Chapter 10: Get stabbed by a knife

As the veil unfurled, a peace like a lie settled over us.

The thin film-like sensation on my skin and the presence beyond the forest vanished, leaving my body feeling lighter.

“Much better… And, take a look at this?”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Thea pointed with a brightened smile at the light streaming from the center of the circle.

“Those white strands blending into the golden light—are they yours?”

Too opaque to be called holy power, and slightly dark—or murky—they merged into her gold.

The light grew brighter, resonating as if in harmony, spreading outward.

It was beautiful.

And it matched perfectly.

The sight of two different energies filling each other without a single discord felt as if God Himself had permitted it all, bringing a smile to my face.

“Pretty.”

As soon as the word slipped from her lips, the veil shimmered briefly in response.

Then, a dazzling piece, like a flower petal, fluttered through the wall and descended.

When it touched my skin, all the fatigue from the uninvited guest’s intrusive surveillance washed away.

This was a new miracle.

“This is…”

Thea, too, touched the petals, marveling as I did.

Not merely amplifying one effect by infusing desire into desire, but discovering that a single miracle could hold multiple effects.

At least, it seemed to have two effects for us.

Blocking unpermitted external miracles…

And restoring vitality to those within the veil.

As she approached, holding a petal and smiling at me, I raised the corners of my mouth and spoke a sudden thought.

“Thea, if we shared this with others…”

Surely, we could save more people.

If we covered hospitals and battlefield outposts with this barrier, we could save more lives.

Those guarding it could fight with greater vigor.

“We can’t do that.”

But she gently shook her head, scattering the petals into the air.

The golden fragments filling the room slowly faded, gradually revealing her hardened face.

“If the church learned what we did to block that miracle, they’d launch a rigorous investigation, naturally.”

“Our opponent is the child of those among the forest kin’s leaders.”

“Even if familial bonds are faint among us, their social standing remains.”

“It could escalate into a bigger problem.”

I’d sensed an excessive arrogance in Tolpen’s words and actions.

But his status, beyond my expectations, made me a bit afraid.

And the gravity of what we’d done.

“Then…”

“Don’t worry, Evan. They can’t act recklessly either.”

“A leader of their kin, obsessed with a woman, chasing her to the land of short-lived beings, clinging to an exile…”

“Even using miracles to fulfill his selfish desires.”

“If this story spreads, they’re the ones who’ll face greater consequences.”

Crossing her arms, she glanced briefly toward the trees where they were, her face twisting for a moment before stepping toward the window.

“Wait, what are you doing—”

Before I could finish, her face paled, and she threw herself toward me.

…With a jolt that shook the house, I hit the back of my head hard against the wall.

“Let go, let go!”

A dull pain surged from my stomach.

At the same time, my breath burst from my mouth.

“Guh, cough, ugh—”

“Finally awake. I was worried you wouldn’t open your eyes.”

My mind was hazy. A metallic smell filled the air.

“You bastard, I won’t let you off, never! I swear to God—”

“If you’d accepted me from the start, this wouldn’t have happened, Thea. I’m tired of indulging you.”

Her voice, filled with uncharacteristic rage.

Unrestrained, raw emotion allowed me to slowly take in my surroundings… but…

“Ugh, ngh, hrr—”

A throbbing pain in my head muffled the sounds around me, and agony surged from my stomach.

Had I been kicked? Me?

How many times had I been struck?

How badly beaten was I to ache like this, collapsing powerlessly to the floor?

The petals no longer fell.

Instead, I saw erased prayers, elves gathering themselves, and her, firmly held, in my sight.

“Thea…”

The gritty dust coated my nose and throat.

With a parched throat, I barely managed to let my voice reach her.

“Evan, Evan, stay with me, okay? Get up—”

My vision shook violently.

My head tilted sharply to the left, hitting the floor.

“Gah—ngh?!”

Before the pain subsided, my stomach was kicked again.

Nausea rose through my chest, erupting from my mouth.

In front of her eyes.

