling, he witnessed the world spinning in circles.
Everything felt like a dream.
Soon he would realize that his head fell from his body, crashing into the floor.
"You dare oppose me?"
Lancelot frowned.
"Who do you think you are, lowly knight? I am your king! And I am one of the Five Heroes of Yggdrasil! My word is absolute! Your opinion means nothing." He stood up from his throne and slammed his foot into the knight's head, caving in their skull.
Brains splattered across the ground with the guards turning away in disgust. It was a gruesome sight.
"I will do whatever it takes to duel with Grimhild—no matter the cost—is that understood?"
The guards around the throne room nodded their heads.
"Good. Now then, someone clean up this mess, I don't want this fool in my sight, alive, or dead." He turned away, approaching his throne with a scowl.
A guard approached the dead knight, picking up their corpse, a bit shaken by what they had seen.
"Oh, and tell that delivery owl of hers that I've accepted the conditions for our duel."
Another guardsman nodded before following his orders without delay.
Leaving the castle, Zarutha was waiting on the parapet of the bridge, a bit anxious.
"You there, Delivery Owl."
One of the guardsmen approached him.
"King Lancelot has accepted the conditions of your master. Return to her and relay this information immediately."
"Oh, goodness, goodness! I was worried, that I was!"
Zarutha huffed a deep sigh of relief.
"Hm?"
"I thought you were gonna kill me!"
"..." The guard unsheathed his blade, pointing it at the owl. "Get on with your job before I slay you where you stand!"
Zarutha jumped in fear, nearly falling off the bridge.
"Eek! Calm down, will yah?! I'm getting to it!"
The owl flapped its wings, taking flight into the sky.
Quickly leaving Castle Secace, the delivery owl used Clairvoyance Magic, seeking out its master.
It could see a white, misty line that guided him toward Grimhild's location.
"That Sadistic Mage, she's too far away! Just what the Muspelheim does she need in Goliath Village? If it wasn't for our contract, I wouldn't have been able to sense her there." Zarutha sighed, picking up his speed.
"Sometimes I wish I could retire…"