The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 37.2

Nikolas and Evelyn strolled leisurely through the outskirts of the forest. She let out a long sigh, her gaze drifting skyward. Tentatively, she found her voice amidst her hesitation.

“Will I truly catch a sparrow? If you could enlighten me on the method, I will give it my utmost effort. Although I lack confidence, I shall try nonetheless.”

Nikolas erupted into hearty laughter, unable to contain himself.

“Do you honestly think I would task a lady with the pursuit of sparrows? I brought you along to spare you the discomfort of solitude. Rest a while; I shall handle it myself.”

Evelyn murmured in a hollow tone.

“But I am not a lady, as you stated before. I am a fledgling of the Order of Knights. That is why…”

Nikolas ceased his laughter, fixing his gaze on Evelyn with unwavering intensity.

“You are an illusionist. Hunting would present no challenge to someone of your abilities.”

“What manner of quarry can be ensnared with illusions?”

While she could conjure mountain creatures like rabbits or squirrels, she remained perplexed as to how to actually capture them. His words eluded her comprehension.

“Do you truly believe so? I beg to differ.”

Evelyn shivered at the absence of mirth in his voice, her body instinctively drawing closer to Nikolas, seeking refuge behind him. He stepped forward, his back exposed, and deftly unsheathed his blade from his waist.

From the front, a deep, resonant voice resonated, filling the air.

“Illusionists may appear invincible, but the reality belies their façade. Physically, they possess the same vulnerability as you. Thus, knights stand at the forefront, safeguarding the illusionists.”

“Then, why do they venture onto the battlefield? They would only serve as burdens.”

His verdant eyes glimmered with an intense luminescence.

“To secure victory swiftly, with minimal sacrifices.”

The more Evelyn listened, the deeper her confusion grew, a labyrinth of uncertainty entwining her thoughts.

And then it transpired.

Thud, thud. A muffled sound of movement emanated from behind the distant tree.

“Pia, do you perceive anything?”

“No, nothing of note.”

The enigmatic sound echoed again, accompanied by heavy, laborious breathing. A chill coursed through Evelyn, compelling her to press herself closer against the steadfast presence of Nikolas’ back.

“Pia, we stand upon the battlefield, united as a team. Follow your instincts and do as they bid,” Nikolas’ words hung in the air, and in an instant, a colossal form burst forth from behind the towering tree. Evelyn, overwhelmed by a sense of trepidation, fought against her instincts to shut her eyes and kept them wide open, fixed on what lay before her.

From the shadows emerged a behemoth, an imposing boar, undeterred even by the sight of Nikolas standing in its path. Its defiant snorts and relentless charge spoke of a formidable opponent. Though Nikolas exuded an air of confidence, triumphing over such a creature unscathed would prove no small feat.

“The swiftest victory, achieved with the least sacrifice. That is the purpose for which I exist,” reverberated in Evelyn’s mind, igniting a fervor within her, clouding her vision. Her lips quivered involuntarily, reminiscent of the day her valiant knight engaged in a fateful duel with a giant.

“Arise!”

At the very moment the boar propelled itself forward, poised to strike Nikolas, the ground beneath them erupted with a thunderous crack. From the fractured earth, enigmatic stems of foliage sprouted forth, encircling the boar’s massive frame, ensnaring it with sinewy green tendrils. The creature writhed and struggled like prey caught in a spider’s web.

Gruuuuuuuh!

A plaintive cry pierced the dimming forest, resonating through the dusk.

“Remarkable! Sorceress, you possess a formidable talent!”

The sudden voice from behind startled Evelyn and Nikolas, who turned to see their comrade, who had accompanied them on this perilous journey.

“Focus your attention until the very end! Ahhhh, the illusion has dissipated!”

As concentration wavered, the illusion shattered. In the blink of an eye, the boar, liberated from its verdant bindings, renewed its rampage, expelling a forceful gust of breath. Reacting with lightning speed, Nikolas lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air. Finally, the boar succumbed, collapsing in a gush of crimson from its severed neck.

“Commander, magnificent! Tonight, we feast upon the succulent boar! Hahaha!”

Their companion danced with exuberance, exulting in their triumph.

“Pia, we have prevailed!”

Trickles of scarlet stained Nikolas’ pallid countenance. Evelyn stepped closer, standing before him.

“You’re wounded.”

“Oh, it is not my blood.”

Evelyn delicately extracted a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped the splatters of blood from Nikolas’ face. For a fleeting moment, he stiffened, his gaze shifting restlessly within their hardened silence. An oppressive tension swirled between them, stifling the air.

“It’s over now. And… truly, Commander, you were remarkable,” Evelyn concluded her words, her gaze drifting away. Her emerald eyes were engulfed by an intense, smoldering gaze, but she refused to meet it.

Evelyn’s gaze descended to the boar sprawled on the ground, its lifeblood seeping onto the earth. Those few seconds in which she had bound the creature were anything but fleeting. It was a span that seemed to stretch, weighing the balance between existence and annihilation. If this were a battleground and the creature were not a boar but a person…

A surge of elation coursed through Evelyn’s trembling frame.

****

The evening’s menu unveiled a grand feast of roasted boar. As Nikolas returned, encircled by the boar’s carcass, Ilya let out a hollow chuckle, unable to contain her mirth.

René, on the other hand, had generously bestowed funds upon the neighboring villagers, beseeching them to prepare a culinary masterpiece with the roasted boar as the centerpiece. And so it was, that after a brief interlude, the villagers arrived, bearing trays laden with bread as hard as stone, an exotic salad brimming with obscure greens, and, finally, the tantalizing aroma of the succulent roasted boar.

“No feast is complete without a sip of wine,” René declared, retrieving a bottle from his enchanted pouch and giving it a playful shake.

As Ilya surveyed the company, the air of tension seemed to dissipate. Locking eyes with René and the knights, her palm rose in a solemn gesture.

“Allow me to pour, that we may each indulge in a single glass.”

A chorus of jubilant cheers pierced the nocturnal stillness.

Evelyn’s mouth watered at the sight of the succulent, juicy meat before her, causing her to instinctively swallow. René, observing her reaction, chuckled softly, then proceeded to heap her toothless plate with a generous serving of the savory delight.