Gran feels a soft and gentle touch that is stroking on his forehead and hair. The feeling is what makes him drift through his memory as he opens his eyes and sees his lover caressing his face as she looks at him.
"Hey, what happen? Where am I?" Gran ask as he tries to move his left hand to hold Gina's caressing hand. "I remember that I am in a sparring match with Van and Sylvia... After that explosion I..." The Exorcist thinks to himself as he tries to sit instead, but he feels that his head is still aching.
"Ugh... Hello Gina. You already okay with Mayuri?" Gran ask while he already knows the answer, its just he wants to know if there's any problem for her being there as he remember that Mayuri wasn't to approving of their relationship. "Yes yes it is fine. More importantly, what are you doing with Sylvia and Van? You mess up the whole place pretty badly that the both of them receive a summon directly from the King and Queen." Gina says as she check her lover's head and see if he have any wounds or injuries that needs tending.
"You also got a summon too. I swear you are only been several weeks I've known you, but you really rock my world. I guess you can call this fate..." Gina add as she finish checking to see that Gran doesn't have any external head injuries. The Valkyrie Leader is unaware that Gran is currently healing his brain as it is burnt out due to the multiple Barriers he cast to prevent a massive explosion that might erase the whole city.
"Okay, I do want to ask two things first... I'd like something sweet and a water." Gran ask as he leans his face on Gina's chest. "Yes I agree. I'm sorry if I am too wild right now. Is just that Sylvia shares something important to me... And even though I want to show my cool and calm side, I am still very much an emotional child at this point." Gran adds as it makes Gina ask what it means.
"I'd like to say the truth to you. I truly love you Gina..." He then hold her hands as she blushes and Gran looks at her eyes.
"I will reveal my secret to you. I am not from this world..." Gran reveals as Gina doesn't express much as she already know that fact. The time they are in Brunskin, when he explain how his powers work, already explains to her that he is not anyone like from this world. "Yes I know. That is much apparent." Gina replies as Gran looks down as he feels a little guilty over that fact.
"I am someone that they call an Exorcist. I am actually in a brink of death when I arrived here. I don't know the reason why I am here or how I got here, but one thing is for certain. The monster that come to slay me from my previous world have also come here. I need to settle my score with him once and for all." Gran explains as Gina is baffled why he needs to share all of this.
"Why? If you are on a brink of death, is that monster really that strong? Are you saying that..." Gina then clutches Gran's hand, as if she finally coming to understand something. Gran fill in the blank for her.
"Yes, I intend to fight this monster again. I am not sure if I will return back alive in your arms Gina but I..." Gran's hand tremble, even if he claims that he needs to be strong to fight Soli, he still remembers how he was almost been taken out by that monster.
"No! Are you planning to throw your life away? After I just mend my party together? Do you really need to face this monster all by yourself?" Gina ask as she pushes Gran back to bed. In her heart she doesn't want him to go anywhere, she doesn't want him to get in any harm's way.
"I- I understand that but I need to do this. That monster killed to many precious people in my life and I want to stop him to not also harm you. You are my heart and soul in this world, and I'll fight and die trying." Gran explains as he touch Gina's tear filled face. He can't help but to also feel emotional, they understand each other as he proceed to embrace her, gently and warmly.
"I think I should be getting ready soon. This is for the good of the both of us." Gran says but Gina interrupts.
"No! I'll go with you! I'll never let somebody I love be losing their lives if I can help it! I vow to become the most powerful Adventurer someday! If I can't save or protect the one that I love then what is the point of me being here?!" Gina declares as she embrace Gran back.
That whole scenario pushes both of them to be emotional and both of them reciprocates with a tender kiss. Gran then thinks about something.
"Heh, Looks like I achieve something I didn't have back on my world. I... Didn't have any girlfriend or wife back home. Do you wanna get married with me..." Gran ask but before he finish his statement Gina shush him away.
"I don't want you to make any death flags on your own mister. We will be fighting together then." Gina states as she continues to dominate Gran.
Meanwhile...
The succubus Herald Harker have come to see what happen with Yegor and the thunder sprite. She appears in a restricted area where a bunch of guards and mage are stationing in the wrecked house of the corrupt noble back in Kairan. She then looks at ever guards and mages eyes and ask them to explain what happen, but none of them talks.
