“Hey, you’re going to be late!”

A sharp knock echoed through the room, followed by the slam of a door that jolted Luka from his dream. He blinked, disoriented, and rubbed his eyes before squinting at the clock.

“Shit!” he cursed under his breath, kicking off the tangled sheets. He was supposed to meet his master soon, like every morning ever since then.

Stumbling out of bed, Luka’s feet met the cold wooden floor with a thud. Grabbing his clothes on the nearby chair, he threw on the crumpled shirt and jeans and then slipped on his jacket. As he passed a hand through his dark messy hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection looked back at him with dark circles under his eyes and a face that hadn’t quite shaken off the exhaustion of the past few weeks.

It was already spring. A week had passed since Luka met his new master, Daji, and his everyday life had now become training and nothing more.

An impatient knock shook him. “Hey, I need some help—”

“No time Viktor!” Luka shouted, cutting him off as he charged past him, cascading the stairs in a rumble of steps.

“Hey, will you be there tomorrow to serve the clients?” Darian’s voice boomed in the tavern before Luka left.

“Yeah, it’s a promise!” Luka shouted over his shoulder, already halfway out the door. “Thank you for waking me up!”

Darian's deep laugh followed him. “Good! Have fun, kid!” The giant waved cheerfully, his broad grin visible even as the door swung shut behind Luka.

Outside, the morning air was cool and fresh, though warmer than usual. However, Luka didn’t even notice it, his mind racing toward the day’s training. Thanks to Daji, he had almost forgotten about all the recent events that made his life hell.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat as his eyes caught sight of a group of men gathered by the side of the road up ahead. They were leaning casually against a stone wall, talking quietly among themselves, but there was something about the way their gazes locked onto Luka as he approached. His chest tightened.

He forced himself to keep moving, playing it casual. Just act normal. Don’t look at them. Keep going.

His pulse quickened as he ran right past the group and a shiver ran down his spine as the scar on his chest ached once more. He could feel their eyes burning into his back, or was it his imagination? Either way, he didn’t dare to glance over his shoulder, instead, he kept his pace steady, resisting the urge to sprint even faster.

After a few more tense minutes, the men were far behind, and Luka allowed himself to exhale. His limbs were trembling, not from the effort but from something else entirely.

Even though what happened fell behind him, the sense of insecurity was still there. Now he was able to walk down a street without looking at every corner, thanks to some assurance Daji gave him, but he was still nervous.

What if someone comes from behind and stabs me?

It was still possible, after all. The attempts on his life had strangely stopped, but perhaps it was just a small reprieve before another one. This time, he looked back. The men were still there, talking with each other as if nothing happened.

Of course, nothing happened. It was all in his head, right? They were not dangerous, right?

Luka shook his head, trying to rid himself of the paranoia. Get a grip, he told himself. There was no time for this. He was already late, and Daji wouldn’t let him off easily. He broke into a run, his feet pounding against the dirt path as he sped toward the hill. His legs burned from the exertion, but he pushed through the pain.

By the time he reached the training ground, his breath was ragged, and sweat dripped down his face. Daji stood there, her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes followed Luka’s arrival, and though his expression remained calm, Luka could sense the silent disapproval radiating from his master

“You’ll do a hundred push-ups for being late,” Daji said, her voice composed as she gracefully unfolded her fan, the sharp snap of the silk cutting through the air.

“How does this have remotely anything to do with magic?!” Luka shouted back, already exhausted from climbing the hill at full speed. The place right in front of the tree had become their meeting ground, and while Luka didn’t mind the spectacular view, he still despised the climbing part.

Daji grinned, clearly not hiding the pleasure she had from tormenting her disciple. “Everything. Ever heard of ‘He who has a healthy body, a resourceful mind and a docile nature shall be happy’?”

“Yeah, Thales, I know…” Luka groaned.

Daji’s grin widened as she stepped forward, twirling the fan lightly in her hand. “Then do it. Your mana reserves are low. Strengthening your body will make them grow, albeit a little.”

She brought the fan up to her face, her eyes peeking over the top as she tried to stifle a chuckle. “Besides… Aren’t you late on your training with Kanami? She’d be very disappointed if she found out you were slacking on your physical improvement.”

“Hey!” Luka pointed accusingly at her. “That’s totally unfair! I’ve been working hard here! I can’t train with two people at the same time!”

