Chapter 24
The ringing sound in her ears increased as she rode the horse into the forest. It seemed to be the sound of the monsters running due to the knights driving them away.
Elysia stroked her forearm, feeling as though the forest itself was vibrating.
“This won’t stir up more monsters, right?”
“It’s all right, they’re going to be distracted by the sound and the movement.”
He said, assuring they were attracting all the monsters in the vicinity.
Elysia shook her head, thinking that it could be annihilation if she did something wrong. ‘Let’s not even think of sinister thoughts.’
Cassian decided this method because he thought it was possible. Elysia decided to trust his judgment and dismissed her worries. She could see one of the previous knights from the front coming back.
“Captain, the herding is almost over. I think we need to hurry.”
“I got it.”
As Cassian sped up his horse, those who followed him began to rush as well. It was more trouble to keep the monsters in a designated place, than when they were chasing them.
Arriving in a hurry before the roundup was over was a way to reduce the number of injuries. If someone gets hurt and the smell of blood spreads, the monsters would go crazy and run wild. freewebnovel(.)com
“From here, I’ll move on foot.”
When she stepped on the ground, the vibration was much stronger than she felt on the horse.
In Elysia’s ears, the sound of dozens of monsters crying and footsteps mixed, caused her dizziness. She opened her mouth to the sight of the party arriving at the vacant lot. It seemed that the monsters that had been driven to the target point would rush towards them at any moment.
Elysia, who played the most important role, also turned white on her face. ‘I don’t think this is just a few dozen or so...’
Wizards lined up around Elysia, and the knights surrounded them.
The knights who were still driving were precariously circling around the demons.
The first assistant wizards who were put in first also intended on unfolding the magic of restraint towards the monsters. As soon as Cassian signaled, the herding party would fall back, and Elysia was supposed to use her magic immediately after confirming that they were all withdrawn.
It required concentration because she had to cast the strongest magic among all the magic she used so far, as well as control, so others were not allowed to disturb her.
Hundreds of sharp pieces of ice filled the sky and cast shadows.
The wizards at the back saw Elysia and gaped their mouths. They were told she had learned magic for only a few years, but it didn’t seem possible. There was no explanation other than assuming that she was a genius.
If the head of the Imperial Magic department realized this, they will regret the fact that Elysia belongs to the tower. Why didn’t they know before that Lady Lowell had the qualities of such a wizard?
The signal from Cassian, confirming that the preparation was over, was appointed, and the crowd began to disperse.
Elysia’s attack began, starting with that attack, and other wizards also poured attack magic.
“...What is that?”
In Elysia’s sight, she could see the green magic fluttering over the magic circle. Someone had used their magic to increase resistance to the attack magic used by Elysia. She could see some horses running behind the scattered knight’s back.
“Everyone, stay away from behind!”
Less than half of the dead monsters began to run wildly and uncontrollably. Despite Cassian’s evacuation order, only Elysia was standing alone, unable to move.
‘No. There is too much damage.’
All the remaining magic in her body was gathered.
Someone called her from behind, but she could not hear anything. At the same time, the magic, stronger than before, struck the monsters, and Elysia’s body staggered.
However, two monsters escaped her attack and approached her at high speed.
Cassian took Elysia, whose face turned blue and collapsed, and eliminated the monsters.
“Bug. Take care of the remaining monsters.”
“Understood.”
Cassian hugged Elysia and took steps in a hurry.
Wizards glanced at them, though their gaze didn’t stay for long since they had to deal with monsters that are still alive under Bug’s command.
***
Cassian drove his horse at full speed and reached the camp.
If it were a simple magic depletion, it would be solved by taking a break, but if it was used excessively enough to cause internal injury, treatment would be urgently needed.
At the sound of a horse’s hoof, a knight who was guarding the camp came out.
“Captain! What happened to you?”
Cassian, who was trying to call the physician who remained in the barracks, bit his lip. Since he knows that Elysia isn’t human, he hesitated to see the physician.
“There will be many injured, so be prepared and get ready right away.”
“Then, Lady Lowell...”
“Her magic runs out. I’ll take care of her myself.”
Cassian took Elysia into his barracks. As Elysia laid on his bed, a physician called him.
“Captain! It’s a potion made in the temple. We’re going to get prepared now.”
He took the small glass bottle and swept his hair back.
‘Can she use it?’ He never thought of her as a monster or a race that is found only in the ancient books, but the fact that Elysia was a vampire made her hesitate.
He was pondering.
What if it wouldn’t work with her?
Elysia’s bracelet was seen in Cassian’s sight.
‘Magic item used for communication with the Great Wizard.’
If he did not know who Elysia was, it would be useless to communicate with him. However, he felt a strange conviction that the great wizard might know somehow.
‘I don’t like this.’
Sitting on the bed, looking at Elysia’s face, he frowned at his thoughts. And without hesitation, he lifted the dagger that he was wearing on his waist and struck his palm.
He supported her neck with one arm, and opened her lips.
