Siegfried Fors
"I'll scout ahead."
Her voice sliced through any protest I might have mustered. I understood, of course. Her logic was painfully clear: a child had no place in a dangerous situation. My gaze fixed on Granny as she began to chant, staff held aloft. "Will of fire, grant me the strength to take the sky."
A pulse ignited beneath her feet, mana flaring in a burst of vivid orange. With a whoosh of heat, the spell lifted her upward in a swirl of embers, carrying her higher and higher.
Still, I wished I could go with her.
"Wait, Granny! Me too!" I yelled, seeing her ascend, desperate to follow.
But she looked down, a frown creasing her brow, her eyes meeting mine. "No," she said, her voice firm, unwavering. "Go back." Without another glance, she vanished over the other side of the wall. "Granny..." The word barely escaped my lips, a hollow whisper as I stared at the spot where she had disappeared.
"Young lord, we should go back and tell Lord Fors and Lord Borg about our findings," Ashar said from behind me.
"Right..." I mumbled, not turning, trying to convince myself. Granny is strong. She should be fine.
I finally turned to Ashar. "Let's hurry."
Ashar nodded, and with a soft "Fuua," Faux jumped from my shoulder to land softly on my head.
"Not angry anymore?" I asked, looking up at the fox spirit.
With a sound that was undeniably a "Hmph," Faux looked away.
We started walking toward the manor, until suddenly, the world went still.
Everything turned pure, blinding white, and a voice, deep and overwhelming, graced my ears.
"If you go back now, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
The voice was unmistakably a woman's, resonating with an authority that left no room for refusal.
I blinked, and just as suddenly, I was back on the road, with Ashar a few paces in front of me and Faux perched on my head. I gasped, taking a deep, shuddering breath as if I hadn't drawn one in an eternity.
Just what was that? Whose voice was that? It didn't sound like Ashar's. And what did she mean, I'd regret it for the rest of my life?
I stopped dead, my eyes snapping back to the distant wall.
Granny...
"Something wrong, young lord?" Ashar's voice broke through my daze.
"I..." My gaze darted from him to the wall, then back again. I wiped the sudden sheen of sweat from my forehead, swallowed hard, and forced the words out. "We need to go after Granny."
"What?" Ashar's brow furrowed in disbelief. "We just went over this. Lady Fors only went for reconnaissance; we should be hurrying to report back so a proper unit can be formed to go after her."
I knew he was right, logically. I clutched my coat over my heart, the fabric tight against my rapid beat. But if that voice is even a little right? I don't want to have any regrets, not in this life.
"Then you go back," I declared, my voice firm despite the tremor in my hands. "I will go after Granny." With that, I spun on my heel, moving resolutely toward the wall.
But then, I felt a sudden, powerful pull at my collar. My feet lifted off the ground, and I looked back to see Ashar lifting me effortlessly.
"Sorry, I can't allow that," he said, his grip like iron.
"What the hell? I believe you're actually being rude now!" I protested, struggling against his hold, but to no avail.
"It's alright," he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I've been given permission by Lady Valka to be a little rough."
Mother? What did she give him permission for?
I tried to squirm, to pull away, but damn, his grip was strong. With me dangling like a helpless fruit, he turned and began striding purposefully back toward the manor.
Damn it. I refuse to give up like this.
"Faux!" I shouted, and from my head came a soft "Fua."
Faux leaped, sinking his tiny teeth into the hand that held me captive. With a grunt of pain from Ashar, his grip loosened, releasing me. I spun, ready to sprint back toward the wall, but Ashar was faster, already in front of me, Faux now held securely in one hand.
"Young lord, that was quite cruel," Ashar said, a hint of accusation in his voice.
"You haven't seen anything yet. Faux!" At my command, Faux's golden eyes glowed, and I darted past Ashar, his hand reaching out to grab me, only to be stopped by something invisible.
"What?" Ashar pressed his palm against the unseen wall in front of him.
