My name is Aella Mistveil. I am the princess of the Kingdom of Nefetari. Nefetari was once a kingdom of the Elf race, located in the Western Continent. But that was in the past—because now, the Kingdom of Nefetari has been utterly destroyed. Annihilated by the invasion of the Demon Race army.
At that time, my father, the 12th King of Nefetari, was murdered before my very eyes—right inside the royal palace. A general from the Demon Race army thrust his sword through my father's body, piercing him from the front. I screamed and cried as I witnessed everything. And in his final moments, my father chanted a spell and spoke to me,
"Aella... live... carry on the name of Mistveil that I have entrusted to you."
Then, he used the last remnants of his mana to cast a teleportation spell. My father saved me. He sent me to the border between the Northern Continent, the Southern Continent, and the Western Continent.
At that moment, I pounded my fists against the ground, crying, unleashing all my rage, helplessness, and sorrow. That day, my people, my friends, my family, and my kingdom were all taken away from me by the Demon Race army.
I had lost everything.
With nothing but hatred and a thirst for vengeance, I walked toward the Southern Continent—the territory of the Demon Race. I would kill him, the Demon King, with my own hands. My sanity had completely crumbled. I wandered through the Southern Continent, slaughtering every demon I encountered.
I did it all alone!
I had no idea how long I had been walking. How many times had the sun risen and set? How many weeks had passed? I didn't know. I simply kept moving forward, dragging my weary legs across the Southern Continent, consumed by my hatred and vengeance.
And then, she suddenly appeared before me.
She ran toward me. She grabbed my shoulders with both hands.
"Hey... are you okay? Why are you here all alone? Hey... answer me?"
What was this woman saying? Why was she asking about my condition? Did I look unwell in her eyes?
As those questions crossed my mind, my vision blurred. Everything turned dark. And faintly, I could hear the woman's panicked voice.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in an unfamiliar place. Above me was the ceiling of a tent. I looked around and realized I was inside some kind of emergency tent.
Then, the woman from before appeared from the tent's entrance. She stepped inside and spoke to me.
"You're finally awake, Miss Elf?"
And that woman's name was Estella Lightheart.
Estella was the princess of the Kingdom of Scathlan—a kingdom that frequently launched attacks on the Demon Race's territory in the Southern Continent. While other kingdoms turned a blind eye, Scathlan actively invaded demon lands. They were sworn enemies of the Demon Race, even though they were merely humans.
Despite being a princess, Estella was a general who personally led the assaults on the Demon Race's domain. She was a Magic Swordmaster of the Light Element—a warrior who wielded a sword infused with light magic. Her name was legendary, not only among humans and elves but even among demons, who feared her.
She was Estella Lightheart, the Saint of the Light Sword.
And only then did I realize that the woman who had saved me was none other than The Saint of the Light Sword herself.
She asked me why I had come to the Southern Continent, and I told her everything—the attack by the two Demon Race generals on my kingdom, my father's death, the teleportation magic that had sent me here, and my journey toward the Demon Kingdom to kill the Demon King with my own hands—to avenge my people.
Slap!
Suddenly, she struck my cheek, her face filled with fury.
"Are you stupid? Are you insane? Why would you walk through the Southern Continent alone? Do you think this is about avenging your family... your kingdom... your people? Don't use them as an excuse for your recklessness! Do you think your father used his last magic just so his daughter could do something this foolish? No! He wanted to save you! He wanted his only daughter to live! And yet, you... you're just throwing your life away. Wasting his sacrifice. Are you a fool?"
"Then what should I do?! Should I just sit back and do nothing? Should I pretend I don't care? What about this pain? What about this unbearable sorrow in my heart?! Then... what... what am I supposed to do?!"
I screamed in agony and despair. My tears flowed, mixed with the anger, hatred, and vengeance that burned inside me.
Suddenly, Estella embraced me. She cried with me. She held me tightly. I could feel the warmth of her body and her heart. And I sank into that warmth. I wept in her arms, letting go of my hatred, my vengeance, and... my desire to end my own life.
After that, I became a part of Estella's forces. I aided her in her battles against the Demon Race as a mage. Years passed, and Estella eventually got married. One day, she called me to her chamber in the Kingdom of Scathlan.
"Hey... Aella, come here quickly... come closer!"
I walked toward her quickly. She grabbed my hand and placed it on her stomach.
"Can you feel it? That little movement? It's my child, Aella. I am going to be a mother."
Her beautiful face was adorned with the most radiant smile.
"And? What did the priest who visited you yesterday say? Is your child a boy or a girl?"
"A girl... she's a girl, Aella!"
"Then... have you decided on a name for her?"
"Elena... Elena Lightheart. Isn't that a beautiful name?"
