"Alexei! Move, idiot! Selwyn-san too." Sera shouted after she – somehow – slit a few claws from the leovasher's leg. She also managed to injure its limb and slower its movement. A pond of blood had created around her as the result of her action.
"Keep those flame from spreading further," Alexei said.
Those men finally made a move. Both of them ran forward. Alexei jumped and aim its eye with his twin. One of its leg - that was burning - tried to catch him. He almost got burned if Sera didn't cast her fire shield.
The leovasher roared again, but Selwyn sent windstorms to outwit it. Sera and Alexei almost flew by the magic wind if the former captain didn't help them. The last windstorm managed to make the monster dizzy. Alexei used this chance to get close to its eyes. He united his sword and then stabbed it. A dark purple liquid burst out and tainted his shirt. The scent of blood made him sick.
The monster howled in pain. It limped due to losing too much blood. But it didn't collapse yet. Its remnant strength was still enough to swing its leg to throw Selwyn and Sera, also to dash Alexei down to the ground. But thanks to Ayaka's healing magic, the pain had reduced and they could dodge the next attacks.
"Sera and I will distract the monster, and you," Selwyn pointed his hand to Alexei, "stab its eyes again. But this time, make sure it is the last."
Alexei nodded. He moved aside to wait while the former captain and his girlfriend strike again. Wait... 'Girl-friend. Seraphine is only my friend. Ugh... my brain must be rusty to think about that.'
"Now!" Sera shouted.
The voice made him shocked, but he managed to regain his concentration. He ran forward, jumped, and landed safely on its head. He raised his sword and swung it down to its fiery eye. The leovasher was struggling to free itself from the thing that hurting its eye. Alexei almost fell if he did let go of his sword.
"Wind spears!" Selwyn cast his magic again. Those spears flew and joined Alexei's sword. More blood splattered, but the monster still alive.
It opened its mouth to whine. The rage that was in its eyes was gone with no traces. Sera could only see pain and despair in there. The girl called her fire sword. A long flame appeared magically in her hand. She swung it down to its eye, alongside with Alexei's sword and Selwyn's spears. "May the Gods accept your poor soul."
The monster died after her fire pierced into its eyes. Sera could feel its soul was no longer there. She released her sword and made the fire spread. She and Alexei jumped back, avoided the fire and watched it burn the dead body.
"What happened here?"
A bunch of soldiers suddenly appeared from the forest. Looked like they were heard the leovasher's roar and immediately went here.
"You guys are late," Alexei grumbled to a man, the one who talked before. He was younger than Selwyn, yet older than Alexei.
Selwyn stepped forward and took over the conversation. "We were heading to Roselake to look for our friend when we heard a roar. We checked it and found out that our friend - who we were looking for - was being attacked by the leovasher. So we fought it. That's it."
"I see. I'm sorry that we are late and unable to help you, but from now on, leave this to us. Let's go to our city first to aid your wounds."
"Thank you for your kindness..." Selwyn didn't finish his sentence.
"Yama. I'm the currently Commander of Crimson's soldier on Roselake."
Both of them shook each other hand. "Selwyn. It's a nice thing to know that we are directly under your protection, Commander Yama."
Selwyn-san is sure to know how to please people. Sera thought while listening to their conversation.
"Ah... it's my duty to protect the civilians. Come on, we should go back and treat your wounds. I will also prepare a place for you guys to rest."
"Thank you for your offering, but we will not spend a night at Roselake. We need to go back. Many of our friends are waiting for us to return. I don't want to make them worry."
"It's too dangerous to walk in the forest now." He stopped talking when he saw Selwyn's face. His face was very serious and intimidating that the Commander continued his word with stammering. "I-If you in-insist, t-then I will o-order my m-man to e-escort you."
"Then I will accept your offer. Thank you very much."
Alexei was almost burst into laughter when he saw the Commander's expression. Fortunately, Sera stepped on his leg with full power, so the laugh was changed into a scream of pain and a few curses.
***
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SERAPHINE!"
As soon as she was stepped inside the restaurant, she was greeted with those words. She aghast on the doorway when she heard it. She gazed to the entire area only to see all of her friends were gathered there, including the silver foot.
"Sera!" Vysenna shouted and hugged her immediately. "Where are you going? What took you so long? Did you get lost on your way? You are safe now, Sera. Please forgive me. I will never give you that kind of task again. Never!"
Vysenna babbled for so long. She didn't realize that she was hugged her too tightly. "Ma-master, r-re-release m-me," Sera said with difficulty.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Vysenna released her bear hug when her sense was back. "Wait... what happened to you?! Why am I smell blood from your clothes? Are you hurt? Alexei, Selwyn, and Ayaka too. Tell me now"
"Calm down, Master," Chisa said. "Isn't it better to let them rest for a while. We could ask about it later."
"Nice idea, Chisa-chan. Anyway, I'm really hungry. So let's eat first!" Alexei walked to the big table in front of the restaurant. On the top of it, there were many foods had served. The birthday party had begun by eating dinner together.
Sera couldn't stop smiling at the moment. Everybody looked so happy and it made her tiredness disappeared. To feel Vysenna's warm embrace when she worried about herself after Selwyn told them about the monster. To hear Alexei had an argue with Keichi for the last piece of meat. To see all of her friends had gathered around her just to celebrate her birthday. Now, that she thought about it, she even didn't realize that today was her birthday.
She got amused by herself when she realized her folly. 'How silly I am to not remember my own birthday.'
The girl leaned her body to the dining chair. She gazed at her friends who were chatting while ate. She sighed. 'I hope every day can be like this forever.'
***
