Dao noticed the expression on Elisia's face when she saw the contents of the message. The man was curious about the meaning of the message, but remained silent while waiting. He also provided a glass of water for Elisia.
“Drink it, Elisia!”
Elisia turned. “Thank you, Dao!”
The girl continued to pay attention to the message written on the special paper. As a Gwelissan, she knew that it was the paper usually used by royal officials to send a secret message. By heating it slightly, the message written in ink from orange juice appeared.
“So, she knows where you are? Was she sent to come after me?” she thought.
“I'm sorry, Elisia. Dao is curious about the letter addressed to Elisia. If Dao may know, will Elisia be able to recite it?”
Elisia folded the paper and put it in her shirt pocket. “Sorry, but this is a private message. If you're curious, I'll tell you later.”
“Right. Dao understand.” Dao went to Upgrade’s room.
Elisia took the letter again. The girl couldn't believe the person who wrote the message. Elisia didn’t know who she was, but the girl was curious about how she knew where she was so far away from Gwelissa. Plus, was she looking for Elisia to hunt her down or help her out? The girl had to find out.
Not wanting to be burdened with thoughts of the letter, Elisia put the paper in her pocket again and walked towards the 1st floor. It surprised her to see that everyone she was looking for was in the storage room. Before, there was nobody in the room.
Elisia immediately approached them with a confused expression. Everyone turned their heads and confused to see their little girl's face. She looked at the iron handle; looked raised than before.
“Elisia, what's wrong?” Risk asked.
“There’s nothing. I was just looking for you.” Elisia covered her curiosity.
“What's wrong, my liege?” Violet asked as she approached Elisia.
“I wanted to ask about when you will talk about the next mission. It's getting dark,” Elisia answered.
“We will tell you soon. Let's go to the main room!” Captain invited Elisia up to the 2nd floor.
He took Elisia to the 2nd floor to the main hall to discuss his next plan to go to the Runga region. It was time for action again after staying at home. The girl was looking forward to using the ability of [Greatsword of Sully] again.
Apparently, Upgrade and Dao were already there. They tidied the table as usual. They prepared plans and maps on it. Upgrade put a book with some paper tucked into it. Rhino came with an afternoon snack.
They lay the map out on the table. It drew red and blue lines on each path on the Tanggon map. Elisia looked at their current location, Tanin region, and followed the blue line towards the Runga region. Elisia didn't understand the meaning of the red and blue lines on the route map.
Elisia remembered the contents of the message earlier, which said that the person who was looking for her was in Malak region. She had to go through the two regions depicted on the map, namely Runga and Mandalay. She looked at the letter and found that they had to meet in the town of Kalay.
“Well. It's time for us to devise a new plan to go to Runga by breaking through the Sicilian border. The key to this mission is Elisia with Sully's sword.” Captain pointed to the map marked with a cross. “We are here and the border is a hundred meters from where we are.”
“The blue and red lines on the map route are hazard statuses, with the red lines being a perilous route and the blue lines being a fairly safe route. The only route that safe enough according to the map is through the back lane of the Tanin warehouse. It's a silent place, and it's rare for bandits to gather there.” Violet continued the explanation.
“Yes. The path behind the warehouse is also the fastest route to Tanin border. They won't even notice that we're there. Since we're moving tonight, Sicilian will strengthen their guard. They are still trying to find Elisia. Be careful!” Captain poured water from the teapot.
“Then what are we doing there?” Upgrade asked.
“Yes. I need more time to muster up the strength to use the abilities of the sword. They will find my whereabouts,” Elisia continued.
Captain pointed to Rhino. “Rhino, your job is to protect Elisia using your shield. Dao will help you. Upgrade, I don't know what your abilities are, but you can be a support in the back line.”
“Okay. I will prepare my shield!”
“Dao System has recorded the command. Dao is ready any time!”
“I'm the medic, but I can help you as rear support.”
“Good. The rest, we will suppress the enemies who try to block Elisia's attack. Don’t hesitate to attack anyone!” Captain clenched his fists.
“Roger that, Captain!”
Captain smiled at everyone's burning enthusiasm. “Good. In this mission, only Zach will accompany you to safety point. Violet and I will guard the borders and makes nobody can follow you. There will be someone from us waiting for you there. Be careful, Elisia!”
