Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Thirty-Eight

Of Guilt and Resolve

ZAIRE glanced around the room looking for traces of Eufema and Blake. Fortunately, Eufema protected herself from flying debris with a wall made of ice. There are several small cracks but the ice can protect her just fine.

'Blake!' She frantically looks around when a dark moved on her left. It's the direction that is covered severely with smoke.

She fired a fireball in that direction while preparing herself for an attack.

As expected, it came. One of his sharp tentacles came dashed in her direction and canceled her light magic! She evaded it using earth magic but it wasn't enough. Through nimble moves, she ducked and jumped to evade what seems to be endless attacks from Tebras.

'Where is Blake? Is he okay?'

While she's busy evading Tebras' attacks she's also looking around in hopes of finding Blake while the smoke is still not disappearing.

"s**t," she hissed feeling a stinging sensation on the side of her stomach. She's been cut, it wasn't deep nor is it shallow either.

"MASTER!!!" Eufema yelled as she runs in her direction but before she can close the distance, the tentacles returned and also started attacking Eufema. No, it's not that it's attacking Eufema, it wants Eufema to keep the distance, to not get close to her.

"EUFEMA ASSIST THE KNIGHTS! I WILL BE FINE!!" She yelled. Eufema stared at her for a couple of seconds before she nodded her head and turned her back on her. She gulped down a healing potion from Luxes that effectively healed her in an instant.

Tebras' tentacles aren't weak. They're strong. Stronger than the others she fought in Kalghaya before.

'He really earned his position.' She thought while she embraced herself for another attack. But, it did not come. No, the tentacles did attack her but it was blocked by...

"BLAKE!!!" She screamed in delight seeing Blake's shadow puppet soldier in front of her. Just like how the tentacles seem to possess anti-magic against other elements, with how strong Blake's dark magic is. Tebras' tentacles are having a hard time.

SCREEEEEEEEECH

"Ugh...!" She groaned covering her ears as Tebras let out an ear-piercing screech. She caught sight of some mages and knights falling to the ground weakened by Tebras' screech.

'A type of skill that weakens his enemies?' She analyzed. No, it wouldn't be that simple. She's fine so that might not be the case and some knights and mages are still fine despite that, there must be a special case about his screech.

She distanced herself from the battlefield. It's better if she supports Blake's shadow puppet on the sideline than be on the battlefield itself. She wouldn't be much of a help since she does not possess dark magic.

Tebras's exact body is still nowhere to be seen because of the smoke. This time, the smoke is no longer the smoke from the destruction of the hall alone. The smoke is now mixed with magic, no, more specifically, the smoke is being maintained by magic that's why it's not clearing.

'What is his purpose for enclosing his body with smoke? Smokescreen?' She wondered while assisting Blake's shadow puppet.

Its body a materialized smoke, a mixture of colors black and dark blue. It stands around six-foot tall. The only indication of its head is the square-shaped thing on it that seems to serve as its eye.

"DUCK!" She yelled and cast fire magic to the tentacle. The shadow puppet quickly ducked as she instructed. Good thing it's able to understand her. Although she's still worried about Blake since she hasn't seen him yet.

Blake might or might not be engaging in a close combat battle with Tebras, and if that's the case, Tebras is one tenacious bastard to be able to fight in close combat while fighting them outside the smoke.

'That would take skill, or...' She looked around upon realizing something.

Blake is nowhere. She can't see anything from within the scope of smoke nor are there any changes. So what's been happening there? She doesn't have any idea.

'Concealment? No. The magic energy is different from concealment magic.' She pondered while supporting Blake's shadow puppet.

What could be the reason why she's unable to sense anything past the smoke? What did Tebras do?

'Ah!'

How could she forget about such magic?! If it's that magic then it's possible why she can't sense anything!

Now then, how should she handle this?

"Master," she flinched upon hearing Eufema's low voice. She whipped her head on the side where Eufema is. She's unhurt except for some minor scratches. She sighs.

