The flash of light that erupted in Noctar was so brilliant that it seemed as if dawn had arrived, visible even from outside the fortress. The overwhelming brightness caused Leonard to squint, while the shadow cloud spirit screamed in agony.

The explosion of light devoured the black mist surrounding Leonard, exposing his entire form for the first time.

"What…?"

Leonard couldn't conceal his shock. Arpia, seizing the moment when his strength faltered, swung her bow, striking Leonard's arm.

Leonard stumbled, losing his balance. Just as he was about to fall off the roof, he leapt to the opposite one. Checking on the state of his spirit, he found its power weakened.

The cause was Arpia's light.

‘That light….’

It wasn’t an ordinary light. The radiant glow was undoubtedly imbued with the energy of a spirit. There was no doubt about it.

Wasn't she supposed to be incapable of handling spirits?

The spirits inside her had been so chaotic that even recognizing them had been nearly impossible. Leonard couldn’t understand why those unruly beings were suddenly cooperating with Arpia.

Arpia slowly rose to her feet, a soft glow escaping from the mark on her back, one that even her clothes couldn’t hide.

It was a brand, a blessing.

A symbol of her vow not to betray the trust placed in her.

Arpia savored the power now coursing through her, bathed in light.

‘So this is what it’s like to wield a spirit.’

Though it was a sensation she was experiencing for the first time, it felt familiar—almost natural. After all, these spirits had been with her since birth, so it made sense. It was as instinctive as moving her arms or legs.

Because of this, she instinctively knew how to use them.

Arpia lifted her bow. With her right hand, she drew the string.

Creak.

As the bowstring stretched, an arrow of pure light materialized where there had been nothing before.

A cold smile crept across Arpia’s lips.

"This time, it’s my turn. Ready to take an arrow, fellow elf?"

“Damn it!”

Leonard let out a sharp curse and moved quickly. That light was dangerous. The shadow cloud spirit was ringing alarm bells in his mind.

He concealed himself within the thick mist, which began to drift through the air in an attempt to flee.

Arpia, tracking Leonard’s movement with her eyes, didn’t bother trying to predict his trajectory. She simply shot her arrow into the mist.

It exploded.

Ssss!

The sound of the mist bursting came even before the arrow’s sonic boom. The arrow of light had traveled too fast for sound to keep up.

As the arrow struck the cloud, the mist dissipated with a pop, leaving Leonard completely exposed, plummeting from the sky.

Leonard tumbled to the ground, rolling as he landed. His black skin was marred with cuts, red blood streaming down from multiple wounds. All of this from a single arrow.

‘Is that… really a spirit?’

She had only just started wielding spirits. Even with an elemental advantage, the power she wielded was ridiculous. It surpassed the control even the high elves of his homeland had over spirits.

As Leonard had sensed, Arpia’s spirit was unlike the natural spirits. The spirits inside her had been fighting amongst themselves for hundreds of years, growing stronger through their conflicts.

Spirits, like children, grow through adversity. These spirits had unintentionally grown far beyond the norm, achieving a power unmatched by others.

The god who created the world had named this light:

Light Servant.

It was a higher-ranked light spirit.

As Leonard lay sprawled on the ground, a radiant light loomed over him once more. Arpia had drawn another arrow of light, aiming at him.

"This is your punishment for raising a blade against him. I’ll make sure you never do it again."

Leonard stared at her, his gaze trembling, before finally lowering his head.

He closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate.

But nothing changed. The light didn’t vanish, nor did it grow dim. Cautiously, he lifted his head.

“…What? Are you enjoying some lowly thrill by watching me about to die?”

"Of course not. I have no interest in killing my own kind."

In her own way, she had considered him a fellow elf and had offered him a chance. That was the extent of her mercy.

But that mercy only extended to Leonard. Arpia turned her gaze in the direction of the merchant guild.

She raised her bow once more, as if she were protesting against the world that had caused her so much pain.

She pulled the bowstring back slowly, then let it go with ease. The arrow shot upward, trailing sparkling fragments of light as it ascended like a reverse meteor.

It pierced the clouds before coming to a stop. The arrowhead tipped to the side.

And then, it fell.

‘I'm thankful you helped me meet him, but….’

For kidnapping her, imprisoning her, and treating her as nothing more than merchandise—she could not forgive them. And now, they would pay for their sins.

The meteor descended.

It vanished between the buildings.

Boom…

A towering pillar of white light shot up, shaking the ground as if an earthquake had struck.

The light beam gradually thinned, disappearing into the night sky.

Crrr…

The bow in Arpia's hands couldn’t withstand the strain and shattered into countless pieces.

A gust of wind blew, scattering the fragments.

Her long, golden hair swirled in the breeze.

The cool night air felt refreshing against her face. Arpia felt a sense of liberation she had never experienced before.

She turned her head, eager to look at the person who had given her this freedom. To proudly show him that she had repaid his faith in her.

Karamir stood with his mouth agape, his eyes wide in astonishment.

‘Pretty amazing, right?’

‘Wasn’t I just incredible?’

With a bright smile, Arpia flashed a peace sign.

 

Meanwhile,

"Nooo, my priceless treasures!"

