It was already getting late.
But after thinking it over, Lux still decided to stay and talk with him a little longer, so she asked, "All right. What do you want to talk about?"
Galio smiled. "Anything you want. I'm curious about everything that has to do with you."
"Hmm... let me think."
Lux thought for a moment, then said, "I'll tell you about that guy."
Galio nodded without objection, a little extra curiosity appearing in his eyes.
"That guy is actually really incredible. He cooks unbelievably well, he can be really gentle sometimes, and he knows how to do so many things..."
The moment she brought him up, Lux suddenly found herself with endless things to say.
Under the night sky, she spoke with obvious enthusiasm, story after story pouring out of her.
Galio stayed quiet and watched the little golden human talk and talk, her eyes shining with a brilliance as dazzling as starlight whenever she spoke.
A smile appeared on his face as he listened carefully, simply staying there beside her.
He didn't understand human little people's feelings.
But he could tell that whenever she mentioned that person, a kind of happiness appeared on her face that he had never seen before.
"Are you even listening?"
After going on for quite a while without getting any response from Galio, Lux looked up at him.
Galio nodded. "Of course I'm listening."
"I've told you all that, and we still haven't figured out how to solve this problem."
Lux suddenly remembered the real issue, but a trace of drowsiness appeared on her face, and she let out a yawn. The worry inside her rose again.
Even though she knew the cause now, that still didn't help her think of a solution.
If this kept going, her magic would go out of control again sooner or later.
And if Luke found out...
Lux didn't dare keep following that thought.
At that moment, Galio was also racking his brain.
One girl and one giant colossus simply stared at each other in silence for several long seconds.
Then Lux stood up and sighed. "I know you can't think of any way to fix it, but after talking this long, I do feel a lot better."
"Me too. It's been a long time since anyone talked with me like this."
Galio sounded honestly pleased.
"It's getting late. If I don't go back now, I'm going to get yelled at."
Lux looked at the sky and said goodbye. "I'm leaving. Maybe I'll come again tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that. Until I find a way to deal with this, if it goes out of control again, can I come to you?"
"Of course you can. But I believe you'll definitely find a solution."
Galio smiled.
"I hope so. Then, see you."
Lux waved.
"See you." Galio's voice dropped with a touch of reluctance.
Lux started making her way back.
For her, this trip had not been without results.
At the very least, she had figured out why her magic was losing control, and she had gotten to talk with the colossus for a long time.
Would the magic lose control again?
Lux didn't know.
But she was determined to find a way to solve it.
She wanted to stay by Luke's side. She didn't want him to hate her, and she didn't want to ruin everything she had now.
And so, after walking for some time, she suddenly saw a silent figure appear ahead of her, making her jump.
She raised her eyes and looked.
About thirty feet in front of her stood a cloaked figure, not very tall.
But she could clearly see a staff raised in the figure's right hand.
"A mage?"
Lux took a step back, her gaze turning wary. She immediately scanned her surroundings, confirming there was no one else nearby. At the same time, she spotted a rusty sword in her field of vision.
"I didn't expect to run into someone this late."
An old woman's voice came from under the cloak. She sounded almost amused as she asked gently, "Little girl, where are you headed this late at night?"
"Home."
Lux took another step back and saw the woman raise her head, revealing a face that wasn't truly old, but certainly not young either.
There were several wrinkles on it, but otherwise she looked like an ordinary old woman.
"There's no need to be so frightened, little girl."
The old woman smiled kindly. "You and I are the same kind of person, aren't we?"
Lux's eyes widened at once. She was startled that the old woman had recognized at a glance that she was a mage too.
"There's nothing to be surprised about. Surely you know it yourself. You shine as brightly as a light in the dark night."
The old woman smiled as she slowly walked toward Lux. "For someone like you to be in a place like this... isn't that a little too dangerous?"
Lux kept watching her warily. "What are you trying to say?"
"You seem lost when it comes to controlling it, don't you?"
The old woman instantly saw through Lux's trouble. Her tone was patient and coaxing. "You're uneasy about your future. You're confused about the present. You're afraid... afraid it will destroy everything you have now."
Lux's expression wavered. She looked at the old woman and asked, "How do you know that?"
