Edgar continues watching amidst the wreckage, hands on his hips, staring at the destruction with an annoyed expression.
Considering the rooftop was shattered. The street was scarred with burn marks, ice patches,holes, earth spikes jutting out at odd angles.
Debris was Basically everywhere broken tiles, broken trees,shattered stone.
"This could be a problem," he muttered.
He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.
"My men are going to be cleaning this up for hours. Maybe days."
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The damage can be covered up and fixed,
But the worst part might be the magical discharges,and the sheer volume of their battle. Since if someone outside were to noticed what happened here,it could be really bad with the church might try to sent someone or some people going to this town.
Edgar's expression darkened as he thought about the potential consequences.
This could get complicated.
He made a mental note to have his intelligence teams monitor later.
Just in case.
Vivienne walked over, limping slightly from her injured leg, and chuckled softly.
"You're worried about the cleanup?"
Edgar shot her a look. "We just fought a battle in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Yes, I'm worried about the cleanup."
She smiled faintly. "Fair point."
Then her expression shifted amused, but also impressed.
"You used the Templar Holy Combat Technique."
Edgar grunted, rolling his shoulder. "Didn't expect to pull that out again. Last time I used it was... what, fifteen years ago? Fighting that Damn Ultimate Class Devil near the Scottish border ?"
"Seventeen years," Vivienne corrected.
"Right. Seventeen." He grimaced, rubbing his lower back. "And I'm definitely feeling it now."
His back ached,same for his muscles who's also protesting. Even with the holy enhancement, pushing his body to that level at his age wasn't easy.
"Not as young as I used to be," he muttered.
Vivienne chuckled again, though there was sympathy in her eyes.
"Age is catching up to both of us," she said, touching her injured shoulder gingerly. "I couldn't counter her fast enough. A few years ago, I would have stopped her easily."
Edgar looked at her, concern flickering across his face.
"You're still one of the best magicians I know."
"And you're still one of the finest knights I've ever seen," she replied warmly. "But we're not invincible anymore."
They stood together in silence for a moment, surveying the battlefield.
Then Edgar spoke quietly.
"We protected Lavinia. That's what matters."
Vivienne nodded. "Yes. That's what matters."
-------------
Meanwhile - Somewhere Else
-------------
Lavinia lay on a soft bed in a secure room, wrapped in blankets, clutching her pillow tightly to her chest.
She was asleep.
But not peacefully.
Her face was scrunched up, her breathing quick and shallow.
She was dreaming.
No she was having a nightmare.
-----------
Lavinia's Dream
-----------
She was running.
Running through dark, empty streets.
The old woman in the witch robes was chasing her, smiling that terrible, sweet smile.
"Come here, child. Don't be afraid."
Lavinia's legs wouldn't move fast enough.
She tried to scream, but no sound came out.
The ice doll appeared beside her tall, cold, protective,and launched a blizzard.
But it then shattered.
Crumbling into fragments like broken glass.
"No!" Lavinia cried.
The old woman reached for her.
Lavinia stumbled when trying to run.
She soon hit the ground as a hole opened beneath her
She was soon falling.
Falling into darkness.
"Mom! Dad!"
"Michael ! Grandma Vivienne! Grandpa Edgar ! "
She called for them, reaching out to them.
But they weren't there.
No one was there.
Just darkness.
She was alone.
"Lavinia."
"Lavinia, sweetie."
A voice.
Warm,familiar.
"Lavinia, wake up."
She gasped as she was back to reality
Lavinia's eyes snapped open.
She was breathing hard, tears streaming down her face, clutching her pillow so tightly her knuckles were white.
A woman sat beside her bed one of Edgar's operatives, a kind-faced woman in her thirties with gentle eyes. Which her begin comforting her.
"Hey hey,It's okay," the woman said softly. "You're safe now"
Lavinia's lip trembled. "W-where am I?"
"You're in a secure location. Mr. and Mrs. de Montfort brought you here,you're safe."
"Grandma... Grandpa..." Lavinia whispered.
"She's fine. She and her husband are nearby, they'll be here soon."
Lavinia nodded shakily, still clutching her pillow. Meanwhile Lavinia also frown which she lost Mochi, the gift Michael gave to her.
Meanwhile the woman offered her a glass of water.
"Here,drink this."
