Garlicia part 2/3: The "Invitation"

Tia stood in a small rustic store with a smile plastered on her face, 'Now I need only to wait and spend my gold.'

The shelves were laden with an array of treasures - glistening crystals, meticulously crafted brass tools, and jars containing mysterious objects immersed in colorless liquid. The air was heavy with the potent scent of formaldehyde, herbs, and vax, swirling together in an intriguing blend.

"What can I offer you, lady manaborn?" An elderly woman with her hair white of age and wrinkles all over her face gently smiled at her from behind a rustic wooden front desk.

'She is a witch.' Not answering, Tia slowly paced through the tiny store, the old rugged carpet rustling beneath her foot while her eyes scanned the various articles, and her slender finger occasionally poked the precise brass contraptions.

'Such a pity, they don't have spatial storage artifacts.'

"I need high-quality magic wood, preferably null or fire affinity. Also, give me elemental mana stones of each affinity you have access to, two pieces from each and ten from fire and null affinity ones."

"Of course, my lady!"

POV ???:

The old receptionist trembled, his heart pounding in his chest, as a black metallic gauntlet slammed into the nearby wall with tremendous force. The stone shattered upon impact, sending fragments flying in all directions.

The shockwaves from the attack reverberated through the air, sending vibrations through his body, jolting him to his very core.

"You know you should have reported this to the baron!"

'Fuck! They have ears everywhere. Someone must have snitched on me.'

He wanted to resist the accusation and fight. However, his trembling limbs refused to obey his commands, and the imposing figures of the guards in black suits that loomed over him, each of their moves clanging with the metal sewn into the suits, left him paralyzed and shivering in the corner.

"Bring me the manaborn! His lordship will be definitely interested in this. In the meantime, I will deal with this gentleman."

POV Tia:

With a haul of magic ingredients in a pouch hanging from her belt, Tia exited the store and immediately froze on the spot as the four guards armed with swords and crossbows quickly surrounded her, the crowds of people dispersing in every direction.

Their slimy expressions made her feel utterly disgusted, and her instincts immediately linked their presence to the pistol she had sold earlier.

She suppressed her emotion, preventing the smile from appearing on her face, 'Finally, I was worried they wouldn't show up on time.'

"Come with us! That is an order!" The nearest guard barked at her while reaching toward her.

"Ask nicely, and I will think about it." Tia took a deep breath and stepped back, trying to steady her nerves and show a facade of confidence.

Even though she wanted to be brought to their boss, she needed to show she wasn't someone to be trifled with. Otherwise, she would be disarmed and potentially put to jail in an attempt to make her more approachable for the negotiation.

"You whore, how dare you not listen to his lordship's retinue? Tie her up, boys, she needs a proper beating to learn her place!"

With a hint of desire in their eyes, two guards lunged toward her with lightning speed, their grins widening.

'Ohh, here we go. I should probably only ruffle them a bit.'

In an instant, she unleashed her hand forward like a catapult, unleashing a torrent of invisible kinetic force.

For a brief moment, their bodies froze mid-air before being forcefully propelled backward, caught in the surge of energy. The unleashed power materialized into a swirling circle, gathering dust from the ground centered around her palm.

<Basic Telekinesis V (21%)> --> 24%

With a thud, their bodies landed on the hard stone road, their groans echoing through the square.

The two remaining guards aimed their crossbows at her, pulling the triggers.

As the sounds of springs and loud whistling filled the air, Tia's mind acted on instinct.

Her two pale fingers effortlessly replicated the trajectory of the projectiles, sending them harmlessly flying to the side with the precise and brute strike of her telekinetic force.

<Basic Telekinesis V (24%)> --> 25%

At the same time, the two knocked soldiers leaped back onto their feet, their muscles bulging beneath their suits and their eyes shining as they drew their razor-sharp swords coated in the aura energy.

'What? How are they still moving? That impact should have broken their bones.'

"Attack, all at once!" the command echoed through the air.

Without hesitation, the crossbowmen tossed away their now-useless weapons, drawing their gleaming swords in unison. The four soldiers coiled together, moving towards her like agile snakes, poised to strike.

