Kraft had been different throughout his entire life. At first – a simple elf, naive in a life in which he had lived only a hundred years. The goddess did not bless him with magic, but gave him a body capable of so much. An era passed, a whole lifetime of others, but that was the beginning of his new life.
Not the life of a troublemaker in a village, but of a Hero destined to save the world
Thus began his march towards glory and a step towards understanding people. Everyone still remembers how he emerged from the forest, understanding his path, how he began to wield a sword… how he found a comrade, his friend, who shared the burden of the world on their shoulders. His road, littered with bitterness, pain, and fear, became brighter with the arrival of… hah… he has been dead for over a thousand years now. Only he remembers that priest. What a pity… what a pain… the burden of oblivion.
At first, it seemed to him that a path strewn with pain would remain in people's minds for an eternity. How joyful it was to see his own statues, to hear words of gratitude, to see their suffering had been worth it. The threat to the world was averted thanks to them, and now life became glorious. He had achieved something significant, remained in history, as did his comrade.
How long did that last?
About two hundred years, even less
He was remembered for that long… no, not at all, not like that. Everyone who remembered him died during that time. Their children, too. Time spared neither humans nor dwarves; well, some of them remained, but after another hundred years, they too were gone. The former cries of his name became silence, admiration at the sight of the hero became mere surprise at meeting an elf, nothing more and nothing less. Stone statues turned to dust, and those cast in bronze lost their shine, having passed the test of time, covered in dust and plants.
Oblivion consumed him
It seemed that the world itself had forgotten him, that no one remembered him
That no one knew his pain, no one remembered what he had done, that he had saved them…
No one remembers his friend
No one will praise him again
That was a terrible period of his life, very difficult even for his mighty body, inexhaustible strength, and elven longevity. He lived so long that he was simply… no longer remembered. By anyone.
In the past, human cities had one punishment, not death, but worse. He remembered that, very well, so well, because… he had experienced it himself.
Damnatio memoriae – the curse of memory, a punishment for those people who had committed something so terrible that the world should remember nothing about them at all. Absolutely nothing. All records of the criminal, their statues, achievements, loved ones – everything connected to them was destroyed. Everything so that the criminal would be forgotten. The most terrible punishment.
He was a hero
He was the pillar of the world
The world itself punished him thus
He punished himself thus
Because he lived too long
But in every dark path, in every darkness, there is a glimmer of light, that thread that gives you the strength to continue. Such became the Goddess. Thus began his unceasing faith in her, and this faith will continue until his body can breathe, until his life is extinguished.
That is his faith
And at the end, there will be praise
But now… now he saw something else, something completely different. It seemed… the Temple… the embodiment of all his faith and even more. The demoness standing inside seemed like an angel. A halo of light fell around her, creating the feeling that she was glowing. The music… it is so… with every inch, every muscle, his body understood that this music was hers, only hers. Destined for her, so that she could blossom to it.
Who is she?
He does not know, not at all, but whoever she is… she remains that very one… the one who remembered him, even his comrade. Let the name be forgotten, but at least she knows. That is enough, that is enough for him. A demon… no, she is not a demon. Such a being as her cannot be a demon.
To do good, even without receiving anything in return, to do and continue to do it, despite all the pain and horror. To put on a crown of thorns for the sake of another's life, to become a monster yourself so that another may live. To rot, but to give life.
Who is she?
Words… cannot be found
…
She…
A Saint
That is who she is
***
Watching the astonished Kraft was very interesting, no, she was amused, a childlike delight at the sight of his expression. Shocked. A little more and his mouth would be agape.
What happiness! How fun! How pleasant!
Sefi stepped forward, the music still playing, that beautiful sound, filling her with happiness, magnificence, caused by… magic. Precisely magic.
Her magic
Isn't that magnificent?
Her creation
The greatest
— Hero Kraft, I thank you, thank you for everything, it is only thanks to you that I have come to know this magnificence. — Kraft, who stood stunned, suddenly fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands, tears streaming from his eyes. But why? Why is he crying? Is there a reason for tears here?
She waved her hand, and the music fell silent at her command; this place felt like her new body. Obedient in everything, she can do anything she wants with this place. But that is unnecessary. It is already perfect.
— Don't cry… this… I did not want this, Hero Kraft. — She said, approaching him, knelt down and hugged him. With one hand, she traced circles on his back and occasionally patted it. Her other hand, her prosthetic, stroked the back of his head. His enormous figure, cast from iron, made itself known, but still… now he seemed so… different… not the hero who saved the world… not like that… he seems so… human. Just crying.
