"Stop. We're going the wrong way." Alaeria said, still trying to regain her state of consciousness. Her disapproval quickly reassured.

"A simple thrust between L5 and S1 would ever bound you to a crippled state. You don't want to see me upset do you now?"

"Touch a strand of mine hair and I'll have Lord Fenathus doom the ones you ever loved."

Lucretia chuckled, "Your empty threats are as flat as your bratty wits. Luckily for you, Master has determined your usefulness."

Alaeria could not find an easy way out of this. Just moments before, she had gotten too focused on her technique 『Nekros – Invocare Mortus』 trying to assist Jin in combat, but it seemed like their opponent was mindful of the single drawback her technique possessed. While Alaeria summoned the undead soldiers to her aid, she could not move her body as she had to focus entirely on charging her subordinates with the elemental, so that they could have the energy required to move their bones one last time. In other words, the invocation worked as an extension of her own body, in the expense of her own movement.

Her consciousness came and went often. Still heavily shaken, it was hard to think critically at a time like this. She just hoped Jin would find a way.

“We ’re almost there darling,” A soft voice replied back to her. If not for the sharp blade pinching her back at every step out of pace, it would have been enough in removing any concerns she might have had with the warmness of her tone.

"Who are you?"

"You may call me Lucretia. And you are the Fenathus daughter, a spoiled brat."

"A brat that will see your head on a spike come dawn's end. I promise you."

Lucretia scoffed at that, "All I ask of you is cooperation, fear not for The Scorching One will set you free. A caravan approaches, now play your part. Thank me for saving you from that minotaur, if you don't we're both dead."

The outstanding way the woman was dressed was enough to insinuate her high status in whatever society she was a part of. Elemental potential aside, there were many ways to ascend in influence. It has been said that countless mountebanks had made a breakthrough the first steps through intelligence and scheming alone—yet a part of her held the opinion a crippled future was not worth that gamble. Had the woman in black made past Disciple into the Sentinel step, any elemental techniques attempted would be the end of Alaeria before anything could've been unleashed given the awakened Sixth Sense.

"We follow the trail to Marhar. Now thank me girl."

Alaeria meekly nodded, “T-Thank you lady.”

We walk. But I'll outlive you, Lucretia. Enough to drive the dagger home.

“No, thank you two for coming to help me. That monster was holding me hostage, but you and your friend saved my life.” Lucretia said in a loud tone. Enough so that several men crossing the straight waggled their helmets. A single glance at their elemental potential told Alaeria none of those men had what it took to rescue her, even if screamed. The headmaster of the caravan, in charge of eleven others was the only one bound by a god, though an Elemental Warrior was as useless as any of the others men-at-arms in comparison.

Before Alaeria could think of an answer, her body was running on fumes.

Staggering towards their destination, the two girls stayed close to one another in the manner wanderers could mistake them as friends. The shock of Alaeria’s body with the minotaur's horns had taken her completely by surprise. Being optimistic with herself, at the very best her heel muscles had stretched, thinning fully on impact. The screaming pain she felt as she placed her right foot on the ground prevented her from resuming the battle and ultimately rooting out the beast with Jin. After all, minotaurs had been chased by House Fenathus for hundreds of years after the Fall of Alanoth; it would only be natural for her to be the elemental artist responsible for the killing. Perhaps in a way grimly, the darkest part in herself was hopeful that Jin wouldn't be able to complete the job and steal her kill. For Lord Fenathus was a prickly man and could take slight with Alaeria's inaction to bloom their influence further in Sanctum.

Another part of her, however, hoped for life. In that light, she would have her second chance to succeed on her own. The tracking ritual would last for seven days, and seven days was all she needed to recover with the elemental healers and regain the target's scent. Thus she would undoubtedly heighten the status of house Fenathus, restoring her house's deserved place among the eight most powerful houses on Elba that had been revoked from them.

Coincidentally, Alaeria wasn't the only one drowning in thought as they moved.

That damn animal had lied to her. That idiot hadn't learned even after a thousand cuts how to act elegantly and covertly like her. How the hell had she gotten nothing but weaker and empty-headed partners over the past decade?

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Another nonsense caused by the worm that insisted on putting her together with garbage and abominable creatures of nature instead of humans. At such times, even Belenus of the East would be a bearable presence. Assuredly an emotional brusque but nonetheless still a human. Nor was he worthy of her magnificent presence, though she wouldn't fret about accidentally impaling him during her frequent mood swings.

Memories refreshed her mind like waves; days from when she was still human, only known as daughter and heir to Olnar. Back then even she had eyes that glowed orange like that while she was still human; fruit of her great heritage of elemental potential from being born in a powerful family, so surely this one was of noble birth as well. Asking a sharp question that could end in death right there depending on the answer, the lady in the black dress questioned,

"Strangeness shrouded your bodyguard's nucleus. House Fenathus has lowered themselves to work with unaligned ascendants?