"Yes... it's a truly beautiful name. Estella... may I pray for your child? Since we have different beliefs, I want to ask for your permission first."
"Of course, Aella. I would be honored."
Then, I knelt down and prayed to Uriel, the Great Fairy Guardian of the Universe, asking for the happiness and safety of the child within Estella's womb. And after that, I bid farewell to Estella. I had decided to continue my journey alone, as an adventurer.
But...
In the end, I realized that my prayer was nothing more than meaningless words.
Years into my journey, I was devastated by the news that the Kingdom of Scathlan had been destroyed by a demon invasion.
Estella... are you alright?
I immediately rushed to Scathlan, but what I found was nothing but ruins. Where was Estella? What had happened to her?
It happened again!
I collapsed to my knees in grief and regret. Why did I decide to leave on my journey back then? If only I had stayed, I could have protected my friend, Estella.
Over ten years have passed since the fall of Scathlan. Now, I am a mother to five children whom I rescued from slavery, and I run an inn called Noctis Amor in Mildiesta.
But that day...
I met her—a girl who looked exactly like Estella.
And now...
As I walked alone in the Terradin Forest searching for medicinal herbs, a terrifying screech—one that unmistakably belonged to the Dragon Race—suddenly rang out. I immediately ran toward the sound and found the girl.
The girl who reminded me of Estella was lying there, powerless. Her condition was severe—no, she looked as if she was on the verge of death. The wound on her shoulder was so deep that her blood had completely soaked the ground beneath her motionless body.
This little girl had lost too much blood. It seemed she had been attacked by a wyvern. But… a wyvern in this forest? What exactly was going on?
Before I knew it, my body moved on its own.
I had always avoided battles between adventurers to keep my true identity hidden. But this time, I began chanting my magic. I wanted to save her—no, I had to save this girl.
"O prædati prædatores omnium silvarum, date mihi vires. Fac eos qui ante me steterunt sicut inimici timent potentiam tuam..."
(Oh spirits, rulers of all forests, grant me strength. Let those who stand before me as enemies tremble before your power...)
As I chanted my spell, the trees in the Terradin Forest roared wildly.
"Radices Vitae!"
(Roots of Life!)
In an instant, roots formed by my magic emerged from the ground, entangling the wyvern before me. With those roots, I dragged the beast away from the little girl—the girl who looked so much like Estella.
Then, I cast another spell in succession.
"Ignis Vita!"
(Flames of Life!)
This time, I summoned fire magic, forming a blazing sphere in the sky. I burned the ferocious wyvern with my flames.
After dealing with the wyvern, I slowly walked toward the girl.
In front of her lay a direwolf, breathing weakly. As I approached, the beast tensed and growled at me, as if trying to stop me from getting closer to the girl.
"Calm down, you foolish wolf… I'm here to save her too."
I furrowed my brows, deep in thought. How could such a dangerous monster be protecting this girl? This was strange.
Ignoring my doubts for now, I knelt beside her and chanted a healing spell.
"Mediocris Sanitatem!"
(Fairy Healing!)
The little girl looked at me in confusion, as if she wanted to say something.
"Don't worry, little miss, I'm here to save you. Rest now… and I'll save the Swordmaster who's with you too."
She seemed to relax a little, taking slow, deliberate breaths to calm herself. Before long, she closed her eyes.
Soon, I had successfully healed her severe wounds.
But—
A sudden, thunderous rumble echoed from behind me, as if the earth itself was splitting apart. At the same time, a disgusting, all-too-familiar laugh rang out.
"Ha… ha… ha… ha…!
Aella… Aella… Aella!"
I turned around. And there, standing before me, was a horrific, repulsive figure.
The woman who had destroyed my kingdom.
The woman who had slaughtered my family, my people, and my friends.
The woman who had brought grief and death across the Western Continent.
One of the six generals of the Demon Army.
A cruel woman from the Demon Race.
The Dark Witch—Lilith Nightshade.
Now, the mystery of why three wyverns had appeared in the Terradin Forest was solved. It was because of Lilith Nightshade's ability—"Beast Binding."
But this time…
This time, I would protect this girl.
The girl whose smile was as gentle as Estella's.
The girl whose face and eyes were as beautiful as Estella's.
The girl who awakened my longing for Estella—my friend, my savior.
I would save this girl, even if it cost me my life.
Yes… no matter what, I will save her.
***
Hello, dear readers…
Thank you for following Elena Fearis's journey until now.
The next episode will feature the battle between Aella Mead and Ryuji Honda against one of the Demon Army generals, Lilith Nightshade.
Will they be able to stand against a demon general powerful enough to destroy an entire kingdom? And what will become of Elena after this?
Find out in the next episode…!