3 Chapter 3

|Mission Investigation|

They use the horse cart provided by Vivian to go there faster. The 4 girls didn't accept it at first but Lucas said that It's better to use one than traveling by walking. On the way to the forest called Heolstorflod Woodlands, they encounter monsters. It's uncommon to see some monsters near the forest. It's going to be dangerous if they are still continuing to investigate deep down the forest but Lucas didn't back down. If this was the work of Shadow Phoenix, he can't afford to let them have their way. Their existence is already dangerous on its own. Of course their mission is just to investigate on what's going in the forest. He promised Vivian to go back safely but then…. The monsters started to move and aggressively attack the villagers. He doesn't have a choice but to defend the folks and fight the monsters.

[Lucas: I can't stand it, I don't want them to die. I have the power to protect them so I'll use it whenever I like!]

Lucas who's irritated to seeing those people get attacked while he's just lying low.

[Micaela: Lucas…]

[Olivia: It's fine Lucas, we will follow you so give us your order.]

Olivia who's ready to take part of the battle.

[Lucas: Olivia…. ALRIGHT!! Everyone! Let's use our formation C "Fortifying Storm"!]

[Micaela: Wh-what about me??]

Micaela anxiously asked Lucas about her order from him.

[Lucas: Oh yeah… you still don't know that, it's fine just follow Hazel and heal the wounded ones.]

[Micaela: Got it! Hazel I'll do what you say.]

[Hazel: Ok big sis!]

[Lucas: we don't need to waste time, LET'S GO!]

[The 5 girls: YES!]

Their formation is to defend while attacking. It's the best formation that they created to let their target(s) to go to a safe zone. Then they split to 2 groups. One is to attack which is Lucas, Charlotte, and Lily. The other one is to defend the villagers which is Olivia, Hazel, and Micaela. Lucas performs his lightning magic- "Godspeed" and he shares it to Charlotte using his unique skill- "Divisional skill" to let her have the Godspeed skill for a while.

[Lucas: This was we can go there quickly. Lily are you done with yours?]

[Lily: How come you perform it faster than me when it was originally mine?!]

Lily who just completed her Godspeed and complained to Lucas after.

[Lucas: Sorry I didn't mean to brag or anything. I don't even know how come I copied your lightning skill.](they hurriedly go to fight the monsters.)

(It was last time when Lucas trained Lily.. He fought Lily while using their own magic skills and miraculously, Lucas unexpectedly copied Lily's Lightning skill- "Godspeed". When he realized that the one he copied didn't disappear after a few days, he trained himself to master it but it wasn't easy because in the first place he's not a lightning user. Of course, they tried again and used other skills but he couldn't copy it like last time.)

[Lily: Ahhh… no.. You don't need to apologize… If it is you… You can even steal my first time…!!!... What did I just say??!!!]

[Lucas: What?!! Sorry I can't hear you clearly.]

Lucas replied while running very quickly(Godspeed's ability is to enhance one's self to have a rapid movement) while Charlotte who's beside Lily was embarrassed when she heard it.

[Charlotte:?!! Lily!!! Stop saying those things while heading to a battle!]

[Lily: (blushing) I didn't mean to say that!..]

They(Lucas's group) reach their destination and directly attacked those monsters to buy time for them to evacuate to a safe place. Then they(Micaela's group) started to do their given task and accomplish it. They help to evacuate the villagers, Hazel perform her water magic- "Oceanic Barrier" to protect them inside from any harm against monsters. Olivia created 2 Golems using her earth magic to guard and attack incoming monsters while Micaela uses her healing magic to heal the wounded people.

[Micaela: is there anyone who's wounded?]

Micaela shouted and a woman replied to her as well.

[Woman: HELLLLPPPP!!! MY DAUGHTER GOT HURT TRYING TO PROTECT ME! PLEASE JUST SAVE HER EVEN IF IT WOULD EXCHANGE MY LIFE!.]

Micaela hurriedly went to the woman's location after hearing her.

[Micaela: You don't need to sacrifice your life. Your daughter protected you despite her fragile body so please take care of yourself. I will heal your daughter.(after healing her) She's just asleep so let her rest.]

[Woman: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! I'M INDEBTED TO YOU.]

Micaela bowed her head down happily and told them to move to a certain location(open place) which Hazel is located. Olivia gathered all of them and she led the way to Hazel's location when a young girl runs to her and she said.

[Young girl: Please save my father! He told me to come here first because he said that his duty is to protect his people. That's why he stayed there and help others. Big sis… Am I a bad girl? Because I just followed what my father said to me and leave him behind than staying by his side.]

She showed a gloom face while talking to Olivia and she replied.

[Olivia: Of course not, You're a good little girl. You should follow what your parents told you, it's for your own good. Now I will tell you to follow other people here because I'll go get your father ok?.]

[Young girl: Yes big sis! Thank you!]

The young girl was thankful to Olivia for accepting her request. She then told the villagers to go further without her. When she went back to the village. She saw a man holding a sword, He's good at fighting them despite living in rural areas. He killed too many goblins and 2 orcs and now he's out of breath. An ogre came from that man's behind and now Olivia takes action and save that man from being devoured.

[Olivia: Golems CHARGE!]

The 2 golems attack the ogre's both flank side by side while Olivia finishes it using her sword.