— Serafima… you… don't know… how long I have wanted to hear this. — His voice is broken, sobs and tears, a chest that breathes and freezes for a second. His hands, hiding his face, opened and clumsily hugged her back. Not at all as one should. Both hands clasped at her shoulders, but that's so… usual. — I have waited so long… and… thank you… thank you for remembering me, thank you… for the praise... I am grateful to you for this.
These are tears of happiness
Not bitterness, not fear, not horror
Happiness
— So that's how it is, then… don't hold back.
***
Kraft is a strong figure, and if one were to describe him, only one word would suffice – Mountain. As mighty and fearsome as a Mountain, strength rivaling the heavens themselves, and immovable – a Mountain.
Wise from his experience, loyal, and just as gentle
But now he is like a child
Pouring out his soul with a delight she had only seen in Flamme
Childlike delight, like hers
His words began with a few phrases, so simple and short:
— I… wanted to talk about… that time…
Sefi smiled, he was so embarrassed… perhaps she should give him a push? A small start, even if the book… she doesn't remember it perfectly, but she still knows it.
— That… about how you defeated the red-scaled dragon? First, you drove it into a rocky gorge, and then with your friend, you collapsed boulders onto it!
— …
Kraft froze… looked at her in amazement, then… smiled
— That's exactly what I wanted to talk about.
…
…
…
His joy is like an avalanche, like a big snowball that gathers from small beginnings and becomes gigantic. It rolls and rolls, gaining momentum.
First about that dragon, then a joyful exclamation about how he defeated the ten-ton bear-monster. Here Sefi was surprised: the book clearly stated that the bear weighed one hundred tons! She told him that, then Kraft thought… and…
— No, its weight was a thousand tons. — Here he exaggerated and laughed, then, giggling, continued. He gesticulated, struck poses, as if with a sword. Then Sefi performed another miracle: using magic, she created a simple sword for him – iron, with a soft grip, not the most beautiful, but the Hero accepted it with a smile and began to show his visions as drawings. She painted on the air as if it were a canvas. The floating image of a huge predator-flower, with enormous teeth instead of petals, made Kraft laugh, but as a Hero, he pointed and continued his story of how he defeated it.
The drawings did not turn out at all like those in his stories, rather like children's drawings, but still Kraft worked cheerfully and showed them on these drawings as well.
That's how he defeated the oversized flower!
First, he tore a tree from the ground and threw it into its maw, then took his sword and ran at it, slicing off the plant's sentient stems. The climax of the battle did not go as expected: the sword flew out of his hands, and then he grabbed it, pulled it out by the roots and threw it far, far away.
Very much in his spirit
And the stories continued
His entire history as a Hero
Even if it's childish, even if it's not at all how it really was…
She could listen, she wanted to…
Because the Hero deserved it
***
The world can wait for them, certainly for them. So when his entire epic came to an end, Kraft sat down on the ground with relief and sighed as if he had cast off the shackles he had worn his whole life. In fact, that was the case. Opposite him sat Sefi, who looked at him and smiled, then she looked at her ankle – it was now hers. No longer covered in gold, removing it had become easy as anything. Now she could cast almost indefinitely; if mana recovers so quickly, she could. So many opportunities opened up to her.
— Serafima… what will you do after all this? — he asked a question, cutting through this cozy silence. At first, the demoness was silent, then began to think. What to do?
She has a path leading in all directions of the world, but not every direction is pleased with her existence.
Difficult…
— I will… live, continue and, probably… help someone, hiding in the shadows. — She said and looked up at the ceiling – this great dome was still above. The sun's rays are so beautiful, bestowing joy upon her.
— That is good. — Kraft nodded to her and carefully rose from his place. He extended his hand to her, which she used to stand up. The Hero let go of her and… and, taking a breath, whispered softly. — Continue living… I am sure you too will find your light… the thread of hope on this road that will give you new meaning.
— I… will find it… for sure… I promise.
And she dismissed the Temple: the golden light disappeared, it became green. The cozy silence was replaced by the sounds of nature, the joy also… evaporated. She wanted to feel it again, but the sun remained, as did the memories of happiness. It doesn't matter for now, she should rest a bit.
Eat something, after all, Kraft will soon prepare a feast!
