MLWP 56

Chapter 56

“Huff—!”

Fleir leapt over a fallen tree that blocked his path, holding his breath. His legs burned from running full-speed through the ruined forest trail, but he couldn’t stop now. From somewhere not far behind the place he’d been hiding, there came a tremendous crashing sound—an unmistakable sign of collapse. His usually dull instincts screamed at him with rare sharpness.

“…Silia!”

When he arrived, a massive hole gaped open in the earth. His heart dropped along with it.

He didn’t believe she’d go down so easily—but still.

Before he could get any closer, voices echoed in the distance—people murmuring and shouting. Fleir crouched down, hiding among the debris of shrubs. He remembered Silia’s words: She was supposed to come alone. To show himself now, after she had insisted on that, would be…

“…Even in a situation like this.”

Something hot welled up in his chest. Even when she might be in danger, even now, he couldn’t step forward. Because she had asked him not to.

Maybe she was in trouble down there right now.

“……”

He clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white. Soon, what looked like servants and guards arrived, circling the hole and shouting down into it. They edged dangerously close to the rim. Only a hollow echo answered from below.

Whoooosh—

Then—

“…Everyone, step back!”

Fleir broke his promise and jumped to his feet, shouting as loud as he could.

Meanwhile—

“So much for variables,” Silia said with a crooked smile.

“Yeah,” Cronnel agreed, “even I didn’t see this one coming.”

“Silia! Be careful!”

Cronnel tried to pull Silia behind him, but she caught his arm and shoved him behind her instead. Her grip tightened instinctively.

“You be careful.”

Before them loomed a massive flying beast—its wings alone as wide as four grown men standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Its lower body was leonine, its head and wings avian, and its tail serpentine.

“…A griffon mimic?”

A creature said to have existed in ancient times—a hybrid monster of the skies.

Silia clicked her tongue. “Listen. Don’t fight that thing. It’s too dangerous.”

Cronnel looked puzzled, but the weight in her voice made him freeze. He could tell this warning was unlike her usual teasing.

I can’t let him fight a flying beast.

She remembered—the sight of a blond man barely clinging to a falling creature’s back, plunging like a lonely meteor. A man she’d wanted to save but couldn’t.

That had to be Cronnel.

That was how the Second Prince met his end—dragged into a battle he didn’t belong in, fighting to the bitter end. Reckless, irreverent, and foolishly brave… but when it mattered, he always stood his ground.

Her chest tightened. She didn’t want to see it happen again. She couldn’t bear it. She refused to.

This time, she could reach him. She would.

Her grip on his arm burned hot with the pounding of their hearts—fear, adrenaline, and something else.

She realized it clearly now: she had grown addicted to this foolish man’s kindness.

…Maybe a little too much. Which is why, when she’d suspected him before, it had hurt so much.

She wouldn’t watch him die again. Not this time.

Even if it was selfish, she would protect him. Whatever it took—this lifetime would end on her terms.

“I’m not planning to die a meaningless death,” she said coldly. “And I won’t let you die one, either.”

Silia aimed her slightly damaged sword, Periot, at the griffon. When she unleashed a strike of aura, the beast dodged with startling speed, soaring upward.

The blade trembled in her hands—cracks spiderwebbed through the center. A small notch still hadn’t fully mended.

Did the restoration not finish?

She fired again. The aura sliced across the griffon’s left wing—just barely grazing it.

“Kreeeeeahhh!”

Screeching, the beast dove, slamming toward them like a falling mountain. Silia grabbed Cronnel and leapt toward the wall, landing on a jutting ledge just as—

BOOM!

The griffon’s impact tore through the spot they’d just vacated. Its glinting eyes snapped toward her. Silia clicked her tongue again, leaving Cronnel in the alcove before dropping back down.

“Sili—!”

“Stay there!”

There was enough space to keep him safe. Down below, he’d only get caught in the fight.

The griffon didn’t immediately charge—its darting pupils studied her, cold and calculating.

“Come on then!” she taunted.

“KIEEEEEEHH!”

The beast screeched as her aura sliced its right wingtip. It crouched suddenly—preparing to leap.

It’s going to launch itself up and dive straight at me.

She raised her sword to block, but—

“Kiek!”

It whirled and charged the opposite direction instead—toward the tunnel where they had entered.

Crash!

The massive body rammed through the doorway, shattering it completely.

“What the hell—”

Wait.

That direction… leads to the hole we fell through.

And above that hole were—

“…!”

Realization hit her the same instant Cronnel shouted:

“Go! I’ll follow!”

“But you—”

“I’ve got one emergency teleport scroll left! Just go!”

“Unbelievable!”

Silia didn’t waste another second. She sprinted after the beast. The griffon shot through the narrow passage like an arrow, reaching the bottom of the pit in moments.

“KIEEEEEHHHH!”

Its deafening roar echoed up the chasm—enough to make any civilian faint on the spot. Then it launched upward—

“Where do you think you’re going, featherbrain?!”

Silia dashed in, driving Periot deep into its hind leg. A piercing shriek rang out, but the beast didn’t slow—it continued its wild ascent.

“Stop!”

She buried her sword deeper, but the griffon refused to halt. Her lips tightened, and arcane marks flared to life along her arms.

“If that’s how you want it… fine!”

Spikes of magic formed at her fingertips, shooting toward the beast. Some missed, exploding against the cavern walls, but several struck true, embedding in its torso.

“Yeah, that’s it—!”

Then, light flooded her vision.

The open sky. And above the pit—people clustered around.

“Move!” she shouted.

The griffon’s jaws lunged toward a terrified servant—

“…Everyone, back!”

Someone shoved the servant aside, stepping into the monster’s path.

“It’s dangerous!” Silia screamed—

The griffon’s beak snapped—its victim barely dodged, countering with a slash that tore across its muzzle.

Fleir.

The beast retaliated instantly, its claws raking across Fleir’s arm and chest.

“You’ll get yourself killed! Move!”

Silia’s blood ran cold.

He almost lost his head… just like before.

Not just Cronnel—Fleir too. In her previous life, he had died by decapitation.

“Silia!”

“I said MOVE!”

She severed the griffon’s tail and landed beside him as the beast screamed, spinning wildly in pain.

Thankfully, Fleir didn’t seem fatally wounded—thanks to the armor she’d insisted he wear earlier. Casting a binding spell toward the monster, she yelled again,

“Get out of the way—it’s dangerous!”

“And you’re not?”

“This isn’t about me!”

“It is about you,” Fleir said firmly, his voice shaking.

For once, he didn’t back down. He reached out, grabbing her hand—and only then did Silia notice the blood dripping from it, her palm torn open from gripping her sword so tightly.

“I know,” he said softly. “I always trust you. But still…”

Without another word, he ripped a strip from his already-torn sleeve and quickly wrapped it around her hand, knotting it tightly. His movements were practiced—steady.

When he finished, he briefly clasped her hand between both of his.

“I’ll evacuate the people. Please…”

His eyes were earnest—truly worried.

“…Take care of the rest.”

He let go and sprinted toward the servants.

Silia turned back to the griffon, which had already broken free from her spell, spreading its wings once more—turning its gaze toward the horizon.

She didn’t hesitate. She leapt, grabbing onto its back as it launched into the sky.

“Where do you think you’re—” she began, but then her expression hardened.

She recognized the direction it was flying.

“…The capital,” she hissed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”