"I already told you—I'm not going anywhere! Haven't I made it clear that I don't want any of you in my life ever again?"
The woman's voice rang out sharply. Her tone was laced with irritation and impatience, clearly reflected in her stunning yet mature and refined features.
"But... Ms Heather, this is a direct order from His Majesty the Emperor. He is requesting your power—your help. You cannot possibly defy the will of the sovereign, can you? Please, come with us back to the capital,"
the man opposite her stammered, his deep voice trembling with unease in response to her anger.
"The Emperor even promised that if you agree to appear just this once, you'll be granted a choice of any item from his treasure vault.
This is a chance to change your life!"
His words turned increasingly coaxing, sweet with temptation.
But the woman—Kyouno's mother—remained firm.
"No means no. Go back and tell your Emperor: I just want to live in peace with my children. Don't ever come looking for me again."
"That's enough!"
A stern voice cut through the conversation like a blade.
Another man stepped forward, breaking the standoff.
He stood tall and imposing, golden-blond hair falling over part of his cold, chiseled face. His gleaming golden armor reflected the light of the snow, and a sheathed longsword rested against his hip.
He carried himself with an air of command, his eyes narrowing in clear irritation.
"You dare insult the Emperor? Dare to defy his decree?!"
Without warning, he drew his sword, pointing its sharp, gleaming tip toward the woman. His voice dripped with arrogance:
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Julius Aliathur, Third Knight of the Twelve Knight Apostles of the Great Kingdom of Thorvalis.
We have crossed mountain and frost on the direct order of His Majesty, to seek out you, Archmage Irina Heather.
You have been summoned. This is an honor.
If you dare resist the Emperor's will, then—"
His voice turned ice-cold, brimming with killing intent.
"By the name of His Majesty, I will charge you with high treason—
and have your entire family executed."
The words dropped like heavy stone into the air, smothering it in dread.
"You dare…!"
Irina's eyes flared, pupils contracting sharply. Her gaze shifted from frustrated to murderous as she locked eyes with the knight and his men.
But she wasn't the only one burning with fury.
From behind the nearby bushes, another pair of eyes—full of silent rage—was also fixed on the golden-haired knight.
Kyouno.
She and her sister had been hiding and observing the entire time.
Though she hadn't heard the full conversation, she could see the tension in their mother's face—and knew, something was terribly wrong.
Mana whispered in panic, "What do we do, Kyouno?! Mom's in danger!"
"I'm going out there!" – Kyouno gritted her teeth. Her voice rang out with finality, laced with fury and unshakable resolve.
Mana's face went pale. She quickly reached out to stop Kyouno, her voice trembling with panic:
"No! You can't! Don't you see? Even Mom—as strong as she is—still has to be cautious around him…"
She tightened her grip on Kyouno's arm, eyes quivering as they stared directly into her sister's.
"Then how could you possibly stand a chance against him?"
"And besides… Mom told you, didn't she? You're not allowed to use more than two magic elements when dealing with outsiders… Have you forgotten?"
And yet, in response to her—there was only endless silence.
And when Mana turned back, suspicion rising in her chest—
"…KYOUNO!!!"
"Don't worry, I'll only use ice and fire to fight him."
She hurriedly called back in response to her sister's panicked shout, then—
Kyouno, ignoring every ounce of danger, racing toward the armored knight. She threw her hand forward and chanted:
"Ice Spikes!"
Dozens of jagged ice pillars erupted from the ground, shooting straight toward the knight at breakneck speed, too fast for the eye to follow.
And yet—
The knight didn't even flinch. He didn't even look her way.
With a calm expression, he raised his sword ever so slightly and spoke:
"Flame Draco Blade."
"...No way..."
Kyouno's heart sank.
In an instant, as the ice spikes neared him, a blazing spirit of a dragon erupted from his sword.
It roared with fire, devouring everything in its path. The ice shattered into steam and ash, vanishing without a trace.
And then—
the knight turned his full attention to her.
"Who's this brat? Thinks she can sneak attack me?
How foolish."
His cold eyes bore into her. Kyouno felt herself tremble inside.
But even so—she stood tall, staring him down as she declared boldly:
"I am Kyouno Heather, daughter of the woman you're threatening.
I don't care who you are.
But don't you dare lay a finger on my mom!"
"Hoh, is this your precious child, great mage Irina?"
The knight's cold gaze suddenly flickered with a glint of malice.
"Wait—what are you planning to do?
Kyouno, get behind me, quickly!"
Irina's pupils trembled slightly, tense and filled with alarm.
But—
Despite her mother's desperate cry,
Despite the overwhelming pressure emanating from the golden-haired knight,
The young girl, with unwavering determination in her eyes,
Charged forward without hesitation.
"Blazing Speed!"
In an instant, her small figure vanished before everyone's eyes.
The very next moment—Kyouno
Reappeared right behind him.
"Fire Cannon!"
A surprise attack—bursting with power and explosive force.
Yet Julius, just like before, didn't even flinch.
He casually raised the sword in his hand and—
That fiery dragon reappeared,
Effortlessly devouring Kyouno's fireball whole.
Under the stunned gaze of the young girl,
He remained calm and composed,
The corners of his mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"Fighting fire with fire, huh?
Interesting.
But unfortunately for you, that tiny spark of yours—
At best, it's just an appetizer for my fire dragon.
You really think a Novice-Tier fire spell can stand against me—
A Flame Knight who has reached the Ascendant-Tier of the Fire Element?
Ridiculous! Utterly delusional!"
He let out a sigh, exaggerated and full of contempt.
"As expected from the daughter of the great mage Irina—
A rare dual-element mage.
Though you've only reached Novice Tier in fire magic and Adept Tier in ice magic, you're already considered a rare talent in this world.
However..."
His tone turned colder.
"As His Majesty has decreed—
Those with talent who cannot be controlled are just useless trash.
If you and your mother dare defy the Emperor's orders,
Then I shall purge you both in his name."
His arrogance grew with every word,
As if victory was already within his grasp.
And then—within a single fleeting instant, too fast for the girl to react—
He shot forward like a bullet tearing through the wind.
His speed was so blinding that his figure nearly vanished from sight.
"Let me show you... what true flame really is!"
His voice rang out—deep and thunderous, like a roar from the abyss, laced with chilling cruelty.
In the very next heartbeat, he was already standing right before Kyouno—so fast her heart seemed to skip a beat.
"Kyouno!!"
Irina cried out in panic, her hand rising to cast a spell.
But by then, no matter how fast she was… it was already too late.
Kyouno could only stare, frozen, as his blade rose with terrifying force.
"Flame Dragon Sword – Inferno Strike!"
BOOM!
A torrent of fire exploded outward, swirling like a roaring flame dragon, coiling around the sword as though delivering a fiery death sentence.
A strike filled with killing intent and overwhelming pressure, aimed to devour the small figure before it with no mercy, no hesitation.
But—just when it seemed the flames would consume her—
"!!!"
A sudden burst of golden light flared from Kyouno's body, radiant as sunlight piercing midnight, enveloping her in a brilliant halo.
"BOOM!!"
The golden light met the blazing sword head-on—
The explosion echoed like the heavens collapsing.
And then—
A sight no one could have imagined unfolded before their eyes.
The full force of that devastating blow—
Was completely repelled!
As for Julius, the once-arrogant attacker,
He was blasted backward like a severed kite, crashing into the ground and carving a deep, jagged trench through the stone floor.
Dust and debris erupted into the air in a choking cloud.
.....