But Tia remained unfazed, her composure unwavering as she stood her ground.

Her hands shot forth in two separate directions, ready to meet the oncoming threat and shockwaves exploded outward and rippled the air before crashing into the closing soldiers like tidal waves against a cliff.

<Basic Telekinesis V (25%)> --> 28%

Their muscles bulged, and their movement momentarily paused as the stone road cracked beneath their feet—all four bracing against the crushing force of the telekinetic waves.

'Oh, they are aura warriors. That is why they are so sturdy and strong,' Tia cursed as all four soldiers, step by step, advanced—more and more shockwaves crashing into them, the tile stone from the road flying in every direction, torn out from the ground.

<Basic Telekinesis V (28%)> --> 31%

'I must go harder on them.'

Tia's eyes flashed as her multiple synapses flared to life, and energy surged into her slender fingertips. The next moment blood splurted out of the soldier's eyes, all four falling to the ground, their painful cries resounding through the square.

<Basic Telekinesis V (31%)> --> 36%

The sensation of crushing their eyeballs brought a rush of adrenaline and excitement, threatening to make her lose her mind. However, she didn't even blink—all her control focused on pinning them to the ground and crushing their bones.

"It is your fault! You should have known when to give up." She pressed with all her mind, the five soldiers moaning and screaming in terror as the metal sewn into their suits creaked and bent, their bones slowly fracturing.

Their muscles were tense as they tried to push back against the overwhelming force to no wail, their struggle only making it more satisfying to her.

<Basic Telekinesis V (36%)> --> 38%

"Ahhh!"

"Gah!"

Tia's mind pressed stronger and stronger; her energy quickly consumed and transformed into pure kinetic force, dislocating the soldier's joints with loud shaping sounds as they sunk into the stone road.

Suddenly, she sensed a movement to her left and a pair of heavy metallic steps quickly approaching her, her eyes going wide in surprise as she woke from her trance.

"Die, you bitch!" Another soldier leaped into the air, the glowing blade of the sword already closing on her head. The terror and fear filled her, bringing her back to reality.

'I screwed up and lost control.' At the last moment, she gritted her teeth, and a wave of kinetic force collided with her own body, throwing her backward. The strain on her muscles was intense, and a sharp pain shot through her body.

As she staggered back, barely recovering her balance, a split-second later, the deadly blade of the sword narrowly missed her nose. The sheer speed of the swing stirred a gust of wind, causing her hair to dance in the draft.

With a thunderous crash, the blade struck the road, igniting an explosion of fire. The sparks and fragments scattered in every direction.

Even amid the pain, her mind moved, the barrier of force deflecting and counterbalancing the explosion.

At the same time, her gun flew into her hand from her belt, its smooth metal perfectly fitting her hand.

The soldier, once again, raised his sword, his predatory eyes drilling holes into her.

With precision, she pulled the trigger, and electricity hummed from the blue, glowing barrel of her weapon. In a blinding flash of light akin to lightning, the approaching man exploded—his chest torn apart, with blackened, burnt viscera raining down.

Even Tia was shocked, her hand shaking at the gory death as she largely underestimated the firepower of her new pistol.

'Why is it set on armor-piercing by default?'

A loud yell resounded through the square, and the observing crowds dispersed, "What have you done, you idiots! I told you to bring her, not assault her!" Through the newly formed corridor, a tall man in the same uniform as the previous soldiers except for the polished chest plate over his suit that reflected the sunlight.

His hand in the metal gauntlet remained on his sword, his eyes vigilantly looking at her, constantly shifting between anger and fear.

"Ehhm, I wish to apologize for the behavior of my men. I am here to personally invite you, the esteemed manaborn, to the castle of His lordships, Baron Lafas."

'I just killed a man, and he doesn't even care? No, I bet it is a trap. However, as long as I get closer to my target, it will be worth it.' She wasn't worried, as her time in this world quickly shortened, especially after using so much energy in her cent battle, leaving her only a few hours before she would vanish without a trace.