“...Isabel.” Mila met her girl’s brown eyes. She would recognise them anytime, no matter how much time would pass. This warm, loving, somewhat obsessive gaze was unmistakably Isabel’s.

Everything else seemed to melt away. Despite knowing better, all Mila could see was her girl. She raised her hand and brushed her fingertips against her girl’s cheek. “You are real…”

Something broke in Mila. She shakily breathed in, then let out a sad, unladylike sob. “...You are real, you are real.” She repeated while holding Isabel’s cheek.

It was warm. It was there. Isabel was with Mila. Everything else did not matter. The world didn’t matter. The enemies could…

Mila sobered up. The enemies could not wait. She reluctantly let Isabel go. Then it occurred to her… “Isabel? Why aren’t you speaking?” Horror sunk deep into her heart.

There were shouts behind. Someone was fighting. The surroundings were momentarily engulfed in flames coming from the nearby doors before it was snuffed out by the oppressive air.

Finally, Isabel wrily smiled. She leaned closer to Mila’s face. Then, to the smaller girl’s ear. “...hard…” Barely a whisper came from Isabel’s lips. “...talking… hard.”

Mila’s anger flared. “They didn’t heal you?” She hissed in anger. The sages had betrayed her trust. This called for retribution. Now!

But Mila was stopped by Isabel’s unwavering hold. She shook her head, then whispered in Mila’s ear again. “...because… the boy.”

“It can’t be!” Mila refused to believe. Isabel was here. She had protected her. Her girl HAD to be fine!

“... Not the… time.” Came another whisper. “...fight. Ritual.”

That’s right. The ritual. Mila had forgotten. She blinked her tears away, refusing to cry. This wasn’t the time.

No matter how sad she was, Isabel was suffering more. Mila had to be strong for her girl. It was her turn to act.

Only now did Mila notice the surrounding fight. The Iron Swords and Andrew with his bonds were here too. They had the moment to speak only because of Isabel’s protection. Her barriers were…

Still fine. Mila knew it was an impossibility, but it was true. Despite all other magic failing, Isabel and Andrew still managed to use their abilities to a degree.

It was not enough. From what Mila could see, no one had arrived here untouched. What's more, Virr and Agata were missing. She didn’t have to ask to know what had happened.

The grim faces of the mercenary group told Mila the tale well enough.

In addition, everyone had injuries. Only Isabel had none… At least not visible ones.

They could not win. The nobles were pushing them out of the room. They were superior in both skill and strength.

“I need something sharp,” Mila asked, waiting for anyone to respond. “For carving.”

After another moment, Verte threw her a dagger. The man was kicked out of the room immediately after. The momentary distraction had likely cost him a broken rib or two.

“Please, Isabel.” Mila tugged her girl’s robe. “I need to modify those runes. Can you…” She left the question unasked.

And Mila didn’t need to ask. Isabel understood. She nodded, although there was a lack of confidence in the gesture.

Still, they would try. Mila snuggled closer to her girl and allowed the strong arms to embrace her.

Without any effort, Mila was plucked from the ground. The very next moment, they were shooting towards the large mana ball that served as the control centre for the ritual.

Mila forced herself to look away from Isabel’s dashing face. Her heart was still worried, but her girl acted as if it was mostly fine.

And because of that, for the duration of the battle, Mila would not ask and pretend it was fine.

Inwardly, however, Mila was swearing vengeance. She would have to see what the ‘Sage’ and his group had done, but in her heart, she knew who was at fault here - Oscar.

The boy deserved so much more than a simple death. Mila did not know what she would do to him, but it had to be slow and painful. “As close as possible to the glowing ball…” She explained. “I’ll need time…” Her fingers struggled to hold the dagger.

Mila needed to endure just a bit more. It was nothing. Isabel had it worse… It was just a bit of tiredness working against her will. That’s all.

While lying to herself, Mila scanned the blood and body-covered floor. It was almost impossible to tell where the spots she needed to change were - especially with Isabel’s nimble movement blurring the surroundings as the girl dodged the more dangerous attacks.

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Their advance came to an abrupt spot. Mila frowned as Isabel was forced to summon her shield and parry a blow from one of Azan’s closest men.

The guard exclaimed in surprise as the shield materialised, and he was forced to retreat. “She has some kind of barrier…”

“Impossible!” Zemny crowed from behind. “Keep attacking. I still need to…” He began mumbling.

Mila noted how little Isabel was using her barrier. As they had neared the big ball of energy, it seemed her girl’s defences had been stripped away until only the shield was left at full strength.

More importantly, Zemny could control the ritual. How? Mila had missed it before, but the man was somehow interacting with the overwhelming amount of mana. He didn’t even look strained while doing so.

“...”

Mila shuddered. She felt Isabel trying to say something. But no sound had come. She looked up at her girl. “What is it?”

