Ilia's POV*

"What… do you mean, Granny Tel?"

Confusion

"Wait, is Uncle Braum going to be all right then?"

Trepidation

"We-we need to hurry and save him; if I couldn't see the enemy, then that means they are invisible… please, do something."

Anxiousness

"Un-uncle Braum… we need to save him… we need to do something; we need to hurry. Mo-mother, please, help Uncle Braum, he-he…" Fay approached me and held onto my hand with trembling hands; she was afraid, not for her safety… but for Braum.

She tugged at my hands, wanting me to move. She never asks for anything other than my permission to read; she never does things for herself and instead tries to help others; she's young but already so kind.

Gently embracing Fay, I quietly poured mana into her mind. It dissipated as her body rejected its existence, but it should her settle down, "Shhh, shhh, calm down Fay, it's going to be all right. Braum is strong; taking care of a few Skeleton Soldiers won't be a problem."

I wish to cast a sleeping spell, but that would mean mana would enter her body, and that's impossible to do. This is taxing for me to continue, but I am going to be okay.

It took a long time, but Fay eventually calmed down, "Are you okay now?" I separated from her and wiped the tears streaming down her face.

Sssss.

Her tears, like they had always been, were so hot that it's almost scalding, "Fay, are you okay?" she didn't answer before, so I asked again.

"Mm," she answered with a cute tiny nod… hehe, my pretty little angel is mature for her age, but this little sight of weakness does remind one that she's still a child.

"Granny Tel, please look after my daughter for a while; I'll be picking up Braum."

"Older Sister Ilia, I'll come with you!" Leah raised her hand.

"Sister Leah, you can't act so rashly like that! Stay here, and I'll take care of the matter in a jiffy. You may be prepared to lay down your life for Braum, but it is not just your life you are carrying now."

Leah contemplated over the matter and begrudgingly accepted the fact, "I'll leave it to you, Sister."

"Yes, sure."

Over the horizon was Braum's mana; the cerulean light of frost filled the horizon. I can see it with clarity, and seeing how violently it is moving can only mean that the enemies are strong or too many.

My bet's on the former.

I should leave now before anything happens.

A significant number of Undead are gathering, I knew this would happen, but I didn't think it would happen early.

Moving my hands, I touched upon the flow of the purple lightning mana stream and stepped on it.

"Mana Stream: Lightning Flow."

Lightning crackled with every step I took. Arcs of lightning that lacerated the earth formed as thunder boomed.

"Be careful, mother!" Fay's lovely voice reached me just as I left, and with that encouragement, I cannot fail my beloved daughter.

BOOM!

Braum's really going at it, hmm, depending on the thick clouds of Death Mana, that can only mean it's a legion.

===

"Blue Demon Spear – Icepick!" thrusting his spear forward, the air froze, twisted, and then dozens of Icicle Speaks pierced and destroyed the bodies of the Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Chancellors, but he failed to beat the Skeleton Jacks.

"So, I'm this weak without my favorite? I can't even beat an Undead Legion?" before Braum was a gathering of Undead attracted by the aroma of death found in their village.

This Legion came from the mountain range found over a hundred kilometers away, yet they still walked all the way here just to get what they wanted, 'How persistent of them.'

Braum felt exasperation; he looked back at the village's direction, "sigh, I can't do that; Leah might get stressed out. This will take a while, but I'll try and finish this as quickly as I can."

The air around Braum changed, his carefree attitude became ice-cold, and his aura was enveloped by an absolute cold.

He ran his finger through his white hair and tied it to a clean ponytail, "I better end this before lunch."

Braum gathered his strength at the tip of his spear, a thin circular figure appeared.

"Blessing of the White Wyrm — hmm? Oh, finally, the cavalry's here. Sister Ilia, you finally arrived!" the moment Braum heard the crackling of lightning and the roar of thunder, he instantaneously stopped what he was doing and rested himself.

Ilia landed next to him with a frown on her face, 'Oh, she's pissed.'

"Just so you know, I was taking care of the undead on the other side of the Forest, so it took me a while to get to Fay." Braum explained himself. Ilia's not exactly the scary type, she was actually amiable and kind, but she's a little touchy when it comes to her daughter.

Ilia walked past Braum, "I'm not blaming you, Braum. I'm not so nearsighted to pin what happened to you. It's all my fault that these things appeared here in front of us anyway. My barrier must have been weakened after all this time. I should have been more prepared."

Ilia no longer had a smile; her steps were silent, and gradually she began walking on air, using silver magic circles as her platform.

'So she can use Space as well?' Braum was taken aback.

