DEEPER INTO GRIMCLOUD

Aristo and his men were all on horseback and ready to proceed deeper into the valley and onto the glade. They all positioned by the edge of the mist clearing where they waited for Luciana to open their path forward.

[Lacrima Arts, Gale of Revelation]

A green magic circle formed in front of Luciana and from it burst forth a strong wind current. The wind pushed off the white mist ahead and revealed the rest of the valley as well as the glade in the horizon.

"The white mist is enchanted with mana in a way that it allows a certain monster species with similar mana profile to blend in and camouflage themselves within the mist." explained Luciana to Aristo and his men. "When presented with such a case, one simply needed to displace the enchanted mist with stronger mana. In this case, the wind that has been enchanted with my magical energy."

At the end of Luciana's explanation, more red goblins began to descend from atop the valley through the slope. Since the white mist had been cleared, Aristo and his people could spot the creatures clearly.

Seeing the monsters coming, Luciana casted another spell.

[Lacrima Arts, Blinding Torch]

Another shining orb manifested above Luciana, similar like the one from before. It hovered toward the monsters and caused them to feel agitated and made them stopped on their tracks.

"This ball of light contains mana radiation that is hard to be tolerated by low-grade monsters such as these red goblins. That being said, the light is harmless to humans." said Luciana. "As long as we are within this light, we'll be safe from the monsters' reach."

Hearing Luciana's explanation, Aristo nodded with a smile.

"Glad to know that we won't have to worry about the mist and being ambushed by the monsters anymore. You have my thanks, Miss Witch!"

"Your safety is my utmost priority, my prince. This is the least I could do to keep you safe in your quest."

"And speaking of the quest," continued Aristo. "we're supposed to eliminate the monsters. How we're going to do that if you keep hovering the light orb over us?"

Luciana raised her eyebrows upon the Second Prince's words and continued to look at him with pleading eyes.

"I was going to tell you this, my prince." said the silver-haired witch. "I was thinking that Your Highness could just remain under the light and let this servant of yours do the killing."

Aristo laughed at Luciana's suggestion.

"Not a chance, Miss Witch. This is my quest, after all." said the Doomed Prince. "I'm going to battle the monsters alongside you. It's unnegotiable."

"Very well, my prince." obliged Luciana immediately, already aware there was no use to argue with Aristo regarding this matter. "But at least let me whittle down their numbers beforehand for you. We do need to conserve your strength."

"That I can accept since it'll mean less risk for my army." nodded Aristo. "Leave us at least 8 or a dozen in each wave."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Aristo then noticed something odd from Luciana's words earlier.

"'conserve my strength'?" repeated the prince. "What did you mean by that earlier, Miss Witch?"

"I'll tell you after we finished exterminating all the monsters, Your Highness." said Luciana as she flew to the sky. "Come, my prince! I'll kill the rest of the monsters in the valley so you and your men could enter the glade."

"Lead the way, Miss Witch!"

Luciana turned her gaze to the red goblins and pointed her palms at them.

[Lacrima Arts, Surya Ray]

Several white magic circles appeared around Luciana in the sky and from within shot out numerous silver magic rays. Luciana's magic rained down on the goblins blocking Aristo's path and obliterated the monsters to smithereens.

Seeing the monsters eradicated, Aristo raised his sword and gestured to his men.

"Let's move!"

The Doomed Prince, his guardian, and the 7th Division members rode through the rest of the valley and made their way onto a vast area of riddled with tall pine trees. As the region was still covered with silver mist and dwelled with countless monsters, Luciana casted the two spells from before to make sure the safe arrival of Aristo's party.

[Lacrima Arts, Gale of Revelation]

[Lacrima Arts, Blinding Torch]

The mist around Aristo and his men cleared up and revealed a small open field right in front of them. Dozens of red goblins were occupying the place.

"There! We can start fighting the monsters in that field!" said Aristo. He looked up to Luciana. "Miss Witch, clear that field from the monsters so we could tie our mounts and station ourselves for battle!"

"As you wish, my prince!"

Luciana hovered her hand over the field and casted a spell.

[Lacrima Arts, Terra Barrage]

A brown magic circle appeared in front of Luciana and from it shot out sharp earth projectiles. They all rained down on the red goblins at the field and killed the creatures instantly.

As the field was cleared from the monsters, Aristo and his men made their way to the center, tied their horses on a few trees there and readied their weapons.

"Alright, Miss Witch. Turn off the light!" ordered Aristo as he and his army formed a combat formation in the field.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle eight or a dozen, my prince?" asked Luciana.

"Don't underestimate us. Lance and I could easily take care that amount now that we can see them." said Aristo with confident face. "This is not our first time in battle."

"Very well. Please be careful still."

Luciana snapped her fingers and almost immediately the shining orb above Aristo and his men vanished. The monsters hiding inside the white mist surrounding far beyond them began to make their way toward the prince. Hundreds of them. Now that it was inside the glade, deeper into Grimcloud, the number of monsters had greatly increased.

Seeing from the sky that the red goblins were making their move, Luciana began to make hers as well.

[Lacrima Arts, Surya Ray]

[Lacrima Arts, Terra Barrage]

Dozens of magic circles of white and brown in color appeared around Luciana. Using those circles, the silver-haired witch sent down a storm of attack which eradicated the monsters coming for Aristo.

Hundreds were killed every second by Luciana's attack. And the sound of the slaughter only invited more of the creatures hiding from afar.

Due to their numbers and Aristo's wishes, around eight to a dozen managed to slip through Luciana's assaults. The creatures furiously and hungrily charged toward Aristo and his men.

The Doomed Prince raised his weapon and readied his army.

"Lance and I will be the vanguards. The rest of you, kill anything that get past us and guard the horses!"

At the end of his command, Aristo faced his sword forward and began running toward the monsters. Looking fearless and gallant, as he should be.