The fall of one is the Rise of another

[A/N: Before starting, please do note that Celes' current build is not fit for prolonged battles. This has been made clear in one of the chapters in volume 1 where she fought a demon with high tenacity. Her current inability to use magic circles and inefficient use of her mana holds back a lot of her combat potential. So a fight against a being that regenerates at a rapid pace is one of the worst opponents for her. Also, they're on a ship so she can't use a lot of powerful attacks without risking the ship's safety. This will come in importance later in this chapter.]

*****

"Finally, Lady Eraldine! And here I was worried you wouldn't show up, you really had me worried for a while. I even thought that maybe you didn't receive my invitation letter…" He paused as he looked at the twins. "Oh! Perhaps that is what happened! Dear me, you really should get better servants, milady. I can exchange some of mine for yours, what do you think?"

His smile would have annoyed me if it weren't for obvious reasons. Being unable to get angry and happened to come up with an idea, I retaliated instead.

"Please, Mister. Servants from your house must be just as incompetent as their master. And even if they weren't, there's just no chance I'm entrusting my daily necessities to fools coming from another. Now, if you'd excuse us," I said as I observed his face's color change from pale white into bright red. But before he could refute I shut him up, "Now, if you would so unkindly excuse us. We didn't come out here to watch you make a fool of yourself any more than you already have."

Wrapping my arms around Ahsa's right arm, I dragged us into a less crowded corner as I refused everything and everyone that was offered or made an offer.

"Young miss, was that really the best way to approach him? Even I know not to mess with the heir of a high-ranking noble…" Li said with a rare bit of intelligence for a muscle-brained.

I only stared at her in reply, confusing her even more. And making Lory confused as well. Though Lo seemed to realize that I am planning something. Though slightly lacking in strength compared to her twin, she more than makes up for it with her quick-wittedness. Perhaps putting a little more trust in these two won't hurt. I'm still stronger than both of them combined anyways if it ever comes to that.

And as if knowing that I'm done thinking, the ship racked as the captain made his presence known and shouted out loud.

"Forgive me for disturbing this silly party of yours but we're entering the red zone! If you don't want your noble buttocks killed by some monsters then get back to your rooms right now!"

Though annoyed by the captain's attitude, all passengers reluctantly returned to their rooms, including Celes and her group.

Red zones, if what those geography books said is true, then this will be the border between continental territories and the sea god's territory. A highly dangerous area filled with monsters from the deep sea that have been chased away by the sea god's people. Because they're unable to stay in the deeper parts of the ocean because of the sea god's people, and can't stay too near the water's surface, they're forced to stay in these zones which barely fits their needs. Well, just leave it to the experts and nothing problematic will happen. Hopefully that full-headed noble does as expected, or else this whole plan will turn busted. Well, it's not really important, so I guess that's still fine.

I hummed at myself and whispered.

"Still, it would be weird if he doesn't try anything, huh? After what I did, no doubt something interesting will happen during this voyage."

After peacefully returning to our room, I made a meal for us once again. I could tell that the twins and Lory wanted to eat some of the meals up there but couldn't because I forbade them to.

"Mistress, may I ask you something?" Ahsa beside me tugged on my elbow and asked.

"What is it? Make it quick, I'm cooking."

Though I said that, I'm still holding onto her hand even while cooking. She wouldn't have been able to ask me otherwise.

"Is mistress, isn't actually an elf?"

!?

Taken aback by the question, I immediately turned my head to look at her, and then at the three that had equally surprised looks on their faces, they all looked away as fast as I turned to stare at them.

"You three…" I started but instead turned to look at Ahsa, "This is an order, Ahsa. Tell me how you came up with that conclusion."

Seemingly noticed how serious this subject was to me, her voice shrunk as she stuttered and struggled to form a coherent sentence. giving her a saving grace, I cut her off.

"Calm down and answer properly, I'm not planning to punish you or anything." Now holding both her hands with mine, I reassured her.

"I-I saw mistress drink some red liquid earlier today. I was half-asleep at the time so I thought that maybe I'm just imagining things, but when I looked at the similar cup that you placed there at the table just now when we got back here, I smelled it without mistress noticing and thought that maybe…"

I understood what she wants to say but…

"That maybe? Tell me, Ahsa… what do you think am I, hmm?" Grinning slightly, I pulled her into an embrace by her waist and held her face by the chin inches away from mine.

(A little teasing won't hurt, right?)

Ahsa's face immediately turns red from the teasing as she, yet again, struggles to form a coherent sentence. But wanting for her to overcome this kind of teasing, I didn't stop, but I instead inched closer.

"Ahsa? Can you tell me what I am then?"

"I-I…"

"You're?"

"I t-think that mistress is…"

"Come on, you can say it, come on. Mistress is?"

Eyes visibly spinning, Ahsa shouts what she had been meaning to say. "I-I think that mistress is a v-VAMPIRE!" And then fainted right then and there.

"Eh… young miss, you went too far…" Li said as her sister humu'd to her statement.

"Dear me, so it seems… oh well, I'll take care of her, you three just do whatever for the rest of the night."

Li just decided to sleep there on the couch while her sister Lo put a blanket on her and sat there continuing to read whatever "How to take care of a Vampire volume 2" is. Lory just stared at me as I carried Ahsa to our bedroom.

"Is there a problem, Lory?" I asked.

"No, it's just. You've changed, I think. Aside from the teasing, you seem brighter than you usually are. Smiling more often outside of teasing us… I'm happy that my little sister is showing more of herself though, so don't get me wrong…"

(Ah, right. She still doesn't know, here I thought that the twins have already blabbered at her about it… perhaps I can truly trust them?)

I smiled at her and said, "Don't worry about it, elder sis. I'll tell you more about me tomorrow or when we get to Hyuu continent."

"Ah, by the way… the steak is burning…" I heard her whisper but ignored her completely. Lo will deal with it.

*****

And with that, with Ahsa sleeping peacefully in my arms, I prepared for us to sleep. Though I would have preferred that a man in black didn't suddenly open the window to our room and jumped at us as soon as I got us comfortable on the bed.

Immediately going into action, I released my mana and filled the whole room with it, and immediately materialized dozens of water spears and arrows along with ice spears and ice arrows. The man froze as I instantly cornered him with ice spikes coming from the floor and making the spears float near his throat.

:MP:2295/3283:

Not stopping there, I cast a reinforced barrier on Ahsa and myself. Then before the poisoned knife he threw could reach me, I slowed down its speed and grabbed it mid-air before it could fall to the ground and threw it outside the window he came in from. The man seemed to want to pull out another so I sealed any of his movements with ice chains and held him a foot up from the floor.

:MP:1832/3283:

I did all of this in under five seconds. Only after all this precaution did I finally speak.

"An assassin? That makes sense, there are a lot of nobles on board, after all. It wouldn't be strange if at least one of them had a target on their head, but to think that I would be one of them. How brave though, to attempt an assassination on me now. Attempts such as this are best done with more than one person, and you did it alone. Here on the red zone, nonetheless." I analyzed what information there is.

