My name is Aella Mistveil. I am a princess of the Nefetari Kingdom. Nefetari was an elven kingdom located in the Western Continent. That was before the demon army destroyed it completely.
At that time, my father, the 12th King of Nefetari, was killed by a demon general right before my eyes, within the Nefetari palace. The demon general's sword pierced and penetrated my father's body. I screamed in agony as I witnessed it all. In his final moments, my father chanted a magic spell and said to me,
"Aella... live on... carry on the Mistveil name that I have bestowed upon you."
Then, he used the remnants of his mana to perform a teleportation spell. My father saved me. He threw me to the border between the Northern, Southern, and Western Continents.
At that time, I pounded the ground in front of me while crying. I vented all my anger, powerlessness, and sadness. On that day, my people, my friends, my family, and my kingdom were all taken away by the demon army.
I had lost everything.
Consumed by rage and hatred, I journeyed towards the Southern Continent, the territory of the demons. I would kill him, the Demon King, with my own two hands. I had completely lost my sanity. I continued to walk through the Southern Continent, slaughtering every demon I encountered.
I did it all alone!
I don't know how long I walked. How many times the sun had risen and set. And how many weeks had passed. I just kept walking, dragging my two legs across the Southern Continent. To vent my hatred, my vengeance.
And that woman suddenly appeared in front of me. She ran towards me and grabbed my shoulders with her hands.
"Hey... are you alright? Why are you here alone? Hey... answer me?"
What was that woman saying? Why was she asking about my condition? Did I look unwell to her?
As all these questions crossed my mind, my vision suddenly faded. And everything went dark. Vaguely, I heard the woman's panicked voice.
Some time later, I don't know how long it had passed, I opened my eyes. And I saw the roof of a tent. When I woke up, I realized that I was in a tent. And my body was lying on a bed inside the tent.
Then the previous woman appeared from behind the tent door. She entered and greeted me.
"You're awake, Elf Ojōsan?"
And that woman's name was Estella Lightheart.
Estella was the princess of the Scathlan Kingdom. A kingdom that always actively attacked the demon territories in the Southern Continent. While other kingdoms turned a blind eye, the Scathlan Kingdom was one of the kingdoms that always attacked the demon territories. They were the sworn enemies of the demons. Even though they were only humans.
Although she was a princess, Estella was a general who led attacks on demon territories. She was a Magic Swordmaster of the light element. It could be said that she was a swordswoman with light magic. Her name was very famous, both among the Human race and the Elf race. Even demons would tremble at the sound of her name.
Estella Lightheart, The Saint of the Light Sword.
I also realized that the woman who saved me was The Saint of the Light Sword herself.
Then she asked me why I was in the Southern Continent. And I explained everything, from the attack of two demon generals on my kingdom, Nefetari. The death of my father, the 12th King of Nefetari. The teleportation spell, me being in the Southern Continent. And then I walked towards the Demon Kingdom to kill the Demon King with my own two hands. To avenge my vengeance.
Slap!
Suddenly she slapped me angrily.
"Are you stupid? Are you crazy? Why are you walking alone in this Southern Continent? Is it to avenge your family... your kingdom... your people? Don't use them as excuses for your foolish actions. Do you think your father used his last magic just to make his daughter do this foolish thing? No! He wanted to save you. He wanted his only daughter to live. And you... you're trying to kill yourself. Wasting your father's sacrifice. Are you stupid?"
"Then what should I do? Should I just be silent, or indifferent? Then what about these painful feelings? What about the suffocating pain in my chest? Then... what... what should I actually do?"
I shouted in my anguish, in my sorrow. My tears flowed along with my anger, my hatred, and the vengeance in my heart.
Suddenly Estella hugged me. She cried with me. She hugged me very tightly. I could feel the warmth of her body. And the warmth of her heart. And I also dissolved in the warmth of her embrace. I cried in her embrace. Throwing out my hatred, my vengeance, and...
My desire to end my life.
After that, I became part of Estella's army. I helped her attack demon territories as a mage. Then several years passed, and Estella got married. Now, she asked me to visit her room in the Scathlan Kingdom.
"Hey... Aella come here quickly.. come here!"
I walked quickly towards her. She took my hand and placed it on her stomach.
"Can you feel it? That... wobble? It's my child, Aella. I've become a mother."
