Chapter 72: The Unique Touch
A sound broke through the confusion. "STOP... We're from the Knight Orders! STOP!"
It rang out across the square like a blade cutting through fog, slicing into the chaos with such force that it seemed to momentarily pause time. Even Eska thought she heard a faint voice, though not clearly. In that instant, everyone stopped hitting her, halted by a single line, "The Knight Order." They stepped back, leaving Eska crumpled on the ground, her body smeared with dirt, curled in on itself. Her clothes were mostly torn, her skin darkened with blood. She trembled violently.
As the crowd turned toward the voice, they saw them, a girl with mint-green hair tied in a ponytail, and a boy with messy brown hair. Both young, both short, neither particularly imposing. Yet they ran toward the crowd with purpose burning in their eyes. The girl's gaze, especially, was far from ordinary. Her stride was that of a predator closing in on its prey, and it was enough to send a faint shiver through those watching.
But then, in that moment, the air seemed to tighten. Even the ground gave a faint tremor, and the branches around them stirred and swirled in eerie silence. It wasn't visible, yet it pressed against their skin. No one could follow it, no one could tell when or how it had happened, only that something had changed.
And then, as the sound of cloth whipping in the wind reached them, their gaze turned back. Everything was happening so fast they could hardly follow it. At first, they noticed a long black cloak draped over Eska's body, covering her up to the neck. Then they noticed someone standing beside the lying girl, silver hair whipping violently in the wind's pressure, armor gleaming on her body. They didn't need to think twice. They had already realized who it was, and took a step back.
"W-wait… is that... the Captain?"
"No… no way. That's… the Sword Princess."
"What's she doing here…?"
"She's not supposed to be here…"
"She looked like she was ready to kill us all."
A murmur spread like wildfire.
Before anyone could speak again, her voice rang out. "Arwyn, come here... fast. She's still alive. You need to heal her immediately. Hurry." Her tone was colder than steel in winter. "Kael… assist her if she needs help."
Then, a few in the crowd began to move, unsure of what they were seeing, unsure if they were about to be accused, or saved, or punished. But before a single step could land forward, Seraphina shifted.
Her head turned toward them, more a half-turn... a side glance. Her face, half-shrouded by her hair, was cast entirely in shadow, save for her sharp, cold blue eyes that seemed to glow, piercing through every lie they had ever told themselves.
Zzt! Zzt! Zzt!
A flicker of lightning crackled along her shoulders, arcing toward her sword hilt. Her hand rested upon it slowly, almost deliberately.
"Do not move. Not a step." Her voice carried now, not louder, but heavier. With every word, her expression grew more serious, more terrifying.
"Remain exactly where you are. If any of you try to take even a single step toward her... I will not warn you again. I will not ask. I will simply cut you down, limb by limb, until your mothers can no longer recognize you."
The silence was absolute. She meant it. Every syllable. Her words were not mere threats. They were truths waiting to happen. Her rage was not fire. It was ice. Deadly, slow, unrelenting.
Behind her, Arwyn stopped beside the cloaked body. The moment her eyes fell on the girl's broken form, her face paled. Her hands trembled, not with fear, but with rage. She clenched her fists so tightly it hurt, glaring at the onlookers with an expression twisted in disgust. Her teal-green eyes seemed to glow. "H-how… could you? To a girl… HOW! Men… are the worst creatures in the world!" she suddenly shouted.
Seraphina turned her head toward Arwyn, her gaze cold. "Shut up. And heal her. Do you want her to die? Do. It."
"W-what did they do to her…?" Arwyn whispered, her voice choked. "Her ribs… her skin…"
"ARWYN," Seraphina snapped, her voice like a blade. "Don't make me repeat myself. Heal her."
The sharpness of her tone jolted Arwyn back to her senses. She dropped to her knees beside Eska's body. "Yes, Captain."
Kael, who had just arrived, froze the instant he saw the girl. His expression shifted so suddenly it was almost disturbing. At first, he didn't recognize her, but then he did. His gaze sharpened slightly, and with that, he knew there was nothing he could do here.
"That's… isn't she the girl I saved that day? And this happened to her… Because of those guys..."
