The Duo

The creature's roars echoed across the battlefield like a deep, guttural sound enough to vibrations through the air. It moved with terrifying speed, each lunge and strike is deadly and precise, like a predator that had been hunted for centuries. Keeping up with its movements was nearly impossible. Every time I thought I could predict its next attack, it shifted, faster, stronger... and completely unrelenting.

Its gaze locked onto me, burning with an intent I couldn't ignore. It wasn't just attacking for survival. It wasn't lashing out blindly. No, this thing wanted me dead.

But no matter how violently it fought, it couldn't escape. It was surrounded. Every time it tried to break through, someone was already there... blocking, countering, striking back with a force just as deadly as its own.

And what was more surprising? The way they moved.

Despite how hard it is to move wearing a hanfu, they barely seemed hindered. Their footwork was swif and just as precise. Effortless, if I were to say so myself, especially Quilya's. She was impossibly fast, weaving through attacks with an agility that defied human speed. It was as if she wasn't bound by the same rules as the rest of us, almost as if the ground itself barely touched her.

I watched them, taking it all in, the way they fought, the way they carried themselves. There was no hesitation in their movements, no wasted energy. And it was only then that I came to realize that they weren't just any ordinary fighters.

They are warriors.

They had lived on the battlefield.

And it showed.

The sky rumbled endlessly, each clash of thunder rolling through the heavens like an omen of destruction. Lightning struck down in wild, unpredictable bursts, illuminating the battlefield for brief moments before plunging it back into shadow. And yet, my attention was drawn to something else... something far more unsettling.

I gaze at the massive black sphere in the middle of the spinning clouds as it pulsed, growing larger and larger every second, as if feeding off the residual energy scattered around it. At the same time, the wind howled with increasing ferocity, tearing through the landscape with such force that even the strongest trees trembled under its wrath.

And the enemy is evidently using this atmosphere to its advantage.

I tightened my grip on the wooden railing of the carriage beside me, feeling the entire structure tremble from the relentless gusts. Leaves, dust, and debris were lifted into the air, spinning wildly before being carried off into the storm. The wind bit at my exposed skin, and a sharp, stinging pain in my thigh forced me to glance down.

Blood.

The shallow wound I got earlier, still bleeding, almost nonstop. It had already reached my ankle, staining my skin. My clothes weren't spared either... The fabric was already damp and now this. I quickly scanned the area, hoping to find something to staunch the bleeding, but there was nothing. Nothing within reach, nothing I could use.

At this rate, the best thing to do is to just go back inside the carriage. It would be safer. It's the only logical choice.

But I stayed where I was.

Despite the storm, despite the pain, I couldn't look away from the first ever battle that I'll witness unfolding before me.

This is the first time I had ever seen them fight. A fight involving mages... and Realm Guardians.

Well, since most of them are mages, I've had this thought that they were skilled ever since I knew it. Plus... As an avid fan of The Rhapsody of Everspring, I know some of their stories. That aside, right now, I am witnessing their skills, felt the power that radiated from them like a force stronger than that of nature's.

And watching them now, seeing them move in perfect sync, striking with precision, countering every attack with impossible speed... it was something else entirely.

I wonder...

Will I ever be like them?

They had been fighting for a while now, clashing again and again with the monstrous entity before them. And yet, something felt off.

Quilya is a realm guardian. And she is, in fact, stronger than this. She could have ended this battle on her own so easily.

So why is she holding back?

What are they waiting for?

I watched their movements carefully, analyzing every step, every strike, until I finally understood.

Saying they were holding back was an understatement.

They weren't even using their powers. Just speed, and enough strength to retaliate.

That realization made me pause. If they wanted to, they could end this fight without breaking a sweat. So why aren't they?

I thought back to Krein's magic, that time when I felt an overwhelming force he unleashed as he unbind the spell to temporarily negate the gate's weakening seal. For the record, that was the most raw and the most purest energy I saw, something that made me tremble to the core. In my opinion, at least. I haven't seen much, but...

That thing? That swirling black mass in the sky?

It was nowhere near as potent.