Having noticed that his jaws were slightly moving, I immediately ran up to him as I ripped the mask off his face, and shoved my hand into his mouth, forcefully holding it open.

"No suiciding in my room now, you oh-so-sneaky little assassin. We have a lot to talk about and I'm not letting you sleep tonight, we also can't do it without your tongue so no biting it off, okay?"

After that, I curled up a handkerchief and forcefully shoved it into his mouth while his shouts were muffled behind the handkerchief, I sealed it with ice magic.

"Lo! Get in here with your weapon! Li! Call for the captain and inform him that we've been attacked! Be careful with your way out! Lory! Get your bow as well and get ready for anything that might come at us."

Lo and Lory arrived no more than five seconds later with some rushed footsteps from outside the door with their respective weapons.

"What's the situation?" Lory asked, gone was her silly demeanor, replaced with the aura of a hunter that she is.

"Neutralized, you can put those down now," I replied as she slightly lowered her bow and released her grip on the string.

"I will go and get ropes," Lo said beside her before heading for our baggage in the living room.

After she got the ropes, I lowered the man onto the floor and tied him up in a way that gave him no room to either squirm around or attempt an escape. A minute later after we did that I sucked back my mana into my body and embraced the comfortably sleeping Ahsa, the captain then, along with some others and Li, came knocking into our room.

"Excuse us!" He said as he took off his sailor's hat and ran into our room.

He then proceeds to inspect the room and analyze what happened.

"Your maid informed us that you have been attacked, is this guy the assailant?" He asked as he walked to the guy we tightly tied up.

"Yes. That person appeared after I was just about to take a rest."

"I see. That girl? Was she attacked?" He concernedly looked at Ahsa whom I was hugging.

"No. She's just passed out from exhaustion. Don't worry about her and proceed to extract information from that guy already. And since we're the ones attacked, do it here." I hugged Ahsa tighter as I stated so.

Though he looked unconvinced and somewhat reluctant he still proceeded to tie the person onto a chair.

"Ahh, before I start with this… you," he pointed at one of the men he came in with and said, "Go tell the captain what happened here, that one of our guests was attacked and that he should announce it to the rest of the guests and tell their guards to be on guard. Also, my lady, I am Serf the vice-captain, not the captain." We watched the man leave as he brought another chair from the side, now sitting in front of the assassin, and started the interrogation.

"But wait, security is one thing, but shouldn't we keep this information to ourselves so we could use it against the person or people behind this attempt on my life and take them off guard?" I asked the vice-captain.

"Yes, that's true." He turns around and continues, "But my lady you see, my job is to safely get this ship's passengers to the Hyuu continent, not catch some mischievous nobles or whatnot, and they might not even be here. Consider that for a moment, I'm a sailor, not a knight guard." He fiercely said.

"Point taken…" I nodded but also whispered, "Well, I can always just take the whole ship hostage if the worst happens…"

"Eh?"

"Hm?" Hearing a sudden unfamiliar voice, I immediately reacted to it.

(That couldn't have been my imagination, no. I'm not going down that cliched route…) I thought as I looked at the broken windows.

(Magic vision does not seem to react to it but… what's this feeling?) So with that thought in my mind, I released my mana.

…

(That didn't seem to work either… but there's definitely something…) Then as if a switch was flipped, I suddenly felt what seem to be some kind of weird flow my mana takes when it passes through that object that I can't see.

The mana flow, whenever it passes through that area it flows straight, completely, only flowing forward and backward. It wouldn't budge even if I willed it to when it's in that area, only after makes it exits it that I regain control… like when I tried to take over the mana flowing through a casted magic circle but stronger…

(There's something there!) And as I made my conclusion, suddenly a blurred silhouette of a person appeared right where that weird magic phenomenon was happening.

"What the heck!?" And I once again heard that unfamiliar voice I heard earlier.

So being the cautious vampire I was, I immediately released a third of my remaining mana and flooded the room with it before casting spells.

:MP:1289/3283:

First off, layered barriers. The opponent managed to get past my senses and mana vision, they must be a speed type that relies on hitting vitals and ambushes while having little actual strength behind their strikes.

:MP:1091/3283:

No, scratch that, always assume that the opponent is stronger than yourself when they manage to get past your senses! It's fine to try and deduct things but I can't rely on everything that I see on the surface. Who knows what kind of skills they may have?

Ignoring the surprised faces of the people in the room, I cast another barrier but this time around the blurred person. Not finished yet, I encased it in a thick ice boulder and froze the figure up to what seemed to be its mouth.

:MP:893/3283:

And sure enough, the figure was stuck there and its body was no longer blurred. It was still somewhat blurry though, as the ice made it hard to see what was inside.

"Not enough, that owl demon wouldn't stop moving even with this much!" So I pumped in even more mana and called back the mana I released into the ice in order to harden it further.

:MP:835/3283:

That was a huge amount of mana, and though the ice wasn't showing any signs of cracking I continued still just to be safe. So through magic creation, I created huge amounts of tetrodotoxin and concentrated it all over the head of the person.

Tetrodotoxin is an extremely potent poison that paralyzes the body by interfering with brain signals and severely interrupts transmission from nerves to muscles, causing fatal paralysis of the muscles in the body. Even if it doesn't kill that person, it will at least paralyze them! Appraisal!

:Name:Chime (Paralyzed 10, Frozen 7)

:Race:Chimera

:Age:6

:Level:69

:Stats:

STR:1(1)

AGI:203(254)

DEX:235(295)

INT:167(209)

LUK:0

VIT:5(6)

Total stats:(605+25% to all stats)=765

:SKILLS:

Active:

Self Status, Appraisal, Ethereal Figure, Produce Poison 10, Magic Manipulation 2, Wind's Call 10, Strike Through 9, Piercing 9, Mutilating 9, Increase Agility 3, Forced Heal 10, Spear Create 10, Dagger Create 3, Vital Strike 8, Spear Rush 10, Double Thrust 10, Full Enhancement 1, Sharpen 8, Ogre's Strength 10, Fossilize 9, Meditate 9, Shadow Step 10, Shadow Pouch 10

Passive:

Genetic Evolution, Eternal youth, Magic Control 10, Recovery 10, Forced Regeneration 6, Iron Stomach 10, Endurance 10, Thin Presence 10, Odorless 10, Blade Limbs 10, Physical Boost 10, Reinforced Flexibility 10, Unexhausted 10, Spear Mastery 10, Dagger Mastery 7, Aerial Mastery 8, Full Resistance 3, Foul Flesh 4

:Attributes:

Dark: 100/100

Wind: 100/100

Fire: 100/100

Light: 14/100

Earth: 65/100

:Titles:

[Vigor Craver]⟩ Increases EXP gain by tenfold

[Hellish Survivor]⟩ +25% to all stats, if HP is less than 5% +100 to selected stat(STR)

