Sacred Brother

Seledia completely ignored Vated's shocked words when he called her name.

She was paler than usual and had trouble catching her breath, but she was still standing straight without faltering to shelter the three little girls watching her with teary eyes.

When they realized who was standing in front of them, Sellysse and Llynadia couldn't hold back any longer.

They burst into tears and ran to their mother.

Their tiny hands grabbed her legs from behind with their entire strength afraid to be left behind.

Seledia ignored her tiredness to look lovingly at her daughters along with Gaya.

"Don't cry honeys, don't cry it's over now. Mom is here." She tenderly said while crouching to hug both of them.

Despite their loud and unstoppable screams, Seledia knew that she didn't have the leisure to comfort them for too long.

Her blue eyes turned to look at Gaya, still on her knees, who was taking slow and careful breaths.

Her incredible physical abilities as a Beast tribe member fully displayed its might. Even though she was still covered in bruises and blood, the horrible wound on her back had already stopped bleeding. If she was human, that kind of injury would have been enough to kill her.

Her appearance was terrible but her life didn't seem to be in danger.

It wasn't the time to treat her yet.

Seledia released herself from the forceful hugs of her daughters and slowly stood up to confront Vated.

His shocked expression was already gone from his face. Instead, the blood slowly dripping from his left arm gave him a wild look.

Fearless.

Confident.

Angry.

Seledia could tell with a single glance that he wasn't afraid of her.

His savage eyes along with his previous reaction against her surprised attack made her realize that this man was dangerous.

"Stay with Gaya sweeties, she is injured. You have to watch over her." Slowly spoke Seledia to her crying daughters with the softest voice she could muster in this situation.

She couldn't wonder what had happened to the town or where Millodas was yet.

She had to get rid of this man first.

"Let's get away from here." Announced Seledia to her opponent.

"You want to protect the girls?" Snorted Vated.

"I'm not against it. The girls are important to me too, but now that you proposed it yourself, I changed my mind." He taunted with his usual wide smile.

"Make me move if you want to…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a stretched hand appeared before his eyes.

He didn't see her move but the hand only a few inches away from his face was real.

Vated immediately took several steps backward while hacking with his axe on reflex.

*BAM*

However, before he could complete his attack, a violent scorching air current hit him square in the face and sent him flying.

Seledia's hand didn't even touch his face, but he was still propelled hundreds of meters backward without being able to react. His large and powerful body wasn't prepared for this kind of impact and flew away like a doll in a storm.

The numerous trees breaking in his way were enough testimony of the violence of the attack.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Vated regained control over his body and immediately adjusted his position in midair. It's only when his two powerful feet touched the ground once again that he managed to stop.

"Here should be far enough" Seledia's voice brought back Vated's attention.

He immediately noticed that they weren't in the same clearing anymore. Her previous attack was enough to send him flying across half of the forest if he didn't stop in time.

Realizing this point didn't worry him. He underestimated her but not anymore.

"And I'm the one everyone treats like a monster." Loudly laughed Vated.

Once his laughter stopped, his eyes and expression turned sharper. The previous easiness he had while facing Millodas was nowhere to be seen anymore.

A frail-looking woman standing proudly with her long fiery red hair fluttering along the wind.

A mountain-like man with a savage face and a giant axe in his hands fit for the violence he exuded.

They silently stared at each other with the same eyes burning with anger and the d.e.s.i.r.e to fight.

With a loud rumble, each of them took a heavy step forward.

Nothing could stop them anymore.

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"Where am I?"

On a vast devastated plain, not far from the forest where Seledia was confronting Vated, slowly woke up a middle-aged man with blood all over the right side of his face.

The rays of the newly awakened sun further blurred his misty sight just before a strong headache assaulted him and perturbed his senses. It took him several seconds to realize where he was.

After wiping the dried blood with the back of his hand, it was finally possible to recognize him.

"You're finally awake Millodas."

An aged voice sounded to his left side.

Millodas immediately recognized this voice.

"Mayor! You came!?!"

After his initial surprise, Millodas quickly cleared his thoughts and remembered what had happened to him.

"My daughters!!! I need to save them!"

Millodas tried to raise his body, but before he could do that, an old and frail looking hand was put on top of his torso.

This crouching bald old man preventing him from moving and wearing a long white robe stained with blood was the mayor of Tegralle.

He was one of Aten's friend and came to this town along with him not long after Seledia and Millodas. He quickly became the indisputable mayor of the town because of his gentleness and his vast experience with people.

It's because of his incredibly good reputation that the other inhabitants accepted Gaya in their town after he found her during one of his trips with Aten. Living with a young Beastman tribe member risked to attract unwanted attention and d.e.s.i.r.e from other humans.