Drops of blood fell into Elysia’s mouth. Cassian couldn’t withdraw his hand out easily because he wasn’t certain how much she needed to drink.
The image of the moment when monsters were gathered in front of her, and Elysia collapsing was stuck in his mind.
He was the one who thought she would never be in danger during the subjugation, but at that moment, all the noises around him were silenced and all his senses were focused only on her.
He felt as though his heart might have stopped.
“I can’t let go of my mind for a moment.”
Cassian raised his hand as he watched her slightly brighter complexion.
***
After finishing the subjugation, the camp was a mess.
As Elysia went through magic depletion, she managed to deal with most of the monsters, but the others were chased and scattered, and the injuries of the knights and assistant wizards were severe.
Till the evening, Elysia showed no signs of waking up, and Cassian’s nerves were sharpened.
The rest, except for the military physician, gathered at the central barracks for the meeting.
The silence continued with Cassian’s unusual momentum. He opened his mouth as he glanced at each of the seated people.
“At least, we shouldn’t endanger ourselves.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t Lady Lowell’s first magic wrong?”
It was the words from a new knight with no combat experience. He was brought by Bug, the vice captain who was ordered to come, but Bug got in an accident.
Cassian smiled sharply as he raised one side of his mouth.
He looked at Robert, who had the highest status among the Imperial magicians who attended the subjugation group. He was well-known for being well-rounded and straightforward.
So, he wouldn’t be covering up for anyone.
“I wonder if the magicians thought so as well.”
“No. Her magic couldn’t have been better.”
At Robert’s words, the surrounding knights became fussed. Lumiere opened her mouth with an anxious face.
“I... Is Lady Lowell okay?”
Lumiere raised her hand and tucked her hair behind her ears, waiting for Cassian’s answer. Biting her pink lips, her face was full of worries.
People in the barracks gave a sad gaze.
It couldn’t have been comfortable using the same barracks as Lady Lowell. A fellow wizard next to Lumiere patted her back.
“She’ll wake up soon.”
Cassian was smiling, tilting his head at an angle.
Knights belonging to the Knights of Esteban looked at the expression of Cassian and were mesmerized.
‘Even though His Excellency was angry, he was still firm.’
They didn’t fully understand why he was upset, but regardless, he was angry.
“I will never let today’s issue slide. So, it might be better to just talk about it now.”
A quiet silence lay in the barracks.
Maybe someone did it on purpose?
Cassian’s words were enough to arouse any suspicions. The knights who vaguely thought it was the wizard’s mistake made confused expressions. While the wizards just watched Cassian’s gaze and kept their mouths closed.
The one who would voluntarily admit it was their mistake did not say anything. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that Cassian had already realized it.
“The number of defeats today is not small, so the wounded soldiers do not need to return and take a break in the camp.”
The wounded soldiers who had to return to the Empire were only able to be transferred after the crisis had passed. It was better to return to the Empire together because there was no difference between that time or the time to end the subjugation.
Cassian had planned to return Elysia with the wounded soldiers back to the Empire a little while ago. However, she hasn’t opened her eyes yet, and before he thought about other possibilities, he canceled his thoughts.
It might have been better off keeping her close and giving her blood when needed.
“The subjugation that was supposed to be carried out for four days will be reduced by one day. So, instead, it will be finished within three days. Dismissed.”
***
Elysia opened her eyelid slowly. There was not a single area on her body that was not hurting.
When she opened her eyes, she was surprised by the unfamiliar scenery in sight, and for a while, she breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar scent.
She suffered from magic depletion for the first time, and it was a mistake that she vaguely thought that since she’s a vampire, she would be fine.
‘I wasn’t in a situation to argue about that.’
Even if she was a vampire, he wasn’t fine with people dying. Plus, if things went wrong and became a bloodbath, it would have resulted in her losing her mind.
Elysia struggled to turn her head to look inside the barracks, but she couldn’t see the person she was looking for.
Elysia, who was looking for Cassian’s figure, saw some pieces of cloth scattered on the floor. The stain moistening the piece of cloth was clearly blood. She immediately noticed whose blood it was.
‘Are you hurt?’
When she unfolded her magic to find Cassian, her vision was blurred, so she did not know the result. Elysia put her hands on the bed to raise her body.
“No more lying down.”
“Are you okay?”
“That’s my question.”
Elysia glanced over Cassian’s body.
As she glued her eyes onto him, she found a bandage wrapped around his left hand. She alternated her red eyes between his hands with a piece of cloth that had fallen to the floor.
“There was no other way. I didn’t know anything about you. I wasn’t even sure if I could show it to the physician.”
“Ah....”
Elysia blankly blinked her eyes.
His voice sounded as if he was angry, and his expressionless face was glaring.
‘Well... it might’ve been bothersome.’ Because he knew my secret, he couldn’t just neglect and let anyone know. He had to take care of me himself.
“I’m sorry. ”
Elysia smiled and rubbed her neck. ‘Was I supposed to say thank you?’
“You... tend to use your body too recklessly.”
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