Jinmu returned to the spot where they arrived earlier. Emi stopped sobbing but her face was despondent as ever.
She was clueless and helpless about the fate of her hometown. The elders, the uncles, and aunties, and most importantly, her big sister Akane.
Hearing Jinmu's footsteps, they turned on him and hoped for news.
Lucan approached him and asked, "Jinmu, how did it go?"
Jinmu took a deep breath and sighed. He shook his head and remained conflicted on how to tell Emi of his findings.
Seeing his expression, Lucan and Olivia were distressed. Did he find nothing or was it something that he shouldn't tell them about?
Emi started to tear up again, "Brother Jinmu, you found something, did you? Please tell me. I want to know what happened to them.", she pleaded pitifully.
Jinmu hardened his heart and spoke up.
"There were traces of polar war bears in the village, Emi. I'm not entirely sure if they are the ones who did it to your village, but one thing remains clear. Someone from the Norva Assili arrived here not long ago."
Lucan gulped. He wished that the Norva Assili had nothing to do with this. Unfortunately, when he turned around, Olivia's reaction verified his thoughts.
He found her gripping her clothes again, this time not out of hesitation, but guilt. She gritted her teeth, crying small tears in her bluish-white eyes.
'Oh no!', he shouted inside his mind.
Emi heard Olivia's soft whimpers. She nervously looked at Olivia and asked.
"Senior sister, why are you crying…? …Do you know who did… this?"
"Yes, yes I think I do. But-"
She tried to mediate Emi's misunderstanding but the little girl cut her off.
"And I thought highly of you, senior sister.", Emi simply brushed off and left. Lucan followed her and left Jinmu alone with Olivia.
"So there are things that cannot be controlled no matter what.", Jinmu muttered to himself.
Olivia knelt and covered her eyes. She was resenting herself for moving away from home in a dubious manner and implicating people on the way without her knowing until the incidents have already transpired.
Was it worth it considering the fact that she was indirectly involved in the destruction of Emi's hometown?
"You know something, don't you?", Jinmu asked her, "Tell me now and I can help you fix not only Emi's resentment of you but of our special task regarding your father as well."
His manner of speech was highly confident, assuring Olivia that trusting him was a good thing to do.
"Come on now, we're students from the same academy. There's no need to be this secretive with one another, do we?", Jinmu urged Olivia to tell him the things he needed.
Olivia wiped off the tears on her face and hug her knees as she told Jinmu about the Siegfried family.
Not only were they her family's rivals, but their most talented and powerful descendant, Erik Siegfried, was deeply infatuated with her ever since the two of them met each other.
"I see. You mean this guy named Erik followed your trail in order to retrieve you and return to the Norva Assili?", Jinmu verified.
"Yes, his power as a tier 7 knight gave him many privileges. One of them allowed him to be part of the Norvas Corps, an elite unit of the Norva Assili."
Olivia answered and continued.
"Because of his family's influence, the elders dared to heighten his authority and created an entire squad tailor-made for him."
"Then he used this squad to come and find you.", Jinmu nodded in understanding, "And he's your number one suspect?"
"No, I am certain that he is the only type of person who would commit this… this thing he did to Emi's hometown. He is vile and cruel. You wouldn't even dare to imagine the filthy things he had done just to force my attention on him.", Olivia hated Erik.
Much more than the people who labeled her as an 'outsider' due to her being a mage. There was a fine line between good and bad and Erik crossed that line of lengths untold.
Olivia wondered how could an evil remain in service in Norva Assili. Perhaps her father tried to do something about it but he was powerless to do so.
Regardless, she needed to confront Erik about his deeds. It was about time that he was taught the consequences of his actions.
"If that is the case, Olivia, then Erik might have returned to Norva Assili and reported to your father a twisted lie."
Jinmu's words implied something to Olivia.
"Don't tell me he-?"
Jinmu stopped her and shook his head, "We still don't know, Olivia. But it is best to not dabble on this thought for now."
"Then what about my father? You think I can easily forget something as important as him?!", she retorted.
"I'm not telling you to forsake your parents.", Jinmu said back, "Do you not remember the academy master's words? Have you forgotten why he sent us to hunt demon beasts weekly and learn a variety of spells?"
Olivia's temper cooled down.
Jinmu smiled after seeing her reaction, "Look, I don't know what went on academy master's mind but this is a good opportunity he has given us, Olivia."
