She was in the middle of seemingly nowhere.

Here, sitting on a rock perched near the edge of an overhanging cliff.

Everywhere the eye can see, there was only brown stone, and gravel. No trees. And you'd have to squint so hard, to see any of the dried-up shrubbery.

But, despite the searing sun, and the constant battering of cold wind coming from the eastern mountains…

Guila was smiling.

And quite brightly at that, letting her hair blow and even hit her face. Just to get them out of the way, with a chuckle.

She didn't even seem to mind the fact that her make-up was getting damaged. It wasn't just simple make-up either.

Bright red lipstick, gentle but pronounced eyeliner, her brows were permed and she had blush applied. Just looking at her now, would make anyone think that quite a long time was spent on making her even more beautiful.

She'd already ought to be in a ball, at this point.

But, here she was.

Another strangeness to her presence in this landscape was her outfit.

Burgundy red silk, and gold heels that rose 8 inches up.

Precious metals and gems adorned her body as elaborate hanging earrings, bracelets, armlets, rings, and finally, a small tiara that had a bright red Ruby the size of a thumb, as the centerpiece.

Why was she here, of all places?

The answer came as she heard the familiar sound of heavy boots beating against the ground, and was followed by a wall of wind that protected her.

Thus, letting her now-messy, but once-carefully braided, waist-length ponytail fall back behind her.

"Father…!"

"Guila."

She sprung up, and twirled around on one foot, running towards the man with open arms.

Of course, he received her.

But, quick to take up an opportunity, she jumped up and planted a kiss on his cheek, before giggling.

A head and a half taller than her, with shoulders more than twice as wide, was her father.

Adam Cassiana.

Also called as the Calimus Minister of Technology.

Similarly to his daughter, he was adorned in a luxurious attire and accessories. Though, a lot more subdued. He wore a shining black suit and tie, dark blue undershirt, black leather shoes, and had a thick fur cloak hung over his shoulders.

Unfortunately, his rugged handsomeness was distorted by the tired expression on his face.

"How many times does your mother have to tell you? Be more subdued."

"Is that so? This'll be the last time I hug you, then." She pouted, before letting go, and stepped back.

But, as she did, his expression changed again. This time to that worry.

"Ehehe… well, Father? What's it going to be?"

With his hands behind his back, the man could only sigh, and just shook his head.

"This isn't the time to be playful, daughter." He then turned right about face, and showed the scene happening at the base of the cliff.

There were seven, multiple-horse carriages lined up, and at least three dozen mounted knights escorting.

And, from those carriages, exited well-dressed men and women. Either having luxurious attires similar to the father and daughter duo. Or wearing highly-decorated military uniforms of different nationalities.

Not to mention that many of them, were at least several decades older than Guila.

Together, the two grinned, before her father took a light bow, and offered her a hand.

"This is your event. I don't know what you're planning. But I trust it's something big. "

"I won't disappoint, Father."

She smiled back, and placed her hand on his, allowing herself to be escorted down to where the gathering was.

"This will be my debut, after all."

***

The carriage jolted again, and Guila was pulled out of her short daydream. She was still within the forest, and seated in her carriage, with her chin on her hand as she stared outside.

On her lap, was her journal.

'Day Seven. Still on the road. Nothing's happened. So, there's really no reason to write. I'll still keep on writing, though.'

"Haaah... Still... In another week, it would be seven years since that day... My first big presentation. I wish I could've done things more maturely, back then."

She sighed with a tinge of pink on her cheeks due to shame, and closed her eyes slowly.

Until she finally noticed it.

The carriage wasn't moving anymore.

"Did a wheel get stuck-?" She immediately shut up, when she noticed several crouched figures from beyond the treeline.

"Bandits." She clicked her tongue. "So they finally showed themselves…"

"This is the one! The carriage with the mark of a rose around a sword!" One of them yelled, while the rest quickened their approach.

'They're specifically after me, huh? Did the Coalition hire them too?! No. They must've made the bounty public! Bastards!'

"Actually...." Her expression changed, and she started giggling. Then, she put on some leather sandals. Before making her way out of the carriage while wearing a slim, black v-neck shirt and a pair of shorts.