"Thank goodness you're safe." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course, Master, err, I mean, Lady..." Eufema fell silent before she cleared her throat and spoke. "Anyway! What should we do next?" Eufema asked.

It was only then she realized how foolish she was. What was she thinking again? How should she handle this? She? How could she forget that she's not alone anymore?

'Stupid.' She thought while chuckling.

"Well, Blake and Tebras seem to enclosed with space magic so we can't get close or enter the area where they are."

"And...?"

"Oh, well, erm, how do I say this... I don't think I can cut through space magic as I am now. You know what I mean? That's space magic, it's a little complicated to interfere with it." She explained while scratching her head. "I'm not familiar with space magic but I believe it has almost the same concept with space-time magic, and spatial magic or warp gate."

Space-time magic is on the advanced level. It's the combination of space magic and time magic. Space-time magic is often used or engraved in storage rings, and those rings that are engraved with space-time magic are of the highest quality, if not, they can even be considered as national treasures since it has an unimaginable capacity, sometimes even unlimited capacity and with time magic that stops the flow of time in those rings, whatever is put there won't age. Food won't rot, things will remain as it is. Spatial magic or in layman's terms, warp gate is the magic that can make the caster go from one place to another. It's not as easy as it sounds because there are matters concerning spatial magic, additionally, it is also an exhausting magic.

'I need to study different types of magic more.' It was a good thing she was able to stumble upon the introductory explanation regarding space magic in Luxes.

Now then, space magic is already complex magic as it is, not only does it separate the space from the original space where it truly belongs, it's very tricky because the caster has full control of whatever happens inside the space.

Say, Tebras wants to turn the space upside down for his own entertainment, Blake will be in trouble. Blake is already in trouble being inside the space.

'Although if Blake was able to muster dark magic's connected form, he can escape. Damn it!' She bit her lower lip. Blake is strong without a doubt but with Tebras' monstrosity, Blake will be in a pinch.

It also doesn't help that the smoke is covering their exact location! If only she can see them! She can't use her magic against the smoke! It's probably anti-magic.

'Wait... anti-magic?'

She stared intently at the smoke then turned to Blake's shadow puppet and Tebras' tentacles.

Space magic... anti-magic...

"What the hell..." she mumbled to herself when she realized one crucial thing about this entire charade.

How could she not realize it sooner?!

"Eufema," she called.

"Yes?"

"Tell all the mages around, and I mean, all of them to attack."

"...attack? Attack who? Oh, I mean where?"

"Me."

"WHAT?!" Eufema exclaimed near her ears that caused her to jump out of surprise.

"No, I mean, attack in this direction."

If her guess is correct, she can't locate Blake and Tebras' direction not because they are in a different space but because of the smoke, no, the thing that made the smoke stay still. The one which made her magic unable to penetrate further. It's possible because she tried to search for Blake and Tebras through their magic energy, thus, she also used magic power to perform the search.

'[Heavenly Eye] won't be effective against anti-magic.' She concluded.

Now then, if that was the case then... Tebras' tentacle is still attacking Blake's shadow puppet, is it possible to have a part of your body in a different space? No. It's possible if it's separated from the main body. So, how does his tentacle is still working despite being in a different space, theoretically speaking? Either they're not in a different space or the tentacles have minds of their own.

She almost made a huge mistake.

Eufema left, when she returned, behind her are the mages from Konseho readying to cast their spells. She took out a special artifact from Luxes.

[Persipa (Artifact) Created by ??? Highest Quality. Persipa is a whistle that absorbs offensive magic spells then multiplying it twice its power unto release. Any type of offensive magic can be absorbed.]

"READY???" She yelled, on her signal, ten mages fired their strongest spells in her direction.

She threw the whistle mid-air before she tore the paper accompanying it.

The mages' spells came surging in her direction, and then, the (whistle) turned gigantic and absorbed the multi-colored spells fired in her direction.