Daji chuckled, snapping the fan shut with a flick. “Such is life,” she said, her voice full of mock sympathy. “Now, let’s go. One hundred push-ups.”

Luka groaned in protest, “My max isn’t even twenty!”

“Then today’s a great day to break limits,” Daji teased, taking a seat beneath a small tree, clearly enjoying her role as his master.

Luka dropped to the ground with a resigned sigh. “You really are evil,” he muttered as he began, his arms trembling after only a few reps.

----------------------------------------

“Ninety-nine… One hundred…” he gasped, collapsing onto the ground, utterly spent. His arms felt like they couldn’t move anymore as he lay there on the grass.

Daji stood up, brushing off her kimono with a satisfied smile. “It took a while, but you did it.” With surprising gentleness, she knelt down and lifted him into a seated position. “You’re getting stronger, whether you like it or not.”

Luka groaned, his throat parched from the effort. “I hate you.”

Daji chuckled softly, glancing down at him with a knowing look. “You’ll thank me eventually,” she said with a caring look. “Now, did you do your homework?”

It took Luka a moment to process her words, but then his eyes blinked wide in realization. “Oh, right. Yeah, I finished it.”

The fox woman handed him his bag. Luka rummaged through it before pulling out a few pieces of paper. “I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t teach me anything until I learned at least half of this,” he grumbled, holding up the papers.

Daji gave him a sly smile as she picked up his homework. “Because,” she said lightly, “magic without knowledge is just a tool. You need a solid foundation before we start the real work.”

She scrutinized the talismans he gave her, and with a nod, gave him a pat on the head. “Good job, these are working.”

“Really?” Luka’s eyes lit up, despite himself. “So we can start now?”

“We can,” Daji confirmed, giving him another nod. She patted the ground beside her, motioning for him to sit. He eagerly complied, settling next to her beneath the shade of the tree. As they both gazed at the magnificent view ahead, Daji began her lesson.

“First off, a little word of praise,” she began. “I’m genuinely surprised you were able to make these talismans so quickly after I showed you the process.”

Luka couldn’t help but scratch his head, feeling embarrassed from the sudden praise. “It wasn’t that hard. There was no need to be that precise with the characters, so…”

Daji glanced at him with piercing eyes. “...so the hard part was to pour mana into them,” he added quickly, his tone hurried as if trying to dodge a potential scolding.

The fox woman held her gaze for a moment longer before nodding. “Exactly. But don’t dismiss the writing. The characters require precision, and that’s why I said I was surprised. Most people struggle with even that part.”

Luka shifted, feeling a mix of feelings. “I guess I just got lucky,” he muttered.

Daji smirked. “We’ll see about that. Now, I shall teach you the basics of magic.”

“Huh? But Uther already—”

“Uther is a fool,” Daji cut him off, her tone sharp. “He saw your trait and deemed it useless. He was wrong, and you’ve wasted enough time with his nonsense.”

She sighed, exasperation creeping into her voice. “Now, throw out everything you learned from that book of his. Academics aren’t going to help you.”

Luka shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “Y-Yeah… I’m really bad at school, anyway.”

Daji raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “You’re bad at school? I thought you were quite educated,” she mused, her curiosity piqued. “You seem... smart enough.”

Luka chuckled, a genuine laugh escaping him. “Me? Smart? You must be joking.” He shook his head, grinning. “I barely scraped by. I’m more dumb than smart, that’s for sure.”

“Hm…” Daji eyed him thoughtfully, her curiosity deepening. After a moment, she sighed, her expression softening. “Now I see. I’ve sensed it, even without fully realizing it. You’re severely lacking in self-confidence, Luka.”

“Nah,” Luka shrugged, a hint of defensiveness creeping in. “I’m just bad at stuff, that’s all.”

Daji’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. “You really don’t think highly of yourself, do you?”

The young man didn’t answer. Instead, he focused his gaze on the split tree in front of him. The silence stretched, his eyes fixed on the weathered golden bark as if it held the answer to that question.

“Fine,” the kitsune sighed softly. “I won’t press you to talk about it. Let’s get back to the lesson.”

She straightened her voice and started lecturing him. “Magic comes in different sorts, as you know. Besides the fact that you can materialize multiple elements, some magics affect the mind of others, like suggestion.”

