Chapter 112 - Release of Magic

‘How dare you,’ Azriel’s mana moved quickly. Before the constellation was complete, she interfered and suppressed Sophinea’s mana as if she was pressing down on the neck of an ill-mannered beast. Compared to Azriel’s mana, Sophinea’s mana was a puppy. Not able to resist for once, it was fixed. Sophinea could not see that process. However, she could feel her devilish mana which slipped out of her body, jolting, becoming quiet, suppressed by something. “…?”

“I said, you can speak,” Azriel said with a smile to the girl who was looking at her vacantly. Sophinea took her hand that covered her mouth off a little.

“I…,” the tip of Sophinea’s tongue twitched. Azriel’s golden eyes kindly looked at her.

“I, I can, s-speak…”

“Yes, you can. In front of me,” Azriel said.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Sophinea grasped Azriel’s hem with a shaking hand. “Is… it, o-okay, if, if I speak? I-n fr, front of, you? R, really?”

“Of course. Look. Nothing happens. Right?”

“H, h, how, how…”

“I’m suppressing it with my mana, so it won’t become magic.”

“Th, that’s, p-possible…,” Sophinea could not continue. Her sobbing choked her throat. “Ah, ah, ahh…”

The girl burst into tears loudly, hanging on to Azriel’s arms. She cried out loud, screaming. It had been ten years since Sophinea von Rudimna cried out loud. It was a cry that came out like the water that burst out from a collapsed dike. Azriel hugged the girl who was crying desperately and looked down at the girl’s hands that were clasping her to the point of hurting. It was because she did not want to shake them off.

*

The first level of the underground tower was stirring. Azriel headed there, holding Sophinea’s hand. As soon as she appeared, all conversations stopped and every eye was directed to her. Suddenly, a fancy noble woman popped out among wizards.

“Sophinea! Oh, oh! Sophie!” she yelled. She ran to the girl anxiously and hugged her. She burst into tears. “Goodness. Sophie, Sophie. Mom thought she was really going to lose you…”

That must be the Duchess of Rudimna. Azriel was going to sofly let go of Sophinea’s hand and step back.

“…! N, no!” as soon as Azriel let go of her, Sophinea, who was held in her mother’s arms, grabbed it again in a fright. When the girl spoke, there was an uproar around them. Wizards either recited a spell or stepped back. The Duchess hurriedly shrunk her body and came off her daughter. It was a reflective reaction because Sophinea became gravely sad every time she hurt her mom. However, nothing happened. Sophinea clung to Azriel like an ivy, not caring the reactions around her. Among the startled people, only Pendelok Palaios realized the situation. The old man groaned. “That can’t be…”

The Duchess of Rudimna looked at Sophinea and Azriel in turn with a shocked look. Azriel smiled awkwardly. “Well, this is…”

“You, you! You! How did you do it? How? You made a mana interference phenomenon just now, right? To other’s mana? How on earth?” Penelok poured out questions with a squealing voice. The Duchess grabbed her chest before taking a deep breath and opening her mouth.

“Let’s move to another place, first. This is not a proper place to talk. And you…,” the Duchess hesitated and stared at Azriel. She had blue eyes that resembled Charles. Did he say she was his aunt?

“I am Azriel Esthera,” Azriel introduced herself.

“…Miss Esthera. Can I speak to you for a short while?” the Duchess asked.

“Yes, that’s alright,” Azriel replied.

The principle of the society took charge of the disordered atmosphere and the settlement of the building after the fire. Azriel, Sophinea, the Duchess of Rudimna, and Pendelok Palaios went to the reception room on the second floor, which was comparatively intact. Sophinea was exhausted and fell asleep as if she had collapsed. All the while she did not want to be separated from Azriel, so Azriel laid the girl on the seat next to hers and let her head rest on her lap. As soon as they sat down, Pendelok rushed to speak. “How on earth did you do it?”