Yes, it carried a sinister presence... which is kind of unsettling to look at. But compared to what I had already witnessed, it was weaker.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing harder on the fight.

The creature moved fast, attacking, evading, repositioning. But they were just as fast, if not faster. Every time it lashed out, they dodged with ease.

It was like watching a dance, a deadly rhythm of movements and counter-movements.

Not once did they hesitate.

Not once did they falter.

They had seen battle before. That much is clear.

Meanwhile, I could barely keep my breathing steady, and my limbs are somewhat close to stiffening due to the sheer tension. My thoughts were a mess. But in contrast to my body, it's frozen in place.

I know what fear feels like, including the helplessness of being in the way.

And that is exactly what I'm feeling right now.

If Quilya hadn't saved me back there…

I shook my head, forcing the thought away.

I don't wanna think about that.

'We have a situation. An unfamiliar entity attacked one of our chariots. And it appears to be in possession of magic of an unusual kind,'

An unfamiliar entity...

The words play over and over in my mind, looping like an echo that refuses to fade. There's something about them, something that tugs at my thoughts, like a hidden clue demanding to be unraveled.

Calef said something earlier. I tried to recall his words, piecing them together carefully, searching for anything that stands out.

And then, it clicks.

I finally understand what they're doing.

Because this creature is something they haven't seen before, they're not just fighting it, but they're studying it. Every move it makes, every reaction, every spell it casts. They're watching, taking note, analyzing it from every angle.

They're gathering knowledge.

But for what reason?

They are stronger. Overwhelmingly so. They could have ended this battle already, but they didn't. They chose not to.

Which means there's something else at play. Something I don't yet understand.

I need to watch carefully.

I need to see this through to the very end.

The wind howls even louder, its merest force is nearly strong enough to sweep me off my feet. I gripped the carriage wheel tighter, making my knuckles turn white from the strain. My hair whips wildly in the air, strands flying in every direction, making it nearly impossible to see. Damn, I should've brought a hair claw, at least.

"I'm getting used to its attack pattern, Krein. How's your observation going?" Quilya calls out over the roaring wind.

Krein responded calmly without hesitation, despite what's happening. "The energy of that dark object in the sky is incompatible with this creature. I, therefore, assume he is not responsible for it," he stated. "But I do not sense any nearby casters capable of summoning it, either," he added, his gaze still locked on the looming mass above.

What? That thing floating in the sky isn't that creature's doing?

Quilya leaps back from the scene, landing a few steps ahead of me. Her fingers trailed to her chin as she narrowed her eyes in thought. "Strange," she murmured, barely audible over the wind. "I thought only that woman could do this."

That woman? Who?

Who is she talking about? And what exactly does she mean by that?

"But this spell isn't hers either," Krein countered firmly.

I stayed silent, listening intently, as usual, having absolutely no clue what they're discussing. Though I'm beginning to grasp a few things, most of it still goes over my head. Maybe there really is something wrong with me. Either that, or I'm just slow.

"This is precisely why I find this situation so perplexing," Quilya muttered.

While they momentarily pull back to reassess the situation, the others continue fighting. The battle shows no sign of ending anytime soon. The clash of steel against flesh and bursts of magic filled the air. But something has changed. Their movements became sharper now that both Krein and Quilya withdrew, retaliating against every blow with equal force.

The test was over. This is no longer a fight to prolong.

Krein glanced at Quilya, sensing she has come to a realization. "What do you think, Quilya?" His voice carried a rare seriousness. "You seem to have something in mind."

She didn't answer. Instead, she raised her voice and issues a sudden order. "Everyone, fall back!"

There was no sign of hesitation in her voice. And without question, the others retreat, quickly regrouping around her. Giving the unknown entity more ground to unleash its attacks.

"I'll handle this myself. You guys watch over Aeriah for me," Quilya announced, stepping forward with clear intent.

But before she can act, a voice cuts through the air, stopping her in her tracks.

"No, we will settle this."

