Shit, what''s happening now? Why can''t I contact her? It feels like my connection with her is being blocked or something.


    A wave of frustration and concern washed over me, the sense of unease growing as I grappled with the sudden onught of problems.


    Failed missions, the unknown status of the sage, and now Meralda''s safety—all converging into a chaotic storm.


    I had hoped for a peaceful day, one free from the intricacies of Scwi''s schemes involving the staff''s ownership I even let the story flow at is. Yet, here I was, burdened by uncertainties and a growing list of unresolved issues.


    Should I go to Kaksan''s forest and check what''s up? Or perhaps I should prioritize finding out what happened to the sage? And what about the negotiations surrounding the staff? Considering Principal Victoria hasn''t contacted me, everything should be fine, right?


    With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly made my way back to the dorms.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion shattered the rtive tranquility of themercial district, echoing through the city with a thunderous resonance that demanded immediate attention.


    My gaze snapped towards the source of the upheaval, and my eyes widened in shock as I witnessed the Heiron Bank engulfed in mes and debris.


    The once-sturdy structure now crumbled, its destruction casting a chaotic spectacle against the cityscape.


    The surrounding crowd, initially bustling with the usual activities ofmerce, transformed into a panicked sea of people, their collective screams forming a dissonant symphony of fear and confusion.


    ''Ok now wtf is going on''


    I immediately rushed to the scene to assess the situation firsthand. As I approached, the remnants of the exploded building came into view, a chaotic tableau of destruction.


    A cadre of mages was fervently working to extinguish the lingering mes, employing water and ice spells tobat the persistent fire. Remarkably, despite the magnitude of the explosion, the damage appeared concentrated on the top floor of the building.


    People streamed out of the entrance, desperate to escape the encroaching fires. Knights, identifiable by their uniforms, dove into the fray, risking their safety to aid the trapped inhabitants.


    A quick nce revealed that many of these knights and mages were likely hired by the Heiron family, their coordinated efforts a testament to the organized response to the crisis.


    Boom….!


    Suddenly, another deafening explosion rocked the scene. This time, the source was unmistakable. Above the building loomed the colossal head of a snake, formed entirely of searing mes. Its crimson eyes radiated an overwhelming killing intent, reducing even the seasoned knights and mages to their knees, some involuntarily relieving themselves in terror.


    The gigantic serpent''s serpentine body coiled menacingly around the building; its fiery form seemingly intent on crushing the structure beneath its immense weight.


    "Cecilia?"


    The mention of Louise''s spirit caught me off guard. Why was Louise''s usually serene spirit, here, and why did she radiate such intense anger?


    The oppressive heat surrounding her was rming.


    If the temperatures didn''t abate soon, the very surroundings could melt away.


    Even the seasoned knights, enveloped in their protective auras, struggled to breathe in the diminishing oxygen.


    ''Shit, is Louise inside?''


    Without a second thought I went inside the building.


    "Hey kid, don''t go there!"


    "What are you doing?"


    "Come back here!"


    As I entered the building, a harrowing scene unfolded before me. Civilians and workers, their faces contorted in pain, desperately attempted to escape the inferno that raged through the structure. Some were visibly burned, others grievously injured, their forms unrecognizable as they clung to life amid the chaos.


    My gaze instinctively rose to the fourth floor, the epicenter of the explosion. It struck me that the main office, the likely source of the st, was now a maelstrom of devastation. Ignoring the stream of terrified individuals making their way out, I hastened my pace, the urgency of the situation propelling me forward.


    As I ascended the stairs, the aftermath of the explosion revealed itself in grim detail. Lifeless bodiesy scattered around, silent witnesses to the merciless havoc that had unfolded. A disconcerting mix of emotions surged within me.


    ''Man, what a waste''


    ''These guys could''ve be quite the delicious offerings, and they''re all innocents too''


    ''Mom would''ve loved it''


    It only took me a few moments to arrive at the office, and the sight that greeted me sent shockwaves through my senses. Louise, the seemingly innocent and kind mage, stood there with her wand aimed at Schwi, whoy on the floor, battered and seemingly on the brink of death.


    Her high-ranking stone spirit, Cecilia, coiled beside her, the gigantic serpent hissing spirals of fire at any mage daring to approach.


    The scene defied all expectations. Louise, who had always embodied kindness and gentleness, was now attempting to take someone''s life.


    The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on me as I struggled toprehend what could have transpired to lead to such a drastic shift in her demeanor.