[Man: Thanks for saving me even though I'm a stranger to you.]

[Olivia: No it's nothing. Our order is to save you villagers from any kind of dangers. Anyway, are you the one who has a daughter?]

[Man: Yeah. Is she alright?]

[Olivia: Don't worry, they're now at my comrade's place. Now let's go follow them.]

[Man: Wait a minute! There's someone I protected from that house but he got injured. Please help him, he's my father.]

The man was begging her to help his father to go to the safe zone.

[Olivia: Alright follow me and let's go!]

Olivia ordered her 1 golem to carry that wounded man and they directly went to the safe zone where Hazel and Micaela are waiting for her. On the other side, Micaela used a lot of manas from healing those wounded people despite being a beginner at using her own magic. Hazel is sitting in the center field while concentrating with her "Oceanic Barrier" to protect the villagers inside it. Minutes have passed and Olivia came to them and ask Micaela if she could still heal one injured person. Micaela didn't have enough mana to heal him so it frustrates her that she couldn't help anymore. Good thing there was a merchant with them and he ask if he could help them by giving Micaela a mana potion. Micaela rushed at drinking it and she gained a little amount of mana but she needs more than that, the merchant said that it was the only one. Now that it comes to this, Micaela uses her lifespan as its substitute to mana. Olivia tried to stop her, but she was determined to do it. When she converted her lifespan to have enough mana, she directly healed the injured man. After that, she lost consciousness. Olivia picked up her body and put her at Hazel's side. Olivia was guarding the place to ensure the safety.

[Lucas's group]

Lucas and his group fought the monster.

[Lucas: Let's see what you guys have, if I felt that you improve, I'll give you guys a reward.]

[Charlotte: Eh….. Then.. I'll end this quickly!]

Charlotte decided to finish those monsters in one sweep to wipe them up quickly.

[Charlotte: Fire magic- "Inferno"!]

The fire rapidly spread to the surrounding areas, annihilating the monsters and also trees.

[Lucas: (Thinking: ??!! This is massacre! Good thing I didn't even think to make fun of her and don't want to do it starting today, or else!....) Uhmm… Er.. Charlotte?... I.. I think…. You overdid- I mean you've done enough so let Lily and I handle the rest ok?]

[Lily: ?? Ah yeah right! We'll handle it now you see.. Ahh hahahahahahahaha.....(thinking: what a monstrous skill, good thing I was her friend or else I!... Will get roasted!…)]

[Charlotte: Ok! I'll take a rest]

[Lucas: Ye- yeah! Take your time hahahaha…..]

Lucas and Lily were appalled looking at her obliterating almost all of their way, seeing only a vast land covered with fire. They will never forget this feeling. The feeling of being frightened by someone who's timid type.

[Lucas: (Thinking: No no no.. You need to act strong, or she will mock you!!) Alright! Lily, are you ready? Let's do our part so we won't get tease later.]

[Lily: Yes Lucas!(Thinking: I'll go all out)]

Lucas and Lily simultaneously attack them one after another, knowing if they back down, it's the end of their pride. The both of them uses "Godspeed" to kill them more quickly. After that they went to the village to clean up the rest. It was already afternoon when they finish all the monsters. Lucas use his shadow magic- "Shadow of Obscurity" to lurk in the shadow and light magic- "Truthseeker" to locate their position. When he got there, he saw Micaela unconscious and ask with a worried face.

[Lucas: What happened to her?]

[Olivia: ….. She used too much mana an-!.. (thinking: if I told him that she uses her own lifespan, he might get mad..)]

[Lucas: ? What's wrong Olivia? Is there something else? Please tell me.]

Hazel told him the truth because things won't get anywhere.

[Lucas: I see… Olivia I get what's your point, you didn't want to tell me because I'll worry more but it's my duty to protect you guys… I'm sorry I wasn't around to give enough mana using my unique skill…]

[Olivia: No Lucas. You don't need to apologize, it's because of my carelessness, if I brought mana and healing potion with me. I could also help cure the wounded ones…]

[Lucas: I'm really sorry this is because of my selfishness, you didn't bring any potion because we were supposed to only investigate the forest… I'll carry her back with me.]

Lucas was down and carried Micaela with her when someone interrupted..

[Old Man: Mister… I was the one she healed the last. I'm really thankful to her. By the way, I'm the Head Chief of our village, my son was a former Adventurer and he has a child but you guys all save them despite being a stranger so please. Let us repay you even just a little. You can spend the night there in our village.]

The villagers were very thankful for them saving their lives. It was the least they could do to repay them. Lucas took their kindness and they return to the village. After that, he let Micaela sleep in the room to take a rest. He shared enough mana to stabilize her flow of magic. After doing that he gets out of the room while the 5 girls are waiting.

[Lucas: She's going to be alright. She only needs to let her body rest, it was her first time using it in this kind of situation..]

The 4 girls were relieved when Lucas told them that.

[Lucas: Can you still continue our mission? If not, I won't force you to. I don't want you guys to get hurt because of my selfishness again..]

[Olivia: We can still do it.]

The 3 girls nodded. It was already night back then. They told the Head Chief that they will continue their mission without Micaela but the Head Chief told them first that they need to fill their stomach so they eat dinner together. After a fierce battle against monsters, they continued their mission….

To be continued-