“Okay, Captain!” Elisia bowed her head.
“We will clear up some guards at the border. If we've given the mark, fill in the sword's ability. Rhino and Dao immediately protected Elisia. Understand?”
“I understand, Captain!” Elisia answered.
“Okay. Time for a toast with these dried macaroni for tonight's mission!” Captain held up a dry macaroni in his hand.
Everyone took one dry macaroni for their afternoon snack and held it up. Screams of struggle erupted in the warm room, full of enthusiasm from Siraca's special forces and travelers. Elisia felt a new power that she had never felt before. Her heart became strong.
“This is what the power of friendship feels like,” she muttered in smile.
After finishing the afternoon snack, preparations started. Everyone set their own equipment. Captain and his friends were arranging the weapons they would bring later. Rhino set and rearranged his shield. Upgrade set the battle system on Dao.
Elisia practiced a combat with Risk. Their weapons clashed on the roof floor and made a noise. Fire and dark elemental abilities blasted each other. Elisia gave her best, even if it was just a practice.
Every attack, every skill, every move Elisia did to make this mission a success. Risk also felt the fighting spirit of this little princess. Her aura was even more frightening. It formed the figure of a legend from that aura, when she stood up with grinning teeth.
“Nice move, Elisia! Do it again!” Risk growled.
Elisia mustered all her abilities. The [Molten Flame] and [Duetto] skills continued to be activated until the flames engulfed the roof floor. Elisia's powerful attacks almost made Risk flinch, but her mentor wouldn't lose to her own apprentice. Elisia launched a final attack with flames blazing like dragons' breath. Risk could not withstand the attack until his body crashed to the floor.
Elisia stopped moving after seeing her mentor could not stand up anymore. Risk tried to lift his body back. With his injured body, he could stand up again. A smile appeared on Risk’s dirty face. The man's feet staggered towards Elisia. Risk’s hand reached out and touched Elisia's forehead.
“Your skills are great! I feel honored that can train you, My Liege!” Risk knelt before Elisia.
“Risk, I so grateful for training me all this time. You never gave up or tired of this rash attitude. But I will still need your help during this journey. Are you ready?”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“I'm ready at any cost, My Liege!”
Unbeknownst to them, Captain was standing at the door holding a cup of hot chocolate milk. Elisia and Risk turned their heads. Captain saw the dirty floor of roof after the fight of his two friends. He approached Elisia and handed her the glass.
“Drink it to increase your energy again!”
Elisia accepted the glass. The drink named [Hot Chocolate] drank a little. A sweet taste flooded her tongue, and her energy felt recovered. She checked the stats.
Elisia Naumann
Level 19 (1200/2400 exp)–Vanguard
Max HP : 1192 /1192
Stamina : 720/720
Skill Point (SP) : 155/214
ATK : 510
DEF : 293
RES : 15.9%
Agility : 45
.
Skills
Active Skills
1. Molten Flame (level 7 (Max level))
SP Requires : 36
ATK +75% and every attack gains 40% chance to ignore 20% Enemy DEF.
Duration: 31 second
2. Duetto (Level 4 (100/700))
SP Requires : 23
ATK +40% and burst a Fire that can attack 3 targets within 2 metres range. When hit the enemy, decrease 21% RES to them for 5 second.
Duration: 20 second
3. [Unknown]
(Unlocked in Level 25)
4. [Unknown]
(Unlocked in Level 40)
5. [Unknown]
(Unlocked in Level 50)
Passive Skills
1. Sixth Sense (level 5 (Max Level))
Can see the level, full statistics, and all skills of other characters, including their weakness
Duration: Passive
2. Overheat substitution (Cannot be upgraded)
When 2 or more enemies within the radius 5 metres; ATK +10%, DEF +15%, and RES +5%. Deal 40% damage to enemies that attack you. When against a hostile enemy, ATK +100%, DEF +50%, gain 80% physical and art dodge, and reduce 40% Critical damage that attacks her.
Duration: Passive
.
Captain turned to Risk who was still kneeling. “Hey, you look messed up!”
Risk stood up and looked at his clothes. “Yes. As usual. I will take a bath.”
