Chapter 40: Test of Faith III

With the curtain of darkness provided by the blacked-out sky, Alicia felt like she was in her element.

It had been a while since she was so active. Two years ago, when Rian’s condition had taken a turn for the worse, she was practically permanently glued to him.

After all, with the news being spread, many opposing factions would take that chance to assassinate him for good. And a few attempts were made.

Though none came to fruition. She even traced the attacker back down to their hideout before wiping them all in a single night.

The feeling of hopping in between rooftops, wind blowing against her face, was what made her reminisce after all.

Alicia hadn’t even realized that she had arrived at Baron Eisenbran’s estate. Yet just like Rian suspected, the attack had already begun.

From a distance away, the mansion appeared perfectly peaceful. However, upon closer inspection, she realized the signs. The front door was completely open, and a few from Eisenbran’s garrison had already managed to break in.

From the looks of it, they were fighting against some mercenaries that the Baron hired, but mostly to no avail.

’At least the Baron knew he’d be targeted next...’

Alicia managed to spot two guards just beside the gatehouse. They were approaching a lone mercenary, who looked like he was already out for the count.

"Wait, please!" the man yelled, clenching at the wound by his side. "I—I’m just a mercenary, I know nothing!"

But the guards responded coldly, bringing his blade down. "No witnesses, those were the only orders."

But Alicia responded faster than they could. With a single flick of her finger, the shadows next to them stretched.

〈Alter Shade — Dolce〉

[Daggers of Darkness]

SHLK—!

Blood spurted from the necks. Their bodies caught up a few seconds later, falling to the floor in a heap.

A moment later, Alicia leaped from the rooftop and pinned down the injured mercenary to stop him from escaping. But from the darkness, the man couldn’t even see where she was.

"How many attackers?"

The mercenary flinched, unable to determine where the voice came from. "Seven—maybe eight. The rest are still fighting outside!"

"Where’s the Baron?"

"In his study, the second floor!"

But just as she glanced at one of the upper windows, it suddenly flashed orange before—

BOOM—!

The glass shattered outward as flames erupted from inside the building. Alicia disappeared before the fragments reached the ground, managing to drag the injured man with her.

’Shit...I might already be too late.’

She dashed across the courtyard in several steps, allowing mana to run freely through her body. Her heartbeat accelerated and the world around her seemed to slow.

That was the defining difference between a Knight and a Mage.

Mages created Magic Circles around their brain, allowing for mana to create more complex spells and calculations. This allowed them to recreate various devastating phenomena and allowed them to project said mana outside their bodies via their eyes.

But a Knight was different.

They created Magic Circles around their heart, the organ that was connected to all others. This way, mana was able to spread freely, hardening their bones, sharpening their senses, and pushing their bodies beyond natural limits.

Naturally, both sides believed their chosen path was superior.

Yet, what made Alicia special was the fact that she possessed Magic Circles at both organs—five around the heart and one around the brain. She could both reinforce her body like a Knight while casting some basic spells like a Mage.

It was an arrangement that every magical scholar claimed should have been impossible. Yet, Alicia never cared for what was or wasn’t.

All she needed was the power to protect others. To never let anything slip from her grasp ever again.

’Ahh, Young Master probably wants me to hide my identity.’

She reached into the small bag always kept under her maid dress, finding only the wolf carnival mask they had worn before.

"Really? Well, this will have to do..."

BANG—!

Both mansion doors flew open, ripped from their hinges and crashed into the entrance hall. There were seven guards positioned there, but they had no time to react.

One was struck by the door and crushed beneath it, causing the remaining six to finally realize what was going on. They raised their weapons, but Alicia had already disappeared into the shadows.

"W—who is it? Shit...we’re under attack!"

"Form a circle!"

They moved back-to-back, blades pointed toward every possible direction. It was the correct response to an enemy capable of hiding within the shadows.

Against most assassins, it might have worked. But they had grossly underestimated her skill.

Candles that were barely keeping the room lit suddenly went out, plunging the hall into complete darkness.

"L—Light them!" one soldier yelled a command nervously.

Reluctantly, another reached for the magic lantern attached to his waist. But before his fingers could touch it, something cold wrapped around his wrist.

FWIP—!

He was pulled into the darkness.

"Wait—!"

SHLK—!

His cry ended abruptly.

The others spun toward the sound, but all they found was his sword clattering against the marble floor.

"Shit...just swing at something!"

And they did just that. The guards began swinging blindly, hoping to hit this figure hiding in the shadows. But Alicia simply leaned beneath their blades, already muttering a spell under her breath.

〈Ars Alter Shade — Nagel.〉

[Nails of Darkness]

Black spikes erupted from beneath four of the guards, piercing their boots and pinning them to the floor.

They dropped their weapons and desperately clawed at the nails. Yet no matter how violently they struggled, their feet refused to move.

Alicia had waited precisely for that moment. The four of them were, conveniently in a line...so there was only one thing left to do.

SHLK—!

With just a single slash, their bodies collapsed together, causing blood to spread across the white checkered floor.

The last one, who looked like the leader, had already fallen backward. There was a puddle of yellow liquid underneath him, though he appeared too terrified to notice.

He simply looked upon Alicia’s figure in terror, trembling as he held a crossbow aimed in her direction.

"D—don’t do this..."

"You’ve killed innocents, yet ask for mercy now?"

FWIP—!

In a last-ditch effort, the man shot his crossbow. The bolt flew directly toward her chest, but Alicia simply caught it with one hand.

"Tch..."

She turned the bolt around.

"Once a scum, always a scum."

With a flick of her wrist, Alicia threw the bolt back at him with so much speed that it punctured right through the man’s head, killing him instantly.

Taking a towel to wipe the blood off her hands before discarding it on the floor. She then turned to count the bodies.

"Seven inside..." Alicia muttered. "According to that mercenary, there might still be one left."

But just as she placed her foot on the first step of the grand staircase, a terrified scream echoed from the second floor.

"HELP—!"

It was the Baron.