Lilia's Tale: Freyja's Endeavor

Chapter 16: Combat

I kept my view as Alice's, monitoring his movement while formulating in my mind a plan to distract him. I needed something that could divert his attention enough from his mindless rampage that he would change direction, but that also didn't trigger him to destroy everything around in chase.

Since my options were limited to goblins, elemental moths and myself, there wasn't really much of a choice. Goblins would be trampled, and having myself as bait would be a bit too risky early on. I had to make do with moths.

We were approaching surprisingly quickly, meaning we would soon be close enough to be in danger. There wasn't much time left for me to decide, so I went ahead and summoned nine elemental moths. In my haste, they didn't have any particular element, however.

They felt somewhat hollow, meaning I had partially failed my spells, but they were corporeal all the same so I figured I simply didn't focus enough for the spell. If anything, it was a welcome benefit as they'd be more willing to suicide themselves onto Jor.

Each moth was instructed to force one of the heads to change direction, hoping that would be enough to make the whole body move. I didn't know exactly how the body's movements were decided with seemingly nine brains, so it was the best idea I had.

They easily went next to their assigned head, but reality quickly caught up to me. Two were literally eaten up very quickly, while four others were burnt to a crisp by Jor's magic. The last three were simply ignored.

I needed a new plan, and quickly. Moths were obviously not enough, the target was too powerful to care and time was running out. I didn't know what else to do except use myself as bait, but that was still too dangerous an option to carelessly choose.

"Skadi, Alice. Do you have any idea to attract Jor's attention? My summons did nothing."

"I'm sorry, Lilia-dono. Nothing comes to mind."

"I could try to do it myself," Alice offered.

"Absolutely not. With what happened to my summons, I can't risk you."

"I guess we only have one choice. Skadi, full throttle ahead, we're baiting him ourselves," I finished out loud.

"WHAT?" she screamed as she suddenly halted. "I will not do that!"

"We don't have any other option. At this rate he'll get to the town before we have any chance at fighting him."

"I cannot put you in danger, Lilia-dono!"

"Then find another solution."

She went silent, seemingly angered at her lack of answer. I knew very well what she was talking about: the only solution I could find was a very reckless one. But we had to do what had to be done.

"If you don't have anything, let's go."

"...No..."

"If you don't want to follow, I understand. I'll go on my own."

I suddenly felt her grip tighten, not wanting to let me go.

"I won't let you. I'm sorry, Lilia-dono, but I cannot allow you to."

"Again, why? We don't have time to bicker between us, we have to do something! We're almost in range of being blasted by his magic!"

"Then let's leave. I can't lose Brother and you so quickly one after another."

I suddenly realised why she was so adamant on not letting me go. And I couldn't even say anything to her about it since she was absolutely right. I was rushing to my own death in hopes of doing what I was told to do.