Lavinia took it with trembling hands and drank.
The cool water helped Lavinia to calm her down a bit.
"Try to rest," the woman said gently. "You've been through a lot, but you're safe now. I promise."
Lavinia nodded again, though she didn't feel good still.
She felt scared.
Alone.
Lost.
But she closed her eyes anyway.
And tried to calm herself down, though she was thinking on Mochi.
-------
Back with Edgar and Vivienne
-------
Edgar's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and answered.
"Report."
A voice on the other end one of his operatives.
"Um Sir, the girl is awake. She had a nightmare from the looks of it. She's asking for you and Mrs. de Montfort."
Edgar's expression softened. "We're on our way."
He hung up and looked at Vivienne.
"Lavinia's awake. And scared."
Vivienne's face immediately filled with concern. "Let's go."
Soon Vivienne was setting up a teleportation spell.
"We need to explain things to her," Vivienne said quietly. About what happened. She deserves to know."
Edgar nodded. "Agreed. But carefully. She's been through enough trauma already."
"I know."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Then Vivienne spoke again.
"We also need to contact Giulia and Edward. Let them know what happened."
Edgar sighed. "True,he should know considering this event pretty much put a target behind our back will probably be dangerous "
"Sadly,true" Vivienne agreed. "And we'll tell them. But not yet,not until we've secured Lavinia's safety and dealt with the immediate aftermath."
"Agreed."
They soon teleport away.
They soon arrived in the building where Lavinia was being kept.
A secure safehouse monitored by Edgar's trusted operatives.
They stepped inside.
And prepared to help a frightened, traumatized nine-year-old girl make sense of a world that had just become far more dangerous than she'd ever known.
Lavinia meanwhile was now sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, when the door opened.
Grandpa Edgar and Grandma Vivienne stepped inside.
The moment Lavinia saw them, her face crumpled.
"Grandma Vivienne! Grandpa Edgar!"
She scrambled off the bed and rushed to them, throwing her arms around Vivienne.
Vivienne knelt down and hugged her tightly, one hand stroking her hair.
"It's okay, sweetheart," she said softly.
"You're safe now. We're here."
Edgar placed a gentle hand on Lavinia's shoulder, his gruff expression softening.
"You're alright, kiddo. We've got you."
Lavinia pulled back slightly, sniffling, and looked up at them.
Then her eyes widened.
"You're hurt!" she said, noticing the bandages on them and the way Vivienne was moving her hand and Edgar was standing stiffly, favoring his back.
Vivienne smiled gently. "Just a few scratches. We'll be fine."
"But-"
"We'll be fine," Vivienne repeated firmly but kindly. "What matters is that you're safe."
Lavinia looked between them, tears still streaming down her face.
"I... I was so scared..."
"I know." Vivienne pulled her into another hug. "But you're safe now. And we're going to explain everything. This is going to be a long conversation, but you deserve to know the truth."
Lavinia nodded against her shoulder.
---------
Later...
---------
Lavinia sat on the bed, clutching her pillow, as Grandma Vivienne and Grandpa Edgar sat across from her.
They had explained everything.
About magic existing and that magicians and witches exist as well.
Then they tell her about the ice doll which they called her "Sacred Gear."
And then about the old woman Glenda, an evil witch who wanted to kidnap Lavinia for her power.
Of course they didn't mention her parents were killed because of that. Not wanting Lavinia to feel guilty.
Lavinia processed it all slowly, her mind struggling to wrap around the sheer impossibility of it.
But... it made sense.
In a strange, terrifying way, it made sense.
"So..." Lavinia said slowly, "the doll... it's actually my ability? Something I was born with?"
Vivienne nodded. "Yes. It's called a Sacred Gear a supernatural power given to certain humans. Your sacred gear give you of an ice guardian."
"And magic is real."
"Very real."
"And you're a witch, Grandma?"
Vivienne smiled faintly. "I prefer 'magician,' but yes."
Lavinia looked at Edgar. "And you, Grandpa?"
"Not a magician," Edgar said. "Just a knight. But I've been fighting alongside magicians for a long time."
Lavinia nodded slowly, absorbing this.
"And that old woman... Glenda... she was an evil witch who wanted to take me because of my ability?"
"Exactly," Vivienne confirmed. "She wanted to study your Sacred Gear. Use you. We stopped her."
