An Unexpected Encounter

"Hosh, hosh."

Aqua felt her vision getting blurry while her wings and legs began to lose strength. The water fairy did not know who the human she was fighting this time was. However, from his aura alone, Aqua could tell that someone with such power as that man should not have been born as an ordinary human.

"Get out of my sight, Kael."

"Please let me deal with him, Your Highness. This being in front of you is not the monster of Audoran Forest. The Mage Association has sent me to assist you. Your Highness, you should focus on your mission."

Aqua watched the conversation while trying to absorb the mana in nature again. Everything was fine before the man who was called Kael came. Aqua had managed to get rid of the adventurers who were guarding her target and only had to give Leroy a final attack before everything was over. However, someone suddenly disturbed her at that crucial moment.

Currently, Kael was the figure who managed to make Aqua release her power seal but still managed to suppress the water fairy. That was the first time Aqua had met an opponent as strong as that man. Aqua began to doubt that she could win, especially when she realized the man she was fighting had not even released his full power.

By now, the released form had drained Aqua's mana. The water fairy was struggling to maintain her adult form while continuing to absorb the natural mana around her.

"Ah."

Aqua's eyes widened as she could feel the two groups the other fairies were facing had been completely wiped out. The water fairy finally had a little hope after she realized that. By now, the other elemental fairies must have realized the predicament she was in. Once they were done with their respective battles, Aqua was sure they would come to her aid.

Aqua knew she just had to hold out a little longer until Lelitia finished rescuing all the magical beasts while Gaia and Kegan came to her. It was a little embarrassing to admit. But when she had to face the two figures in front of her, Aqua wasn't sure she would win this fight if she were alone.

"Those fools."

Aqua's attention returned to Leroy when she heard the prince speak of his siblings' deaths without the slightest trace of sadness. Aqua thought she might be able to buy time in another way. The water fairy tried to stand up straight again, then spoke mockingly to the two humans in front of her.

"You feel it too, don't you? Soon, the same death will come to you."

While in her released form, Aqua's shy nature seemed to have completely disappeared. The water fairy tried to appear confident in her victory. But, in the next moment, Aqua lost her composure again when she heard Kael speak to Leroy again.

"Your Highness, the people from the Mage Association have found the true position of the Monster of Audoran Forest. It seems to intend to release all the magical beasts that you have managed to capture. Therefore, killing that monster is more important than a mere fairy, right?"

This time, Leroy finally no longer refused Kael's request. The prince sheathed his sword and then turned around calmly.

"Wait, you don't want to avenge the deaths of those people?! We were the ones who killed the humans who entered Audoran Forest! Lelitia has nothing to do with this fight!"

"Lelitia?"

Aqua shut her mouth tightly as Leroy turned and spoke again, only to repeat Lelitia's name. Aqua secretly clenched her fists. No matter what, Aqua knew she couldn't let anyone harm Lelitia.

"I'm sure the others have given the other two groups of humans a cruel death. You three are brothers, right? Don't you care even if you never get to see your brothers' corpses one last time?"

"Why should I care?"

Aqua was at a loss for words when she heard Leroy's reply to her provocation. Ever since Leroy realized that his two brothers had died, the prince had not shown any expression. At first, Aqua thought it was because Leroy was trying to appear strong in front of her. But after she heard Leroy's reply, the prince seemed to simply not care about the lives of his brothers.

"They're stupid and couldn't even beat the son of a mere servant. I knew they would die in this forest sooner or later. For incompetents like them, why should I let go of my main targets just to bring back their remains?"

"Actually, their deaths are better for me. This way, I no longer have any rivals for the throne. Fairies, I should probably thank you for your hard work."

"You...."

Aqua couldn't understand how humans could be this cruel to their kin. Her plan to prevent Leroy from leaving by continuously provoking him had failed miserably. Aqua gritted her teeth. The water fairy tried to gather all the mana she had managed to gather, then used it to replenish her mana reserves in this transformed form.

"Then, die here!"

