The clearing through which the carriage passed was silent, enveloped by the morning freshness and the scent of the forest. Rygar took a deep breath, feeling the flow of mana around him, the subtle energy of nature intertwining with his own essence. His golden eyes fixed on the sturdy tree ahead, and he raised his hand, invoking the sacred power he had been trying to master for some time.
"Then our God grants grace to Mother Earth! I do this against the law of nature and give the foolish one the vengeance of Heaven! Exorcist's Rate."
A white light shone in his palm, condensing before shooting toward the tree. The beam struck the hard bark... and nothing happened. No cracks, no burn marks, not even a sign that anything had occurred.
"Hey, boss," Geese called from the side, leaning against a rock with a mischievous smile. "Isn't Divine Attack Magic only effective against spirits and incorporeal beings?"
Rygar lowered his hand and turned to him, crossing his arms. "That's what they teach, but I've been told many things about magic that were considered 'true' and turned out to be just theories from people too lazy to try new things. So, it doesn't hurt to test."
Geese let out a nasal chuckle. "Heh, fair enough."
Rygar's training never stopped for a single day, but he had many skills; if he wanted to improve, he had to dedicate time to specific ones. He had well-defined goals, and after listing his priorities, he set up his short-term training plan.
He was focusing his efforts on four main points: control over barrier magic, mastery of lightning, his problem with Touki, and, of course, Divine Attack Magic.
Lightning and barrier magic were progressing little by little. Lightning was naturally very difficult to control, and he had less talent in barrier magic compared to other magic classes. But he knew these two would be crucial if brought to an extremely high level.
As for Divine Attack Magic, so far, he had only managed to cast these spells without incantations after days of exhaustive attempts, and even then, only the most common elemental ones. Perhaps this meant his aptitude for Divine Attack Magic was also limited, but he was progressing. A small advance was better than stagnation. And this magic might be his only weapon against the Human God.
The most important thing, however, was the enigma of his Touki. Something inside him seemed blocked, preventing him from accessing his full potential. He had made countless notes, exploring different possibilities based on what Ghislaine had told him about his Touki—that it felt like that of a puppet.
Could it be Hitogami's influence? Could those dreams he sends me be interfering with my body and mind somehow?
Another hypothesis was that he had been marked by some unknown barrier during the attack on Milis. And, of course, there was the more subtle yet equally concerning possibility:
Could it be a subconscious fear? After losing control like that… could something inside me be afraid of it happening again?
There was no definitive answer yet, but at least he had a direction. And that was better than groping in the dark.
His thoughts were interrupted when his ears picked up an almost imperceptible sound. A murmur, a subtle slide of feet over dry leaves. He raised his eyes. They were almost out of the last clearing before reaching West Port—this was their last stop before heading straight there. The air carried a different weight, a tension disguised by the artificial stillness.
Presences.
Hundreds of them, hidden in the forest's shadows, spread out in strategic positions. He could feel their gazes, their controlled breaths, some even hesitant. Although well-trained, not all of them were experts at remaining invisible to Rygar's keen senses, even from a distance.
He glanced to the side, where Lilia was feeding Aisha some kind of porridge from a recipe Geese had given her. The little girl played absentmindedly with her food, completely unaware of what surrounded them. The sight brought a slight smile to Rygar's face.
Well… this is a great opportunity to show off for Lilia. She knows I'm strong, but she hasn't seen it with her own eyes yet. Maybe this will convince her.
His anxiety, which had been building up due to the absence of the assassins mentioned by Hitogami, began to fade. Finally, something interesting was about to happen.
He then spoke to everyone.
"There's an ambush just ahead. Probably assassins sent by Milis, considering how well they've hidden just for a carriage. They must know about all of us. This is more dangerous than usual, and they likely won't be ordinary enemies—not like the bandits and thieves that attacked us on the road."
A tense silence fell over the group. Eris furrowed her brow, her fists clenched. Before she could say anything, Rygar continued:
"Eris, Lilia, Aisha, Geese, Skoll, and Eidar, you stay behind."
Eris's eyes widened in clear indignation.
"What? I can fight! I—"
"No, Eris." Rygar's voice was firm, non-negotiable. "There are too many of them, and several won't be easy opponents for you since many of them are advanced-level warriors. One mistake could cost you your life. Only Ghislaine and I will go this time, and that's not up for debate."
Eris was frustrated and looked at Ghislaine. Seeing that she said nothing, she gritted her teeth, her fists trembling with frustration. Deep down, she knew Rygar wasn't speaking out of arrogance. He didn't underestimate her; he simply evaluated the situation logically. And logic dictated that she wasn't strong enough to support them in battle, even though fighting was the one thing she was 'good' at.
"Tsk!" She turned her face away, crossing her arms.
Rygar continued unfazed:
"Eidar, Eris, and Skoll will be responsible for protecting the group."
Eidar nodded silently, his sharp eyes analyzing the surroundings. Skoll let out a grunt, as if he understood the order. Eris just muttered under her breath.
The silence was broken by Aisha's childish voice.
"Big brother is going to beat up the bad guys?"
Rygar walked over to her and lightly ruffled her hair with a smile.
"That's right, little one. Always remember this: if you stand out, there will always be people against you. No matter what side you're on, people will get in your way. And that's when you show your ferocity."
Aisha giggled, clearly not fully understanding, but enjoying the answer. Lilia, however, watched the scene with a complex look. Rygar noticed but didn't comment.
He then turned his gaze to Ghislaine.
"You shouldn't have any problems in the fight, but be careful with poison. There are still many I can't cure. If you sense any unusual smell or feeling, fall back."
