LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 36: Where did this child come from?
"So, how did you end up like this?"
Hearing Savoen's question, Avik lowered his head in dejection.
Seeing this, Savoen immediately lifted Avik's head with both hands and knocked her own forehead against his.
"Answer me! What happened to you just now? That kind of power isn't something a human would possess!"
Savoen's tone carried a mix of anger and concern. She was both sympathetic to Avik's earlier suffering and furious about his attack on her.
Yet, as her companion, her sympathy outweighed her frustration.
Seeing Savoen's reaction, Avik could no longer keep it a secret and decided to come clean.
"...Did you see that white pillar of light earlier? That beam drastically amplifies all the negative emotions in one's heart, turning people into mindless monsters. That's why I became like that."
"Really?"
"You're not lying, are you?"
Savoen and I questioned in unison.
"I have no reason to lie to you... That power wasn't originally mine; it was forced onto me by that beam of light..."
Avik reached to scratch his back, his face showing a trace of pain.
"Hey!? Are you okay?"
Seeing this, Savoen's aggression vanished instantly. She hurried forward to check Avik's condition.
She really does soften too easily.
"Hmm?"
Savoen pulled a pure white arrow-like object from Avik's back, faintly radiating a holy energy.
"What's this?"
"That's... an arrow used by the Holy Angels from Yuan Court. Judging by its aura, it's likely from an Archangel... Cough!"
A mouthful of thick blood spewed from Avik's lips, splattering across Savoen's pristine, white mechanized armor.
"Don't force yourself to talk. Explain everything after you've recovered."
Savoen bit her finger, letting her blood drip onto Avik's body as she drew a "mi" sigil and infused it with magic.
"Flame of Healing."
A soft, orange glow enveloped Avik's body, and his tense expression visibly relaxed.
"Head to the station by the seaside and wait for us there. See that tall red monument in the distance? Near the coast. He and I will stay here for about thirty minutes... He's seriously injured."
As she said, there was indeed a tall red pillar visible in the distance. I hadn't noticed it before because all my attention was on Avik.
"Understood."
I tossed my peculiar sword into the air and caught it precisely as it fell back, sheathing it in one fluid motion. Savoen shot me an impatient look, urging me to hurry.
I secured the sword at my waist, crouched to build momentum, and then leapt high into the air.
While airborne, I glanced back repeatedly to check on Savoen and Avik until I landed for the first time.
I jumped again, gaining altitude. At this height, Savoen and Avik were now just small black dots in my vision, their movements indistinguishable.
The swamp that had been engulfed in flames earlier was now completely scorched earth—no trace of the soil or plant life remained. The abandoned village nearby, however, remained untouched, a testament to Savoen's incredible control over fire.
She really does live up to her reputation as one of Kriz's top commanders.
As for Avik, there's no need to elaborate. The power he displayed in the earlier battle was astonishing. If I hadn't nullified that magic in advance, he might have unleashed something even more terrifying.
Though I prefer fighting alone, working with reliable comrades isn't so bad sometimes.
Adjusting my posture, I landed smoothly amidst a cloud of stirred-up dust.
Scanning my surroundings, I realized I'd reached the edge of the island, where it met the vast lake. Although I was now at the red monument's location, I found no boats or other means of transportation.
The setting sun painted the water's surface in shimmering hues of orange and red, while pale moonlight began to cascade onto the land. The breathtaking scene nearly lulled me into a daze.
If it weren't for the sound of approaching footsteps, I might have completely zoned out.
"Who's there?"
"Eek! I'm not here to fight! I just need help with something..."
A little girl appeared at my feet, dressed in a long, purple robe with wide sleeves and black trim along the cuffs, collar, and hem. Her outfit had a style reminiscent of ancient Chinese civilization.
Looking closely, I noticed two or three others peering cautiously from a nearby cave.
"Speak. What do you need me to do?"
The little girl stammered, her shyness evident. It seemed like this was her first time approaching a stranger for help.
"If you don't speak up, I'll leave."
"Wait!"
The girl became visibly flustered, on the verge of tears.
"There's a monster wreaking havoc in our village. Please, help us!"
A village? There's another settlement on this island?
"Alright. Lead the way."
"R-Really? Thank you! Please follow me!"