***
A long time passed, about two years. During all this time, she managed to master hand-to-hand combat using her weapon, learned many types of tactics and spontaneous adaptation.
She also learned new things about magic, more precisely about her Temple. Its effects, like the laws within, are "Just": in exchange for rapid mana recovery, after its use, it reduces your mana regeneration for a time.
For example, if she used the Temple for three hours, then the recovery from its consequences will take more than a day. Mana will recover very slowly for all that time, which means the enhanced time is 9 times longer. 3 hours of use – means for the subsequent 27 hours she will not be able to replenish spent mana as quickly.
Moreover, if she activates it during recovery from the effect, everything sums up and even more. The withdrawal time generally increases by 9, so on the second use it will multiply by 18, on the third – by 27, and so on, seemingly to infinity. If, for example, she has one hour left and, without waiting, summons it a second time, then the "New time" in the Temple is added to this hour. Let's imagine four hours, then...
(1 + 4) × 18 = 90 hours of weaknesses
Terrible...
To summon it, she needs a full reserve, and even then, almost half is spent. If she summons it a second time in a day, then already more than half, probably 75%, and the third time... she hasn't checked, but if so, then probably all her mana, because it increases by 25% each time.
And also this
So… and mana itself recovers about 99% less. Why exactly 9 times? Well… probably… uhh, she doesn't know. There is an assumption that this figure means something in her life. A good event? A bad one? Perhaps both, or not, but it is precisely this figure that is a turning point for her.
Also about the Temple, as mentioned earlier: she completely controls this place. Can modify it and change it as she wishes. What she cannot do is change the yellow and golden hues. That's not critical, and it's quite likely that the color emanates precisely from her desire to feel happiness, which she associates with yellow.
And by the way, how far can she develop this place? This… further confirms that the number 9 means something to her, it's 999 meters. Hmm… when stretched, you can choose which creatures enter inside, while blocking the place itself for someone. Destroying this place from the outside is very difficult, because with each destruction it automatically recovers, without spending her mana. Also, when stretched to the maximum radius, the mana replenishment time decreases. Not critically, but it exists, and it couldn't be calculated. The difference is very small, so it's difficult to identify. If one were to assume, then it's… hmm, 10% less… although, considering that everything for her is connected to nine, she's willing to bet that it decreases precisely by 9.
By the way, at maximum contraction – that same nine, on the contrary, her mana will recover very quickly. What is the reason for this? Hmm, the area is small, so little mana is spent on maintaining the structure of the building, hence such a jump. That is the assumption.
Also the music. According to Kraft, it personifies the Owner of the Temple, that is, this classical music emanates from her mind… likely so. But do others have music? Can it be understood? Not to the unfortunately, no, nor can it be determined whether this ownership is transferred to someone else and how it will affect the "New owner," whether they will have the same effect as her, or if it will change? Unclear.
One thing is certain – she wants more happiness
Always
She has grown accustomed to this feeling and summons this Temple at least once a day
Happiness is so… happy… hehehe
By the way, Serafima is strong according to Kraft, he acknowledged her demonic power, and her staff is now a universal weapon of combat. She has developed the technique of creation and can now change its structure during battle.
The staff in hand can be turned into a spear, making a piercing tip at the end, or turned into an axe, making a chopping part, or completely cover the handle with metal and make a large two-handed sword. Many options. Her magic combines perfectly with this, and thanks to this, she can even lengthen the staff and make a kind of pike. Also, the part with the prosthetic can be connected to the staff to create such a strong grip that to separate them, you would have to tear off her arm entirely. This will help immensely.
And blood magic: enhancing herself with it has become more stable, longer, and more effective. She found a certain middle ground where it doesn't particularly affect the body. To do this, you need to increase the circulation of all blood, while saturating the body with mana, then the synchronization will be more or less optimal, because the flow of both mana – from the inner and outer parts – creates a certain field. It turns out that mana resonance creates a positive influence on each other. Kraft says that similar things were used in ancient times, before magic became forbidden. Especially when creating Dungeons, where many treasures were stored, and many magical traps were created for protection, which are not only effective but also consume mana very well, which is why the amount of expenditure and efficiency output is approximately… 80 percent. To put it briefly, the efficiency is 80 percent, which is very good.
