Visitor in the Darkness (1)
“A coat makes me look a bit cold, but spring colors feel too warm. Hmm.”
She’d piled clothes on the bed and was lost in thought. How should she dress to impress the newbies? Too intimidating wouldn’t do, but too subdued would make her presence fade. It was all about nailing that perfect middle ground.
“Something this important can’t be rushed in a morning. I’ll take my time coordinating.”
Sisilia nodded, tidying yesterday’s purchases. She hung them neatly, draped her cape over her shoulders.
“Today’s mood... performance.”
Sword selected—ready for work.
Knock knock knock.
“Miss. The Captain says he’d like to go together today.”
“Got it. Coming out now.”
Clap clap. Sisilia slapped her cheeks in the mirror, steeling herself. ‘Get it together.’
The official opening date was set—enough to refresh her focus. Her job: don’t topple the tower of effort she’d built. Show the perfect Sword Princess today, too.
***
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Staring blankly out the carriage window, thinking ‘Still don’t wanna go to work,’ Chiron spoke up.
“Even if you lose the bet, we can just head north together.”
‘Hell no.’ The north was a warzone. Stuck there, she’d only get worn-out veteran newbies. And it was freezing. No way. Fresh, fluffy newbies were the goal.
Sisilia glanced indifferently at Chiron amid her thoughts.
“Worried?”
“...Yes.”
Sisilia genuinely couldn’t fathom it. Chiron was overly wary of Edward. Sure, he could be harsh sometimes, but not that bad.
“I don’t think the Vice-Captain’s that awful. No need to worry so much...”
“Sisilia.”
Chiron cut in firmly.
“Don’t date. You’ve got no eye for men.”
“...No time anyway. Gotta hunt demons.”
Chiron’s mood lifted slightly, but worry lingered.
“Still harboring such deep resentment toward the demons?”
At his grave tone, Sisilia lightly recalled. ‘That’s why I set it up that way.’
A six-year-old wielding a sword needed plausibility, so she’d spun a convenient lie. Lost her parents to demons while foraging in the forest—fueled by burning hatred. This patchwork tutorial backstory was solid; Chiron never doubted it.
“They’re my parents’ killers.”
Chiron gripped his knee tighter. He wanted to fill that void, even a little. How much space had he claimed in her heart? How much room had Sisilia given him?
She showed so few emotions. Even a battle-hardened veteran like Chiron struggled to read her.
“But Sisilia. Those with deep grudges against demons...”
“Die fast.”
Sisilia stated it flatly.
“They lose composure easily. Demons never miss the opening.”
“You understand well.”
“Seen it plenty over the last ten years.”
Terezia outside the window was astonishingly peaceful. The Sacred Flame guarded it safely, after all. But Sisilia knew the hell beyond.
Just look at the Windsor Knights. New recruits’ survival rate was under 30%.
‘I’ve rested plenty. Time to go farming soon.’
Official opening meant more work naturally. She’d love to cling to newbies all day, but duty called. Couldn’t let her sword dull—time to hunt demons.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage halted before Windsor Knights HQ’s main gate. Chiron straightened his attire. Sisilia mentioned what suddenly came to mind. Crucial.
“Set a retirement date yet?”
“Around six months. Even the Queen won’t allow longer...”
“Make it a year from now.”
“Pushing it a full year might be tough...”
“A year.”
“...”
Sisilia’s lips clamped stubbornly. When she got like this, even the heavens splitting wouldn’t sway her. And there was always a reason.
Chiron eyed the opening door, nodded.
“I’ll try.”
***
“Morning, Lia.”
Bob bob. Lude’s drowsy greeting was kinda cute. Sisilia bent down.
“Good work.”
“Yeah. Gonna crash. Used too much mana.”
Yawn. Spotting Sisilia, Lude patted her head like he’d forgotten.
“...?”
“The flame shake. Even I barely sensed it. Lia’s exceptional, as always.”
“Thanks.”
“Hang in there. Wake me if anyone bugs you.”
Lude waved, vanishing into the alley. Sisilia sat primly on a nearby bench.
Whish—.
‘...Now what?’
Sisilia pondered seriously. Exactly 24 hours of duty ahead. The problem: boredom.
“Oh, Sisilia’s on duty today?”
“Yeah.”
A familiar Windsor knight approached.
“Bit early, isn’t it?”
“Lude’d be wiped for sure.”
“Ah... the flame. So Sisilia’s guarding the Sacred Flame today?”
Ricard, the red-haired knight. Sisilia nodded faintly; he looked pitying.
“Gonna be boring.”
“...Yeah.”
“Excluding mage Lude, you’re the most mana-sensitive anyway.”