After her mentor left, Elisia put a [Fire Dublin Spear] into her inventory. No more training before the start of the mission because her (Stamina) would decrease again. She looked at Captain's smiling face at her. With the hospitality she felt, Captain invited Elisia to sit facing the sunset.
The orange sky adorned the view of Elisia, who was enjoying hot chocolate. The cold air that still pierced the skin, as well as a sweet warm drink, really matched the calm afternoon atmosphere. Her eyes glanced occasionally at Captain Hans.
“Hans, thanks for listening to me. I just don't want anyone to sacrifice again for me,” Elisia said.
“Yap. You are right. My grudge against Sicilian has blinded my vision. It made me remembered the terrible past, that Risk hit me many times.”
“If I may know, how was Risk in the past?” Elisia asked curiously.
“Well. How should I say it, huh?” Captain scratched the back of his head. “Risk is very different today. He was the single most dangerous member of the special forces. The number one soldier in the special assault division, and the best assault attacker in Siraca.”
“Wow, that means Risk a very experienced soldier! His attacks are also very painful!” Elisia got goosebumps when she recalled the wound inflicted by Risk.
“No one can survive Risk's deadly attack. Even luck won't be able to save them from it,” Captain said. “Hah, I don't want to scare you. I just answered your question earlier.”
Elisia touched her chest. “So like that.”
Elisia's drink had run out. The girl entered the house. Captain intercepted her and took the glass. Elisia took aback, but let the special team leader entered. Her eyes returned to the beautiful sunset.
“I don't know how you found me here, but I hope your goal wasn't to kill me,” she muttered.
Elisia took out [Fire Dublin Spear] to practice her spear arts. Her body was erect and her spear erected in front of body. Eyes closed and sharpened an instinct. The movement started with a swing of the spear to the right. Elisia wanted to do that movement until the sun set on the western horizon.
After spending an hour for practicing the spear arts, Elisia went into the house to rest in the room. She wiped the sweat from all over her body with a dry towel. Elisia also changed all the clothes to cooler clothes. Her action of using [Greatsword of Sully] would drain more sweat.
New clothes had stuck to her body. A thin dress like T-shirt with dark stockings from Tevanny adorned her slender body. She looked in the mirror to smooth her hair. When combing her hair in the mirror, her reflection turned into the figure of a woman who looked like her.
“Hey, Elisia!” the shadow said.
It surprised Elisia to see the shadowy figure until jumped away from the mirror. The figure disappeared, along with the disappearance of her reflection. Elisia looked back at the mirror. Her shadow reflected, showing no change in face. The girl also found writing on the top right side of the mirror.
Meet me at City of Kalay.
“So, she can appear in the mirror?” she asked herself.
Elisia had to focus on this mission. Eventually, she would definitely can reach the city of Kalay. Elisia tidied all her things into the bag and arranged her appearance. She tied her hair into a ponytail. After that, Elisia walked down to the 2nd floor.
Her friends had already welcomed Elisia with a banquet of freshly cooked food. She took her place among the crowd and took a plate. Tonight's dish was quite simple, namely [Tanin fried noodles]. Elisia sat near Risk, who was already eating his food.
“Have a good meal, Risk!”
Risk turned around. “Hah, have a good meal!”
They eat food with gusto to replenish energy. Elisia imagined how the mission would be carried out tonight. She wasn't familiar with the [Greatsword of Sully] ability, either. The last time she used the sword, Elisia almost fainted if Risk didn't give her the strange potion.
“Risk, as I recall, you gave me a strange potion that restored all my stamina. What potion was that?”
Risk turned around with a mouth full of food. “Ask Upgrade!”
“What?” Upgrade felt called.
“Upgrade, were you the one who made me the strange potion that Risk brought back then?” Elisia asked.
“Yes. I've estimated the power of the sword with your stamina state. So, I made it.”
“What ingredients did you use in the potion? It tastes pretty good,” Elisia asked.
“That is a secret. Maybe I'll answer later.”
After dinner, everyone started putting on their gear. Elisia checked the [Greatsword of Sully] again to make sure its power was still there. The lava streaks were still glowing red. The sword was ready to use.
Everyone gathered in the storage room on the 1st floor to check the re-equipment. Risk gave Elisia a black cloak to disguise her identity, as well as a mask she had worn. She wore the mask. Its eye sockets felt wider than before.
