The phenomenal energy of the young girl was creating shockwaves, and the wound on her shoulder had automatically healed as well. She displayed a smile filled with arrogance and pride. One could have believed her to be invincible.
Believe me, you won't understand anything. But I warn you, it's going to be slow and brutal.
As the bandits were now taking her more seriously, Gabriel and their leader stared at each other. There was no doubt that each of them was trying to pierce the mystery of the other.
Hm, in any case, you're not a beginner. Said the bandit leader. Who are you?
Gabriel! My name is Gabriel! Replied the latter.
Very well, Gabriel, you're going to regret not continuing on your path.
The man launched the assault by sending his three snakes at Gabriel. He used his mastery to multiply feints by manipulating the trajectory of his snakes, thus creating the illusion of several dozen boas charging toward his target. But Gabriel had understood it and countered with:
Sword of the Sky, first form: eternal separation!
Displaying an even greater mastery than his opponent, Gabriel began to counter all of his assaults with incredible speed. The snakes' attacks came from all directions, raining down successively and rapidly, but Gabriel managed to block them without the slightest problem. Thus, a fierce and violent exchange between the two men took place in a duel under the rain, lost in a dense forest, and it lasted a good while before Gabriel severed the heads of the three snakes with a single swift sword strike.
The leader of the attackers, surprised, jumped backward as Gabriel charged at him. Cornered, he tried to launch his attack again with success and almost the same power, but this time, Gabriel began slicing through the snakes' bodies little by little while rushing toward his enemy, until he outsped him and got close enough to attempt an upward strike. The enemy had anticipated it and, although he had been surprised by his opponent's speed, he still managed to jump backward.
The man fell into a crouch five meters away from Gabriel. He first saw drops of blood falling before seeing blood pooling at his feet. Surprised, he reached for the dagger in his boot and tried to draw it without success. He then looked up to see Gabriel standing before him as if… the fight was already over. That was when he lowered his head and saw his two arms lying on the ground beneath the other man's feet. Shocked, he looked down again to discover the absence of his two arms.
A scream of pain echoed through the forest.
Haaaaaaaaa my arms?! My arms!!!!
He tried to stand up but collapsed onto his backside as Gabriel calmly walked toward him. With a serene step and a proud tone.
The problem with bandits of your kind is that even if we let you live, sooner or later, you'll end up crossing my path again. Might as well finish it now, right? Especially since I hate people like you.
With eyes filled with tears, the man raised his head to see Gabriel's impassive face before his head was severed without the slightest hesitation. The bandit's head rolled to his feet, and the rest of his body collapsed to the ground, bleeding out through the neck. The fight was over.
Good! And what about the girl then?
Gabriel immediately turned around after his victory and saw three of the five other armed men lying on the ground, and two others suffocating pitifully before the young girl. Both of them had their heads trapped inside a bubble of water and were drowning on their knees before her, under the amused gaze of the girl.
I told you that you would regret it.
And regret it they did, bitterly, and it could be seen through their final desperate movements as they tried in vain to free themselves, stretching their hands toward the girl as if begging for her mercy, before both of them collapsed to the ground, their eyes empty. As soon as that happened, the water bubbles burst.
The brat then burst out laughing.
Haaa ha ha ha ha ha ha, I warned you. No one defies the great, the one and only supreme mistress of the tower…
Hey, brat! Gabriel interrupted.
Didn't anyone ever teach you manners, not to interrupt people when they're talking?! She shouted at Gabriel.
I see you handled things well for a little girl. But I won. He said while demanding his won bet.
First, I'm not a brat. Second, you didn't win anything at all since I finished before you. Exclaimed the young girl.
Excuse me? I finished first.
What are you talking about? Don't you have eyes in your head? I defeated them at the same time and with a single spell on top of that. Their lives were sealed from that moment, so…
Mine fell first. Gabriel objected.
I had five. The brat replied.
Mine was the strongest. The young man added.
Haaaa you insolent brat. How dare you speak to me in that tone?! The girl snapped, blushing almost from anger and irritation.