[Diabolical Chimera]⟩ The ultimate chimera, whose body is able to evolve limitlessly, and adapt to everything that is thrown at it up to a certain extent

[Dungeon Slayer]⟩ Conqueror of a 50-floor dungeon, killer of a high-leveled dungeon master

[Non-Racial]⟩ No actual race, an abomination. Extremely prone to chemicals because of a lack of rhythm in its bodily functions such as blood veins, nervous system, muscle composition, and DNA structure

[Detra's Bind]⟩ Curse to limit the body's evolution capabilities. Unable to evolve beyond what Detra allows, ultimately disallowing evolution into a potential candidate and cannot abandon Detra's grasp and power

[Detra's Rejection]⟩ One random stat will never go up while under the influence of Detra

[Ethereal Fingure]⟩ Erases all of the user's presence and traces upon activation. Allows the user to pass through anything physical, naturally magical, and spiritual. The user's blurred figure will show up to anyone who is certain of the user's position and existence for exactly 5 seconds before disappearing once again. Can never again pass through that person's mana unless that person allows it. "Existence is a lie."

[Genetic Evolution]⟩ Through the consumption of a being's living cell or tissues, the user can gain the racial ability of that being. The only exceptions are the three great ancient races

"A chimera?" I blurted out right after his information flowed into my head.

(I used a lot of my mana but I still have my blood, a lot of it. I'll use that when everything

But like a pebble thrown into a peaceful lake…

"What just happened!? Explain, Eraldine please explain!" the vice-captain exclaimed, not noticing how unpolite he was. ""Young miss!?"" The twins came running in front of me with their morphing daggers in hand. "Who is that person, little sis!?" Lory… ran up to me and started suffocating me with her chest.

I try to gently push away Lory and said, "Hn, how about letting go of me first so I can explain?" She reluctantly let go of me, I could see a little bit of disappointment in her expression of worry but ultimately ignored it.

"This person, I coincidentally found him lurking when I heard a very silent voice…" I explained.

"I see, but what do we do now?" Replied Lory.

"I'm still thinking. In the first place, I should have not attacked him out of nowhere but I guess I panicked because of how he almost made it under my radar. Had it not been for the way my mana acted when it passes through his body then I would have never discovered him."

As I said that, I noticed the twins morphing their dagger into a whip and started using it to tie it onto the person's horns and tied it to the window. Ignoring that, I looked at the vice-captain who was thinking to himself.

"Ah," he seemed to have noticed my gaze as he stood straight again, "I understand the situation now, Miss Eraldine. Also, please ignore my previous rude behavior, I was in a little bit of panic because of your display of magical prowess and its suddenness. I suppose that's how you easily captured this assassin then?" To his question, I simply nodded.

"Nnggh…" I heard Ahsa's little groans beside me so I reached for her hand and sat beside her sleeping figure again.

"What a turn of events this has been, I suppose it is only right that I-" I was just about to threaten the vice-captain when the same man he asked to report to the captain came back and shouted loudly.

"Vice-captain, it's an emergency! All that attended Lord Alberrioko's party are vomiting what they ate! Some even vomited small amounts of blood! They're currently being taken care of in the infirmary, the captain demands your presence!"

(Ooho dear, that's unexpected. I'm glad I didn't let any of my girls eat any of those meals.)

"Argh, it's one thing after the other! What's going on with this dang ship!? My lady, if you would please allow me!?" He shouts in frustration before asking for my permission to leave.

"Sure, but we're coming with. You carry that cute little assassin while I take care of this ice sculpture." I nodded as I pointed alternatively to the two people stuck in their respective binds.

He nodded in response before carrying the assassin like a sack on his shoulder. Seeing this, I proceeded to defrost the ice sculpture.

According to his stats, he is a speed type like I have deducted. And the best way to restrain speed types is to stretch their limbs enough that they won't bend while not giving them any form of footing or anything to grab on, and I must lift him away from his shadow since he has that shadow step skill.

With that in mind, I sped up the defrosting and stopped when only the ice on the chimera's limbs remained, almost like shackles. I also reinforced these ice shackles with the mana from the defrosted ice and also made an ice collar around the neck and above the belt. I must make sure that this chimera doesn't chop off its own limbs to free itself. With that, I lifted the chimera off the ground about 2 feet high and looked back at the dazed vice-captain.

"Vice-captain? Is something the matter?" I asked, bringing him back.

"Ah, no. There's nothing wrong, my lady. I just thought that your magic control is amazing. Well then, I will lead the way." He started walking with me and the girls following behind. Of course, I didn't forget about Ahsa, no way I'm forgetting about her.

*****

"Oh my Mister Alberrioko, this is quite the sight, isn't it?" I now stood in beside of what seemed to be a bald vomiting mess with the girls behind me. The vice-captain is with the captain on the other side of the infirmary with the assassin still on his shoulder. Why hasn't he handed over that dude already to someone else? Dunno. Why do I still have the chimera floating off the ground? Dunno.

"You foul wench, it is you that caused this, aren't you? Blergh-" He glared at me in the corner of his eyes as he continued to vomit into a bucket while his attendant patted his back.

"No way, I would never. If I had anything similar in mind, I would do something worse. Like a poison that forces you to continuously excrete. With the limited amount of relieving rooms on this ship, that would be quite an interesting sight, can you imagine it?" With a mocking smile on my face, I scoffed at him.

"You cursed wen- blargh…" And once again, he violently vomited his stomach liquids.

This is getting out of hand, maybe I should help?

…

On second thought, nope. I should not bother.

(That mess aside, I'll at least try to find out what happened here…) Deciding on what to do, I walked to where the captain and vice-captain are.

"… but what if it's a slow-working poison? I'm telling you sir, we should go back to the human continent." I heard the vice-captain bickering on the captain that was clearly disinterested and looked at his long beard like it's the most interesting thing in the world. When he was about to talk back to the vice-captain, that's when he noticed me.

"What? We don't have time to deal with some noble brat, get back to your room right this instant and sleep. It's already late." He said to me. I can clearly see the vice-captain's face pale from his attitude.

"It's wonderful that you care for children, but I am not one and I'm here to help investigate. Tonight has been an interesting one for us already so I want to end everything quickly so I and my servants could sleep already. My name is Eraldine Siyen, pleased to make your acquaintance." I reached out for a handshake with a welcoming smile on my face.

"… wipe it off." He whispered.

Tilting my head to the side to hint on my confusion and asked, "Wipe off what exactly?" with the same smile on my face.

"I'm telling you to wipe off that damned fake smile off your face!" He shouted right at my face, making Ahsa whose arm I was hugging flinch a little.

Though confused to what he wants, I still complied. "Better?

"… not what I expected, but yeah. Better." He gave a toothy grin after.

(What were you even expecting?) I sweatdropped.

"That aside, can I have a sample of what these… respectable people, ate?"

