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I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. No answer came to mind, and while I hesitated, the pressure bearing down on my thoughts began to shift, replaced by shimmering anger.
Why the hell am I afraid of her? Just moments ago, I was confident I could kill her whenever I wanted.
The realization burned through me. I was furious at myself.
Every time someone pressed just a little harder, I backed down. First, it was Roy, then Aria. Even if my restraint had been justified at the time, I had begun to bend too easily. The only one I'd stood firm against was Teryo, and that wasn't enough. I didn't want to spend this life being dragged around by stronger wills.
Not again.
"I serve no god. Only myself," I said, tightening my grip on the blade and shifting my weight forward, prepared for the fight that should have already started.
The moment the words left my mouth, the pressure in my head surged. It wasn't just discomfort - it was force, raw and violent, and within seconds, it had overtaken everything else. My balance faltered. The edge of my vision blurred. I felt the world tilt beneath me, and worst of all, I couldn't act.
I kept telling myself to move. Over and over. Strike now, break the spell, do anything, but the command never reached my limbs. I remained still, eyes locked on her as she stood trembling under the same strain. The runes had started to form across her forehead, one symbol at a time, glowing faintly as they shaped themselves into a pattern I couldn't decipher.
Then, just as I thought the pressure would split my skull, it vanished.
The relief came in a single breath. Then I got dizzy, but it also passed quickly. Across from me, Elisabeth collapsed to her knees, both hands clutching at her head while the glowing script on her forehead pulsed brighter than before. Her body shook from the backlash, but I didn't hesitate.
With my control returned, I stepped forward and drove the blade toward her chest.
"Please, don't…" she screamed, without moving her hands away from her head. "I had to know if you were an enemy of the Father…"
I didn't stop. Her words meant nothing. The blade moved forward, aimed directly at her heart.
But there was no resistance.
No impact.
My arm continued its motion unhindered as the weapon slipped cleanly into a purple rift that had appeared between us, the same spatial trick she'd used to get the bottle of alcohol. I felt nothing but cold air as the steel passed through.
"Let me explain first. We can fight afterward, if you still wish," she said, lowering her hands as the pain seemed to have subsided. Her tone had changed - it was not apologetic anymore, but irritated, like I had overreacted to something minor.
I did not respond. Talking was a waste of time and resolve, as I had already made up my mind. I pulled the blade back from the portal and prepared to strike again. That was when her expression got darker.
"Choose wisely. I let this go because you showed me kindness, and because I started all this. But that debt is paid," as she spoke, the dark, shadowy energy around her began to rise once more. It gathered with weight and purpose, building along her entire body. This time it didn't claw into my mind, it simply pressed outward, surrounding her like armor made from shadow.
She's strong. I might not be able to win in a direct fight.
If she really was a summoner, I'd be outmatched the moment her creatures entered the field. Even her blindness, whatever nature it took, clearly wasn't something I could exploit. She'd redirected my blade without hesitation using that portal - an act impossible for someone who couldn't perceive the world around them.
"Fine. But you owe me," I said through clenched teeth, stepping back without lowering the blade.
She did not respond to my little ego scratching, but the dark aura surrounding her vanished the moment I relented. The tension in her shoulders faded, and that same sheepish smile returned as she leaned back casually, propping herself up with one hand like nothing had happened.
"I'm glad you don't serve any God," she said, tilting her head slightly. "That means you're free to pledge yourself to the Father. And if you do…" she paused, licking her lips, "we can have a lot of fun together."
The sight made the hairs on my arms rise.
"You could've just asked and I'd have answered," I muttered, not moving from where I stood. "Why did you attack me?"
She let out a soft chuckle, as if amused by how little I understood.
"Because I needed to be sure, silly. And technically, I didn't attack you. That spell doesn't harm anyone but me."
As she spoke, another portal opened at her side. She reached into it and pulled out a second bottle, this one filled with a yellow-gold liquid.
"Want some?" she offered, popping the cork out with her teeth and taking a long drink before holding it in my direction.
I didn't respond to the offer. "What was that spell? Did you try to read my mind?"
"Tsk," she clicked her tongue in irritation, her smile thinning.
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she stayed still for a moment, until the runes on her forehead flared faintly before dimming again when she finally started speaking.
"No, I can't read thoughts," she said, wincing like she was in pain. "That spell works by setting a condition. If what you say doesn't match the condition, I lose. The backlash hits me, not you. And while I can't see what you're thinking, the spell can still recognize when someone is lying. It's absolute."
She took another sip, and the tension in her face faded with it. Her expression returned to something lighter, almost casual.