I smirked. That is Faux's ability, creating invisible barriers. "Just stay there." I started running towards the patched section of the wall.
"Stop him!" Ashar's voice boomed, directed at the two guards standing near the patchwork.
"Please, stop," one of them pleaded, moving to intercept, arms wide to catch me. I poured mana into my feet, kicking off the ground, launching myself over his outstretched arms. My foot landed squarely on the helmet of his head, and with another surge of mana, I kicked myself higher, clearing the top of the wall.
"Sorry," I said over my shoulder, watching the guard I'd used as a foothold slam face-first into the ground.
I landed on the other side with a soft thud, the forest now stretching before me in the distance.
For a moment, I just stood there, breath short, heart racing.
That was... exciting.
I could feel a smile creeping across my face.
Then I felt it: a sudden wave of mana.
That mana signature... Granny?
Is she fighting? Was the voice right?
I activated my mana sense. My perception expanded outward; I could feel Granny's mana, a powerful, erratic pulse coming from deep within the forest.
I pulled out my practice wand and poured mana into my feet, bolting into the dense woods. My senses pulled me in her direction, guiding me through the thick undergrowth. But it was strange: I couldn't sense anyone else's mana. Is this the strong mage Ashar warned me about?
I pushed those thoughts aside as I ran faster, heart thundering. I felt myself drawing closer. She had to be just a little farther, beyond these bushes. As I burst through them, the scene that unfolded before me made my heart plummet to my stomach.
Granny was hanging from a tree, struggling desperately against a thick, appendage wrapped tightly around her neck.
"GRANNY!" I screamed, pointing my wand at the grotesque thing slithering from the tree. I poured everything I had into the spell, unleashing a concentrated beam. It tore through the strange ligature, and a monstrous roar of pain followed. Granny came crashing down. My wand cracked under the strain, but I didn't care. I tossed it aside and sprinted toward her.
"Why are you here?" she barely managed to force the words out, her eyes struggling to stay open, burn marks stinging all over her exposed skin. A cold, burning rage ignited within me as I saw the red mark left by the thing that had been wrapped around her neck.
Granny suddenly grabbed me, and with a grunt, we lunged to the side. At that exact moment, something colossal crashed into the ground where we'd been, sending us tumbling in a cloud of dust.
I scrambled to sit up, my gaze snapping to Granny. She was gasping for air, her breaths ragged and heavy. A chilling hiss cut through the air, and my eyes landed on the creature. Its body was long and sinewy, covered in scales that shimmered red and gold, almost molten in the dappled light. Its tail curled with an odd, segmented twist. And from its mouth dangled a bloodied tongue... no, that was its tongue. That thing that wrapped around Granny's neck; it was this bastard's tongue.
A cold fury ignited within me. I pulled out another wand, channeling one of the basic offensive mana-based spells: Mana Bullet. It fired from the end of my wand. It struck the creature, making it shriek as it recoiled, rushing back into the forest.
Then, I heard Granny cough, a weak, rasping sound. She protected me, even though she was badly hurt.
I clenched my fists. Damn it.
Potions. I should have some potions.
A rustling sound caught my attention from our right. I turned to see three more of the creatures emerging from the undergrowth, their mouths agape, a faint shimmer of heat radiating from them. Sensing immediate danger, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Faux!!" Summoning him with all my might.
With a blinding golden light, Faux appeared above our heads. The next second, a torrent of flames erupted around us, but they dissipated harmlessly against an invisible barrier. We were safe, for now.
"Fua," Faux whimpered, flying down to hover beside me, his concern palpable in his glowing eyes.
"Focus on the barrier," I urged him, my voice tight.
I then turned all my attention to Granny, kneeling beside her as I pulled out every potion I had: for burns, for fatigue, for injuries. "Just hang on, Granny... I've got you," I murmured, my hands trembling as I prepared to administer them.
