After returning to the mansion, we were greeted by a butler that led us to a guest room on the upper floor of the mansion.

We took our seats and leisurely awaited the coming conflict. At first, I was quite tense still but as Mary began serving our tea, the atmosphere began to soften.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” Mary says as she pats me on the head.

I nod in reply and took a sip of tea.

“Ehehe, Mary’s tea is delicious as always.”

“I’m glad. Now, let me fix your hair. It’ll be a problem if it got in the way.”

As she says that, I suddenly realized what a mess it has become. I protected myself with a thin barrier of mana to avoid any injuries but the force of the impact still managed to ruin it.

“Ah. O-okay.” I uttered, slightly embarrassed.

Teacher chuckled upon my realization.

“Fufu, Selene. This is another lesson. Remember, how you fight is just as important as winning. As my disciple, you must remember to maintain your appearance at all times.”

“Y-yes teacher.” I shyly responded.

I notice papa’s gaze, his face seems to ask ‘is it really that important?’ as he gives us an inquisitive look. Mary turned to him and suddenly he shook and averted his gaze. Curious, I look up at Mary and only saw her smiling face looking back at me.

We continued relaxing as Mary braided my hair and tied off the end tightly. Soon, a messenger arrived.

*Knock Knock*

“Pardon my intrusion, the Marquess has sent me to deliver a message.”

“You may enter.” Teacher replied.

As the butler entered the room, he gave a neat bow towards teacher and continued.

“The Marquess has finished preparations. He wishes your ladyship to join him in the meeting room below. If you will allow me, I would be happy to guide you.”

“Very well. Come, everyone. Let us join in on the briefing.” Teacher exclaim with dignity.

We stand up and follow the butler downstairs to a meeting room near the main entrance of the mansion.

As we approached the room, we could see the Marquess, alongside five men in lightly armored attire. The butler guided us to the entrance and bowed upon seeing that the Marquess has acknowledged our arrival. He stood by the entrance as our party continues onwards into the room.

“Ah! Welcome! Everyone, I’m sure you are acquainted with Duchess Baylon of Raven. My lady, these are warriors that I have trained personally at our Luna knight academy. I can attest to their competency myself. Let me introduce you to them. From left to right are Albert, Richard, Silas, Lucas, and Spencer.”

“My lady,” the men all replied with a bow.

Teacher eyed each one of them for a few moments and then responded,

“Very good. Have you already prepared a battle plan?”

“Yes, once we know of the beast’s location. We will surround it in formation. We humbly ask that you set up a barrier around the battleground to prevent the beast from escaping. A prolonged chase would only work it its favor.” The old Marquess explained.

“Hmm? Ah, I see. Very well, that is fine.” Teacher replied with a tired look.

“Hm?” I lightly uttered.

“The Marquess doesn’t want the mistress to have to use her signature magic in the middle of the forest. Also, he secretly wishes to use this situation as training for his knight cadets,” papa whispered to me.

(He wants to use this as training?)

I showed a shocked expression but somehow I’m not that surprised. However, I think back on teacher’s previous Vermilion and I feel like I understand where he’s coming from as well in regards to that first part.

As I examine one of the young warriors he has gathered, Albert I think, he notices my gaze and wave with a refreshing smile. Soon after, another one of the men smacked him in the back of his head and he turned his attention back to the briefing.

I nudge at papa and whisper to him,

“But isn’t it still dangerous?”

“Well, it certainly is not ideal, but he must be confident in their ability. Also, with the mistress here, they will have protection from darkness attribute curses.”

“I see…”

While pondering papa’s explanation. I once again realize just how strong teacher is.

“Greetings mistress, I have just returned.”

I turn around upon hearing the familiar voice and see miss Sylvae bowing at us.

“Ah, perfect timing. Sylvae, go ahead and give your report to Alphonse.”

“Understood.”

Sylvae neatly walks forward and the men make an opening at the table for her. She examines the laid out map for a short moment and points at a spot north-east of the town.

“After tracking the beast, I trailed it until it stopped moving around this area here. It seems to be hunting local wildlife.”

“Hm. I see. Thank you for that information, miss. As I suspect, we must act fast. On the off chance that its corruption spreads, we’ll have a huge problem on our hands.” The Marquess explains.

“Alright men, as we discussed, we will surround the beast and engage it together. Once you draw its ire, retreat and focus on defense. Remember, although we will have protection against curses by the graces of the Duchess, the beast possesses incredible physical strength as well, stay vigilant!”

