"Hey, Sera, remember when Grandpa said we were going to save the world?" Maria grinned at her cousin, hoping to spark a little excitement.
"Of course, I remember! It's the truth after all!" Seraphina crossed her arms with a proud expression.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't think he ever said you two were going to save the world and you won't either."
Sera bristled. "Hey, don't be so dismissive. We could do it if we tried!"
I wasn't convinced. "I hate to break it to you, but saving the world is a pretty big job. Not sure you're up for it."
"Y-You! You don't know anything, idiot!"
No, I know very well…Seraphina.
"Grey-haired boy!"
Is that an insult, Maria?
We had been in the same room for nearly 30 minutes, and Maria and Seraphina had the brilliant idea to brag about their lives and the old man.
I listened to them because I was bored, but that old man is definitely spoiling them.
"Um…"
Suddenly, Maria piped up with a question. "So, is it true that you're in the Royal Eden Academy?"
I nodded, trying not to sound too proud. "Yep, that's me. My dad's a Duke, so it was pretty much a given that I'd get in."
Maria's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow, that's so cool!"
I shrugged, trying not to let it go to my head. "Eh, it's not that big of a deal. Lots of kids from noble families go there."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as I thought about my future. While being a Duke's son had its perks, it also meant that I was expected to attend the most prestigious academy in the world—the one where all the prodigies and geniuses went.
Duke's sons, like Saintesses, were automatically admitted to the Royal Eden Academy...
But they weren't going to join the Royal Eden Academy in two years because the Third Game takes place in the world's most famous and sacred place. There was an even bigger and more prestigious academy there where all the freaks would go. In two years, I will also have to join that academy.
"Ugh, I don't want to think about it," I muttered to myself, feeling exhausted already.
Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door, making me jump. I listened carefully as several more hits followed.
"Get back!" I shouted at Maria and Seraphina, gesturing for them to retreat to the far end of the room. They nodded, looking frightened.
I took a deep breath and readied my staff, trying to ignore the pain in my arm. The bees were relentless, their stingers piercing through the wooden doors and swarming into the room.
How did they find us…?
[<It had been thirty minutes, they had plenty of time to search everywhere.>]
'Yeah but that old man should have finished them already…'
The only reason to belate him would be his care for his damn brother, Pope Francis who is corrupted in the core.
I could have told him about the Pope but he would never believe me.
No one was aware of that, not even Sergius.
"Anathemas Fire."
I knew I couldn't hold back anymore. With a fierce determination, I elongated my staff and summoned the Anathemas Fire, a dark purple blaze that engulfed my arm.
"H-Hey!"
"A-Are you okay?"
Maria and Seraphina gasped in shock, but I didn't have time to explain. I clenched my fist and felt the two rings on my wrist expand, covering my entire staff in the same purple flames.
The pain was excruciating, but I forced myself to focus. I swung my staff in a wide arc, drawing a blazing circle in the air and striking five bees. They fell to the ground, charred and lifeless.
But there were still more bees swarming towards us, their angry buzzing filling the air. I gritted my teeth and prepared for another attack. This was going to be a long and difficult fight.
The other bees immediately backed away from me in fear, clearly intimidated by the Anathemas Fire. But they didn't flee, as if they were compelled to obey orders from their hive.
I shook my head and focused on the task at hand. With a determined expression, I raised my staff and summoned the power of my Falkrona Bloodline.
"Second Wing," I muttered under my breath, activating the enhanced speed and agility granted by my bloodline.
I ran towards a swarm of twenty bees, my staff at the ready. "Septem Treina, Sweep!" I cried out, sweeping my staff in a wide arc.
The bees immediately caught fire and burned away, leaving no trace behind. Even the nearby bees who were touched by the sparks of fire were burned to a crisp.
I grinned in satisfaction. They were clearly weak against the Anathemas Fire, and I only had two rings. With my Second Wing still activated, I leaped into the air and swept my staff with such speed that the bees couldn't even react. It was a slaughter.
"Such weaklings," I muttered under my breath, smashing a bee to the ground.
Using the Anathemas Fire was addicting, and I couldn't help but swing my staff in a sweeping motion, erasing dozens of bees in one fell swoop. They couldn't even get past me. I was like a whirlwind of fire and fury, and the bees stood no chance against me.
[<Amael, stop.>]
'Nah, I am only starting.'
"Ring of Vysindra!"
The ring on my staff glowed and the air around me started to vibrate.
I stood there, staff in hand, ready to take on any threat. The purplish flames burned brightly around the ring on the end of my staff, casting an eerie glow on everything around me. Its purplish beautiful glow reflected beautifully in my amber eyes.
[<Amael!>]
Suddenly, I heard a voice calling out to me in a stronger voice.
"H-Huh? What?"
[<You arm!>]
I looked at my right arm and noticed that it had been burned a deep shade of purple. "Shit!" I muttered under my breath.
I quickly cancelled the fire and knelt down, feeling the searing pain in my arm. The adrenaline had worn off, and I was finally able to feel the full extent of my injuries.
As I grabbed my arm, bits of burned flesh stuck to my hand, causing me to groan in agony.
Luckily, I had already taken care of the bees, but-
"E-Eden, I ask for your blessing!"
I turned around and saw a giant bee attacking Maria and Seraphina. It was much stronger than the others, and they were struggling to fend it off.
Maria and Seraphina tried to protect themselves by summoning a dome, but the bee easily broke through it.
"Seraphina!" cried Maria as she was hugged tightly by her friend.
I had to act fast. With my arm still in pain, I stood up and raised my staff again.
Fuck!
I cursed under my breath, as I didn't even notice the bee approaching. With my right arm useless, I grasped my staff with my left hand and aimed it at the bee.
[<No, Amael, you don't->]
'They are gonna die, Cleenah!'
"Anathemas Fire."
I channeled the power of the Ring of Vysindra, and a thick burning ring coiled around the staff's tip. With a determined voice, I commanded it to burn.
"Spiral!"
I swung my staff, and a spiral of dark purple fire shot towards the giant bee.
The staff extended at an alarming speed and pierced the bee's head before it could even turn around.
-Kriiiii!
The fire from the staff consumed the bee, leaving nothing behind. Not even ashes.
"C-Cough!"
My body was in pain, and I spat out blood. Both of my arms were burned, but my left one was in better condition.
[<It doesn't change anything.>]
Cleenah's voice echoed in my head, but I couldn't reply as my heart was pounding.
"I-I will heal you!"
Maria rushed towards me, offering to heal my injuries. But as soon as she touched me, I heard a voice in my head, ("I like your fire. It's beautiful.")
The words startled me, and pure anger boiled inside me. Without thinking, I slapped her hand away and yelled, "Don't touch me!"
"Aah!"
"Reina!" Seraphina cried out, rushing to Maria's aid as she fell to the ground in pain. I looked at my hand and saw that I had left a small burn scar on her right hand from my slap. Confusion and guilt washed over me. What was happening to me?
"I'm sorry," I muttered, feeling terrible about what I had just done. I stood up, gritting my teeth against the pain shooting through my burned arms. I needed to take a moment to collect myself.
I sat down on a nearby bench, hung my head, and took several deep breaths.
[<I already told you, Amael. That fire is strong but toxic for you.>]
'I know, Cleenah,' I replied, 'but I just feel so strange…'
My body was trembling as I tried to compose myself. I could feel the pain throbbing in my burned arms, but there was something else that was bothering me. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my mind.