Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Twenty-Seven

Spirit and Goodbye [1]

ELISE'S POINT OF VIEW

I'm scared. This is something that I won't deny. When I bid goodbye to Lady Jozine it felt as though my knees will give away. I know I promised her that I will be safe but I know the fate that lies ahead as a hunter. Danger. Death. Those are inescapable.

Yet, my fear of danger and death was simply nothing when it comes to Lady Jozine. My oath of serving Lady Jozine for life, if I were to die, I won't be able to fulfill it anymore that's why... that's why I have to survive this no matter what, we have to survive this.

I glance at Blake behind me before asking if he's alright. He simply nodded his head while remaining vigilant. The lake is darker underwater than I expected and it made things scarier and dangerous. I am in the middle of Hunter Odalf and Ice, while Blake is behind me. I had to cast a calming spell on myself so I won't panic, it was Lady Jozine's suggestion and she also handed me several magical items for defending myself.

It has been approximately thirty minutes since we jumped in the lake, until now, the lake remained still. Silent. It is frightening this way more than anything else. There isn't a single living being or a single thing that may prove that this lake is... a lake.

The holy water orb covers our bodies so that we won't be wet even though we're swimming, nonetheless, I can still feel the cold water around us, yet, the darkness of the lake made it look and feel like we're not in a lake at all. The light from Hunter Odalf, Hunter Ice, and Blake are the only things that assure me that I am not alone.

BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ

My eyes widen as I look up. The water above us seems to darken even more, that darkness gathered and formed something similar to a spark.

"Here!" I didn't notice Blake grabbed me and pulled alongside them since I was stiff frozen in shock. We paddled farther and deeper from the phenomenon that was happening while Blake remained behind me. Pushing me, urging me to swim faster. From the panic in his voice and the intensified tension, I knew we're in danger. With that thought, my heart started racing in panic, my hands are also sweating and I can feel it clearly because of the protection from the holy water orb.

We paddled and paddled and paddled until I can feel my sore arms slowing down, I am gasping for air but I knew I can't stop. Blake is behind me, Lady Jozine is expecting us to return, we have to return before two hours run out because if we won't, Lady Jozine will be forced to follow us and I know she's scared.

Suddenly, a sound of metal colliding boomed behind me, when I look back, I watch as Blake, using two daggers fought against two shadow-like beings. Their bodies are glistening like newly cleaned metal armor.

"Blake, behind you!!!" I screamed unable to contain myself when another dark shadowy thing appeared behind Blake out of nowhere. Blake alerted from my warning, dodged the attack from the shadowy thing.

One of the shadow-like creatures is hit with an ice shard from behind me and froze. I look behind me when Hunter Odalf appeared and covered me using one of the shields he took from the storage ring.

"This ring sure is convenient," he commented while I watch as Hunter Ice assisted Blake from beside me.

Moments later, Blake swam towards us after defeating the shadowy beings.

"What was that?" Hunter Odalf asked. I wanted to ask the same, it was the first time for me to see such a creature, although this is my first time fighting off a monster or being in a rescue mission as a hunter with Lady Jozine, I have never heard of such creatures before.

"Was that a phantom?" I voiced, out of curiosity.

"It looked like one but it's not. Phantoms are beings that are either borne or summoned from dark or shadow magic or scattered souls that developed their ego and intelligence. That thing is called a Horkug. They're phantoms from scattered souls who developed their ego but killed and were reformed once again through multiple phantoms. A Horkug, to put it simply, is made out of other phantoms, or scattered souls. It can only be done through a ritual of sacrifices." Blake explained with a solemn expression on his face.

Hunter Odalf and Hunter Ice looked at each other before Hunter Odalf sighs. "I see. That's the first time I've heard of it and also my first time seeing one."

Blake nodded his head, "because it's related to dark magic considered as evil magic."

"But isn't dark magic evil magic?"

Blake visibly flinched while Hunter Ice hit Hunter Odalf's side. "Ack!"

I watch Blake shakes his head before he looks around. "We're still not safe around here. Those Horkug might return and their number might multiply."

"That's possible?" I ask.

"It is. As long as there's a supply of phantoms and scattered souls."

"Let us get going," Hunter Ice said for the first time before he started paddling.

I look at Blake and smiled when he looked at me. I might not know what made Blake suddenly feel down but I want him to know that as both Lady Jozine's servants, I am with him.

Blake nodded his head and ushered me to swim first.

I slapped my face lightly to clear myself of unnecessary thought. I'm scared but seeing how these three are doing their best, I can't become a burden. Instead, as this group's healer, I must do my best to honor Lady Jozine's trust!

With that being said, I watch as something wraps around my waist, and a second later, I'm being dragged somewhere deeper in the lake unable to do and say anything.

"ELISE!!!!!!!"

I watched, unable to move as Blake's figure trying to reach out to me became farther and farther until a blinding light covered my eyes.

ZAIRE LEVI'S POINT OF VIEW

What the hell...?

If this is all that's been happening then isn't this too much for what we signed up for!?

I blew a loud breath and glance at the skeleton man I am currently walking side by side with. The same skeleton who shot an arrow at me and almost made a hole in my neck. I guess it was fate, although it was a little — it wasn't little, to be honest — twisted, it must have been the power of the universe that pulled us to meet since if we didn't, I and the others would have been f****d up, if not killed, without our families and other people knowing what the real reason is.

This is no longer a 'rescue mission'. This has become more troublesome. A subjugation.

The subjugation of the forces that killed the villagers of Kalghaya Village. Those who took away this village's smile.