“Right,” the disciple nodded. “Esfelto is a magic that produces fire while a geas is a contract.”

“Exactly,” the master nodded back. “We classify them as elementary magic and contractual magic. In simpler terms, we refer to them as energy manipulation magic and influence magic.”

“One uses energy and transforms it in various forms, while the other uses energy to manipulate living beings. Like geas, suggestion, illusions, and even memory alteration.”

“Memory alteration?” Luka asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in his tone. “Is that really possible?”

Daji regarded him with a serious expression. “Yes, but it’s not something to be taken lightly. Altering someone’s memories can have serious repercussions, both for the caster and the subject. It requires a deep understanding of the mind and a strong will to resist the backfire in case things go wrong.”

Luka swallowed hard. “Okay, so I’ll steer clear of that for now.”

She nodded. “Yes, it would be preferable,” she said, smiling softly at him. “Finally, there is another type of magic but I doubt it would be useful to you.”

“What do you mean?” Luka asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Daji hesitated for a moment, then continued. “This type of magic is called Grand Magic. It ranges from divination, astrology, space warping to reality-altering effects. These spells can have vast and sometimes devastating effects.”

Luka’s eyes widened. “That sounds nuts…”

“It is,” Daji admitted, her expression turning serious. “Grand Magic can be studied for years by the best mages in the world, and it could turn out fruitless. Casting some of these spells often comes down to luck.”

Luka frowned. “So, it’s not just about skill and knowledge?”

The master nodded. “Exactly. I, for example, can cast one Grand Magic spell, but it’s mostly because of my legend and the experiences I’ve accumulated over the years.” She then took a talisman out of her kimono and held it up for Luka to see. “These talismans can produce Grand Magic as well, but they require a deep understanding of the principles behind them. However, there is one that you can already use.”

“Wait, really?” Luka recoiled in surprise. “I thought it was hard to cast!”

Daji grinned evilly. “You can’t yourself. Which means this piece of paper is better than you.”

“Hm,” Luka crossed his arms and pouted. “Not fair.”

“And I doubt you will ever be able to cast one yourself,” Daji replied, her smile unfaltering. “My talismans however might give you a taste of what it’s like.”

“So…” he said, taking the talisman cautiously. “In other words, you can use more than one Grand Magic spell yourself? It’s just that you’re not the only one who can cast it.”

“Exactly,” Daji affirmed, her eyes sparkling with pride. “These talismans are the result of years of research and mastery. They allow me to channel my knowledge and craft spells that can be used by others, even if they aren’t yet capable of casting such powerful magic themselves.”

Luka looked at the talisman in his hand, his curiosity picked. “But I crafted one… What’s the catch?”

Daji’s mischievous grin softened into a faint smile as she fanned herself. “There is no catch, my dear disciple. I deemed you worthy of my knowledge of talismans.”

“Really?” Luka raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping into his voice. “Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Daji replied, her tone light but her eyes serious. “You’ve shown me that you could reproduce these quite fast. It’s time for you to harness their potential, even if you doubt it.”

That was it? Luka thought, a mix of disbelief and relief washing over him. Going into this training, he had imagined he would have to prove himself more to earn Daji's teachings, but it seemed she had planned this from the start.

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Alright then,” he said, squaring his shoulders and straightening his back. “Let’s do this.”

“Take this talisman and pour some mana into your hand. Create a connection with it and then throw it.”

Luka nodded, his heart racing in anticipation. He looked at the talisman in his hand and held it firmly in his palm. On it was inscribed two Chinese characters with beautiful elegance: 宇 for space and 搬 for moving.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the mana inside his body, feeling it pulse beneath the surface of his skin. With each breath, he visualized the energy accumulating at his fingertips.

“Now, a talisman you must not pour mana into the talisman,” Daji said softly. “Just accumulate it right at the border to activate the spell.”

As he concentrated, Luka felt a warmth radiating from the talisman, as if nerves had appeared on the surface of the paper, eager to respond to his command. After a while, the talisman seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat, and Luka could sense some energy within it.

“Now, throw it,” Daji instructed.

He opened his eyes and with a swift motion, he hurled the talisman forward, feeling the connection between him and the piece of paper leave his hand. As it flew through the air, the talisman shone slightly, its characters illuminated.

