Flames Guarding the Golden Elf
As I finished treating a young noble whose legs had been crushed under the rubble of the theater's collapsed upper floors and turned around, an elderly butler with streaks of white in his hair approached Vanessa with a rigidly tense face.
"...Sister, I apologize for bothering you when you're so busy... but could you spare a moment to tell me about my young master's condition?"
Normally, she would have ignored him and moved on to the next patient, but his eyes were trembling with desperation, so Vanessa found herself stopping to quickly explain the situation.
"His life isn't in danger. But I can't guarantee his legs will fully recover. For now, this is just emergency treatment... he'll need specialized care for his legs."
She phrased it to sound possible, but in truth, walking normally again was next to impossible.
"...I see. Thank you, Sister..."
Vanessa had braced for him to beg for more treatment, but unexpectedly, the butler bowed politely and carried the young noble away on his back.
Vanessa hurried to the next patient. The man lying there was covered head to toe in burns. His face was so distorted it was unrecognizable, and from his clothes, he seemed to be a theater employee. The only sign he was still alive was his faint, ragged breathing.
"...Guh, hack...!"
As she moved to heal him, he vomited blood... and reacted to the healing magic.
"...Don't move!"
"Guh, heh heh ha... Kraaah, haaaack!!!"
He writhed in agony, twisting his body, and chunks of charred flesh sloughed off with every movement, exposing organs and bones.
"I'm healing you now! I know it hurts... just hold on a little longer."
"Kraaaaaah!!!"
"...Tch!"
When the situation became unbearable, Vanessa had no choice but to block his nerves, numbing the pain. Soon, his breathing steadied a bit, and he laboriously opened his mouth.
"...The, pain..."
"It's only temporary. To be honest... your condition is extremely poor."
It was essentially a death sentence, but his unexpected response was a question.
"...Th-that voice... could it be... S-Sister Vanessa?"
Vanessa's eyes widened, her pupils shaking for a moment.
"You know me?"
"...Ha, haha... What a coincidence... My... r-real name is Himenez... You probably don't remember, but we met once."
"...Himenez?"
"D-do... you remember who I am?"
As far as Vanessa knew, there was only one person who went by Himenez.
"The scout Himenez?"
"...Ha, haha... Yes. It's really... Sister Vanessa... Haha..."
Just as he said, they'd met only once, but his face and voice were definitely etched in her memory. At the same time, that fact raised a flood of questions.
"Himenez, why were you here dressed like that?"
"...Haha, ha... Hrrgh..."
Even in this state, he tried to laugh, but the sloughing flesh twisted his expression. He forced his mouth open again.
"...Is anyone else around besides us?"
"No."
"Good."
Himenez pulled a small note from his pocket with trembling hands.
"What's this?"
"Auction... participant list and... related info. Deliver this... to Guild Leader Calix..."
"Got it."
As Vanessa took the note, his hand fell limply to the ground.
"...Th-thank you... Sister... Thanks to you... I... completed... the mission..."
He breathed his last.
"..."
Vanessa closed his eyes and stood up. The emergency treatments were nearing completion, but there were still far too many injured.
"Haa..."
She took a deep breath and glanced around. Mages from the Adventurer's Guild were working to extinguish the fires, and other guild members caught her eye here and there. They weren't just putting out fires, helping the wounded, or gawking—they seemed to be prowling the area for entirely different reasons. Some wore masks or disguises.
'Calix... this isn't all your doing, is it?'
People were still coming and going from the theater, but no more survivors emerged. Those carried out were mostly corpses, not the injured.
Vanessa approached a man who looked like the city guard's vice captain standing in front of the building.
"How's the situation inside?"
"Still engaged with the enemy."
"How many enemies?"
The vice captain hesitated, choosing his words.
"...Well... it's... just one elf."
"You're having this much trouble over a single person?"
"Yes..."
It was clear they'd poked something they shouldn't have.
"H-ha, but no need to worry. Just now, Captain Mendez led Dublin's elite unit into the building... it'll be over soon. Even if the enemy tries to flee, we've got the place surrounded."
"...I see. If the captain's personally on it... that's reassuring."
Mendez might be untrustworthy, but his skills were the real deal. With him in charge, the incident could wrap up quickly. Still, something nagged at her.
"Are there still people or injured trapped inside?"
"...Yes, but... we're still fighting, so rescue isn't possible right now."
Shouts, screams, and explosive roars like the walls tearing apart echoed from within, flames surging wildly.
She'd have to check herself.
"I'll go in and rescue them myself."
"You, Sister?"
"Yes."
But as Vanessa moved toward the entrance, the vice captain frantically signaled his men to block her.
"What is this?"
"...N-no! Captain's orders—no one goes in."
"Is this the time to follow orders?"
He wavered, then spoke firmly.
"Orders are orders. We'll handle rescue. You treat the survivors out here."
It wasn't just danger—there were things inside that couldn't be exposed yet.
But Vanessa had no intention of backing down.
"...Among the people I've treated so far are several high-ranking city officials."
"...I know."
"What if one of those trapped inside is another important figure? If they suffer a fatal injury and don't get timely treatment—what then? Can you take responsibility?"
The vice captain's face tightened, hit right in the weak spot.
"...Th-that's..."
"Can you handle it?"
"...A-alright... go ahead."
At his command, the guards stepped aside.
"...Don't do anything foolish."
"Of course. I'm just here to save people."
As Vanessa entered the building, she sensed someone climbing to the roof—but she didn't let on.
"..."
No one else seemed to notice.
Vanessa ran toward the sounds of fighting. Past the entrance and into the corridor, traces of the once-grand theater for performances came into view. Ornate decorations lay mostly shattered, walls blackened by flames and smoke like pitch darkness.
Her view opened up to the vast interior. Crimson inferno devoured ceiling and walls, flames crawling up pillars; the massive chandelier had melted into a lump of metal, crashed to the floor amid other debris, roaring as if ready to collapse everything.
Even in the chaos, one thing was obvious. This wasn't just a performance hall. Seating had been cleared away, with modifications for secretive purposes visible here and there.
A huge platform dominated the center—not quite a stage, more like a 'display stand.' Instead of lavish decor, bloodstained iron shackles and thick chains hung there, proof this place had long served as an auction house.
In its midst stood a golden-haired elf in tattered slave rags... Dust- and blood-streaked, yet her hair gleamed coldly amid the blaze. Surrounding her, flames surged protectively against the guards encircling her, revealing a form shielding the elf.
Its outline flickered and wavered endlessly, body a mass of lava-like blazing fire, writhing flames alive and twisting. Amid heart-squeezing heat, black eyes pierced the darkness, its breath scorching the air itself.
"Salrist."
With overwhelming pressure shaking the entire theater, Vanessa uttered the name of the supreme fire spirit.
"This is gonna be tricky..."