Volume 10 : Chapter 15 – SOME BIRDS SING (1)

“Beneath the sun's warm, golden light,

I think of Grandma, my heart feels bright.

Her fluffy pancakes made with love and cheer,

And Grandpa’s stories make everything feel right.

Though you are gone, your love stays near

In every smile, I hold you dear.

I know you'd worry, even if I say,

I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine….”

A small girl with a slender frame, delicate fox ears, and a sweet, endearing face sat on a sunlit boulder.

Her maid’s uniform neatly pressed as she hummed a soft tune.

“... And I’ll find my way.” she sang quietly.

Sensing someone approaching, she tried to stop, but her voice lingered. Her neck was too overwhelmed to follow.

“Lucia come here.” It was the head maid Hersa, who called.

“―Coming.” Lucia responded running to her in a heartbeat. Simultaneously rubbing her eyes with her arms to ensure she looked neat on her first day at work.

“It was a nice song, Lucia. You sing really well.”

“Thank you. But it’s what I love doing, so it’s nothing special.”

“I doubt anyone can sign so sweetly at your age. You have a beautiful voice so you should be proud.” Hersa said confidently despite Lucia’s plain response.

“But my voice sounds the same to me.” Lucia said, remembering how the villagers would sometimes join in when she would sing. The only difference was that this time she sat there singing alone.

Lucia looked even more dejected now.

“Are you worried about what is going to happen?” Hersa knew how Lucia suffered at the hands of humans.

Lucia nodded. It was only this morning when Lucia entered Alicia’s room to bring her refreshments, which was the first task of her day.

There she overheard the latest news that they had just received. A large army of the same red soldiers had settled on the other side of the forest and made several huge camps there.

Alicia had reassured her that they would never be a threat and the strong knights who had rescued them before would keep them safe.

But the memory of her grandparents being murdered always flashed before her eyes, causing her to squeeze them shut in agony.

“Don’t worry. I believe in our new lord. Though she is shy and a bit awkward. But I know she is special because our princess brought her here. And then those new knights came to protect us. And I have also seen our lord’s healing light magic. It is amazing and a sight to behold.”

“Yes, big sister Alicia is super strong. And her magic once even cut a mountain in half. I even saw it with my own eyes.” Lucia said excitedly but Hersa laughed it off as a simple child’s imagination.

“I know. Before you start helping with your work today. You should come with me.” Hersa held Lucia’s hands and she followed.

After a short stroll, they reached the other side of the wall and came to a halt before a towering oak tree that stood proudly before them.

“This oak tree.” Hersa began, her voice carrying a tone of reverence, “Is said to be the very first sapling born in this region after the Great Wars ended. Legend has it that it protects this place, keeping it safe from any harm.”

Lucia’s gaze drifted upward, to see the top of the oak. Its colossal roots delved deep into the earth, sprawling far and wide, even reaching the walls of the mansion.

Even after two hundred years had passed, it was still standing tall like it could go on living for an eternity.

“Go ahead.” Hersa encouraged Lucia. Her hands come together in a prayerful gesture. “It’s said that if you make a wish with all your heart beneath this tree, it will come true. That’s why we always come here to pray.”

Closing her eyes, Hersa murmured something softly, her serene expression was enough to show her deep faith in the power of the tree.

Lucia watched Hersa with innocent curiosity before hesitantly clasping her own hands together.

As her eyes shut, a sudden darkness enveloped her vision. She felt her mind drift away, lost in deep thought.

‘I don’t know whether you will grant my wish. But I know someone who surely can, but I can’t directly say it to her.’ Lucia prayed quietly.

From the depths of her soul, Lucia made a wish —a wish born of her truest feelings, unspoken and raw.

‘I wish big sister finds the person who did this to us, who killed my grandparents, ―and crush him completely that he begs for the mercy he’ll never deserve.’

Hersa opened her eyes and glanced at Mia.

“Did you make your wish?” she asked gently.

Mia nodded, and a soft smile appeared on her lips. “Yes.”

“Do you feel better now?” Hersa inquired.

“I do.” Mia replied quietly, her gaze lingering on the oak tree.

Hersa clapped her hands together. “Good. Let’s get back to work then.”

Mia gave a small laugh, following Hersa as they turned to leave the tree behind.