A woman's voice jolted us out of our reverie. I sensed two people behind us, and I could feel their imposing presence. Also, I recognize this voice. We turned around to see who was there and saw Scarlette and Alec who had just dismounted their horses.

"What are you doing here?" Marreanne asked in disbelief.

"We knew something like this would happen, so we followed you." That Alec guy replied smoothly. "And we were right."

His attire is the same as before, except now, in his grip, he holds the sword that had once rested on the sword rack in his chamber.

"What is the point of this, Larvagnne?" Quilya asked, her tone edged with impatience.

Larvah—what? I frowned. And since when did they start calling each other by their first names?

That Lamborghini guy merely chuckled at her irritation, amusement was slightly evident in his voice. "Singularity, come now. There's no need to be so cold. We are fighting together as allies, are we not? As I have already made clear, we also have business to take care of at Maurgriann."

Quilya narrowed her eyes. "Business?" she echoed. "Hold on, since when did you—"

"Oh, yeah. While you three were gone, the four of us had a discussion regarding these incidents happening outside my town recently," Alec interrupted with a casual. "My schedule was supposed to be a few hours after your departure, but I just couldn't stand by and wait, so Scarlette and I decided to tag along."

And suddenly, the playful air around Labrenica faded. His expression darkened, gone was his casual facial expression, his fingers tightened around the lengthy sheath where his blade rested. "They have started appearing near my village," he said, his voice lower now, more serious. "Lurking just outside Lashevierr's borders, preying on unsuspecting people. If this continues, my town will suffer greatly, and the neighboring cities will not be far behind."

Quilya crossed her arms, fixing her gaze straight at him. "And you are requesting aid from the kingdom of Maurgriann? You are a realm guardian, are you not?"

Lavrawhatever fell silent at that. So did everyone.

Until...

"What?!" I couldn't help but burst out, since my shock has become too great to contain after hearing that. "He's a what?"

"A, hehe... a realm guardian," Quilya answered with an awkward smile, which clearly didn't made this revelation any easier to process.

I mean, come on! How come someone so beautifully handsome or handsomely beautiful be a realm guardian? Just... ugh! I can't.

And then, as if to confirm the absurdity of it all, everyone else nodded. In agreement.

What the hell, people? Seriously?

"Scarlette as well," Alec added casually, as if it were just another ordinary fact.

I almost coughed.

These two?! Realm guardians?! My head spun at the thought. That makes three of them in total!

"Enough small talk," Larconic cut in, dismissing the conversation entirely. "I didn't come here for this. More importantly, we have an enemy to deal with, do we not?"

As if on cue, we all turned toward the monstrous creature still growling. And as expected, I can still see nothing in it's glare but malice. Rage. The desire to hunt me down for whatever reason.

Alec's gaze flicked upward to the ominous dark mass hovering in the sky. "And what exactly is that?" he mused aloud, though he did not really expect an answer. Or rather, it was a question that had no real answer. His eyes are saying he already knew what it was.

"Alright," he continued, shifting his focus back to Quilya. "I assume you've had your fill of testing this thing's abilities? If so, you may leave the rest to us two."

Quilya did not argue. She merely gave him a short nod before stepping back. "Understood," she said simply.

Then, she turned toward me, finally moving away from the battlefield. Without a word, she knelt beside me, her sharp eyes landing on the wound on my thigh.

"You're bleeding nonstop. How are you feeling?" Quilya asked, narrowing her eyes as she examined my wound. Looking at it, it might seem like a very shallow scratch, but the bleeding just won't stop. It stings.

"I-I'm fine. Really. It's just a small scratch," I quickly replied, trying to reassure her. But I was betrayed by my own words.

I thought that would be enough to convince her, but the way her brows furrowed told me otherwise. Instead of arguing with me, she simply turned and called for Marreanne.

Within moments, Marreanne was by our side, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She had been fighting non-stop, yet just one call from Quilya and she's instantly here.

"What's wrong? Are you two all right?" she asked, glancing between us.

"I'm fine," Quilya replied in a low voice, then gestured toward my leg. "But I think Riah needs some treatment."

"You can count on me," Marreanne said without missing a beat.