Estella smiled happily.
"Then what did the Priest who visited you yesterday say? So, is your child a boy... or maybe a girl?"
"A girl... she's a girl, Aella."
"Then have you chosen a name for her?"
"Elena... Elena Lightheart. Isn't that a beautiful name."
"Yes... it's a very beautiful name. Estella... can I pray for your baby? Because we have differences in beliefs and faith, so I ask your permission first."
"Of course, Aella, I'm very happy to hear that."
Then I knelt down and prayed to Uriel, the great fairy guardian of the universe. Praying for the happiness and safety of the baby in Estella's womb.
But in the end, I realized that my prayer was just a meaningless chant of words, meaningless.
A few months later, I said goodbye to Estella. I wanted to wander, to find another purpose in my life. And several years after my journey, I was shocked by the news that the Scathlan Kingdom had been destroyed by the demon army.
Estella... are you alright?
I immediately rushed to the Scathlan Kingdom. But all I found were scattered and irregular ruins. Where is Estella... What happened to her? This is happening again! I knelt in tears and regret. Why did I decide to go adventuring at that time? If I hadn't gone, I would have been able to protect my friend, Estella.
And afterwards, I continued my journey.
And now, I am the mother of five children whom I saved from slavery. I am an Elf innkeeper named Noctis Amor in Mildiesta. When I was curious about a human who had an aura of darkness, the characteristic aura of the Demon Race, who was in my bar at that time. I met her.
A little girl who looked very much like Estella.
Her voice, her eyes, and her gentle, beautiful face were very similar to Estella's. Who is this girl? At that time, I hadn't had time to ask her name.
Then now, as I walked alone in the Terradin Forest, I heard the terrifying screech of a dragon race. I immediately ran towards the sound and found that girl. The girl who reminded me of Estella was badly injured. No... she seemed to be on the verge of death. The wound on her shoulder was so severe that her blood was soaking the ground where her body lay helplessly.
Without realizing it, my body moved on its own. I, who always avoided the battles of adventurers to hide my true identity, was now chanting my magic spell. I wanted to save her, no... I had to save that girl.
'O mediocris, omnium silvarum ac universitatum rectores, mihi vires tuas praebe. Inimicum a facie mea timete.'
I began to chant my spell. And along with my spell, the trees in the Terradin Forest roared wildly.
"Radices vitae!"
I ended my spell. And the roots created from my magic emerged from the ground and entangled the body of the Wyvern in front of me. Then I pulled the body of the beast away from the little girl using my roots.
And I cast magic spells in succession,
"Ignis Vita!"
This time I cast fire magic and formed a fireball in the sky. And I burned the beast Wyvern with my fire magic.
Then I walked towards the little girl. The Direwolf that was lying helplessly seemed to be looking at me and growling. As if it was trying to stop me from approaching the little girl in front of me.
"Calm down, stupid wolf... I also want to save her like you."
After I said to the wild Direwolf, I began to cast my healing magic.
"Fairy Healing!"
The little girl looked at me with confusion. She seemed to want to say something to me.
"Rest easy, young lady, I'm here to save you. Rest... and I will also save your Swordmaster companion."
She tried to breathe slowly to regulate her breath. Soon after, she began to close her eyes. And I had healed her severe wounds with my healing magic.
But suddenly there was a loud rumbling of the ground behind me. As if the ground surface was splitting. And along with that, a disgusting laughter that I would never forget echoed.
"Ha... ha... ha... ha....!
Aella... Aella... Aella!"
I turned my body around. And, the terrifying and disgusting figure had appeared in front of me. She was the woman who had destroyed my kingdom, killed my family, my people, and my friends. She was the woman who brought tears and death throughout the Western Continent.
She was one of the six generals of the demon army. The cruel woman of the Demon Race. The Sorceress of Darkness, Lilith Nightshade. Now it was clear why three Wyverns could be in this Terradin Forest. Because that was one of the abilities possessed by Lilith Nightshade, 'Beast Binding'.
But this time I would protect her. Protect the little girl behind me. The little girl with a smile as gentle as Estella's. A face and eyes as beautiful as Estella's. The girl who awakened my longing for Estella, my friend, my savior. I will save her, even if I have to pay for it with my life.
Yes... I will definitely save her no matter what.