"The study of magic spells and then applying them before using them to fight the demon beasts. Tell me, didn't it accelerate your cultivation speed on a scale you have never imagined before?"
"I guess you are very near to your partial magical metamorphosis because of it or am I wrong?" he asked.
"Ye-yes.", Olivia stuttered in reply.
Did the academy master see through it or was it just a coincidence? The frequent use of magic spells made her body adapt to her magic elemental affinities.
Time was the only thing she needed for her to ascend. Once she becomes an adept wizard, she would have the power to contend against a tier 7 knight like Erik.
If the academy master did plan that...
Despite the optimistic outcome, Jinmu warned her.
"Look, don't be hopeful either. You may advance to an adept mage sooner, Olivia, but it's not only Erik who is out there."
Olivia shook her head, "I don't care about the others. I just want to see my dad, and also Erik. I want to punish him. Nothing else matters."
"Then set your heart to be that way.", Jinmu waved his hands, "I'll go over and tell Lucan and Emi what to do in the next few days. We'll make our way to the Norva Assili in two weeks and meet up with senior brother Kai."
"Also, time is running out Olivia. Make sure to make the most out of it while we still can."
Olivia nodded and gripped her fist.
'Emi, I'm sorry for what happened. I won't intend to explain as I know that you will not be in the mood to hear it. Let your senior sister explain it through actions. One day, you will understand. I'm certain of it.'
She stood up and dusted her mage robes. A newfound strength erupted within her.
Jinmu was right. They have limited time to empower themselves.
She didn't want to wait for a few more weeks before returning home. Her anxiety about her father's condition was piling up.
Any longer and it will affect her state of mind and magical cultivation progress. Maybe it would cause the end of her father as well should she remain absent for a few more days.
She didn't know what Erik told them, what he planned to do, nor how long will the Siegfried's patience continue.
Thus, a week passed right after. Olivia increased the difficulty of her challenges and went on fighting near areas with dangerous natural calamities and demon beasts.
Today, she was fighting on a large geron encampment with over 700 population in total.
"Lightning Fork!", she casted a spell, electrifying a group of elite gerons that jumped on all her sides.
The lightning was so strong that they were burned to a crisp and turned to dust.
Olivia snorted and marched forward where more gerons and elite gerons awaited her.
The elite gerons were now dressed with wood armor.
The material came from the haillektra tree known for its effective insulative properties. As such, ice and lightning-based spells have reduced damage, making the elite gerons a suitable challenge for Olivia.
Now, for her to fry them to death in a single spell meant that her spells were more powerful compared to the elite geron's defense.
"Bastards, bring it on!", she shouted, charging at the horde of gerons without care.
Her left hand conjured lightning while the other hand emitted a cold aura. She clapped her hands and sent out a strike.
Ice and lightning collided, mixing altogether to create a destructive attack.
"Polar Lightning Wave!"
Multiple lightning surged from her hands, randomly striking the enemies while leaving a trail of ice behind its path.
The ice inherited the lightning's speed, generating blocks of itself as soon as an enemy was struck. The lightning inherited the ice's coldness as well, afflicting an additional biting frost to the unfortunate ones.
In less than 10 seconds, the encampment of 700 gerons was annihilated with a single move.
Olivia panted. That spell used half of her mana and almost made her faint.
However, a cold and tingly feeling arose in her mind.
'Thi-this is it! My body is ready to ascend!'
She immediately gathered mana from her surroundings and used it to conjure ice and lightning.
The cold and tingly feeling started pulsating, reaching out to the very depths of her body.
Olivia gnashed her teeth. The lightning was 'shocking' her skin and muscles while the ice numbed it.
The pain increased as she continued, forcing her to shout with all her might until an explosive aura burst out from her body.
She then lost consciousness but thankfully, Jinmu and Lucan were nearby. They observed everything in plain sight, right from when Olivia attacked the gerons until she ascended to an adept wizard.
Jinmu thought that this process was a little familiar but shook his head and dismissed the thought.
"Go get her, ex-crown prince.", Jinmu pushed Lucan, "I'm going back to fetch Emi."
Lucan scratched his head in annoyance.
'Damn that Jinmu. Always wanting me to look out for Olivia.'
Nevertheless, he went over and carefully picked the unconscious ice and lightning princess. Glancing at her sleeping face, he blushed.
'She-she looks beautiful. What the hell, Lucan?! She hates you, why do you keep thinking about that?! Move it, idiot!'
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