The black-robed girl's voice echoed over the sea, cold and devoid of emotion.
But Ophelia did not move an inch.
She stood like a lighthouse pinned to the sea, letting the wind and waves howl as the tip of her sword remained unwavering.
The edge of her blade was restrained, yet her killing intent was poised to strike.
"Sorry," Ophelia said, her voice piercing the wind, every word clear.
"Until I confirm your identity and purpose, we aren't going anywhere."
Her clothes billowed in the sea breeze and her golden high ponytail danced wildly, but her golden eyes held only absolute focus and vigilance.
This was the duty of the Sword of the Empire, a principle etched into her very marrow.
She would never lightly trust any powerful being of unknown origin.
"Eh?"
The black-robed girl let out a very soft sound, like a sigh, yet carrying a hint of unexpected surprise.
Her head turned slightly, the shadow of her hood facing Klein.
An invisible gaze fell upon Klein.
There was no malice in that gaze, but it was filled with a strange inquiry, as if confirming something.
Or perhaps, she was silently asking: So she was this stubborn at this time?
An illusion, right?
Klein told himself.
He and this mysterious being were complete strangers, and she had no reason to look at him that way.
Seeing Klein give no reaction, the black-robed girl turned her gaze back to Ophelia.
She raised her empty hand, and the light of the cubic cage imprisoning the monster seemed to dim a bit further.
"...Sword of the Empire."
The girl's voice rang out again, carrying a coldness that seemed capable of freezing time.
"I am... a sage."
Sage.
These words fell lightly.
Yet they were more shocking than a million tons of boulders smashing into the deep sea.
The sea breeze stopped.
The waves seemed to freeze for an instant.
Klein's breathing stopped immediately, his heart pounding against his chest like a drum.
Sage.
In an alchemist's dictionary, this word was a supreme oracle.
It was a peak that countless alchemists could never reach in their entire lives.
It represented a thorough understanding and control of matter, energy, and even laws.
Now, this petite black-robed girl before them spoke the title so casually.
All the miracles she had shown before instantly found a logical explanation.
Ophelia's fingers on her sword tightened uncontrollably.
Sage.
This was not just a realm of alchemy.
To the citizens of the empire, this title was a spiritual totem.
There was only one known sage in the world; she guided the direction of the empire and was the protector of the imperial family.
Even Ophelia herself had never met her back then.
She never thought she would one day come face to face with that reclusive existence in this manner.
A massive gap in information opened between them, deep and unfathomable.
The girl ignored their shock.
Her gaze was indifferent, as if she had long been accustomed to such reactions.
She simply flicked her sleeve, and an object slid out.
The item spun in the air, its ancient texture shimmering with a faint light in the sea breeze.
Ophelia focused her gaze.
It was a badge.
On the badge, the ancient imperial totem was meticulously carved with smooth, powerful lines.
Its material was primitive, exuding an unspeakable sense of accumulated years and carrying the long history of the empire.
A deep blue gem was embedded in the edge of the badge, with a faint but profound light flowing inside.
Ophelia recognized that badge.
The supreme credential of the empire.
Supreme authority.
The sage looked at her calmly, the shadow under the hood deepening.
"Well?" her voice remained cold, but added a hint of inquiry.
"Do you believe me now?"
Ophelia did not withdraw her sword.
But she reined in her battle qi, and the oppressive aura immediately dissipated.
Her eyes struggled between wariness and scrutiny, eventually settling into a complex and deep contemplation.
Klein watched the two in their stalemate.
Why was the sage here?
Why hide her appearance?
What was her connection to that imprisoned monster?
Countless questions surged like the tide, yet there were no answers.
But now was not the time to dwell on them.
"Since that is the case," Klein's voice spread through the sea breeze, breaking the silence on the water.
"Let us return to the shore first."
The black-robed girl's hood turned toward Klein again.
She did not speak, but gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
That gesture seemed to approve of Klein's suggestion.
Ophelia hesitated for a moment, giving the sage a deep look.
The long sword let out a faint hum as she sheathed it.
Her movements were slow, carrying a trace of reluctance, but in the end, Ophelia also nodded.
The three of them headed back toward the coast.
The sea surface stretched out beneath their feet.
Ophelia's battle qi surged around her as she walked directly on the waves.
Every step kicked up small splashes of water like a galloping warhorse, crisp and decisive.
Klein communicated with the water elements as usual.
A gentle and precise supporting force lifted the soles of his feet.
The sea surface formed a shallow ripple under his control, slowly pushing forward as he moved.
Klein's movement was steady and quiet.
He walked almost soundlessly, as if merging with the sea surface.
The black-robed girl followed closely behind.
Her movements were light, like a feather.
She did not use any arcane power, yet the seawater rose beneath her feet as well.
A shallow ripple identical to the one under Klein's feet supported her forward.
She had chosen the same method as Klein.
Even the shape of the ripples and the speed of movement were almost perfectly synchronized.
Klein's heart jolted.
He turned his head, observing her in disbelief.
Her control over water elements was exactly like his, perhaps even more refined.
Klein could barely feel her connection with the water elements.
It was not guidance, it was more like a natural, traceless fusion.
She seemed to be a part of the water rather than controlling it.
An unprecedented wave of shock rose in Klein's heart.
The way the girl communicated with the elements was a realm of returning to simplicity.
It felt more like a crushing display of innate talent.
He even wondered if she was just casually mimicking him.
Had she mastered it instantly and performed it more perfectly than him just by seeing his method?
This feeling of being completely copied and even surpassed filled Klein with an unspeakable horror.
What kind of genius was this?
Or rather, what kind of existence was this?
The three of them moved across the silent sea in this manner.
Aside from the whistling wind and the crashing waves, there was no conversation.
They maintained a consistent distance, with no one trying to overtake the others.
It was as if they were engaged in a silent contest, or perhaps maintaining a delicate balance.
The sea stretched beneath them, and the silhouette of the coastline gradually became clear.
The beach and reefs looked hazy under the faint moonlight, which was still partially obscured by magic.
The nauseating stench in the air had completely vanished.
In its place was the fresh, salty scent brought by the sea breeze.
Night still cloaked the land, but the oppressive malice was gone.
Replacing it was an even deeper unknown.
Klein's heart was full of doubt.
He looked at the black-robed girl beside him again, the hood still concealing her face.
He tried to find a clue in that shadow, but found nothing but endless depth.
In their silent advance, they approached the coastline.
The waves lapped at the beach in a rhythmic sound, as if playing music for this silent return.
The first to step onto the sand was Ophelia.
Her feet landed on the soft sand without a sound, leaving only slight indentations.
Then came Klein.
He felt the soft, damp texture of the sand beneath his feet, and the elemental support dissipated.
The sage was the last to step onto land.
Her body was light as a feather, leaving almost no trace on the beach, as if she had stepped over thin snow without leaving a single footprint.
She stopped and turned around, facing Klein and Ophelia.
Her hood still hid her face, but her coldness and power had not diminished in the slightest.
"Now," her voice rose again, carrying the calm of things settling into place.
"We can talk."
She lightly raised her hand, and the miniature cube imprisoning the monster in her palm flickered with a faint light.
Inside the cube, the monster made of twisted shadows and deep blue liquid struggled silently.
It rammed against the transparent cage in vain.
It tried to break through the binding, but the indestructible cage was like the void itself, remaining unmoved despite the impact.
Rate on N.U.
