“Violant, it isn’t over yet!” Huwcyn warned his rider who was currently occupied with greeting the people she had saved just now.

Just seconds later a big black stinger had been embedded into the soil where the red-haired girl had stood mere moments before. At the same time a dissonant roar echoed through the air. From the woods came a manticore that had shot out its scorpion-like stinger from the tip of its tail, already growing a new one. It was a big lion, likely capable of standing face to face with a grown man, and its fur, stretched tautly over powerful muscles, was of a cinnabar red color not extending to its pure black scorpion tail. The hairless face framed by a bushy mane appeared humanlike, its ears and nose being exactly the same. Extremely appalling though were the three rows of terribly sharp fangs filling its outwardly humanlike mouth, and its cold pale blue eyes only showed the merciless cruelty of an apex predator.

The young lady knew, should she get hit by one of the manticore’s stingers, she would be beyond any help. Its venom was so strong that she would die in a matter of seconds. It was apparent to her that the crocottas hadn’t run from her but rather the other beast as it surely had no qualms eating not only human meat but also a crocotta’s. Running was out of the question for the returnee though. She never would be able to forgive herself should she selfishly abandon those lives she had rescued just before. And yet she was completely clear about the high risk involved in facing a manticore on her own.

The redhead didn’t back down despite the risks involved for her. Although her spear likely wouldn’t be of much help in the distance, she kept it at hand for when the chance of melee combat should arise. At the same time she covered herself with an invisible barrier made from wind magic with the goal of glancing off the manticore’s stinger projectiles.

Then she charged forward while avoiding the worst pot holes, hurling a barrage of fire lances formed from magic at the approaching monster to keep it away from the other helpless humans.

The horses, still caught up in their tangled harnesses from the carriages sudden axle fracture, began to kick wildly, madly panicked not only from the previous crocotta attack and lightning but even more from the manticore’s emergence and the fire rain.

Much to Violant’s frustration, the manticore managed to swiftly sidestep the incoming fire attack and, as if reading her thoughts just to annoy her to death, it focused its attention on the vulnerable other humans. A slightly sadistic smile on its face, it readied itself to pepper those around the carriage first before dealing with the red-haired brat after putting her in a demoralized state.

Accordingly, the monster began to barrage the carriage with its rapidly replaced stingers, all the while evading the barrage of fire lances and fist-sized hailstones too, depending on its supernaturally high speed.

When it appeared that the venomous projectiles would soon find their targets – Violant still had some difficulties controlling more than two kinds of magic at the same time and thus was a step late in invoking a defensive magic – a sturdy wall made from rock and earth suddenly stopped their further flight.

At the same time, sharp blades of wind barraged the manticore from all sides, hindering it successfully in its movements so that it couldn’t avoid the slower but more powerful barrages from fire and ice anymore, or at least not without risking being severely cut by the wind magic.

Surprised, the red-haired girl turned around her head, all the while keeping up her magic projectiles raining down on the beast. Reinforcement had come at last. The earthen barrier had been erected by Mortimer who was still the most prodigious magician in the house of Avallach after his sister and also showed a more refined and efficient use of magic – for now at least. The margravial heir and his butler urgently made their way behind the earth wall since they didn’t want being up caught up in the manticore’s subjugation itself.

The wind blades, however, were produced by Millicent. The silky appeared like an ethereal creature how she floated high up in the air, the rustling white silk of her dress and her silver-blonde hair fluttering around her. She really was an otherworldly sight, at the same time demonstrating the far superior magic control of beings from the other march, although not all its creatures were magical as demonstrated by the manticore that had a hard time to prevail. For this very reason manticores avoided otherworldly magic users if they were incapable of killing them by surprise in one shot using their stingers. A sentient being’s retaliation was too scary after all.

“Are you all right, fair lady?” Mortimer asked gallantly while offering a hand to the black-haired noble who had fallen down again when despairing over her unavoidable end. Of course he knew the identity of the other party. He had taken a look at the crest on the carriage before approaching her. It showed a silver fountain spring with a woman’s head whose hair dissolved into a body of water, all on a blue background. This was the coat of arms belonging to the ducal house of Sulia.