"Because I understand it too well. When I was young, I was just like you. Lost, helpless, uncertain." The old woman wore a gentle smile. "The difference is that it already destroyed my life. But for you... there's still time."
Lux's heart wavered even more.
She could tell this old woman was a mage too.
And she didn't look like a bad person.
Maybe she really could ask her how to control magic?
Seeing the temptation on Lux's face, the old woman continued, "In my life, I have met countless mages. And you are the one with the greatest potential I have ever seen. I can tell you how to control this power. From then on, you won't have to worry about it ever again."
Lux eyed her suspiciously. "If you're doing this, then you definitely want something in return, right?"
"That's right." The old woman nodded honestly without lying, slowly drawing closer with a smile across her face. "And the price is very simple. It's something you can absolutely give."
Lux asked, "What price?"
"Let me... have a taste of your memories."
A strange light appeared in the old woman's eyes, and she suddenly raised the staff in her hand.
Lux instantly sensed danger.
Fortunately, she had never dropped her guard even for a second. The moment the staff came up, she dashed sharply to the right.
At the same time, a wave of magical energy flew through the place where she had just been standing.
Lux moved quickly, snatching the rusty sword off the ground and immediately turning to slash with it.
A blade of wind flew from the edge of the sword and struck the old woman. Though she blocked it with her staff, it still left a shallow wound.
Her cloak was blown back as well, revealing a head full of white hair.
At that moment, the old woman looked at Lux, who was facing her with sword in hand, with some surprise in her eyes.
She had imagined how this girl might retaliate.
But she had not expected it to be like this.
Thinking back to the wind blade that had just flashed past, she looked at Lux again. "To use a gift like yours in this manner is an insult to your talent."
"That's none of your business."
Lux watched her warily. She had known it, this old woman was up to no good.
When she saw the old woman raise her staff again, Lux had no intention of giving her time to cast. She rushed straight in and swung the rusty sword again.
Her wind swordsmanship came down on the old woman in a swift, relentless flurry.
The old woman blocked with her staff and kept retreating under Lux's pressure.
Yet she still had enough breath left to speak. "That sword style is quite good. But don't you want to learn stronger magic? I can teach you all sorts of spells, things far more powerful than this. All I ask in return is a tiny sliver of your memory."
"Drop the act! You're the Rock Hag, aren't you?"
Lux let out a cold snort, seeing through the old woman's identity.
"Oh? So you figured it out already?" The Rock Hag smiled in surprise. "Are you certain you don't want to think it over one more time?"
"There's no need!"
Lux gathered all the wind around her into the rusty sword. A gust rose around her body, and her eyes sharpened with concentration.
Then, in the very next second, she swung with complete seriousness.
Just as the Rock Hag started taking the attack a little more seriously because of the force behind it, Lux hurled the sword itself at her and immediately turned and ran without a moment's hesitation.
Can't beat her, so run!
The instant Lux realized that, she broke into a full sprint.
The Rock Hag was a figure who lived in countless Demacian legends and stories.
They said the witch was as old as the mountains themselves and had existed for a very, very long time.
She fed on the memories of exiles and lost wanderers. Anyone whose memories she consumed would either die with nothing left, or else become an empty shell.
Her existence was a perfect story to stir people's fear of mages.
Lux couldn't remember the last time she had heard a story about the Rock Hag.
It was probably when she was little.
But that wasn't important right now.
What mattered was that something like this was definitely not someone to mess with.
Knowing that full well, Lux had only one thought in mind.
Run!
When she saw Lux feint and bolt, the Rock Hag wasn't the least bit flustered. She merely smiled. "In that case, I'll just do it myself."
As she spoke, she raised her staff and struck it against the ground.
With a twisting groan, two trees beside the path bent their trunks in an unnatural motion, their branches stretching out like arms and blocking Lux's way.
Lux stopped short at once. Looking at the road now sealed off in front of her, her mind raced for a way out of the situation.
"All right then, don't blame me for what happens next."
Lux turned back and looked at the Rock Hag with forced seriousness, then raised her hand.
The Rock Hag stopped, watching with amused interest. "And what exactly are you planning to do?"
"You know it yourself. I'm a mage."
Lux kept her expression steady while inwardly praying with all her might that her power would listen to her just this once.
But no matter how hard she tried, not the faintest glimmer of light appeared in her hand.
Come on!