***

Soldiers in red armor probed through the vast forest, cutting down the dense flora in their way with their heavy swords.

Just when they thought they were nearing their destination under the guise of the quiet of the forest. Looking for more safe and closer spots to put up new camps around the place.

But an ambush shattered the peace.

From the left, a knight in radiant silver armor burst forth, his weapon gleaming like a streak of moonlight cut through one of the red soldier's armor.

The red-clad soldiers halted in their tracks, quickly pivoting to counter the surprise assault.

The knight's charge was but a feint. A second group of knights, flanking from the right, emerged from the shadows.

Their timing was precise, their formation flawless —executing a pincer attack they completely took the enemy by surprise.

The clash of steel echoed through the forest as the knights moved to engage the attackers in an all-out battle. The soldiers in red found themselves encircled, their numbers rapidly dwindling.

After a brief yet intense skirmish, it was all over with the knights of Oakhart standing victorious.

“This makes the fourth team we've taken out.” one of the knights muttered.

“Just how many of them are hiding out here?” another asked, his voice laced with frustration. “We can't keep this up forever. I hope the other knights on the scouting team bring back some good news soon.”

“We keep this place far from the reach of the enemy. No matter what it takes.” Izek declared in his voice firm as he repeated their new master's orders.

Suddenly, a shower of magic attacks surged from the dense shadows behind them. Without hesitation, Izek raised his magic shield, reacting on instinct.

The spherical magic shield covered them just in time, deflecting the initial blast and protecting the group.

The assault, however, was relentless. A barrage of magic spells continued raining down upon them, pinning Izek and the other knights in place, and forcing them into a purely defensive stance.

Amid the chaos, the ground trembled. A towering tree nearby shook violently.

With a deafening crash, it toppled over, its immense weight crushing half of the magician soldiers who had been targeting Izek.

But the reprieve was short-lived. Another wave of fiery spells streaked through the air, aiming for the knights. Being too far from the enemy to respond to their attacks, they could only brace themselves and defend.

But then, an ordinary looking arrow sliced through the air. It zipped past Izek’s shield and struck the incoming magic spells.

On impact, the space itself twisted and churned, forming a shimmering whirlpool that disrupted the flow of magic, dispersing them into harmless sparks.

A repeated wave of arrows followed suit. Each arrow that struck erupted like a miniature explosion, tearing through the remaining magician red clad soldiers.

Izek and his team stared in stunned relief as Regis and Hana emerged from the smoke.

It was clear that Regis who was holding the bow was the unseen archer whose shots turned the tides.

Izek removed his shields and the knights were mobile again to make sure there were no enemy soldiers left.

“Hana how many times do I need to tell you that before doing anything so drastic you should wait and think. What would have happened if the tree you pushed would have fallen in the wrong place.” Regis scolded Hana for not thinking all the way through.

“I am sorry. From next time… I will throw the tree instead of pushing it. More control that way!” Hana grinned like it was a foolproof plan.

Regis facepalmed, muttering under her breath, “Why do I even bother…”

The other knights looked at the giant girth of the tree and felt blessed for the thought that the tree did not fall on them.

“Miss Regis and Hana.” Izek ran to them to know what they were doing there.

At the same time, he wondered how a small girl like Hana with her little hands move such a giant tree. He did not feel any kind of magic radiating from Hana. So, it must have been her super physical strength.

And when Izek looked towards Regis, he felt sorry for not being able to greet her properly because he needed to keep her identity hidden.

The moment he became the leader of the knights of Oakhart, Alicia finally introduced him to Regis and Hana.

He still couldn’t believe his eyes, that the elf standing in front of them was a high elf that too a direct descendant from the royal family of Ascalon, of the elf kingdom.

Since the royal elven family never left their kingdom from the demon content after the Great War ended, they had almost become a myth in the human continent.

It was his job now to keep Regis and Hana safe along with Regis’s identity.

While the other knights complimented the two for helping them.

“What are you doing here?” Izek finally asked.

“We too are here to protect this place. I didn’t want to sit around here and do nothing.” Regis responded.

“Alright let’s go back to the mansion and wait for further news.” Regis said.

…

It was only a few hours ago, and two days after the knights of Oakhart became official. When the scouting party suddenly found signs of an army laying camp on the other side of the forest.

