What will become of me?
Farnese, the "Devil of the Vandimion Family," looked at herself in the mirror with a bewildered expression. Her golden twin tails had been cut off months ago, leaving only short hair that reached her ears.
After all, in a place like this, near the Spirit Tree Pavilion, she no longer had time to care for her hair.
Then she carefully removed her clothes, revealing her white skin, and slowly sat down on a low stool. She half-closed her eyes and once again pondered with uncertainty.
What will become of me?
A "renegade of the Holy See"? A "stain on the Vandimion family"? Or another "pagan little witch"?
A cold touch sounded from behind. Farnese couldn't help but shiver.
"Sorry." The "little witch" Schierke, in her wide magic hat and with short green hair, poked her little head out from behind. "Did I scare you? I should have warned you."
"She was just in a daze," the little goblin Ivalera, perched on Schierke's shoulder, fluttered her tiny wings and said firmly.
Farnese herself shook her head: "It's alright. I was just a little uncomfortable. Schierke, please continue."
"Okay, then I'll continue."
Schierke was applying some kind of oil to Farnese's body. This would make her more friendly with elemental spirits and elves, and also ease her first steps as a mage.
Of course, although this was the first step, Farnese had been preparing and training for a long time. Before this, she had been even more confused.
In the Spirit Tree Pavilion, Farnese had witnessed countless magical wonders. At first, she managed to suppress her curiosity, reading scriptures daily and believing in her faith.
Later, she read scriptures less often and more often watched Schierke practice magic. Schierke didn't push her away, and sometimes even invited her to watch.
A few months later, Farnese hardly read the rigid scriptures at all. She became more and more interested in the unknown magic.
Her faith in the one god was originally formed during those years in the monastery and was not deeply rooted. Now, in a world surrounded by magic, what she had thought was a strong faith naturally weakened.
Finally, in the words of the believers of the Holy See, one day Farnese could not resist the temptation of the "little witch" and almost agreed to practice magic with her.
Originally, Schierke had hoped that her teacher, the witch Flora, would teach Farnese. After all, Schierke herself was only an apprentice mage.
However, when Flora learned of this, she laughed and shook her head, asking Schierke to teach Farnese magic herself.
"Your knowledge and experience are enough to lead Farnese into the fold. Besides, this way you can deepen your understanding of your own magic by guiding her path."
These were Flora's exact words.
Helplessly, Schierke had no choice but to do it and take on the work.
Fortunately, Farnese was not stupid. It could even be said that she was quite talented in magic. Schierke only needed to guide Farnese to this point.
Of course, besides Farnese's natural magical talent, Schierke decided to anoint her today and teach her "spirit projection." But given the situation, she had to do her best.
They needed additional helpers capable of "spirit projection" to find the demon hiding in the darkness for the people living near the Spirit Tree Pavilion and the Village of Irog, to counter the cold arrows of the darkness.
Thinking this, Schierke shuddered a little, but still insisted on anointing Farnese.
After applying the oil, Farnese put on a light dress and lay down on the soft bed, relaxing as much as possible.
"Recite the 'spirit verse,'" Schierke stepped aside and indicated the right moment.
Farnese recited: "Purgatorio, iad, ruccham, sdrum..."
After that, an unknown amount of time passed. Farnese seemed to fall asleep, floating in a dim space with her entire body, until a beam of light entered and guided her.
She opened her eyes and saw Schierke. Their bodies seemed compressed from points of light, floating in the air.
Farnese looked down and saw her body lying quietly on the bed with eyes closed. Similarly, Schierke's body also had its eyes closed and sat cross-legged on the floor.
"This..." Farnese looked in surprise at herself and Schierke, and then at the two bodies. "This is the 'spirit body'?"
"Correct. This is the result of your daily exercises." Schierke, who was floating beside Farnese, applauded.
Farnese looked at everything around her with astonishment, feeling that everything had changed, as if the world was only now opening its arms to her.
As soon as she turned her head, she saw Ivalera with her hands on her hips, flapping her wings and flying to her side. "You... you're Ivalera... Your appearance has become clearer."
