[10]

She left the building with newly found knowledge and, although she didn't fully understand its concept, she felt the art of Magic Circuits to be a mystical field. Even with the limitations it possessed, if it could be further researched, it seemed quite a viable way to make life much easier for people who are not adept at magic.

It seemed quite surreal, so much so that she remembered what she had asked the vice director.

"Can it be used to move carriages?"

Sadly it seemed that was a long way away as the woman had sighed and spoken.

"Yes, in theory."

"However, Magic Circuit is still a fairly new field and has just begun to develop about 10 years ago."

"We have figured out how to move the wheels of the carriage, however, we still can't figure out how to control it with precision."

"Also, it's shortcomings are strong as it's currently impossible to control it to go onto rough terrain. The whole carriage would move with extreme slowness to the point that it would be more effective to just pull it along with horses."

"There's also the issue of energy needed. To control a single sparring puppet, we need three medium magic cores or a single high-rank magic core. And it would be able to continue to move for about a day or so.

"Now, imagine if we took the case of a carriage. We need to move the carriage with the addition of the weight of the people inside and also factor in the distance of movement. We would need a heap of magic cores just to get it moving for a day. Magic cores are not cheap."

"In the end, it's more efficient to use horse-drawn carriage. All you would need to do is feed the horses and keep them alive."

Although a bit disappointing, she thought, it was alright; after all, it was only a field that was in its infancy. There was no need to expect results right away in a field that had developed for less than 10 years. Even Magic, the most widely acclaimed powerful art, had had a development period of hundreds of years.

Her deep thoughts were brought back abruptly as a voice entered her ears.

"Where do you want to go next?" Rain asked.

They were now always from the building.

Maria thought briefly, pondered, and prepared to answer.

"Let's re-"

Suddenly, a force crashed into her as her body shuddered before hurling backwards.

***

A few seconds prior.

'Something's wrong.' The knight had immediately felt it, from her months as an adventurer and her years a guard, she had felt it.

It was killing intent, a slow creeping killing intent, almost unnoticeable. So faint as to hide its whereabouts, however, she would find it.

With a thought on her part, her skill <Circular View> activated.

In a moment the surroundings became a vivid view in her mind. From the dust that settled onto the paved streets, to the buildings behind her. She could even see the sky above without looking. The amount of light was keenly in response to her mana rank.

Noticed, oh she did, a hazy figure-blurred by obscurity-prepared atop a rooftop. Seemingly blending in with the surroundings.

Holding an item in his hand, he lept down.

Her body had already moved as soon as she had saw him, grasping her blue hilt and silver blade. She willed her body as her speed increased.

She appeared in front of Maria and kicked her backwards while her blade made an arch across the air.

The sheen of metal against metal screeched the air as a small spark lit the contact point of the two blades.

Clank

The two's swords met once more as they came face to face.

She stared into the hazel eyes of the man, the rest of his body hidden by a black cloak, and briefly, she saw a shine in his eyes.

'What?'

A brief question lingered in her head as her body refused to move. Even her lips were sealed and her blade unmoving.

Even amidst her expressionless face, there was a slight distraught of shock.

As she watched, the figure immediately traced around as his eyes keenly fell upon the fallen princess.

Another figure flashed passed Ais as a sword appeared in each of his hands.

Finally, overcoming her stunned state, Ais too chased after the figure. However, before she could even move closer, she heard a hoarse voice speak out.

"Separate."

A clear sound of hitting a wall resided into her ears as her body clashed into what seemed like thin air. She immediately drew back, and tried to peer within the erected barrier, however, it was no use. Ais held her sword tightly with her grasps and swung downwards.

A wide array of fast attacks followed as she felt as if her weapon was coming into contact with metal, growing numb, she continued with more force. However, the barrier retained its state.

***

She shakingly stood up-in a daze-as her head wobbled about, she looked at the immediate area. A desolate scene; no pedestrians on the streets, no people walking to and fro from buildings, and no merchant stalls.

"Where am I?" A light mutter escaped her lips.

She tried to back up, but instead felt a solid object at her back.

"Maria! Dodge!" At that moment, a stringed yell echoed into her ears.

Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the situation.

A cloaked man-wielding a sword-sprinting towards her. Rain-behind-holding two iron swords as he chased after the figure.

