The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 150: Past Events

Vol 2 Chapter 150: Past Events

Pulling Princess Mursa behind her, Sylutia threw away the charred fir spiral lance and a meticulously crafted two-handed sword appeared in her hand.

Originally, she had prepared four gifts for her former friends: a long-handled battle-axe for Ray, a two-handed greatsword for Mick, a short sword for Komea, and a longbow for Karen.

She never imagined that only one gift would be delivered, with the remaining three still in her possession, but they happened to be useful now.

Swinging the greatsword, Sylutia stepped forward, light swirling in her eyes as she locked onto her opponent's movements, dodging the beams shot from Jabers's pupils.

Although Jabers's current rank was likely around 'Fourth Tier · Alien Star', the crudely stacked rank could only be utilized in an extremely clumsy manner in his hands, wasting an unknown amount of power in the process. It was like a skilled artisan using luxurious silk to craft exquisite garments, while in the hands of a complete savage, he would only know to use the silk to start a fire for roasting.

The Threefold Law requires balance. With only power, lacking knowledge and skill, and devoid of practice and trials, a 'Fourth Tier · Alien Star' in such a state was merely crippled.

Facing Jabers's simplistic and monotonous attack patterns, Sylutia understood them completely after dodging a few times. Gripping the white two-handed greatsword, she moved her feet lightly, evading the beams shooting past her sides, and the terrifying pressure brought by his rank had no effect on her.

After effortlessly dodging another attack, Sylutia had already closed the distance. She spun around, the greatsword following the motion of her waist as she swung it down heavily, severing one of Jabers's arms. Eerie blue-purple blood flowed out, mixed with faintly glittering stardust.

Wounded, Jabers's face contorted. His pained howls grew more furious as he continuously intensified his attacks. A few of the beams nearly struck Princess Mursa in the distance. Facing this version of Jabers, the princess tried to awaken his reason, but it was all in vain.'Alien Star' was an exceptionally special Aspect. It represented power not belonging to this world. Ordinary people had no access to 'Alien Star' related phenomena and thus no way to comprehend it. Forcing understanding could lead to mental contamination and derangement.

Prince Jabers had suddenly been flooded with vast amounts of 'Alien Star' power without learning any of its secret knowledge or undergoing any adaptation training. In such a state, his consciousness had long been muddled and lost. Now he was merely acting on some low-level instinct, instinctively attacking anything that might pose a threat to him.

After that, Prince Jabers's attacks became increasingly frantic, but Sylutia found it easier and easier to handle them. She could even see through the flow of energy within his body and the entire detailed process of his beam ability activation. This meant that while Prince Jabers was still locking on and charging, this young woman had already detected it. A slight movement was enough to evade the locked position.

After several attacks, Jabers's aura grew weak. Sylutia stepped forward then, gripping her greatsword tightly, the mark of an oath flashing in her bright eyes.

[Amos's Sword]

The sacred sword sworn to drive out the Twilight Beasts was equally effective against the 'Alien Star' lifeforms, the origin of twisted monsters.

Holy light bloomed from the blade, threads of light swirling within, spreading and blossoming like flowers, covering the entire sword.

Carrying this blade adorned with sacred floral patterns, Sylutia thrust forward with all her might, piercing through the invisible force field barrier before Jabers and stabbing through his chest, bringing forth a torrent of blue-purple blood.

Then she withdrew the blade, pulling out another spray of blood. All of Jabers's power poured out through that wound, his body becoming unsteady as he slowly knelt on the ground.

At this moment, he ceased his attacks. The retreat of the 'Alien Star' Aspect caused his bizarre form to slowly recede, restoring some semblance of his former appearance.

Seeing this, Princess Mursa stumbled over, using both hands to laboriously cradle Jabers's head.

The blue-purple heterochromatic hue faded from his pupils. Jabers finally regained some clarity, but his time was running out. Sylutia's sword had not only pierced his body but also his fate, causing the 'Alien Star' power to drain away.

Everything before his eyes was blurred and hazy. Jabers could no longer see clearly, only hearing Princess Mursa's sobs by his ear.

His chest heaved, another fit of coughing bringing up flecks of blood.

Hearing his sister's cries, his originally contorted face finally softened a little.

"S-sorry, sister."

"I was never as good as my brothers. I could never do things right."

"I couldn't get you back to White Cliff City, to be the most beautiful princess." His eyes were empty, staring at the indistinct night sky.

"Do you remember when we were little? Back when Sister Matisha was still at home. I broke something then. It was the 'Blood Crystal Flower' that Brother Leon brought back for you from the distant coast."

"I was so afraid of being scolded by Father and of you hating me, so I said Iona did it."

"Iona was very beautiful too. Back then, many in the palace said she was even more outstanding than you. I was so resentful, so I framed her."

"She was very proud. She absolutely refused to admit she did it. Over this matter, Sister Matisha even reprimanded her, which ultimately led to her leaving the palace."

"I didn't expect things to get so serious. Because of this, Viscount Caren and Father developed a rift."

"I don't know if the defeat in the 'Windmill Battle' was because of the rift between Viscount Caren and Father. This matter has always weighed on my heart. I never dared to speak of it."

"I'm sorry, sister. Can you forgive me?"

"It's alright. I forgive you." Princess Mursa answered through her tears.

Hearing these words, the expression on Jabers's face completely relaxed. Then he slowly closed his eyes and stopped breathing.

Looking at the gradually cooling body in her arms, Princess Mursa's sobs were choked with grief, her beautiful eyes becoming red and swollen from crying.

Standing nearby with her sword, Sylutia silently listened to Jabers's final words, sighed inwardly, and thought of Iona, who had fought her that night.

If that incident involving Jabers hadn't happened back then, Iona would likely have remained in the palace, growing up as the princess's companion and close friend. Viscount Caren would have maintained unwavering trust with the Grand Duke of Regas, able to give his all in the 'Windmill Battle'. Perhaps the Kingdom of Regas would not have fallen to its current state.

But unfortunately, it was all just 'if'. The flap of a butterfly's wings ultimately led to a chain of unexpected changes.

Outside the vast barrier, the giant three-headed hellhound continued to furiously tear at the barrier, trying to get in. Under its assault, the ritual Magic Arrays' isolating barrier had become perilously thin.

However, at this moment, twelve of the seventeen layers of arrays in the sky had already unfolded. Another dazzling ring of light shot down from the beacon, striking the earth. An invisible Alien Star force field expanded, blasting apart the three-headed hellhound outside the barrier.

Thus, it would take the creature some time to reform its body again.

It wasn't over yet. Sylutia looked up at the sky where clouds were continuously parting. Threads of an external aura seeped through, giving her a strange feeling—both unfamiliar and yet intimately familiar.

At this point, continuing to use the 'Castle' Aspect's progression path to fight was no longer appropriate.

Sylutia took the badge from her battle armor and placed it in Princess Mursa's palm.

"Hold this. It should protect you from erosion within the arrays." She instructed the princess.

Facing this youth who had saved her multiple times, Mursa wiped her tearful eyes and accepted the badge.

"Thank you."

Facing Sylutia, her feelings were complicated. Beyond gratitude, she didn't know how to face her.

After settling Princess Mursa, Sylutia lightly shook her long hair. Her gaze turned towards the distant sky that seemed to be faintly calling to her, and then her figure vanished deep into the arrays.

Alien Star, alien world, her origins, her background—how many answers could she find in this operation?