“It is an honor beyond comparison to be able to meet you, Lady Sybil of Sulia, albeit the occasion is doubtlessly not the happiest there is. I am Mortimer of Avallach. Rest assured, for my sister Violant and my humble self will do everything in our might to keep you safe. I am sure your mother the duchess and your brother the chief minister would be heartbroken if anything should happen to you. I see it as my utmost duty to assure your safety, lest your death deeply impacts the kingdom’s future.”

Sybil, the chief minister’s younger sister and only other child of Duchess Sulia, widened her violet eyes in surprise. That elegant and sophisticated red-haired man whose green eyes radiated with earnestness was exactly her type. She felt herself falling in love with him the very moment she laid her eyes on him. It was out of the question to show this outwardly though. As such the black-haired frail girl showed a modest reaction while nodding gracefully to convey her appreciation.

“Allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude for your and your sister’s selfless assistance in this moment of deepest distress, Lord Mortimer.” she spoke with a gentle voice not unlike the pleasant sound of small bells “But who would be more qualified to save us from this situation if not the virtuous Avallachs with their deep knowledge about the wonders and horrors of the other march?”

“Well said, Milady.” Mortimer agreed “Rest assured, for no further harm shall come to you.” The scholarly man made a point in emphasizing his dependable side. He fell for the girl’s beauty and modesty, both he found to be far beyond the rumors he had heard. Rumors they were, because Sybil of Sulia was seldom seen in noble society as it still was before her social debut and her slightly sickly condition often confined her to her house in the duchy where she could enjoy all the wholesome effects the thermal springs of Sulia were so well-known for. She was much talked of nonetheless as the chief minister and future duke’s only sibling and thus sister-in-law of the kingdom’s only princess.

While Mortimer and Sybil continued flirting in the safety the earthen wall offered them, Violant and Millicent continued fighting the manticore. The monster was heavily injured by now, as it was cut, struck, and burnt all over. It was only a question of time until it would succumb to its injuries, in defiance of all its attempts to escape. The beast had long since given up fighting against its adversaries and only sought to keep its life. The young lady and her maid wouldn’t allow it though, for a freely roaming manticore, even a heavily injured one, was too dangerous after all. The crocottas weren’t as much of a problem but Violant would send her uncle a letter as soon as possible for him to send magic troops to clean up the mess they left behind on their way to the capital.

With time the girl felt her magic reserves beginning to dwindle although she had learnt from Eibhlin how to use magic the most cost-effective way. Since this was the case she decided to end the whole affair with a last big impact. Additionally it was something she always wanted to try but never had the chance to do so.

Violant ceased her barrage of ice and fire to collect herself. Then she sent a big black sphere in the manticore’s direction.

The lion creature instinctually seemed to know about the danger associated with the sphere but couldn’t evade on time. As soon as the black object came in contact with the monster, it seemed to simply fade away.

That wasn’t the end though. After only a short moment of time the manticore began to age visibly, changing from an apex predator in his prime to a tottering toothless old wrack before slowly crumbling into dust, leaving no remains behind. Only the cobblestone plaster riddled with further holes from the impact of magic remained to testify about the battle that had taken place just moments earlier.

Luckily, Millicent had been the only witness of this occurrence, as the gazes of all the others were shielded by the earth wall. The maid would remain confidential about what magic her mistress had used in the end. Seeing its terrifying results Violant vowed to never use this magic again. There was a very good reason after all why the use of magic was heavily regulated by the kingdom’s laws. Although, the Avallachs were a bit more free in their usage of magic because they had to deal with the other march, the very realm of the origin of magic.

After the successful rescue, the voyage of Mortimer and Violant could continue again. They didn’t leave Sybil and her entourage stranded at the roadside though. Mortimer personally had repaired the broken axle of the carriage with some magic, allowing the young lady from the ducal house to marvel at the sight of the breakage joining together as if the dead wood was filled with an inherent life of its own.

Since both parties had the same destination, the capital, they decided to travel together; the more so as both carriages had a similar speed. Continuing from there on, they managed to reach Kingsborough safely in little more than a week, a travel time well within expectations.