Chapter 11: The Legacy of Fire
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The battle began with a devastating strike from the demon. Despite its massive size and seemingly clumsy form, it moved with surprising speed and precision. Adiar dodged with ease, but Elmis struggled—her new body had not yet adapted to such battles.
— Elmis, behind you! — Adiar shouted.
Elmis barely managed to deflect the massive club, tumbling to the side.
— Thanks! — she gasped.
Adiar didn’t give the demon a chance for another attack—his sword ignited with a black aura as he leaped into the air. In an instant, one of the creature’s heads was cleaved open like a nutshell. Without stopping, he unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes until the monster was fully decapitated. The demon collapsed with a deafening crash, kicking up clouds of dust and snow.
— Phew… I almost snapped my bowstring, — Elmis muttered, breathing heavily.
— I’d make you a new one, but oh well. Let’s examine it now.
— This bow is special, — Elmis reminded him. — You found it in that temple where you saved me. Unlike normal bows, it can store mana.
They began studying the demon’s remains, methodically cutting through its flesh and organs. After an hour, Adiar finished noting down its weak points in his notebook.
— Adiar, I think we should bury the dead… — Elmis said quietly.
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— Huh? Oh… Yeah, I agree. Otherwise, the rot could cause an epidemic.
There were many corpses, and the task took almost the entire day. Finally, only one house remained. A particularly strong stench emanated from within.
When Adiar entered and moved one of the bodies aside, he was met with an unexpected sight—two children, an elven boy and a beastkin girl, lying huddled together.
— They’re alive! — he exclaimed.
Elmis rushed inside, her eyes widening.
— We need to get them out of here immediately!
Adiar lifted the elven boy while Elmis took the fox-girl into her arms, and they ran into the forest. Finding a spot near a waterfall, Adiar lit a fire.
— I hope they survive… — Elmis whispered.
— Don’t worry. You’re exhausted after the fight as it is.
— If I had my old body… — she sighed.
Adiar looked at her curiously.
— By the way, Elmis. You used to be a man, right?
— Well, yeah…
— You were a general and fought with both a sword and a bow, right?
— Let’s say I did. Where are you going with this?
— Your new body is physically weaker. Why not develop your magic instead?
Elmis frowned.
— I don’t know how to use magic. Except for enhancing armor…
— I can teach you.
Elmis hesitated for a moment.
— Alright… It’s never too late to learn. Let’s try.
— Stand up, stretch out your hand, relax… Imagine fire, water, wind, or earth.
To her surprise, she succeeded on the first try.
— Fireball!
Flames erupted, setting a nearby tree ablaze.
Hours passed. Elmis quickly mastered fire magic until she finally ran out of energy.
At that moment, the elf boy’s finger twitched.
— Adiar! He moved!
— The fox-girl too!
The children slowly opened their eyes. Elmis spoke to them in a language Adiar didn’t recognize.
— You… you’re an elf? And he… is human? — the elven boy rasped.
The fox-girl suddenly jumped up, eyes wide with terror.
— H-HUMAN!
— Calm down, children, — Elmis said gently. — He won’t harm you.
But the boy scowled.
— Humans are evil! They have hunted us for centuries!
Elmis turned to Adiar.
— They’re speaking Tertarian—the language the elves and beastkin created when the hunts against them began.
Adiar thought for a moment.
— Tell them I’m not their enemy… and that I am their future king.
— King?!
— Yes.
Elmis translated his words. The children, though slightly calmer, still clung to her warily.
Elmis furrowed her brow.
"Why was this settlement wiped out completely, except for these two? What really happened here?.. And who exactly is this boy, Adiar?"
Adiar looked at the child
ren.
— Ask them what happened to their village.
Elmis nodded and began questioning them…
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"End of Chapter 11"
