Episode 17

Every second counted in this dire situation, with a child possibly facing unspeakable horrors.

There was no time to hesitate.

Of course, I had a plan and something to rely on.

The sound of my footsteps rustled softly in the otherwise quiet forest as I pushed forward, parting the tall underbrush. Sharp leaves and branches scratched and poked at my arms and legs countless times, but I didn’t stop, not for a second.

How long had I been moving forward like this?

Finally, as I pushed through the last bit of thick foliage in the dark forest, I saw it—

Without thinking, I immediately summoned the power of water and hurled it at the target.

The water, which I had molded into the shape of a blunt rock, slammed into the assassin who had been straddling As and driving a sword toward his neck.

*Thud*—

With a dull, sickening sound, the assassin’s body was sent flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree.

As, trembling in fear, opened his eyes wide as the oppressive force on him vanished.

“As—!”

I screamed his name, running toward him with all my might.

Though the spirit-suppressing spell made my insides feel like they were melting, I couldn’t care less about that right now.

“As, are you okay?!”

Hearing my voice, As blinked and tried to stand up. When he saw me, his eyes welled with tears.

“Ainra…!”

The boy, covered in cuts and bruises, stood up and ran toward me with all his strength.

Thank goodness.

He wasn’t too badly injured.

Relieved, I stretched out my arms to embrace him, but then I noticed a glint of something behind him.

‘Metal? Something sharp…?’

In that moment, the realization struck me.

It was a blade.

‘We need to move!’

But by the time I understood what it was, it was already too late.

I tried to summon my water power again, but the dagger, thrown with blinding speed, was already hurtling toward As’s back.

*Thud.*

“…!”

For a moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl.

The light in the boy’s red eyes faded.

At the same time, the water magic I had gathered dissolved into glowing particles and scattered into the air.

Because it was too late to do anything with that power now.

As’s small body swayed.

I collapsed to my knees and caught his falling form in my arms.

“As…?”

My mind alternated between burning hot and freezing cold.

The dagger had been thrown with such force that it was deeply embedded in his tiny body.

I instinctively yanked the dagger out and tossed it aside, immediately flooding his wounds with healing magic.

“As, no, don’t die…”

My already strained insides twisted in agony again.

My vision blurred.

Blood welled up and dripped down my lips, but I didn’t stop casting the healing spell.

I had to save him.

That thought consumed me, taking root in my mind like an obsession.

What snapped me out of my trance was the sound of the assassin’s footsteps on the dirt.

My heightened senses, sharpened by the desperate need to protect As, registered even the smallest threat.

Without hesitation, I summoned water and shaped it into a massive boulder, slamming it into the remaining assassin, pinning him to the ground.

“Ugh…”

The assassin’s head hit the ground with a sickening crack, and he lay still.

The strain of using so much power made blood spill from my mouth, but I didn’t have the energy to even wipe it away. I just held As tightly in my arms.

“Don’t die…”

“…”

“If you die… that’s not okay…”

Still pouring out healing magic, I mumbled deliriously, as if I had lost my mind.

I didn’t understand why I felt so desperate.

I had known this child for less than a week.

We had no real connection.

I had brought him here because I couldn’t just watch him die.

I had thought he might be helpful in getting closer to Akes.

But now, the thought of this child dying was driving me mad.

Why did my heart ache so much?

Why was I trying to save him, even if it meant tearing myself apart in the process?

“I knew this would happen.”

A soft sigh echoed, and suddenly, a blinding light filled the space around us.

At the same time, the oppressive spell that had been suppressing the spirits broke.

I paused, slowly lifting my head to look at the figure that had approached so close to me.

“You used your power so recklessly, even with a suppression spell strong enough to block high-level spirits.”

Eliae, with his sky-blue hair and eyes that looked like they were woven from the clear ocean, stood before me, frowning. His breathtakingly beautiful face, one that was unforgettable after a single glance, held an expression of disapproval as he looked down at me.

“Should I be impressed that you endured this much, or should I call you foolish for not even realizing your own condition while you burned through your power?”

He clicked his tongue softly and reached out to place a hand on my forehead.

Instantly, a cool sensation spread through me, and the excruciating pain that had felt like my insides were melting away began to fade.

“I rushed over because I felt you wildly throwing healing magic around, but what on earth is this mess?”

Eliae scolded as he lifted me up effortlessly.

I smiled weakly and rested my head against his shoulder.

“…Thank you, Eliae. It doesn’t hurt at all anymore, thanks to you.”

“Don’t rely on me to make the pain go away. You need to take better care of your own body.”

Eliae’s tone was stern as he waved a hand.

A bright light enveloped my vision, and before I knew it, we were back at my house, on the second floor.

“Wow, we’re home. Home sweet home.”

Though it hadn’t even been thirty minutes since we left, after everything that had happened, the sight of this small, peaceful home was unbelievably comforting.

Eliae sighed and carefully set me down as I beamed up at him.

“I heard most of the story from Quiel. You picked up a kid?”

He crossed his arms and glanced down at As, who was still nestled in my arms.

With his wounds fully healed from the healing magic, As was breathing softly, sound asleep.

I brushed As’s hair aside and nodded.

“Yes. He seems to be a noble child. I found him covered in injuries, collapsed in front of the house, so I brought him in.”

“And do you know who the child is?”

Eliae tilted his head slightly as he asked.

I shared what little I knew.

“His name is As. He’s a noble.”

“…As. Well, if you don’t know, that’s that.”

Eliae’s expression turned slightly sour as he glanced away.

His reaction puzzled me, and I blinked in confusion. He cast another glance at As, then looked at me again.

“Isn’t it tiring to keep holding him like that?”

“Huh? Oh, I didn’t even realize I was still holding him. I’ll go put him in his bed!”

With that, I hurried into As’s room.

As was still sound asleep, exhausted. I gently laid him down on the bed, making sure he was comfortable, and quietly left the room.

“Eliae?”

As I stepped out of the room, I found Eliae standing with his arms crossed, staring intently at the door to As’s room.

Hearing my voice, he turned his gaze toward me and looked at me for a moment before finally speaking.

“You’re still afraid to face the Archduke, aren’t you?”

“…Wh-what?!”

His direct question startled me so much that I practically jumped in shock.

No one had mentioned Akes so openly to me in years, so the suddenness of it caught me off guard.

“Uh, um, how about we head to the kitchen to talk? I, uh, I’m starving after running around all morning,” I babbled, laughing awkwardly as I started to move toward the kitchen.

Eliae, watching me stumble as my hands and feet moved in sync, sighed deeply before speaking again.

“Never mind. Your reaction tells me all I need to know.”

“Haha… ha…”

I could feel the tears welling up inside me.

I knew Eliae must think I was utterly pathetic, and honestly, I thought so too. But what could I do?

I hated my own timid personality too!

But what could I do when I was born with this shy nature from the very beginning?

My shoulders slumped.

Feeling suddenly downcast, I stopped halfway down the stairs and crouched down, sinking into my growing gloom.

‘I’m scared…’

I wasn’t ready yet.

I wasn’t ready to face Akes again, the man who looked down on me.

Eliae, who had been watching me silently from above, let out a small chuckle.

“Well, taking your time to figure things out isn’t such a bad thing either.”