“Yes sir!” They simultaneously replied.

“Sir, a request! After this is done, I would like a day off!” Yelled Albert with earnest.

However, it was promptly met with another smack by the man next to him again.

“Ow! Richard! Come on, we haven’t had a break from training in over 2 months! Even in my dreams, all I see are weights and swords!” He says with tears in his eyes.

“Idiot. What are you complaining about, after all this time? You’re the one who wanted to join.”

“Yes, but that’s because I wanted to be a knight! At this rate, I’m going to turn into a muscle wizard! Lucas! You’re on my side right?!”

The man named Lucas simply turned away and didn’t say anything.

“Okay okay, enough of your antics,” said the man named Silas as he puts Albert in a stranglehold.

“We got a job to do, so stop whining.”

“Give it up Lucas, he’s a lost cause.” Spencer uttered as he sighed and facepalmed.

“Albert… It seems you haven’t had enough training. I’ll deal with you when we get back.”

The Marquess had a sharp look in his eyes. I know that look. Once I tried to lie to Mary that I was sick to skip out on etiquette lessons...never again.

“Noooo!”

Albert collapsed, seemingly losing his will to fight.

“Is he going to be alright?” Teacher mused.

“Hohoho, I apologize for the display, my lady. But worry not, although he’s like that, he’s actually one of my top students.”

Teacher and I both flash a surprised look. To think the melted blob on the floor is one of the Marquess’ top students. I guess appearances can be deceiving.

“Now then, Duchess, although we would love to have Sir Abel join us, I request that he stay on standby and let us engage the beast.”

“That is fine, what say you, Abel?” Teacher says as she turns to papa.

“I believe that is a wise decision, your grace. My style is more suited to one-on-one combat and impromptu teamwork could be harmful to your formation.” Papa elaborates.

“I thank you, as expected, you are very insightful, Sir Abel. Very well, let us depart! I apologize in advance, my lady, but unfortunately we were not able to prepare a carriage in time.”

“That is fine, this is an emergency, after all.”

“Indeed. Now then, we have prepared horses for everyone out front. Let us make haste. Richard, drag Albert with you.”

“Yes, sir! Alright, Albert, enough’s enough. Let’s go.”

“Richard… I can’t believe you wouldn’t back me up... Don’t blame me when you get picked for clean up and find out that I’m not there to help you…”

“Yeah yeah, off we go.”

“H-hey wait! I can walk!”

As the men head out with Richard dragging Albert in tow, the rest of us soon follow, but first,

“Mary, Sylvae, wait for us here.” Teacher turns and says.

“Understood, mistress.”

They both answered with a bow. Mary then turns to me,

“Be careful, okay?” She says while patting my head.

“Yeah, I got it!”

With that, Teacher, papa, and I follow the Marquess into the courtyard garden and further out towards the main entrances. Several horses were awaiting our arrival, with the butlers holding their reins.

“This one will do. Come, Selene.”

Teacher beckons to me as she picks out a horse from the pack.

“Ho? The young Selene will be joining us as well? Be careful my dear, follow your teacher’s instructions. The battlefield is a fickle place.” The Marquess says to me as teacher helps me onto the horse.

“Understood!” I nod.

“Hohoho. Now, allow me to lead. The area around Luna is basically my backyard. Hya!”

With the Marquess leading in front, the rest of us follow as we ride towards the north gate. The Marquess’ mansion was situated on the northern side of the town, opposite facing the Luna knight academy, so it was a short ride before we reached the gate.

On approach, the gates slowly opened, as if expecting our arrival. The guards standing atop the gates salute us as we ride by and exit the town.

“Everyone! Once we enter the forest area there will be rough terrain, make sure you don’t lose sight of the person in front of you!”

“Yes, sir!”

***

“Alright, this area should be good.”

After riding for quite a while, we stopped near a stream and tie the reins of our horses to a nearby tree.

“Everyone, gather round!”

At the Marquess’ behest, we form a circle around where he has a map laid out.

“According to miss Sylvae’s information, the beast should be about 5 minutes running distance directly north of us. I will take my team and encircle it, while Duchess Babylon work on erecting a barrier around this area.”

Everyone nods in response.

“Sir Abel, you will be positioned west of our encirclement. Should the beast try to flee and break our formation, we will route it to you. I’ll leave the decision of whether or not to delay it or finish it to you.”

“Understood.”

“Do you find this plan acceptable, Duchess?” The Marquess turns and asks teacher.

