Felix felt as if his heart was dropping to the floor at the sight of Sylvia collapsing. He could not remember what brought him there so quickly. Not even when he opened the envelope received from an uncle he had contacted for the first time in years, nor when he read the letter, had his heart raced this wildly.
However, from the moment he noticed the loud noise coming from the direction she had gone, his heart seemed to leap out of his mouth. After that, his memory was patchy. He had rushed forward, thinking only of Sylvia.
When he sensed her magic explode, a profound fear overwhelmed him. The closer he got to her, the more he felt his energy draining, and a heat boiled within him.
He would not let it go.
Whoever laid a hand on her would have their neck cut off.
At the end of his furious run, he found a brilliantly shining giant vine tree. And in front of it, he found Sylvia, who looked relieved to see him and staggered.
“Feri……”
As if struggling to speak, her body collapsed to the ground along with her words.
“Siri!”
He used wind magic to lift her and bring her to him. Normally, the city guards would patrol to prevent the use of magic within the city walls, but it was an emergency.
Above all, Felix had no mind to care about such things.
[Sylvia!]
The fairies flew swiftly, flapping their little wings. Felix carefully cradled Sylvia in his arms and leaped onto the rooftops.
[Felix! How is Sylvia?]
[Asta is scared!]
[Sylvia! Snap out of it!]
Ignoring the fairies’ questions, Felix began to run at a terrifying speed. He leaped over rooftops with the wind, heading towards the inn. With the commotion, the city gates would surely be closed. It seemed necessary to sneak out of the city amidst the chaos.
The magic she wielded was a specialty of the Capitis royal family, which had never been disclosed before. It was different from ordinary magicians who could only use one element.
Felix landed silently and quickly entered the inn.
“Captain?”
The Croban mercenary group was ready to leave, thanks to Hubert’s orders amidst the commotion.
“We’ve packed all of Miss Sylvia’s belongings as well.”
Being a fugitive was quite difficult. When an incident occurred, one had to leave the place first. Hubert had swiftly caught on to Felix’s thoughts and completed all the preparations.
Breathing shallowly, Felix asked in a low voice.
“Is the city gate closed?”
“Jordan has gone to check now.”
Dennis, who had paid the lodging fee, relayed what he had learned from the employee.
“He said it was still okay for now. However, he mentioned that it might close soon.”
“Then, we’ll leave right away.”
Felix embraced her more securely and headed outside. Having retrieved the horse they had left behind, Felix lightly leaped onto the horse’s back. He hid her completely inside his robe, holding her childlike to his side.
At that moment, Henry, who had been waiting nearby, spoke cautiously.
“Your Highness…”
Felix turned his head while holding the reins.
“We are planning to be at the edge of the Shebusalatus mountains. It is not possible to move together now. Therefore, come find us there later.”
Henry’s expression brightened at his answer, and he bowed his head slightly in a brief show of respect.
“Yes, I will relay that to the Duke as well.”
Kicking his horse hard, Felix quickly passed by Henry, who was still bowing his head. The Croban mercenaries followed behind him. Despite the warning of nearby demonic beasts, implying danger, Dennis passed through the city gate by handing over gold coins and fabricating a lie, narrowly making it through.
Felix spurred the horse into a gallop. The only thing as strong as a chimney was his desire to get as far away from the political situation as possible. Holding Sylvia, his arms trembled with anxiety.
Change is not good.
Altering daily life is not what he wants.
The only thought in Felix’s mind was that.
★★58. Awareness★★
Felix and the Croban mercenary band continued to run along the path lit by the moonlight even after the sun had set.
“Captain! I feel the presence of demonic beasts again!”
The Shebusalatus mountain range was already famous for its abundance of demonic beasts, but today was exceptionally unusual. Especially towards the edge of the mountains, the aura and smell of demonic beasts were overwhelmingly strong.
Holding the still motionless Sylvia tightly, Felix drew upon his magical power.
Kueeeeek!
With a grotesque scream, a demonic beast approached. Felix trapped the beast with water magic. As the size of the giant water droplet began to shrink, the demonic beast struggled violently.
He burst it along with the water, as if crushing it. Cutting through the water that spurted up like a fountain, Felix did not hesitate to run. His intention was to get as far away from the political situation as possible and establish a position. Fortunately, the breathing of Sylvia, who was in his arms, began to stabilize. This was the result of him intermittently sending his magical power to her.
Felix clenched his teeth, recalling the dizzying moments. For a human with magical power, depleting one’s magic to the very end was truly a foolish act.
When Sylvia woke up, he intended to scold her firmly. Selfishly, he hoped that even if others had to sacrifice, she would remain safe.
