Smoke billowed from the spot where Charlotte's spell had struck, rising in thick, curling tendrils that seemed to stretch toward the sky. It all happened in the blink of an eye, yet time felt as if it had stretched out like the world was holding its breath just before impact. First, there was the flash of light, blinding and pure, so bright that it swallowed the surroundings whole. Then came the shockwave, a deep, resonant thrum that rattled the very ground beneath them.
The explosion followed almost instantly, a deafening roar that tore through the air and shook the earth. The sound lingered an almost tangible force that pressed against the ears, ringing and vibrating as if the heavens themselves had decided that this place must be erased. It was as though the gods had claimed the land, the spell had been more than just magic, but a reckoning, swift, unyielding, and without mercy.
A Divine Judgement...
"Charlotte!!!" The mages called out to the girl, who had collapsed to her knees. She had just cast an obliteration spell, an original technique she had created by combining four elements to trigger a reaction akin to a bomb. The immense amount of mana required for such a spell had drained her completely, leaving her immobilized. Her face was pale, her body drenched in sweat, and her skin burning from the heat, clear signs of mana exhaustion.
Mana is akin to the life force, an energy that flows through all living beings. It sustains the body, fuels magic, and powers the very essence of existence. However, this energy is not infinite. Exhausting one's mana entirely can be dangerous. When depleted beyond a certain point, the consequences are dire: what was once a vibrant, functioning body becomes frail and vulnerable. In such a state, exhaustion can lead to more than just weakness; it can tip the balance between life and death, with no guarantee of survival if the mana is not replenished in time.
"Hold on," Pristina urged, her voice steady but urgent as she held out a vial. The liquid inside shimmered with an eerie glow. "Drink this. It'll help."
Charlotte, barely able to lift her head, glanced at the mana potion. It was meant to restore a portion of her energy, but right now, it felt like little more than a lifeline in a storm. She reached for the vial with trembling hands and drank the contents slowly, savoring the fleeting warmth that spread through her veins. Her vision cleared for a moment, but it wasn't enough. The familiar buzz of magic in her body felt distant, as if muted. She could feel it deep within her bones: her strength was gone, and with it, her ability to fight.
"Mm... Thanks," Charlotte murmured, her voice a faint whisper as she leaned back against the cold stone wall behind her.
Vera, who had been standing a few paces away, exhaled sharply. "I just hope that ended it." Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a subtle tension Charlotte couldn't ignore. She watched as Vera scanned the horizon, eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable.
But it didn't take long for Charlotte to see it too, movement among the enemy forces. Not all were down. They were still stirring, shifting in the shadows like ghosts, ready to strike again.
"I don't think it will be that easy," Vera added quietly, her gaze never leaving the battlefield.
Weak and disoriented, Charlotte reached out, her hand shaking as she grabbed the edge of Vera's dress. She wanted to say something, anything, but her throat felt tight. Words failed her.
Vera glanced down at Charlotte, but didn't speak immediately. There was a long moment of silence between them, and for just a moment, Charlotte felt the weight of the world pressing down.
Vera seemed to read her thoughts. Without a word, she turned back to the battlefield, her posture firm and commanding. "Those who are still able to move, get the heavily injured to the mansion," she ordered, her voice cutting through the air with authority. "We can't stay here. Move quickly."
Her eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp precision, taking in every detail. The chaos around them hadn't abated; if anything, it was growing. It was clear that Vera was already planning their next move, preparing for the next wave, even as the ruins brought down by the giant rock lay around them.
Charlotte let go of Vera's dress, her fingers slipping away, but the feeling of helplessness clung to her like a second skin. She closed her eyes briefly, fighting to steady her breath.
"Everyone, it's not over yet!" she called out, her voice strong and commanding as she looked down at the knights and adventurers gathered below the wall. "We will take the fight inside the walls," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Vera knew what Charlotte was capable of, wielding such powerful magic. She had expected the enemy to be devastated and retreat after taking the Extinction Nova head-on. But it seemed she had been wrong. The enemy now injured like wild animals had only grown and looked more desperate. She had no idea how many were still left, and she couldn't risk fighting in the open field. They would have to fight where they had the advantage.
Vera slowly removed her glasses, her fingers lightly brushing the lenses as she carefully tucked them into a hidden pocket inside her dress. The action was deliberate, almost reverent, as though the glasses held more significance than just a mere tool for sight.
Strapped to her leg, just beneath her skirt, was a mask. She reached down, her movements precise, and fastened it securely to her face. The mask, sleek and dark, seemed out of place, but she paid it no mind. What was truly peculiar, however, was the fact that it had no visible holes for eyes to peer through, leaving one to wonder how she could see at all.
CLANK!!!
The sharp sound of magic colliding with a blade rang out, piercing the chaos. It happened so quickly that no one had managed to react in time to cast a barrier, no one except one. With swift precision, she effortlessly parried the incoming lightning magic with her blades. Her mask was a sight to behold, an enigma that made it all the more baffling how she had managed to counter such a fast and powerful attack.
"They're moving," Vera said, her eyes narrowing. "Move back, we'll lure them inside."
Meanwhile, there's an unspoken question lingered in everyone's mind: 'Why aren't these two part of the Heroes' Party?'
...
"Let this current strike swift and true. Lightning Pierce!" The chant echoed as Argentt unleashed the spell, a seamless fusion of Wind and Fire elements that formed a blazing bolt of concentrated lightning. The air crackled with energy, a testament to his mastery. Argentt, a wielder of three elements, was renowned for his unparalleled skill in magic compounding, a feat that only a handful could achieve.
"We're advancing." His voice was firm, cutting through the tension. Despite the devastating loss they had just endured, retreat was not an option. They were too deeply committed to turn back now. Victory was so close, he could almost taste it.