'Good,' she heaved a deep sigh before she gathered the magic energy in the surroundings into her palms.

Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, every magic energy around her is being gathered in her palms forming a ball about twice the size of a basketball ball. Its magic energy is very intimidating to her and her surroundings. The flow of magic into her palm. Once satisfied, she fired the magic on her palm to the whistle which the whistle absorbed. Once the whistle absorbed the magic fired in its direction, she used the magic power from her magic base to direct the whistle in the smoke's direction.

It's a risk. A big risk. But, she can't keep on speculating alone with Blake's life on the line. Whether she moves now or continues analyzing what could Tebras really up to. She fired the (whistle) on the smoke, just like a rocket, the whistle dashed towards the smoke. When the (whistle) touched the smoke's area, it side like exploded.

'Fuck...!' She yelped internally.

"[Shelter of Hope]" It's a light magic spell.

A golden magic circle appeared mid-air, it was gigantic enough to cover the entire ruined trial hall where unconscious mages and weakened knights are. Golden light descended and then covered the area blocking the impact from the explosion of the artifact and the anti-magic.

She can feel her magic power depleting as time passes.

'This spell's really exhausting.' She thought. She has gotten better at using this spell than the first time she did. Now, she can last for about ten to thirty minutes using the spell. With the scope of [Shelter of Hope], she can last for thirty minutes.

'Better.'

The surrounding is once again covered with smoke.

"My... my magic has recovered!" One of the mages exclaimed followed by the others. The knights are also recovering their magic.

She prioritizes the knights that attacked the tentacle while she fired the artifact. Sadly, Blake's shadow puppet disappeared when she did. Hopefully, Blake is safe.

"Istorya!" She turned her head in the voice's direction.

It was Duke Franklin and the Marquess. Behind them are knights with the Bernard family's insignia.

"Istorya! Reinforcements will arrive soon. How do you feel?"

'Dizzy.' She wanted to reply but she simply nodded her head. "Okay... I'm okay..." she whispered.

She can last for thirty minutes. She has to.

"The situation outside the trial hall was unexpected." Duke Franklin stated while ordering the knights to help the others.

"What-"

"Don't speak." She stilled. She turned to Eufema. Eufema is still her mask but the part on her eyes isn't. "You are exhausting yourself than you already are. Don't speak and don't move. Sit." She unconsciously did. She sat on the ground.

"Is there something wrong with her?" Marquess Rolfe asked.

There is indeed something's wrong with her.

"I am not certain but her magic..." Eufema said while she gulped. "Her magic is in chaos."

"What?! Is that true, Istorya?!" Marquess Rolfe exclaimed.

She simply laughed it off. "Don't worry about me. Please assist Blake." She turned to Eufema. "I leave it to you, Fem." she mumbled.

[Shelter of Hope] is a light magic spell of Divine level. Not only does it serve as a barrier but the ones inside the barrier will be able to recover their magic, ten percent of their magic. She trained hard to be able to withstand this spell for more than five minutes. The first she did, the moment she cast the spell, she fainted. Like any other spell, the power of the spell depends on the caster's magic power. This spell is no different. If only it's a simple gigantic barrier like [Hymn of God of Light] she will be fine but since she is constantly providing magic power on the spell as it helps recover magic and serve as a barrier, not only is her magic power decreasing drastically, she's also growing weak.

'I was rash.' She thought with her eyes closed.

She is slowly losing her senses but her magic base is still supplying magic power for the mages and knights.

It's not because she wants to save all of them. It's not because she wants to help them.

She is simply guilty.

It was her miscalculation that leads to the deaths of some knights and mages.

'Ha... Haha... I underestimated him.'

It was the truth. She was confident, too confident of her plans that she disregarded the lives of the others. Knights and mages, some died because she was too absorbed in defeating Tebras and executing her plan alone.

