Chapter 111 - Release of Magic

Azriel felt bad for the girl who was shrunk into herself, not even being able to speak up. She somehow looked like young Azriel herself who had not yet met Rhema.

“I will help you for certain,” Azriel murmured unconsciously.

Sophinea flinched and trembled as if she heard Azriel’s voice over the noise of burning flames. Azriel reached for the teddy that was spurting fire. When she learned ‘magic’ from Rhema, she also learned ‘release of magic.’ It was a way to disperse already invoked magic by interfering with it and arranging its mana in the reverse order. At the same time, she learned how to arrange mana intricately so that her magic would not get released by someone. The success rate of release of magic was in proportion to the level difference between the person who invoked magic and the person who was releasing the magic. She remembered what he said.

“You can release almost all magic,” said Rhema.

“Almost… all?” Azriel asked.

“It’ll be difficult for even you to release the magic that I invoked and a few spells that were cast on some of the ancient relics.”

“I can release all magic except for them? Can I?” Azriel repeated in surprise.

“It’s possible for you. Moreover, if you keep improving like this…,” at that point, Rhema Reshith paused for a moment. And he continued with a somehow bitter tone. “…You will be able to release all magic some day.”

Azriel calmly arranged mana. Next, she laid the mana she arranged over the teddy. She whispered her spell. “Esthera.”

Sophinea saw a truly magical sight spreading as soon as the black-haired wizard recited the spell. As if the time was going backwards, the flames that were gushing out moved backwards. The blaze that filled the hallway of the underground tower returned, swirling. The flames were sucked into the teddy, spinning. Yellow sparks scattered, and a heavy wind rose. Inside the wind and sparks, Azriel lifted the teddy. Even the last flames subsided. Azriel saw the red stars scattering and returning to Sophinea. Still holding the teddy, she approached the girl, following the march of the stars. Sophinea covered her mouth hard to the point where her hands turned pale and stepped back falteringly.

“Sophinea von Rudimna, right? I am Azriel Esthera,” putting down the teddy near the pool, Azriel held out her hand. The girl fanatically shook her head, trying to run away. The red eyes moved uneasily.

“You can speak in front of me,” Azriel said.

“…?”

“It’s true. Did you see me putting out fire just now? I will stop whatever happens,” she said.

“…!”

“Come over here. I’ll treat you.”

Sophinea looked at Azriel, with a frightened face. Azriel stretched her arm even more. “Nobody will get hurt even if you make sounds. You don’t have to run.”

“…”

“Sophinea.”

The girl shut her eyes tightly and approached Azriel very slowly. The water quietly swayed. The girl’s tiny hand touched Azriel’s palm. Azriel grabbed Sophinea’s hand and smiled big. “Thank you for trusting me.”

The girl looked at Azriel as if she was possessed. Azriel helped the girl out of the pool. Looking closely, her burns were severe. She had been soaked in water with such injuries. Azriel frowned. “It must’ve hurt very badly.”

Esthera. With her whisper, burns around Sophinea’s body visibly healed. Sophinea looked down at her cleared body with widened eyes like.

“I will erase your scars later. People must be waiting outside,” Azriel said.

“e, erase, s-cars…!” Sophinea, who was about to ask in surprise, became pale and covered her mouth. Her voice was split and small like the sound of quiet wind, which seemed to represent the long time she had not been able to speak. She was also stammering. Yet, the mana inside of her surged up violently as if it had been waiting for this opportunity. It was like an unleashed savage beast. Azriel witnessed red stars pouring out of the tiny body and drawing a constellation in the air at its will.