The captain visibly looked confused but complied anyway and called for a chore boy to go to the kitchen and brought back a half-eaten steak from the kitchen. The captain took it off his hand and handed it over to me with a quick "Here" as I took it.

Hmmm…

How, exactly, do I expect this?

"Hmmm…" I looked at the two captains as I hummed and looked back at the half-eaten steak.

For now, I guess I'll check for any form of mana and then maybe use appraisal on it, but there doesn't seem to be any… and appraisal only says that it is poisoned, not what kind of poison it is, maybe if I appraise a whole bottle of this then it will tell me what sort of poison it is… nope, ain't consuming it. I suppose I should take on alchemy and maybe combine it with chemistry.

"You've been staring at that thing for a while now, did you find out anything?" The vice-captain asked while handing over the assassin to another sailor. Only now? I looked back at the still paralyzed Chimer and thought, (Huh, he still hasn't adapted to the poison- wait.)

I used appraisal on a patient that was suffering from the poison but all I got was their poor stats and that he was 'poisoned'. Quite useless, aren't you? Appraisal…

"Nope, nothing at all. In the first place, I'm a mage, not an alchemist." This Celeste Crourem deadpanned.

"Well shucks, had my hopes up for nothing, you elven brat…" The captain face-palmed as he looked at the still floating chimera.

"… and that person is…?"

"Don't mind the floating one, let's get back to the problem at hand. That sa-"

"BruwralaaAARRRGGHHhh…"

I was just about to turn around to try something else this time but then a loud bloody roar echoed in the room, getting the attention of nearly everyone in the room, with the exception of those who are still vomiting.

The thing that took everyone's attention is, probably one of the nobles that ate the poison meals… and his skin was swelling as blood forced its way out of every hole in his body including some pores that were rapidly expanding to release the blood out of his body.

"This is… quite the familiar scene, if I may say so myself…" I whispered as I looked around only to see everyone stunned as their eyes stuck at the man's bloody figure.

I pulled down the arm that I was hugging and brought Ahsa onto her knees, her eyes still stuck to the bloody figure. I covered her eyes knowing full well what is about to happen.

And not soon after I did that, the man's skin turned grey as his purple veins appeared on his skin… and his sharpened fangs bit on the nearest person's head instantly carving her head and killing her.

And with that, panic dawned on the room as everyone started shouting. Then I notice by the side, a similar process was happening on someone else, and another by the other side, and another by the door, and another, and another…

Before the room was filled with all these grey zombies, I grabbed the girls' hands and snapped them out of their dazes as I pulled them out of the room through a hole I made in the wall to the other room beside it. The same thing was happening to that room so instead of doing the same thing again, I busted open the ceiling and ordered everyone to jump to the floor above while I carried Ahsa and jumped last.

If you're wondering, then yes. I still have the floating chimera with us. Unknown to me, however, is that the chimera already regained consciousness and has more than adapted to the paralysis but even gained immunity to it.

"Y-young miss, what's happening!? T-those people turned into m-monsters and are attacking people!? What do we do!?" Li clearly panicking hugged her sister who is in the same state as her if not worse. Lory on the other hand looked like she is about to vomit and pass out.

"For now, we'll try to get to the highest point of this ship. That would be on top of the tallest mast on the ship. There we could observe what exactly is going on and think of what we'll do. To either escape or help kill off those monsters. Get your weapons ready, girls. Kill anything that attacks you." I explained while we ran away from the infirmary while I kept on making holes in the walls here and there.

(I've only regenerated two-thirds of my mana reserves, this might turn sour because of that.)

We didn't encounter anything as we moved and made it to the deck above only to be greeted with similar-looking humanoid monsters, but these ones seemed a little different from the ones down there in the infirmary. These ones have red veins unlike those down there who have purple veins.

And there were dozens of them.

(This isn't good. I should have not left the captain and the vice-captain down there. There would be no one to bring us to the Hyuu continent if those two were to die… but I already have 4 people to take care of and looking at all these monsters, I doubt they'd make this any easier. So back to the original plan, to go to the top of the tallest mast to observe what's going on while thinning out the monsters on the way there.)

I looked up to see which mast was the tallest and started running for it with the girls running behind me. Those who attacked us were either instantly killed by my wind blades or were killed off by the three girls running behind me using their bows.

"Few meters more and all we would need to do is to get up the mast," I reassured the girls while we were running.

Surely enough we reached the mast and I let the girls climb up first before I follow suit, killing off some of the monsters while they climb up. My turn came as I jumped hard and reached the branch that the girls were on in one jump. Right after, I cast a dark thin fog on our surroundings to camouflage us from being sighted. It's quite dark and foggy, 'cause duh, we're out on the sea.

"Now what, young miss?" Lo asked me as she held hands with Li. Ahsa came crawling to me while holding Lory's hand.

Holding Ahsa's hand and taking her for a hug, I replied to Lory with a nod.

"Hn. We wait and see what happens. Watch out for anyone suspicious or who moves suspiciously. And hope that the sailors make it out safely. Also, shoot those monsters as much as you can to thin out their numbers and maybe help the people down there." I ordered w

"Young miss! Those two are suspicious! The monsters aren't attacking them!" Lory who has been silent the whole time suddenly shouted right at my ear as she pointed below.

Locating where she pointed I spotted 2 people in the middle of dozens of monsters standing right beside the mast next to where we were camping. The other seemed to be a female and the other a male. What Lory said was true, they are not getting attacked by those monsters, if anything, guessing by the gestures they make and the reaction of the monsters around them, it looks like they're commanding them.

Looking closer, there's a much different monster standing just behind the two of them. Now I wonder, what would happen if I killed these two with my sniper?

"Umm… hello? Can you please let me off now? I promise I mean no harm…" Just as I was about to prepare my sniper magic that I totally did not neglect, the chimera suddenly talked, startling the girls who pointed their bows at him.

"Oh, you're awake. Since when?" I asked, not caring even a little about the chimera.

"Since you busted a hole in the ceiling. Quite the sight, I'll tell you that." Chimera nodded with a satisfied smile.

"I see. I suppose we were too busy surviving to notice that you're awake, then?" I replied.

"Yeah, I'm actually surprised you managed to keep me safe as well, I appreciate that. As you can see, I literally have paper defense and no strength." Chimera's porcelain white cheeks blushed a little.

Looking back down, the two seem to be on a move toward the quarterdeck.

"Hmm, say chimera, are you interested in working under me? Who knows, you might be able to rid of your weaknesses." I said while keeping check of the two.

"… by that, what exactly do you mean?" Chimera seemed to be confused so I vaguely explained.

"Simple, you drink my blood, get power-ups and a random copy of one of my skills, and evolve. Go ahead and use appraisal, you'd be tempted."

The two seem to have sent out some different-looking monsters that ran all around the ship as if looking for something or someone while walking for the quarterdeck that is probably a dozen and a half away from them.