Once Alicia was told about this, she only asked the knights to stop any of their invading parties from attacking the mansion or the village.

“…Till then we will wait for them and see what they truly are here for.” Alicia said those exact same words.

But everyone was still in doubt that soldiers of another kingdom would attack another kingdom just to get back some slaves. None of it made any sense to them.

That’s why Izek and the others quickly wanted to return to the mansion to get more information and check everything was safe.

In the hind chance, there would have been any trouble they would have quickly evacuated.

…

In the present, when Regis, Hana, and Izek entered Alicia’s office after returning from the forest. It was completely empty.

For a second Regis and Izek guessed that she might be elsewhere. But then as if having a revelation Regis looked at Hana with sharp eyes.

“Where is Alicia?” Regis asked.

“I don’t know. Master is gone.” Hana answered unable to sense Alicia’s presence.

It only meant that either Alicia had gone too far or she purposely did not want Hana to sense her. Or both.

“Dammit. After all this time. I should have known she would have done something like this again.” Regis frustratedly stomped her feet on the ground, tightly clutching her bow.

“Miss Regis, do you think Lady Alicia has gone to the battlefield herself to deal with the enemy?” Izek, knowing Alicia's past record and observing how she moved, had also caught on to her habit.

“She always likes to do things alone and in her own way, without thinking of how we would feel. But she can't keep me away from following her.” Regis muttered as she walked out of the room.

“I'm coming too.” Hana said.

“The knights will follow too.” Izek responded.

***

KEITH LATIVAN [REINCARNATE HOMURA – CLASS RPESIDENT]

I did not plan for this to evolve into a war, but I think I will enjoy the thrill of chasing my trophy to the ends of the earth.

To make this game more entertaining, I also wanted to punish the person who tried to harm me by exploding the portal and exacting my revenge. This game was only getting more exciting.

After all, there was no one who could go against me.

Now, I just needed to trample that small village where those ungrateful demi-humans were hiding and claim my prize.

“My prince, there has been a problem.” the butler announced as he entered the camp where I was resting.

“What is it? We have more than enough soldiers to handle anything.” I replied hastily.

“There is a person who has somehow succeeded in invading our camp.”

“Who is it?”

“We don’t know, but reports say it’s a girl wearing an odd white mask.” the butler explained.

“Then either execute them or, if they’re still alive and beautiful, bring them to me.” I felt restless. After all my birdies had their brains malfunctioned by now and I was dying for entertainment.

“But no soldier can get near her, and our attacks don’t reach her. She has made only one demand. To meet the leader here.”

“Tch. You can’t even handle something like this? So, this person is looking for me. Alright, I’ll take a good look at her and punish her severely.”

***

The moment I received the news of the red soldiers setting up camps around the Oakhart border, it had already been two days since I had accepted Izek and his men as official knights of Oakhart.

I couldn’t believe they had made me wait so long here. Since I had invited them, it was only right for me to be the first one to greet them as well.

But first, I needed to make sure this place remained safe even in my absence.

I assigned Izek and his men to scout the area and look for any spies approaching us. Hopefully, that would keep him and the others busy.

Without further delay, I teleported myself to the far outskirts of the forest, where their camp was reported to be situated.

In that vast clearing, the red armored soldiers were working hard to cut down the forest to make more space for their camps.

Some were doing drills, while others set up new tents. Their numbers were already in the thousands.

This made me question once again. Why would someone go so far just to reclaim the remaining slaves and attack another kingdom?

What reason did they have to target Lucia and everyone else?

There was only one way to find out.

As for the reason why I wanted to do this all on my own. ―I still did not know. Except for the fact, I felt it was my responsibility to look after Lucia and the other demi humans since I was the one who gave them that teleportation device.

So, I did not want to drag Athena, Regis, Hana, Izek, or the people of Oakhart into this.

Looking back at the large number of camps, I decided to focus on my current task.

Now how do I get to their leader —no, the man who had killed Lucia’s grandparents?

I decided to approach the closest camp on foot.

The moment a few soldiers spotted me, they were confused and alarmed at the same time.

“Hello, can I meet your leader, please?” I asked politely to the men.

“Who are you, and how did you get in here?” One of the soldiers demanded. Also puzzled, since their scouts in the watchtowers had somehow failed to notice me.

