Chapter 102
At first glance, it seemed like an endless field of flowers. But upon closer inspection, it was a magically enclosed space, distorted by spatial refraction and perceptual interference.
No matter which direction one walked, they would inevitably end up back where they started.
And that wasn’t the only strange thing.
‘The flow of mana here… it’s something I can’t control.’
Here, she could feel the mana elements flowing like a song, maintaining both a steady rhythm and subtle irregularities. Until now, she had always materialized mana, handling it through calculations akin to formulas.
In fact, even the Great Archmages of this world had only ever used magic in such a manner. However, this flow of mana could not be explained by such definitions.
‘It might be more accurate to transcribe it into a musical score.’
Because it was like a song. Roina raised her hand and reached into the flow of mana. The mana had an image close to golden light, and even when she inserted her hand into its current, it avoided her touch like flowing water before reassembling itself into its own distinct order.
Roina clenched her hand tightly around the mana. The delicate balance wavered slightly, creating a gap in the flow. A cold energy seeped out, and in an instant, the surrounding flowers and grass bore fruit, scattered their seeds, then withered and fell as dead leaves.
As soon as she released the mana, it danced frantically, scrambling back to its original place. Suddenly, the energy of spring began to swirl again, and the spot where fallen leaves had piled up just moments ago was now brimming with lush greenery and blooming flowers. The scattered seeds sprouted, grew taller, and soon blossomed.
‘It’s time.’
Yes, this place was an enclosure where space and time had been frozen at a single moment.
While Roina was lost in thought, something had approached her. A yeti had come to a halt by her side. Unlike its aggressive demeanor outside, here, it appeared docile, as if it would obediently listen to commands.
She reached out to examine what was entwining it. The white fur that met her fingertips was softer and smoother than expected, reminiscent of the fur of a rabbit she had once touched. Closing her eyes, she focused entirely on the flow of mana.
The thick fur and outer body—surprisingly, they did not belong to a living creature. The energy was the same as Quies’. It was certain now that this was Quies’ true form. However, the energy was so overwhelming that it was difficult to discern what it had originally looked like.
“Hmm……”
“Roina!!”
It was then that a sharp voice rang out—Maili’s.
Roina, who had been focusing with her eyes closed, was startled to the core. Her concentration shattered, and just as she was about to grasp the yeti’s true form, she lost hold of the crucial thread. Her consciousness was abruptly yanked away by someone’s interference.
“Kuwoooooong—!!!”
A roar, akin to a scream. As Roina’s blurred vision refocused, she saw a golden-haired knight standing with a sword drawn.
The yeti, now enraged after being struck, was rising to its feet with one side of its flesh slashed.
“Are you okay?”
Maili, clad in a white knight’s uniform and wielding a sword, looked truly valiant and magnificent.
But—
“No—!!”
‘Maili, because of you, I’m not okay—!!’
“Kuooooong!!”
As if echoing her words, the monstrous being let out a roar.
Though this space appeared vast, it was, in reality, incredibly confined, making it difficult to put distance between them and the giant.
For Roina, who needed to attack from afar to have any chance of victory, it was a disastrously disadvantageous terrain. She felt a wave of despair wash over her.
“What are you going to do, Maili—!!”
“Uh, huh? Wh-what? Did I do something wrong?”
“Just run!!!”
Thud!
The massive yeti, consumed by rage, rose to its feet.
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