Let's Train Heroine

Lucan hesitated, and then his words appeared again, this time more uncertain: "I don't know. I have a theory, but no proof."

"Tell me."

Lucan's next words appeared slowly, as though he were carefully considering each one. "Some weeks ago, Maris encountered a powerful beast—a Dark Crow from ancient times. She fought it and killed it. But perhaps Drak Crow survived ."

Maris looked thoughtful, remembering the fierce battle. "The Dark Crow was formidable, but I was certain I killed it."

Lucan continued, his words taking shape: "It's possible that Drak Crow survived, and someone found the weakened beast and killed it, using its power to complete their transformation. They could have become the second Evil Magician that way. But it's only a theory."

Meri nodded slowly, processing the idea, her gaze troubled. "It's a troubling thought, but it would explain the emergence of a second. The power of such an ancient creature could be enough to create an Evil Magician if one knew how to harness it."

After a silent. Meri spoke, her tone resolute. "If this is true, we must act swiftly. With you, Lucan… Maris, and Kerum wielding the Goddess's sword, and the guidance of all previous Saints, we have a fighting chance. We could defeat these two Evil Magicians and finally break the barrier."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Maris exchanged a look with Lucan, "Then let's do it. If we have the power, we should use it."

Lucan's words appeared in the air: "Agreed. The path is clear."

Meri nodded, "Then our first step is to locate these Evil Magicians. We find them, destroy them, and once they're gone…" She looked at Maris, her gaze fierce, "We will break this barrier once and for all."

Just as Meri finished her sentence, the temperature in the room seemed to drop, and a chilling, unnatural presence seeped in, coiling through the air. Shadows deepened, gathering at one corner of the room until they coalesced into a figure—a woman with skin as dark as midnight, her smooth features framed by a white dress that seemed to glow against the darkness.

Her eyes, pure white and devoid of pupils, surveyed them with a gleam of intelligence and danger. It was Nyx, the Evil Magician.

Almost simultaneously, a second figure materialized beside Nyx, as if she had stepped out from thin air. She had skin as white as snow, an unsettling mirror to Nyx's darkness, and her eyes, pitch black and pupil-less, held an eerie depth. She wore a simple, flowing black dress that complemented the starkness of her pale features. Her smile was chilling.

Maris's heart pounded, and she instinctively tightened her grip on the mana in the air, her aura flaring as her magic surged, ready to strike. Lucan's gaze hardened, his fingers flickering with shadowy energy as he prepared to conjure his words, while Meri's ethereal form sharpened, a silent readiness brimming from her very being.

All three of them readied themselves, their collective energy bristling, on the cusp of unleashing their combined power.

Nyx tilted her head, an amused smile dancing on her lips as she watched them, unfazed. The second woman with a low laugh, spoke, "Oh, don't trouble yourselves." Her voice was like winter's breath, cold and teasing. "We didn't come here to fight."

Lucan's gaze narrowed, his words appearing in the air with a dark glow: "Then why are you here?"

Nyx's white eyes met his, her smile widening just slightly. "To save you the trouble of looking for us," she replied smoothly, "Why waste time when we can discuss… cooperation?"

Maris's eyebrows furrowed, her guard remaining unyielding as she exchanged a glance with Meri and Lucan. The air around her crackled faintly with light magic, ready to spring forth at a moment's notice. "What cooperation?" she asked coldly.

The second woman, her black eyes glinting with an almost unsettling charm, shrugged elegantly, her expression untouched by fear or caution. "The barrier, of course," she said smoothly, as if it were the most natural answer in the world. "We wish to break it, just as you do."

"Explain clearly?"

The second woman smiled and said, "I'm Virnda, the second Evil Magician or third, I don't know when you become Evil Magician, Lucan. Anyways, it's not important. I become Evil Magician using Dark Crow, and saved Nyx, as you know. I had destroyed the will of Seven Divine Beast. So Nyx doesn't have reason to fight you."