“Not a bad plan. But it seems that I won’t have much to do after all,” teacher sighs.

“My apologies, your grace. I would love to have you join, but given the nature of your magic, I wish to have you as our last line of defense. Hohoho.”

“Yeah yeah, I got it.” Teacher pouts.

“Thank you for your understanding. Now everyone, move out!”

The Marquess and his men, followed by papa head out deeper into the forest. I wave them goodbye as they follow the Marquess into battle, leaving teacher and me behind.

“Alright Selene, how long can you maintain your Shadow Wings for?”

“Umm, I’m still recovering my mana, but I should last for at least 30 minutes.”

“Hm.”

Teacher thinks for a moment and then flashes a mischievous smile for just a second.

“Alright then, come, I’ll share some of my mana with you.”

“O-okay.”

After walking up to her, she places her hand on my back and I start to feel a warmth spread out from it. It was a very strange yet comforting feeling.

“Ngh, it feels weird, teacher.”

“Fufu, that’s it, just a little more.”

“Ah!”

I feel my core bursting with a hot feeling and I fall to my knees.

“There, you should be all set now.” Teacher says with a satisfied smile.

“Teacher! Haa. That was too much!”

“Fufu, this is another lesson, my student. If you let someone share their mana with you, be careful or that might happen.”

“Hmph, teacher is mean!” I pout.

“Aww, don’t say that, teacher is gonna cry.” She says while covering her face.

“Ah, I didn’t mean it!”

I stand up and try to console her but then she reveals her ‘crying’ face.

“Just kidding, fufu. I can’t help it, Selene is just so cute after all.”

I feel my face getting a little flushed. I give up trying to retort, teacher always acts like this when we’re alone.

“Alright, time to get to business. How do you feel now?”

I pull myself back to reality and answer.

“Good, I think I can maintain it for an hour now at least.”

“Okay, now follow me, ‘Levitation!’”

With that declaration, teacher floats up using her magic and fly into the sky. Levitation is a 5th tier neutral magic, so I can't quite use it yet. I activate my Shadow Wings and follow her up.

As we fly in the night sky, I can see papa’s party beneath us. They’ve spread quite far out, with the Marquess running quickly to get to his position north of the beast. After a few moments, I felt it. An incredibly uneasy and sticky feeling radiating from the beast’s location as we drew closer.

“Do you feel that, Selene? That is the aura of a demonic beast. No one really knows how they come about, and they can inflict deadly darkness-element curses to those injured by them.” Teacher says with a serious voice.

I gulp, ever so slightly regretting my decision to come, but steel myself after a few moments.

“Yes, it feels awful. Not even teacher knows where they come from?”

“Nay, they always periodically appear throughout history, wreaking havoc wherever they spawn. 600 years ago, a large legion of them suddenly appeared at the border of our country, and the forest of the elves. It took nearly 10 years and many sacrifices to defeat them. Alphonse’s grandfather was one such casualty.” Teacher continued to explain in a solemn voice.

“I see…”

(So that’s why the Marquess was so serious about it. His grandpa died before he was even born to these beasts.)

“Well, don’t be too worried.” Teacher exclaim, seemingly noticing my inner contemplation.

“Back then we hadn’t developed a ward against their curses, but now it should be much less dangerous. Besides, one beast is not much of an issue. The real issue is…” Teacher’s voice trails off at the end.

“Hm?”

“Ah, nothing. Anyway, focus on observing the battle. If needed you can provide support. Your ‘Negative Wall’ should suffice to block a blow from the beast.”

“Understood!”

“Alright, here! Stop, Selene.”

We cease our flight and hover a short distance from the beast’s location. I could see it. It’s dark sinister fur was pitched black even in the moon’s light. A large body distorted body that resembled the shape of a bear. Then, I felt teacher summon her mana.

“‘Resistance Up!’ ‘Negative Energy Barrier!’ ‘Mana Dome!’”

Teacher casted three spells, after the first two spells, I saw papa and the other knights glow slightly for a brief moment. Then, after the third spell, a large dome erected over the forest, stretching for several hundred meters, with teacher at the center.

Seemingly reacting to teacher’s spell, the beast frantically started looking around. Then, it broke into a sprint northward, directly in the direction of the Marquess.

“HAAA!”

The beast was sent flying back by the blow of the Marquess’ sword, yet it seems to have remained unharmed.

“RAWRRRRRRGHH”

Its roar echoes in the forest as trees shook and the wildlife ran in terror. The battle has begun.