"Why the heck you lot didn't know anything? Do you even have any vague knowledge of what happened here?" The succubus ask again while exposed in broad daylight. The locals passing by are captivated by her beauty, but they can also feel the dangerous aura she's putting out.
Since she doesn't get any proper response she then face the people instead and look through their eyes. She ask them what happened in that place, and she receive a response coming from an old man sitting in a corner of a post. "A group of women came. They fight a demon and a sprite. The demon and sprite dies while the women have move out." The old man details to the seductive succubus.
As soon as she finds some details she release the Charm Spell as she proceed to grab his face and the old man screams and violently transform into a demon. The passerbys scream out as they get the hell out of there. Harker have a habit of making chaos where she will go, and this time is not so different.
"Tch, we have one left for the Heralds to start attacking the Sacred Beasts. We lost three already before we do anything! It seems that we need to strategize and hit the capitol with something more quiet than what we are doing right now." Harker thinks out loud as the echoing throes of life are beginning to play its melody over the city. She then transform the guards and the mages to be demons.
At the Eastern border of the Kingdom a disaster is happening. There are two major cities that are competing through that border and they are one of the major defense line that the branch of Holy Knights are focusing off. The Eastern Border have a history of bloodshed and many crazy, unknown phenomenas had happen there. The Holy Knight Captain there, Leon, are currently mobilizing half of the Holy Knights to investigate the strange cases of demonic possessions that are happening there.
"I have a report to you Captain! The Sage's apprentice and I have found another house containing a transformed demon again. This marks the fifth time this week sir." In a small room at the walls that divides a major city outside the jurisdiction of the kingdom and the city of Vulcana, Leon is currently staying as he have taken office there.
"Thanks for the report soldier. It seems that we cannot ignore this matter any longer. We will need to report this to the Capitol and have them decide whether we mobilize the entire cleric brotherhood to cleanse the city. I highly suspect that the Sacred Beasts to the North, West and here are the targets." Leon thinks out loud as the soldier worries about something.
"Are we looking on a hint of an upcoming war sir?" The soldier ask, something that makes Leon sigh in surrender. "Honestly, we are looking on a possibility that is worse than that. We need to make sure we are prepared for it. Resources are getting thinner and we need proper produce before the weather got bad." Leon answers as the young soldier swallows in fear.
The Holy Knight Captain notice the fear over his subordinate's eyes. He stands and approach him, tapping his shoulder to reassure him. "Well don't you worry. We are fighting this together. Call the Sage after this, I need to discuss something with her. Dismiss." As soon as the soldier is dismissed, it turns and left the room. Leon put his hand on his face as soon as he remove his gloves. He rubs it in and looks up in a very stressed manner.
"My God, I don't want to believe this... I want to have a break atleast!" The tired Holy Knight Captain exclaims.
Below the walls there are several young mages are being teach by a very stylish and curvy lady with a very distinct red hair. She is teaching the lot how to cast an instant fire and earth spell without giving in under pressure. This lady is the Sage, Karina. Known for being a beauty and having many suitors, Karina is suspected to be Leon's lover, but both of them are denying it time and time again, claiming that they are only working closely due to their works happen to overlap.
Unaware of this rumors, Karina is actually looking for somebody to date for her age. She doesn't want to admit it, but she's currently hitting 37, nearing the age where she will lose all chance to have a proper partner for life. "Master! Aren't it hard to cast advanced spell in such an instance? Aren't it crazy?" One of Karina's male student ask as she is teaching them to unleash an instant advance spell, something that become natural for Karina to do.
"What? You weak or something now? Continue! None of you may eat dinner if you can't properly cast an instant spell under pressure!!" Karina commands the groaning mages just as they continue their training. From all of the commotion going around, a handsome mage calls out to the spartan instructor of his.
"Master... If you burn out the mages they will resent you for life." The handsome man who is a part of Nightfall before have appear. Eugene approaches his master Karina to call her as the Holy Knight Captain wants to speak with her. "Captain Leon wants to speak with you. It seems that the my investigation around the outskirts of Vulcans are signs of an impending doom." Eugene explains as he click and stomp his staff lightly to the ground.
