Language update (3)

While everyone was busy, the vines passed the veiled woman among them like merchants tossing a sack of potatoes. Her stomach clenched in embarrassment at the thought that she could be seen in such a situation. This, coupled with the fear of falling from such a height, stopped her from protesting and allowed the plants to do as they pleased. She didn't want to interrupt them either and end up as minced meat on the ground.

However, whenever the plants dealt with her, it seemed they were handling a fragile child who knew nothing about life. Even the veil on her face was something that they themselves along with the beasts forced her to wear.

Truth be told, wearing the veil was quite uncomfortable, but if she took it off it always returned to her hands in one way or another, and each time it was delivered by some stranger creature than the last.

From snakes, bugs, birds, and even plants; they all worked together to prevent her from removing the veil or further tearing her clothes. She had already lost count of the times that she ended up screaming and running from either a nasty insect or a terrifying huge viper chasing her while carrying a piece of cloth that had gotten stuck or her veil.

What should have been an obsequious gesture quickly turned into a torturous routine of a prisoner in custody whose shackles had become a translucent veil.

If the plants pointed to the right, she went to the right. If the beasts said left, then to the left she went.

Suddenly, one of the vines tapped her shoulder to draw her attention. The woman removed the hands concealing her flushed face and followed with her gaze where it pointed.

The gray-clad man was still fighting against the plants that were endlessly regenerating and lashing at him, while the other man was paralyzed in place. The blue-haired woman was trembling and casting glances at the other two, but she never stopped the glowing enchantment that enveloped her wounded comrade.

And in the middle of this mess lay the scepter embedded in the ground, completely unguarded.

Though their motives remained unknown, it was clear that the group planned to take it with them but, unfortunately for them, she would not allow it.

As much as she didn't comprehend the proper function of the scepter or its specifications, it had been by her side since she had awoken, and a voice inside her head told her that she must not lose it.

"Sir Zagan, take Mara and let's get out of here!"

Zagan stared at the hilmir silently, then shifted his gaze to the scepter, displaying his hesitation.

"I've got it covered," he replied, realizing what was troubling him, and turned to the scepter two meters away, his olive-green eyes brimming with greed. Focusing solely on the object, the white stone on his bracelet sparkled. Since they couldn't move it, then their only option was to store it inside the space gem.

Seeing that they were about to do something, the woman unhesitatingly grabbed the thickest vine and checked that it was long enough. She then pointed her free hand at the object and the vines immediately understood what she wanted to do, so they moved to a position where she could get enough momentum.

The grip on her waist was gone and she fell like a dead weight to the ground. Holding the vine tightly with her arms and legs, she braced herself for the change of direction and directed her body towards her target.

Swinging like a monkey in the jungle, the woman descended at breakneck speed towards the group of people and, taking advantage of the proximity, read each of the screens that popped up into view.

When the scepter was within grasp, she reached out her hand and grabbed it by the top, yanking it out of place. Her trajectory continued to the other side, where there was a wide branch that would serve as a landing platform. Unfortunately, the length of the vine was not enough to make it, so she had to let go of it and continue flying with what momentum she had left.

'Catch me!' She shouted inwardly as she hugged the scepter tightly.

Just as she expected, the vines around the branch moved to form a net and caught her.

Now safe, the woman let out all the air from her lungs along with the nervousness caused by the adrenaline that plagued her body after doing such an acrobatic feat.

Duman didn't even have time to curse as he saw the scepter being snatched in front of him. His eyes, already bloodshot with fatigue, turned redder with the anger that now gnawed at him. Like a demon out of hell, he glared at the person who had dared to follow them and snatch his long-desired glory.

Unlike the hilmir, Zagan was more astounded than angry.

For a person to have been able to bypass General Zurie's exceptional senses, as well as possessing a level of stealth rivaling his own, and to have followed them to this island without being detected, meant that she was not one to be underestimated.

The vines stopped suddenly, allowing the paladin to retreat to where the Saintess was kneeling. Elisha had just finished healing her maiden, who was sleeping peacefully amidst the chaotic scene, when she noticed that both Duman and her escort were looking warily in one particular direction.

Since the last phase of the healing spell was the most strenuous, she hadn't realized that the scepter had been stolen.

A woman clad in a cream-colored dress rested quietly on a thick tree branch. The skirt of the thin dress, as well as the sleeves, were torn in several places, exposing the rosy skin of her arms and legs. The height was such that they couldn't make out her features behind the veil that covered her face, but the long hair that fell in waves behind her back was unmistakably an extraordinary turquoise color.

The paladin's conjectures took shape and, as he had anticipated, the hilmir did not take kindly to the intrusion of an unknown competitor who, to top it off, was a woman who appeared to be of a similar age to him.

"Hand it over!" Duman demanded fiercely, casting aside all politeness.

Elisha was startled to hear for the first time the hilmir's harsh tone, which was always courteous and gentle. Her body trembled with dread as the sheer amount of aether gathered around Duman overwhelmed her.

The veiled woman tilted her head to one side without replying. She seemed to be considering the hilmir's words, but she was actually reading the screen that had popped up in front of her eyes.

〚New update available〛

〚Installing language update〛

〚New language installed: Sycomorus〛

Impatient for an answer, Duman again demanded that the scepter be returned to him.

"I don't know who you are, but that belongs to me, so give it back!"

Only then did the woman exclaim in awe. After the language update, she was finally able to understand what they were saying.

"If you want it so badly, come and take it."

Quite contrary to her delicate appearance, her response was scathing and with a hint of mockery.