Meanwhile, while the center of Soroza is in an uproar over the explosion incident, a family in a modest house—standing somewhat isolated from the other residences—is facing a tension between life and death.
A mother trembles in fear as she holds her two young children tightly in her arms—one of them a little toddler boy who can’t stop crying, sensing the terror brought by the black-robed strangers threatening them with weapons.
“Hey! I told you to keep that kid quiet!” snaps one of the black-robed men, his patience worn thin by the child’s crying.
The mother can only stay silent in terror, wrapping her body even more tightly around her children to shield them from harm.
The other black-robed man seems more focused on the sounds coming from outside.
“Looks like the explosion has already happened.”
“Then our job is done? Finally….”
The black-robed man’s face twists with a feral grin as he quickly draws the sword at his waist.
“I’ve been itching to get rid of that noisy brat.”
“Nooo!!” the mother screams hysterically, tears streaming down her face. “You promised you would let us go!”
“Oh yeah? When did I ever say that?”
“Stop!”
The arrival of the mage leader instantly halts his subordinate’s brutal behavior.
“Those were my words. How dare you ignore them?”
“M-My Lord… forgive me…” The black-robed man quickly sheathes his sword again and bows in respect.
The mage leader steps into the house. Though she has no idea what will happen next, the mother feels a momentary sense of relief.
“Your daughter, Nichole Lanea, has carried out her task well. She sacrificed herself for the success of our mission.”
The mother’s tears spill even harder at the news that her eldest daughter is gone.
“As I promised, once your daughter completed her task, I would set you free…”
An evil-smelling smile immediately carves its way across the mage leader’s face as he finishes his sentence:
“Of course, by freeing you from this miserable life.”
The mother’s face goes pale and rigid as she sees the black-robed mage forming a ball of dark reddish power in his hand, ready to kill them.
DASH!!
A powerful kick slams into the back of the mage’s head, hurling him into the wall. He collapses unconscious, blood streaming from his nose and split lips.
Liam appears, standing in a battle-ready stance.
The mage’s subordinate on the left is stunned and quickly tries to attack—but his head is instantly blown open by Liam’s light shot.
Meanwhile, the black-robed man on the right has already reached Liam’s back, ready to drive the sharp tip of his sword into him.
CRACK!
A hard chunk of stone flies in from outside, hurled by Nichole’s magic. It strikes the man’s head with fatal force, sending him crashing to the floor, blood pouring from the devastating impact.
Stolen story; please report.
Liam flinches, stunned. He never expected Nichole to be a mage.
“Mother!” Nichole rushes inside and throws her arms around her mother and younger siblings.
“N-Nichole…”
The mother stares at her daughter’s face in disbelief, hardly able to accept that she’s alive.
They all cling to each other tightly, crying in relief.
Liam lets out a quiet breath, relieved that he arrived just in time to save the woman’s family.
.
Back to the moment before the explosion occurred.
Liam, still drowsy, opens the bedroom door. He meets Nichole, who is crying and apologizing. Liam’s face tenses as he sees a glowing red magic crystal emerging from Nichole’s chest and releasing a massive explosion within seconds.
Nichole has already resigned herself to dying in the explosion. But she is shocked when she opens her eyes. Amid the thick smoke and dust, she finds herself alive and unharmed, standing at a part of the corridor far from the blast.
Liam stands right beside her, his arm still wrapped around her waist. The prince manages to evade the explosion while carrying Nichole with him.
All the inn’s occupants rush out of their rooms, loudly trying to figure out what just happened — including Cedric, whose room is right next to Liam’s. Chaos begins to spread. Cedric is stunned when he sees Liam’s room destroyed.
“Cedric!”
Hearing Liam call out, he turns around and finds Liam with Nichole, standing a good distance away from the blast site. Cedric quickly approaches them while the other guests remain focused on the exploded room.
“Who planted that crystal inside your body?” Liam asks Nichole directly, with Cedric already beside them.
Nichole sets aside her shock over still being alive. Liam’s question makes it clear he understands how the crystal works.
“A-a mage… a mage with dark power. He has soldiers and… and he’s holding my family hostage,” Nichole explains, still trembling, her eyes wet.
Liam acts quickly while the scene is still chaotic.
“Cedric, I’m going to help this lady’s family. Tell Damian, and make sure everyone believes the occupant of that room died in the explosion.”
Cedric understands exactly what he needs to do.
Nichole still can’t believe that the man she was supposed to kill ends up becoming her savior.
And just like that, they arrive just in time before the black-robed mages execute her family.
“My daughter, thank goodness you’re safe.” Nichole’s mother cups her face, overwhelmed with relief to see her again.
“Mom, we’re safe for now. But it’s better if we move tomorrow. For now, take the kids back to the room so they can calm down. I’ll contact Uncle later.”
The mother understands. She stands with her two young sons, then bows to Liam.
“Thank you so much for your help, Sir.”
Liam gives a small smile. “It’s nothing. Please get some rest, Ma’am.”
Nichole’s mother and her two young sons walk toward the room, leaving Nichole alone with Liam in the space where the three black-robed mages lie unconscious.
“You’re a mage too.” Liam’s first comment to Nichole.
“Right. I used to be a student at Verlyn Academy.”
Liam grows curious—what year was she in?
“But these people suddenly appear through a black portal and take my brothers hostage. I have no choice but to follow their orders.”
“But they still intended to kill your family. That’s how vile the mages from Cranoa are,” Liam says.
“Cranoa?” Nichole never knew those mages came from there.
“The only region on Arkha continent that possesses dark power is Cranoa. The crystal they planted in your body was also a dark crystal found only in Cranoa,” Liam explains.
Nichole’s face stays tense. “They… came all the way to Carrion just to… kill you? Ah, I’m sorry, I should’ve been more respectful. Your Highness, the Third Prince of Argoust.”
“Hah, so they revealed my identity.”
Nichole bows to Liam. “I’m deeply grateful for Your Highness’s help. It feels unreal that I’m still alive right now and reunited with my family.” Her eyes well up again.
“Just think of it as luck. I managed to shift us away just before the crystal exploded.”
Nichole can’t help admiring her rescuer.
“His power is incredible!”
“Ah, but… there were more than three of them,” Nichole recalls.
“No need to worry. My friend will take care of the rest soon.”
“I truly am grateful. I deeply regret putting Your Highness in danger,” Nichole says, bowing her head again in thanks.
Then she looks at the fallen mage troops lying across her home.
“I’ll take care of these bodies soon. Maybe it’s better to burn them? Who knows if dark magic could bring them back to life.”
Liam holds back a laugh. “I’ve never heard of anything like that. Even if there were necro-mages, the most they could do is raise them as undead.”
Liam steps toward the body of the lead mage. “This one isn’t dead yet. I didn’t give him a fatal blow on purpose. He seems to be their leader. I’ll take him for interrogation. My friend in the Soroza military will send troops to guard the area around your home, to make sure no more Cranoa mages harm you.”
Like lifting an object with one hand, Liam grabs the black-robed leader mage by the back of his collar and walks away from Nichole’s house, dragging the man’s body behind him. Once again, Nichole bows toward him.