"Very well... All of you take a break! But when we return I expect of you to continue training!" As Karina commands this, the sound of rejoice and sighs have ring out and fill the place. Karina walks along her apprentice in order to know more details.
"Is the demonic appearance are becoming that bad? You think the Church will do something about this?" Karina the Sage ask as Eugene is remembering about the reports and the gruesome state he and a Holy Knight have found out about a couple that are being transformed. "I hope so, though if the Church meddles, they will ask the Empire to have some of their soldier enter the Kingdom. The crown won't be liking that." Eugene shares as outside intrusion usually lead for a far more damaging matter after the demon extermination event.
"But if we are really dealing with the appearance of a Demon King, we will be dealing with far more problems then." Karina replies as Eugene enters and step into the stony staircase first. "I know. It is a matter of political turnoil or innocent dying now is it? I remember the times I am with Eclaire and Boris. I hope they are doing well." The brown cloak wearing Eugene states as he mixes in with his reminiscing.
As soon as the master and student of spells goes to the door to the Captain of the Holy Knight's room, Eugene knocks. "Please enter." Leon answers as the two open the door and enters. "Grab a seat Miss Sage. I'll have to discuss a thing about the ongoing issue about this demonic possessions and the possibility we are dealing with the revival of the Demon King here." Leon says as he tones it in a more serious way.
Karina stomps her feet and a polish marble rises from the ground. Karina then sits on that marble she makes as she ask what he wants her to do.
"Honestly the whole issues on this border is so nuts that I am thinking that we need to take things seriously. There are reports of destroyed villages at the Northern Border, and this reports are slowly moving towards East. Then the ongoing demonic possessions. I think we need to vouch on the Capitol that we need to call in the Church's intervention about this as soon as possible. The Holy Knights can do so much as we can function like an ordinary soldier now." Leon explains as he is scratching his head looking at the pile of papers that he is trying to resolve.
"Well, I don't think the Holy Knight Captain of the Eastern Border are brave to begin with. Asking help already on the matter." Karina mockingly answers as she wants to give it atleast a try before they give it up and ask for help. "If you want to easily surrender everything then go! I'll try to handle things on my own then." The tough answer Karina gives annoys Leon to no end.
"I am trying to be pragmatic about the situation... Ugh, whatever." The Holy Knight Captain surrenders explaining to her. In just few words she manage to make the straight laced, tired Leon to just surrender making sense with her. "Just do what you please. I recommend Eugene to be the next Sage then." Leon added that make Karina call out her staff and aim a Lightning Bolt at him.
"You really know how to push my buttons huh..." Karina states as she wants to prove to the Captain that she is more than capable enough to resolve the issue. While the three are discussing the matter about the crisis that they'll have to deal with, they receive a sudden visit from a being that they shouldn't meet.
"Hello fellow warriors and mages. I am trying to know if you are seeking the true beauty from this world?" A priest looking blonde haired man appears from the sea of trees. His unusual appearance makes the mages and the knights stand guard. "Hey, this is forbidden zone for any civilians. I ask you to leave peacefully." One of the knight ask the priest to get away from here, only to receive a wicked reward.
Soli slightly approach him and points his two fingers on the said knight. The armor of the knight starts to pierce hin from the inside until his bloody body fall off and die. "Hey!! Get him!!" The mages and the knights scream out as they prepares to attack. The Holy Knights there lunges at Soli, only for him to close his eyes and Lenny jumps to the front to protect the monster.
"What a fine loyal man you are Lenny. You are beautiful indeed." The monster compliments the puppet knight as the axe of this once Vice Captain of the Holy Knights are rampaging and killing his fellow Knights, something that shock Leon as he and the master and disciple have descend to see the commotion happening downstairs.
"Vice Captain Lenny? Why are you doing this?" Leon ask as he draws his spear to also fight. Lenny looks at him and his head tilt to the right. Soli notice something charging and firing back from the Holy Knight's head, and this makes him wary about something.
"Huh, will you look at that. Ugliness. I suppose I am not perfect by this point." Soli thinks aloud as he put his finger at Lenny's temple and he pierce his head. He adjust the knight's brain as it spasm like crazy.
