Chapter 42: Test of Faith V

Windows shattered, furniture overturned, and both fighters stumbled as the floor buckled from under them. Alicia’s dagger slipped from his neck, and the Knight Captain did not let the opportunity go to waste.

He drove the back of his head into her mask, shattering part of her wolf’s snout and forcing her grip loose. Then, rather than continue fighting, he hurled himself through the nearest window.

CRASH—!

Alicia recovered quickly and rushed after him, but by then, the man had already landed on the roof below. All she saw was a stain of blood, presumably where he landed, before the trail disappeared around a corner.

"Tch..."

She definitely was able to chase him, but with the Baron dead and the safe inside the burning study being the only evidence left...

Well, the answer was obvious.

RUMBLE—!

The mansion trembled again, but now that Alicia was leaning on the balcony railing, she could see what was happening clearly.

Rising from Eisen River were some kind of constructs made entirely of water. They were faceless, yet attacked mercilessly.

One citizen had been lifted into the air, a bubble of water enveloped his head, making the man drown on land. He grasped and struggled, but eventually, his hands fell by his side, lifeless.

The creature simply dropped him to the ground and proceeded with the next.

"What is going on...?"

Suddenly, a streak of blue light passed above the mansion. Alicia raised her dagger, only for the light to circle around and fly directly toward her.

As it drew closer, she finally realized what it was.

’A broom?’

Nadine stood atop it with one hand gripping the handle, her dark-blue hair whipping violently behind her. Rather than sitting like Alicia expected a witch to, she balanced on the broom as though it were a sword beneath her feet.

"What are you standing around for?" Nadine shouted. "Get on!"

Alicia glanced back toward the burning study.

"The evidence."

"What?"

"There’s a safe inside."

Nadine followed her gaze. Flames had already spread across most of the ceiling, and another support beam collapsed into the room as they watched.

"You have thirty seconds!"

Though Alicia was already gone. She crossed the study and stopped at the metal safe. Its surface had become unbearably hot, but the locking mechanism remained intact.

There was no time to search the Baron’s body for a key, so Alicia reinforced her dagger with mana and jammed it straight into the gap.

KRRRKK—!

The lock gave way instantly, and Alicia grasped the door from its hinges and pulled it straight apart.

Inside were several letters, a ledger bound in black leather, and a collection of what looked like property deeds and tax documents with Baron Eisenbran’s crest. Normally, she would skim through them, but now was not the time.

Alicia shoved the documents into the bag beneath her dress before wrapping the ledger in what remained of her cloak. By the time she turned around, the fire had already swallowed the doorway.

She lowered herself and dashed forward.

BANG—!

Alicia burst through the flames and leaped from the shattered window. Landing on the rear of the broom, both of them nearly slipped off as it dipped sharply from their combined weight.

"Warn me before doing that!" Nadine shouted.

"You told me to get on."

"Most people use their legs!"

"I’ve never ridden a broom before, Lady Nadine."

"That much is obvious!"

The witch pulled the handle upward, and the broom shot above the mansion just as its burning roof collapsed. Alicia crouched low and grabbed the wooden shaft with one hand while holding the bundle of documents against her chest with the other.

But now that they were high above the city...the scale of disaster had become clear.

Water had spilled from the river and flooded the lowest streets of Eisenbran. Dozens of faceless constructs wandered between the buildings, dragging citizens from their homes or drowning them inside spheres of water.

The garrison that had attacked Baron Eisenbran’s estate was now scattered throughout the city. Some attempted to fight the creatures while others abandoned their weapons and fled.

"Are those the spirits you and Young Master Rian were talking about?"

"No..."

Nadine’s usual laziness had disappeared completely. Instead, she bore a serious expression as they hovered above the scene.

"Spirits possess will. Those things are little more than masses of mana following someone else’s intent."

"Whose?"

"That’s what I would like to know."

Another water construct appeared in the street ahead of them. Seeing the coming broom, it extended both arms and sent a stream of pressurized water towards them.

Yet with a single gesture, Nadine froze the attack midair. And with another flick, the stream froze. Ice raced backwards along the attack and reached the construct below, freezing its entire body solid.

Then, with the last gesture, Nadine simply gripped her fingers together, causing the resulting statue to shatter into a million pieces.

’Thank god the Young Master didn’t make her angry...’

The broom descended toward Eisenbran’s central square. Unlike the streets surrounding the riverbanks, the plaza had not yet been completely overrun.

Merchant wagons had been turned to form barricades, creating a temporary refuge for hundreds of civilians. Rosalia stood atop one of the wagons.

"Children and injured people inside the city hall, now!" she shouted. "Anyone capable of carrying supplies, move food and blankets away from the lower streets! Stop standing there and help someone!"

Her employees rushed throughout the square, guiding frightened citizens behind the barricades. Several merchants had even used their wagons to transport those unable to walk.

Another group of water constructs advanced from the eastern street.

A line of Lowenhardt Knights met them at the barricade, and at their front stood their heir, Charlotte Lowenhardt.

Her elegant dress had been partially torn, and blood had stained both of her sleeves. Yet she remained upright, holding a slender sword in one hand while fiery mana gathered around the other.

"Hold the line!—" she ordered.

"They can’t be allowed to enter!"