Elara Fors
Something warm and sweet passed through my lips, a familiar, earthy taste spreading through my mouth. As it trickled down my throat, a wave of warmth bloomed through my body, easing the tightness that clung to my bones. My limbs still ached, but that gentle warmth, it was enough to pull me back. My eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was the face I had watched grow from a baby, now swimming into focus through a haze of pain and relief. Behind him, that familiar red-orange fox hovered, its tail glowing faintly.
"Sieg..." I tried to push myself up, but my body screamed in protest, every muscle aching, every burn stinging anew. I suppose all the adrenaline had finally burned away.
Sieg, tears clinging to the corners of his eyes, leaned down and hugged me, his small frame trembling. "Granny, I was so worried." With what little strength I had left, I managed to lift a hand, my fingers gently cupping his cheek.
"I'm fine, thanks to you," I rasped, my voice raw. My eyes drifted around, noticing the salamanders. They were still there, furiously slamming their heads against an invisible barrier, spewing torrents of flame that harmlessly splattered against its unseen surface.
"We need to wait until help arrives," I managed, my voice weak.
Sieg shook his head, his gaze dropping. "Faux may not be able to hold them off much longer," he said. Then his eyes flickered down, scanning the raw burns and gashes on my body. His voice hitched. "And more importantly, they hurt you." He bit his lip, trembling.
Then he looked up at me, and in that moment, something changed in his eyes.
There was still worry. But also something else: Anger. A chill, cold and sharp, ran down my spine. He slowly took my hand from his cheek, placing it gently on my lap, and then stood up.
"What are you going to do?" I asked, trying desperately to push myself upright, a surge of dread coursing through me.
Sieg looked over his shoulder, and my heart seized. His visible eye, usually so full of innocent wonder, was now gleaming with an intensity that I had never witnessed before.
"Protect you, of course."
A wave of mana flared around him, surrounding him in a vibrant green light. It danced across his skin, outlining his small frame. His platinum hair, usually so soft, now glowed, almost sparking as the raw energy coursed through it. Sieg pointed his wand forward, his voice clear and resonant. "Take shape and stab into my enemies." As he chanted, mana coalesced above his head, swiftly forming into three shimmering arrows.
"Faux!" he commanded, and a small window instantly appeared in the barrier surrounding us. The arrows shot out with incredible speed, striking one of the salamanders. Two hit its body, and one plunged into its head. The creature shrieked, a sound of agony and suffering, before its thrashing ceased and it finally lost its life.
"Hmm..." Sieg murmured, looking at his wand. I wondered if it had cracked again from the strain. "This will take too much time."
He looked at Faux. "Open it." With a soft "Fuuaa," a large hole appeared in the protective barrier. Understanding Sieg's intent, a jolt of panic shot through me, and I tried to move.
"No, Sieg! Wait!"
But without even a backward glance, he stepped out.
"No, Faux, put a barrier around him!" I pleaded with the fox spirit, but he didn't even look at me. His golden eyes glowed, and, for a heartbeat, it almost looked like he was smiling.
The remaining salamanders hissed, their mouths opening wide as gouts of flame spewed forth.
No, no, my Sieg! I forced myself up, my body screaming in protest, falling face-first onto the charred ground. Despair consumed me as I watched the fire engulf him. I closed my eyes, a silent apology forming on my lips. Valka... I am sorry...
A sharp "Fuuaaa!" from Faux snapped my eyes open. I looked in the direction of the flames and saw Sieg, completely unharmed, walking through the inferno. I immediately activated my mana sense, and what I saw was breathtaking: a thick, almost solid layer of mana coated his skin, protecting him from the scorching flames. It's control so precise, so incredibly fine, that I found it almost beautiful, even in my terror.
Seeing their flames rendered useless, the salamanders hissed in frustration. One of the salamanders lunged at him. Sieg moved with astonishing precision, dodging sideways, a blur of motion. Before the creature could even land, he drove his knee into its underside, then slammed his fist into it, sending the monster flying. He turned to the other two, still spewing fire, and they both shimmered, changing colors, and vanished.