She held out both hands over my wound, and almost immediately, a warm, golden light flickered to life in her palms. The sudden brightness made me squint, and I instinctively raised a hand to shield my eyes.

"Hold this up," she instructed, gently lifting the hem of my stained clothing before guiding my hand to hold it in place.

Then, without another word, she pressed her glowing hands against my wound.

I didn't know what to expect, but the sensation was nothing like I had imagined. There was no searing pain, no burning heat... just a steady, soothing warmth spreading through my skin. My breath hitched as I watched in silence.

The gash, which had been bleeding so much only moments ago, was slowly closing before my very eyes. The torn flesh stitched itself back together, erasing the wound as if it had never been there. It was hypnotizing, watching something broken mend in an instant.

Marreanne finally pulled her hands away and took a step back. Meanwhile, I lowered my gaze to my leg, where only dried blood remained, trailing from my thigh to my ankle, making it the only evidence that I had ever been injured.

"What... was that?" I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I just healed your wound," Marreanne said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Does it still hurt?"

I shook my head, still trying to process what had just happened.

With that, I murmured a quiet but heartfelt, "Thank you."

Quilya and I turned our heads toward Larconica and Scarlette, watching them engage in battle. My eyes followed Scarlette first, and was surprised to see that she wasn't on the ground like the others... she was floating effortlessly in midair, standing completely still as if gravity had no claim on her. Then, to my astonishment, she took a casual step forward.

She wasn't falling.

It was as if she were walking on an invisible platform. Every step she took left behind a fleeting trace of delicate flower petals, swirling in the air before slowly vanishing the moment they touched the ground.

Lasveron, on the other hand, had already taken a battle stance. His grip on the sword was firm, holding it in both hands above his head, his wrists close to his scalp. With measured precision, he breathed, and adjusted his posture. His wrists extended, positioning his weapon so that the blade aligned perfectly above his left eye.

Then, I heard Scarlette murmur something under her breath.

An incantation.

Almost instantly, just like earlier, the atmosphere vibrated. A soft yet potent energy radiated from her, flowing in unseen currents toward Laverna. As the spell took hold, his sword erupted with a luminous purple glow, making the surface of its blade shimmer like liquid amethyst.

A spell of enhancement. She was reinforcing his blade, strengthening his strike.

Without hesitation, Larvena moved.

He dashed forward with incredible speed, his form blurring, leaving behind trails of glinting light as he leaped toward the enemy. The sheer force of his movement sent a gust of wind rippling outward, all while splitting the air in front of him.

His sword came down in a clean, sweeping arc, slashing from left to right in a deadly strike aimed directly for the creature's head. The moment his blade cut through, it left behind a dazzling afterglow, a streak of violet light burning against the thick gust of wind.

But the enemy was fast. Too fast.

With inhuman reflexes, it jerked its body back at the last second, narrowly evading a fatal strike.

Even so, Laverna's blade didn't miss completely. Instead of its head, the edge of his weapon bit into its left arm, slicing through its flesh and muscle, though not deeply enough to sever. A shallow wound, but enough to send black ichor spraying through the air.

Yet he didn't wait for retaliation. He pressed forward, relentlessly. With a sharp pivot, he swung his sword once more, this time with greater force.

The creature barely had time to react.

Steel met flesh, cutting through with brutal efficiency.

And in one swift motion...

Its head was severed.

The body stood frozen for a heartbeat before it collapsed, crashing lifelessly to the ground.

The creature's lifeless body hit the ground with a heavy thud, stirring up dust upon impact. Yet, even in death, its severed head let out a faint, lingering wail. A sound full of pain, refusing to fade completely, as if the agony of its demise clung to it even in its final moments.

Loberan stepped forward with a serious look on his face, his grip steady on his sword. His gaze lowered as he regarded the pitiful remains with cold detachment before murmuring, "Let me put you out of your misery."

Without hesitation, he plunged his blade into the disembodied head, completely silencing it.

