Alastor couldn’t move his body. It’s as if his muscles shut down. The twitch twisted his guts. The pain had him fall unconscious.

Ursax didn’t look back and continued to walk.

“As much as I want to take you in, the mission matters the most and I don’t think you have any worth to us now.”

Ursax felt the tranquility came back to the forest. The wind erupted from behind and the only thing left is the wreckage.

Just as he came past the forest, water magic blasted him.

Caroline rushed to Alastor. She pulled him and caressed his head. Her healing magic started to do its job.

Tin glanced at the location where Ursax was blasted. She noticed the atmosphere grew heavier.

Ursax came out without damage.

“Hey, hey. What was that supposed to be? A water trick?” Ursax eyes cast on Caroline. He grinned. “There you are.”

“What of it? What will you gain from all this, huh? All of this death and chaos, you would go this far just for what? Your deluded ideas?”

“I am not obliged to entertain you, but if you want an answer, then so be it. Your existence will be the key for utopia.”

“Utopia, you say? Is this utopia supposed to solve everything that’s alluded to this whole world?”

“Yes. You see, princess, you are far too blind to see the ugliness of this world. You never knew the cycle of distrust and paranoia that has brought upon us.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, we do.”

“This cycle you’re talking of will never end if you use violence to enforce your beliefs.”

“This cycle has produced many War of Blights. And each time we look at the source of the conflict it is always because the elders passed down their paranoid outlook and the young men continued as it is until now. The elders waged war, young men were sent to the battlefield, children and women are the casualties, and the young ones will bear hatred to those who have come before them. So, tell me, princess, who’s the winner after the war?”

She didn’t reply.

Ursax continued. “Our goal is to create a utopia where violence and greed would not exist. We’ll be the last generation who’s going to bear the cycle of paranoia of the old men. Now, princess. Do not resist or I’ll kill both of them.”

Tin conjured fire magic and threw it at him.

Ursax swings his arm and the fireball dissipated.

His movements are swift. There is no indication that his power had waned. Ursax fist thrust on her stomach. She staggered back and fell.

Ursax pulled a blade.

He was about to cut her down but suddenly, a mass of water struck him. His foot fortified and withstand the attack.

“Great. Now what?”

The men in the shadows landed with a soft thud. They all wear white coats as their uniform.

Ursax eyes laid on them.

“The Canaries, huh.”

There were 7 of them.

A young man that has hazel hair with a fair height stepped in front. He appeared to be the squad leader on their platoon.

Ursax said. “Fresh faces, no stretch marks. Yep, definitely newbies. What the hell. They’re sending rookies to a battlefield now? The Canaries must’ve lost their minds.”

The young men said, “If you’re aware of us, then there is no need for the proper introduction.”

“Watch your words, rookie. You’re quite arrogant for a newbie.”

“There’s a report about a ruckus around the border. It appears that we’re in luck. We caught you before you cross the border.” He whipped his baton on the air and the tip extended its size. “As the law enforcers, you will abide.”

Ursax shakes his head, grinning. “No.”

“What?”

Ursax flung forward. He swung a roundhouse punch.

The man blocked Ursax arm. He felt a swish on his right and his baton automatically raised and parried the blade.

The other two Canaries moved against Ursax in which he responded splendidly to their attempts of attacks. While the others turn their attention to Tin and Caroline.

“Damn it.” Tin cursed on herself.

She’d wish that she had more mana left, but the previous fight caused so much damage to her body. She was barely manipulating her mana to conjure magic.

They came close, on guard.

Caroline, however, is unwilling to give up.

She shot a quick chantless water magic out of her palm. It was rather weak compared before as it dissipated into a small one before uselessly made contact with the Canary officer.

In a swoop of his baton, the water ball dissolute.

Liber open his eyes. The Comodo grunted as it stood on its feet. He saw Alastor lying still on the ground.

Liber’s eyes burn bright.

His mouth opened and a wide fire attack erupted from his throat. A line of flame parted the two parties. Liber rushed to them and along the carriage was dragged on the road.

Tin went to Liber and had carried the carriage to roll on its wheels. They carried Alastor's body inside.

Liber was hostile to the Canaries. His mouth spewing fire on them.

When Tin sat in the front, Liber automatically rode away. She was taken aback when by Liber’s quick movements. Moreover, it appeared that Liber knew the right path of wherever he’s taking them.

They came past the forest and turn over. Liber jumped off the edge of the road, down the sloping path, and threw countless fire magic to cut off the bushes that block its vision.

Tin held tightly the rein.

Inside.

Alastor slowly regained consciousness.

The first thing had welcomed him is the unbearable pain. His face contorted. The pain resides a moment and he sat up.

His eyes open and saw Caroline’s palm turned on him. She was still healing him.

Alastor held her hands to stop.

“I’m fine. Don’t waste your mana on me.”

Caroline sat on her seat.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Tin looked back. She heard rustles.

“Shit.” She muttered under her breath. “Al! You take over the wheels.”

“What?”

Tin already jumped. She grabbed her pistols and began to shoot. Mana’s emitted from the pistols as she aimed for the three members of the Canary troops.

Alastor swing the door open and slipped through the front seat outside.

Caroline saw his face winced in pain for a second.

He’s enduring it.

And so she followed him. She was worried that he might pass out once more.

Alastor’s eyes trailed to the sound of a thud. It was Caroline. She struggled to hang. Alastor grabbed her arm and pulled her to the seat.

“What are you doing here?” Alastor asked. “Go back inside, now!”

“No!” She shakes her head. “You’re not going to make it if you insist you’re ok.”

“What are you talking—”

Alastor’s body once again experienced the tremendous jolt of pain. His body was coiled.

“Al!”

Caroline held him from falling down. Alastor raggedly breathed as his shallow eyes watched her.

“Just sit there. I’ll make sure they won’t follow us.”

Caroline held the reigns and turn Liber’s direction back to the road.

“If I’m going to die, I prefer to do it while fighting.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Don say what?”

“You know what I mean.” She said without looking back. “You’d rather give up when it didn’t go to plan.”

“That is completely opposite of what I said.”

Alastor tried to take over but she shoved his hand.

“You’re going to sleep. You can’t fight in that state and even if you said you’re used to all-nighters, I will still not hand you the strap.”

The night is already fast approaching.

Alastor's eyes rested a bit. His thought fluctuating. Another more 10 minutes and he wakes up.

His bleak eyes travel on her.

“Princess, if I say ‘I wanted to die’, will it make it easier for you to let me go?”

Caroline’s brow arched. Her tensed expression loomed.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?! Are you still insisting on fighting them, forget it. And if you say another word, I will add more injuries to you.”

Caroline’s attention went back to the road and they entered the grand canyon.

“Why does everyone treat ‘I wanted to die lightly as if it was another joke?”

Their journey thereon continued.