Such resonance is used by her. He also described it using one magic: "Body Heating." It's like with her: blood constantly moves, giving the body the necessary heat. However, this spell is a unique case where the efficiency is 98%, and the resonance with itself is so good that the owner can go out into the freezing cold without clothes and survive. Unfortunately, he does not have such a spell, because finding such a thing is difficult. He saw the owner of something similar, unfortunately, the Grimoire was lost, and the owner of this rarity was already an old man, so it could not be fully explained.
The costs when using blood magic, more precisely during her enhancement, have become lower, and their effect higher. The only problem was control. The two fields must not intersect and must always be in motion. Usually, if it's a spell, it will be automatic, but for her it's not, so she needs constant control of such things.
Using this, she tried to reduce the cost of other spells, but it didn't work out. Apparently, she is applying it incorrectly, or her Creation magic does not work with this at all. Nevertheless, success!
Good news – this is her… well… uhh… well… hmm… hmm… a little abs on her stomach.
Yes! It's not steel there, but abs have appeared, and her arms have become more sinewy. She is now such… wow! Cool. Just awesome. Her height is somewhere around 187 including her horns, without that junk on her head, her height is approximately… hmm, 178. To her great regret, she hasn't grown a single centimeter. Nevertheless, success in musculature is there, what she always wanted. If she tries, maybe she'll have steel abs like Kraft. That's really iron there, otherwise it's hard to understand how he withstood her direct kick and didn't even flinch.
There are many different little things. The Hero taught her many things: different recipes, cool tricks, and some fencing with a sword, although to be honest, she's not very good at it.
She's better off taking her staff, enhancing her body, and weighting one end with 10 kilograms of weight and hitting the target with that mace. According to Kraft, her strikes are always sweeping, long, and generally hit hard, but are slow and predictable, also a bit… mm, it's more for show than effectiveness. Fair, considering that good fencing is beyond her. Her magic is large-scale, always sparkling and noticeable. Considering all this, it's easy to guess that it's for spectacle. Hmm... is she boastful? Proud? Maybe just... uhh... there aren't even words, in short, she lives for the epic...
He pointed out her main flaw during combat: her eye. Her single eye always follows the opponent and only the opponent. Unfortunately, it's alone. Nevertheless, for example, in one of the duels, he tossed a stone into the air and attacked. She deflected it, and then the same stone fell from above onto her shoulder, destabilizing her, causing her to lose one fight. She is not a duelist at all, and her eyes betray her intentions the most. It turns out there is a bad habit in both magic and melee combat: if she wants to strike in a certain way, she doesn't avert her gaze at all.
She aimed for the leg, and that's it – her gaze was fixed on the leg, which makes an already obvious movement even more predictable. A big drawback.
Nevertheless, there is an explanation for this: her magic. Creating magic requires more concentration on the object or the need. Magic is first reproduced in the mind as an effect, the laws themselves are created, like the change, then mana acts as an energy resource, and only then does the result come out. This also works badly for her.
If we take Kraft's explanation, her magic is more… formidable, but requires more in all parameters. Duel magic, and for long battles, it's terrible. Requires more mana, and even with a mana reserve, fighting a dozen mages will be difficult.
No, she can defeat each one individually and even if they are in a group. But if they attack in intervals and take more mana than she can recover, then it's the end. Because mana expenditure is excessively high.
An ordinary mage spends only a little on the same fireball, and it comes out immediately, but for Sefi it's the opposite: even this simple spell requires more mana and concentration.
Hmm… why this is so is unclear. Perhaps it's because Sefi's magic is a novelty, while for the inhabitants of this world, it's commonplace.
To put it bluntly, perhaps it's also in her mentality, that is, in her mind. However, she won't be able to figure this out until she meets a mage… which, probably, is no longer possible… but to continue. Her same "Fireball" first requires the compression of oxygen in the area, its combustion, and subsequent throwing at the enemy. Each action from this spends mana first on compression in the area, because without that, how to create fire at all? After that, it makes it burn and throws it, and the higher the speed, the greater the mana expenditure.
And then… there is a wide choice of construction. For example, you can make more oxygen and combustion, but throw it slowly. It will be a powerful explosion and fire, only slow. Or vice versa, reduce these two and make speed the priority – and then it will fly out like a bullet, although the power will be low. Or completely different: a lot of compression, combustion – even its absence, and fast speed. The oxygen will fail and explode it.
The customization of her magic is wider… probably, it's unknown how everything works here. She has seen mages… uhh, Miss Serie, Frieren, Frau, and Flamme. Three of them are excellent mages, even too good. Only one Frau… is more normal, even she… had a greater inclination towards household magic than combat, so there was little help from her.
