Chapter 46: Lilia of the Demon Village
A month before Heavenly Paradise received the quest...
The skies above the small mountain village of Delmira were stained red—not from the sun, but from the fires of war. The villagers ran in fear as monstrous demon creatures with pitch-black skin and bone masks poured in from the surrounding forest.
People screamed.
Buildings burned.
But not all hope was lost.
Standing in the middle of the chaos, bruised and bloodied, was a girl with ash-white hair, a cracked staff in one hand and a child in the other.
> Lilia.
She glared at the incoming demon beasts—each three times her size, oozing with cursed mana—but her stance didn't break.
She pushed the child behind her.
> "Don't look back. Run."
The creature lunged.
Lilia spun, channeling her mana in a broken circle.
> "White Flame Barrier!"
A massive light-blaze shield erupted around her, pushing the demon back. But her spell broke halfway—her mana nearly empty.
> "Tch... not yet…"
She breathed heavily and ran toward a ruined house, dragging three injured elders with her. Despite her weakened state, she was the only fighter left in the village.
---
Lilia's Past: The Forgotten Spark
Lilia had once been part of a Drifter trainee program, same year as Ruke—but dropped out when her village was attacked years ago. Everyone thought she was gone, even Ruke.
But she had survived.
She trained alone using old drifter notes and awakened a rare form of light-magic, which could weaken demons.
> "If I fall here, no one will protect them. I won't let them take another soul."
As the third wave of demon beasts arrived, Lilia's arms trembled. Her staff cracked further.
The ground quaked.
More were coming.
---
Whispers of the Demon War
Outside the village, the demons weren't acting like wild monsters. They were organized, even… strategic. Strange glowing demon sigils burned into the trees, and dark energy pulses flowed like a signal.
> In the shadows, a robed demon knight watched.
> "Still no Demon Lord… but we are readying the zones. This village is only the beginning. One of the Drifter paradises will fall."
The coming war was being planned. Quietly. Slowly. This wasn't chaos.
> This was preparation.
---
Lilia's Last Stand
Back in the village center, Lilia stood in front of the last shelter. Five villagers, three kids, and two wounded fighters huddled inside.
Demons surrounded them.
She held her staff tight.
> "I won't let this be my last breath. Not yet... Ruke… you better still be alive."
She raised her broken staff—
> "Light Nova: Scatterburst!"
A blinding explosion of white energy burst from her, stunning every demon in a 50-meter radius. Her nose bled. Her body dropped to one knee. But the light still held.
> Enough time… for help to arrive.
---
Meanwhile: Heavenly Paradise Receives the Quest
Back at the Arcane Drifters Headquarters, a scroll burst open in flames. The urgent call of a Class-B emergency was displayed:
> "Unknown demon siege in Delmira Village. Survivors present. One signature matches former Drifter candidate: Lilia."
Ruke's eyes widened.
> "Lilia…?"
He stood immediately.
Shen, Kenya, and Eliz looked over.
> Shen: "You know her?"
> Ruke: "Old friend. Thought she died years ago…"
> Kenya: "Then what are we waiting for?"
Eliz already had her coat on.
> "Let's go."
---
Ending Scene: Dark Winds Gather
Back in the burning village, Lilia collapsed to her knees as more shadows approached. She whispered softly, clutching a small pendant—
> "I did all I could…"
Suddenly—
> A roar of thunder echoed from the skies above.
A shadow dropped from the clouds with a crash, followed by fire and lightning.
Help had arrived.
But that's for the next chapter.