"So, to continue my explanation, in the world I came from, it's almost common knowledge—a widely accepted notion—that Aldreda's magic is always accompanied by powerful, high-level spells."
Above Kavnak's head, a small orb emitting a red glow changes color. From scarlet to bright yellow… to radiant white, and then to deep blue… As its color shifts, the orb gradually grows larger.
"This is a spell called Xeraxis's Unfading Sun."
"Hah! What do you think you can do with that tiny ball of light, Gravel?"
Though he projected confidence while shouting at Gravel, Kavnak felt an agonizing sensation, as if all the moisture in his body were boiling under the searing heat radiating from the blue orb floating above him.
His fur burned, releasing wisps of smoke, and his throat felt scorched, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
"Arghhh!"
Kavnak let out a shallow scream, writhing under the torment of the blue sun's blazing pain.
Everything around the low-hanging blue sun burned to ash, scattering black dust into the air.
Enduring the excruciating pain and trembling with convulsions, Kavnak's legs finally stirred. 'Now, I just need to kick off the ground and move!' he thought. At that moment, Gravel, who had been quietly observing Kavnak from a distance, spoke again.
"It will soon become two."
"..."
Kavnak didn't need to look up to confirm the unbelievable words. He could feel an overwhelming force pressing down on his entire body from above.
As Gravel had said, the blue sun of Xeraxis floating above Kavnak's head split into two, unleashing a deafening roar and a wave of force that pushed everything around it outward.
"Ugh… ugh… ughhh…"
Kavnak's groans, wracked with pain, echoed as he lay prostrate beneath the scorching heat of the two small suns.
His head sank closer to the ground, and through his trembling demonic eyes, he saw Gravel looking down at him with a calm, emotionless expression. In that moment, a feeling Kavnak had only ever experienced in the demonic world—where loyalty was absent, and only submission through overwhelming power existed—stirred in his mind.
In the heart of the black forest, where everything turned to ash and crumbled, Kavnak mustered his last strength to reach out toward Gravel. But another deafening roar resounded, and the four blue orbs now floating above him radiated an unstoppable force, burning everything around them and melting the very ground beneath him into a sinking pool.
"This is the end, it seems."
Gravel spoke as he looked at the scattered remains of Kavnak, now reduced to a large lump of charcoal. He extended his hand, recalling the suns of Xeraxis.
With a gesture from Gravel, the four fiercely burning blue suns vanished instantly. Thick raindrops began to fall from the sky, illuminated by the moonlight, onto the forest now dusted with black ash.
The sudden downpour cooled the lingering heat left by Xeraxis's suns, creating countless small puddles. Gravel pulled his hood low over his head, shielding himself from the heavy rain, and surveyed the blackened forest.
The ground, once lush, was now entirely black. The tall, charred remnants of trees within the range of Xeraxis's suns lay collapsed, drenched by the rain falling from the sky.
'To think that this is the result even after holding back midway… I'll need to be more careful when casting spells with such a wide area of effect.'
Walking through the rain, Gravel carefully avoided the small puddles of dissolved black ash and approached the spot where Kavnak's remains lay.
'Hmm… now that I think about it, I should've questioned that chef more about their identity. They were definitely connected to the Farmstead.'
*****
On the way back to the Farmstead after defeating Kavnak, Gravel stood before the temporary tomb of Gallad, surrounded by walls of earth he had created.
For a while, Gravel silently gazed at Gallad's tomb before opening his hand, conjuring a glowing white magic circle.
'As expected, it won't work…'
The light on his palm flickered briefly before the magic circle vanished, and the spell failed to activate.
In this other world, the one spell Gravel could not cast was the magic to resurrect the dead. When he first began his life in this world, after a request to exterminate dire wolves and another to eliminate goblins at a small wheat farm near Froikton, Gravel had wondered, 'Could resurrection spell work in this world?' He had tried casting it on a goblin's corpse.
The result was the same as now. No matter how many times he tried, the outcome never changed.
Gravel already knew that 'resurrection spell cannot be used in this world.' but somewhere deep in his heart, he rejected that knowledge. He hoped that the magic circle on his palm would activate and that Gallad's voice would call out from within the earthen walls.
"Haaa…"
A long sigh from deep within his chest spoke volumes in place of words.
Regret, loneliness, and a quiet desolation filled the night.
*****
At a spot on the outskirts of the Farmstead, Lisia was walking briskly through a forest path. A faint smile played on her lips as she hummed a bright, cheerful tune, out of place in the dark forest shrouded from the moonlight.
Without a lantern, light magic, or even a crude torch or candlestick to illuminate the night, Lisia wore her hood low, concealing the golden hair she often boasted about. She occasionally paused to check her surroundings, her cautious movements resembling someone heading to a secret rendezvous.
Alert to even the smallest sounds in the night forest, she repeatedly glanced back to ensure no one was following her. Her quick steps carried her toward the direction of the moon, faintly visible above Latela Mountain in the distance.