His breath caught. He didn't move. He didn't even blink. But the darkness in his gaze was almost palpable.
"She's still breathing." Seraphina's voice came again, softer this time, but firm. "Barely."
Arwyn nodded and Kael just walked beside her and sat down if she needed some help though he was certain she doesn't need him. Then She placed her goblets hands against Eska's chest with painful care, as if afraid the girl would shatter from touch alone. Her lips moved, barely audible as her eyed closed.
"Healing Magic…" Her breath shivered. "…Floralis Vitae."
A faint glow began to gather at her fingertips. Then, almost suddenly, Arwyn's whole body shimmered with green and golden light. Wind whipped around her, lifting her ponytail as the pressure spread outward. Across from her, Seraphina sat, her hair fluttering around her face in the same swirling breeze. Even Kael and the others nearby stood frozen in place.
From the cracks in the stone beneath them, tiny green shoots pushed upward, small plants, thin and trembling, but alive. They crawled slowly along the ground, twisting and curling like vines seeking sunlight, until they touched Eska's cloaked body.
They grew larger with time, curling gently around her, as if trying to embrace her. Once they had fully covered her sides, they rose upward. Then, all at once, their leaves unfurled, small green leaves traced with fine golden lines. From them, glowing golden droplets began to form, shimmering like liquid sunlight, before falling.
The first drops struck her cloak, darkening the fabric with moisture. It spared her skin at first, but not for long, soon the rain fell faster, seeping past the cloth until it touched her. Each droplet kissed Eska's skin with the softness of a spring shower. Wherever they landed, bruises began to fade, and faint curls of smoke rose from the surface. Slowly, the wounds knit themselves together, skin sealing over muscle. Her breathing deepened, if only slightly. When the healing was done, tiny flowers bloomed briefly upon her skin, dissolving into wisps of fragrant smoke.
The vines pulsed with life. The golden light spread over her like a second skin. And still Arwyn remained there, focused, unmoving, her entire body trembling with effort. Sweat slid down her cheeks. Her lips tightened. Her hands didn't falter.
Kael's eyes widened in pure astonishment as he watched her magic at work. "Is this… really healing magic? But what kind of healing magic is that? I've never heard of anything like it in my life. It doesn't feel like it's just closing wounds… it's as if she's giving her a new life." His thoughts raced. "So that's what Seraphina meant when she called this psycho girl good at healing magic. Still… it must be a unique type of healing magic element I have never heard of, nor has anyone else. That means she's an 'Unique Magic User.'"
His shock was justified, for while there are elements that are quite common, there are also rare ones found in only a few individuals, recorded in books or known through word of mouth. Beyond these, there exist other elements whose presence is possible yet absent from any written record, and cannot be easily learned, even by the users themselves if they remain unaware of their nature.
These elements lie far beyond the knowledge preserved in books and are called "Unique Magic Elements," and those who wield them are known as "Unique Magic Users." These types of users are not just rare but extremely so, and it is even possible that they are the only ones in the entire world capable of wielding that particular element.
"Lieutenant... do you need some help? I'm a healer too. I can do something even it's a little." Kael asked, even though he knew she didn't truly need him, because that was how a normal person was expected to act.
"No… it's almost done… just a few more minutes…" Arwyn said, her eyes wide and fixed on her magic. Sweat beaded along her brow and dampened her face, her hands trembling slightly as the light began to fade and Eska's wounds slowly knit themselves closed.
It was working.
Seraphina rose to her feet and stood motionless for a moment, upright and regal, before slowly turning toward the silent crowd. Her eyes no longer glowed, yet her voice was sharper than ever.
"Now speak. All of you. Speak clearly, and speak truth. Why was this girl beaten half to death? Why was she stripped bare in public? Were you planning to kill her?"
The crowd flinched. At first, no one spoke, nor did anyone seem openly terrified. Then, a broad-shouldered man stepped forward hesitantly. "Captain, It's... it's not what it looks like. You don't understand—"
"I do understand," Seraphina cut in, eyes narrowing. "I see a girl who was brutalized and discarded like waste. I see shame carved into her skin. And I see cowardice written on all of your faces."
Another man raised his hands. "She... she did something. We didn't just beat her for no reason—"
"She deserved it!" one of them shouted from behind.