    "Louise!" I eximed, breaking the stunned silence that gripped the room.


    All eyes turned towards me, with the exception of the fainted Schwi, whose condition remained uncertain, her body bearing the scars of the intense mes.


    The maid beside her cast healing spells tirelessly, though the severity of Schwi''s injuries left me uncertain if it would be enough to keep her alive.


    As I approached, Louise''s watery eyes met mine. A shiver passed through her, and she pointed her wand at me.


    "P-please stay away, Adrian," she stammered, her voice fraught with a mix of fear and determination.


    "I-I have to do t-this." Tn, the high-ranking earth spirit, sent a small flying boulder inches away from where I stood, a clear warning not to interfere with Louise''s inexplicable actions.


    Ignoring Louise''s desperate pleas, I continued my measured approach towards her, determined to defuse the vtile situation. "Louise, I don''t know what''s going on, but please calm down," I implored, my voiceced with urgency.


    "P-please just stay away!" Louise screamed, her fear palpable. This time, Tn responded by hurling a small rock spear straight at me. With a swift motion, I effortlessly cut through it with my aura des.


    ncing at the trajectory, I surmised that Tn had intended for the projectile to hit my shoulder, perhaps to pin me against the wall.


    The tension in the room heightened as both Cecilia and Tn observed my actions with increased vignce, I guess that was only natural as they probably only thought of me as a simple alchemist.


    As I walked closer, I couldn''t help but be annoyed on how the spirts were acting towards me.


    ''Seriously, why are you tensing up the situation? I''m one of your masters'' best friends. I''m not going to hurt her'' I thought, frustration simmering beneath the surface.


    "Louise, I''m on your side. I don''t know what''s going on, but you need to trust me and stop. People are getting hurt" I urged, attempting to reach through the tumult of emotions clouding her judgment.


    I chose not to mention the unfortunate deaths that had urred below, not wanting to further agitate Louise.


    Eventually, I stood before Louise, her tear-streaked face revealing the depth of her turmoil. It was evident that she was lost, uncertain of what actions to take. Though I was still in the dark about the events that transpired, one thing was clear—Louise wasn''t at fault. There was no conceivable reason for her to instigate such chaos.


    I cast a brief nce at the dying Schwi, contemting what she might have done to incur Louise''s wrath. While a part of me harbored an indifference to Schwi''s fate, knowing her ultimate demise as per the novels, I hesitated to let Louise be a murderer.


    The repercussions, especially considering Duke Heiron''s potential reaction, could be catastrophic. Even if Louise managed to escape unscathed, the wrath of Schwi''s influential father would surely be swift and relentless.


    Moreover, the school principal, responsible for the lives lost in the incident, wouldn''t remain silent. Schwi''s demise would only fan the mes of the already vtile situation.


    "Adrian, I just, I—" Louise began to exin, her voice trembling.


    I interrupted her words by immediately pulling her into a tight hug. She clung to me, her muffled sobs escaping into the silence. Anger welled up within me, directed at the circumstances that had pushed Louise to this breaking point.


    "Don''t worry, I understand. Just calm down for now" I reassured her, my grip tightening.


    Boom! An ice spell surged towards me, but before I could react, Tn intervened, deflecting the potentially lethal attack.


    I couldn''t believe it—a mage was attempting to disrupt the fragile peace I was desperately trying to establish with Louise.


    My focus had been on calming her down, navigating the turbulent emotions that threatened to consume her, and yet, this audacious mage dared to disturb the precarious equilibrium.


    While I grappled with my own frustration, Cecilia responded with intensified heat, breaking through the defensive barriers erected by the other mages.


    The scorching mes consumed them, reducing their forms to a grim tableau of charred remains. The sheer power at Cecilia''smand left no room for mercy, a stark reminder of the destructive capabilities at our disposal.


    However, the maid, disying a formidable mastery of both healing and defensive spells, managed to withstand Cecilia''s onught.


    A translucent green barrier enveloped her and Schwi, shielding them from the fiery wrath.


    Her resilience spoke volumes about her prowess as a healer and a mage, a force to be reckoned with.


    Reluctantly letting go of Louise after soothing her momentarily.


    But she immediately clung onto my hands with a tenacity that transcended the usual notion of cuteness. Under different circumstances, I might have found her reaction rather cute and endearing.


    I took measured steps toward the maid, my gaze stern as I sought answers in the midst of the chaos.


    "Hey, is she still alive?" I demanded; frustration evident in my tone.