Isabel bobbed her head towards Helly, who was shouting behind them. Mila focused on the horrid woman.

“You ashole! Give it back!” Helly made a rude gesture with her free hand while hacking her sword at an unfortunate guard with the other. “Polomonia! You have to help! He got my stuff!”

When the mysterious woman didn’t appear, Helly began berating Andrew. Despite the valiant effort, they were being pushed back. They had managed to stay here for so long only due to everyone's inability to use magic and the element of surprise.

Only Isabel, with Mila in her arms, remained steadfast. She didn’t yield in front of the overwhelming force and, with each passing moment, was forced to endure more and more attacks raining from all around her.

Soon, the situation turned for the worse. After a bloodcurdling scream escaped Verte, Laura ordered a retreat. The remaining group began to gather, then fell back.

And Mila was forced to endure a questioning gaze. She bit her lip, then shook her head. When Isabel didn’t argue back, she raised her voice. “We cannot! Stay and fight!” Her yell contradicted Laura’s order. “You cannot exit this place. No matter what. Do not go back outside!”

The exchange didn’t go unnoticed by the enemy. Azan’s gaze found Mila and didn’t leave. “The girl knows something!” He poked Zemny, who was waving his hands through the air.

“What could she know?” The madman scoffed. His full attention seemed to be on the ritual and attempts to free them from the clutches of whatever had grasped their protective shell. “Just grab her and be done with it.”

“You are not the one who is giving orders here, Zemny,” Azan growled. “Remember that.”

Meanwhile, Laura had managed to form a line with the rest of the remaining team. “What the fuck, you two. We can’t hold!” She fought off several attackers at once.

The wolf covered the brave woman’s side, receiving a wound meant for her, then retreated as Mr Crow’s song made the attacks falter. Mila had to double-check when the wolf’s injury began knitting together a moment later.

It seemed Andrew had learned some new tricks - perhaps from Helly. Mila also noticed how her friend’s eyes lingered on Isabel from time to time. It seemed he had something to say, but with the situation being as desperate as it was…

Mila was yanked back again as Isabel fought off the enemy. Her girl flared her barrier from time to time to intercept any attacks she failed to parry or block with her shield.

The enemies kept complaining, even though Isabel failed to push any deeper into their ranks. If anything, they were stuck, neither advancing nor retreating.

After leaning closer and gently kissing Isabel’s cheek, Mila slipped out of her girl’s hands and dropped to the ground. “Protect me the best you can.” She stabbed her dagger into the ground and dragged a new line connecting yet another group of runes.

There was no other way. Mila tried her best to ignore the battle happening above her head. She had given Isabel an almost impossible task… And her girl was… She was not okay.

But for the first time in what seemed forever, Mila felt she was not fighting alone against the world. She felt the warm support Isabel’s presence gave and basked in it.

It didn’t mean Mila could work faster. She was still burnt out and barely could think. But it didn’t matter. Whatever was wrong could be fixed. With Isabel here, they were unstoppable.

“KEEP IT DOWN!”

Mila was startled by the loud scream. For a moment, she thought the military had arrived. But no, they were stuck outside, held back by… The thing. She avoided thinking about ‘It’ the best she could.

They would likely arrive soon… It was a wonder Isabel and the rest had gotten here first. The smug feeling she got from her inner companion indicated it had something to do with him.

And because of that, Mila sent her most heartfelt gratitude. She didn’t know what the being had done… But she appreciated it nevertheless.

Tears once again began to form. Mila’s emotions were a mess - mostly a positive mess, but a mess. She felt and heard Isabel receive a heavy blow.

With the corner of her eye, Mila saw her girl’s knees buckle under the monstrous blow. She raised her head to see who it had been, to be met with Azan’s furious, yet intrigued gaze.

Mila felt her skin crawl from the look the man was giving her. And a moment later, Zemny joined him. Only the man responsible for the illusions seemed to be more concerned with the possible arrival of the military.

“INTERESTING!” Zemny finally finished waving his hands. His bloodshot eyes found Mila and Isabel then turned to Andrew. “How are they still using mana?”

It was a dangerous question. Mila hurried and scratched the finishing lines for this section of the ritual.

“How do you know where to do the corrections?” Zemny tilted his head. It was almost cute how the old man tried to comprehend the fact that someone was more knowledgeable of the spell than he was.

“We have to move.” Mila was done here. “To the left now.” She waited for Isabel to grab her waist and lift her.

“THAT’S MINE!” Helly’s hysterical voice overcame everything else. “GIVE IT BACK!”

In Isabel’s hands, Mila had the time to spare. She looked at Zemny, who now was holding a curious little thing in his hand. Something Mila vaguely remembered seeing back on Earth.

Then it occurred to her. “Isabel-” She wheezed out. “It’s a-”

But Andrew was quicker. “IT’S A FUCKING GUN!”