The solemn toll of the holy bells rang through the church, the sound thick and heavy, yet carrying an ominous finality.
A split-second later, the air itself screamed. A roaring blast, a shockwave that shattered the air, and raw destructive force merged together. The magic unfurled, annihilating everything in its path.
The Ganesha Familia members charging forward were flung back instantly. Even Shakti and Adi, who had barely enough time to brace and raise their weapons, were swept away, their bodies slamming into the church walls with bone-jarring force.
Bang!
The ancient floor tiles cracked, benches splintered and flew apart, and dust choked the air. The Evilus members already groaning on the floor were no exception, they were hurled into the corners like ragdolls, their wails lost in the thunderclap of magic.
When the dust began to settle, the cloaked woman's figure was already fading into the smoky haze, slipping away like a phantom swallowed by night.
Shakti dug the butt of her spear into the ground, forcing herself upright despite the ringing in her ears and the ache in her ribs. "Magic… She's gone."
"S-sis, what do we do?" Adi staggered to her feet, the world spinning.
The magic had hit like a vacuum blast, rattling bones and leaving her ears screaming with tinnitus.
Humiliation burned hotter than pain. Not only had they been mocked, they'd been powerless to stop her.
Shakti clenched her jaw, but after a long breath, she shook her head. "Don't chase her. Secure the scene first."
Right now, the priority was the illegal market of Evilus.
The captain of the Ganesha Familia, tasked with acting as Orario's military police, could only sigh. "It's been suppressed…"
Some time later, order began to return. The wounded were healed by the Familia's medics, and the work of tying up every captured Evilus member began immediately.
"The Evilus and their merchant partners are all bound."
"Well done. The stolen goods from this illegal market should be hidden somewhere inside the church. Search every corner."
"Understood!"
Shakti's commands were clear and fluid, her voice carrying authority even amidst the lingering dust.
Not long after, a shout came from the deeper halls of the church.
"Captain Shakti, we found a stash. A lot of stolen goods."
Shakti's brow lifted, and Adi's head immediately snapped toward the sound.
"There are even items taken from outside the city."
"What? Show me!" Adi rushed forward, her boots echoing on the stone floor as she joined the search team.
Beneath a section of loose flooring, a large wooden box lay hidden. Adi crouched and quickly began rummaging through its contents. Her fingers paused when they closed around a thick, cloth-wrapped object.
Peeling the fabric back revealed a branch as thick as a woman's arm.
Adi's face lit up. "The Branch of the Great Sacred Tree!"
"That's what Ryuu said was stolen from their village." Shakti remarked, approaching to peer inside. "A rare material, perfect for forging weapons or staves. I didn't expect there to be so many."
Adi grinned, holding the branch close. "Yes! I promised Ryuu I would bring this back."
Then, after a hesitant breath, she glanced up. "Sister, can I make one more request?"
Shakti's gaze softened. "Tell me."
"If you ever find Ryuu's village, could you give these branches to them?"
Shakti had suspected her sister's intentions from the start. She didn't take long to reply, but her answer carried the weight of her role as captain.
"These are stolen goods. The military police can't just hand them over without authorization."
"…I understand."
"Besides, I've heard the elves of Ryumilua are proud to a fault. Even if we returned them, they might take offense and refuse to accept it."
Adi's shoulders drooped. "Then… then what?"
"We'll have to recover all the stolen goods, inspect them thoroughly, and then see. I'll do what I can to ensure it gets back to the right place."
Adi's eyes lit up. "That's great. Thank you, sister."
She set the branch back into the crate and threw her arms around Shakti.
Shakti allowed herself a small, fond smile. "Really now."
"Ryuu will be so happy," Adi beamed.
'I wonder if Akira will praise me too.'
Her gaze lingered on the branch, unsure if it truly came from her friend's village, but the thought still warmed her. The pale moonlight filtering through the church's stained glass painted her figure in silver.
Far from the bustle, beside a quiet river, Akira stood waiting. Alfia walked toward him, her hood now lowered, revealing her delicate yet unyielding features.
He smiled warmly. "Good evening, Alfia."
He had only been strolling at first, but when he noticed Adi and the others moving with unusual urgency, he'd followed, only to end up crossing paths with the elusive witch.
"Good evening." She replied, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Her eyes swept over him, her tone calm yet carrying a subtle curiosity. "So? You called me out here specifically, what is it you want to talk about?"
They had known each other for a while now, and Akira noticed that her attitude toward him had shifted. Though Alfia still carried an air of silence and mystery, her gaze when it fell upon him was no longer distant.
Perhaps he had found a place within her heart.
The moonlight draped a thin layer of frost over Alfia's long silver-gray hair, each strand shimmering faintly under the night sky. She leaned quietly against an old tree by the river, her fingertips idly brushing the drooping hood straps of her cloak as though lost in thought.
Not far away, Akira crouched on a pile of rocks along the riverbank, plucking a flat pebble from the ground. With a flick of his wrist, it skipped across the water, one, two, three… until the seventh bounce rippled into a string of silver rings beneath the moonlight.
"It's nothing serious." He said suddenly, breaking the tranquil silence. "I just think the moonlight's beautiful tonight and I wanted to talk to you."
A sly glint passed through his eyes as he said, "Oh, and about your lerformance in the church earlier, it was brilliant. So, I gave them some retribution on your behalf."
Standing up, Akira pressed his right hand to his face, revealing his eyes, while his left hand extended toward the river. He mimicked her voice and tone from earlier in the church, exaggerated enough to be funny, but close enough to be recognizable.
When he finished, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Alfia's lips curved faintly at his theatrics. Though she didn't laugh aloud, there was a softness in her gaze, a fleeting tenderness that lingered.
"They were just scum who deserved what they got." She said softly, her voice carrying clearly in the still night air. "Not worth making fun of."
I really have changed, haven't I?
In the past, if Akira had dared to tease her like that, she might have sent him flying into the river or left him half-dead. But now, his lively, even outrageous jokes didn't stir her irritation. Instead, she found herself…amused. Perhaps even enjoying it.
Tilting her head back, Alfia let her gaze drift up to the moon casting its silvery glow over the land, her thoughts slipping into memories of the past.
She had always carried an aura that kept people at a distance. Aside from her sister, she kept everyone at arm's length, her cold demeanor a shield, her strength an armor. No one dared get close enough to test her patience, much less joke recklessly. But the boy in front of her was like a quiet beam of sunlight, seeping through the cracks in her walls, warming a world she once believed would always remain frozen.