Count Gressil’s heart thundered inside his wheezing chest as he pushed his horse harder and harder. A fireball whooshed over his head, barely missing him by a few inches.The woods were burning around him and the Flame Demon had its eyes locked on its new target. All Count Gressil could do was keep his head down and spur his horse at full tilt.Although sluggish and cumbersome, the Flame Demon’s elemental attacks allowed it to easily take down fleeing targets. Thus, even when it was lumbering through the burning foliage like an oversized troll, its fireballs were shrieking past the Count, making him change directions ever so often to avoid being roasted alive.Following the snaking path threading through the woods, Count Gressil did his best to steer his horse through the bushes and shrubs to block the Flame Demon’s vision and throw it off target. It worked for a while, but the Flame Demon suddenly slammed its fists into the ground, unleashing a wave of flames that obliterated the lea
The guilt of not being able to save his people as Ignar was raided by the undead hung heavily on his drooping shoulders. It was as if he could feel those dying souls breathing down his neck, asking questions to which he had no answers.As another fireball took out the last watch tower, Count Gressil was shaken up from his dreadful nightmare. He could see the wooden gates of Avondale in the distance and the village seemed completely defenseless.King Reginald had ordered his patrolling guards to withdraw to the city and even the few sorcerers protecting the village had vanished after the attack on Cekunia. Only a makeshift militia watched over the village, protecting it from wild animals and bandits. But the threat marching toward the small settlement was far greater than a band of plundering barbarians.The Flame Demon continued its steady march up the road, occasionally stopping to destroy the windmills and abandoned cottages strewn across the plains.As the night grew darker, the mo
Cooled by the water blasts, the Flame Demon lost its ability to cast fireballs and other ranged elemental attacks. As its core temperature dropped, the magma flowing through its body hardened, causing it to become heavier and more sluggish than before.By nullifying its long-ranged fire attacks, Ezra had temporarily saved Avondale from going up in flames. However, the demon still posed a tremendous threat, even without its special abilities.The necromancers had bound the demon to Zepheroth’s staff, compelling it to obey their will, and their orders were clear: the Flame Demon’s goal was to cause as much destruction as possible and obliterate every living settlement standing in its way.Although Ezra and Count Gressil had attacked the Flame Demon, it chose to ignore them and continued walking toward the village.“Get the hell back!” Ezra pulled out his legendary sniper rifle and loaded it with a Doom Strike bullet. He aimed for its head and took his first shot.The bullet shot out of t
Ezra quickly flew up and fired a charged magic bullet at the Flame Demon, but the blue flash disappeared inside its flaming body, leaving it completely unscathed.Instead of going after Ezra, the Flame Demon turned around and set its blazing eyes on the village. As the villagers trembled in terror, the demon spread its claw-like fingers and conjured three fireballs at once.“Get away from the damn village, you damn bastard!” Count Gressil shouted and flew up. Switching to his Blunderbuss rifle, he fired a volley of Frost Bite rounds at the demon, but the icy globules melted in seconds as they flew toward the demon.Ignoring its attackers, the Flame Demon pointed at the village on the ground, causing all three fireballs to rain down from the sky like burning meteors.“The light is my shield!” Tanya’s voice rang out from below as she stood in the middle of the village, holding an ancient silver scepter with both hands.The fireballs screeched and exploded overhead, but instead of strikin
The villagers burst into tears as the Flame Demon’s body was blown to bits. They had mentally prepared themselves to meet a burning end, but Ezra and Tanya had swooped in like guardian angels and saved Avondale from destruction.Though much of the village had been charred by the flames and several shacks and cottages lay in ruins, the children were safe, and only a few men had sustained minor injuries. As Ezra landed on the ground and set foot inside the village, the village chief, an old man with a shabby gray beard, hobbled forward to greet him.“Who are you, kind stranger? Did His Majesty send you to save us?” the old chief asked before turning to Tanya. “You must be Ishani’s priestess…but you look far too young to be a part of her flock. Are you also from Magaravia?”It was clear from his words that the villagers had never heard of them before. Despite living so close to the capital, it seemed they were cut off from the rest of Valaria and had no clue about what was happening beyo
The news of a Flame Demon being spotted near Avondale quickly spread through Magaravia, and the courtiers even heard whispers of an unknown hero defeating the demon and saving the village. However, since Ezra had requested the villagers to keep his identity a secret, not even the best spies in the capital could come up with a name. There were several speculations in each noble circle, but the involvement of the Romanovs did not come up even once since everyone knew that the family had been massacred in Aranor.Meanwhile, inside the mansion in Verdant Gardens, Count Gressil and Ezra freshened up and gathered at the meeting table upstairs to discuss their next course of action. Tanya and Glenn also joined them after dismissing the attendants and knights.“If the necromancers have been successful in summoning a demon once, it is quite plausible that they will try to do this again. We were able to stop the Flame Demon this time, but I don’t think we will fare too well against multiple dem
The following morning, Tanya woke up at the stroke of dawn and reached Ishani’s Shrine on Bolter Street before its doors could open. On the steps of the shrine, Tanya met the High Priestess and accompanied her to her inner chambers. Here, in the presence of the sworn priestesses, she was safe from conspirators and spies and could confide her secrets to her spiritual sisters.Princess Aleena was expected to visit the shrine in the early hours of the morning to avoid the public eye. But she was always accompanied by her chambermaid and music instructor to keep her safe.“I want to meet Princess Aleena, sister. Please help me out,” Tanya requested with humility, taking the High Priestess’ hand in hers. “The matter is urgent, and if you help me, it would greatly benefit the kingdom.”The High Priestess was a wise old lady with a calm demeanor and a face crisscrossed with wrinkles. But despite her sweet nature, she could be severe when it came to dealing with those who strayed from the pat
Lying in the house of the Goddess was one of the highest of sins, but Tanya knew she was doing this for the greater good, so she prayed for Ishani’s forgiveness and eased herself into her new role.“Welcome to the Veiled Chamber, my child. Remember, the Goddess listens to all our problems and answers all our prayers. Unburden your heart and be free,” Tanya spoke in an altered voice, doing her best to sound as detached and austere as possible.Aleena took a deep breath and lowered her head. Her voice cracked as she opened her lips to speak.“I…don’t know what’s happening anymore. Someone attacked my father a few nights ago, and now he refuses to leave his room. It feels like everything is falling apart around me, and all I can do is watch like a helpless lamb trapped inside a pen.”Tanya realized she had guessed correctly about the princess’s life when she had first seen her. Aleena wasn’t happy in the palace and had little freedom to do anything without being guarded by her protectors.