“I just wanted to meet the leader. If you can just bring him here…” I asked again.

“Let’s kill her.”

Before I could finish saying, the soldiers cut me off and already decided on my execution.

They thrust their spears and swords at me. But at the same time, I raised a blue barrier around me. But this time it was a different one compared to the robust barrier I normally used.

The moment they touched the barrier the attacker was teleported five hundred meters away every time.

“What just happened?”

“If it’s a barrier attack her with magic.” The soldiers got panicked and confused.

The magician unit of the soldiers moved to the front and began casting their attack spells. However, every spell rebounded the moment it touched the barrier surrounding me.

The spell attacks either flew back straight at the magical unit or hit their own comrades or burnt a few of their own camps.

“Who is that strange girl? Kill her!”

“Kill her. Kill her.”

“I am not some strange girl. If you would just let me meet your leader.” I said flustered, admonishing their claims, before any other unnecessary rumor started about me attached to my name.

The soldiers relentlessly pressed their attack. For some reason, they seemed out of their element—irrational, as if consumed by thoughts of war and unable to think for themselves.

At least if I quietly stayed here like this I am sure this commotion would catch someone’s attention. And if they do not come fast, I guess the spells from the magic unit will burn down all their camps first.

A few minutes later, the attacks suddenly ceased and all the soldiers got in formation.

“I couldn’t wait to see who was brave enough to enter the enemy frontline all on their own. For a second, I thought everyone was playing a joke. But there is a clown.” A boy walked in front.

He was wearing the most lavish armor and had an air around him. He had brown hair and black eyes and was even a bit taller than me.

Is he the leader here, I wondered? And who is he to call a clown? If anything, I was the one who decided to peacefully come here first and avoid them the trouble of reaching to me.

Just then the boy lifted his hand and making a fist like trying to crush something, my barrier came apart.

There was no sound, nor any sign of breaking it. It almost felt like for a second the magic formation of the barrier relaxed and instead of listening to me fell apart.

But for some reason instead of being shocked at seeing my magic failing, an unwarranted smile crept on my face.

“I am the first prince of the Lativan kingdom, Keith Lativan. The person you were looking for. Tell me who are you?” the boy demanded feeling superior after taking down my barrier in a single breath.

“I see so it’s you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you enjoy my gift?” I smirked.

The prince was taken aback by the small smirk I had on my face. At first, the boy only looked confused and realized only a bit later what I had meant. His face turned red in anger.

“So, it was you who made that damn portal and also detonated it.” The prince glowered like a mad dog.

“You must have had a lucky day to survive that.” I clapped my hand to congratulate him.

But the prince’s worst memories came back, as he remembered everything in his vicinity turning into ash and dust. Only the few remaining of his people on the ship were saved by a hair's breadth.

Before the prince could decide what to do further with me. I decided to put my proposal first.

“My name is Alicia and I am the baroness of Oakhart. The place across this forest. So, I want you to withdraw from this place and not make any attack.” I finally said what I wanted to.

“Haaa… haaa… you first tell me that you were the one who stole my slaves and hurt me. And now you are asking me not to attack you. You have got to be kidding me. What gives you the idea I won’t kill you here, now that you are in front of me.” The prince said with a dreadful voice full of hate.

“I just want to give you the chance to go back and not repeat the same mistake. If you promise that you won’t kidnap or hurt the demi humans again, we won’t need to fight.” I tried to explain to him.

“You think you can keep those demi humans under you safe? I know your barony does not have the means to protect himself. But here you are negotiating only in your favor.”

“I see. I must have come across wrong.” I took a deep breath.

“Huh?” The prince had an antagonized look.

“This is not a deal I am making. I am asking you to leave and don’t ever lay your hands on a demi human again.” I said to him.

“Ha…ha.ha.ha. You have quite the tongue. I know I have an idea. If you quietly bring all the demi humans to me and you too come with me. I will make sure to give you equal pain that I felt at that time. How does that sound.” The prince responded in a haughty voice.

“Is doing that all really necessary? I will even pay you for your losses if money is what you want. All I ask is that no one needs to get hurt. And you will also have to promise not to hurt anyone.” By bringing up money I wanted to check out what his real reason is behind kidnapping the demi humans.

“What I need are those demi humans. They only belong to me.” It was obvious the prince was overly obsessed with the demi humans to begin with.