Lux was panicking inside. Why was it that whenever she actually needed it to work, it refused?
Another bluff.
This time, the Rock Hag wasn't falling for it. She smiled. "It seems you and your magic aren't very close."
"They might be... feeling a little moody."
Lux gave an awkward smile as she kept backing up while the Rock Hag slowly approached.
Her back hit a tree.
There was nowhere left to go.
"Perhaps if you don't resist, this will be easier on you. You are a rare treasure. I'll try not to damage you too badly."
The Rock Hag was only a few steps away now. She lifted her staff, and magic gathered around it, turning into strand after strand of pale glowing threads. They writhed in the air like tendrils.
They drifted toward Lux.
Lux felt instinctively that these things were about to take away her memories.
Looking at those threads, she finally felt a real wave of fear.
Pretending not to be scared at a moment like this would have been impossible.
Her heart was pounding faster and faster.
Then suddenly, she felt a familiar sensation in her hand.
Seeing the Rock Hag only a few steps away, Lux raised her hand without hesitation.
In an instant, an incredibly bright beam of light burst out from her palm, lighting up the entire area.
The beam was extraordinarily fast, letting out a humming sound as it tore through the air, and it carried frightening power. In a single instant, it pierced straight through the Rock Hag's arm.
Bright red blood sprayed out immediately.
The sudden attack directly interrupted the Rock Hag's casting before she could even react.
Lux raised her hand again, and the Rock Hag instantly retreated with great caution.
But this time, no light came from Lux's hand at all.
She had no time to think about it. Seizing the opening, she immediately sprinted off to the left.
The Rock Hag lowered her head and looked at the bloody hole torn through her left arm. First, she used magic to stop the blood from pouring out.
Then she lifted her head and looked in the direction Lux had fled, the hunger in her eyes growing even stronger.
If not for the fact that the girl clearly didn't fully know how to control that strange light magic, then that attack just now would probably have pierced her straight through the heart.
How thrilling.
And the more thrilling it was, the more it made her want to taste this girl's memories.
She had never expected to run into such a dazzling treasure tonight.
Those memories would have to be delicious.
Unhurriedly, the Rock Hag set off after her.
Lux ran as fast as she could, and soon the giant colossus came into view again.
She raced to Galio's feet, panting hard, and slapped against him. "Galio, wake up! There's a bad mage. She wants to eat my memories."
She struck him several times, but the colossus in front of her didn't react at all.
Lux froze.
She looked up at Galio.
The giant stood there silent, solemn, unmoving, impossibly still in the moonlit night. The only sound was the approaching footsteps behind her.
Why?
Why had Galio, who had been talking just moments ago, suddenly stopped responding?
Had the magic already run out?
Confusion appeared in Lux's eyes.
"So you've decided to place your hopes in a lifeless object?"
The Rock Hag found the girl's innocence amusing.
Lux turned around and leaned back against Galio, warning her, "You'd better not come any closer. One stomp from him is enough to flatten you."
"Oh, I don't doubt that in the least," the Rock Hag said in complete agreement. "Provided he can move."
For something as ancient as this colossus, whose history seemed even older than her own life, the Rock Hag had never once seen it move, and she didn't believe it ever would.
Lux herself didn't understand why Galio had suddenly stopped moving.
Her mind kept racing for a way out, but this time she really was out of options.
Then, just as she caught sight of something, her eyes flashed. She looked at the witch standing nearby and said, "To tell you the truth, we've just been waiting for you to come a little closer. If you take one more step forward, you're definitely going to regret it."
"Really?" The Rock Hag let out a mocking laugh as she stepped forward. "I'd love to see what kind of regret I'm supposed to taste."
The instant she took that step, her face changed.
She looked down.
A blade had pierced straight through her chest.
A single baffled question seemed to appear all over her face.
?
"I told you. You just wouldn't listen."
Lux let out a breath of relief.
The Rock Hag slowly turned her head, and immediately saw an extraordinarily handsome face under the night sky. Confusion filled her eyes.
"You... when did you..."
"Roughly around the time you were trying to trick her, I was already here."
Luke pulled his sword free, and blood dripped from the blade onto the ground.
The Rock Hag collapsed, disbelief still in her eyes, as if she simply couldn't understand how a mage as powerful as she was could die so easily.