"They can vanish, and mana sense doesn't work!" I shouted, the effort immediately sending me into a coughing fit.
Then, an appendage shot out, wrapping around Sieg's arm. It came from one of the nearby trees; it yanked him toward the trunk. But Sieg planted his feet on the ground, a stubborn anchor. With a powerful jolt, he pulled back, and the invisible creature was ripped from its hiding place, sent flying directly towards him. Sieg pulled back his fist, mana concentrating into a devastating point, and slammed it into the salamander's head. The blow slammed its skull into the ground with a sickening crack. The impact crushed the ground beneath it, killing the creature in a single, brutal blow.
I was utterly taken aback, a cold wave of disbelief washing over me. This couldn't be the same cute, innocent Sieg who, just a few years ago, had recoiled from the very idea of harm, who'd been so afraid of even the thought of killing. Just what kind of rigorous, merciless training had Valka and Zayn put him through in the last two years? He was fighting now not just with skill, but with a calculated intensity, every move honed, every strike precise. He was fighting like a true Fors, embodying the very ferocity and resolve I remembered from seeing my own children and husband. The transformation was so profound it was almost chilling; I had never even noticed.
Flames came again, this time from several directions, but again, they found no purchase. Sieg, protected by his shimmering mana, murmured, "May mana pierce through my enemies..." Mana coalesced around him, and five glowing points manifested, hovering in the air.
"Mana Missiles!" he commanded. The five points shot off in different directions with piercing whistles, and screeches of pain tore through the air. With a shimmer, the hidden monsters sprang into view; more salamanders.
Damn, there were more of them. The missiles struck, but they survived, their scales deflecting the brunt of the impact.
Then, a sudden rustling sound. Something was moving, fast. I couldn't see it, but it was heading straight for Sieg.
"Behind you!" I screamed.
Sieg backflipped, twisting in the air, mana shimmering around his hand and taking the shape of a blade. With a spin, he cut through empty air, but a spray of blood erupted. The salamander appeared, its head cleanly decapitated, as its body crumpled to the ground.
More salamanders lunged at him, and the mana around Sieg surged like a living storm. He moved with unbelievable speed, uppercutting one, spinning into a sharp backhand that sent another head exploding. Then he leapt upward, kicking at seemingly empty air. A crack rippled through the space, and a bloodied salamander was hurled out of nowhere.
Sieg landed, straight and still, blood dripping from his fingers. His small figure was suddenly menacing, radiating an aura that made the remaining salamanders take a collective step back.
Hope flickered within me. It would be better if they simply ran away. But instead, they cried out, a synchronized wail from all three.
Suddenly, heavy thumping sounds echoed through the forest, and the ground began to shake. Then, with a guttural roar, the trees behind the salamanders split apart. My stomach dropped. Its body was as massive as the trees themselves, flames dripping from its maw like molten drool. Its sheer presence made the surrounding trees smoke. "There was an adult here too..." I whispered, staring at the colossal salamander.
The smaller ones scurried, hiding behind their giant parent. The behemoth lowered its head, its eyes lingering on the dead bodies of its kin, one by one. Then, it let out another earth-shattering roar, opened its gigantic maw, and lunged with incredible speed, intending to devour Sieg whole.
"Move!" I screamed, but it felt too late. There was no space to escape.
"What are you doing to my beautiful wife and grandson?!" A deafening, yet undeniably familiar voice tore through the air from above. The next second, something massive dropped from the sky, slamming into the giant salamander's head with such incredible force that it sent everything flying. Sieg came hurtling back, ramming into the still-standing barrier around me.
"Ow," Sieg mumbled, rubbing his head. My eyes, however, were fixed on the monstrous salamander. Its eyes had rolled back, lifeless. Above its head, valiantly holding an axe still stuck into the beast's skull, stood the figure of the man I had loved my whole life.
My savior.
"You're late, dear," I said, a genuine smile spreading across my face as I looked at my husband.