The Saint

As Shantotto, with an air of inevitability, divulged the truth to Zeid, she calmly stated, "You know that he knows I'm telling you this. Which means, my dear knight, you're one of the outcasts now." referring to king Traut.

Zeid, overcome with disbelief, shouted at her, his composure slipping away. "Why should I trust a Tarutaru, and a sorceress on top of it? For all I know, you might've summoned the Fenrir yourself!"

Unfazed by his outburst, Shantotto retorted, "You don't have to believe me. Just go back, and you will see." A challenge to Zeid to confront the reality that awaited him if he dared to return. The tension in the enchanted grove escalated.

Ignoring Zeid's skepticism, Shantotto briskly declared, "Out we go! We have a dog to catch," a sly undertone suggesting that she had no intention of killing Fenrir. She then shifted her focus, contemplating the necessity of arming the young duo.

"We need to give the kids weapons."

With a whimsical incantation, Shantotto cast her floating spell once again, "Na Zan Neutral Dual," this time enveloping Zeid in its magical embrace. The knight, bewildered by the sudden change in his surroundings, found himself floating alongside the enigmatic sorceress.

They glided gracefully to where the kids walked ahead. Shantotto, her floating robes trailing behind her, directed her attention to Adachi with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Now, young Adachi," she began, "what sort of weapon do you fancy? We have quite the selection in the armory."

Adachi, confused question, but realizing that he might need a weapon, and that he might the upcoming fight. After a brief moment of thought, he chose something familiar from his school days – a long bow.

"I'll go for a long bow and some arrows," Adachi said, his confusion giving way to determination. "I used to do archery back in school, so I'm more comfortable with that. What do you have in your magical armory, Shantotto?" His attention shifted to the array of bows, looking for one that would suit his preference for long-range combat.

Zeid's surprise flickered across his face as Adachi casually mentioned his school days. It was a subtle revelation that clarified Adachi's background for the knight. The notion of Adachi being a royal was now more than just speculation.

Not one to let a moment slip by without her theatrical touch, Shantotto jumped into the conversation. "Oh, so you are from royal blood," she stated, her words hanging in the air with a mix of intrigue and mischief.

Adachi, caught off guard, responded with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

Curiosity overtaking him, Zeid felt compelled to answer Adachi's confusion. "Only royals and some nobles go to schools," he explained.

Adachi's laughter at the moment caught both the sorceress and the knight off guard. "Where I'm from, everyone goes to schools. Only the royals and nobles do not," he clarified with a chuckle, leaving the two perplexed figures in a state of heightened curiosity.

Adachi, steering away from the spotlight on himself, redirected the focus. "Enough about me. Shouldn't we give Lion a weapon as well?" he suggested.

Shantotto, with an air of assurance, responded, "Leave the young one to me." Zeid, sensing no ill intent from the sorceress, trusted her judgment and decided to leave his daughter in Shantotto's hands.

Both Shantotto and Zeid harbored a shared curiosity about Adachi, sensing that there was more to his story. However, as Adachi visibly steered the conversation away, it became clear that he wasn't inclined to divulge further details at the moment. Catching each other's side glance, the sorceress and the knight tacitly agreed not to press further, at least for now.

Shantotto, with a determined glint in her eyes, began casting a spell that involved a rather unconventional ritual. Drawing a dagger, she made a deliberate cut on her hand, the crimson droplets falling in rhythm with her whispered incantation. The sorceress recited a poignant poem about the lengths one would go to protect a loved one, emphasizing the significance of blood in such a pledge.

Zeid, uneasy with the display involving blood, moved to intervene, but Adachi, sensing the knight's discomfort, held him back. "Trust her," Adachi urged, his voice carrying a conviction that prompted Zeid to withhold his objection, albeit with lingering concern etched on his face.

In the language of whispers, her spell begins,

"A dagger's dance, a crimson vow, where blood and magic spins.

Protect, the cherished ones we hold so dear,

With bonds of blood, unbroken, through every joy and tear.

Rub el Hizb, a sacred symbol, squares entwined in grace,

Encircled by the mystic rings, a shield in time and space.

Characters akin to tell a tale untold,

In the language of blood, their secrets they unfold.

Between the circles' silent hum, a pledge in characters inscribed,

The sorceress, with steady hand, weaves destinies described.

Il Ver Sak Gen Gra Dual Diga Deband,

the spell begins to sing.

In blood and incantations, a shield for a fresh start."

As the poem unfolded, Shantotto, using her own blood, meticulously traced geographical shapes around Lion. Two squares stacked atop each other formed Rub el Hizb, encircled by two more circles. In between the circles, characters resembling Kanji were inscribed with precise strokes. The intricate ritual continued, culminating in Shantotto placing Lion at the center of the symbol she had created.

The magical tableau unfolded as Shantotto's incantation wove through the air. The circle surrounding Lion began to shimmer with a mesmerizing light, a delicate dance of light blue and golden-yellow hues. Shantotto, with a flair, continued to release drops of her blood at the edge of the circle, each droplet enhancing the brilliance of the magical aura.

To the delight of the young adventurer, water started flowing from the squares, creating a gentle bubble around her. Lion, unaware of the gravity of the enchantment, giggled with excitement, thinking Shantotto was putting on another magical display just for her amusement.

Yet, the circle's aura began to crack, forming hexagonal patterns all over the protective bubble that surrounded Lion. The magic intensified, creating an intricate lattice of shimmering hexagons.

As the spell reached its zenith, Lion found herself encased in a turtle shell, its hue a serene sky blue. The golden hexagonal patterns continued to gleam, casting a protective glow across the aquatic shell. The circle of blood, once present, dissipated into the air, leaving behind only the residual magic that adorned Lion's newfound shield.

After a few moments, the water shell vanished, leaving Lion unscathed but now adorned with a gentle, lingering magic

Shantotto, her grimoire in hand, tore a page from its depths with a swift, practiced motion. Fixing her gaze on Zeid, she calmly stated, "The spell I used is called Succor." As she spoke, she shifted her attention to Lion and uttered a single word, "Ruin."

Zeid, familiar with some of Shantotto's arsenal of combat spells that she keeps on her grimoire , knew that Ruin was a potent offensive incantation, typically involving the launch of two fiery projectiles towards the intended target. In disbelief, he instinctively moved to shield his daughter, positioning himself between Lion and the impending magical assault.

As the torn paper in Shantotto's hand disintegrated without a flame, a subtle magic began to unfurl. Two circles materialized in front of the sorceress, collecting and channeling ethereal flares. The flares coalesced into projectile-like forms, aimed directly at Lion.

In a protective surge, Zeid intercepted the projectiles, standing steadfast in front of his daughter. However, to his astonishment, the magical flares seemingly defied the laws of trajectory, curving around him and striking Lion instead. The unforeseen twist left Zeid in a state of shock, grappling with the inexplicable assault.