“For crying out loud, Magnus. How do you manage to get yourself in these situations?” (Silkzesta)
“I don't see why you're complaining. And besides, I never asked you to come with me in the first place.” (Magnus)
“Somebody has to keep an eye on you.” (Silkzesta)
After the events that happened in the Church, it was established that I would be heading towards Axelios ruins. However, I didn't want to drag anyone with me since this can get dangerous. Rose-san apparently was tasked with praying for my return. As for Leona and Rusalka, I told them to keep training.
But since word can spread quickly, it seems Silk-chan heard about this as well and once she found out I intended to go alone, she insisted on tagging along. Literally. There was nothing I could do to ditch her.
“Whoa!!?”
“Be careful. This horse isn't used to these roads. You should hang on tighter.”
Even if you say that… what should I hang on to? Now that I look at her, her waist is rather slim. I probably can put my hands around her waist.
“Kyaaa!”
“Sorry. Did I startle you?”
“Where… do you think… you're touching me?”
“Umm… your waist? You said I should hold on tighter.”
“That… I did. Fine. I will… allow it.”
What's gotten her flustered all of a sudden? Maybe I should change the topic.
“So, Silk-chan, you know that after this I will be leaving the city. Did you give any thoughts to my proposal? Why don't you come with us?”
“I would love to. But I can't. I understand how you feel. I really do. But I would rather try and fight the system, rather than establish my own. If I leave, I fear that my squad will be corrupted by the Church. I don't want that to happen.”
“Very well. I guess that's just the type of determined person you always were. And I’m glad for that. Honestly it's because of that determination that you saved my butt in the past more times than I could count.”
“F-flattery won't make me change my mind.”
“I’m just stating the truth. And I want you to know that if you ever feel like the pressure is too much, or if you have a change of heart, remember that you’ll always have a place besides me.”
“Baka. That's stuff grownups usually say. Don't let that new body get to your head.”
We both laughed for a while. I guess this talk really helped to ease the mood. I look confident, but the closer we get the more I feel like turning back.
“Magnus. What course of action are you going to take when we meet the Calamity Witch?”
“I have absolutely no idea! I will improvise.”
“That's not reassuring at all!! I thought you had all this planned already?”
“Well it's hard to plan against someone I’ve never seen with my own eyes at least once. Leona was a different story.”
“Ugh. Well… one good thing about you leaving is that I’ll have less headaches. But Magnus, seriously, you are aware of the stories, right?”
How can I not be aware? Saphira Vermilion. The Calamity Witch. Although she's called a witch it would be more accurate to call her an assassin. A demon, hand picked and trained by the Demon God himself. If legends are true she's a bloodthirsty monster who was the Demon God's close aid. A tool to carry out his will. When a rebellion occurred amongst the demons, she single-handedly killed over a thousand demons. With her twin daggers and special forged bracelets that act as magic catalysts, she can be deadly both as a caster and in close range. She is someone to be feared and respected. However at some point in time it is said that she went crazy and was exiled. Ever since she lived like a beast, slaughtering everything that crosses her path. Not much else is known.
If possible, against such an opponent I would like to talk to her first, but if she really is a beast then I will use all my force. Let's just hope it's going to be enough. After 3 days, we eventually reached our destination.
A massive worn statue in a grim morass marks the entrance to these ruins. Beyond the worn statue lies a scanty, grimy paved floor. It's covered in puddles of water and large bones.
An altar in the center is covered in runes, some of which are glowing. What happened in this place? Despite being so close to the city I have never once visited this place. To be honest it’s weird for ruins like this to be close to the main road. How can people be ignorant of the history and knowledge they could hold?
~oooouuu~
“Huh? Did you hear that?” (Silkzesta)
“Sure did.”
What was that? Don’t tell me these ruins are haunted? I heard ghost stories but I don’t want to run into one. Ghosts can only be dealt with astral magic, and I only know one spell of that particular type. And it’s not your typical ghost banishing one.
~aaaaahuuu~
As a precaution, both of us drew our weapons and started following the weird sound until we eventually managed to find the source. Lying next to a pillar and apparently crying… was a girl. Is that… our target? Pink skin and pink hair, she looks like one large piece of cotton candy. But the large pair of twisted horns proves she’s a demon.
“That’s the Calamity Witch? She looks… so frail…” (Silkzesta)
Although Silk-chan didn’t raise her voice, the girl's pointy elf-like ears twitched and she quickly turned around.
“No! Not now!” (???)
The girl panicked the moment she saw us. Her eyes were filled with tears. What the hell drove her in this state?
“You… get lost! Please, run away while I’m still myself!!”
“Still yourself?”
Both me and Silk-chan looked at each other. We simply could not understand her panicked state. We came here prepared for a terrible fight but this… wait a second. Now that I focus my dragonkin eyes on her…
“How many times do I have to repeat this!? Get as far away from me as possible!!”
She placed her hands on her head as if she was assaulted by terrible pain. But at the same time.
“KUUAHH! UWAAAA!”
She let out a powerful shriek and her aura erupted in successive waves. The force behind her aura alone was frightening. Her eyes became pure crimson and her voice started to distort.
“Kill… I will kill you all!!”
“Shit! Looks like we’re going to get the fight we came here for. You ready, Magnus?”
“Silk-chan. Sheath your sword.”
“What the hell are you suddenly saying!? Can’t you feel the bloodlust she’s sending our way?”
“That’s not the Calamity Witch.”
“Huh?”
“I mean that it’s her, but in body only. But she’s not our enemy. It’s someone else.”
“You’re not making any sense! Your mission is to kill her. Have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t but I refuse to do it like this. By focusing more mana in my eyes, I can see it as clear as day. That’s why, I ask you to sheath your sword and leave this to me.”
“Tsk. Fine. Have it your way. But I’m stepping in the moment you’re in danger.”
“Fear not. In that state…”
She crouched down on all fours and just like a feline preparing to pounce on her prey, her assault was ready. At the same time, I raised my staff.
“... she is no match for me.”