Ghislaine nodded, her expression determined.
They then moved to another location, a higher vantage point. The silence of the forest grew denser, heavier. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
Rygar and Ghislaine exchanged a glance. Without further words, each one advanced in a different direction.
---
POV: Lilia Greyrat
I stood at the front of the carriage, feeling the weight of the sword hilt at my waist. My gaze shifted to the side, where Eidar stood at the ready, his hand resting on the grip of his own blade. He looked relaxed, but I knew his attention was entirely focused on the surroundings.
Behind us, Eris was training alone. Her strikes were fast, impulsive, filled with frustration. It was clear she wasn't happy about being left behind.
Skoll, on the other hand, was lying on the ground, scratching himself and rolling around, completely indifferent to the tension in the air. Some people would find it unsettling, but after spending enough time with him, it was actually kind of cute.
If someone had asked me two months ago if I expected to be traveling with a group like this, I would have definitely said no.
After all, here I was, accompanying a noble from the Boreas Greyrat family who, at just ten years old, was already an Advanced-ranked swordswoman. A Sword King. The leader of the Iron Legion. A Water Saint. An S-rank adventurer, Geese Nukadia. And, of course, an Ebony Wolf considered an A-rank monster.
Would this group be considered normal anywhere in the world? I was almost certain the answer was no.
I had made the decision to return to Fittoa, believing my journey would be extremely dangerous. I was prepared to make sacrifices for my daughter's well-being. And from the very beginning, the trip had proven to be just as dangerous as I had feared.
But now, watching these figures around me, I realized that perhaps I had become involved in something far greater than I had imagined.
And as my thoughts wandered, the forest around us remained silent.
And I knew that silence would soon be shattered by the sounds of battle.
A flash of lightning illuminated the clearing, briefly revealing the silhouettes of the combatants. The thunder roared through the night, followed by the clash of steel against steel. The moment the battle began, several figures emerged from the shadows. Black hoods concealed their faces, and their mercenary attire made it clear they were trained assassins. However, against Rygar and Ghislaine—who moved like fleeting shadows amid the chaos—they had little hope of resistance.
Lilia and the others were positioned on higher ground, allowing them to watch the battle unfold from a distance. Lilia tightened her grip on her sword, conflicting emotions rising in her chest. It was strange being part of this group. They were never caught off guard, never fell into traps. Not once had Rygar or Ghislaine failed to detect an enemy before an ambush was sprung. Their senses were on a level Lilia had never seen before, not even in the royal castle of Asura. Furthermore, both of them had eyes capable of seeing mana flow through the air, allowing them to predict movements and anticipate attacks.
As she observed Rygar, she felt a weight settle in her mind. He wasn't just an exceptional warrior—he had mastered all the major sword styles, was a King- and Saint-level mage in multiple schools of magic. Furthermore, he had created an organization at just six years old, which was now renowned in Milis. And he was only eleven. As much as she wanted to ignore it, she had to admit it: he might be even more talented than Rudeus Greyrat, whose only true talents were his above-average intelligence and magic.
The leg she had once believed lost forever due to poison… he had healed it. She couldn't help but think—if she had still possessed her original strength from her time as a royal guard, if she hadn't spent so long without training… would she really have to worry so much about the journey back to Fittoa? At the very least, it wouldn't be so easy for others to take advantage of her and her daughter, as had happened before.
She sighed, pushing the thoughts away. Beside her, Aisha clapped her hands excitedly, watching as Rygar's streaks of fire and lightning tore through the sky.
"Big brother is amazing!" the girl exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.
Lilia glanced at her daughter. It was impressive how Aisha saw Rygar. But it made sense. For a child, it was hard not to admire someone who had saved her, who had saved her mother, who treated them both with kindness and respect, who constantly reinforced how talented and brilliant she was, always giving her attention. But it wasn't just that. Rygar had given Aisha something she had never truly had: a place where she wasn't judged.
In the Greyrat household, she had always been treated as the maid's daughter, even if Paul and Zenith didn't see her that way. Lilia herself had reinforced this, being strict with Aisha while favoring Norn.
And in the Latreia household… there, her daughter had only faced hostility, treated as an illegitimate child with no blood ties to the family.
But in this group, no one saw Aisha that way. None of them cared about her birth or status. They didn't allow Lilia to be as strict as she wanted, and they all seemed to agree that Aisha was incredibly talented.
In fact, throughout the journey, Rygar had proven this repeatedly. And over time, even Lilia began to see her daughter in a new light. She started to think deeply about it. Maybe… maybe Aisha could really do something great in this world. Once the thought took root, it was difficult to remove. And instead of fading, it grew more and more, uncontrollably.
Before Aisha was born, Lilia had decided that she would serve Rudeus. But circumstances were different now—she had no idea whether Rudeus, Paul, or Zenith were even alive.
She tried to find excuses for herself. If Aisha was really that talented, she could repay her debt to Rudeus more easily. Lilia could find Paul, Zenith, and Rudeus faster if Aisha trained under Rygar, since he had an organization helping him search. She could protect her better if she let him teach her. But deep down, these were just justifications for something she had already decided, even if she hadn't fully realized it yet.
Her eyes returned to the battlefield. There were assassins whose movements she couldn't even follow, yet Rygar defeated them with ease. The many techniques he had created shone in the heat of battle. His sword ignited with flames, lightning crackled from his hands, magical barriers materialized in an instant. He moved at speeds that bordered on the impossible. To the mercenaries, he was an untouchable demon.
And at that moment, as she watched Rygar fight, Lilia made a decision.
A decision that would change her life.
And Aisha.
Forever.
---
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