“Now, use this other one,” his master gave him another piece of paper, with the same characters on it.

He nodded and took it from her hand. Using the same method, the talisman shone too, and soon, he reached the same connection with this one as he did with the other one.

“Use it.”

Pouring mana into his fingers, he could feel some kind of a lock. Somewhere in his mind, he could sense the other talisman he threw earlier. It was there, not far away from him, radiating as if calling him.

A flash came out from the talisman he was holding, and then, he was sucked in. Like a vacuum, his whole body was being drawn in by the talisman, and, before he even knew it, he had switched places.

He blinked, trying to steady himself. “W-What?” he stammered, looking down at the spot where he now stood. “Did I just…?”

Daji smiled with satisfaction. “Congratulations, Luka. You just teleported,” she said with a slow clap.

“Huh?!” Luka’s mind reeled. He glanced back to where he had been standing just moments ago. The spot was now replaced with grass that was burned slightly, probably by the disintegration of the talisman used.”I—I teleported?”

The fox woman gave a slow now. “Yes. That talisman is a simple spell of spatial manipulation. It takes you to the location of another talisman of the same sort,” she then snapped her fingers, making a pile of talismans appear near her. “Also, each talisman can be linked to you, and they form a network. With enough practice, you’ll be able to teleport between several locations as long as you keep the connection intact.”

Luka’s eyes widened as he tried to wrap his head around the idea. “So, I could just… hop around anywhere I place these?”

“Exactly,” Daji confirmed.

“Isn’t that dangerous?” he gulped. Messing with space and teleportation felt like stepping into a territory he didn’t like.

“Not really,” Daji smirked. “You would think it has serious drawbacks, but overall, it’s pretty hard to fail. It creates a small hole between the two spaces and switches them. The two things are the equivalent exchange and the mana is the activator.”

Luka raised his hands up. “Wait a minute, this doesn’t add up… You can’t just tell me a spell this powerful can be this simple. There’s got to be more to it.”

Daji’s smirk softened, and she crossed her arms. “You’re not wrong to be cautious, my dear disciple. Magic like that does seem too good to be true, but that’s because you’re thinking of teleportation in the grand sense—like a massive spell that warps across miles,” she took one of the talismans from the pile and flaunted it in front of him. “These are localized. The range is limited, and the mana cost scales with the distance. Besides the paper is special, so it’s stronger than most.”

“...What’s the range?” Luka looked at her, still suspicious.

“Around a hundred kilometers, I would say,” she said casually.

“That’s a small distance to you?” he shouted angrily.

Daji nodded, twirling the talisman between her fingers skillfully. “Yes, but like I said, the further the distance, the more mana it costs. With your mana capacity, it might take a week before you could even make one like that.”

His shoulders slumped. Of course, she was practically a goddess, a facsimile of divinity. The amount of mana she could channel at once was probably a hundred times what he could muster. No wonder she could create so many talismans in such a short period.

Daji's smile widened mischievously as she pulled out another stack of paper, laying them on the grass before him. "Now, let's get down to business with some other talismans..."

Luka sighed dramatically, already feeling the weight of the workload. "Oh man… more talismans?"

"Yes, my dear disciple," Daji said with a playful gleam in her eyes. "If you want to be powerful, you'll need to master all kinds of them. You aren't backing out now, are you?"

“Of course not!” he shouted, pumping his fist up.

“Alright, let’s get down to it then…”

----------------------------------------

“I yield… no more, please…” Luka groaned, collapsing onto the grass in defeat. His initial enthusiasm had drained away after hours of pouring mana into talismans, meticulously controlling the flow, and focusing harder than he ever thought possible. He was surprised he'd lasted even this long.

Daji chuckled, sitting beside him, her fan moving lazily in the warm breeze. “Just a little more, and then I’ll let you rest for today,”

Luka managed a weak smile. “You said that an hour ago…”

“And yet, here you are,” Daji teased. “Think of it as building endurance. The more you do this, the faster you’ll become at making and using them.”

“Pretty sure I will die faster instead…” Luka muttered, his arms limp by his side, resting on the grass.

“Fine,” Daji sighed while pulling out two teacups from her sleeves. “We will take a break.”