She was guilty. Even if those mages were rude and always looking down on others. They died because she was a second too late. The indifferent knights were dead because of her.

Is he evil just like them? Is she heartless because all she cared about is her and her family's safety?

It may sound cold but expected Tebras to go wild. She expected Ibin's death too but why did she not save him? Oh, Ibin. She doesn't feel a bit remorseful for him. He's just as vile as Tebras, or maybe even worse. At least Tebras is not human, to begin with.

But who is she kidding? She's the same.

She's not a good person. She is indeed selfish.

Nonetheless, she felt sorry for those uninvolved.

That's why if she can help the wounded through recovering their magic then she might as well do so. She is at fault after all.

EUFEMA's POINT OF VIEW

I glanced at Lady Jozine's slumped figure and then at the barrier that protects us before I heaved a deep sigh.

I exited the barrier along with the knights' Duke Franklin brought with him and the mages who volunteered. After the explosion, what was once of the trial has turned to bits. There is no longer traces of the trial hall anywhere, simply ruined walls, broken wood, and scattered things that were once inside the trial hall.

The mages used wind magic to scatter the smoke. Unlike before, it worked this time.

The smoke dissipated, what revealed in front of us once it disappeared is a worn-out Blake with wounds on his entire body, he's even bleeding on his forehead. His wounds are mostly cut obviously from Tebras' attacks. Across Blake is Tebras laid on the ground, his tentacles are cut into half or more. Some of his separated tentacles are sprawled all around them.

I run towards Blake to check his condition. As expected, he's in a dangerous situation. His mask is broken but it's still on his face. Lady Jozine said that no matter what happens the mask won't be taken off, obviously, it's true.

"The monster is dead." One of the knights announced. 

I turned to Blake and smiled. "Well done Blake. You protected her well." 

I left the knights to do what they must. brought them with me in hopes of 

I use ice magic to carry him and walked in Lady Jozine's direction. Marquess Rolfe is with her along with some mages. 

"Excuse me, what's the matter?"

The human Marquess turned to us when he heard my voice before he sighs. "Istorya is now unconscious but her magic is still supplying the magic circle." He said worriedly looking at Lady Jozine.

She's unconscious?

I placed Blake carefully next to her. He was right. She is indeed unconscious but whether she's asleep or she fainted, both are dangerous.

"Have you tried waking her up?" I asked.

"We did, however, she remained still. She is not waking up."

No. This is too dangerous.

"Master!! Lady!! Master!!" I tried waking her up, I even started shaking her quite violently but her peaceful expression remained, her eyes still close.

"We must take them to the auction house!" I yelled. The Duke and Marquess were quick to give orders. 

If I were to carry both of them at my familiar's back, she won't be able to carry them both properly. Aside from that, we are not allowed to use our familiars when we're in our masked. 

"The carriage is ready. Let's go!" 

We placed them in the carriage carefully. I was surprised to see both the Marquess and Duke carrying Blake themselves while I'm carrying Lady Jozine using ice magic. She's laid on a pillar made of ice while I am maneuvering it through the ground. Her clothes are special so I am confident that she won't feel cold.

The auction house is quite a distance from this trial hall. I just hope that no one will stop us. I guess they are too busy dealing with the aftermath of this incident. 

We passed by a chaotic street. There are corpses of a monster called goblin around while knights and mages are scattered.

"What happened?" I mumbled to myself looking at the place.

"Knights reported that when the chaos started in the trial hall, a portal appeared in this street, the monsters were goblins. It was approximately one hundred of them. Fortunately, the hunters and knights were able to repel them and protect the city without any casualties."

 That was a piece of great news. It only means that our gears were truly strong. It felt good to hear that none died but I can't truly focus on the good news since Lady Jozine and Blake are both in danger. When I thought that Lady Jozine will stop supplying magic power on her spell, I was truly wrong. She's not stopping!

I'm sure Elise will be troubled. 

'Haaah,'

To be continued...