Alaeria shook her head, "I Rather see my tongue taken before handing out the truths I keep. Some vows, like Ignis's light are eternal."

Lucretia Umbra tilted her head, slightly amused with the proposition.

"You'll regret that suggestion sooner than you think child."

House Fenathus was of course, a renowned noble house. But they weren't among the eight major noble houses that usurped the Umbra; so the girl would be spared for now. And while Lucretia could absolutely dismember every elemental warrior in her path, what kind of lady would she be if she stepped on every ant in an anthill? The more bodies she left along the way, the more likely King Henrik would send a Sacred Brother for her head.

While casualties had been sustained, in the end Lucretia had prevailed. Alaeria Fenathus will cooperate. He will rise again. In terms of the attempt against the Gray Lightining it proved unlikely she could've succeeded differently. After all, she wouldn't be able to get past the barriers and sigils at the gates of Sanctum. In addition to having to share her food and supplies, the imbecile had expended the only Dark Crystal they had in their possession.

Lucretia would have been in a worse mood if Ulfrik had failed to seek out the yellow-eyed individual and escaped with his life. At least now with his demise, a great weight had been dropped from her shoulders. His passing sooner than she expected had been confirmed by her Perfect Sixth Sense, innate ability she'd acquired as soon as she'd advanced to Guardian in her youth.

Ulfrik's pact to the Shadow God, Calamis had at length been his chosen path. A feeble decision, for his prowess in combat were rarely compatible with his elemental affinity focused in stealth. At that instant the winds had changed and the clouds overhead announced the end of a race. Plainly visible for Guardians, Lords and above: native elemental energy of the shadows wandered aimlessly through the wilderness as there were no compatible nucleus to harvest it within reach. Maybe he could've been victorious without the blistering wounds that assailed him. Mayhaps if he had learned his place sooner?

Such absurd proposition led Lucretia to hold in her laughter, but even so, a wicked smile was etched on her charming face.

***

"You're finally back!" Surprised with gleamy eyes Eliza hugged Jin as tightly as she possibly could.

"Ouch, hold on a second, my back hurts!" Gasped Jin, while he survived his friend’s embrace.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"We did it, we tracked him down and managed to avenge Vendrick."

“That’s such great news! I want you to fill me up in the details when you have properly rested, of course. Who was the culprit anyway? Was he a member of Sanctum like we had previously theorized to get through the elemental defenses, it could only be.”

“No...turns out he was a Minotaur. The elemental defenses of Sanctum were bypassed apparently because his race was supposed to be gone long ago.”

“Hm...well minotaurs were also demihumans so it wouldn’t surprise me if he managed to get inside Sanctum that way. Their human side might have allowed them to get inside...” She looked around as trying to find something.

“Are you by yourself?”

"Alaeria wounded herself on battle, but don't worry she is being attended to in a command post north of us."

Before Eliza could respond, Tristan came running when he saw the two talking in front of Sanctum.

Approaching Jin, he looked and stood still for a few seconds. His face couldn't be read by Jin until he smiled and greeted him.

"Good to see you back here man."

Jin chatted with Eliza and Tristan for several minutes that passed quickly, detailing both his encounter with the minotaur and the elemental potential he had unlocked in a moment of great distress, but avoided commenting on any detail about the voices that guided the monster's weakness, for he believed that this was some different source of power. And so he thought it might be better to do your own research in his time.

As Eliza walked away, Jin felt a nudge on his shoulder.

"Okay man, now you can spill the beans."

"Spill the beans?" Frowned Jin, “What do you mean?”

“Tell me what really happened. Who did you actually face?”

"You really don’t believe me?"

“You don’t need to fake it anymore, Eliza can’t hear you from here,” Sharpily said Tristan with suspicion, ”Minotaurs were long gone before this man, you think anyone aside from Eliza will buy your story? You’re dead wrong. They were purged long ago, it is in the history books.”

"Do you choose to believe the history books over me?"

“We barely know each other, besides...I may not look like it but I really like books.”

"Close your eyes then..."

"What?"

“Relax, I'm not going to kiss you dude. Just trust me, open your hand.”

Suddenly a great weight was felt in Tristan's hand. A cold, hard object that didn't feel right landed in his palm.

"Open it now."

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw one of the most seeking alchemy items of the ancient world standing right in front of him.

Potions that could help men grow twice as strong overnight or heal broken bones with a sip used a Minotaur Horn as an ingredient.

He could not believe his eyes, Jin truly had bested a minotaur.

"I thought some people wouldn't believe me, so I brought one of these horns on my way back," Jin cheekily replied while scratching his head, "So you think we can use this to help you breakthrough the First Step or what?" Indifferently asked Jin.

"Tristan?"

At this point, Tristan Loriat's world turned black, and he slipped and passed out on the floor.