Filling the cups with tea from a small flask, she handed one to Luka. While the tea wasn’t very warm, it was still refreshing on its own, and, just like last time, it retained some of its calming and healing properties. Without hesitation, Luka gulped it down.

With a contented sigh, he looked at the horizon. “You know, this isn’t so bad after all.”

“Being in this world?” Daji said while raising an eyebrow. She knew the young man wasn’t so pleased about being here, and while she tried to make his stay enjoyable, there were moments where his dissatisfaction slipped through.

Luka hesitated before answering, shrugging slightly. “I mean… I really want to go home, you know? But learning under you all this magic… It’s crazy how I dreamt of this as a child, wielding magic and stuff…”

Daji smiled softly, losing herself in her cup of tea. “Good. I know this place isn’t all that welcoming for someone as weak as you, but I want you to make good memories.”

“Huh?” Luka turned around, wide-eyed. Was she for real?

“What?” the kitsune frowned. “I am still the mother of this land. Is it weird for me to want to have people living happily here?”

There was a sincerity in her words that made him question everything. It wasn’t a rhetorical question, she was genuinely asking him if what she wanted was good or not. A confirmation, of sorts.

“No, it’s not weird but…” Luka shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Thank you for trying. But I’ve almost died too many times for my own good here.”

A tinge of sadness could be seen in her eyes as he mentioned that. “True. You do not belong here. Just like…”

She trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the towering golden tree that stood tall in the center of the crater, surrounded by hills that once formed something much greater. This place. Why did she choose to bring him here in the first place?

“You’ve probably heard of Wrimbo by now,” Daji changed the subject, reminiscing.

“Yeah,” Luka nodded. “I saw his tomb and a lot of people talked about him…”

The kitsune sighed, her gaze still fixed on the distant golden tree. “You must go home, Luka. Not just because you don’t belong here, but because this world isn’t safe for humans anymore.”

Luka frowned, sensing the gravity in her voice. "What do you mean?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Daji's ears twitched slightly, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment before continuing. “Wrimbo… Saved the inner Tamia, this country. Here, in this place.”

The master began her tale, one that she had to tell him. Not because he needed to hear it per se, but because she needed to talk about it.

It had been two years. Two long years, waiting for his movements. Yet, even though a war was brewing on the horizon, nothing happened.

“Wrimbo… was a strange person…” she began.

That’s right. Just like that child in her own homeland, he was cursed by the dragon god of destruction: Araël. At birth, he witnessed horrors beyond anything a child should see. He swore to never use a sword against someone, until that day.

The battle of the hill—a simple mission where Satô Ryuuji was to execute the leader of a cult following the king of mage’s footsteps. The mission went well… Until sudden reinforcements of the cult appeared, killing two knights by surprise and turning the tide of the battle, turning the hill into a furnace of fire of hell, charred dismembered corpses, and bloodied soil.

What most people didn’t know, was that the ones responsible for killing Wrimbo’s mother long ago was the cult. That day, Jason Borone, leader of the knights decided to keep quiet and exclude him from the mission. He should’ve never been aware of the mission, but somehow, he sensed that something was wrong and rushed to the hill.

There, he saw everything. His comrades dead, what he would call his family… destroyed.

That day, for the first time in years, he took a sword that was planted there on the ground… and went on a rampage.

No one could stop him, not even Jason. Even without magic, he was able to best all the cult members on his path to the top of the hill.

Of course, at one point he passed out. Too exhausted from fighting all day and night, he fell onto the ground and Jason picked him up. The next morning, he learned that his master had died there.

“Remorse…” Luka muttered under his breath.

“That’s right,” Daji nodded. “Wrimbo immediately felt guilty for not being there at the right time.”

“As for what happened after…”

It could be called a rampage. Scouring the inner Tamia, through the four countries that existed at the time, only Sora remained after his rampage.

“...What?”

“Sora is the only country that survived Wrimbo’s rampage,” Daji repeated softly, her voice heavy.

His eyes widened in disbelief. “He… destroyed entire countries? Just like that?”

Daji shook her head. “No. You could say it’s more the results of his actions that caused the destruction of two of them.”

“...That means…”

“Wrimbo genocided a whole population... by mistake,” Daji's voice was soft, but the weight of her words hit Luka like a punch to the gut.

His heart raced as he tried to comprehend the gravity of what she was saying. “How... how does that even happen? How do you accidentally wipe out an entire country like that?”