"You bastards dare lay a hand on my precious daughter?."

Putting her hands together, Ilia gathered mana. Contacting the mana stream, mana gathered in the middle of both her palms; lightning, water, and wind elements coalesced and formed magical circles around her.

“Danta Galderas Asocaos, Herabap Un Trasdkjl Ultavyast: Tistan Galderas Asocaos, Pirtyliou Un Entalios: Zades Galderas Asocaus, Quiaontszi Un Ramdriarch Lrastia Ihtars Gristuas— Gadalesta Endales!” [Wind Heed My Call, gather and wreak havoc with a hurricane: Water Heed My Call, drown the world with your ferocity: Lightning Heed My Call, Lacerate and destroy the world with your might — Tempestuous Calamity]

Her words darkened the bright blue skies; a calamitous whirlwind soon ravaged the trees and carried off the Undead from the ground. Lightning lacerated those caught up in the whirlwind, and the water amplified its strength.

"You dare make an attempt on my daughter's life? All of you die."

The over 6000 Undead was all caught up in Ilia's rage. Braum watching leisurely almost got caught up. If not for him plating his feet on the ground and holding onto his spear, he would have suffered the same fate as the Skeletons.

The hurricanes lasted for a good minute, and when it ended, what used to be a lush forest filled with greenery transformed into ruins.

"This is the reason why Spellcasters easily level up. They kill so many in a single swoop. You left some alive!"

"I left a few for you; that's a simple thanks from me to you," Ilia explained as she landed on the ground then proceeded to prepare a spell to retrieve the form of the land.

A few of the Skeleton Chancellors and the Skeleton Jacks lived, but only barely. They were all readied for Braum to slaughter and increase his level.

Braum could not even say anything, "I already knew our village was weird, but I didn't think it would be to this degree. If I didn't know any better, you could probably beat a Tower Master."

Braum said while killing off the rest of the Skeletons.

"Tower Masters are weak; they are researchers, not Combat Mages. You can't compare them to me." Ilia argued back and then activated her spell after all of the Skeletons were dealt with by hand.

Braum did not know if Ilia was arrogant or confident. After all, Tower Masters needs to be at least Lv. 250 of a [Spellcaster Class] to qualify.

'And she claims they're not worth being mentioned? How strong is she?'

Braum did not wish to know because deep within him, he knows her words were valid, 'A member of a clan that can see the Mana Streams is just that strong.'

He thought to himself while staring at Ilia's golden pupils.

Soon after that, the two of them made their way back to the village; Braum asked something that's been bothering him, "I'm thankful I don't have to do any work and all, but don't you think that event would summon the concern of the nearby Towns?"

Ilia stopped dead on her tracks; Ilia's fearless face now bore a wry smile, "Do… do you think the Chief would be mad?"

"Depends."

When the two of them came back, Fay welcomed Braum and Ilia with a wide smile. She was happy that they were both alive.

Fay would then fall asleep.

Ilia would then be scolded by the Village Chief, who happened to be the one who officiates the fights of Ista and Fay, Grandpa Hal.

"Ouch! Did you have to hit me with your cane?" Ilia protested as she rubbed her head.

"You damn fool began casting a spell without putting up an illusion barrier again!? Good thing Rina was awake this month. You better thank her later!" Grandpa Hal's long beard swayed from left to right as he reprimanded Ilia.

Ilia looked to the side and saw Rina and nodded, "Thank you for the help, Rina. I'll be sure to bring home Skewers from the Town when I leave next week."

Rina, a beautiful young woman with a perfect figure, scratched the back of her head, flustered, "Haha, it's really nothing, Aunty Ilia, we're all family in the village, right?"

"Then no Skewers for you?"

"Ahem!" Rina covered her mouth and made a dry cough, "…I wouldn't mind receiving Salamander Skewers from Old Ding's Place."

"How many?"

"200"

"So, few?" Ilia was surprised, "Are you feeling well?"

"I… am going on a diet."

"You don't really have to diet, you know? You're already so thin." Ilia insisted.

"Really? Then… I want 300 then."

"That's my girl."

Ilia agreed and then got up, "I'll see you later, Grandpa Hal."

"Wait!" Grandpa Hal called out before Ilia could leave.

"What is it?"

"How many were there this time?"

"A Legion."

"So, about 6000? That's a lot… I can't even imagine what would happen when the Worldly Radiance falls onto Fay — will you last that long?"

Ilia showed Grandpa Hal a warm and determined smile, "I'm her mother… I have to." Ilia said while holding onto her chest.