The magic circle on Myra's hand dissipated as her face turned confused.
Cyril froze, observing Selene's golden eyes for a second.
He found nothing but calmness within them.
"Disciple? What are you talking about?"
"Just say no!"
At this moment the door outside was opened, and several mages in white coats ran in.
"They are escaping!"
Myra sharply turned to them and immediately took action.
Dashing in close, she knocked one out with a spinning kick before jabbing the other one in the jaw.
The last one managed to hastily cast a spell, and spheres of pulsating lightning appeared around him.
They quickly flew out at the closest threat, Myra.
She jumped forward, twisting her body to get in between the spheres.
Using her momentum from the jump, she grabbed onto the mage's face, toppling him to the floor.
The head of a man in a white coat crashed onto the stone floor with a loud bang, and he remained motionless.
The spheres of lighting only now hit the wall, leaving some scorch marks behind.
Selene's golden eyes ignored the action a few steps away, completely locked on Cyril.
"You have the qualities to be taught by me. Are you willing?"
The corner of Cyril's eye twitched as he shook his head.
"No, find someone else."
"She thinks she's so strong, huh? We don't need her pathetic help!"
Selene slowly nodded with understanding.
"It's not good to make a decision with haste. I shall join you until you think it through."
Really?
Selene walked up to him and remained motionless.
Each step he took, she would take one too, her face keeping a tranquil expression.
"..."
"What are you doing here, Selene?" Myra sent her a glare as she walked to his side.
Selene, hands behind her back, stared into the distance.
"By enjoying a pleasant breeze without a hurry, one can find a place they belong. Fate brought me here."
She said nothing more.
What?
"We seem to be meeting only weirdos recently..."
"Doesn't matter. Do what you want." Cyril shook his head with dismissal and walked towards the exit.
I only hope she is not a demon.
"Let's go."
As he reached the door, a childish voice full of worry called out.
"Can you please save the others!"
The two kids stared at him with tears in their eyes.
"Dad, mom! Save them, please!"
Cyril calmly listened to their tearful words. The kids fought against their fear, staring at him with hope.
...We need to do something about these kids.
He glanced at Myra.
"Can you lead them outside, back to the village?"
Myra's face turned bitter. She frequently opened and closed her mouth, alternating between Selene, him, and the kids.
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'll be fine."
"..."
Myra bit her lip, hesitating for a while.
Finally, she faced the kids and crouched down.
"Do you trust your older sister?"
The kids nodded.
With that, she turned around to face Cyril with a sheepish smile.
"Can I stay with you after all? I'll protect the kids with no trouble."
He gave her a blank stare, causing her to look to the side.
Huh.
"It's your choice."
Myra quietly clenched her fist in victory. The kids behind her didn't seem against the matter.
At this moment Jack's voice rang out to his side.
"Miss Selene. Your beauty is comparable to the moon's. Could you please remove these unjust shackles from me?"
At some point he exited the cell and sneaked closer to them, his approach unnoticed by Cyril.
"Sneaky thief."
The mysterious woman simply ignored the plea, the serenity of her golden eyes unchanged.
Jack's flattering smile froze on his face before he whispered with exhaustion.
"Why am I the only normal person here..."
"This guy..."
Rhamn's annoyed mumble echoed in the prison.
...
Cyril walked down the stone corridor.
Its walls and floor were made of the same grayish rock and were illuminated only by magic lamps in the ceiling, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere.
As the group passed under them, the lights turned momentarily dimmer.
To Cyril's side walked Selene with a serene expression.
To his other side walked Myra, two kids huddled close behind her.
Behind all of them walked Jack, his hands still in shackles. He curiously observed the malfunctioning magic lamps with a raised brow.
"...Should we get rid of Jack at least? His annoyance is too detrimental to my well-being."
He is keeping himself quiet, so it's fine by me.
In total silence, the group soon reached another door.
Without any second thoughts, Cyril forced it open and stepped inside.
There, mages in white coats took cover behind an overturned table.
"There they are!"
With a shout, they all began casting spells, magic circles soon colored Cyril's whole view.
"...!"
Just as he wanted to dash out of the room, someone stepped in front of him.