After passing a few trees, Lisia placed her hand on a large boulder and slowly turned to check again for pursuers before continuing.
Soon, she reached the base of a low rocky hill at the foot of Latela Mountain. Carefully stepping through tangled vines and small leaves, she disappeared into the undergrowth with a rustling sound.
Moments later, brushing off the small blades of grass clinging to her shoulders, Lisia emerged before the entrance to a small cave.
"Light."
Spreading her palm, she conjured a small magic circle, summoning a glowing white orb. With it, she walked into the cave.
The cave's interior was surprisingly spacious compared to its narrow entrance. Water droplets from stalactites on the high ceiling dripped onto the floor, their echoes resonating through the cave.
The harmony of stalagmites on the floor and stalactites on the ceiling, illuminated by the orb in Lisia's hand, gave the impression of walking into the maw of a beast with hundreds of jagged teeth.
The damp air inside the cave was cold. As a breeze from somewhere within brushed against Lisia's cheeks and neck, she shivered slightly, raising her free hand to touch her chilled skin while continuing deeper into the cave.
Lisia's expression was bright, her eyes narrowing with delight and her lips glistening as her tongue passed over them. A smile lingered on her face, filled with eager anticipation for whatever awaited her at her destination.
Soon, the cave's exit came into view. A soft moonlight, distinct from the glow of her orb, illuminated the path ahead.
Reaching the exit, Lisia closed her palm, dismissing the orb, and with a wider smile, stepped out of the cave.
After glancing up at the moon, Lisia's eyes fell upon a wide clearing. Gray rocks dotted the area, with thin, wiry grass growing between them, surrounded by rough stone walls. The scent of damp moss, still wet with night dew, filled her senses.
"Am I late?"
Lisia called out to a man standing in the center of the clearing, his back to her.
"No, not at all. The path you described seemed a bit complicated, so I set out early."
Rant replied, turning to face her.
His unkempt hair remained as it was, but unlike before, the scruffy beard around his chin and mouth had been neatly trimmed.
"I heard your house burned down." Lisia said.
"Yes… tch, those damned bastards burned it to the ground."
Rant said, his anger flaring as he recalled the day's events, picking at the dry skin on his lips.
"Oh, how awful! To set fire to your home just because of a disagreement? I'll make sure to find out who did it."
Lisia said, furrowing her brow and stepping closer to pat Rant's shoulder reassuringly.
"Please do. Thanks to them, I don't even know where I'll sleep for a while. I need to rebuild before winter, but at least the house's frame is still somewhat intact, thanks to Diara putting out the fire before it spread further. Still, rebuilding will require prepared timber, and the smell of freshly cut wood… ugh, it's a headache all around," Rant said, pouring out his frustrations and rubbing his throbbing temples.
"That's why I asked to meet tonight."
Lisia said with a playful tone.
"Huh? What does today's mess have to do with…"
Rant trailed off, looking at Lisia with a confused, weary expression.
"You just said you're worried about where to stay for a while." she continued.
"Yes, I did, but…"
"How about taking a break in Pranden, in Baron Lalanche's land?"
"What? But going back to my hometown so suddenly…"
"Empty-handed, you mean? Of course not! You'll return with a gift I've prepared for Baron Lalanche."
Lisia said, flashing a charming smile as she pulled a small pouch from her sleeve.
"What? Is that… no way!" Rant exclaimed.
"Yes, exactly what you're thinking. These are seeds of the improved crops we've cultivated at the Farmstead." Lisia said.
"Haha! So you mean…" Rant's eyes lit up.
"Exactly. We're going to distribute them to other territories eventually, so what's the harm in giving them out a little early? I thought it'd be fine to share some seeds a bit sooner with you, Rant, since you've always been so helpful with the Farmstead's affairs. What do you think?"
Lisia said, tilting her head slightly.
"Yes, of course! You're absolutely right. I don't know how to thank you for understanding me so well." Rant said, his face creasing with wrinkles as he laughed heartily, already imagining the sweet future awaiting him in Pranden with the seeds in hand.
"No need for thanks. Just go and enjoy your time there." Lisia said, extending the pouch toward him.
"This is so unexpected…" Rant sighed, as if blowing away all his troubles.
If I can bring those seeds to Baron Lalanche, if I can just hand him that small pouch… a comfortable life awaits. No more waking up at dawn for grueling work. I'll return to my hometown as the new overseer of the farmlands promised by the baron, standing above the common folk and living a happy life.
Despite trying to suppress his excitement, the corners of his mouth kept turning upward. As he reached out to take the pouch of seeds from Lisia's hand, a sharp, twisting pain shot through his abdomen.
"Ugh… argh…"
Rant groaned, his lips trembling as he let out a low moan.
"Tch, tch. No, no, that won't do…"
Lisia whispered in a slow, cold voice near his ear, their bodies so close they could have been lovers in an embrace.
Lisia's hand, now sharpened like a blade, was embedded in Rant's abdomen.
"The tongue is a very precious ingredient, you know…"