"Heeh, pretty confident, aren't you? Let's see, let's see… BRUH!?" Chimera choked right after using appraisal, once again letting me experience that unsettling feeling.

"What kind of nonsense is this!? Magic Manipulation level 10!? Full Enhancement as well!? Scratch that, every skills are at level 10! What kind of monster are you!? You're more of a monster than that dungeon master I killed! AH! Title! You ARE a dungeon master! I'm in! Drinking blood or whatever! I'm in! GIIMMMEEEE!!!" The stupid chimera repeatedly shouted 'I'm in' not even realizing that people have something called 'privacy'.

(What in the world?)

"Stop shouting, can't you see that we're trying to hide here?" Li who hates noise smacked the chimera with her bow.

"Ah, sorry. I mean, it's just too good, I want it now!"

"Understood. But I can't just give it to you, now can I?" Still observing the walking duo, I told chimera.

Then he starts whispering to himself, "Ohh, I see I see. It's like she's that hidden NPC that will give you massive boosts for quests. I see I see…" stuff that will confuse most people in this world.

(I see now…)

"Well then, chimera, stop babbling and look there," I pointed at the walking duo, "I want you to find out who they are, their goal for causing this, and then either eliminate or capture them.

Before the chimera could say anything, the idiot's figure is already flying toward the walking duo. Wait, where's that huge monster?

"Girls, be on guard, that huge monster that was standing behind those two earlier is currently nowhere to be seen." Hearing this, the girls' eyes sharpened while Ahsa hugged on my arm harder.

"Well then, let's see how well this chimera does against this duo…" I said while I laid my head on Ahsa's shoulder.

"Well, knowing that he almost made it past your detection skills and techniques then maybe he'll succeed," Lory commented.

"Yes, I agree. And she's quick on her foot too, so it is unlikely that she will fail. Though what interests me is how she's going to question them." Lo as well commented, earning a nod from her twin sister.

"We'll see, for now, we make sure to try thin the monsters' number while also making sure our mana is on a safe amount for any emergency. They just keep on popping up every time we kill one, it's starting to get tiresome." It's true. Every time we eliminate one, another just appears, taking the remains of the ones we just killed to form itself.

We spent the next ten or so minutes doing nothing but killing these monsters, trying out different ways of killing them, trying to find out what might work or at least figure out their weakness. That was when I saw the captain-vice-captain duo come out of the hole I made along with some other sailors and chore boys while helping some nobles and servants to get to safety, wherever that is.

Some of them seem to be injured. I need to save them since those two are experts in traversing these oceans. Maybe I could lend a helping hand to make them feel indebted to me and gain their favor for the long term?

"… yes, I could do that… I'll until they're cornered for maximum impact…" I mumbled to myself, not knowing that Ahsa has been paying attention to me this whole time.

"Mistress…?" She calls out.

"Yes, Ahsa dear?" I respond while keeping my eye out on the people that are still struggling to get up the hole while the sailors fend off the monsters.

A moment of silence before she replies, "… No, it's nothing…" before hugging harder on my arm that she was clinging onto.

"Hmm, dear go to Lory for now, Lory please take care of Ahsa. I'll just have to deal with some things." I said before Ahsa reluctantly lets go of my arm and reaches out for Lory's stretched-out hand and let go of mine.

"Well then, let's see how this ends." With a plan in mind, I kicked off of the mast and glided toward the group, and landed a few meters behind them with my stealth on.

"Hurry up! We don't have all the stamina in the world to keep your noble a*ses safe!" I heard the complaints of the captain as he fends off three monsters at once.

He's bleeding on his left calf from what seemed to be a bite mark. The thing was also pulsating with a purple glow slowly but surely spreading. It looks like he knows that it is spreading because he has tied a rope around his knees, slowing the infection.

"Shut it, commoner! Just silently do your job and keep us safe!" Said some sassy noble lady in a heavy-looking fancy dress.

I approach from behind them as I froze all the monsters that they were trying to keep at bay, surprising and confusing them all, making the confused captain look around to try and find an explanation for what just happened.

"You seem to be in a little bit of struggle. Want me to lend a hand?" I said, taking them even more by surprise.

**Meanwhile**

"And off she goes," Lo said while watching the moving figure of their young miss.

"Yeah, she's probably planning some kind of scheme again. That's just like her." Lory responded in kind with faint laughter.

"I wonder what is she going to do this time?" Li adds in as well.

Listening to these comments and their reactions, it makes me realize more of my mistress' amazingness. Even though they should be worried that something bad might happen to her, they're confident in mistress' ability to fend for herself.

…

While here I am, having to be protected by that same amazing mistress…

I really am useless, aren't I? Just like how the elders back then used to call me… even though I have the metal spirit's blessings… why am I always so cowardice…?

While thinking so, I witnessed my mistress in the distance instantly freeze the monsters bothering the sailors. Not just that, but she also lifted the nobles that were struggling to climb up the hole we escape through. She's amazing. What was that called again? Was it telekinesis? I think that's what father called it…

"Say… Miss Lory…" I tugged on Lory's sleeve as I called out.

"Hm? Yes, Ahsa?" She immediately replies with a kind smile on her face.

"I… I just wanted to ask if… you would happen to know why my… mistress bought me…" I tried to speak clearly but my voice progressively got lower…

"Hmmm, let's see…" She says as I anticipate a criticism "… in these few months that I've been with Ahsa, I grew to know her as someone who wouldn't do anything with a good reason, so she probably saw something in you that she believed to be attention. So… if you're still struggling trying to fit in, be more confident. Your mistress would not care for you this much unless she truly sees something in you, a potential so to say… though that may somewhat sound bad…" Though she seemed tired, she still said so with a smile. Trying to reassure me that I'm not here, with them, without a reason.

Even though she said these encouraging words, I could only reply with a faint "I don't know…" and looked down at the base of the mast.

Then I noticed it, a huge humanoid monster the height of a tall tree with extremely bulging arms and legs climbing up to us slowly. It looks like it noticed my gaze and hastened its climbing.

"M-miss Lory! S-something, down there! I-it's climbing!" I alerted Lory whose hand I was holding.

She looks down and notices it as well. Right after, she alerts the twin maids who are still shooting at some monsters with their magic bows.

"What to do? Do we escape or do we try to fend it off?" Lory hurriedly asks the two of them.

"I think we should try to fend it off for now, or maybe kill it. If nothing works then we run after making it fall off the mast." Lo says.

"Got it, sounds like a good plan." Lory agrees, and with that, they start to bombard the thing with multiple shots of arrows.

… while here I am still being so useless and having to rely on everyone… I… I also want to be useful… be useful to my mistress. To make sure that I don't disappoint my mistress who believes in me… right, maybe I could create chunks of metal to fall onto the monster and stop it from climbing… but father said that this power is too dangerous to use for combat… what if I also hurt Miss Li and Lo, and Miss Lory too? Won't I disappoint my mistress if that happens?