“For that, I need to tell you about Ilys Edensveel.”

“The name on the other tomb?”

“Yes,” Daji confirmed while biting her lips in frustration. “Edensveel…”

The name stirred something in Luka’s memory. He recalled hearing that the Emperor planning the invasion of Sora was someone named Andreas Edensveel.

That name was a legacy left behind by the dragon god Eran. A lineage of heroes, all predetermined to fight against evil in case of problems. That lineage had spread so far and wide that multiple heroes could exist in the same generation. Kenshin Ryuuji had a bit of Edensveel blood, a young man residing in the holy city still existed, bearing pure blood, and Andreas, the one chosen to be the hero of this generation.

Each time, the church chooses someone to bear the fate of humanity on their shoulders, and for the fight against the demons, Andreas was chosen.

“And Ilys was one of—”

“Zaran Edensveel,” Daji interjected, her tone firm. “He was the king of mages that Wrimbo fought.”

“And he was the direct ancestor of Ilys,” Luka concluded, piecing together the intricate web of connections.

“Indeed,” Daji affirmed. “When this place was closed off by the desert, Zaran was the only Edensveel left here.”

He alone had to continue the bloodline in this part of the land while Sora was cut off. So, he decided to build a country. A country high in the air, supported by magic, impervious to any attack. But soon after, he was sealed.

“It was that very country that Wrimbo destroyed,” Daji continued, her voice tinged with sorrow. “The homeland of Ilys, where she was held captive by her mother, the queen of Arcadia.”

“But… how?” Luka’s mind raced, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy.

“By attempting to rescue Ilys, he accidentally destroyed the crystals supporting the country in the air. Making it fall, and crash onto the land with all its inhabitants.”

“Who the hell would build a floating country anyway?!” Luka shouted, incredulity spilling over. “That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!”

Daji chuckled, amused by his reaction. “It’s not that simple. Those crystals were designed to at least cushion the fall of the country in case of dysfunction. Even if deactivated, they were meant to save the inhabitants.”

“Then what went wrong?” Luka pressed, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“Have you noticed Kanami’s ability to nullify magic?” Daji smirked.

“Huh?” he blinked. “She can do that?”

Daji sighed, a hint of exasperation in her tone. “Perhaps I should’ve started with that. You see, Araël’s spawns cannot use magic at all. They can nullify it—destroy it, if you will.”

“So if Wrimbo was just like her, then…”

“Exactly.”

The crystals malfunctioned, but what truly killed them was the use of Wrimbo’s ability to nullify magic. If he had just struck the crystals with his blade, nothing would have happened. But imbued with Araël’s wind? It was another thing.

The crystals were obliterated, destroying any failsafe they had. All he wanted was a distraction, a moment of destabilization for him to flee with Ilys on his dragon’s back.

Instead, he led the country and all of its inhabitants to die a horrible death.

“That’s why… He never belonged anywhere.”

Just like Kanami, he was ostracized just for breathing. Even though he had found solace in the knights of Sora, once they were taken away from him, it was over. All he had left, was vengeance.

There was no way for him to let go of it. Even if people who loved him tried to stop him, telling him that it wasn’t worth it, he didn’t stop.

“Steamveil, the country where Jason originated from, was swallowed by the desert,” Daji muttered, her eyes drifting to the distant horizon. “Though Wrimbo saved a lot of people at the time…”

“The city-state of Magia was destroyed after Wrimbo dismantled a human trafficking ring set up by the state’s leader…” Daji’s words trailed off, her gaze distant.

Luka clenched his fists, trying to piece it together. “So, every time Wrimbo tried to help... it just led to more destruction?”

Daji nodded solemnly. “His intentions were good, but he was cursed to leave a trail of destruction in his wake. Every time he accomplished something good, something worse happened.

Her eyes remained fixed on the tree, its towering form split in half by the weight of a massive metal slab. "It is the same as when he delivered the inner Tamia and saved this place," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Something is coming, something far worse than humanity had fought until now. I can sense it…” she trailed off.

“Upon killing the dragon god of creation, Veo, he unleashed the liberator from his seal.”

And that’s why… The world despises Wrimbo’s name so much…

Daji shivered. Why didn’t he act yet? It had been two years since he was free and yet nothing happened.

