"We need to run... faster."
Flare’s voice trembled as she clung to Sybil’s limp body.
Her legs burned, but she forced herself forward, the image of the destroyed dorms still fresh in her mind and the corpses there... she didn’t want to end up like them.
Es ran beside her, she was keeping up by nothing but panic and pure adrenaline.
The main Academy tower lood in the distance... it was dozens of ters away and there was a blue barrier around it.
At least they could see it now. Even with the several students running amongst them...
’I hope that barrier won’t lock us out,’ Flare thought. The only thing keeping her moving was the belief that the Academy’s central ward would protect them. ’Please... let it hold. Just keep that monster out.’
Behind them, the air was filled with corruption.
Black lines which were probably from Velkin, streaked across the sky like cracks in reality.
’I wonder if that kid’s dead...’
Her thoughts flickered back to the boy who had appeared out of nowhere. He was the one who had bought them ti.
But she didn’t have ti to think longer... the ground shook and the lines above them suddenly froze.
"Huh?" Es slowed slightly, glancing over her shoulder. "What happened to them?"
The mont she said that, Flare’s instincts scread.
"Es, duck!"
Flare yanked her down with her free hand, forcing her onto her knees and then used the sa hand to create multiple defensive enchantnts in front of them.
The sky scread.
The black lines abruptly changed direction... hundreds of them and rained down on the students below.
They didn’t fall like beams.
They fell like judgnt.
Flare and Es clenched their eyes shut as the air filled with the sound of tearing flesh and collapsing earth.
Students scread.
Flare’s enchantnts cracked under the bombardnt, one by one. Her body shook violently as she forced them to hold.
Her jaw clenched so hard her teeth almost broke.
"Hold... dammit!"
Then, silence.
The deafening noise vanished all at once.
Flare opened her eyes as her chest heaved.
The protective circles around them were on the verge of shattering but beyond them, another barrier glowed.
A barrier of holy light.
"You’re safe now."
Rain stood before them with her palm raised.
Holy symbols glowed around her, and the radiant barrier absorbed the remaining projectiles before fading away.
She turned to the surviving students around her. "Everyone, move! Get to safety within the Academy... now!"
Her voice snapped them back to reality.
Dozens of students, those lucky enough to still be breathing, stumbled to their feet and ran.
None dared look back.
When the last of them disappeared into the distance, Rain lowered her hand.
Flare collapsed to her knees completely, still holding Sybil.
Es was pale, shaking beside her.
Rain moved closer and her eyes softened as she took in Sybil’s limp form.
"What happened to her?" Rain asked, crouching down.
She touched Sybil’s forearm and purple veins had ford there. "...Corruption."
"Yes," Flare said quietly. "Can you d—"
"Sybil has a strong healing factor," Rain interrupted, already acting. She placed a glowing hand on Sybil’s forehead. "But this kind of corruption eats through divine resistance. We have to purify it completely."
Her hand flared with golden light.
Steam hissed from Sybil’s skin as the corruption burned away, leaving faint trails of smoke.
Slowly, the color returned to her face and her wounds began closing.
Rain exhaled. "There. That should do it."
Flare finally allowed herself a breath of relief but Rain was already looking toward the sky.
"We need to move," Rain said grimly. "We must get inside the barrier before that thing—"
"Thing? That’s a pretty rude way to describe ."
The voice ca from in front them.
They turned and there she stood.
Velkin.
Her sword rested casually on her shoulder and her mismatched arms radiated cursed mana.
She looked completely unhard.
Even beautiful, if you ignored the madness flickering behind her smile and the patches on her face and body.
"I an, look at ," Velkin said with a smile. "Calling soone this pretty a ’thing’? That’s just hate speech."
Rain’s expression hardened.
She rose slowly to her feet and stepped forward.
"Get to the barrier," she said to Flare and Es. "I’ll keep her busy."
"Rain—"
"I’ll cross after you," she said firmly. "Now go."
As she raised her hand, she whispered in her heart.
’Nyala...’
There was silence.
’My Goddess... please...’
[...]
’I don’t know if you can hear , but I’m sorry.’
[Sorry won’t fix things.]
’I’ll try to fix them anyway.’
Rain focused on Velkin again.
Her eyes flicked to the cursed limb. She had t the woman in her past life... And still, she was terrifying.
Flare glanced between them, then at Es.
"Take Sybil," she said, pushing the unconscious girl into Es’s arms. "Get her inside. I’ll help Rain."
"No," Rain said. "This is too dangerous."
"If it’s like that..." Es muttered under her breath, clutching Sybil. "Then I’ll stay too."
"Are you dumb?!" Rain snapped.
Her voice cracked with anger but beneath it was grief. "I’m trying to make up for my mistake. You’re not dying here too. Not you three."
Her holy energy flared around her.
Velkin clapped mockingly. "Aww... this is adorable. Three girls risking it all for friendship."
Rain’s grip tightened on her weapon.
Velkin tilted her head, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "Have you told them your secret, Saintess?"
Rain froze.
Flare frowned. "Secret?"
Velkin chuckled. "They’re ready to die for you. Don’t you think they deserve to know who they’re dying for?"
"Don’t you d—"
"The Saintess candidate over there," Velkin interrupted gleefully, "is a regressor."
Flare and Es both blinked.
Rain’s heart dropped.
"It ans," Velkin continued, enjoying every second of their shock, "that she ca back in ti... to relive her life, to change sothing. My lady’s been very curious about whether that’s possible. So don’t worry, Saintess. I won’t kill you."
She grinned wider, her eyes turning toward Flare and Es.
"But I’ll kill the rest. What do you say, girls? Sacrifice her and walk away alive... or die with her?"
She lifted her blade and its corrupted glow intensified. "Your spells won’t save you from ."
For a mont, there was only silence.
Then, a golden light glowed around Flare’s hand.
A fire sigil appeared in her palm.
She thrust it forward.
"Flare, don’t—!"
Too late.
A fireball roared toward Velkin.
The cursed swordswoman smirked, swatting it aside effortlessly but the mont her blade touched it, the fireball exploded into a burst of crimson light that shook the ground.
When the smoke cleared, Velkin stood there completely untouched.
"It seems," she said slowly. "you’ve made your choice."
Her sword carved through the air, releasing a massive wave of corrupted energy that split the ground.
Flare clenched her eyes shut and prepared for her death....
And then for Velkin, The world blinked.
The attack hit the ground, but the girls were gone.
The dark slash bounced harmlessly off the Academy’s barrier, sending shockwaves across the courtyard.
Inside the barrier, Charlotte exhaled in relief.
She turned, seeing the four girls lying on the floor beside her.
Charlotte looked up. "What... what did she an by regressor?"
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