Determined to find Mira, I hurried through the village streets, my eyes scanning every corner for any sign of her. Suddenly, I noticed a commotion in the village square. Intrigued, I approached—and the sight froze me in place.

A squad of Imperial paladins had gathered, their spears and swords pointed menacingly at a group of terrified villagers. One of the paladins, clearly their leader, stepped forward with an air of authority while his men surrounded the trembling crowd.

“You all know the rules!” he bellowed in a harsh voice. “Every family must pay their monthly tribute to the Empire. Those who fail to comply will be severely punished!”

The villagers cowered in fear, some clutching small pouches of coins with resigned expressions. They knew they had no other choice.

But to my growing horror, the paladin sneered as he surveyed their offerings.

“Your pitiful coins aren’t enough!” he spat. “Those who cannot pay the full tribute will have their life energy taken to make up the difference!”

He gestured sharply, and his men stepped forward, wielding glowing orbs. Cries of terror erupted as the villagers were forcibly restrained, the orbs beginning to siphon their energy mercilessly.

I stood frozen, unable to tear my gaze away from the horrifying scene. How could the Empire treat its own people with such cruelty?

Then, among the crowd, I spotted a familiar face—Mira. She was hiding behind a group of villagers, her expression a mix of anger and despair. In her hands, she clutched a dagger, her grip tight with determination.

My heart sank. She was ready to confront the paladins, to charge headfirst into danger.

Before I could act, Mira stepped forward, unable to contain her rage any longer. Weaving her way through the villagers, she raised her voice in defiance.

“Stop this immediately!” she shouted, her voice trembling with fury.

The paladins turned toward her, startled. One raised his spear, ready to strike her down—but Mira was faster. With a quick motion, she unleashed a flurry of flying blades from thin air.

The onslaught of weapons rained down upon the soldiers, catching them completely off guard. Several paladins fell, gravely injured, while the others scrambled to defend themselves.

But their leader, a higher-ranking paladin, quickly rallied them. Drawing a gleaming sword, he charged directly at Mira.

“Witch!” he roared, his blade slicing through the air with devastating power.

Mira blocked his attack with her dagger, but the sheer force of the blow sent her stumbling back several meters. The paladin didn’t let up, launching a relentless barrage of strikes that pushed her to the brink.

I watched in helpless horror as Mira struggled against the superior skill and strength of her opponent. And then, with terrifying clarity, I saw the paladin raise his sword for a final, killing blow.

Acting on instinct, I rushed forward, activating one of my skills.

“[Wind Blade - Level 3]!” I roared, unleashing a sharp, slicing gust of wind that struck the paladin squarely.

The man was thrown backward, his weapon flying from his grasp. Seizing the opportunity, I positioned myself between him and Mira, summoning a mana shield around us.

The remaining paladins hesitated, startled by my sudden intervention. But their shock quickly gave way to fury, and they prepared to charge again.

I had no intention of letting them get close.

“[Frost Storm - Level 1]!” I shouted, summoning a powerful blast of icy wind that engulfed the battlefield. The temperature plummeted to a bone-chilling -1000°C, freezing everything within a hundred-meter radius.

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The paladins were thrown into chaos, many collapsing as their armor and weapons froze solid. The few who remained standing were immobilized by the frigid air, their screams echoing across the square.

Turning to Mira, I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Mira, that’s enough!” I said firmly. “You need to fall back. These men are too dangerous for you to handle alone.”

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with defiance and unshed tears.

“But Griffith, we can’t just let them get away with this!” she cried, her dagger still clutched tightly in her hand. “They deserve to pay for what they’ve done!”

I shook my head, tightening my grip on her arm.

“Listen to me, Mira,” I said, my tone serious. “I understand your anger—I feel it too. But fighting them head-on like this is suicide.”

Mira opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.

“Your family needs you, Mira. You can’t leave them behind,” I said gently. “Let me handle this. Please.”

She hesitated, her gaze flickering between me and the terrified villagers. Finally, she let out a shaky breath and nodded, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

“Alright, Griffith,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “But promise me… promise me you’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.”

I gave her a reassuring smile, briefly squeezing her hand.

“I promise,” I said with conviction.

With that, Mira turned and began retreating, her steps quick and purposeful.

I turned back to face the paladins, who had regrouped despite their injuries. Their leader, his face twisted with rage, pointed his sword at me.

“You insolent fool!” he bellowed. “You’ll pay for interfering with the Empire’s justice!”

I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I raised my hand, summoning a towering wall of ice between us.

“[Ice Wall - Level 1],” I murmured, keeping a wary eye on Mira as she disappeared into the distance.

The paladins attacked the frozen barrier with all their might, but their weapons barely scratched its surface. Knowing the wall wouldn’t hold forever, I turned and sprinted toward Gerald’s home, determined to regroup.

When I arrived, Gerald and his wife greeted me with expressions of relief and worry.

“Griffith! What happened out there?” Gerald asked, noticing the commotion outside.

I placed a steadying hand on his arm, trying to catch my breath.

“Your daughter… she acted on impulse,” I explained carefully. “She attacked the paladins who were tormenting the village.”

Gerald’s face fell, his eyes wide with fear.

“Mira? That’s madness!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling. “Where is she now?”

“I convinced her to retreat,” I reassured him. “But the paladins are still after her.”

Gerald’s wife let out a horrified gasp, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Oh, no! They’ll kill her!” she cried, clutching her hands to her chest.

Gerald clenched his fists, his expression hardening with determination.

“We have to save her!” he declared, rushing toward the door.

I blocked his path, meeting his desperate gaze with a firm look.

“No, Gerald. You can’t,” I said sharply. “These paladins are far too powerful—you’d only get yourself killed.”

Gerald stared at me, his face contorted with anguish.

“But she’s my daughter!” he shouted, his voice breaking. “I can’t abandon her!”

I placed both hands on his shoulders, speaking as calmly as I could.

“I promise I’ll save her,” I said earnestly. “But you have to trust me. Stay here, protect your wife. Let me handle this.”

For a moment, Gerald looked like he might argue. But then, with a heartbreaking sob, he nodded and collapsed into his wife’s arms.

I watched them for a moment, my heart heavy with the weight of their pain. Then, without another word, I turned and dashed back into the streets, determined to find Mira before it was too late.

But as I rounded a corner, a menacing figure blocked my path. It was the paladin I had struck earlier, his dented armor glinting in the light and his sword raised high.

“You won’t escape this time!” he growled, his eyes burning with hatred.

I drew my blade in one swift motion, ready for the inevitable fight.

“Let’s finish this,” I muttered, gripping my sword tightly.