"Ngh…! Haah...! Hehe..." Though she limped due to the jolting pain, Guila just grinned. "This might just be perfect."

"Stay down, Drako."

"I want to try something." With a flick of her wrist, a sword manifested from her bracelet. Which quickly detached and floated diagonally above her head.

Seeing the magic performed, the two dozen bandits kept their guards up and regrouped.

One of them was wearing heavy iron attire with a rusted golden mace in his right hand and a wooden tower shield on the other. He was most likely the leader. Especially with that round gut, but well-defined limbs. There was no real other way to look at him.

So, she pointed at him.

"You're first."

"Heh." He responded to her, with his own grin, before banging his weapon against his shield. "You all know the drill! Stick to the plan, regardless of what hap-?!"

"Bye."

Not letting him finish, Guila tapped the floating sword with her index finger.

And it flew.

Far faster than an arrow, and far more dangerous given the velocity.

But, the bandit leader was no slouch.

He noticed the moment that she activated her magic, and managed to dig his shield into the ground to block the coming projectile.

The shield shook and rattled heavily, almost pushing the man back. Accompanied by splinters that flew against his face. But he stayed standing.

With the tip of a golden sword right in front of his left eye.

"Hahaha!"

Almost immediately, he discarded his shield and ran to her, with a thunderous laugh, and with one meaty arm outstretched for her neck.

Meanwhile, the rest of the bandits also began to move.

"Drako! I take back what I said!" With a swing of her hand, the metal harnesses on the creature, liquified, and it roared.

"Sic them!" With the order given, the creature ran for the Leader. While Guila raced back into her carriage and closed every possible entrance with her Telekinesis.

She had no idea how many of them were out there, or what weapons they had. But she chose to trust her companion.

Then, she slammed her palms against the wall, and shut her eyes, as hard as she could.

Outside, screams and roars could be heard over and over again. But she desperately tried to shut them out.

Was Drako winning? Or was he losing?

Sweat ran down her cheeks, and she bit down on her lip. She wanted to get back out there, immediately.

What would Drako be thinking, now that she was hiding herself while he fought?

But, she needed to stay in here, if they hoped to have a chance of winning.

There was a reason that an adolescent Drake was what pulled the carriage, instead of the usual horse.

It's because the entire thing was made of metal. Hardened steel, to be exact.

But she couldn't manipulate it, as well as she could with her jewelry and gold attire. Those have had her Mana circulating through them, for at least a month. Thus, she could move them like a part of her own body.

But this was manaless steel. Which meant she needed to place her own Mana into it first, before even being able to bend it.

Time wasn't on her side, though, as they started banging their weapons against the carriage, causing the inside to ring louder than a bell.

Before long, she couldn't even discern which of the noises was her companion, the enemy, or herself.

Nevertheless, as the seconds continued to tick by...

She felt her fingers sink into the wall.

"...Yes!"

With an ecstatic yell, she pulled the liquified steel towards herself, letting it crawl all over her body, before she was then pulled inside of it.

She could feel the metal twining around her body, accentuating her curves to be as comfortable as possible, while allowing for her move as much as possible.

Light soon came in through a thin visor that had formed and she was finally able to see the outside.

There, stood Drako. Atop several mutilated corpses. Including that of the bandit leader.

"Yes!"

But he was staring blankly at her, with his mouth wide open.

"Drak-?"

The moment she was plopped out of the carriage, she took a foot-tall drop, and landed on her feet.

After that, she couldn't do anything else.

Two dozen men and women, wearing thick, uniform black leather armor and armed with golden weapons, had surrounded her.

Then, with a movement so fluid, and so soundless that there was no time to react, one of them thrusted a rapier right into her visor.

The tip dug right in between her brows, and drew blood.

"Surrender and kneel. Now."

She didn't listen. Or rather, she couldn't. How could she?

How was she supposed to react to all of this?

All their weapons…

The weapons they've used to capture her…

Stamped with a rose coiled around a sword, and two initials in an elegant font.

G.C.

They were all hers.