Episode 44
“Magic?”
Miel muttered unconsciously. Jade stretched his hand into the air, sensing the mana as he replied.
“Yes. Magic. Elves are highly skilled in it.”
He waved his hand through the air several times, analyzing the flow.
“This is quite an advanced spell. It’s a barrier designed so humans can’t freely trespass into their forest.”
“Tower Master, then… does this mean we can’t enter the elves’ forest?”
Troy asked.
Jade shook his head.
“Not necessarily. However… undoing the spell will take some time.”
His tone turned serious.
“The entire forest is protected by this enchantment. Even for a high mage like myself, dismantling it won’t be easy.”
Jade gave a bitter smile. Of all times, a Grand Sage’s spell was blocking the way—and currently, his own mana was suppressed.
Miel was well aware of that fact.
“Elves are a race that has lived in harmony with nature for centuries. Their affinity with magic is so high that their magical control exceeds most mages. Even if each individual isn’t quite a grand mage, they’re still formidable.”
“Are they really that powerful?”
Miel asked.
Jade nodded firmly.
“Yes. While not all elves are on the level of high mages, most of them are at least mid-tier in magic. And this barrier spell… it was likely cast by dozens of such elves together.”
Jade glanced upward, then removed his robe.
“Miel, take this. Sit in the shade and rest.”
He handed the robe to Miel and pointed toward a shaded tree.
Then he sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
“Your Highness, Lady Miel, please rest. This will take some time.”
“Understood.”
Troy nodded shortly and guided Miel to the tree. Koselico perched again on Miel’s shoulder.
Jade clasped both palms together and began to focus his mana.
A stream of radiant energy—red and golden—started to surge from his body and spiral upward into the air, spreading in all directions.
Gulp.
Miel sat silently near the tree, observing him. Troy stood beside her, and Koselico watched calmly.
Time passed.
10 minutes… 20… 30… then an hour.
As time dragged on, sweat began to form on Jade’s brow. Miel silently worried.
‘Master… even for someone like you, dispelling such advanced magic must take a great toll.’
Soon after, the flow of mana from Jade came to a stop.
—Shhhhhh—
The space in the air shimmered as if tearing apart, revealing an entirely different landscape.
“At last… the real scenery shows itself.”
Jade wiped his forehead and stood up. Miel quickly ran over and handed him his robe.
“Master, are you all right?”
“Other than the fact that I used up quite a bit of mana—yes. Were you worried?”
Miel shook her head.
“No. I knew you’d succeed, Master.”
She had absolute faith in his skills. Her words seemed to move Jade more than he let on.
Troy, stepping forward and seeing the scene, muttered lowly, “This is…”
He couldn’t help it. The landscape before them was completely different from the lush forest they had seen before.
Miel looked around in awe. The forest was now dark and sinister—nothing like the vibrant scenery they’d been walking through.
‘Something feels… very wrong here.’
Jade, walking ahead, murmured,
“The energy here… doesn’t feel good at all.”
“Agreed,” Koselico added.
“Elves are supposed to live in harmony with nature—guarding and cherishing it.”
Miel, nodding at his words, suddenly sensed something—her father’s aura.
“…The artifact must be in that direction.”
She pointed into the darkened forest. Jade and Troy turned to her.
“Really? That little bird was right, then.”
“Is that true?”
Troy asked, wide-eyed.
Miel nodded confidently. At that, Koselico puffed out his chest proudly.
“See? I told you my senses were accurate!”
“Haha, sorry for doubting you, Coco.”
“Hmph. As long as you admit it.”
Miel gave the bird a gentle pat on the head.
The group continued deeper into the forest. But Miel couldn’t shake her growing unease.
‘Why does this forest feel so… dead? The trees look like they’re dying.’
The eerie atmosphere of the forest made her increasingly anxious.
‘Could it be… like in Saint Snow? Is Father’s power corrupting the elves’ land again?’
The thought crossed her mind. After all, in Saint Snow—where the first artifact was found—her father’s power had caused unending blizzards.
‘I hope that’s not the case…’
Just as she took another step forward—
“Guh—! Samuel!!”
“Get back!!”
A voice rang out from deeper within.
Jade, Troy, and Miel immediately ran toward the source of the cry.
They found two elves—one male and one female—fighting against a black, slime-like creature with tentacle-like appendages.
It was the same unidentified mass they’d seen earlier—but this one was even bigger.
Three elves were locked in battle with it. Suddenly, one of the male elves was caught by a tentacle.
“No! Samuel!”
The next moment happened in a flash. The elf named Samuel was being absorbed into the black mass, as if swallowed whole.
“Damn it—!”
“No…!”
Unable to stand by, Jade and Troy acted quickly.
Flash—!
Jade’s light magic cleaved the creature in two, while Troy slashed through it with sword energy, sending the mass flying back.
Thanks to them, Samuel wasn’t completely consumed.
“Samuel!!”
“Are you all right?!”
The other two elves rushed to their fallen companion—but quickly turned their angry eyes on Jade and Troy.
“You humans! Do you even know where you are?!”
“Get lost!”
But just then, Samuel groaned in pain, writhing on the ground.
His cries made his companions wince with anguish.
“I’m sorry, Samuel… If only we were stronger…”
“Damn it. If we hadn’t used up our mana, you wouldn’t be like this.”
Tears fell from their eyes. Samuel’s body was turning pitch black from the feet up—clearly infected by something terrible.
“Oh no… Samuel…”
Their grief deepened as his body was slowly consumed.
Miel watched them for a moment before quietly stepped forward.
“Um… may I help?”
Her soft voice made the two elves snap their heads toward her.
“What?! A human dares speak to us?!”
The male elf was especially wary.
Jade and Troy were also visibly surprised.
“Miel, what are you trying to do?”
“Miss Miel, don’t provoke them.”
But Koselico alone seemed to know what she was planning.
“Just watch Miel.”
At Koselico’s words, Jade and Troy fell silent.
The two elves—Laura and Fehan, Samuel’s companions—looked uncertain. But as Samuel’s body darkened further, desperation filled their eyes.
“…Help him.”
“Please… Save Samuel.”
At their plea, Miel quickly stepped closer. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a small glass vial.
It was the Seolru, a holy potion she had brought specifically for the second artifact journey. Its contents shimmered like liquid crystal.
She uncorked the vial and carefully let a single drop fall into Samuel’s mouth.
—Drip.
The Seolru entered his lips.
Miel immediately stepped back and observed.
Before long, the black corruption spreading through Samuel’s body slowly began to fade.