Maris eyes flicker, as she looked at Nyx. Who just stood there in silent, with smile on the face. She could feel that Nyx is powerful than before and Virnda is also powerful.

"So, your goal is no longer saint and human but leave this place?" Meri asked.

Nyx nodded, "Our powers are limited because of barrier, so of course we want to destroy it. We need your help to destroy it."

Meri's ethereal form flickered, "And we're simply supposed to believe that you'll work with us willingly?"

Nyx's lips curled into a smile, "Believe what you will. We're here, unarmed and willing to negotiate. It's up to you whether you trust us. But I think you will need us."

Meri didn't said anything, she looked at Maris and Lucan.

"If you're really want to help us, then how about making a vow with me?" Lucan asked.

"Vow? Hm... Yeah, your word ability can make a vow that will be difficult to break it," Virnda said.

Maris asked, confused, "What is a vow?"

Words appeared beside Lucan: "I can use my ability to create a vow, ensuring that Virnda and Nyx won't harm any innocents or us. If they break the vow, they'll die, and if we break it by harming them, we'll die as well."

Maris nodded and then turned to Meri. "Do we need them?"

Meri thought for a moment before replying, "We don't need them; we have enough power to break the barrier ourselves."

Virnda smiled knowingly. "Yes, you have enough power, but you'd have to sacrifice more than fifty saints, wouldn't you?"

Meri's face changed at this, shock flashing in her eyes. The number of sacrifices required was a closely guarded secret. That Virnda knew this, and that she had become an Evil Magician, left her shaken.

"How do you know these things?" Meri asked sharply.

Virnda chuckled. "Sorry, I can't tell you. But let me tell you this: if you work with Nyx and me, not only can you save those fifty saints, but you'll also break the barrier without attracting the attention of outsiders and risking invasion."

Meri's frown deepened. "You know about the outside world?"

"I know a lot of things." Virnda's voice was soft, almost tempting. "Isn't it better to be allies rather than enemies?"

Meri fell silent, then turned to Maris. "What's your opinion?"

Maris's gaze was cold as she looked at Nyx. "I want to kill her. She's killed so many people. Because of her, we lost the Fairy Queen Elysia and Liora. But..." She turned to Lucan, "I'll do what Lucan-sama decides."

Lucan was deep in thought. He was overwhelmed by all the new information: the barrier, the history, the fact that previous saints were still alive in spirit form, and the unexpected appearance of Virnda, a second female Evil Magician. The Evil Magician was supposed to be a man. So many things lay beyond his knowledge, and it was giving him a headache.

But one thing was clear: it seemed company must have made a sequel to this game, likely one about breaking the barrier and facing the outside world.

Lucan turned to Virnda, forming his question in the air with words. "One thing I'm clear about. After the barrier is broken, there will likely be an invasion from the outside world, which is expected. But what about the First Saint? If the previous saints are alive in soul form, what prevents the First Saint from doing same? And since she worked so hard to create this place, why did she leave?"

Virnda's smile was cryptic. "I can't answer those questions."

Lucan fell silent for a moment, then finally told them, "Let's wait a month. By then, I'll have my ability back, and I can create the vow. Only then can we proceed with cooperation."

"Very well," Virnda agreed, touching Nyx's shoulder before both of them vanished.

Maris immediately used her scanning ability, extending it across the entire region, but she found no trace of them. It was as if they'd disappeared from existence.

Meri's gaze was sharp as she turned to Lucan. "Why did you agree to work with them?"

Lucan's response formed in the air: "I don't desire revenge for the innocents Nyx has killed. I only want a peaceful life with Maris. Working with them is better than fighting against them and then breaking the barrier."

Maris's face flushed red as she read Lucan's words. She still didn't trust Nyx and would prefer to kill her, but if Lucan said they should work together, she'd follow his lead.

Meri nodded thoughtfully, her own mind racing. She would need to speak to the dark shadow and devise a plan in case Nyx and Virnda turned on them.