Alber tilted his head back, eting Mara’s gaze.
“Is this your true form?”
“Don’t underestimate . I’m much bigger than this.”
Riner clicked his tongue, his eyes filled with thinly veiled regret. He had hoped to have so fun before Mara was bound by sorcery, but the chance had slipped away. The mont he even hinted at it, Mara had thrown a fit, accusing the king of trying to kill him. Teasing soone so skittish felt unsatisfying.
Riner sighed, genuinely disappointed. For a creature of such size and strength, Mara was absurdly timid. That monster he had slain had fought with far more ferocity—it had been a hunt worth rembering.
There must be at least one or two more creatures like that sowhere. Maybe I should take a trip…
While he indulged in his thoughts, the representatives were struggling with their own. The rightful source is N0velFire.ɴet
Bigger?
Their tongues went dry. A bitter taste of blood filled their mouths as they bit down, forcing themselves to focus. The true aning of borrowing the lark’s power finally sank in. To keep monsters out, they had to invite one inside. Had they made the right choice? Doubt gnawed at them.
Alber’s mind was in turmoil. She feared making the sa mistake twice. Long ago, if she had foreseen the tragedy that unfolded, she would have chosen annihilation over striking a bargain with Maha. Back then, she had believed she was making the right choice.
Three months of protection for the Holy City—perhaps that should be the limit. If Mara ever beca a threat to the world, should he be destroyed before it was too late?
Yet, after observing him for the past two days, she found herself hesitating. Mara was different from Mahar. He might change soday, but not today.
“This sorcery…”
Her long silence did not go unnoticed. The room fell still as everyone focused on her words.
“It will create an invisible barrier around the Holy City, one that only the lark cannot pass through. To sustain this spell, a source of imnse vitality is required. Mara, having lived for countless years, possesses such vitality in abundance. If he serves as the conduit, the Holy City will remain safe for decades—perhaps even centuries.”
The representatives, previously overwheld, suddenly regained their focus. This was what they had wanted to hear. And it was easy to understand.
“In other words, this spell is made possible by Mara’s sacrifice.”
Alber raised her head.
“Mara, this sorcery is different from a sealing spell. Sealing was rely a prerequisite for illusion sorcery—you remained yourself within it. If you had wanted to, you could have broken the seal at any ti. But in this spell, you are nothing more than a component.”
"Can I still use illusion sorcery?” Mara asked.
Alber shook her head.
“So I’ll just… fall into slumber?”
“That won’t be necessary. Your consciousness will remain intact. If you wish to sleep, I can allow it.”
“I don’t intend to sleep. What about possession sorcery? Being completely immobilized is boring.”
“I can allow it, but there will be limits.”
“I know the limits. That’s fine.”
“Once this spell is cast, you will never be able to escape it. You will cease to exist as yourself, and your domain will no longer be sustained. You will continuously supply your life force to maintain the spell until, one day, you fade away. And I intend to add an extra safeguard. I do not trust the lark, and I will not make the sa mistake twice.”
The representatives, entirely engrossed in the conversation, anxiously watched the monstrous serpent. Their fear had subsided, replaced by a new worry—what if Mara refused? Their mouths went dry with tension.
“What kind of safeguard?”
“I will personally oversee the spell until I can trust you. And if I determine that you are a threat, I will destroy your core. To do that, you must grant access to it.”
Eugene sighed quietly. Alber had once again taken on the role of the spell’s guardian. She had endured centuries in isolation, waiting for a mont of peace, and yet she was choosing to shoulder this burden. It was admirable—but also deeply saddening.
One of the elders of the wanderers spoke up.
“May I say sothing?”
“Yes, please,” Alber replied.
“We…” he began. “We do not intend to cling to life at all costs. To the world, he may be nothing more than a lark, a monster that should be killed. And yes, we acknowledge that he has caused great harm. But we owe Mara our lives.” His voice trembled slightly. “We old n, who should have died long ago, will not leech off of him to extend our existence.”
“Why ruin everything at the last mont?” Mara interrupted. “I already said I don’t care.”
“You fool. It’s ti you let go of old ties and ford new ones. How much longer will you cling to us?”
“What’s the point of making new ties? You’ll all just die anyway. Humans die too quickly.”
“We are not immortal. I have no interest in eternal life.”
“I have no intention of dying. Even if I hide away sowhere, these kings will hunt down. This is my way of surviving.”
The kings exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. They had once thought of Mara as a threat on par with the Holy City’s monstrous ruler. If Mara had remained hidden in his lair, they likely would have hunted him down soday. But after hearing his reasoning, their desire to eliminate him wavered.
“Old n, stay out of this.”
“You brat! Watch your mouth.” The elder pointed a finger at Mara, but no one took his anger seriously.
“Fine. I accept the safeguard. Do as you wish.”
Alber’s eyes widened in surprise. She had not expected him to agree so readily.
“But in that case, I need to recalculate.”
“What do you an?” Alber asked.
“Hey. Humans.”
The representatives, who had been staring blankly at Mara, flinched and stamred.
“Y-Yes?”
“You heard . I’m making a sacrifice for your sake. So shouldn’t I get sothing in return?”
Eugene smirked to herself. That smug tone… He’s getting his confidence back. Just monts ago, Mara had been pleading for the elders’ lives. Now that he had the upper hand, he was making demands. His blatant shift in attitude wasn’t even irritating—it was almost amusing.
Eugene stepped in to help the speechless representatives.
“Mara, what do you want?”
“Build a village for the elders of the wanderers in the Holy City. If I’m staying here, their refuge should be here too.”
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