STAB!

Aqua widened her eyes as her attack was stopped with one hand, while Kael's other hand was used to stab his sword into the water fairy's stomach. Aqua immediately spat out a mouthful of blood after that. She should have known. With her mana, stopping the two of them from meeting Lelitia was impossible for her to do.

"Your Highness, you may continue your journey."

Aqua saw how Leroy only glanced at her before the prince left the place. Aqua tried to stretch her arms to reach the prince. But with the sword still stuck in her stomach, Aqua could do almost nothing. The water fairy could only watch Leroy slowly move further away while her vision slowly began to fade.

"Don't... approach... Lelitia...."

Aqua tried to speak even though she knew her words would not be heard by anyone. Tears welled up in Aqua's eyes, which were as blue as the ocean. Aqua still wanted to protect Lelitia with her powers. But with her current condition, Aqua knew that only death would await her after this.

Aqua closed her eyes when her energy was completely depleted. Aqua said thousands of apologies to Lelitia. She also regretted not being able to say goodbye to the other elemental fairies. And, of course, Aqua was also a little sad because she knew Fay would cry the loudest if she died in that place.

"Let go of Aqua, you bastard!"

But after Aqua heard the familiar voice, the water fairy forced her eyes open again. Although blurry, Aqua could see that Gaia had come and managed to give a surprise attack on the man who was still stabbing her. The attack managed to make Kael move to avoid it and gave Gaia another chance to catch Aqua, who fell after the sword that stabbed her stomach came loose.

"Gaia..."

"Don't worry, Aqua. I'll deal with him from here on out."

Aqua wanted to tell her that the other group had managed to find out where Lelitia was and that Lelitia was now in danger. But before Aqua could open her mouth, Aqua's body started to turn transparent until she returned to being an unconscious little fairy. Gaia also failed to catch the distress signal sent by Aqua. At this moment, Gaia only knew that she had to get rid of whatever bastard dared to hurt her friend.

"Hold on a little longer, Aqua. I'll finish this fight soon."

First, Gaia brought Aqua to a safe place and used her powers to form a strong shield that protected Aqua from any attacks. Then, after that, she turned to face Kael, who didn't move much after he managed to avoid the attack launched by Gaia.

"Human, I apologize. But I will not give you the chance to play games like the others."

Just as Aqua could become brave when faced with a desperate situation, Gaia, who usually enjoyed playing games, also no longer wanted to have fun when faced with a troublesome enemy. The earth fairy stood before Kael seriously. Gaia took a deep breath. Although she was not an attack-type fairy like the others, Gaia was sure she must have a way to fight the man in front of her.

"Seal, open."

In the end, Gaia was also forced to unseal her powers like the others to fight a strong human like Kael.

***

"Ugh... I'm on the right track... Aren't I?"

Kenneth looked around in confusion, then took another deep breath. Kenneth wasn't sure Gaia would accept him as quickly as Fay. However, he also didn't expect the earth fairy to leave him behind as soon as they got out of the protective magic that separated the inner and outer areas of Audoran Forest. Gaia flew so fast after they arrived in the outer area. Even if Kenneth tried to catch up as fast as he could, in the end, Kenneth was still left far behind.

Kenneth looked up at the sky above his head. The energy pressure he had felt earlier had also disappeared as soon as he arrived. Without any clues that would allow him to know the enemy's position, Kenneth had no idea where else to go.

BOOM!

Kenneth was about to give up when the energy pressure that had almost disappeared finally reappeared. This time, the energy pressure was also accompanied by an explosion, so Kenneth could easily find the enemy's location. Kenneth's spirit returned as he immediately ran to the source of the explosion. Kenneth was ready to open his sword whenever he saw an enemy. But when he saw who the owner of the spiritual pressure he had been feeling all this time was, Kenneth immediately stopped running and put away his sword again with a shocked expression.

"... Teacher?"

Out of the many days where Kenneth had hoped to meet his teacher again, the prince had never expected that he would meet his teacher in that way.