Karamir inwardly screamed.

 

Arpia returned to the Duke of the Night’s estate, with Leonard in tow.

Leonard was at a loss for words as he looked at the bodies of his fallen comrades scattered around. When his eyes met the elderly man who had caused this carnage, he flinched. Leonard knew who he was.

“Victor, the Shadow Duke…”

“To think someone still remembers an old man like me.”

“No assassin worth their salt doesn’t know your name. I thought the guild was annihilated, and you perished with them, yet here you are, hiding in this place?”

“I just didn’t feel like taking contracts and killing people anymore. But more importantly…”

“Ugh…?”

Victor’s regretful demeanor suddenly shifted. The sharp, murderous gleam in his eyes was enough to make Leonard feel as though his heart was about to be ripped out.

Leonard instinctively drew his daggers, taking a defensive stance. But his hands trembled so violently that he could hardly fight.

“Respect your elders.”

Respect elders? What’s that supposed to mean?

Oh, he’s going to attack me!

Fine, attack me. Even if I die, I’ll keep my elf pride intact.

Thwack!

"Argh!"

Victor’s hand blurred, striking Leonard on the head as if lightning had crashed down upon him. Leonard clutched his head, crumpling to the ground.

"Where do you get off drawing a blade on your elders? These elves have no respect for their seniors."

Even in his daze, Leonard managed to get a word in.

"But… I’m older than you are… eek."

Victor raised his fist again, and whatever defiance Leonard had melted away like dust.

Sometimes, nothing teaches better than a well-placed punch. Leonard had been thoroughly educated with a single blow, now rubbing his swollen, teary eyes.

While that confrontation was unfolding, the atmosphere on the other side was far more cheerful. Arpia excitedly shared her experience of controlling the spirits with Karamir.

"When I yelled at them, they couldn’t move! Then, when I demanded their power, they just got sucked in and everything lit up…!"

"Is that so?"

Karamir smiled as if he were listening to a child recounting their day after a school trip, even though he had no idea what she was talking about.

It was a miracle he could smile at all, given that the merchant guild had been obliterated and reduced to nothing.

"Anyway, these merchants have put an elf through hell. I’m going to work them hard to pay for all they put me through."

Completely unaware of the damage she had caused, Arpia confidently walked away, obliviously stepping on the spirits who screamed in protest.

"Things are getting noisy."

Karamir surveyed the surroundings. After all, an earthquake and a pillar of light in the dead of night were bound to draw attention.

"It’s best if we leave now."

"You're planning to run?"

"Since the entire merchant guild was wiped out, they’ll likely come looking to question us about it. They might even try to pin the blame on us."

"Doesn’t that not matter? Neither of us are exactly saints. If we stay, no one would dare pull anything."

Karamir tilted his head as if he didn’t understand the question.

"But I’m clean."

"What?"

"I’ve only done good deeds. You won’t find a more righteous slave trader than me."

"No, I mean…."

"Honestly, comparing me to you is a bit much, don’t you think? Haha."

Karamir drew a clear line. Victor was about to protest, "You enslaved Arpia against her will!" but one glance at the way Arpia was gazing at Karamir—her eyes brimming with affection—made him realize he wouldn’t get any support there.

With those lovesick eyes, there was no arguing against Karamir. Victor sighed. He couldn’t trust anyone anymore. He’d just have to focus on raising Emily.

 

Victor had managed to procure a horse from a friendly innkeeper. Karamir and Arpia mounted it together.

After a moment’s hesitation, Arpia wrapped her arms around Karamir’s waist. He tried to ignore the warm sensation pressing against his back.

"Take care. You can come back anytime. But seriously, work on that attitude of yours. If you meet the wrong person, you’ll end up dead without even a scream."

"Haha, it’s all part of a slave trader’s basic skills. I’ll be back if I get the chance. Oh, and Master."

"Hmm?"

"Check the underground of the merchant guild. Consider it payment for the drinks and the kids' education."

Merchant guild.

Underground.

Putting the two words together, Victor quickly understood Karamir’s meaning. He nodded in acknowledgment.

"Master, goodbye~ I’ll be back, so make sure you stay alive until then, okay?"

Arpia waved as they rode off. As they moved further away, Karamir snapped his fingers.

[Released Liri] 50 points have been awarded.

[Released Lara] 70 points have been awarded.

As Karamir and Arpia rode off into the distance, Leonard slowly got to his feet.

"I-I think I should be going too…."

"What do you mean? You’re staying here."

"What? Why?"

"What? Why?"

"…Why am I staying here?"

Victor swept his hand across the blood-stained ground.

"You’re cleaning this up."

 

Under the starry night, the horse galloped across the plains.

Arpia clung tightly to Karamir, claiming it was to avoid falling.

"Where are we headed now?"

Arpia asked about their destination.

In truth, she didn’t really care.

When she had first left the forest, it had been hard even to breathe. But not anymore. As long as she was with her master, she could survive in any desert, no matter how barren.

But Karamir’s thoughts were entirely different.

"We’re heading for the Great Forest."

Everything up until now had been leading to this final step.

The last step toward something greater.