"Deserved it?" Seraphina echoed, her voice thick with contempt. "Explain it to me. Slowly. What exactly did she do that gave you the right to strip her of her clothes and dignity? Did she break the law? Then where is your authority? Where is the Knight Order's ruling? Where is the verdict?"
They didn't answer.
"You acted on impulse. On rage. On something uglier than justice. And now you stand here, trembling, because you realize you were not the highest power in this city."
And that was when the crowd felt a faint shift in the air, nothing more. Yet in that instant, the sword that had rested at her waist a moment ago now scraped against the stones as she lifted it lightly, letting its tip rest upon the ground.
"You should be thankful it was me who came," she said coldly. "Others wouldn't have spoken. They would have drawn blades first."
"But—"
"But nothing."
She stepped forward once. The crowd instinctively parted. No one dared meet her gaze.
Behind her, Eska's breathing had steadied, and the healing was complete, as the plants slowly returned to where they had come from. Arwyn finally slumped backward slightly, bracing herself with her hands behind her as she tilted her head toward the sky and let out a deep exhale. "She's alright now. It's been a while since I've had to use magic of this caliber." She then cast a brief glance at Kael. "Well, don't worry. She's fine... it's just the aftereffect of my magic. She'll be unconscious for a little while."
Kael crossed his arms loosely. "Oh, you're actually amazing, Lieutenant," he said, forcing the words out.
"No, I'm not. The amazing person is right in front of us," Arwyn replied quietly, and Kael turned his gaze toward them once more.
Then, Seraphina's voice pierced the quiet like ice breaking over still water.
"Now, tell me... what exactly did she do to deserve this?" Her eyes swept the silent crowd, daring them to speak. "Who gave you the right to treat her as less than human?"
The only answer was the sound of breath, nervous, shallow, and unsteady. Her voice, frigid as winter frost, rang again.
"Speak. Now. Or. Else."
At last, one of them stepped forward, a man with short black hair and a stiff gait, trying far too hard to appear composed. He moved slowly from the group, lowering his head in a shallow bow, but the fear behind his eyes gave him away.
"Captain…" he began, his tone pretending at respect. "This girl…"
Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"She's… she's filth. A traitor to her husband. She laid with another man, dishonoring her vows."
His words struck like stones flung into still water. Kael's expression darkened, his jaw tightening.
"And what if she is?" Seraphina stepped forward, her sword scraping softly on the ground. "What if she truly betrayed her husband? Does that give you the authority to undress her in the open, to beat her half to death? Do you claim to be executioners now, as well as judges?"
The man flinched but held his ground. "Her husband… he was the one who told us. He said it himself. He was the one who ripped her clothes and… and threw her into the street. We only—"
"He tore off her clothes and threw her like garbage?" Seraphina's voice cracked slightly as it turned razor sharp. Her fingers curled tight around the hilt of her blade. "And you stood by him? A man who could commit that against the woman he once vowed to protect?"
She leaned forward. Her gaze was heavier than steel. "Tell me plainly... are you telling the truth?"
"Y-yes, ma'am," the man whispered. Then, as though nothing more could be said, he added, "Now that you've heard the story… could we go now, Captain?"
A long silence fell. Seraphina's eyes flickered, emotionless but calculating. Then her voice returned, colder than before.
"Now, what sort of punishment do you believe you deserve?"
"W-why, ma'am? What did we do?" the man stammered.
"You still pretend to be innocent. Yet you paraded her broken body like a trophy. You dared to act as enforcers of justice without title, law, or reason." Her voice rang with judgment. "Each of you deserves no less than three months imprisonment. If not more."
"B-but—"
The man collapsed to his knees suddenly, trembling, head bowed low. "We only did what we thought was right," he whimpered. "We don't deserve that. Please, show mercy."
Kael tilted his head slightly. Something about the man's posture felt off. The way he dropped to his knee wasn't an apology or anything like that.
Suddenly, A gleam of silver flashed from behind his back. A knife, small but sharp, flew through the air with terrifying speed, aimed straight for Seraphina's throat. A smirk spread across the man's lips. "Got you. Miss."
