The air changed in an instant.
The monster's dark aura felt cold at first. Then, heat crept in, like the summer sun warming your skin. But this heat was not just temperature—it was power. A burning, burning, dominating power.
From behind the fog and debris of battle, a woman emerged.
Her red hair flowed in chaotic waves, fluttering like a living flame. Each strand was like a dancing ember. Her gaze—sharp, penetrating, like a fire that never goes out.
With one step, the ground seemed to crack under the weight of her authority. The air hissed and vibrated. Heat spread, and in an instant, the wounds on Laguna and Eve's bodies healed.
"Sis... sister?" Laguna's voice trembled. His eyes widened when he saw that woman.
[Lina Ashford]
Race: Human
Skill: Phoenix Flame SS, Pyrokinesis SS, Overdrive S, more...
Str: 15
Vit: 20
Agi: 15
Int: ???
Wis: ???
Luk: 50
Lina shot her little brother a brief, cold glance, like flames deciding what to burn.
Without saying a word, she snapped her fingers at Monster Harvey.
FWOOSH!
Dozens of fire arrows appeared around her. The flames danced and roared like living creatures, begging us to release them. In an instant, they all shot toward Harvey.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Attacks showered the monster's body. Pieces of its body exploded, burned, melted, and then re-coagulated. Black smoke filled the cave, yet Harvey stood tall. His body was burned in several spots.
He roared, trying to hold back, but the fire refused to go out.
"Hoo... You're quite tough," Lina muttered with a thin smile that almost resembled mockery.
She raised her right hand. A golden magic circle lit up in front of her palm—spinning, echoing like an ancient song.
Lina reached for the magic circle as if she were grabbing a sacred weapon. With one light movement, she snapped her fingers again.
"Phoenix's Wrath."
The world seemed to stop for a moment. The fire no longer came from outside, but from within.
Harvey's body began to ignite from within. His eyes widened as he felt the unbearable flames eating away at every cell in his body. The fire was not just heat—it was a curse, a spiritual burning, a purification from within.
SHRRAAAKKK!!!
The monster roared and crashed into the cave walls. Still, the fire burned on, destroying anything that tried to grow back. It was as if every cell that was reborn was immediately devoured by the phoenix.
Laguna and Eve could only watch with bated breath. This power... was beyond their comprehension.
A few seconds later, Harvey was no longer visible. A black orb, which continued to burn in the dying golden flames, was all that remained.
Lina stepped closer. The flames seemed to move aside to make way for her. As she reached for the orb, its color changed—from jet black to bright blue.
She lifted the orb, stared at it for a moment, then turned away.
Her steps were steady and determined, as if the fight had been a formality.
Laguna rose, still trembling.
"Th... Thank you, Sister...!" he called out while bowing in respect, his eyes glistening with tears.
Lina stopped in her tracks. She turned, taking her time; her eyes focused on Laguna. She didn't show any anger.
"If you want to thank me..." her voice was calm, deep, yet filled with a pent-up fire, "thank Julia."
She walked away, leaving Laguna hunched over. Awe, confusion, and questions filled her heart.
*******
A few days before the fight with Harvey...
Julia rode her horse fast, kicking up dust. The pale purple shadows of night faded almost completely. Her heart was pounding. She had to return to the Ashford residence without delay.
From a distance, a troop with the Ashford flag flying could be seen. In the middle of the troop, a familiar horse-drawn carriage made Julia's chest rumble.
"That... That's Lady Lina's carriage!" she whispered in relief, almost in disbelief.
Without thinking, she immediately approached. A group of guards formed a barrier in her path. Their spears were raised, and their eyes were alert.
"Who are you?!" one of the guards snarled in a loud, sharp voice.
"I... I'm Julia! A servant from the Ashford Lagoon! Please... I must see Lady Lina!" Julia's face was pale, her breath hitching. The panic was palpable.
One of the guards spat on the ground. "A servant from that trash? No way! The lady is resting; get lost!"
"Please! This is about Master Laguna's life! Lady Lina! It's me, Julia!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice hoarse with tension.
"How dare you disturb the Lady's rest! Are you going to kill us all?!" The guard pointed his spear at Julia's face, the tip only inches from her eyes.
Suddenly... WHOOSH! The spear erupted in flames, catching everyone off guard.