But alas, my hesitation to use this blessing had made it too late. The constant bombardment the monster received aggravated it and it flung itself fast and managed to punch the part of the mast on which we were standing on, completely disconnecting it from the pillar itself…

My hand lefts Miss Lory's arm as I felt all thoughts stop, and I once again blankly stared at whatever was in front of me…

…

Silence… and then noise again as I felt a hand pull on my arm…

That hand that pulled on my arm lifted me off the ground as I realized what had pulled me. It was the monster, it lifted me up on an eye-to-eye level with it, letting me see how scary, mutated, and grotesque its face was. It seems like I fell not too far away from the mast. It then opens its mouth, telling me exactly what it was about to do.

"Ah, I'm going to die, aren't I?" Was what I thought… feeling my heart speed up as it threatened to jump out of my chest.

I could see Miss Li and Lo ready their blades along with Miss Lory who shot the monster's arm that was holding me up multiple times. All these attacks appear to have further angered the monster and it picked up a random huge debris and threw it at the three girls trying to help me.

"No! Not them!" I thought, "I'm right here, aren't I!?" I pleaded in my head, not daring to actually speak as I was too terrified.

The debris slowed down in my view. No, not just the debris, everything looked like it slowed down… like everything was waiting for my decision…

"But what if I mess up?"

"What if I lose control of it again?"

"What if I hurt everyone again?"

"What if I disappoint everyone again?"

These thoughts flowed into my head as the debris slowly neared the girls who looked stunned as well.

"But I have to try!" I thought. I only thought, my heart still unable to decide.

The debris is already a meter away from them, I was too late again. I hesitated too much again. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what was about to happen. The loud sound that I was expecting, however, did not make it into my ears. I slowly opened my eyes, there stood my mistress with a huge and thick barrier that broke the debris. I felt relief flow into my whole being as I saw her small but mighty figure standing there. Even more when I heard her say "I made it here back in time. Fuu~"

Her figure disappeared again as I stared at the air where she was before hearing the sound of flesh meeting the edge of a blade above me. Where my hand was being held. Before I could look up, I felt gravity pull my body down as if bringing my thoughts along with it, forcing me to once again blankly stare at the open in front of me.

"You're safe now, Ahsa. Your right leg looks dislocated but nothing my blood can't handle. Come here Ahsa, I'm sorry I couldn't be here earlier…" My mistress' voice repeatedly echoed in my head. A specific part of it, to be exact.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here earlier…" Her words and voice echoed in my head.

Why are you apologizing? It should be me… even though I had the power to do something about the situation, I was too much of a coward to do it, to use it. Too worried about the ifs instead of worrying about the now… I don't deserve any of your words, your kindness… I don't deserve any of it at all… so with these thoughts, I whispered; "I'm sorry… I couldn't use it…" as warm tears flowed down my cheeks.

… Here I am again, crying… even though I know that is the least I should do in our current situation, I still do so… I can't help it… I was scared, so so scared…

"Don't worry about it, Ahsa… I did not expect anything from you anyway… you don't have to worry about anything and should just stay right by my side. I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I promise that I'll never leave your side again so this won't happen anymore…" Ah, there it is again… that kindness… it spoils me rotten.

But why? Didn't you buy me for a reason? Why wouldn't you expect anything from me? Did you not buy me because I had the potential to stand by you? Why should you be the one not leaving my side when I'm supposed to be your servant? I… dislike it… I want you to rely on me! I want you to look at me and say that I did well! I want to do everything I can for you, to stand atop of everything for you! I want to come home to our house bloodied and tired and then receive your praise and embrace! I want you to expect anything from me! To expect me to do my best for you!

"Well then, Lory please take care of her again, I'll deal with that monster for now. Its regeneration is insane but I think I can deal with it. I'll just have to make sure to kill every cell that it has." She said before signaling me to hold Miss Lory's stretched-out hand and to let go of hers.

No…

"No…" I say as I force myself to try and stand up.

"Hm? Are you perhaps still worried, Ahsa? Don't worry, I'll deal with it as I said. You just stay in safety here while Lory along with Li and Lo protects you, okay?" Mistress said to me as her back turned my way and she rushed at the thing, trying to blast it off the ship instead of fighting it. That monster is literally ten times her height, and what's more of its weight?

Mistress keeps on trying to either lift it off the ground but it always keeps on breaking out of her magic. Ice, shattered. Wind, fended off. Water, brushed aside. Earth, crumbled. Fire, too weak without risking the ship. Light, pierces through, also can't use on a large scale without risking the ship. Dark, she doesn't have Shadow Step skill. Mind, the opponent is a mindless beast, even if you calm it down it's moving on someone's orders. Space, don't know how to use it.

"300 in strength and vitality is just unfair, how am I supposed to get rid of this thing? I can't even kill it without risking the ship, this insane regeneration and seemingly unlimited stamina aren't helping either." I hear her say while still trying to at least get it off the platform we were standing on.

My mistress is struggling… isn't this perfect? With my power, I can show her that I'm worth being with her… that I am someone she can rely on, that she has me… that I'm not just someone who needs her protection…

"Should I use Magic Creation? No, it uses too much mana and I only have a little below half my reserves, if it fails and I'm left with little to no mana, my blood magic won't be able to do anything… What about a core? This thing has got to have something that provides it its regeneration ability, I just have to find it and destroy it…" Saying such, my mistress switches to aimlessly slashing the monster all over with a sword that came out of nowhere.

My mistress is struggling, and even though she's so amazing, she's still struggling… she can't do everything on her own after all… she needs someone she can rely on after all…

"Is there actually no core? Had I not been faster than it, chances are I'd already been on one knee, bloody… if only it is on the air, could at least finish it off with a powerful blast of fire…"

Then what if I become that someone…? I'll do it, for my amazing mistress… I'll be her throne, the back that she would lean on… the armrest that she would rest her arms on… the sit that would carry her…

…

But what if I fail…? No… for mistress, failure is intolerable… for mistress, I must rid my mind of anything relating to the word failure… for mistress… I'll even get rid of this curse…

"What if I incinerate it inside a barrier with a powerful fire spell? But I don't have enough mana, I only have a third of it left, and if that fails this will turn ugly… maybe I can use Full enhancement? But it's too risky as I have never used it, and I don't know how much it will help or its mana cost, I can only guess that it will be huge, I don't know how to activate it either…" My mistress is clearly struggling now, she can't come up with anything that will help her…

Then I'll become that help, I'll become my mistress' hope when she's backed into a corner like she is right now, I will become someone that will give her hope when she needs it, like my father to me, like a knight… yes, I…

"… will be my mistress' knight…" With renewed determination, let go of Lory's hand and walked for my mistress' location. Miss Lory was confused but I ignored it. I'm too busy fighting my own battle, fighting against this curse…

I can't lose to a mere curse, in the future I will fight something stronger, fiercer, scarier, for my mistress… for my mistress, I cannot and I will not allow a mere curse to hold me down!!