"Five Elemental Storm!!!"
Karina doesn't wait much longer as she fires a massive and destructive spell that almost destroy the entire forest line. Soli manage to adjust Lenny's memories on time and he grabs him out of the way. He stomp his feet and he create a bunch of Earth Wall, to the point that even the ground Karina and the rest standing in have also been rises.
"Heh! You're a mage huh! I'd like to have a great battle then!" Karina excitedly says as she floats in the air and prepares a bunch of spell circle behind her. The combination of elemental spells and powerful spell circle above Soli's head are making both of them tremble.
"Hmm... Ah yes, I can see now! You are a beauty madam. You're face is like a goddess painting come to life." Soli praises Karina as he gaze upon her face. Yes he appreciate her appearance, making Karina smugly laughs.
"Hey hey, if you think compliments and praises will make me let you get out of here. You're in a one hell of a awakening then." Karina replies as she raises her staff and the spells intensifies. Soli then answer her in kind with him aiming his index finger at her and he creates a bunch of wind blades and the ground creates a bunch of earth spire.
"Let's dance, shall we?" Soli ask as a violent torrent of spells and powerful things have clash and the whole place, even the wall, almost explode as Karina fires off one of her most powerful spell, "Five Elemental Barrage." The exchange is so devastating that it chip, and later, demolish the wall near them. Eugene have cast a Barrier Spell on himself and he drag Leon and several knights and mages away from there. Karina lets loose as she continues to fire spells.
"Tch, the bastard is really matching me blow to blow. I'll just up the ante then!!" The Sage thinks as is now firing Five Elemental Barrage instead. Soli retreats and admits to himself that she is somewhat intense than what he have thought. He creates an earth dome to protect himself. He then prepares to fire his secret weapon.
"This shall work."
While the Sage is shooting away her spells, it easily breaks the earthen defense Soli have cast. She then tries to pulverize the opponent in an instant, leaving a massive crater, a smoke screen and too many debris that it annoys her to no end.
"You already dead? I am just getting warmed up!" The Sage mockingly ask as the monster stands there, acting like he holds something. As the dust settles, Soli aims his two fingers again at Karina, this time she feels that it wasn't the usual attack he is doing earlier.
Soli then fires out a high speed particle, the speed is as if it is a whizzing bullet. The Sage dodges as she looks behind her. She sees that the portion of the wall they are fighting on have been erased, not destroyed, erased. This make her fly around and be mobile instead.
"Eugene!! Get the Captain out of here and leave this to me!" Karina commands her student as he is recovering and limping out of a rubble from the former wall that was standing several seconds ago. The Captain then sees that the monster is planning to cast something, so before they leave, he throws his spear with a mana imbued to it.
"Away with you!!" Leon screams out as the spear stabs and bloody separates Soli's right arm from his body. Eugene then drags him out of there and he screams out one request to his mentor.
"Master!! Be careful! Come back to us alive!!!" Eugene expresses with all of his heart. Karina just smiles as she looks at the monster, which she witness how he reattach his limb. "Who are you talking to? I'll need to be careful about this..."
But before she end her sentence the ground Soli is standing on suddenly rise as he becomes near her. They are almost at an inch distance face to face, and he tries to grab her shoulder, only for her to blast him with a instant fire spell. This time he dodges as tries to reach for her still. She answers with a fire spell coating her whole body.
"Fire Embrace."
But one thing she doesn't know is that Soli is just testing her. The monster decides to end playing with her as he wave his left hand sideways, the flame spell snuffs out and he tries to touch her again, only for Karina to cast a fast earth spire that stab the monster's abdoment up to the spine. Karina then jumps out, but this make Soli angry as he Deconstruct the earth spire as he throws the Deconstruction Particles to Karina.
"Shit..." She tries to cast several layers of Barrier Spell to protecr herself from the said particles, only for it to be tear down and she's hit in her sides and left shoulder. She falls to the ground as Soli looks down at her. The cloudy day is giving way to the sunshine, and she witness how powerful this monster is.
"Damn, I need to hit you with all I have!" She raises her hands as the light itself shines through Soli.
"This is one of my most powerful spell, take this. Heaven's Path."