The door creaked open from outside as two familiar figures entered the round room with a huge conference table in the center. It was Lance Aya and Lance Varay. They hung their coats around the entrance as they greeted me. I got up and escorted them to the seating. They had returned from surveying the perimeter of the city.

We have reached Valden city after a sudden change in plans as ordered by commander Virion. It has been several hours since we heard from him through the one-way communication scroll. It stated that all the forces will gather here. Yet, the main assault team is not here. I had many growing suspicions but resigned them by thinking they may be caught in the bad weather.

"There is nothing suspicious aside from the wild mana beasts some distant away." Lance Varay reported.

Everyone sighed in relief as they returned to their tasks assigned for cooking the meal. A soldier offered us a hot refreshment before bowing to us. I took a sip from the cup as I felt my throat recovered from the dryness.

We discussed the current situation and shared our opinions on the sudden change in plans. Lance Aya was snapping in and out from her naps when we ran out of topics to share. It was then that a familiar sound alerted all of us. It was the two-way communication scroll we had in possession.

Lance Varay used it and commander Virion is on the other side of this transmission.

"Greetings, Commander, everyone has gathered at Valden city as planned except for the assault team. It might be possible that they are engaging with the only retainer that was present at the floating castle. I am sure they will establish contact as soon as they can." Ellie Leywin spoke through the two-way scroll." I spoke as Lance Varay nodded at me.

"Commander, We have evacuated the residents here to safety" Lance Aya continued.

"What shall be our next move? commander" Lance Varay asked with a determined tone.

"We are...on our way..to Valden city through...the tunnels leading there. We will...meet up in..a while. Be on guard...for any...possible enemy" said commander Virion as his voice distorted to a bearable level.

"Understood, Commander" Lance Varay spoke as the room dimmed at an astonishing rate.

Lance Aya and I made our way to the window to get a clue about the unnatural phenomenon. As we reached, I caught sight of darkness that was consuming the sun itself. It covered the sun in no time as it reached for the horizon. It is similar to a barrier erected to isolate a region.

"What is this? A black barrier? Everyone, take a look at it" Lance Aya spoke as gasped in anxiety.

The Communication scroll in Lance Varay's hands burnt to a crisp as they diffused into thin air. People gathered around the adjacent windows to peek outside. Out of the blue, I felt a humongous presence closing in on us while I could feel multiple energy signatures from both North and South.

The air in the room grew tense and desperate as many suffered to even let their breath out. I spotted Boo at the other side of the room who just woke up from his rest and has a grim expression. He headed towards me, while I moved in the direction of the entrance to help the soldiers struggling to get on their feet.

The door trashed and made a loud noise as I tilted my eyesight to inspect it, a glowing red spear rushed straight to my chest. I had no time to react and dodge it. I put all my strength in the other half of my body and right ankle, to move even a possible inch away from the burning trajectory of the spear. I unconsciously embued mana to guard the vulnerable although I was a bit late.

While I couldn't completely avoid it, the spear stuck me just above my heart and dragged me along with it. Blood gushed out of my chest and sprayed on my face . My left arm felt numb as a scorching pain spread into my chest. Tears rolled out of my blurry eyes as I screamed to the top of my lungs hoping it would help me get over the burden. It all happened in a single moment, which felt longer to my eyes yet ended so quickly.

I caught sight of my blurred-out surroundings as Lance Varay dispersed huge amounts of mana to harden my fall. Yes, to harden it, be-because the spear was powerful enough to blast me out of the room and expose me to the enemy who probably surrounded us. Boo rushed as fast as he could to get behind me, but I sped past him.

A thick ice block was conjured straight behind me enough to be materialized in this room. I prepared myself for the impact which included the extra pain from the spear. I smashed into the block but my momentum had not died down completely, the spear twisted a bit in my interior sending waves of throbbing. I smashed into the wall slightly damaging it before it took multiple blocks of ice to kill my speed.

I was pinned to the wall by the spear. It took me all my strength to manage my current posture on my legs as to not experience any more pain. My throat felt dried while I could feel my blood flowing out my mouth. Pools of blood spread on the floor across me. Everyone rushed to my side as some cast healing magic to seal the wound. The lances supported me as they tried to dissolve the spear using their magic. But there was no effect of it. It was like the spear was rejecting the casted magic.

Is this how my brother felt during all the times he fought for our sake? Did he hide all this pain from us while he only showed us that bright smile of his? No, my thinking is naive, my current situation might not even be in the range of what he faced. Though I had not witnessed, just describing the events of how he lost his life was enough to shiver my entire body. Tears rolled out while I couldn't even let my voice out. I strengthened my right arm to confront the bloody spear.

The door burst open revealing several figures clad in hooded robes. Three people entered in while taking off their hoods. They had horns and looked awfully powerful, enough to make me forget my pain for a moment. Horror stuck in our minds as they made their way towards us nonchalantly. Several soldiers fainted on the ground unable to bear the burdened circumstance.

The lances stood before me facing those demons. Beads of sweat flowed across their forehead.

"HoHo, it looks like my hunting skills had not dulled that much" the possible scythe blurted out

"It has dulled enough to miss the vitals and let the prey live this long. I don't understand how this doesn't feel embarrassing to you" another Vritra rebutted.

Apart from these monsters, there were several others stationed outside. The sheer realization of this fact is enough to bring me nightmares even while being awake. They bickered for a bit before directing their attention back to us. It alone was enough to make one contract their own body. But an unrelated feeling rose up inside me. These are the same as the ones who killed my brother. That made my heart burn up in rage which was enough to eject all the commonsense one had. Common sense to cower in fear in the presence of the stronger being.

"Are you afraid little girl? Want me to pierce the spear further?" the Vritra spoke sarcastically

I laughed while spitting out blood at him.

"Yes, I was afraid that avenging my brother might take long, good thing gathering all your asses here," I said fearlessly

"You punk, hmm, so your brother is Arthur Leywin huh?. I felt a bit disappointed that I missed out on getting a hand in killing him" the Vritra spoke.

He raised his hand pointing at me. The mana particles trembled around him as he prepared for an attack. The lances readied their stances while I struggled to use any mana due to the spear stuck to me. Just as the projectile was about to be released, it happened.

A jet black torrent of energy stuck the ground through the ceiling of the room. The disappearing traces of its trajectory revealed a silhouette with a scarf on the neck. The black aura dispersed from him and materialized into the form of a wolf.

He faced me with shiny golden eyes and wheat-blonde hair. He held a dagger in his right hand. His personality looked familiar to me, yet he felt different. He sent a furious gaze towards the Vritra after he thoroughly examined me.

He disappeared and huh!? he vanished right next to me, I got a clear look at his face. I knew him. It was an all too familiar face that I won't be able to forget for the rest of my life. The face which I thought I may not be able to see anymore.

"Brother...." I let out while sobbing unable to contain the growing relief and happiness inside me.

"Hello Ellie" he spoke while touching the spear with his right hand and my wound with his left. I felt the flow of unknown energy which completely dissipated the spear and my healing wound from the warm aura flowing into me.

"let's end this farce and go meet mother, Ellie," he told before he glanced back at the Vritra who became cautious at the sudden appearance, with his furious eyes.