Chapter 66

★ Anastasia ★

Anastasia's eyes, which gazed at the sleeping face, were filled with passion, yet she wore a calm smile.

(But... I cannot reveal my feelings to you.)

If she were to indulge in her own desires—Anastasia, as a high elf royal, sent as a "gift" to the Reif Magic Empire—understood her position. She knew that if she were to say something like, "I want to become an adventurer and follow Mr. Raiji," it would never be allowed.

These feelings must be hidden.

And yet, her body was enveloped in a sense of happiness.

(I thought my fate was to live for hundreds of years without ever experiencing this, and then die quietly... I am very, very happy.)

Anastasia turned her face toward the sky.

"!"

The blood from the Hebiginchaku had dried up, and it was withered, but the sky was still stained a blood-red color. Then, dust-like particles began to fall—no, they were living creatures. Monsters were falling from the sky. Not dozens or hundreds, but thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands. There were flying monsters, animal-like monsters, and slime-like monsters, all descending from the sky.

Anastasia didn't understand what the red sky was. She had no clue.

But she knew that these were enemies that would harm the world, and if left unchecked, they would hurt the person she loved.

(Mr. Raiji, please rest a little longer.)

Anastasia saw that Raiji, after using so much magic, was exhausted and couldn't move. It would be best for him to sleep. If he could regain even a little of his magic, he would wake up.

When she laid Raiji's head back on the ground, he let out a small groan, "Mm..." and Anastasia couldn't help but smile. His sleeping face and his voice were so adorable. His body, his heart, his every gesture—everything was precious to her. She realized that this was what "love" was. Knowing it intellectually and experiencing it herself were entirely different, she felt.

(Now, I feel like I can do anything.)

Anastasia stood, ready to protect Raiji, and looked up at the red hole in the sky. She removed the cumbersome bandages, which fluttered in the wind. The monsters, illuminated by the red sky, noticed the giant airship. With their eyes glowing, they dove down, seeing Anastasia and Raiji as prey that had foolishly wandered into their territory.

"I won't let a single finger touch this person."

Anastasia raised her hand, and a torrent of flames burst forth. The bird-like monster, which had a snake's tail and was about three meters long, was immediately charred and fell to the ground. The other monsters, startled by this sudden event, spread their wings to slow down, but the second, third, and fourth waves of flames hit them directly, burning them to a crisp.

"What, what is that...!? Is that Anastasia!?"

Many ministers and the imperial emperor, protected by airship soldiers, had come out onto the spacious deck of the "Fertile Sky" to see what had happened after the emergency landing. No one knew that she could use magic, let alone that it was fire magic.

At that moment, they heard a voice that didn't fit the scene of destruction.

—Ancient forest, floating oil, burning life, like flames

—God descended, dwelled in the forest, gave 8-colored leaves to people

—First the tree god, then the grass god, finally the flower god

—Blessed the forest, calmed the wind, made the rain fall, and invited the sun

This song, told in the ancient elf language, was a magical hymn that carried its own magic. It was managed by the high elf royal family and was only to be sung in the right place, at the right time, and for the right purpose. Singing it at any other time was strictly forbidden.

Through this song, the high elf royal family could bring blessings to the forest and cleanse it of impurities. They were born with a high affinity for magic that nurtured the forest, such as flower magic, wind magic, water magic, and earth magic.

Small flames, like fireflies, appeared around Anastasia and quickly grew, enveloping her in countless lights. Her clothes burned, and some of her hair caught fire, but the flames were extinguished by the flow of magic, leaving only charred marks.

She wanted to sing this song.

As a high elf royal—part of her family.

But she was not allowed to. It was clear that if she sang, the forest would reject the fire.

(But now, I can sing. I can sing even if I get burned. I don't care if my hair, face, or body are injured. If it means protecting the person I love, I will do it.)

She looked up at the sky.

The moon had already tilted, and the sky was a blood-red, with only a few stars visible.

When Anastasia herself was enveloped in a giant flame, she roared.

"Vanish!! All evil creatures that harm him!!"

This was the moment when the girl, born into the high elf royal family and despised for her affinity with fire, finally faced her own power and learned to use it correctly. Magic, the art of manipulating magic, constructing spells, and walking the path of the arcane, was born in her.

The flames she released split into several streams, flying like dragons. They burned the monsters to ashes and soared into the sky. They even penetrated the withered body of the Hebiginchaku, spewing hellfire.

When the flames entered the "red" in the sky, they spread like ripples.

"Is that... Anastasia, the blood of the high elf royal family...!?"

Amid the roar of the flames, the emperor heard her voice for the first time. It was a sharp, piercing voice that could pierce the empire's greatest enemy.

"Is that not the 'Grand Mage' who stands at the pinnacle of magic...?"

The Reif people could not use the innate magic pearls. Without the easy path of using innate magic, they had focused on technological innovation through magic.

That was why they did not know.

The true power of magic.

The true potential of humans.

The next thing the emperor and his ministers saw on the deck of the "Fertile Sky" was the red sky cracking like glass and shattering in a fantastical scene.

"..."

And at that very moment, the boy lying on the ground let out a small groan and opened his eyes.