Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Mage in the Forest (2)
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“Ouchie... Sis, doesn't this still look red? Take a look.”
Lia plopped right down on my bed, using her slightly twisted ankle as an excuse.
“Your ankle's like that because you tripped.”
“But it's true I tripped because I got startled by the magic.”
Lia said with a cheeky grin.
Looking at her, I wondered if she was really hurt.
“Fine, fine. Just get off already, okay?”
“Nooo~ This is so fluffy and nice.”
Lia pulled the blanket over herself with a blissful expression.
“Haa... Do whatever you want.”
I let it slide because she was the cutest girl in the world.
If some shady guy tried that, I'd blast him with a Fire Storm on his back, no mercy.
Lia rolled around on the blanket this way and that for a good while before finally getting up.
“Guess I'll head out. Gotta get back early today.”
“Something up?”
“Yeah. The adults are worried. They say the forest vibe's been weird lately, and wild animals like wolves keep wandering into the village.”
Lia turned back from the door, hand on the knob.
Unlike moments ago, her face was dead serious.
“You be careful too, Sis. Make sure to lock the windows before bed.”
“Don't worry. I'm not a kid.”
If a monster strong enough to break into this house showed up, locking the door wouldn't matter anyway.
More importantly...
“You are a kid. Shorter than me and all.”
“True, my chest is way smaller than yours.”
“Wh-what are you even talking about?! I meant height! Height!!”
Lia shrieked, her face flushing red.
She's so fun to tease.
“You be careful too, Lia. If wolves come to the village, don't butt in—hide somewhere.”
“Pfft~ I'm stronger than most adults anyway.”
“Yeah, fair point.”
Lia waved playfully with a laugh.
“See ya tomorrow.”
The door clicked shut, and the familiar silence settled over the room.
But for some reason, tonight felt off—unsettling in a way that wasn't usual.
The faint rustling outside the window grated on my nerves more than it should.
For some reason, sleep wouldn't come.
I hadn't napped during the day, and I'd used more magic than usual, so I should've been tired.
I tossed and turned on the bed, sighing for no reason.
-The forest vibe's been weird lately.
Lia's words from earlier popped into my head.
...Honestly, I couldn't relate at all.
Truth be told, there hadn't been a single day when the forest felt normal.
Wolves howling, birds flapping wildly. Every night brought all sorts of eerie noises.
Of course, I'd gotten used to it by now. That's just rural life.
But tonight, her warning lingered in my mind oddly.
“Making me paranoid for no reason...”
I sat up and peeked through the curtain.
A faint glow flickered beyond the window.
That's... the direction of the village?
“Some kind of festival?”
A muffled sound leaked through the window crack.
Barking dogs? Or maybe screams?
Or perhaps I was just hearing things.
It's nothing, I told myself.
But the unease wouldn't fade.
“Ugh, so annoying.”
I finally got up, threw on a cloak haphazardly, and stepped out of the cabin.
This is just a walk.
Can't sleep, so I'll get some fresh air and stretch my legs.
I shuffled along the forest path in my slippers.
The village wasn't far, but it wasn't a trek I'd choose in the dead of night.
“Shouldn't have come out...”
The cold night air made me shiver.
...But since I'm here, I'll just confirm everything's fine and head back.
As I walked a bit further, a suspicious shadow caught my eye at the edge of my vision.
“...What the heck is that?”
Something with huge wings circled the night sky.
At first, I thought it was just one.
But no.
Another appeared.
Two, three, four...
Wait, that's a lot.
The moment I sensed something was wrong, flames from the village shot high into the sky.
“...!”
My mind went ice cold.
Sleep vanished.
One thought alone: Lia's in that village.
Lunaris launched into the air.
I ascended too fast—my slippers flew off.
Cold wind brushed my bare feet, but now wasn't the time to care.
If I went home now...
I'd have nightmares forever.
Just half a day ago, the village had been peaceful.
Now it was a hellscape in seconds.
The attackers: a flock of dozens of wyverns.
-Kieeeek!!
-Kaaak!!
This was beyond human power—a calamity.
“Why... wyverns...!”
Amid the screaming, fleeing villagers.
Lia gripped her sword tight, glaring at the wyvern before her.
Even this small, young one—half her size again—was twice her bulk.
The wyvern bared its teeth and charged.
Lia swallowed hard, ducking low.
Razor claws whistled just over her head.
Her heart pounded. It felt like it'd burst out.
She planted her feet firm, regained balance, and thrust her sword with all her might.
“Hngh...”
The blade met tough hide.
Like stabbing rock.
Her wrist, shoulder, whole body trembled.
Lia gritted her teeth, pushing harder.
-Schlick.
Muscle tore with a sharp sound; the wyvern's wing membrane sliced deep.