“Sorry, but I can’t hand them over.”

“I think I have been too patient till now. Kill her. And after this, I will completely destroy that village where those mongrels are hiding and I will turn every one of those people there into my plaything.” The prince spoke his orders and his men surrounded me again.

They thought that they could harm me if the prince had the capability of taking down my shield. But if they are the ones to attack first, I will respond in kind as well.

The moment the prince turned and started to walk. The soldiers brandished their swords and some brought out arrows to shoot at me.

The moment they got near me, invisible threads flew out tightening around the place, and the soldiers along with their armor were cut into pieces.

Hundreds of them lost their lives at once.

“What happened?” The prince looked back in surprise upon hearing the cries of his soldiers, which were not the ones he had expected to hear.

Dozens of decapitated bodies lay on the ground, lifeless, that were alive only a few moments ago, with blood staining the fresh meadow.

“I also have an idea of my own. You are here because I wanted you to be, and now you won’t be, because I’ve decided otherwise. Since you have refused my refusal, it's time you should go back. It’s over now.”

I lifted up my hands together, and hundreds of black fusion balls manifested in the sky. The next moment they flew at high speed targeting each of their camps.

“No stop.” The prince cried as he tried to use the same technique to take down my barrier.

But it did not work, and could only affect a few of the fusion balls to change their trajectory.

“What happened?” The prince cried. “You… How did you do that?” the prince then stared at his hand, unable to imagine his technique fail.

“Whatever your technique is, it is only able to tilt the flow of magicules. It might work on a simple magician to disrupt their flow and make it look like you are in control. But for a magical genius like me, it’s a small trick I can overcome by sheer force by thrusting my magic before you can gain control over it. Like I said it's already over.”

***

“Impossible. It’s impossible… impossible.” The prince went into a frenzy mode unable to grasp the current situation.

All the camps were coming down under a black flame. Soldiers rushed to put them out by water. But the flames did not die and only spread further to whoever came in contact and eventually burnt their to death.

The soldiers were dying at a rapid rate.

And whoever got close to the intruder girl, got instantly cut down by some flashing invisible strings.

“Kill her. Kill her. Now.” The prince shouted and the soldiers mindlessly walked to their deaths.

It was obvious they were under some kind of suggestion spell.

“But how? How were you able to?” this was one of the first times Keith’s technique to influence someone's magic failed so miserably. After all, it was a power bestowed on him by god even if he did not use it at his full potential.

“The how doesn’t really matter. So, what will you do now?” Alicia asked.

“Alright. Alright. You want me to go. Just hand me those filthy demi humans and I will leave with my army.” The prince made a new suggestion. He did not want to face a strong magician head on when he had a clear disadvantage.

“No. They belong to me. And since you’ve taken things too far, I want you to apologize to them.”

“Do you think those demi-humans are worth anything? They’re monsters—demons. We humans are superior. I am God’s chosen one, and it’s my duty to bring peace to this world by killing them.” the prince declared with a chilling arrogance.

Alicia couldn’t understand what he meant. The person standing before her was no hero—so how could he call himself God’s chosen one and claim he was meant to bring peace to the world?

“But they are important to me. The girl whose grandparents you killed.” I reminded him of the atrocities he committed.

“So, that girl is alive. It must mean that luck is on my side. Hand her to me.” The prince rejoiced.

Alicia wondered why the prince suddenly got obsessed at the mention of Lucia.

“I have no reason to.” Alicia said firmly.

“Don’t underestimate me. You brought this upon yourself.”

Without warning, the prince lunged forward, his speed startling. In one fluid motion, he unsheathed his sword, the blade slicing through the air in a deadly arc aimed at her.

Alicia’s eyes caught the movement just in time. She stepped back gracefully, avoiding the strike. The prince’s blade missed its mark, but he didn’t relent.

As he halted, the sword in his hand began to glow with an intense golden aura.

Alicia’s eyes widened as a sharp pain tore through her stomach. She glanced down to find blood seeping from beneath her clothes. Her breath became unsteady, and she quickly pressed a hand to the wound.

Channeling her strongest divine light magic, a radiant glow enveloped her body. The searing pain faded as the wound closed before her eyes.

“How are you able to use divine magic?”

“How are you able to use divine magic?”

***

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