“Let’s stay here.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Hubert responded with a weary voice. The horses were also exhausted due to the rapid movement in a short time. Moreover, the number of demonic beasts they encountered on the way was nauseatingly high.
The Shebusalatus mountain range was a place they often visited for hunting demonic beasts, so it had become a familiar location, jokingly so. Yet, despite their familiarity with the place, they had never experienced such an infestation of demonic beasts before.
“Captain, it’s ready. You should go in and take care of Miss Sylvia.”
Hubert, looking at Felix still emitting magical power from his entire body as if it were leaking out, swallowed his dry saliva. Even with the mad onslaught of demonic beasts, their safe arrival was solely thanks to Felix.
This was not the combat style they had seen during previous demonic beast hunts. Like Sylvia, using several elements at once, he slaughtered every beast that emerged.
Despite only wearing a robe, without the time to don armor, his presence exuded a sharp intimidation.
“Let’s do that.”
No sooner had Hubert finished speaking than Felix, holding Sylvia dearly, entered the tent.
Hubert directly witnessed the expression on Felix’s face as he checked on her condition.
Anxiety, anger, and agony were mixed together, casting a shadow over his face.
Felix entered the tent and carefully laid Sylvia on the bed. Her complexion, which had been pale to the point of being ghastly, had finally started to return to normal. His hands, trembling, grasped her face.
“Urgh…”
Anger surged through him towards her.
Why had she used her magic power until nothing was left!
Had it not been for the power of the Black Dragon, her body would have already turned into a cold corpse.
“Why!”
His source of power. Just like him, Sylvia could use the power of the Black Dragon, albeit through a different method, thanks to the permission of Aethernum.
The warmth felt in his hands slowly cooled the heat that had been boiling up.
“Phew…”
With a deep sigh, Felix lay down next to her, holding her in his arms.
***
Suddenly, her eyes flew open. She felt refreshingly awake as if she had slept deeply. Sylvia quickly moved her eyelids, then noticed Felix, who was holding her tightly and lying down next to her.
Felix, with bloodshot eyes surrounding his black pupils, was watching her wake up.
“Uh!”
Sylvia, groggy from waking up, screamed and jolted her body but did not move. Felix, instead of letting her go, tightened his grip on her.
“Fe, Felix?”
She looked as if she had no recollection of what had happened the day before, which only angered Felix more.
“Why did you do that?”
His voice, low and reproachful, was unfamiliar.
“Huh?”
“Why did you use up all your magic power!”
Sylvia, awkwardly avoiding Felix’s glaring eyes, wanted to pull away from the prickling sensation emanating from him.
The more she tried, the less she could escape from his arms, entwined around her like vines.
Then, it came back to her.
What she had done the previous day.
“Ah…”
She had completely forgotten about it after waking up so carefree.
“What happened yesterday?”
She had indeed summoned her magic in shock, but it was not what she had intended. Or was it?
Felix’s gaze darkened even more in response to her reaction.
“How can you not remember the magic you’ve used?”
His reproachful words stung her heart.
“I’m sorry… Did I worry you a lot?”
“To call that ‘worry’.”
“But I just… I just hoped that the wall wouldn’t fall.”
As far as she knew, once the walls fell, demonic beasts would enter and devour the people. Unfortunately, more than half of the knight order of the Caudatismum State was away on a demonic beast hunt, leaving them vulnerable.
As if fate’s gears had aligned, the Caudatismum State was set on a path to ruin overnight. The Corpora Empire would then increase its security efforts, with the crown prince stepping forward to take charge.
Knowing the overall course of events, Sylvia had poured out her magic power while desperately wishing.
If only the wall hadn’t been breached… Would they have avoided ruin?
Felix, unable to bear the moment of silence where she recalled the contents of the novel and the events of the previous day, quickly climbed on top of her after making Sylvia lie down straight.
His unusually cold gaze was no trivial matter.
“The wall, of all things!”
The welfare of the state was of no concern to him.
It also had nothing to do with her.
What mattered to him was Sylvia alone.
Looking up at Felix as he bit his own lips mercilessly, Sylvia stiffened. The energy emanating from him made her tense, and she swallowed reflexively.
“All of that! It doesn’t matter to me. Only you! If only you are safe…”
As if he couldn’t bear the thought, Felix’s face contorted mercilessly. Seeing his expression, Sylvia finally realized how much danger she had been in.
“I’m sorry.”
The words came out before she thought. She felt she could understand the emotions he was harboring towards her. Looking at Felix with trembling eyes, Sylvia reached out her hand. She wanted to gently smooth out his deeply furrowed face.
Felix caught her slowly rising hand and pressed it down onto the bed roughly.
Leave a Reply