“You?”
“Outer perimeter for me. Out on subjugation today.”
“Subjugation... huh.”
‘Jealous.’ Work and level up.
“Take care.”
Sisilia waved casually. After he left, she sighed.
‘Wanna swap shifts now... but Captain’d get mad. Shirking duty? Might cut my allowance again.’
Kicking her heels glumly—
“Waaah! Sword Princess sis—!”
A bright-eyed kid barreled toward Sisilia.
“Kyaa!”
Sisilia caught her gently.
“Hi.”
“Hehe! Thanks for saving the kitty last time!”
‘Oh, that kid.’ The one crying over a tree-stuck cat during shopping. She’d helped on a whim.
“Sis! Here!”
“...For me?”
“Yup! Suits you perfect!”
The girl crowned Sisilia with a flower wreath.
“Oh dear, Lena! Don’t bother Sisilia.”
A kind-looking woman hurried up, apologetic.
“Sorry, Sisilia. You’re busy working.”
“It’s fine.”
Sisilia handed squirming Lena back.
“Love sis so much! Marry me!”
“Sure. But listen to Mom.”
“Ohoho.”
Mother and daughter left arm-in-arm. Sisilia carefully removed the wreath, admired it.
‘...Pretty.’
Sisilia smiled quietly. It fit her taste perfectly.
And more—
“Haha! With our Sword Princess guarding, feels secure. Not much, but snack on this.”
Bakery uncle’s treat.
“Thanks again recently. Who’d guess a demon from looking normal? But knights got it. You’ll catch ’em quick, right? Ohoho.”
Chatty market auntie’s treat.
“U-um, th-that... wreath looks great.”
Even a shy kid.
Gifts poured in. Sisilia’s bench piled high.
‘S-so full.’
She’d scarfed them eagerly; belly bloated.
“Still.”
Sisilia murmured, eyeing the flame.
“Time flew faster than expected.”
Night had fallen. Crowds gone, capital lights winking out. But a warm glow lit one corner of Sisilia’s heart.
‘Patrol time. Subjugation team’s due back.’
Helping folks sleep easy was her duty.
“Sisilia!”
Panting Windsor knights—four or five—rushed up. Puppy-like squad badges caught her eye.
‘Lude’s crew.’
Windsor Knights were civil servants at heart. Factions existed; high knights could form ‘teams.’
Sisilia, the lone-wolf mystic Sword Princess, skipped that.
“L-Lude, heh.”
“Here, wine.”
“Th-thanks.”
The gasping knight gulped it down. Sisilia just smacked her lips. Strictly no booze for underage her.
“Pwah! Tasty stuff. Where from?”
“Inn Where the Wind Lingers.”
“Sisilia’s inn? Uhaha... sorry.”
‘Nearly froze my ass off.’
“Lude’s message?”
“Yes! He wants Sisilia’s take. Any change in the Sacred Flame since then?”
“None... but I’ll double-check.”
“Thanks!”
Sisilia shuffled to the flame. She’d been watching closely despite looking zoned out—no real change. But faking diligence sold competence.
“Sisilia’s amazing. Even I, a mage, see no shake.”
“Look closer inside.”
Sisilia pointed precisely.
“Hmm, still not getting it. How’re you more mana-sensitive than most mages?”
‘...It just shows up.’
Tough question for Sisilia. Like asking ‘How do you move your right arm?’
But “It just shows” screamed antisocial. Image-maintenance mode.
“Practice hard.”
“R-right.”
The knight’s eager shoulders slumped—hoping for growth tips.
Meanwhile, Sisilia felt uneasy.
‘Staring too long?’
Flame calm as ever, yet something nagged.
‘Just my imagination.’
After a look, Sisilia said:
“No major changes.”
“Weird, huh? Demon culprit’s dead, but flame still wobbles. No big issues, though.”
Sisilia wondered too. Goddess power waning was natural—why the timely demon intruder? What was it really?
“Haha, maybe the Demon King’ll pop up next?”
Lame joke usually earned sighs, but she’d play along.
“Yeah. Makes sense. Only something like the Demon King could warp reality this hard.”
Watching their scared faces was fun.
A nearby knight flinched, head whipping around.
“J-joking, right?”
“Does it... look like a joke?”
“Eek.”
But no pushing to wills—year-end evals might tank her pay.
“Kidding. Can’t be suppressed that much. Sacred Flame’s invincible—divine.”
“R-right? Academy taught: pure white means safe... huh?”
Heavy silence fell between Sisilia and the knights.
They stared wordlessly for moments.
The flame’s color had shifted. Not white—dark crimson.
That instant—
Whoosh! The flame thrashed wildly, like screaming in agony.