Selene, her hands behind her back, stood nonchalantly in front of the spells thrown by the mages.
There were spheres of lightning, fireballs, and bolts of ice, as well as simple bolts of blue light.
Just as they were about to hit her body, Selene gently waved her arm.
As if caressing the surface of the water, her hand went through every spell.
And, suddenly, all of the spells disappeared like they never existed in the first place.
"What!"
"Who is that!?"
The mages stumbled backwards, their faces pale.
A few of them immediately ran away, disappearing behind another door leading deeper.
Selene, paying them no attention, turned towards Cyril.
"What about this demonstration? Have you made your choice now?"
"Yes, I have. Find someone else."
Selene's golden eyes gazed at him for a few seconds before she calmly nodded.
"I've been too hasty. Perhaps a more substantial demonstration is needed?
She turned back at the mages, who were desperately casting more spells at the moment, and shook her head.
"...These are unsuitable."
With that, she completely ignored them.
The corner of Cyril's eye twitched as he went past her, dashing forward.
Picking up the overturned table, he hurled it forward, hitting all the mages at once.
While they were falling over, he jumped near them and knocked them out, one by one.
The last mage's face turned paler as he approached, with tears glistening in his eyes.
As Cyril stood near him, he raised his leg in a stomping motion.
The mage flinched and closed his eyes as a loud bang suddenly echoed in the room.
The man cautiously opened his eyes, only to discover a crack in the stone right next to his head.
Tears started flowing from the man's eyes as he shakily observed Cyril looking down on him.
"Tell me about this place."
Instead of replying, the mage suddenly lost consciousnesses, his eyes rolling back into his head.
"...?"
"Did he faint from fright...? Pathetic."
Cyril awkwardly stepped away and looked at the only other door in this room.
It's fine. Not like we don't know where to go.
With that he turned to look at the rest of the group, noticing Jack crouching near the children.
"Hey, lads." He had a beaming smile as he whispered, "Could you look through the pockets of these mages and see if any of them has a key? I'll give you something good if you do."
The kids shook their heads and walked closer to Myra, attracting her attention.
"What are you doing, thief!?"
She slammed him on the head and walked away, taking the children with her.
"Stop struggling. You are going to jail once this is over."
Jack shook his head, whispering to himself, "Tsk, it's painful, you brute..."
Then he shot Cyril a look. "How about this then? I'll tell you something I know about this woman." He motioned with his head towards Selene.
Her serene golden eyes finally moved, gazing at the thief.
"...In exchange for removing your shackles?"
"Yes! They are unbearable!"
Cyril pinched his chin, observing Selene's reaction.
"First tell me what it is."
Jack's mouth twitched before he made a friendly smile.
"I seem to have heard there is an archdemon who can deflect spells with their bare hands. Sounds familiar, right?"
Cyril frowned, sending Selene a look.
The woman in a loose robe stared at the thief for a second before replying, her voice serene as ever.
"You are thinking of Alcaeus, a demon who recently attacked the Tower."
"I will not deny that my technique is similar to his. That's from whom I learned it, after all."
Myra immediately tensed up, her eyes turning sharp.
After a quick spell, her hand glowed in bright white, forming a claw.
Cyril glared at Selene, feeling tense internally.
Jack was somehow surprised as well, staring blankly.
However, the woman herself remained unperturbed, still standing with her hands behind her back.
"There is no crime in learning from another." Her voice was tranquility itself.
"Like we have learned fire magic when observing a phoenix, can we not also learn from the demons? Power itself knows not of good and evil."
"..."
The sharpness in Myra's eyes reduced by a level, though her gaze remained vigilant.
Jack shrugged before sending Cyril a docile, expectant smile.
"...That was an obvious attempt at sowing chaos. Don't release this idiot."
At this moment Selene walked towards Cyril, making a slight smile.
"I see you liked the sound of my words. What do you think of becoming my disciple?"
A frown formed on his face as he turned away.
"I refuse."
With that, he entered through the door leading deeper.
"More time is needed, I see." Selene nonchalantly followed after him, as did Myra, with two children behind her.
Ignored, Jack's face turned dark as he slowly walked after them.
"Hey, what about me... Tch, damn nobles."