Chapter 13
“GROAAAAAAAAR—!”
A thunderous howl shook the ranch to its core, loud enough to rattle their souls.
Flocks of birds startled and flew into the sky like black dots scattering.
The cows still in the pasture panicked too, running wild in every direction.
One of the cows charged straight toward Bella, and Acares swiftly scooped her up into his arms.
Before she could even scream, she was already clinging to him.
When the cloud of dust settled, she realized what had happened—Acares had rolled across the ground while holding her tight, shielding her completely.
Her eyes quickly caught the scrape on his bare shoulder, red and raw from the dirt.
But Acares didn’t seem to care at all; instead, he looked over her carefully.
“Are you hurt, Bella?”
“N-no…”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
His gentle eyes softened again. But for a brief second, Bella thought she saw a faint red glow, like rose petals, in his pupils.
‘Huh? Did I imagine that?’
Before she could look closer, Acares turned his head sharply.
“Bella, look over there.”
She followed his gaze.
Through the foggy edge of the forest, a huge herd was rushing toward them.
Recognizing what it was, Bella’s face lit up.
“Acares! The cows—they’re coming back!”
The runaway herd was returning, raising a massive cloud of dust behind them.
Bella’s heart swelled with pride—her spell had worked after so long.
But the joy didn’t last.
She quickly refocused and shouted,
“Acares! Hurry, we have to close the fences—”
“Bella.”
“Yes?”
“Cows don’t howl.”
“Oh.”
‘Oh, crap. He’s right.’
Embarrassed, Bella’s face flushed bright red.
Acares hid a small smile and moved past her.
“Bella, I’ll take care of this. Go over there and stay back.”
“What are you going to do?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he gently covered her eyes with one hand.
The sudden cool touch made her flinch.
“…Acares? Why are you covering my eyes?”
“Because something ugly’s about to show up. You’ve done enough. From now on, just look at beautiful things.”
But all she could see was darkness.
Bella wanted to resist, but suddenly her strength began to drain away.
‘Ah… it’s starting.’
It was the side effect of Orasion, her ancient magic.
Realizing it, Acares uncovered her eyes and carefully turned her toward him, holding her close.
“Just rest for a bit. I’ll finish this quickly.”
“Okaaay…”
Half-asleep, Bella didn’t fight him.
Normally, she’d never allow such an intimate position—and it definitely wasn’t because his chest was so warm and firm.
‘Forget pride—staying alive comes first…’
She let herself melt into Acares’ chest.
His heartbeat thumped softly, almost like a lullaby.
She was drifting off when—
“GRRRROOOOOOOAARR—!”
“Eek!”
The second roar was even louder, right beside them.
Acares tightened his arms around her and muttered,
“Hm. Didn’t expect something like that to show up.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
Bella turned her head weakly—and froze.
‘A wolf?’
A giant wolf, the size of a house, was charging straight toward them.
Its body was covered in dark crimson fur, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
‘What in the world is that thing doing here?!’
At this rate, she’d die under its paws before her magic even ran out.
“A-Acares…”
“Pretend you didn’t see it.”
“But I already did!”
He held her tighter, draining what little strength she had left.
‘No… I can’t… not now…!’
She didn’t want to leave him to face that monster alone.
But her vision blurred, her consciousness fading fast.
Then, she felt it—a soft breeze brushed against her skin, gentle and warm.
So familiar, so comforting.
The breeze turned into a gust, blowing toward the wolf.
And in that fleeting moment before she blacked out, Bella saw it—a white butterfly fluttering past her fading vision.
***
Meanwhile, in the Royal Magic Tower…
Footsteps pounded up the stairs to the top floor.
“Lord Eden! Something terrible happened—wait, huh?”
The door creaked open after a few knocks.
Magician Marco peeked in—and instantly regretted it.
“L-Lord Eden? Are you in there?”
The office was filled with black smoke and an eerie chill, like stepping into a morgue at midnight.
“…Marco?”
A deep voice came from inside.
Phew. At least it wasn’t an actual morgue.
Marco fanned away the smoke and followed the voice.
“Yes, sir! It’s me, Marco! Where are you?”
“…Here.”
And suddenly—Marco’s feet moved on their own.
A spell—Word Command Magic—had taken hold.
Through the thick smoke, he saw something bubbling.
Then, he froze.
“Wh-what in the world are you doing, sir?!”
Eden stood before a holy basin, but instead of holy water, it was boiling with black liquid and smoke.
His hand was submerged in it, feeling around for something.
“Lord Eden, what—what are you doing?!”
“I’m looking for the Ancient Grimoire.”
“Wouldn’t that be easier to find in the royal library instead of—wait, is that… the Gate of the Labyrinth?!”
“…Yes.”
“Whoa. That’s insane.”
The Gate of the Labyrinth—a forbidden artifact said to bring forth things that don’t exist in this world.
Only the Emperor himself was allowed to use it.
Eden sighed.
“So what’s the emergency?”
“Oh, right! There was a sighting today—a wolf-like monster in the southern region of Pione!”
“…A wolf?”
“Yes, sir. They think it might be one of the missing royal family from the fallen kingdom of Roye.”
“Roye… the kingdom that lost the war recently.”
Their royal bloodline carried traces of the Ancient Wolf.
That’s why their armies had once commanded wolves in battle.
“The missing prince, right?”
“Yes, the youngest one. Reports say he was seen in the southern region.”
“Southern… where His Highness is right now.”
Eden frowned.
“No damage reports yet?”
“None so far.”
“I see.”
He looked back at the Gate, thinking.
If a wolf had appeared, Acares could easily handle it—as long as it wasn’t something beyond reason.
Then, a lazy, teasing voice came from the doorway.
“Well, looks like the south is getting pretty interesting, huh?”
A man stepped through the smoke—
silver hair with a faint dark tint, raspberry-colored eyes, and a handsome grin.
It was Bailon de Mesio Atlanta,
Acares’s half-brother and the Second Prince of the Atlanta Empire.