"Of course." Ivalera lifted her little nose. "The closer the layers, the clearer you can see the elves and elemental spirits."
Farnese didn't listen to Ivalera. She flew around the room with some excitement, like a little bee among flowers.
This experience reminded her of many free times in her childhood. And of course, she also remembered how rebellious she was and how she was called the "devil of the Vandimion family."
Schierke waited for Farnese to calm down a little, then raised her staff and said, "Let's go. Don't forget the reason I taught you 'spirit projection.'"
Reminded by Schierke, Farnese remembered their agreement and nodded solemnly.
They, along with Ivalera, flew out of the house. They saw the open, flat area outside, where the old Hawk Company unit trained daily under the command of the "swordswoman" Casca, forming formations.
A few months ago, Casca had given birth to a son for Guts. Now she could normally train the old Hawk Company.
Not far from this open area grew a giant tree, close to decay and decomposition. Its trunk was full of punctured holes, looking shocking.
This was the Spirit Tree Pavilion. The original home of Schierke, Flora, and Ivalera had now fallen into decay.
The grief and sadness in Schierke's heart were indescribable. Even after some time, she still couldn't accept this reality.
At that moment, Casca turned and looked at her husband, Guts, who was carrying the Dragonslayer and riding off, galloping into the forest.
Behind Guts followed the goblin Puck.
Since the beginning of this year, Puck had grown to like Guts's style. He got along well with Guts and could help him, and becoming a target for the "magic archer" was not easy. So they became partners.
Schierke also followed Casca's gaze and looked in that direction.
She could clearly see that Guts was once again wearing the "Berserker Armor." She couldn't help but sigh softly.
In fact, when the demon ignored the barrier and attacked the Spirit Tree Pavilion, the skeleton knight and Nidhogg were not there. Teacher Flora was weak and could no longer use magic.
The only one who could directly compete with him was Guts.
That day, Guts wielded the Dragonslayer and cooperated with Teacher Flora's magic to drive back the demon and seriously wound its body.
However, the demon naturally wouldn't give up like that. He had come with a purpose. Since he couldn't attack from the front, he then fully used his advantages as an Apostle and as a "magic archer."
After that, every one, two, three, or four days, a cold arrow from the "demon archer" would shoot from a very long distance, piercing one or several people in the Spirit Tree Pavilion and killing them.
With each arrow shot, the "magic archer" would change positions, hide his whereabouts, and wait for the next opportunity.
Once, he almost shot Casca in the arms. If not for the presence of Judeau and Pippin, who paid the price of serious injuries to stop the arrow, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
The old Hawk Company had killed and wounded over a dozen people because of this. Guts, enraged and feeling threatened for Casca and his son, swore to find the other party. So he pursued, despite the dissuasion of Casca and the others.
When the group found Guts again, he was already seriously wounded, clearly hit by a hidden arrow from the "magic archer."
The "magic archer" had completely decided not to fight everyone face-to-face. The others were fine, but he thought he would be no match for Guts in close combat. So he decided to avoid his advantage.
During the days when Guts was wounded by the arrow, the old Hawk Company was still shot at with cold arrows. But they couldn't even find the "magic archer's" position.
Flora and Schierke had used spirit projection several times, searching everywhere for traces of the "magic archer." But the other party was clearly an Apostle who knew how to hide. They couldn't find him through aerial searches and the help of elves.
This was also the reason why Schierke wanted to teach Farnese "spirit projection" today. They needed another helper. Perhaps they could change the passive status quo.
Guts also planned to change the status quo.
During the days he was recovering, he held the boy Casca had given birth to in his arms and gradually calmed down.
Guts, who recovered very quickly, approached Flora when he could get up, seeking a way to defeat the "magic archer."
At the very least, he needed a way to block the first few arrows of the "magic archer" to fight back.
Flora hesitated for a long time. Finally, she brought out the former armor of the skeleton knight—the "Berserker Armor"—and gave it to Guts, who was already enlightened.
This was the only possible method that currently suited Guts.
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