Lavinia's grip on her pillow tightened.
"Can you see the doll too?" she asked quietly. "The ice lady?"
Both of them nodded.
"We can," Vivienne said. "We've been able to see her since the first time you visited us."
Edgar snorted. "Hard to miss a three-meter-tall ice woman standing in the garden."
Despite everything, Lavinia let out a small, shaky laugh.
Then her expression grew serious again.
"What... what's going to happen to me now? Someone's still chasing me, right?"
Vivienne's expression softened.
"Don't worry," she said gently. "We'll protect you. No matter what."
She paused, then added, "Especially since you're going to be our granddaughter now."
Lavinia blinked. "...What?"
Vivienne smiled warmly. "We're planning to adopt you, Lavinia."
Lavinia's eyes went wide. "Adopt...?"
"Yes." Vivienne reached over and took her hand. "For many reasons. You need a safe home. Your relatives haven't been treating you well. And more importantly we want you. You're already part of our family well mostly."
Edgar nodded. "Your relative probably won't object. Especially with the right... compensation."
And a few well-placed legal pressures, Vivienne thought but didn't say aloud. Money and influence can smooth a lot of obstacles.
Lavinia stared at them, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"You... you really mean it?"
"We really mean it," Vivienne said firmly.
"You're family now, kid," Edgar added gruffly. "Get used to it."
Lavinia's face crumpled, and she threw herself at them, hugging them both tightly.
"Thank you," she sobbed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..."
Vivienne held her close, blinking back her own tears.
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
They stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other.
Then Lavinia pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes.
"Can... can I learn magic too?" she asked hesitantly. "Like you, Grandma?"
Vivienne smiled. "Of course. If you're interested, I'd be happy to teach you."
"And your Sacred Gear," Edgar added. "You'll need to learn how to control it. Train it. Make it stronger."
Lavinia nodded eagerly. "I want to learn. I want to be strong. So I can protect myself. And... and protect the people I care about."
Vivienne's smile widened with pride. "That's a good goal, Lavinia. We'll help you achieve it."
Lavinia smiled,really smiled for the first time since the attack.
Then her expression shifted, becoming uncertain.
"Um... can I see Michael again? Soon?"
Vivienne and Edgar exchanged a glance.
"Not right now," Vivienne said gently. "We need to handle some things first. Make sure everything is secure. But you will see him again. I promise."
"When?" Lavinia asked hopefully.
"Soon," Edgar said. "Once things settle down. You'll see him."
Lavinia nodded, accepting that.
"Okay. I can wait"
Then Lavinia decided to asked something else.
"Um.....Grandma Vivienne"
" Yes Lavinia ?" Vivienne asked with curiosity,on what Lavinia want to asked her from her expression.
" Did Grandma Vivienne see a blue plushie when fighting" Lavinia asked with a hint of worriedness.
" Oh you mean this " Vivienne replied,as a magic circle appeared on her hand,and a blue cat plushie appeared.
"Mochi!" Lavinia immediately hugged Mochi tightly.
"Thank you so much Grandma Vivienne,and Grandpa Edgar! "
" Your welcome,but you should dropped the name part, since we're going to be family" Vivienne replied while smiling.
With Lavinia nodding.
Lavinia was happy with her current situation now.
As the tension in the room had finally broken.
Lavinia sat between Grandma Vivienne and Grandpa Edgar, a genuine smile on her facethe first real, unguarded smile she'd had in what felt like forever.
"We should celebrate," Vivienne said warmly. "How about some hot chocolate? And maybe some cookies?"
Lavinia's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Really." Vivienne stood, wincing slightly from her injured shoulder but hiding it well.
"Edgar, can you-"
"I'll get it," Edgar said, already moving toward the door. "You stay with her."
He paused at the doorway and looked back at Lavinia.
"Welcome to the family, kid."
Lavinia beamed at him.
Edgar smiled a rare, genuine smile and left to prepare the hot chocolate.
Vivienne sat back down beside Lavinia, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"You're going to be alright," she said softly. "I promise."
Lavinia leaned into her, clutching Mochi.
"I know," she whispered. "Because I have you and grandpa now."
Vivienne's heart swelled.
This girl deserves so much better than what she's been through.
And we're going to give it to her.
