"The Hunt for Lilia 4" - Aer POV

The snowstorm was unforgiving, cruel. Blocking the sky as a dark hand of a twisted God that tried to rip out the Sun from the sky. Every snowflake, no matter how small, cuts deeper than the sharpest of knives. I felt my skin irritated and bloody, as I covered my face with my hands. It was only with Ruma's overwhelming presence that this snowstorm didn't freeze me to death. I could only thank the steady influence of the anti-freezing fungi in my system, which seemed like a gift from Heaven at this time.

There was no doubt about it. This storm was unnatural. Created by magic, be it the Hero's, the Witch's, or the Demon's. 

"Every year, winter is getting worse in Barem."

Someone was testing this. Testing his power. And not just in controlling the weather. Was it Suzanne? She could create storms. No. That couldn't be it. She was there before it started. She knew something, but she wasn't as powerful. I felt it in my heart. 

A giant tall as a tower, with two giant blood-red eyes.

He was like a beacon of dread, with smaller shadows leeching off from him like ticks, dropping down to the ground. The snow covered these creatures, yet their shapes were visible to me. I felt no fear at all. Perhaps I was numb to it. In fact, if I remember correctly, I never felt fear since I was born in this world. Or maybe even in the previous one. I felt a plea of other evil emotions. Anger. Anxiety. But never something people describe as genuine fear. 

In fact, this situation is easily understandable. After all, it was as simple as it gets. Almost like something out of a fairy tale. A giant monster, which we needed to defeat to proceed. A boss, with his henchmen.

They whispered in the wind, like ghosts of the past. Even when they got closer to us, I couldn't see any solid shape they could make. I looked at Ruma, seeking guidance from her composure. She looked directly ahead, her sword and shield drawn.

"I am your brother..." the wind whispered, the sound sending shivers down my spine. It was not directed to me, but to Ruma, yet I heard it all again.

"I am your mother..." The shadows lingered, circling around us in the snow like a tornado, their eyes red like those of a blood-lusted pack of wolves.

"I am your father..." It wasn't merely one shadow that spoke; it was all of them, syncing in a loud chorus of darkness.

"I am Lilia Bluefrog," said the Giant, towering over us like the gatekeeper of Hell, his eyes replacing the Sun.

Lady Ruma chuckled.

"And she will rise again."

It was then that Ruma drew her sword up to the sky, facing not the henchemen, but the Giant standing before her.

"A mere phantom would dare to sully a Hero's Maiden name? I know you see this, summoner, through those giant red eyes. A coward, who hides behind his phantoms, is a coward all the same. You have made a grand mistake, however...I have my pupil here with me now. And once we destroy your phantoms, I'll destroy you too..." 

Her voice was interrupted by the Phantom Giant, whose devious laugh filled the snowy fields, the clouds, the mountains, and my ears like a trumpet of doom.

"First Fragment: Every odd attack misses, every even attack hits twice as much."

I saw Ruma's smile freeze for the first time.

"Second Fragment: Every attack that hits, hits the opponent too, unless they know a code word."

She made a step back, her eyes looking around the shadows. 

I realized only then that I am unarmed.

It appeared Lady Ruma had more than one fragment. And that our enemy knew about it.

Did he waste no time since he started, too? Preparing himself for this very moment?

"Third Fragment: Every attack that would kill you doesn't kill you if someone doesn't agree with it...Is that why you brought the girl with you?"

I looked at Ruma's back as her cape flew through the air. Her posture was calm. 

"I need-" I wanted to say I need a sword.

Yet the Giant continued, his voice almost triumphant.

"I was hoping to neglect that last power by having you alone...But you brought the girl, so I will have to kill her first. Then, it's only a matter of time. Even if your attacks kill my phantoms, I will be safe and sound. For all your big talk, you have no offensive abilities. You are merely a defender...is that why you are so slow to act?"

But then, Lady Ruma began laughing. Laughing so strongly, it caught me off guard. As if he had said the funniest joke in the world. She was blushing, holding her stomach, as if she was going to fall over. It was almost as if she were drunk in a pub, rather than standing in a snowstorm, with terrifying enemies before us.

"You think mere ghosts are enough to terrify me? My friend, this isn't a fairy tale. And I am no child."

She wiped off her tears and then grabbed the sword in her hand. 

"Look intently, dear Aer. Consider this a personal lesson of mine. Our enemy is clearly a Witch sympathizer. He loves darkness and shadow, and he revels in it. He needs a mere shadow of a mighty creature to feel like he stands a chance. A Necromancer...or as we inquisitors call them...a pathetic bitch."

Is she serious? 

She pointed the sword at her face, as if she was going to stab herself in the eye.

Ruma must have lost her mind!

"What...What are you doing?" 

Even the Giant was seemingly puzzled, the ghosts around us drawing their swords. It appeared they were hesitant, even if they had us cornered.

What should I do? What should I do?

"Ruma, stop!" I shouted, trying to make some sense of her. But it was too late.

"You think I have merely THREE, you pathetic fucking FOOL?"

Her voice was laced with insanity as she stabbed herself in the face, ripping her face open. Then, a beam of purple light was emitted, like the burning Sun, revealing not the skull, tissue, and blood, but rather dozens of crystals stuck together, as if she were a statue covered in flesh.

What...What is this? I watched in awe as the fragments appeared on her face.

"THIS is how you scare someone, you pathetic little shit!"

She laughed maniacally, tilting her spine back and to the side.

"I am Lady Rumabelle of the Hero's Church Inquisitors, a knight under the tutelage of Ser Baranos of the Council of Ten, and one of his two swords! I, who have made my body into the Hero's sword, and carry over one hundred fragments inside my body, can never be scared nor impressed by you, you pathetic cunt."

Holy shit.

"Now, if you think that I can't attack you at all...please...be my guest. Attack me with your ghosts, if you so wish. However, you should be aware that even dark magic leaves a trace...And if I beat your puppets, I'll find that trace! That means I'll find you! And then you will see what it really means to defile the dead!"

And then there was silence, as the giant Ghost slowly took a step back, the other ghosts seemingly looking at each other in confusion.

"No...I don't think I will. I have grown quite fond of these puppets...I've known them personally before they departed... I have what I came for anyway."

Suddenly, the voice wasn't as triumphant after all, and the ghosts disappeared in the wind as quickly as they appeared.

The snowstorm subsided, revealing the mill in the distance.

It was burning.