"What a foolish move! He should have just agreed with her. And what's that small blade supposed to do against her sword?" Kael thought, carefully observing Seraphina's stance, noting that she hadn't moved at all.
Clang!
The blade never reached her. With barely a movement, Seraphina's sword had already stopped itself, meeting the knife mid-air. As the man tried to push forward, Seraphina's eyes narrowed. His step faltered, and then, with a single flick of her wrist, she shattered the blade into fragments.
His wrists nearly snapped, but they held. Just as he was about to step back, her sword hovered at his neck. His breath caught in that instant, one more move, and it would be the end for him.
"You dare draw steel against me," she said, her tone unreadable. "Do you truly forget who I am? You bring a knife to the one they call the Sword Princess... how quaint."
Her gaze turned, ever so slightly, to the rest of the crowd.
"This is not a public square, it is the front of the Knight Order's prison. And yet, not one of you so much as flinched at the mention of punishment. Not a single cry of fear at the thought of arrest. That alone speaks volumes. And your shouting… it is nothing like that of ordinary citizens. Did you truly believe I would be blind to such things? That I would not notice?"
Her blade hovered near the man's throat, close enough to taste the silence.
"You aren't citizens. You aren't passersby either. You're bandits dressed as townsfolk, and now you've been caught beneath the weight of your own farce."
The crowd flinched, but only for a heartbeat. Then, at the faintest twitch of the man's fingers, they moved in unison. Blades slid free, some drawn from their backs, others from hidden pockets, and a few even pulled from beneath their trousers. Step by deliberate step, they leaned forward, their intent unmistakable.
Kael exhaled slowly, almost in amusement. "So… Captain. Need a hand?"
Seraphina did not move. "No. Stand back."
"Hmph. As you wish," he said, hands sliding into his pockets. "Been a while since I saw bandits this brainless."
One of the would-be attackers whispered sharply, "How did she know? We covered everything."
Another murmured, "Did someone warn her? Did one of us—"
Seraphina exhaled softly. Her body relaxed. But her eyes, those eyes, burned with something too deep to name.
"They always ask how I knew," she said with cool grace. "But the truth is simpler than you'd think."
Kael watched the scene unfold, musing aloud. "Honestly, even I caught on. They're not exactly subtle... their posture's all wrong. And really, normal people don't chant kill, kill, kill in perfect rhythm… not to mention the knives? You can spot those from ten steps away."
The bandits began to shift, their boots scraping softly against the stone. One of them, faster than the rest, slipped from her blind spot. His grip on the knife was reversed, the blade aimed precisely for her neck.
She didn't even take a step back. And yet, the knife never touched her. It was as if the air itself had denied him. She stood exactly where she had been, utterly unmoved, while the man's lunge went astray, his blade nearly clipping the knee of another bandit instead.
The attacker froze mid-motion, his face twisting in confusion. Slowly, he turned, eyes wide and unsteady. "W-what? H-how? Wasn't she just there? How did my knife pass right through her? It's like… like she's a ghost."
Seraphina gave no answer. Her gaze was calm, cold, and unreadable, as if his words were nothing more than meaningless noise.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. His hand brushed against his chin, thoughtful. "A ghost? That's what they see… but it's not magic. It's her incredible speed. She shifts aside the moment a strike's about to land, gone before you even realize it. Even I can barely follow her when she moves like this." He smirked faintly to himself. "Honestly, whoever called her 'the Sword Princess' should've gone with 'the Speed Queen.'"
Her voice cut through the air then, quiet, but carrying the weight of command. She turned her head just enough for her gaze to graze him. "Observe closely, Kael. It will serve you well when the time comes for you to face someone of skill. You are, after all, to become Arwyn's student."
Kael met her eyes for a brief moment, his expression cool and steady. "Understood, ma'am."
Another lunged from her side, but suddenly dropped low, sweeping for her knees. Seraphina pivoted on her heel, letting the blade slide harmlessly across her boots before responding with a precise strike from her hilt, knocking him flat onto the stone path. The man landed hard, his knee scraping against the ground.
Before she could press forward, two more bandits seized the moment, rushing in from either side, blades raised for her face.
"This time you can't dodge this," one of them spat.
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(Chapter Ended)