As the final traces of life left the creature, its body began to dissolve, thinning into dark wisps of ash and smoke that dissipated into the air. At the same time, the black sphere that loomed in the sky started to fade, along with the eerie atmosphere that had clung to the battlefield, like a curtain of darkness being pulled away. As though whatever power had sustained it had been severed along with the creature's life. The hollow cloud thinned and disappeared as well, leaving only the vast sky in its wake.

As the skies cleared, the warm hues of the setting sun was given way. The golden light bathed the land once more, illuminating the aftermath of a short-lived battle. I raised a hand to shield my eyes from the sudden brightness, blinking as my vision adjusted.

Only then did we realize... nightfall was approaching.

A voice finally broke the silence.

"I suppose we can call it a day," Miss Kreziana muttered.

I glanced at her and noticed the barely concealed irritation in her eyes. Ah. She must be upset that her carefully prepared meal had gone to waste because of the unexpected battle. Honestly, I couldn't blame her. It's frustrating to put effort into something only for it to be ruined before you even get to enjoy it.

Quilya sighed, shaking her head. "We need to report this incident to Maurgriann." She cleared her throat before shifting her gaze to Lasveronica, who was calmly sliding his sword back into its sheath. "Larvagnne, isn't that why you were headed there in the first place?"

He gave a short nod.

Wait, was I saying his name wrong the entire time? What was it again? Lavan? Larvan? Well, whatever. Lamborghini Alec. Pronouncing his name is a bit of a hassle. So much for a guy with a feminine figure.

"We should get moving," Krein spoke up, and everyone murmured in agreement.

We returned to the carriage, relieved to find that it had remained intact despite the chaos. The same could not be said for that one chariot that had been attacked earlier, however. It was beyond repair, its structure was too damaged to be salvaged. With no other choice, we left it behind, deciding to deal with it later once we arrived at Maurgriann.

Meanwhile, Paganini and Scarlette mounted their horses, taking position beside us as we prepared to leave.

I hesitated before calling out, "Quilya."

She turned to me. "What? Need something?"

"Ah, no, I just..."

She raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

I inhaled deeply, gathering my thoughts. When she noticed my hesitation, her gaze sharpened as she studied me.

"I just... wanted to say sorry," I admitted, but my voice is kinda lower than I intended.

"For what, exactly?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Lowering my gaze, I murmured, "I shouldn't have gone outside earlier."

Quilya remained silent for a moment, as if considering my words. Then she let out a small sigh. "It's fine, Riah. You were curious, and I get it. But what bothers me is why that thing was targeting you specifically."

I frowned. "I have no idea either. Maybe because I don't have any powers?"

At that, she fell quiet for a moment, her expression turned unreadable. A flicker of something passed through her eyes before she gave a small shake of her head.

"Let's not dwell on it for now," she said at last. "But listen to me, Aeriah. From now on, you need to be careful. We're no longer living in the same world as before. The beauty of this land is deceiving. It hides dangers beneath its charm. Don't let yourself be fooled by illusions. Do you understand?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the truth was, I wasn't entirely sure what to say.

There was still so much I didn't understand.

Even so, based on everything I had seen so far, it was obvious that this world held threats I wasn't prepared for. I had no idea what awaited me, nor what the future has in store.

That Lamborghini guy said something earlier that still lingered in my mind.

I was among those who had chosen to forget.

So that meant I had been here before.

It made sense in a way. If I had truly lost my memories, then that would explain why I remembered nothing about this place. But even so, it felt... incomplete. If I had lived here once, then why did I grow up somewhere else?

Had I died in the war and been reborn? Reincarnation? That's just ridiculous.

No. That didn't feel right either.

But every mystery had an answer.

And eventually, I will find mine.

"Riah," Quilya said, pulling me from my thoughts. Her voice was softer now, more insistent. "Do you promise?"

I exhaled slowly, then nodded.

"I promise."

This world was nothing like the one I had known.

Here, there is war. There is danger. Bloodshed, violence, magic, and creatures beyond my comprehension.

With so many threats looming over us, how am I supposed to find the missing pieces of myself?

Quilya, you said this was home.

But what kind of world is this?