“He killed a dragon god… So they truly exist, huh?” Luka asked, his voice barely audible.

“Yes, though I understand why you would be surprised,” she chuckled softly. “You see the crater around the tree?” Daji pointed out.

“Yeah?”

“Ilys did it.” she simply stated, waiting for Luka’s reaction.

“WHAT? That’s like a nuclear bomb explosion or something!”

“You’re not far off the mark. Though it’s multiple explosions that did it,” she smiled, taking another sip of her tea. “Ilys was probably stronger than me at the time.” She then pointed at the tree and talked as casually as possible. “And that slab of metal? It’s a sword that Wrimbo dropped on the tree to kill Veo.”

Luka’s mouth hung open, his brain struggling to process the sheer scale of power involved. “...” He was speechless, staring at the enormous sword lodged into the tree. Yeah, they weren’t kidding...

“I’m not asking you to be as strong as them, I assure you,” Daji chuckled lightly, her tone teasing but sincere.

“No kidding!” Luka finally managed, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and relief. The idea of trying to match the destructive power of Ilys or Wrimbo was terrifying.

Yet, he felt a bit jealous.

“Of course, he dropped that sword thanks to my talismans,” Daji smiled, her eyes gleaming with a hint of pride. “The same ones you used earlier. Fitting, isn’t it?”

Luka blinked, his jealousy momentarily giving way to surprise. “Wait… those talismans? You’re telling me the same stuff I’m using is what helped Wrimbo kill a dragon god?”

“Exactly,” Daji nodded, still smiling. “You see, it’s not about the weapon, or the sheer destructive power behind it. It’s about how you use what you have.”

“See, I told you he was doing something!” A loud voice coming from behind them echoed in the valley, making Daji’s fox ears twitch in surprise.

They turned to see Viktor and Saki, struggling to conceal themselves behind a large stone while stifling giggles like schoolchildren caught in a prank.

Daji’s teeth clenched in frustration, her tail swishing from side to side as she narrowed her eyes angrily. “Come out you two! It’s not a good thing to spy on others.”

Viktor burst into laughter, stepping out from behind the stone with his hand raised in mock surrender. “Sorry to disturb your honeymoon!”

“That’s…” Luka sighed, deadpan. “Not what this is.”

“Sure it isn’t,” Saki chimed in, jumping slightly away from the rock. “We can totally tell you two were having a deep, meaningful conversation about… what was it?”

But her eyes went wide upon seeing clearly who Luka was talking to.

“Probably lovey-dovey stuff~” Viktor continued, oblivious that the woman in front of him had some peculiar physical traits.

“Shh! Viktor, stop!” the succubus murmured to him, grabbing him by the collar.

Luka felt the tension in the air shift as Saki’s expression turned serious. “You mean the beautiful lady with… fox… ears…” Viktor stopped abruptly, finally realizing something was amiss.

Daji crossed her arms, her fangs glinting as she grinned evilly. “Daji, goddess of Ryuuji, pleased to meet you, young man.”

“Oh shit—” Viktor’s eyes went wide as he stumbled back.

But Daji had already snapped her fingers, creating a small chair made out of dirt beneath him, catching him in his fall. With another snap, the chair glided on the soil and stopped right in front of her, his face mere inches from Daji’s.

“Would you mind telling me more about what I was doing with my disciple, dear Faeborne?” she asked, her tone dripping with playful menace.

Viktor gulped, his bravado evaporating in an instant. “Uh, I mean, we just thought you two were having a—”

“A what?” Daji pressed, her eyes narrowing with feigned innocence. “A romantic moment?”

Saki chimed in, trying to ease the tension. “We were just joking!”

“Yeah! Just a harmless joke!” Viktor added, his voice a bit too high-pitched to be convincing.

Daji raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Harmless? Is that so? Because I find it rather amusing that you’d think to spy on me and my disciple.”

His cheeks flushed as he scrambled for words. “We didn’t mean any harm! We just wanted to know what Luka was doing this past week!”

“Really? That’s your excuse?” Daji said, her lips curving into a playful smirk. “And here I thought you were simply being nosy.”

With another snap, Daji made the chair disappear back into the soil, causing Viktor to fall on his butt with a surprised yelp. “Now, please go away. You’re bothering my lesson.”