In his mind, failure was unthinkable. "I am a Luger," he muttered to himself, his resolve hardening. "And a Luger always wins."
...
"Hhhhhh..." Vera inhaled deeply, her chest rising as she drew in the cool air, followed by a soft "haaaah" as she exhaled, trying to steady her nerves. The atmosphere around her had grown unbearably tense, the world seeming to pause in a heavy silence, as though time itself had slowed. The crackling of fire, and the smell of burning wood, all faded into the background. Like the gray world. all that remained was the rhythmic sound of her own breathing, each inhales drawing her deeper into focus.
Her vision was obscured by the mask, with no eyeholes, and no clarity, but, this was no hindrance. In fact, it sharpened her other senses, turning them into tools of razor precision. The vibrations of the earth underfoot, the distant clang of steel meeting steel, the faint hum of magic that permeated the air, everything became clearer with each controlled breath. It was as if the world had transformed into a tapestry of sound and sensation, each thread pulled taut under her command.
What could she be thinking in this stillness? What was going through her mind, so calm and focused in the heart of such chaos? Only she knew.
"Captain," a knight's voice broke through the still darkness, it was low but urgent. "The enemy forces are advancing quickly, setting fires everywhere. The mages have retreated to the mansion, the adventurers are circling around the town, and the remaining knights have scattered for guerilla tactics," he said in a single sentence.
They were hiding now, crouched in the shadows of the burnt houses, their breaths shallow as they waited for the perfect moment to strike.
Agatha was a walled city, its layout a labyrinth of twisting streets and narrow alleys, each building seemingly designed to disorient those who didn't know it well. The enemy might have thought they had the upper hand, but it was they, their own forces, who had memorized every corner, every hidden passage. It was a map etched into their minds, a terrain they had learned to navigate long before the conflict had even begun.
Now, they would use that knowledge to their advantage.
The enemy, too sure of their strength, too eager to press forward, would soon find themselves trapped in a maze of their own making.
"Hhhhhh..." Vera drew in another breath, steady and deep, followed by an equally deliberate exhale. The command she had issued earlier, distant now, was still ringing in her ears. But even in the face of this shifting tide, Vera's expression remained unreadable, her focus unshaken.
What was she planning? What was going on in her mind?
Only Vera could know. And in this moment, she wasn't about to share it with anyone.
Then, it came, the sound. A subtle shift in the air, a pressure change, like the calm before a storm. And with it, the unmistakable clatter of heavy footsteps, armor scraping together with each step, each one deliberately measured. The air felt thick, charged with the weight of their approach.
Seven enemy soldiers were coming from the right.
Vera's voice broke the stillness. "Don't die," she said, the words as calm as ever, but firm, unmistakable. It was the command they'd been waiting for, the signal to move, to act. There was no fear in her tone, only certainty.
At that moment, something stirred. Not in the ranks of their enemies, but within their own. A monster, once slumbering, now began to wake. The air around them seemed to shift as if the earth itself had sensed it.
Her name…
Loveria, the commoner.
And also…
The Absolute Blade, Vera.
...
"Hey, your name is Vera, right?" A strange woman approached me as I was eating lunch.
Today marked the first day of this year's academic term. At the age of twelve, all nobles are required to enroll at the Royal Academy, a prestigious institution where they train and refine their skills, all to serve the Kingdom's needs.
'Strange' that was the only word I could think of to describe her. Bearing the unmistakable mark of the hero, she was also the princess of this kingdom. A hero and a princess? What a charmed life she must lead.
"I think you're mistaken, Your Highness. My name is Loveria. I don't have a last name, so please excuse my manner." I replied, setting my food aside, and greeting her with practice movement. It is a common thing for the nobles to introduce themselves using their complete names.
Being the only commoner enrolled in the Royal Academy was a challenge I still hadn't fully adjusted to. The stares, the whispers, the constant reminders that I didn't belong, they were all things I had learned to endure. It had been a while since anyone had taken the time to talk to me, much less someone like her. To think the princess herself would be the one to do so
What could she probably want from someone like me?
"Huh? Strange, I thought your name was Vera. That's how they called you back then." She pressed a finger to her temple, clearly unconcerned by the correction. "Whatever. Join my party," she said, her tone casual as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
Her party. The heroes' party, the elite of the elite, destined to confront the demon lord and claim glory for the kingdom. It was the dream of nearly everyone at the academy. There was a time when it crossed my mind, going on adventure, defeating demons, proving my existence as somebody. To become someone, to be recognized, to have the same value as them.
"You're strong, right?" she continued, her sharp gaze fixed on me. "I saw your match with the Elf Hero, that was awesome. To think that a normal human was able to match a hero, I was holding my breath the whole time." excitedly, she said.
Behind her, the two people flanking her, likely her companions, looked at me with barely veiled disdain, their expressions speaking volumes about how they felt about my presence. It's like everyone else.
But the princess didn't seem to care. "Join my party," she repeated as if it were a foregone conclusion.
'I feel... elated,' I thought, though I kept my expression neutral.
If only I could have that kind of glory.
"Since you're now a party member, you can call me Silica. Loveria, right? It's kind of hard to say... well, from today, your name is Vera," she said excitedly, not even waiting for my answer. "Ah, I almost forgot. These two are Shiina and Cleo. We're going to have the best adventure to tell our grandkids!" Her lips curved into a smile, like sunlight parting the darkness of the night.
...
Just as quickly as they appeared, they were sent to the afterlife. Seven Caldris soldiers fell, victims to her blade.
"I will protect this place..." Vera murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. Her figure, now the embodiment of a feared nightmare, was soaked in the grim mixture of blood and rain. "My place."
Her silhouette blurred as she moved, her speed far beyond that of any ordinary human. In an instant, she changed position, quietly awaiting her next victim.