"So, it was a spell to detect if I was lying…" I analyzed out loud. "I'd ask what you were going to do if it turned out I was a believer of some other God, but I'm not sure I want to know the answer." I laughed halfheartedly because as I spoke, I kept analyzing the runes on her forehead. And I noticed that they did not react to my voice now.
Elisabeth did not respond, instead, she changed the subject completely. "Did you know the Tharuun in this forest are weaker compared to the real kind? I read that…"
I wasn't listening.
My eyes were fixed on the runes across her forehead. They shimmered every time I asked a question, then dimmed when she responded. But more than that, each time she answered something directly, one of the runes vanished completely.
Does the backlash force her to answer honestly? Or is this all for show?
I needed to be sure. The next question had to be personal enough to test her, but not so much that she'd lash out.
"Why are you in this dungeon, Elisabeth?"
I asked slowly, watching the markings on her skin.
"Call me Elly," she replied with a faint blush, likely from the alcohol - she'd already emptied the bottle. "Father sent me here. And I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the reason, even if I wanted to."
She winced as she spoke.
This time, the runes didn't fade. If anything, their glow deepened, casting a faint pulse across her skin. She clutched at her temple for a moment, like she was trying to contain the pain.
"How about I answer a different question instead?" she said, her tone losing its playful edge. "Because answering that one would cause problems… for both of us." The smile she gave me was enough of a warning, she wasn't even trying to hide the threat behind it.
"You know, Elly... if you truly want peace between us, you might want to try speaking to me like you mean that," I said, the irritation finally breaking through. "Because right now, every time you open your mouth, it's another veiled threat. Makes it hard to believe you don't want a fight…"
I hadn't meant to raise my voice, but the words came out sharper than intended.
She didn't let me finish.
"I'm sorry," she cut in quickly, but her voice was no longer threatening and cold. It was surprisingly soft and warm as an apologetic smile cut through her expression. "I didn't mean it that way."
The way she said it, so quietly and without any edge, made me pause.
"If anything," she added, lowering her head slightly, "I want to avoid fighting you."
"Alright... are you really a summoner?" I continued, a little bit startled. Still, if a fight with her was inevitable, I needed to know what kind of mage I was dealing with.
"Yes, I am," she replied cheerfully, and another rune faded from her forehead, leaving only two behind. "And just so you know, I never lie."
Those who say 'I never lie' are the least trustworthy people…
"I wanted to make sure," I responded reflexively, as I was weighing my next question, when she started laughing.
"You caught on fast. I didn't think you'd piece it together that quickly." She tapped her finger against her forehead, pointing at the spot where the runes remained. "Two more. Be smart. Some questions might make it... difficult for me to let you walk away."
But just as my expression hardened and was about to rebuke again, she started laughing.
"Haha, I was just joking, silly. Ask me anything," she grinned, until the smile suddenly disappeared from her face. "When are you going to tell me your name?" she asked, pouting a little, and pulled another bottle from the portal.
"It's Avenor," I said, keeping my voice flat. "How can I clear this dungeon? I've been trying to leave, but I can't."
"You're asking the wrong person, A v e n o r," she answered with a grin, weirdly focusing on my name, then took a long drink. "I was trapped for a month, remember?" She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and leaned forward slightly. "One question left. I can suggest a few, if you want help deciding."
She was in good spirits, likely because of the alcohol or because none of my questions had touched anything too sensitive. But there was a reason for that. I wasn't confident I could win against her anymore. And not just her alone. Even if Aria showed up, I wasn't sure we'd come out on top. The magical aura I had felt from her earlier was too powerful.
And that was not even all - the way she used mana, how effortlessly she manipulated spells, there was no delay in her casting, it was almost immediate.
"I know, I know!" she yelled suddenly, raising her voice as if struck by inspiration. "You should ask how I am so good with magic... or why my eyes are stitched shut. Actually, don't ask that. I'll have to kill you. Just joking. Oh, you should ask me what my rank is… haha, I want to hear the change in your voice after you learn how strong I am."
Normally, I'd have brushed this off as useless boasting, but for some reason, I believe her…
Her grin widened, but then her tone shifted again, lips curling in a slower, more deliberate way.
"Or ask me why I want you to embrace the Father..."
Her stare made me uncomfortable once more.
"I don't think I want the answer to that last one," I said, half-joking, hoping to move the conversation in a different direction.
I can't ask anything that might risk a fight, but I still want to know how strong she is.
And just as I began weighing not only what to ask, but how I might eventually get rid of her, a thought formed.
I leaned in slightly, softening my voice just enough to sound pleasant.
"E… Elly, will you help me kill the dragon?"
**
A/N -
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