“I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!!! I won’t let you off, if I get free—”

“Stop struggling and stay still. I’m not even interested in you anymore.”

It was only natural for rage to surge at the shameless man shaking her by the collar.

“But I need to set a precedent. For those I lead, I must leave a clear example, so you—”

Snap.

His words stopped abruptly.

“Eat this.”

Tolpen seemed utterly shocked.

His hand trembled, then moved to his face, brushing his cheek.

And then—

A sharp sound rang out before my eyes.

“Tch.”

“You… dare.”

Her face, red and swollen.

A trickle of blood from her pink lips.

What had happened was painfully clear.

“Thea, ugh—”

The injustice poured upon us was beyond measure.

Slap, her cheek turned again.

This time, without even a scream, she opened her eyes and glared at him.

“Did your mother and father not teach you manners? Well, no wonder you’d say something as absurd as being with a short-lived being.”

At his insult to her…

Committing every sin yet showing no remorse…

My body moved before my mind.

“Lord Tolpen, behind you!”

My feet staggered.

I could barely keep my balance.

My eyes couldn’t see straight.

Yet I lunged forward, stumbling.

Looking at his face now, it wasn’t so impressive.

His face, tangled with emotions, might as well have been a demon’s.

So, putting a bit of holy power into my fist couldn’t be that bad.

Feeling the critical hit strike through flesh to bone, I collapsed to the floor again.

And Tolpen, who tormented her, finally fell to the ground as well.

“…This short-lived filth!!”

But a single punch wasn’t enough, it seemed.

As I caught my breath on the floor, he quickly tried to rise, clenching his fist…

But his pathetic stumble back to the ground, clutching his head, proved my strike had worked.

“Ugh, you, you wretch, what did you…”

A hit to the jaw makes even the biggest stumble.

Priests sent to the field all learn basic self-defense, which made this moment possible.

“Lord Tolpen!”

An elf leaning against the right wall, panting, now charged at me, clutching one arm.

I lunged forward, tackling his waist as he fell.

His slender but firm muscles were felt under my shoulder and arm.

“Damn it, let go!”

Crack, his knee struck my chest hard, but I had no intention of letting go.

The blow was so painful I couldn’t breathe for a moment, but—

“With my plea to Him, I call forth a strand of light to bind you…!”

A thread shot from my sleeve, swiftly tying his arms and legs into a neat knot.

“Argh?!”

The elf, who kept kneeing me, rolled on the floor like a cocoon, hands and feet bound.

I knelt, pounding my chest to catch the breath I couldn’t take.

“Keugh—hng—”

Feeling the twitching arm and leg to my left, I turned quickly, seeing another elf writhing in pain, reaching for me.

As his lips moved frantically, I rolled backward immediately—a wise choice.

A beam of light shot from his hand, leaving a large mark on the wall.

The splintered, crushed wood reminded me of a hideous scene when a beast with a boar’s head rammed a stone wall with all its might.

“Damn… it…”

The backlash from using such a powerful miracle hit him hard.

The elf curled up, panting, and I decided to leave him be.

There was no need to treat an injured foe more harshly.

And I needed to tend to myself.

Catching my rough breath, I touched my throbbing head and bruised stomach…

Unable to bear the pain flowing through my fingers, I let out a ragged breath.

To use a miracle…

To deal with the aftermath later… I had to heal myself now.

I had to keep moving to free Thea from the hands holding her.

Whipping myself into action, I channeled energy into my hand.

But then, a sound reached my ears.

Something I had to hear.

Otherwise, my head wouldn’t have flinched reflexively.

Turning, I saw Thea struggling.

Her face filled with terror, trying to rush to me.

Even the elf holding her looked pale with fear.

Why were they all looking at me like that?

In that moment of wondering…

Crack, a massive impact hit my back.

Had he struck me with his fist?

Or hit me with a piece of scattered wood?

It wasn’t either, I realized, glancing down.

There, piercing through my clothes, now red, was a silver blade.

A blade that had pierced straight through my chest.