38 MASTER LIRIUS: PART IV

"Magic circle?" Athena was shocked that Lirius know such a thing.

Magic circles are used in order to enhance a material or weapon. They are mainly used by Alchemist or Forgemen in order to use different enchanted materials into a weapon or artifact. Using such spells is dangerous and are only used by top rated Alchemists or Forgemen, since it uses a lot of mana at the same time, it can kill them during the process.

For Alchemist, using Magic Circle can also help create new potions or an elixir. Depending on the magic circle, the effect of the elixir will vary by having special effects. However, it is a very dangerous task since it normally leads to exploding. It's a practice that only crazy people do.

'Just who is Lirius? For Serfred to call him, Master Lirius to be a joke is ridiculous, I better start calling him master too.' Athena thought as she realized when it came to knowledge, Lirius was on par with the Arch Mage of Blackgate. It's the magic tower in the Empire.

"I recall my master teaching me a magic circle before that helped enhance a user and its weapon. It was more of a curse spell which no one hardly knows about..."

Hearing Lirius explain about the magic circle made Athena curious of who this master could be. Why is there no records of this master existing at all?

"For now, get some rest. I'll do the necessary preparation and inform you once it's done." Lirius explained whilst patting the girl on the head assuring her he'll do everything to help her. Once the girl was on her way, Lirius went back to the search for the book.

Athena slowly headed out of the room, as she was about to step out, she took a last glimpse at the man who was doing his best for her. She couldn't understand why he exerted so much effort for her, when they don't even know each other.

Lirius, why do I feel you have more secrets than me?

Who are you really? And who is this master?

The girl stepped out of the room as she slowly closed the door…

…..

As nightfall came, Athena was laying on the ground outside anxious. Lirius have done all the necessary preparation and created the magic circle, which the girl was lying on.

"Nerd, are you sure about this?" Serfred asked, seeing the magic circle around Athena. He may not be as smart as Lirius, but he was well aware of the consequence of using a magic circle.

"This will work, just stay back and whatever you do, don't come close at all. Since your aura isn't that strong yet, you might hurt yourself." Lirius explained carefully as he continued to draw the magic circle and the detailed symbols. He was so focused as he made sure not to miss a single detail. Just one wrong symbol could end in catastrophe.

"Serfred, don't worry... I trust Lirius, and I'm sure he won't do anything to harm me." Athena smiled despite the millions of butterflies in her stomach all flying around. She too has doubts such things would actually work.

"Stay back and whatever you do, don't come any closer or cross the line." Lirius icy stared at Serfred, knowing he might actually cross the line if something is to happen to Athena.

"Fine..." Serfred frowned as he crosses his arm around his crest annoyed he was being treated like a child by the man again. 'Is it really necessary to draw a line for me? This b*stard, he treats me like I'm some kind of an idiot.'

Well, in Lirius's eyes, he was a big idiot.

Lirius then started chanting the spell of enchantment. As the magic circle started to glow bright red, lumineux appeared all over Athena's body.

Serfred was surprised to see the vast lumineux coming out of Athena's body. It shocked him that he started rubbing his eyes still doubting what he was seeing.

'What the heck is going on? Why are there so many lumineux coming out of Athena's body? Aren't lumineux signs that spirits are living in the area. Does that mean the spirit's are leaving within her?'

Then all of the sudden, both Lirius and Serfred expression paled as the next coming events turned to what they wished won't happen.

Athena started coughing blood and bloody slowly rolled out her eyes. Her tears were red, she was pale and lips were blue.

What happened next, was to be expected.

"Nerd!" Serfred yelled as he started walking towards the man.

Lirius looked at the man and the senses that he was about to do something stupid. "Don't you dare?"

Serfred ignored Lirius as he stepped over the line, but before he could go any further strong winds blasted him away. Causing the man to end up unconscious and flat on the ground.

"Lirius, it hurts..." Athena cried in agony as she twisted and turned her body from the pain she was feeling.

"Calm down, it's almost done." Lirius explained, noticing half the magic circle has already vanished.

"I can't it hurt so much..." What she was feeling was the worst feeling she ever felt. She couldn't explain it, but her inside felt like it was being torn into pieces.

'Darn it! Why is her body so weak, didn't I cure the poison last time and subdue it.' Lirius ponders on things more and realize what was happening. 'F*ck, the dormant poison must have been activated again. What kind of poison did they feed her that it gets activated at her worst moment?'

Moments later, Lirius no longer heard the girl cry and saw her stone cold on the ground. As the magic circle completely vanished, Fuji quickly ran towards Athena with such malice intention.

"Get lost!" Lirius blasted a fireball towards Fuji who started growling at him.

Despite Fuji having acknowledged Athena as his master, the fact that the girl lost all her aura now means she is just a meal for Fuji.

Fuji left as he was so frightened by Lirius.

"Tina, wake up." Lirius grabbed the girl and carried her in his arms.

Athena slowly opened her eyes and was surprised at Lirius' sudden change in appearance. "Your eyes..."

Lirius watched as the girl breathed her last breath. "No! Athena wakes up... Don't you dare go to sleep on me."

Lirius panicked as he looked frozen and shocked. "This is all your fault."

'Damn it, I should have checked her well. To think there are more dormant poison within her.'

Lirius took a deep breath as he bit his thumb, he then drew a symbol on the girl's forehead. It was in the shape of a flame, a crescent moon and some strange symbols. He then started chanting another enchantment as his blood soon vanished and turn into a mark on the girl's forehead. However, the mark was only visible in his eyes.

"Did it work?" He mumbled as he looked at the girl.

As soon as Lirius was done chanting the enchantment, he felt the girl breathing again. He smiled with joy as his eyes slowly closes and everything soon turned into darkness.

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