"Our lives are over..." one of the guards muttered, his face pale.
From inside the carriage came a soft but undeniable voice, "Let her in."
The guards immediately fell silent. They looked at each other, confused and afraid.
"Please, Miss..." said one of the guards in a very polite tone. He bowed with great respect and escorted Julia to the carriage.
As soon as Julia got inside, she was greeted with a warm hug.
"Julia!" Lina exclaimed with teary eyes. Her flowing red hair seemed to dance with the embers around her. "It's been a long time since we met..."
Julia was stunned, her body stiff in the embrace. But she soon came to her senses and took a deep breath. "Lady... I came with an important message from Master Laguna!"
Lina released the hug and looked at Julia with a soft expression. "What's wrong?"
Julia explained everything that had happened. About Harvey. About the cave. About how critical the situation Laguna was facing was.
But after hearing everything, Lina stared out the window with a vacant expression. "I'm sorry, Julia. I can't interfere..."
Julia was silent. But her determination was burning. She knelt down. Even prostrated herself.
"Please... I beg you, Lady. Master Laguna... he needs your help."
Lina was shocked. "Julia! Wake up! Why are you like this to my stupid little brother?!"
"Because he means a lot to me!" Julia looked into Lina's eyes, full of conviction. "He's not stupid, lady. He just feels guilty... since the departure of the Grand Lady. But he's changed. He's started to stand on his own two feet. He can even make magical tools and magic scrolls."
Lina averted her gaze. "Hmph. Do you think I'll believe you just because you say so? A magic scroll? That's no small thing, Julia. Do you know how expensive one scroll is?"
"I know! But I'm not lying! If Lady doesn't believe me, go see him yourself! Ever since he left the main house… Lady hasn't really seen him again, right?!"
Lina narrowed her eyes. Julia's face was flushed with emotion; her cheeks were puffed out.
Lina pinched Julia's cheek without warning. "Still the same as before; easy to get angry."
Julia was surprised; her eyes filled with tears. "Lady…?"
Lina chuckled. "Alright… But remember, I'm doing this because of you, Julia. Not because of that stubborn little brother of mine."
"That's more than enough..." Julia whispered, smiling with relief as tears began to fall.
*******
Lina's footsteps faded as she climbed the stairs. The scorched air hung around, still lingering. Laguna was still in a hunched position, his body trembling with exhaustion and emotion.
A light slap on the shoulder jolted him into realization.
"Wow... Your sister is so beautiful. And she's... powerful. "Unlike his little brother, who only fights with money—magic scrolls," Eve teased, a playful smile on her face."
Laguna elbowed Eve's stomach, causing his face to turn red. "Shut up!"
"Ouch!" Eve held her stomach and laughed, "Look, my sweet little brother is angry."
Without responding further, Laguna stepped up the stairs. His steps were heavy, but he kept moving forward. Eve followed him from behind, her grin mischievous.
The long stairs seemed endless until finally a faint light began to greet them. Fresh air replaced the heat that had been burning their skin.
As soon as they broke through the light and reached the surface, Laguna didn't have time to say anything. A warm hug immediately greeted him. His exhausted body leaned back.
"Master...! Thank God you're safe..." Julia's voice trembled, her hug tight, full of worry and relief that exploded into one.
Laguna released the hug with reluctance. "Thank you, Julia..."
His body went limp without warning. Laguna's head rested on Julia's shoulder. He fell asleep almost immediately in her warm embrace.
"Master?! Master! Wake up! You're so heavy! Master!!" Julia panicked, half-annoyed, half-laughing.
Inside her luxurious horse-drawn carriage, Lina sat staring out the window. The morning air was still warm with the remaining scent of burning magic.
A guard approached with several pieces of burnt paper in his hands.
"Lady Lina, we found it. As you ordered."
He handed over a torn piece of magic scroll that looked used and burned at the edges.
Lina took her time to accept the piece. Her eyes stared at it with intense focus, as if weighing the mixed feelings in her chest.
"Unbelievable... So, he really... managed to create this?"
Her eyes were still staring at the sheet before he finally looked out the window.
The sun rose, casting a reddish-orange light across the morning sky.
"I think... I was too hard on him..." she whispered softly. His voice faded almost completely in the morning breeze from the train window.
But for the first time in years, his eyes softened as he stared at the sun.