“……”
“So, Melkar is deeply connected to Sardinia, isn't it?” Lukurazia said, adding, “In the Greek regions, Melkar is depicted as a large man wielding a club. Just a few days ago, I witnessed Melkar manifest in this form.”
“But Lukurazia, didn't you say earlier that it had nothing to do with Melkar?”
Ignoring the girl's question, the older witch, with a lazy smile, continued, her hand cradling a cup, "Well, doesn't Sassari have those standing stones? Five days ago, I sensed unusual divine power converging there. So, I went to investigate.
I witnessed a battle between two gods. One was Melkar, and the other was a warrior god wielding a golden sword. The battle was fierce and ultimately ended in a stalemate. It was quite an experience, I must say…”
Lukurazia sighed. Her previous injuries were a result of the battle, leaving her weakened and in need of rest and recuperation.
“Melkar used a club, and the other god used a golden sword. They both delivered their final blows, and both were heavily injured. Melkar turned into lightning and flew away, while the golden sword god shattered into pieces.”
“Shattered? So, he lost his physical form?” Elica exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise. If that was the case, wouldn't this incident become even more troublesome?
“No, the sword god's body seems to have broken into pieces. Each piece then transformed into a new form – a wild boar, a phoenix, a horse, a goat, and various other creatures. These fragments then scattered across the sea and sky.”
Lukurazia shook her head slightly, her gaze a mesmerizing mix of determination and warmth.
So, the giant beasts appearing all over the island were actually fragments of the golden sword god, reborn after being shattered.
“So, the 'Wind' god who defeated that beast at the harbor was Melkar's manifestation?”
Elica, naturally, found herself captivated by the mature witch’s beauty, her attention briefly diverted.
She frowned slightly, her mind conjuring the images of the monstrous god beast, its immense power, and the devastation it wreaked. Even now, she couldn't shake off the awe and fear. And the Wind, which had so effortlessly vanquished the wild boar, was equally impressive.
“Who knows? Neither Melkar nor the sword god could have recovered in such a short time. If they had, my Divination Art would have detected some sort of premonition, like the one I had about the appearance of the boar. But there was none. It’s also possible that they left Sardinia.”
Lukurazia shrugged, offering only a nonchalant “Who knows?” in response to Elica's question.
But she knew things couldn't be that simple. After all, this event had already thrown a wrench into their plans. Take, for instance, the sole male presence in the room.
She wondered whether his actions were his own or a directive from the High Priest.
If it was the latter, then it would be a major problem. Lukurazia even considered packing her bags and making a run for it.
“Wow! You were actually involved in a fight between gods?! And you seem completely unscathed.”
Two disobedient gods?
Considering the massive destruction and impact caused by a single god beast, Elica couldn’t fathom the scale of a battle between two such entities. It must have been apocalyptic.
But upon closer inspection, she found that Lukurazia appeared unharmed, in fact, radiating energy and vitality. Sure, her usual laziness persisted, but that was it.
It was her commanding presence and the way she treated her “companions” that filled the young girl with envy and curiosity.
The mature aura surrounding Lukurazia was something she couldn't replicate, and it was undoubtedly alluring to men.
After all, what man wouldn't be captivated by Lukurazia’s alluring presence?
“Yeah, to protect myself on that battlefield, I had to use magic beyond my limits. As a result, my magical energy completely drained. It will take about three months for me to recover, and during that time, I can't use any large-scale spells. Even moving my body is a bit difficult.”
Despite expressing her predicament, her tone was relaxed and nonchalant, her posture radiating a characteristic laziness.
As the fading sunlight gave way to complete darkness, the room became shrouded in shadow.
“Oh, it's already this late? If you don't mind, how about you both stay here tonight? This place is remote and there are no decent inns nearby, especially at this hour.”
“No, thank you. I have something to…--”
“I don't mind.”
“--it's not like I can't do it later. Then, I'll be going.”
“……”
As night fell, Lukurazia, suddenly eager for company, warmly extended her invitation.
Elica, naturally, shook her head. She had things to do, after all.
Besides, they were in another witch's home.
Before she could finish her sentence and drag her “companion” away, she heard him say in a calm tone.
Immediately, the girl felt a pang of awkwardness. Then, changing tack, she agreed.
Even she didn't know why, but she was inexplicably bothered.
Especially thinking about her companion sharing a night under the same roof as the mature witch, laughing and talking, she felt a strange anger bubbling inside her.
What was this? She was the one who got here first!