Remembering what happened, I couldn't help but grit my teeth. Why? Just why must the innocent suffer? What have they done wrong?

"Ah, I'm sorry. I thought you were the village chief." I feel guilty. Well, I think it was a reasonable mistake since his face really is a striking resemblance to the village chief, just a little younger. I cleared my throat, "so you were his son, huh," I mumbled to myself.

After I listened to Norman, the village chief's second son, the next in line to be the village chief, I still can't believe what he had to go through.

He was almost killed. By the village chief. His own father.

They were simply living a peaceful and happy life. Why do they have to take that away? Even the children... They did not spare a single child of that village!

Norman stared at me straight in the eye. "There is only one thing I ask of you and your friends." His voice is gruff, he then coughed multiple times while the skeleton helped him by handing him water placed on a big leaf. I watch them without saying anything. I wonder who this skeleton is? It's rather loyal. "Don't save those in the village."

My eyes widen. "...what?"

Wait, wait, wait. Was he kicked out or something? Does he have some grudge? Is that why he's alone in this creepy cave?

Why me?! I just want to get this over and done with already, for fook's sake!

"I'm sorry, I—"

"— You can't save those who are already dead."

I flinched. Norman looked away with a pained expression on his face. "The villagers, those in the village right now, they're all dead. You can't save them. It's too late."

"Huh...?" I blinked, "what does that even mean?!" I exclaimed. Are you telling me that those we interacted with are dead people? Ghost? Zombie?!

What the heeeeeeck!

"Our village, starting from my father, was used as a sacrifice. All those in the village are simply rotting flesh used as puppets to attract more people to die. The entire village is under control by those... nuns." Norman gulped then looked back at me, "Believe me when I say that you can stop this, you can still save yourselves and this kingdom if you stop them. You have to save Kalghaya. She's the spirit protecting our village and those people. They want Kalghaya. Please, I beg of you, save her... I... can't..."

With that, Norman continuously coughed until he started coughing blood and had to lay down. His complex turning paler and paler as time goes by.

He was already weak and the only thing sustaining him from dying is the large amount of magic power he possesses but that too was consumed when his village was engulfed by the curse and because he was unable to move, he had to summon a skeleton soldier, he said there were five skeleton soldiers with him but as time went on and he grew weak each passing day, he was unable to provide the necessary magic to maintain them and now, only one remains.

Norman was only able to escape because of his brother who was better at him in magic. When his brother realized what fate lies ahead of the villagers, his brother was quick to use his own life and magic to push him out of the magic circle, out of the village, still, that magic circle with the cursed was able to take more than half of his magic and his life force thus lead to him being bedridden.

But what's even more heartbreaking was that the first person who was killed but they were utterly clueless about was their father, the village chief.

So that was why I didn’t feel different about the village at all. It was all too real as if the villagers weren’t dead. I don’t know, was I too reliant because I thought that we were simply rescuing those that were taken by the so-called monster? It has become to the point that I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings, I was too confident of myself and of Aya.

I closed my eyes and heaved a deep breath. Of course, I was too reliant on Aya because all this time she was with me. Ever since I woke up in this world full of magic, it was Aya who knew me, the real me, and our circumstances. Now that I can’t reach her, I don’t even know where she went and why she suddenly disappeared, I can’t keep on relying on her. I studied magic, I studied so hard just so I can survive in this unknown world, right now, without Aya’s assistance and simply my own effort, I have to finish this job and help this village.

This is not me being heroic, I am simply thinking of my own gains. If I don’t do something about this or if I don’t help and this ends up big to the point of affecting the peace and order of the kingdom, where I live, of course, I’ll be affected too! I was planning to live the way I want, laze around and just chill.

I can’t let them take away my fun! Nope. Never.

“Okay, as we talked about, we’ll meet with my friend and we’ll start our executing our plan from there, got that?”

The skeleton nodded his, her, its head at me. Err, I nodded at it and continued walking.

I wonder if Norman can survive through the [Healing Potion] I got from Luxes? Although I can’t enter Luxes, I can still access its content that’s why I was able to get the high grade [Healing Potion] based on the description. It can cure any diseases and can also help in recovering some of the person’s magic. It’s mostly focused on healing rather than magic power recovering that’s why it won’t be able to recover Norman’s magic power in full potential. Also, I was to let Norman drink both the [Magic Power Recovery Potion] and [Healing Potion] it would be too much for his body to bear.

Ah, I finally spot Eufema’s figure sitting on the tree. Is she sleeping? Nope, too impossible. Eufema is on a mission and it’s a habit that she develops when we went out on a one-month training that during times like this, she won’t sleep while she’s alone, on a mission, with her having a crucial role. It’s just how Eufema is.

“Hey, Eufe— what the f**k!” I exclaimed at the same I dodged to my left when a shard of ice came flying in my direction. It hit the tree behind and froze half of the tree’s trunk and some of the grass. What the fudge!? “Eufema, what is wrong with… you… Step away, Skele.” I ordered when I came face to face with Eufema.

Damn. Damn. Damn it!!!!!

“… I’m gonna f*****g kill whoever did this to her. I. f*****g. Swear.” I mumbled gritted as I watch Eufema stagger to walk, her eyes are pure gray, like the entire eye.

I fisted my hand while staring at her chest. f**k… What the f**k… WHAT THE f**k!!!!!

Her once clean clothes are now covered in dark red while the hole on her chest is still bleeding. Her arms are covered in convoluted unknown tattoos and her veins are visible, if not swollen.

“Fema…” I gasped. s**t. s**t!!!!!!! This is all my fault. I was… I was too late. Too f*****g late!!! I’m sorry…