However, none of the inhabitants questioned his decision.

Because this frail old man was worthy of respect.

Beside his gentle nature, he was also a former Saint water mage well known for his healing skills in his younger days.

However, time is cruel.

His health deteriorated these past years and prevented him from going outside most of the time explaining Millodas' surprise when he saw him.

Unable to hold back Millodas with the strength of his hand only, his deep tired voice took over.

"Calm down. Can't you feel it? This rushing and violent mana from the forest. It can only be Seledia. She is fighting to save your daughters. Now that she is here, you don't have to worry about anything else than healing from your wounds."

Seledia finally arrived.

Millodas didn't have the leisure to wonder how she could be back so soon. In this desperate situation, she was his only hope.

Millodas should feel happy and relieved.

However, for a reason that he couldn't explain himself, only a single feeling invaded his heart in this instant.

Fear.

He had the horrible impression that something terrible was going to happen.

It wasn't a reasonable thought.

He was sure that Seledia was stronger than Vated. She should be able to defeat him and bring their daughters back.

Even if he couldn't explain it, he still felt it from the deepest part of his heart.

Seledia was in danger.

"I have to help her."

Millodas got on his feet despite the old mayor trying to prevent him, but as soon as he was up, his head began to spin making him want to throw up.

"What's happening?"

"You were hit pretty hard on the head, but above all, you overused your mana earlier. You can't fight in this condition. Not anymore. You need to rest."

"I can't rest, I need to help her."

"Even if you want to rush there, what will you do? They are both much stronger than yourself. I healed you before because I thought Seledia wasn't going to make it on time. However, she is already here."

Millodas couldn't calm down despite his reasonable words but his attention was diverted when his gaze finally landed on the rest of the plain.

Plain wasn't a correct word to describe it anymore.

Vated's last attack completely ruined it. A long chasm separated this once peaceful plain in two while numerous rocks of different sizes were all over. Charred and mutilated bodies could also be seen giving an eerie feeling to the entire place.

After several seconds of silent contemplation with complicated emotions, Millodas finally realized that the mayor wasn't the only person in white on this plain.

Nearly a dozen people were separated into small groups while other villagers were busy running everywhere.

This activity strangely seemed out of place in this desolate landscape and startled Millodas.

"This is… You came with your disciples?"

The mayor only slightly shook his bald head before replying with his usual characteristic deep voice.

"You didn't think I came on my own, did you? There are too many people to treat for me alone."

After a couple of seconds of an uneasy silence, the old mayor solemnly declared.

"We don't have the strength to fight but we can save lives. "

It didn't take long for Millodas to realize that these people were the personal disciple of the mayor. All the people with a little prospect in water magic these past years were personally taught healing skills by him.

They didn't amount to much as true water mages, but after a rigorous training, they were able to perform some of the healing abilities possible by the water element.

It was hard to tell if this old man foresaw today's events to create a corp specializes in healing but Millodas was certainly grateful for this.

"How many people survived?" Asked Millodas with a strange rough voice unfitting of his slim physique and young face.

Recalling the bravery of his men and friends in their desperate fight against the mercenaries along with their last moments made his strong heart waver.

"Hard to tell but probably more than you think. We came almost immediately after the end of the battle after all."

Hearing his reassuring and comforting words didn't make Millodas feel any better. None of these good people should be lying dead on this plain for his sake. It should have been his duty to protect them, not the other way around.

As if feeling the guilt assaulting his heart, the mayor resumed his previous speech.

"This isn't your fault, Millodas. You didn't force these men to fight. It was their choice."

"If I was stronger… None of this would have happened." Whispered Millodas in frustration.

"You can change the entire world with 'if'. However, this won't do you any good. You have to rest and pray that your wife will emerge victorious."

A heavy silence settled between them after these last words from the mayor.

One that none of them was willing to break until a loud explosion echoed far inside the forest.

The violent shockwave even made the ground of this plain shake for a couple of seconds.

The old mayor was well aware of Seledia's power, but this attack, which shook the whole region with its might, was from the earth element.

It wasn't coming from Seledia.

The bad feeling in Millodas' heart reappeared once again.

"Mayor, I…"

"I know. Something is wrong." Cut the mayor.

"I'm worried too. However, what I said earlier is still true. You can't fight anymore."

*BOOM*

Another deafening explosion, even stronger than before, resounded and made the feet along with the hearts of those hearing it waver.

"Mayor, I need to go."

The old man couldn't help but bit his lips in frustration.

"I won't send you to your death." Finally strongly declared the mayor.

The rays of the sun shined on his old face making his numerous wrinkles even more apparent.

He never seemed as old as in this instant.