------------
Meanwhile - Emerald City of Oz
------------
Glenda's Room
Glenda materialized in her private chamber, collapsing immediately onto the floor.
Pain exploded through her body.
One of her arm is missing,she has
Burns,cuts,broken bones,teared muscles. Her stomach is ripped open, with parts of her organ are missing,and Internal injuries from the holy energy that had seared through her defenses. Her body was pretty much broken,And it will take awhile to remove the holy energy. The only reason how she was able to survive was her having used a forbidden spell. To keep her alive.
She gasped, clutching her side, blood seeping through her torn robes.
"Damn... damn them..." she hissed through gritted teeth.
Vivienne.
That cursed priest.
How dare they...
Not to mention them sending they're guards to delay me.
She dragged herself to a chair, every movement agony, and slumped into it.
Her mind raced with fury and frustration.
I was so close.
The Longinus user was RIGHT THERE.
And they prevented Me from getting it.
She slammed her fist onto the armrest, ignoring the pain it caused.
I'll get my revenge.
I swear it.
But even as the thought formed, cold reality set in,she knows she can't do it right now,
Vivienne's stupid husband also would be watching the family even more closely now. Security would be heightened. Not to mention those guards of them will be definitely on standby attempt to approach the girl again would be suicide.
And worse.
Glenda looked down at her injuries.
These are bad.
Really bad.
Not to mention holy energy was a nightmare since it burned deeper than normal wounds, not to mention interfering with regeneration items made by devils like phoenix tears.
She grimaced.
I could die from this.
Which she has only a few hours before her forbidden spell she used is gone.
She reached for a small bell on the table beside her and rang it weakly.
Moments later, the door opened.
A figure stepped inside one of her subordinates, a tall man in dark robes.
He froze when he saw her condition.
"Mistress!"
"Don't," Glenda snapped. "Just... get me phoenix tears. Now. And keep quiet"
The subordinate hesitated. "Yes mistress,um should we prepare a counterstrike?"
"No," Glenda said harshly. "Not yet. Vivienne and her husband are too strong right now. We need time,resources,and a better plan."
She leaned back in the chair, breathing shallowly.
"For now... we wait."
The subordinate bowed. "Understood, Mistress."
He left quickly, leaving Glenda alone in the dim room.
She stared at the ceiling, fury simmering beneath her pain.
This isn't over, Vivienne.
Not by a long shot.
---------
Meanwhile - France
----------
(Michael's POV)
"Get back here, Mikey!"
Jeanne's voice rang out across the backyard, breathless and determined.
I glanced back, grinning, and stuck my tongue out at her.
"You're too slow!"
"I AM NOT!"
She lunged.
I immediately sidesteps causing her to pass by me.
Meanwhile Jeanne stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet, and I took the opportunity to sprint toward the tree at the edge of the yard.
Safe zone!
I slapped my hand against the trunk. "Safe!"
Jeanne skidded to a stop, hands on her knees, panting.
"No fair... you're... too fast..."
"You're just too slow," I teased.
She glared at me, but she was smiling. "Next round, I'm gonna catch you for sure!"
"We'll see about that."
We collapsed onto the grass together, both of us breathing hard, staring up at the sky.
The afternoon sun was warm. The grass was soft. Birds chirped somewhere nearby.
It was peaceful and normal.
I had no idea that back at Britain, my grandparents had just fought what was basically an anime-level battle against an evil witch.
I had no idea that Lavinia had been attacked, nearly kidnapped, and was now being adopted into my family.
I had no idea that my grandparents were injured, recovering, and preparing to tell my parents everything.
And I had no idea that my family unknowingly had just changed the course of history.
All I knew was that I was lying in the grass, playing tag with my best friend, without a care in the world.
Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.
Jeanne poked my arm. "Hey. Wanna play another round?"
I grinned. "You're on."
And we jumped up, ready to play again.
Completely unaware of the events that happened across the sea.
______________
Well how was the chapter ?
Anyway look like Lavinia is now saved,and events certainly will now change, for the Better or for the Worst.... Yeah definitely the better.
And yeah this won't be the last time we see Glenda, but for now she's out of commission.
Also yeah i have prepared some ideas for the Knights Templar in the DXD Universe . Which for now they will be a background thing.
Also 4 chapters this week again Yay!!!
Ok see ya in the next chapter đź‘‹
- AgentByteGOC