So I ran, I ignored the pain in my right leg and ran, without holding onto anyone, without relying on anyone, this time, you will rely on me! On this Ahsa!

I ran with all my strength, however little that amounted to, I ran to where my mistress is, to stand beside her, I'll run the longest of corridors, I'll climb the tallest of walls, conquer the deepest oceans! I'll be my mistress' knight and a mere curse is not stopping me!

Notice: Acknowledged.

Notice: Creating unique title [Celestial's Knight]

Notice: Devouring [Sorrowful Soul] and [Support Seeking] for energy to create unique skill [Her Highness' Throne]… successed

Notice: Spirit of Metal acknowledges your determination, allowing the combination of unique skills [Metal Creation] and [Metal Manipulation]

Notice: Combination successful, unique skill [Metal Domination] acquired

Grand Notice: Resetting all stats. Now free from the leveling shackles, welcome to the stage of the potential candidates. Detra wishes you good luck; negative luck now reset to 0

Without noticing or paying attention to the voice in my head, I ran straight to my mistress' side, where she needs me to be!

Ignoring her usual blank but unusually surprised face, I raised both of my hands, above my head appeared huge hands made of mithril, raised in a similar manner as my actual hands, with a wave of my hand as if grabbing the monster by both hands, the mithril hands moved and did it for me, acting as extensions for my frail body.

"My mistress! DO IT!" I shouted to my mistress who was standing and watching beside me as I lifted the monster into the air and threw it high up, higher than the tallest mast of the ship.

"Well done, Ahsa!" She praised me… I… I DID IT! I was useful to my mistress!

And as if all those fire spells my mistress was casting earlier were jokes, she released a beam of bright blue flames that engulfed the entirety of the monster and pierced even the clouds, not leaving even a speck of dust to fall on our heads. And looking around, the smaller monsters around us also stopped moving and fell onto the floor like failed meat sculptures. Heh, failures.

"Ahsa, such a beautiful smile, I knew it… Celestial's Knight, I see? Then do well and protect me… while I rest…" My mistress called out for the me who was still looking up at the sky with delight.

She said it, she's relying on me! To protect her! I'll do my best!

And just like that, my mistress fell into my arms. It seems like she has exhausted her mana reserves.

"Alright, I should head back to where Miss Lory and Miss Li & Lo are, well then…" "Just kidding~" "EEEEKK!" I was just about to carry my mistress with the aid of my metals when I felt two sharp pains run on my nape.

Glancing down to my left shoulder was my mistress' soft hair.

"Hmm, delicious…" She said as she licked her tongue and left my embrace.

Eh?

"Looks like you're confused, but didn't you know already?" She asked with a small cheeky smile on her face as she looked at me.

Ah! T-that's right! My mistress is a vampire! I completely forgot!

…

Looking at the silly girl in front of me, I would have doubted that she was the same Ahsa I was just protecting earlier. I was planning on trying to lift her cowardice a little by maybe putting myself in a seemingly tough spot, which I actually was in, I didn't expect her to change this much… That said, I'm drained of my mana, zero. I only have my blood magic to rely on now and I don't think I can use that in front of anyone aside from my these companions of mine… but well, I have Ahsa the Celestial's Knight now, I don't have to worry over anyone else here now aside from maybe that chimera.

"Come on now, Ahsa, knock it off, there's still much left to do." I pulled the silly girl who had spirals in her eyes as we walked to where the others are and see them walking towards us as well.

But before we could, I felt a familiar strange magical phenomenon, and sure enough…

"Ma'am! Chime reporting for duty!" Chime the chimera appeared right in front of me with the brightest smile I have seen yet and a soldier's salute.

"Oh my, you're here. How did it go?" I asked as I walked past to where the other three girls were.

"Yes, ma'am! They escaped, ma'am!" This statement made me stop on my tracks and to look behind at the chimera.

"What happened?" I asked, "Ma'am! Once they saw that huge pillar of flames they escaped using one of the boats hanging by the side of the ship, Ma'am!"

"So you let them escape?" After I said this, Chime's body visibly shivered.

"No, Ma'am!" He replies instantly, "Then care to explain what happened? Why did you not give chase?"

"Simple, Ma'am!"

I just stood there staring at this idiot who can't even do a single task, not noticing that the girls have reached where we standing and were starting as well.

"I have Thalassophobia Ma'am!" The chimera said with the brightest smile while visibly sweating.

What?

"Thalas what now?" Lory asked beside me, opposite of where Ahsa is standing.

How do I even diffuse this awkward situation?

*****

"How was the ship's status, Serf?" The captain asks the vice-captain, the morning sun hitting their faces.

"Not bad but not good either. Nothing we can't handle though and the flesh has all been cleaned, all thrown into the ocean as well, sir. We'd be able to properly sail once again by dusk." He replies.

"Good- wait, did you say you threw the flesh into the ocean?" The captain sweatdropped and anxiously asked.

"Yes, sir. Is there something wro- sh*t, I messed up, I forgot…" Serf was confused for a moment before the realization hit him, and hit him hard.

"F***, serf! If those pieces of sh*t attracted some huge bastard, I'm throwing you into the ocean to act as bait while we run away!" He threw a punch as Serf caught it.

"It's not my fault I was tired, you greasy old man of mine!"

"ARGH! F***ING HELL, SERF! We're still on the RED F***ING ZONE!" He says then grabbed his sailor hat and threw it at the other man, who caught it again. Seeing this, he just walks away.

"It ain't my fault I was sleep deprived, ALRIGHT!?"

"Seems like you have a problem, eh? No point crying over spilled milk now, we should just get ready if it does attract something." I butted in while looking at the back of the leaving captain.

"Sigh, infuriating, I tell you… that said, thanks for the help back then. Really appreciate it." With a genuine, although tired, smile on his face, he stretches his hand to me for a handshake.

Taking the offered hand, I says, "No problem, I look forward to how you're going to repay this little debt in the future!"

"Urk, right… debt… haha, sh*t…" With an even more tired smile on his face, he takes his hand back and scratches the back of his head.

"That said, I'll get back to my room now. My companions are waiting for me, specifically a troublesome one. Saying she won't sleep and rest until I come back safely. Seriously, she's like a dog now…" I said my excuses while thinking of a certain cutie.

*****

"Mistress, they disappeared! They were just here a moment ago, we've been separated!"

"I knew this was a bad idea. Ahsa, don't let go of my hand. We can't afford to lose anyone anymore in this kind of situation. We better stick together or else, we would be in a really tight bind, especially in this environment where we don't even know if we would be able to procure food." I said to Ahsa, who tightened her grasp on my hands as we cautiously traversed the foggy and thick forest of the elves.

"Yes, my Mistress! I'll never let go of your hand unless you tell me to!" She replies.

"That said, something is interfering with my magic vision and sense of direction. It's as if what's in front is actually behind while what's by the left is actually in front. It's constantly changing, I don't know about the others, but let's hope they're doing fine with themselves."