    The maid''s fearful stare offered no response. Annoyed by the silence, I let the purple mana aura enveloping my hands coalesce into a de.


    With minimal effort, I sliced vertically, the energy effortlessly shattering her defensive barrier. She coughed up blood in response to the sudden mana disruption, but she persisted, attempting to conjure an offensive spell. Before she could seed, Tn seized her, hurling her aside with ruthless efficiency.


    ''Damn, this rock gori sure is ruthless''


    Louise, still clinging to me, averted her eyes from the consequences of her actions.


    Crouching beside Schwi, I checked for signs of life. Barely alive, she clung to a fragile thread of existence. Without hesitation, darkness enveloped Schwi, devouring her form until she disappeared entirely.


    "Adrian, what happened?" Louise questioned; her voiceden with worry.


    "Don''t worry for now. Unsummon your spirits and cover your face. We need to run,"


    ….


    "Ugh!... ouch," Meralda groaned, slowly regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar room. Her body throbbed with pain, even the simplest movement causing difort. As she surveyed her surroundings, the intricate elven aesthetics of the room caught her attention.


    "Am I in the elf kingdom?" she wondered; her thoughts fragmented as she attempted to piece together the events leading to her current state. Memories of a brief but intense battle with two demons shed through her mind, ending with her brutal defeat.


    "That''s right, I—" she began, only to be interrupted by the creaking of the door as it swung open.


    "Oh, you''re awake!" eximed a cute elven child who immediately motioned for her servants to fetch assistance. Despite the lingering pain, Meralda''s attention was drawn to the child approaching her.


    Struggling to speak due to the difort, Meralda was met with the child''s cheerful curiosity.


    "Prettydy, you''re not human, aren''t you?"


    "I can tell with just a nce, Hehe"


    "Even though you''re a spirit, the fact that you could materialize like this without your master around must mean you''re really powerful," the child observed, genuine excitement coloring her words.


    "Iselia."


    "Mother!" Iselia eximed with unbridled joy, rushing to embrace her mother. "Look, the prettydy is awake now."


    "Now, now, quiet down. You don''t want to bother the prettydy, right?" niel gently chided as she lifted the young child into her arms, aforting smile gracing her features.


    Approaching Meralda, the atmosphere shifted, at least from Meralda''s perspective. Even though her eyes perceived an elf standing before her, her instincts screamed at her to flee.


    The Elf Queen niel''s blood-red eyes met Meralda''s emerald green ones, an unsettling exchange that sent shivers down Meralda''s ethereal form. niel, however, merely smiled in response.


    ''Why do I feel so threatened by her?''


    "Iselia, would you be so kind as to leave me with the prettydy for a moment?" niel requested, setting Iselia down gently. Iselia resisted, attempting to stay in the room, but the servants swiftly intervened, securing the princess and escorting her out of the room. Iselia''s departure was apanied by an adorable pout, leaving Meralda alone with niel in the room.


    The silence that followed carried a weight of unspoken tension, and Meralda couldn''t shake the ominous feeling that clung to the air.


    "Now then, can you guess who I am?" asked niel, her voice a deceptively gentle melody. Meralda, still disoriented and confused, shook her head slowly, uncertainty etching her features.


    Suddenly, as if in response to the unspoken tension, dark tendril-like tentacles emerged from niel''s back.


    They oozed a ck miasma that snaked and coiled through the surroundings, a manifestation of the ominous power that now radiated from the Elf Queen.


    "Now can you guess who I am?" niel repeated, her smile retaining its gentleness despite the foreboding disy of dark energy.


    Meralda, ovee with a creeping fear that gripped her very essence, could only stare at niel in silence.


    "Hmm? Why are you afraid of me? Aren''t you father''s contracted spirit?" niel queried, her tone filled with a casual curiosity that contradicted the eerie atmosphere surrounding her.


    Meralda, caught in a web of confusion, couldn''tprehend niel''s words. "Father? Contracted?" The very notions seemed alien to her understanding.


    As far as Meralda knew, Kaksan was an enigmatic entity, an abomination that materialized seemingly out of nowhere.


    The concept of a father, especially one rted to Kaksan, was unfathomable. In her essence, Kaksan was a monstrous being, a dark force that defied conventional origins.


    And as for contracts, Meralda recoiled at the thought.


    No way in hell would she ever willingly sign a contract with any being connected to the monstrous force that was Kaksan.


    The idea of willingly binding herself to such a malevolent entity went against the very essence of her being.


    "Is fathering?" asked niel in excitement