Saki, undeterred, perked up with a bright smile. “We brought snacks!” She cheerfully revealed a small pouch filled with homemade cookies, the sweet aroma wafting through the air.

“Fine, you may stay.”

“Huh? That’s all it took?” Luka shouted in disbelief.

Saki chuckled before plopping down beside him, a gleeful grin on her face. “Snack time!” she declared, opening the pouch and offering cookies to everyone.

Viktor, still recovering from his abrupt fall, quickly joined them, grabbing a cookie with both hands. “Ah… This is the stuff. Thanks, Saki!”

Daji couldn’t suppress a smile. “I suppose a little break wouldn’t hurt,” she chuckled. “Please promise me that you never tell anyone I’m here though.”

“It’s a promise, Miss Goddess!” Saki nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement, while Viktor mimicked her solemnly, his mouth half-full of cookie.

“Good,” Daji nodded. “I’d hate for your brother to know I’m here. Now, let’s eat!”

----------------------------------------

The snack time went on for about an hour, drinking and eating as they pleased while taking in the fresh air of spring. Luka had decided to walk down the hill and approach the tree, but Daji told him off, saying that the mana density there was too high.

“Not until you’ve learned the control spell better,” she said firmly.

After all, mana density was the reason why his consciousness ‘turned off’ back in Ryuuji, when Daji stepped in to save him.

So for now, he decided to relax and admire the sight before him, Viktor at his side. Meanwhile, the two girls were on their own side, sitting next to each other quietly.

“I have a question, Saki,” Daji said, setting her cup down gently on the grass.

Saki’s ears perked up as she turned her attention to the fox woman. “Yes, what is it?”

“Do you intend to harm Luka?” Daji asked, her expression serious as she studied Saki’s reaction.

Saki blinked, taken aback. “Huh? Of course not! He’s a friend!”

Daji leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I know your true nature. I don’t understand what you want here, but I heard that there was no incident in town, yet.”

“I promise!” Saki exclaimed, her eyes wide with sincerity. “I would never hurt a human, I swear.”

“Then why are you here?” Daji pressed, her tone still serious as she searched Saki’s eyes for any hint of deception.

Saki hesitated for a moment, her gaze lowering. “Sorry, but I can’t tell you,” she whispered.

When Daji met her gaze, her eyes widened. Saki’s eyes were determined, her body had become tense and her hand firmly gripped her teacup.

“I see… I won’t ask then,” the kitsune sighed. “But don’t you dare touch my disciple. Viktor you can.”

“Already did,” Saki smirked, her playful confidence shining through.

Daji raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile creeping onto her lips. “He looks fine for someone laying with a succubus…” she mused, her tone playful yet laced with genuine curiosity.

The succubus pouted, clearly offended. “What? You thought I would kill him? Just so you know, I kill no one.”

Daji’s eyebrow raised, intrigued. “That’s odd… Usually, succubi are more…”

“I would never hurt a human,” Saki cut her off, her voice firm and unyielding. She met Daji’s gaze, determination shining in her eyes.

Daji studied Sako for a moment, contemplating her words. “I see. But then, what do you seek with Luka?”

Saki’s expression softened as she glanced at Luka, her gaze lingering on him. There was something in that gaze that the kitsune couldn’t quite decipher—a mix of affection and regret that even her experience in reading people couldn’t place.

“Nothing. He is just another guy that got mixed up in a lot of trouble,” Saki said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of sincerity.

Daji furrowed her brow, sensing the deeper emotions swirling beneath Saki’s words. “You don’t sound convinced. He means more to you than you’re letting on.”

“Perhaps,” Saki replied, her voice almost a whisper, but she quickly shifted the topic. “But let’s not dwell on that right now. What’s important is enjoying the moment and keeping the cookies coming!”

With a bright smile, she reached into her pouch and pulled out more cookies, expertly redirecting the conversation. “Anyone want to try the chocolate chip ones? They’re my favorite!”

Daji’s sighed, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, let’s focus on cookies, then.”

Luka looked at the pouch of cookies with a bright smile. “More cookies? Give me!”

That’s right, that’s what this day is all about.

Why care about what’s to come? Or about why we’re here? Smiles and a good spring day were all she needed in her life.

After all…

He will need to remember these moments of happiness in the future.