"Yes! I'll pray for their safety and hope that we don't run into another monster."

"But with that said, Mistress… what do you suggest we do now? We can't just walk like this endlessly, we would eventually need to leave this place. And the level of sunlight here is unhealthily low." She explains while playing with her metal, forming figures of us two circling around a tree.

"Right, for now we need a place we can stay and sleep in, I'll use magic to somewhat build a small earthen hut here for us, but don't expect anything, my mana won't properly do as I will." I wave my free hand while I force my mana to flow as I want it to and make a hut just as tall as I that could fit 3 or more people of my size.

"This will do for now, I can barely control my mana. Ahsa, your power to manipulate metal isn't affected by this, is it?" I ask.

"Yes, my Mistress. It isn't, as I have shown you earlier with the moving sculptures, it doesn't work on mana, but instead only by my will. If I use it too much I feel like I'll split my head open though, at most I can only continuously use it for two hours, or three hours if I really push it." She plays with her metal again, making our figures hug each other looking terrified.

"That's good, Ahsa. That's good, your power will be key to our survival until I manage to get my mana under control. Also, as you already know, I'm a vampire, I'll die if even you left my side. So no matter what, Ahsa, you cannot die or disappear on me, do you understand?" I said With the most solemn expression I could muster.

"Yes, my Mistress! As your knight, I've sworn on this life that I will always stand by your side, no matter what happens!" Ahsa puts her hand on mine and puts it on her chest and says with the most beautiful smile on her face.

"That's good, Ahsa. I count on you. But always know when not to fight and when to do so, understood?" I reminded her that running doesn't mean cowardice.

"Yes! After all, the survivor is always the winner!" She says, quoting me on one of the first things I've taught her when she asked me to.

"Yes, now let's get in and take a rest." And with that, we tucked in for the night, still clueless on how we will get ourselves out of this mess of a forest.

*****

[Ahsa's backstory, only because I've run out of stuff to write. Watch out cause I'm leaving a foreshadowing in this short story.]

People, I ask you this… have you all heard the tragic story of the buried Town of Tresa? No? Well then, I shall tell it to you…

It was just a simple day like always. The same routine, the same people to meet and greet, and the same things to do.

Well, it should have been… but then the wife of the village chief suddenly breaks her water, indicating that she is soon to give birth! There was a feast! Although it was of a smaller scale, it was still a fun night for the small peaceful village! They celebrated the birth of a healthy girl!

The women were congratulating the mother, the men were drinking with the men! For this is a much anticipated day, the day when the village chief finally gets to have a taste of parenthood!

The years came by like a flash, the girl that was a toddler just above is already a ten-year-old now! With the aid of her blessings from the spirit of metal, she helped the village flourish!

She was the pride of the village! They would never exchange her for anything in the world. She was their adorable sweet energetic healing angel! But knowing how dangerous this power was, they choose to hide her from the rest of the world! They wouldn't want to risk her safety for she is their pride, after all…

Another year has passed and the powerful have begun to notice the speed at which this small village grew. They were curious as to how this village that used to be poor managed to sell to the world such high-purity iron. And at an abnormal amount at that! They thought that maybe the villagers have found a hidden mine of iron and that they had a master smith in their village!

So in the pretext of inspection, they schemed to try and attain these riches for themselves! So they armed their men, and galloped toward the village!

They searched everywhere, for days! Through the nearby mountain! The hills! The rivers! They found nothing! They thought that maybe there was a powerful illusionist in the village so they brought with them a powerful mage but by the end of the week, oh boy… they still found NOTHING! No mines, no caves, no secrets!

So as we all already know, when nobles are desperate to get something, they become violent! With their authority, they forced the villagers to either give them the mines or work under them!

But the villages were having none of it, none of their spoiled nonsense. With their trained bodies through hard labor, they brandished their spears toward the knights that have once sworn to protect them in order to protect those who are fleeing.

But alas, a farmer just has nothing to show against trained knights of the kingdom. To the supposed protectors of the kingdom.

Soon the knights overwhelmed and massacred the villagers at the orders of their noble masters.

The village chief who stood tall till he was the last one left also soon fell to his knees, hoping that they have bought enough time for the rest to flee, for his one and only child to flee.

And they did, fortunately! Although scattered, everyone else has fled to wherever, away from those barbarous knights.

Now, the chief's daughter along with her mother ran and ran until they reached the neighboring town and lived a life of debt. But even if they did fall victim to loan sharks, they were happy. They lived happily.

Despite the fact that her mother was a strange character who said words she couldn't understand and did strange poses whenever she casts an extremely simple spell like ember, she loved her. She loved her for all her strangeness.

They lived their lovely days like that for the next five years, thinking and hoping that they'll end their lifespans just like this. Happy and healthy.

But no, destiny had other plans for them, for her… her mother never came back from her work, so she asked around the town but all she found out was her mother being seen wandering around as if she was lost.

It was as if she had never been in this town, asking around where she was. At first, the people were making fun of her, but soon they noticed something strange, but then it was already too late because she… she already disappeared… gone from their reach…

Her mother had left her, and in debt even… she had no choice, no choice but to work to her bone without exposing her power…

Soon the sharks that preyed on her and her mother had enough. They wanted their money and they wanted it fast.

They caught her, they wanted to sell her off as a debt slave… but of course, that comes later, for now, they're… having a little bit of fun…

Understanding what their faces hinted at, she fleed… well, she tried to… but there was just no way a delicate teen such as her could get away from three men whose bodies are toughened through fighting.

But she tries still… she kicked, punched, she did all her little strength allowed. But she was weak, so she was pinned down on the cold and rough wooden floor…

In the midst of her desperation, she used it… the power that she has sealed and has not used for the last six or so years that she lived in this town… she manipulated every metal available near her and even created her own, and with a powerful blast of air and metal flying, half of the town was destroyed, leveled by the sheer devastating power that a single child has done…

And without a doubt, she has killed countless people that have been so nice to her, people whom she owed, people that treated her with gentle care, people she liked…

Seeing the devastation that she has caused allowed a curse to slip and seep into her heart…

She spent her days surrounded by the dead bodies of people she cared for and cared for her.

Soon came people who were tasked to investigate what happened, and discovered her. They thought she was but a mere survivor of this tragedy and brought her to the orphanage.

Unfortunately, the orphanage itself wasn't the best… they were starving and she was useless to them, so although reluctant, they sold her off… throughout the years she was caged, she was passed around because no one wanted her, no one. They did not even want a single sight of her. Until she was sent to an infamous slave market in the kingdom's biggest port city.

Waiting in her cage, waiting to be, yet again, passed onto someone else's cage… all of these caused her to despair, her curse grew by the middle of it all…

That's all… I hope that in some way, you learned something of value from the infamous story of the tragedy of the Town of Tresa…

Well, you don't have to believe this minstrels' story that has been passed around by the mouth! So some parts of these are just theories!

Heh… a minstrel's theory!

*****