Her mind instantly worked in overdrive to piece together the information she had received, and as the man reached striking distance, her body had already begun to move.

An instinct of survival.

The man slashed out as the sword in his hand glimmered slightly.

She felt the cold metal against her skin-it grazed her abdomen-as she lunged left and narrowly avoided death.

A small yelp escaped her lips.

Her body fell against the cobblestone floor, and with rough breaths, she gazed up at the approaching assailant.

Only one thought filled her mind at that moment, 'Is it the end of this life too?'

"Dammit!"

A clank rang as Rain stepped in front of her figure, his swords raised in a cross above his head, blocking the mighty blow of a figure twice his size. His teeth gritted and his purplish gray eyes staring daggers of anger, wanting to rip the man apart with a simple glare.

In the next moment, the blade of the man became a blur as a small scream accompanied it.

A sword lodged in his abdomen-Rain struggled to hold his footing and stand.

Maria saw his blood dripping against the ground, dyeing it a hue of crimson.

"Why?" A small mutter escaped her mouth, barely faint.

But he heard it.

A small grin plastered on his face, Rain spoke out, "how can I let my first apprentice die this early?"

His blade moved as his body finally dislodged himself from the man's sword.

His swords flashed as he made his own chance at an attack.

However, the man simply leaped backwards in avoidance.

'I will help.' Maria thought.

Her hand stretched, mana forming, and the golden light guiding towards the boy, soon, entangling him in their light.

"Oh light that guides me, heal the wounds of this mortal body."

Rain's wound began to visibly close as his abdomen knitted itself back together and his blood regained momentum.

"Oh goddess of light, protect him in your embrace." Maria channeled her mana once more as a scripture left her lips.

Rain's body coated in a barrier of light as he wielded his two swords against the man.

However, the man dodged his futile attacks as he disappeared into a hazy blur, soon, vanishing from his sight.

In this situation, one could say that Rain's eyes were useless. What was the point of seeing the details in a figure I if he couldn't even see the figure?

His pair of mystical eyes surveyed the surroundings, however, he couldn't pick up the assassin's figure.

"Dodge!" A sound entered into his ears.

Maria watched as the man silently reappeared behind Rain and his sword moved with blinding speed.

Instantly impaling into his back, Rain held no time to dodge.

It effortlessly pierced through her magic barrier, shattering it into light fragments, and piercing into the skin underneath.

Her eyes widened as Rain's swords fell from his hands, a loud howl of pain resounded, then his body began to slip off the blade of the man.

He fell amidst a small dripping pool of his own crimson blood.

***

She was within a black space of eternal darkness and the only other person there was an old man sitting on the throne of white.

He looked human. Like any other old man that no one would pay attention to.

Yet, she felt something else when she looked at this figure.

She felt as if she was facing something so boundless that it couldn't be explained with words.

Then, he spoke.

'Tell me, child, in your next life, what is it you wish for?' An ancient voice entered into her mind.

It was calming, seeming to guide her away from her anxiety. Seeming to want to embrace her.

'What do I wish for?' Her mind began to wander.

'I want....in my next life...I want...' Her eyes misted over as she saw her life play before her.

Happiness, joy, fear, desperation, sadness, sorrow, depression, and death.

She saw it all.

Then she spoke towards the figure.

"I want the power to protect and rule my own life!"

***

She remembered, the faint memory of that meeting flooding into her.

Even while bloodied and kneeling, her glare was directed at the man before her.

"I won't have the same thing happen again!" She stretched her right hand outwards.

A gentle cove of light began to appear in her hand as it began to take shape.

"I won't be so weak!" She shakily stood with stumbling feet.

A hazy light began to enshroud her body, bathing it in a slow glow and slowly becoming concrete in a visible metallic luster.

Her abdomen began to heal, knitting together with the golden light that covered it, her blood flourished.

"My second chance won't turn out the same!"

Her hand grasped the hilt of the blade before her, floating ever so gently in her front, she tightened her grip as her metal gauntlet wrapped around its handle and her fingers tightened.

"I am Maria Springfield!"

The golden light on her body fully condensed, as her white cape blew in welcoming.

"The defender of my own will!" Her crimson eyes burned with a golden hue.

"Ruler of my own life!" A loud roar escaped her lungs as her awakened figure wielded the radiant blade grasped in her hand.