"I can't lose her. I can't lose them. Please, mayor…"

Millodas clenched in fists in frustration but also in determination.

He wasn't like Seledia who could be an insurmountable wall against their enemies for so many years.

He wasn't fit to protect his daughters because he wasn't as strong as her.

He wasn't strong or wise enough either to be like Aten who was looking for his own son across the continent.

All of this was his father's fault.

However, Millodas knew that it was also the result of his past actions.

He ran away from his home, his family and his duties and had to pay the price for his choices today.

It didn't matter if he wasn't strong enough.

Today he couldn't run away.

Not anymore.

"Mayor! Please…" Finally pleaded Millodas with a voice choked with his emotions and determination.

"Give me the strength to fight! Once more… One last time!"

This was his will.

The mayor only knew too well that it was already too late to try to dissuade him

"There will be consequences." Finally declared the old man with an even deeper voice than usual.

For the first time since the start of this sordid case, a small smile formed on Millodas lips.

It wasn't a happy smile but a self-mocking one.

"As always."

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Fights between mages could be decided in an instant.

This was especially true for low-level mages.

However, Vated and Seledia belonged to another league entirely.

They were both true Saint mage who spent a large amount of time to understand their element and create their own magic.

The once peaceful forest near the small town of Tegralle became the place for their confrontation.

Several minutes had already passed since the beginning of their fight but it wasn't possible to predict who would be victorious yet.

Seledia was much faster than Vated and each of her attacks was devastating. However, Vated's defense was, for the time being, too strong for her.

"Is that all you've got?" Taunted Vated.

His massive physique was covered in small cuts and burns, but his eyes were still blazing with the same d.e.s.i.r.e for violence and none of these light wounds could change that.

Vated was standing almost at the same place as before with his giant axe raised high ready to strike. Seledia, on the other hand, was flying tens of feet above the ground with no visible flame or magic to explain this ability.

Her long hair fluttering along the wind seemed more in disarray than before. She was also paler but was still more than able to continue this fight.

However, for the first time since the start of this confrontation, she stopped her assault.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

There was something she didn't understand about this man.

"If you don't plan to come, then it's my turn." Vated madly roared before putting one hand on the ground.

Immediately after, the earth around him began to tremble and change shape.

A couple of seconds later, a large chunk of earth in front of him began to raise itself like a wave.

"Avalan!"

His words just left his mouth when the calm growing wave of earth in front of him expanded, to reach several dozens of feet above the ground in an instant, before crashing at high speed toward Seledia.

The violent attack was enough to crush her.

She didn't have the same abnormal defense as her opponent. As a fire mage, this element didn't give her the same advantage in this field.

However, it gave her another.

A powerful flame burst from under her feet and propelled her at high speed into the sky just out of reach of his magic.

This downpour of earth missed her before relapsing to the ground, crushing the trees on its way.

Seledia, high in the sky, was far beyond Vated's range but the contrary wasn't true.

She spread her slim arms wide as if embracing the sky.

Immediately after, long flames began to form and concentrate around her arms like two wings of fire.

"Radagast star..."

Her calm voice was like a whisper almost inaudible among wind movements and the crackling of fire around her.

However, when she put her hands forward toward him, Vated immediately understood that she was serious.

Long tongues of flame began to leave her hands before congregating by her side.

These newly formed flames were few near her, but after only a couple of seconds, they quickly became impossible to count.

This swarm of fire seemingly wanting to burn the entire sky even made Vated's expression change.

Like a curse filled with anger and d.e.s.i.r.e for destruction, Seledia's voice once more resonated across the sky and, this time, it wasn't a whisper.

"... fall!"

Under her control, her magic left her side and began to fall toward the forest. Slowly at first before suddenly accelerating.

"Earth guard!!!"

With a loud roar, Vated gathered his entire mana to resist this violent and seemingly infinite rain of fire.

*Bang*

The violent impact made the earth shake while creating a dense cloud of dust and sand mixed together.

Vated stood straight with his arms raised when the attack hit him head-on.

His massive physique quickly became impossible to discern among this sea of fire burning the trees near him to ash in an instant.

Long trails of fire could still be seen across the sky where these flames traveled.

Seledia watched with cold eyes the result of her attack.

For long minutes, her fire burned wildly before slowly going out under her control. If she allowed this kind of fire to roam freely for too long, the whole forest would be reduced to ashes.

After waiting for the dense black smoke replacing the violent fire to naturally disperse, she slowly flew down.

A carbonized soil welcomed her feet with the usual crisping sound that she only knew too well.

Even if she held back the fire at the end, an entire radius of one-hundred-meters of the forest was completely razed to the ground.