Eliminating weaknesses also happened. Unfortunately, she couldn't change her style – it was too ingrained. Then the elf decided to do something else: adapt her. Her strikes, given her strength, are powerful and have more inertia, but leave her open. And what if you use that inertia and… move away? That's how a certain attempt began: hit hard and move away hard.
A good example is the mace, a simple overhead strike. And at the moment of contact, she should repeat an old trick, but now with modifications. At the moment of impact, jump slightly and shift her weight and do a forward somersault, or just a simple forward roll. There is another option: with the same strike, just grip the shaft tightly and lengthen the pole so that it is above and falls by the inertia of the pole… that's the most desperate measure. Nevertheless… here she discovered one thing… what if she uses Flight magic? Kraft didn't think of it, because he didn't even think about flight… but now…
In short, like this. So she solved the main problem of heavy weapons: during the grip, she uses flight to lift the weapon, removing the weight along the way, and at the moment of impact, returns it with even more, pressing with greater mass, because it can be done. Same with dodging after: give herself weightlessness and quickly run away after the strike. Perfect? Yes!
Regarding her gaze, it's even more difficult than… it was
Well… there was an idea… to wear black glasses, but… hmm… that's… how to put it, a bit tricky. No, it's cool! But then style is needed. If black glasses, then it won't work in her warm clothes! Ordinary clothes with glasses are unacceptable.
She needs a suit: a coat or cloak on top, good shoes, and well… trousers, and of course a tie. She wants a gold-colored, golden, or to be precise, a yellow tie. A suit where the collar has a gold trim, and a cloak or coat. Maybe a hat with holes for the horns – and there she is, the stylish demoness Sefi… cool! Ordinary black glasses are not an option without all this.
So for now, it's not solved...
Magic is complex, fixing it is difficult, there is no success here yet... and for now...
— Well, Serafima, I think you are completely ready for anything. — Kraft stood before her, ah yes, her thoughts were like this... he said he would wait for her until she could fully… accept this fact. So she was replaying her thoughts, again on her achievements and the ridiculous idea about clothes, and also on her failures. Repetition is the mother of learning. — I am sure, no, I know that our paths will cross again... Serafima?
— Can you... just... one more second. — Above Sefi, a word appeared, an unusual blue color in the green forest full of brightness: Sadness. That was the word. — I… should feel such a thing, but I don't feel it because of that, sorry.
— What are you talking about, you shouldn't. — With a chuckle, Kraft said and patted her on the head, the demoness looked at him in surprise, removed the word above her. — Farewell is not a reason for sadness, maybe… make the temple one more time? After all, our meeting should end on a good note…
— No, it hasn't ended… it's just a change, you said yourself that we will meet again. — Serafima stated a fact, she had a desire to see him again. Unfortunately, given her nature, it's clear why.
With Kraft, it's comfortable, there is protection, help, and food, what else does a beast need?
For a beast... demons are monsters, and instincts are like those of beasts
If so, then having Kraft with her would be better for her, but that's selfish, she herself said she should be alone
For her own sake
For his sake
She is a demon – a monster
He is an elf – a hero
Too different
Nevertheless… everything should end well
Only well
— I always see the temple, yet the feeling is like the first time, a great place. — Yes, the golden dome above them, the walls and large windows through which sunlight pours, the columns holding up the dome, music. A symphony orchestra. Her music. — However, Serafima, don't gloat about it, you know all the risks.
Ah yes, happiness... it's such a good feeling
Makes you want it, more and always
I want to drown in this happiness, savor the moment with every part of my body
Happiness is like a drug
But today it's allowed, Kraft permitted it
She summoned it once a day, no more and no longer than a minute. The Hero always controlled this, apparently saw everything in advance, made that minute a habit. Always spoke about it. And now he allowed it… for a happy farewell, no, a change for a while.
She is long-lived, so then...
Some 10 years… maybe 20 is just a day for her… isn't it?
She hopes so
Because in this world, she has found her support
Someone whose shoulder is like a mountain
Hero Kraft
A familiar feeling… familial… as if he were… an older brother… she wonders if she had a brother?
— I… will wait, eagerly, Kraft…
The elf's eyes widened, just for a second, and then he put a smile back on his face
— I will wait too, Serafima.
At least he believes it
And he will believe it until his very death