Oh wow, honestly I should've minded my own business and let them beat you up. Gabriel replied, facing her rage.
Haaaaa you dare… wait, if you know that, then you were here from the beginning. So you waited until I got hurt to intervene? The girl finally realized.
I thought you could handle it on your own and that you didn't need my help? Gabriel said sarcastically.
You…
Said the young girl when a man came running toward the scene. He was wearing a butler's outfit heavily stained with mud and rain. Out of breath, he rushed toward Lily, anxiously asking about her condition.
Lady Lily… are you all right? You have no idea how relieved I am. I would never be able to look myself in the face again if anything had happened to you.
Of course I'm fine. She replied. But you, you're in a terrible state. This is what happens when you do your job poorly. This is all your fault, Rudolph. If you had chosen better horses, they would never have caught up to us. Still, I'm glad to see you didn't die after falling.
I am deeply sorry, my lady. I was careless. Apologized the elderly man of sexagenarian beauty, one hand over his heart.
That's enough. Anyway, I don't need your help. Now repair this carriage immediately.
Yes, my lady!
The man removed his white gloves and put on others of black color. He approached the carriage, which had been split in two, before declaring:
The magical workshop!
A mana zone immediately formed around the man. Several magic circles could be seen floating all around within the magical area. The pieces of the carriage also floated before him as he made a hammer and three nails appear between his fingers.
My workshop allows me to create and repair anything physical in record time. Nothing can resist me. Just give me two minutes, my dear lady.
Gabriel looked at the man with pity, thinking, "poor man, having to deal with such a brat must be exhausting." He felt as much pity as admiration for the man and his technique. But while he was busy watching him at work, he heard behind him:
Hey you, what do you want?
Lily asked him with a haughty look.
Nothing! He replied. Farewell.
Gabriel immediately resumed his path, to the displeasure of the young girl, who became so furious that she threw a water-ball attack at his head.
SPLASH!!!
One hour later, the carriage had been repaired and was even more beautiful than before.
I allowed myself to add a few details to match your greatness, oh my lady. Explained the servant.
Hmmm, I like it. Can't say you lack taste, at least.
Thank you! The man bowed deeply.
Rudolph, after receiving treatment and bandages, had taken the reins again and was driving the carriage. Meanwhile, inside the carriage were Gabriel and Lily. Gabriel kept looking at Lily from head to toe several times with an expression both surprised and shocked.
Stop staring at me like that, you dirty pervert. If you keep it up, I'll abandon you on the road.
What a joke! I save your life, you don't thank me, instead you attack me, you borrow my horse because yours ran away, and you still threaten to abandon me on the road? The young man mocked.
That's right! She replied.
Hm, the young man laughed, fine. But honestly, I really have trouble believing you're thirty-two. Seriously, what's the trick? You have the body of an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl and you swear you're thirty-two. He asked, shocked and baffled at the same time.
You don't have to believe me, but I still told you the truth. Replied the one whose hips were as thin as the young man's wrist and whose small chest was as flat as the desert.
Gabriel carefully examined her attributes, then shook his head and stayed silent so as not to make things worse.
And you also claim to be the guardian of the witches' tower? The third most important figure on the entire Blue Continent?
That's the truth too!
Then why don't you have any guards? And how is it that you were put in difficulty by mere bandits?
That's none of your business! The girl snapped. As for the second question, a seal prevents me from using my powers, and that's all I'll tell you. Don't ask any more questions. Believe me, it's better for everyone. She added in a more serious, and above all, more unsettling tone.
So Gabriel fell silent and remained calm for a few minutes when:
What, you're really not asking any questions?! The young girl snapped. Don't you want to know why someone of my rank ended up in such a situation?
Well, you told me to shut up.
Khh haa… hum, if you take it that way, then I won't tell you anything. She declared with a determined and resolute look.
Then, a few minutes later:
You really don't want to know? Nothing at all? She asked just like that.
And that was how Lily told Gabriel the whole story.
A top-secret story.