It was this kind of destruction that inspired dread to her enemies when she was still an Adventurer.

However, not this time.

"Is that all?"

The same arrogant voice as before echoed at the other side of the clearing.

Seledia's expression drastically changed after hearing these words and further darkened when the smoke completely dispersed to finally reveal Vated's appearance.

He was standing at the same place as before with his arms raised above his head. His usual tanned skin on his face and arms was completely dark, but a single glance was enough to tell that it wasn't due to Seledia's flames.

It wasn't charred.

On the contrary, it gave a vigorous and healthy feeling as if nothing in this world could cause it any harm.

Seledia could recognize this magic with a single glance.

It was the most popular method of defense for many earth mages. The principle was simply to cover the skin of the user with the hardest earth possible to act as an armor.

By exploring the concept of hardness of the earth element, it was possible to greatly enhance this ability.

However, despite her numerous years as an Adventurer, it was still the first time she saw someone push this magic this far.

To develop it so much that the skin and the earth completely became one.

Slowly, the dark skin with a rough aspect began to disappear, revealing Vated's natural skin color.

"Surprised? You thought that your attack would be enough to kill me?" Mocked Vated while showing his unharmed face.

Seledia didn't answer but her heart was in disarray.

This attack was one of her strongest moves.

It wasn't something she could use as many times as she wanted. The toll of mana was too much to bear even for a true Saint mage like her.

On the other hand, Vated's magical defense didn't seem to cost him as much mana.

This made her even more perplex.

Even if she wasn't able to kill him, she should at least have been able to harm him. At the very least he should have used his entire strength to defend against something like that.

However, this wasn't the case.

Something was wrong.

Seledia's eyes became lost in thought for long seconds until she realized the simple truth.

She narrowed her eyes to look at her opponent and confirmed her suspicions.

"Give up. You can't defeat me."

Vated's words woke her up from her thoughts and immediately made her snort in disagreement.

"You think you're invincible? You think because you blocked my attack then I can't do anything against you. Dream on! If this kind of attack can't harm you, then I will just have to use my own hands."

Seledia immediately raised her small pale and delicate-looking hands in front of her in a fighting stance.

However, Vated didn't seem to care and simply continued to talk.

"It's no use. I said you couldn't defeat me for one reason. Because I'm now sure that the rumors about you were true."

"Rumors?" Asked Seledia a little taken aback.

"You don't know? A lot of people know your story. You were one of the most famous Adventurers back then after all. Even I admired your power to the point that I also feared you. However, everything is different now."

As if deeply regretting what happened, Vated's smile disappeared replaced by a serious expression.

"You're a monster. Everyone knows that, but all these years of peace made you duller. While I spent my time risking my life and sharpening my magic, you lost it playing with your kids. You're not the same fire mage inspiring fear to her enemies. This person no longer exists!"

A long silence followed his words.

As if taking this silence as an agreement from her part, Vated concluded.

"Becoming a mother and living this sheltered life made you weak!"

Her small pale hands, still in her fighting stance, shook for a few seconds before her angry voice took over.

"Someone like you doesn't have the right to judge me. How can you possibly understand what it means to become a parent?"

Her hands slowly began to shine while she continued talking.

"To have children depending on you… To have a family to support and to protect."

The red glow on her hands became brighter until it was impossible to look at them directly without blinking.

"You're wrong, becoming a mother didn't make me weak. To have people so precious that I would rather die than to lose them changed me. It made me stronger."

The glow on her hands couldn't get any brighter when she finished speaking. This magic gave an even more oppressive feeling than the previous one, which burned the sky and the entire clearing.

However, Vated didn't put more distance between them or prepared for her imminent assault.

"Rather die, huh?" Suddenly snorted Vated.

He didn't move but started to speak with a voice filled with ridicule and provocation.

"Then why the hell are you still alive? Where is your precious son?"

Seledia was taken aback by his sudden remark before her expression darkened and her gaze turned vicious.

"Don't talk..." She muttered under her breath.

"Did you make this vow to rather die than lose your family only after his disappearance?"

"Don't talk about my son…" She repeated almost more to herself than to Vated.

"Poor kid. Because of parents like you, he had to become a monster. I certainly don't want to become a pitiful parent like you or Millodas."

His last words finally made Seledia exploded in anger.

"I told you to stop talking about my son!!!"

With a scream filled with rage, she propelled herself forward as fast as she could with her hands raised, toward the apparent defenseless Vated, who stood still without fear.

Her anger and shame obstructed her reasoning.

If not, she would have realized the situation.

She would have noticed his dark eyes only reflecting his anticipation and his d.e.s.i.r.e for violence.

And above all, she would have seen the small smile forming on his lips.