“Well. This is our last mission in Tanin. We have to get Elisia across the border at all costs. I hope we can all finish as before.” Captain opened the conversation. “Also, this is the last encounter with Elisia. I feel sad, but our princess has to make this long journey.”
“It doesn’t matter. I really grateful to you for taking good care of me here. Hans, Violet, and Zach, may your kindness be blessed.” Elisia clasped her hands together in front of her chest.
“Okay. It’s time to go!” Captain moved to the door.
Captain opened the front door slowly. His head turned outward. After that, his hand raised upwards and swung the fingers. Everyone got out of the house. Zach and Dao ran ahead to check the path. Elisia, who was in the middle of the crowd, started walking together through the dark, narrow alley.
Their footsteps stepped on the puddle of rainwater earlier and splashed on the wall. The stench of garbage wafted into each other's nostrils. Luckily, Elisia's mask was quite thick. She continued to follow the journey through the alley she had passed before.
After passing through narrow alleys, they arrived at the yard outside Tanin's warehouse. Captain could hear the activity of loading and unloading from behind the fence wall. There was nobody around them. It was so quiet that they could hear the noise from the main road from there.
Zach and Dao came back from checking and walked over to them. Zach raised his thumb. Captain asked everyone to follow Dao through the deserted back street of the warehouse. Elisia stepped faster and noticed the outer wall next to the trash door.
The darkness of the small streets made them difficult to walk. The lighting was almost non-existent and the street lamps had never been repaired. Elisia had to hold on to Upgrade outfit so she wouldn't be left behind. It was really an environment that didn’t support life well.
The dark path passed. Now they were about to enter the narrow alley again. Elisia was sick of having to go through narrow, muddy, and smelly streets. However, there was no option. She took out a [Fire Dublin Spear] just in case. She felt [Overheat Substitution] activate by itself, indicating that there was an enemy nearby.
Sure enough, Captain asked them to stop. His head turned slightly from behind the wall of the alley that led to the street. A group of Sicilians had been standing around the road. It would be very dangerous if they were reckless.
“Captain, what happened?” Rhino whispered.
“Sicilians are all around us.” Captain leaned against the wall.
“Then what are we going to do?” Upgrade asked.
Elisia had a thought in her head. “I know. Zach and Dao can handle some of the surrounding people. They can move fast.”
Captain and Violet looked at each other, followed by Risk nodding. Upgrade also smiled and nodded slowly.
“Well. Zach and Dao, I know your agility is very good, but be careful!”
Zach and Dao saluted, then left quickly. The sound of people in pain could hear from behind the wall. After clearing the area, Zach ran up to everyone with his hands, gesturing okay. Captain asked everyone to walk first. Zach directed everyone towards Dao, who was in the opposite building.
Elisia wondered why the streets were so quiet, even though it wasn't late at night. There seemed something wrong here, moreover her [Overheat Substitution] was continuously active, making her body hot. Elisia looked into Risk's face. His response was just a nod. Risk seemed to know something.
“Risk, are we really safe?” Elisia whispered as she walked over and took off her mask.
“I can't guarantee it. I feel a lot of auras everywhere.”
Moving through the shadows of the buildings brought them to the main road of Tanin. Vehicles passed slowly. They saw a large wall-like building that stretched wide. People who neatly dressed would check every vehicle that entered, complete with hats. They stopped in an empty room in the building to observe the situation.
“Finally, we arrived at the Tanin border. After successfully destroying the wall and passing it, you will arrive in the Runga region,” Captain said to Elisia.
“We will attack after eight o'clock in the evening, when the border gates are closed.” Violet used the binoculars to monitor the wall.
Elisia gulped. She felt that she was not ready to use the [Greatsword of Sully]. Her heart also couldn’t leave Captain and his friends. She took off the mask to take a breath of fresh air, as well as calm her mind. Elisia didn't understand; why was [Overheat Substitution] always on when it's so quiet?
Elisia looked back. Her eyes widened. Risk and Rhino, who saw it, also widened their eyes and asked the others to turn their heads as well. Weapons had pointed at them from the black figure of the shadows. They raised their hands and asked to go out into the street.