From start to finish, she had never noticed the man's presence.
She hadn't even had time to use any of her real abilities.
"You were here that early? Then why didn't you come out sooner!"
The moment she heard that, Lux glared at Luke.
"You went running out of the city in the middle of the night without going home. If I didn't teach you a lesson, how could that be right?"
Luke let out a dry chuckle.
But the moment those words fell, Lux threw herself at him and hugged him tightly.
Feeling the girl in his arms trembling, Luke gently patted her back to calm her down.
It was obvious that even though she had acted brave on the outside, she had been frightened inside the whole time.
In truth, Luke had already caught up to Lux before she ever ran into the Rock Hag.
He had still been debating whether or not to show himself when the Rock Hag appeared.
But Luke hadn't acted immediately.
He knew that no matter what, there would always be times when he wasn't by her side, just like tonight.
Lux had to learn how to face danger on her own.
For someone who was still a beginner at controlling magic, lasting this long against a mage of the Rock Hag's level was already a very good performance.
"So you saw everything?"
Lux buried her face against Luke's chest and asked in a low voice.
"Yeah. All of it. I didn't expect your wind swordsmanship to be that polished already."
Luke smiled. Being able to turn wind into a blade from the edge of a sword meant her wind swordsmanship had to be at least around LV6.
If she had been carrying a weapon that wasn't rusted to hell, she might have lasted even longer.
"That's not what I meant."
Lux still didn't dare lift her head and look at his face, so she just kept hugging him and refused to let go.
Luke said, "You mean the part about you being a mage?"
"Mm..."
"Yeah, I saw that too. Pretty impressive."
Luke smiled as he said it.
Lux finally looked up. Her eyes were red, as if she had already cried, and she looked pitiful in a way that tugged at the heart. "You don't hate me?"
"Why would I?"
"Demacians don't like mages."
"That's only some Demacians." Luke placed a hand on her head and rubbed it gently. "And even if every Demacian in the world hated mages, I still wouldn't hate you."
Lux stared at the clear sincerity in his eyes. Her gaze trembled, then grew wet again. She looked as though she was about to say something heartfelt.
Then Luke lowered his head, looked at her with open disgust, and said, "Cry if you want, but what's with wiping your snot on me?"
Lux's expression froze.
She glanced at his chest and, sure enough, saw an unmistakable smear of snot there. Her face immediately turned red with embarrassment.
She let go of him at once and wiped away her tears. Strangely enough, she suddenly felt much more at ease.
Even after finding out she was a mage, he was still exactly the same.
A little spark of happiness rose inside her.
She sniffled, made sure there was no more snot, and then huffed. "That's still your fault."
"How is that my fault?"
"If it weren't for you, my magic wouldn't have gone out of control in the first place!"
"And that somehow justifies wiping your nose on me?"
"Stop bringing that up!"
Lux glared at him in embarrassment and irritation.
This jerk always had to bring up the one thing she didn't want mentioned.
Luke pulled out a cloth from his pocket and started wiping his chest as he said, "Fine, I'll drop it for now. But shouldn't we get moving? Look what time it is. If we get back any later, both our backsides are getting beaten purple. Believe it."
Lux immediately realized he was right. It really was late.
So she nodded.
Luke turned and started walking back, only to feel Lux's hand tug lightly at his sleeve.
When he turned around, he saw her lowering her head and saying in a small voice, "I twisted my ankle..."
Luke obviously didn't believe her. When this girl had been sprinting for her life a minute ago, there hadn't been the slightest sign of a twisted ankle.
And whether she had actually hurt it or not, he could tell at a glance.
Still, even though it was obvious she was just too lazy to walk, he said nothing. He simply crouched down. "Hop on."
Lux's face lit up immediately, and she threw herself onto his back.
He braced her with both hands and stood up.
Then, carrying Lux on his back, Luke started walking toward home.
Lux rested both hands on his shoulders and, after thinking for a moment, leaned her head lightly against him as well.
The gentle way her legs swung back and forth said everything about her mood right now.
After the two of them had gone far away, the colossus behind them seemed to draw its gaze back from that direction, let out a tiny yawn, and shifted into a more comfortable position.
Ready to sleep again.
Little golden human, it seems your trouble has been solved.
As for the next time I wake up, who knows when that will be.
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