The Azure Knight

Chapter 16

The monster stared at her. Its fiery green eyes looked very threatening. It made Sera panicked. Without trying to fight, she ran as fast as possible through the forest, no longer following the track. She looked back to see if the monster kept after her or not, but of course, it was. Her heartbeat was out of control each time they were getting closer. Her fear had brought herself to be stumbled and fell down through the hill.

The fall made her clothes were covered with dirt, torn in several parts, and she even got a few cuts from it. Before Sera could get up, the monster was already standing in front of her. It swung its leg and almost pierce her neck if she didn't withstand it by her dagger. There was a big gap between their power. Sera couldn't have won if she kept restraining every attack.

'Look for its weakness.' Vysenna's voice ringing in her head. 'No matter how much stronger your opponent is, it must have a weak point.'

Now that she remembered every lesson she had been through for the past seven years, her fear was slowly gone. She held her dagger using only one hand while she gathered some dirt with her other hand and threw it into its eyes. It was enough to distract the monster, so she could stand up and made the distance.

'Its eyes must be soft enough to stab to, but how could I reach it? Alright. Let's try with the dirt again.'

Sera took some dirt into her hand before she ran straight to the monster. After dodged two attacks, she threw it. She was aiming its eyes. But unexpectedly, the monster dodge it, so the dirt didn't reach its eyes.

'What?!'

She jumped back and decided not to attack. When the clouds of dust stopped, the monster grinned. It made a chill ran down to her spine.

'It must be a high-level monster. How could this kind of monster be here?'

Sera rolled to avoid its attack. Sometimes she only jumped aside and sometimes she used her dagger to withstand its sharp claw. She didn't get any wounds until now, but her strength was almost depleted.

'My dagger is too short and its leg is long enough to catch me before I even reach my target. What should I do?'

Something came to her mind and made her felt like she was the most stupid girl in the world. Magic! She shouldn't be here at first if she was used her magic from the very first time she met that damn monster.

'Seraphine, you really are an idiot!'

But wait... 'My magic is fire. It would cause more trouble if I use it in this dense forest.'

Another idea came to her mind. It was great, but she didn't know how to make it. She never did it before. The monster attacked again, almost ripped her arm if she didn't dodge immediately.

'Damn! Let's do this.'

Without thinking, she gathered her magic on her right hand. Slowly, she let it out from her hand in order to prevent it from bursting out and burned the area around her. She succeeded! A sword made of fire was blazing in her hand. Sera amazed with the thing that she just made with her own magic. It made her let down her guard for a moment.

The monster started to strike again, but she had a new weapon now. Sera swung it and met its claw on the air. Her fire made the monster whined in pain. A new hope raised in her heart. Her next attack became more steady and strong as her confident also raised. Blood splattered each time she managed to injure the monster. Its color was a deep purple and smelled disgusting.

When the monster raised its head to howl, Sera slash its throat. Blood streamed down to the ground. It wasn't a deep wound, but the monster had lost its balance due to losing too much blood. It collapsed, yet still alive.

Panting, Sera walked closer to the weak monster. Its fiery eyes were looked at her with rage. It still trying to kill her. The monster waved its hand to harm her, only to meet her fire in the air. More blood splattered. Some of it even landed on her face and clothes. Without hesitating, Sera lifted her fire sword and piercing it, deep into its eyes.

She fell to the ground when she was sure the monster was dead. Used magic made her exhausted. She decided to rest for a while. Besides, her fire was still burning on its dead body. So, she will wait until the fire was gone before she continued her walk.

'I should show off my new ability.' She mumbled happily to herself.

***

Vysenna was pacing back and forth. "Where is she?" She mumbled.

The restaurant was closed earlier to celebrate Sera's birthday. It was also already decorated with many ribbons and balloons. It should have made you felt warm and happy, but the atmosphere around here was completely different. It was full of despair and dark aura.

"How could I forget something crucial like that?!"

"Relax, Vysenna-san. Seraphine is a strong girl. She will be fine." Ayaka tapped her shoulder softly and guided her to sit on the bar.

"I bet she must be crying somewhere."

A wooden glass landed on Alexei's face.

"Watch your mouth," Chisa warned him. She, Selwyn, and the silver foot just arrived at the restaurant. They took the fast train from the capital city to Roselake because it was the only nearest station from the frontier.

"Vysenna, I do really sure that we hadn't met her on the way we were going home," Selwyn said.

"Then where is she now? It's dark already." Vysenna's tears started to burst. Everybody in the room were shocked to see that. No one ever saw their master cried before and yet she was now. To see such a strong person cried was sure made their heart broke.

Selwyn was the first person who spoke. He gently hugged Vysenna to calm her down. "Hush... nothing to worry. I will search for her with Alexei. We will find her safe and sound."

Vysenna nodded silently.

Ayaka suddenly stood up. "I will go too. If she is hurt, I could help her to cure her wounds."

A moment later, the three of them had gone to Roselake. Their mission was to find Seraphine. It's been almost an hour since they walked in the dark forest. Their only lighting was the torches that they brought in the hand. They were close to the city now, but still, there was no sign of the girl.

"Alexei," Ayaka said to break the sickening silence. There was no other sound besides the friction between the trees.

"Yeah?"

"This is weird to not hear your complaint about Sera."

"Why would I?"

"You are happy, aren't you?"

"Jeez... why are you always thinking negatively towards me?"

"Because..."

A roar cut her words. It was not too far from where were they standing now. Chills came down their spine as the loud roar was following with a scream. It made them rushed together to where the voice came. What made them terrified wasn't the roar, but the scream. It was Seraphine's.

***