It staggered, lost balance, and crashed to the ground screeching.
Lia panted raggedly, readjusting her grip.
Red blood—like her hair—dripped from the sharp blade.
Just one down.
The smallest, weakest one.
Lia looked up slowly.
The sight was hopeless.
Sky still swarming with wyverns.
‘Is Sis okay...?’
Her precious sister's face—alone in the forest cabin—flashed in mind.
At this hour, deep asleep. Did she even escape?
As she moved to wake her somehow.
Heat scorched her back.
She turned—a blazing fireball hurtled straight at her.
‘When did that—?!’
Lia dove sideways on instinct.
Flames grazed past.
But the burning wooden pillar toppled—crashing onto her.
“Aaaagh!!”
Pain like severed nerves exploded from her left leg, flooding her body.
Vision blackened.
As dazed Lia lay there, a wyvern's shadow loomed.
Fangs dripping saliva neared.
“N-no!”
She struggled desperately.
But her leg wouldn't move.
Pain and terror paralyzed her—not even a finger twitched.
Despair: this is it. She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Why are you just lying there.”
A familiar voice reached her ear.
“You jump around fine usually. Can't dodge even this?”
Lazy tone dripping annoyance.
But laced with subtle worry.
Lia slowly opened her eyes.
First sight: the wyvern about to strike her—crushed under a massive boulder.
And right in front.
Stood the person Lia knew best.
Ash-gray hair faintly swaying, small fragile back.
But somehow.
Right now, that back felt enormous.
“Sis...!”
Before she could ask how she got here, another wyvern lunged at Lunaris.
No time to warn.
Space warped grotesquely.
The wyvern's bulk crumpled like paper.
Telekinesis Magic application.
Lia's eyes widened.
She couldn't comprehend what happened.
But one thing clear.
At the center of her view: the ‘Sis’ she'd known forever.
Lunaris turned, meeting Lia's gaze.
Cold ice-blue eyes warmed.
She approached, knelt slightly.
“Sleep a bit.”
Lunaris gently brushed blood-matted hair from Lia's forehead.
Unbelievably tender for the usual aloof Lunaris.
“When you wake...”
Whisper soft.
As Lia blinked slowly, Lunaris smiled faintly and continued.
“It'll all be over.”
With that, the indolent witch stretched.
From her small, slender fingertips.
Vast mana swirled.
Cold, chilling aura spread, contrasting the flames.
Above the smoke-choked sky.
Dazzlingly white magic circles bloomed countless.
“At times like this, my magic going haywire is kinda useful, huh.”
Hearing Lunaris's sighing mutter, Lia smiled bitterly.
Magic painting the night sky ‘haywire’?
Well, the girl who dug a huge crater in the yard and called it ‘just student level.’
So very her, Lia thought as sleep claimed her softly.
“What in the world...!”
Aubril Baron, arriving late with his knights to aid the village, doubted his eyes.
Vast white-glowing magic circles blanketed the sky.
From them, endless ice boulders rained.
-Kwaang! Kwang!!
Wyverns smashed by ice fell powerless.
Bodies crushed or pierced by icicles—ghastly.
“My god...”
“That's advanced... no, supreme magic...”
Aubril listened to the knights' murmurs, then asked his adjutant.
“Mage Tower sending reinforcements?”
The adjutant shook his head, flustered.
“No word.”
“Figures. No way they'd send next Tower Lord-level archmage to this backwater.”
Then what was this overwhelming magic?
Soon, the ice storm subsided.
Smoldering building husks visible.
But for a wyvern flock attack, village damage was surprisingly light.
‘Without that magic...’
Aubril and knights pressed inward.
Wyvern corpses everywhere.
Impaled by giant ice on the ground.
Crushed under boulders.
Most shocking: twisted at grotesque angles, like squeezed dry.
“Urk!”
“Such horror...!”
Younger knights gagged, hands over mouths.
Aubril grimaced, breathing deep.
But no time to dwell.
“Pull yourselves together. Search for survivors, tend the wounded.”
“Yes, Baron!”
Knights scattered.
Aubril headed deeper, confirming their dispersal.
‘Must check. Who cast this magic...’
How far did he walk?
Beyond faint mist and frost veil, a small silhouette emerged.
Ash-gray hair draped calmly; eerie blue sparks danced wildly around.
‘That girl?!’
Unbelievable—the massive magic caster from the village edge was this young.
But circumstances pointed to her alone.
As Aubril cautiously approached to speak.
Ice-cold blue eyes fixed on him.
Empty, emotionless.
As if her deeds were nothing.
That indifferent gaze chilled murderously.
Aubril instinctively stepped back.
Then bowed deeply, politely to the village's savior.
‘No idea why she's in this rural spot.’
Talent too precious to hide in the woods.