The Black Flames Spread
The filthy, wicked humans!!! The black flames began to engulf the forest. What had started as something no larger than a quail's egg inside a bottle burst forth the moment the vessel shattered and the seed was released, unfurling its dazzling yet utterly horrific petals with terrifying speed. From a single tree it spread, devouring everything nearby, then igniting those same black flowers of death upon every tree in its path at an ever-accelerating pace.
And now, in this very moment, as those black flowers of death turned the world to ash and raced toward them, the elves—the first victims of this hell—wore faces twisted with despair and horror, struggling with every ounce of their strength to halt the dreadful black flames.
“Damn it! What the hell is this fire?”
“Why won’t it go out even when we pour water on it? No… it looks like it’s burning even fiercer!”
The elves cast spells or, when those failed, hauled water in desperate attempts to contain the blaze. Yet despite their efforts, the flames before their eyes showed no sign of dying. Instead, the water they poured upon it only fueled the fire like oil, causing the black flames to roar with greater fury. Faced with something that defied all common sense, the elves at the forefront were forced to retreat. In the process, dozens perished, swallowed by the flames.
Meanwhile, watching from the rear, the Pope and the elders analyzed the situation and pondered how to confront the black fire creeping ever closer.
“According to our investigation… these black flames appear similar to the demonic flames we already know. However, their rate of spread is abnormally fast, and given their near-perfect resistance to water, we suspect some other form of magic has been combined with them. It feels most likely to be black magic, but…”
“Do we have any further details on that?”
“I’m sorry. We haven’t uncovered that much yet.”
“Hmm…”
“Those imperial bastards… What in the world have they created? Even if this forest is our elven homeland, do they truly not understand what will happen if this sacred place is lost?”
The Canna Forest, revered as the birthplace of primordial life and a wellspring of life and resources, was vital not only to the elves but to the humans and beastkin of the continent as well. At its heart stood the great World Tree Jupiter, the very core of the Elf Theocracy and the supreme legacy left by the god who guarded the world—the source of divine power across the entire continent. If the Canna Forest were reduced to ash and Jupiter itself were destroyed, a catastrophe beyond imagination would surely descend upon a world stripped of divine protection.
Yet the empire, driven solely by the desire for victory in war, had committed this atrocity. The elves seethed with fury and growing dread, unable to decide what to do.
“Even if more than half the Canna Forest is lost, we must protect Jupiter at all costs.”
“Safeguarding the symbol of peace and protection granted by the gods is our absolute duty as elves. We must find a way to stop this, even if it costs us our lives.”
Thus the elves continued their frantic, fruitless discussion. Then, from among them, one figure cautiously raised a hand.
“If I may… may I speak?”
It was a female elf whose face was wrapped in bandages from burn scars, clad in black mourning robes as she grieved for the dead. Though considerably younger than the others present, the elders turned their attention to her.
“Of course. Speak, my lady.”
“There is no need to feel burdened. As you can see, we are in dire need of every scrap of wisdom. If it is the opinion of the Pope’s daughter, we have every reason to listen.”
“…Thank you. Then…”
Once permission was granted without issue, the elf woman carefully removed the robe she had been wearing. The moment she did so, Octavia—having lost her master and comrades to the black flames only two days prior and barely surviving herself—revealed burn scars far more vivid than before and addressed the elders.
“Then I shall speak. From everything we have discussed so far, it is clear we currently know almost nothing about these black flames. We have no method to extinguish them, nor do we understand their fundamental nature.”
At those words, Octavia’s expression twisted as the image of her master dying before her eyes flashed through her mind. Yet she immediately suppressed the emotion and continued.
“Therefore, I believe it would be wise to request assistance from those who possess far greater knowledge regarding this matter.”
“Those who know much…?”
“Such people exist? There cannot possibly be any practitioners of black magic left within the Elf Theocracy…”
“No, of course not. There are none in our nation. No one who has learned the wicked heresy of black magic could possibly draw breath here. However… even so, we already know of masters of black magic from whom we might seek help—individuals living quite close by.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Masters of black magic? How could I possibly know anyone who uses such dreadful spells…!”
In that instant, a certain existence flashed through the minds of everyone present. The elders and high-ranking elves spoke with heavy reluctance.
“S-Surely not…”
“My lady, are you perhaps referring to… those people?”
Even as they spoke, the elves showed clear unwillingness. Octavia met their gazes and declared in a firm voice, “Yes. I am speaking of the demons of the Demon Kingdom across the sea.”
“!!”
“N-No. What in the world are you saying?”
“That is impossible! The Elf Theocracy, which follows the will of the gods, must bow its head to those vile spawn of demons? I would rather you take my head, my lady! Even if it costs me my life, I cannot join hands with that wicked force of evil!”
The elves erupted in fierce opposition. Yet Octavia responded in an icy, unwavering tone.
“You call them a force of evil? Then do the filthy, repulsive humans who burn our sacred land and seek to incinerate even Jupiter appear as the side of justice in your eyes?”
“N-No, that is not what I meant…”
“Come to your senses! We are facing the worst crisis in the two-thousand-year history of the Elf Theocracy! In this situation, we cannot afford to be selective about our methods if we are to stop the empire’s wicked spawn—demons in all but name! Even now, innocent citizens and pure lives are being swallowed by the black flames and dying!”
“Kuh!…”
“Ugh…”
Octavia’s impassioned cry, filled with genuine fury and desperation, left none of the elves able to easily refute her. After all, what mattered most was protecting the Canna Forest—or, if that proved impossible, at least the World Tree Jupiter. Though deeply reluctant, the atmosphere gradually hardened.
Watching this unfold, Julius—the Pope of the Elf Theocracy and Octavia’s father—spoke in a calm voice as he surveyed the room.
“It seems a decision has been reached. In accordance with your will, we shall proceed by requesting a solution from the demons. Now, who will undertake this mission?”
“Your Holiness, I shall go.”
“!”
“W-What? Lady Octavia herself?”
The elves’ faces filled with deep unease at the thought of the heavily injured daughter of the Pope volunteering without hesitation. Yet Octavia spoke with unwavering resolve.
“To resolve a matter of this scale and, depending on the situation, discuss the empire’s responsibility for the previous war, someone of sufficient rank and authority must go. Moreover, as one who carries the Pope’s blood, even if negotiations fail, they will not dare to detain me.”
“Hmm…”
“Even so…”
Though the elves remained reluctant, they ultimately had no choice but to permit Octavia to travel to the Demon Kingdom as an envoy. The moment the decision was made, Octavia stoked the flames of burning hatred within her heart and vowed revenge for her master Sula and her fallen comrades.
‘Filthy humans… and Cassandra… I will destroy you all without fail. Even if it means forging a contract with demons in the process. Without fail…!’