Adeline experienced a lot of things in such a short span of time, made friends and people she cared about. It was all too alien for her as she reluctantly accepted her new role as guardian. She wanted to feel it more. She wanted to understand what all these emotions meant, where they led. Deep down, she wanted to help those around her find a brighter future, if she could spare them her fate. She still held the belief that she would never be deserving of forgiveness or happiness, for pain was her home.

  She forcefully opened her eyes and drew energy as she tried to mend her poisoned body. It was too early for her to give up. If something as trivial as this stopped her, then she had no right to call herself a protector. It would have been easier if a part of her body was poisoned, but that was not the case. She steadied her breathing as she concentrated. If she could isote the blood she absorbed, then maybe it could be reversed. Jack, on the other hand, was standing over the mummified knights who were breathing lightly.

  “At least they were of some use. If we can return them, maybe that crazy wizard can better understand how these monsters function.”

  The woman got up from her knees and joined him. “Their sacrifice will be honored. The god of Justice will welcome them.”

  “Cleric Catherine, you did well also. You masterfully controlled your holy power. That damned demon would have been a problem.”

  Jack turned to Adeline, who was not moving. He could see her breathing become more shallow.

  “That wizard really created something potent; the demon is dying. Such dumb monsters they are.”

  “She will pay for her remarks!” Catherine snarled as her grip tightened. Adeline was steadily making progress until she finally found it. The poisoned blood was stored in her horns as magic. She understood her body much deeper now. Adeline had no other choice but to destroy her horns with the massive amount of magic she had collected over the weeks. She summoned all her remaining strength as her body shot up. She reached for a small knife tacked on her belt, then in one action cut off both of her horns. A blistering headache hit her as she let go of her knife and rolled on the floor. Jack started to ugh as he approached her.

  “Oh wow, I never expected this. Have you finally gone crazy?”

  Jack kneeled as Adeline finally stopped squirming. He pnted his dagger on her thigh but did not get any reaction. He moved her body to see what was going on and was met with a face filled with pure rage. She grabbed his hand and pulled him closer as he was instantly pced in an arm lock. Jack tried to fight back but was unable to even move. Adeline reached for the dagger, pulled it out, then threw it away.

  Catherine started her prayers while Jack summoned his mana. Adeline sensed it as she finally let him go. Jack repositioned himself while Adeline reached for her sword. Her severed thumb had fully regenerated, and the rest of the wounds fully healed. Her severed horns were slowly growing out.

  “How stupid of me to let a maggot like you bring me to such a state.”

  “How is this possible? The poison should have killed you.”

  “I will not die to such petty tricks, but thanks to you, it seems like my body has adjusted accordingly.” Adeline learned something new; her body was very adaptable. That perhaps expined why she didn’t get burned; perhaps the previous host had survived such an ordeal. Jack held his sword as Catherine poured more charms and blessings. Adeline was fully regenerated but had lost a sizable chunk of her magical power. Jack once again disappeared. This time Adeline was prepared; a red barrier appeared as Jack’s attack bounced off it.

  Adeline countered, but Jack was able to block as he disappeared once more. She scanned the torn forest for him. He appeared once more as he tried to ssh her back, but once again the shield stopped the attack. Before she could react, Jack disappeared once more, leaving behind a blue hue. This continued for a while as a pattern emerged. She slowly got better at predicting the attacks. Her swordsmanship was improving as she nded a counterattack which brought Jack to his knees.

  Her attention once more turned to Catherine as she rushed her. Jack blocked the attack, but she continued her assault. Catherine remained in the same position while Jack defended her. Another white fsh hit her as she covered her eyes. Jack saw the opportunity and tried to plunge his sword into her chest, but the red shield protected her. Adeline was disoriented. She felt sick, followed by a rush of pain through her body. She ignored it as her senses returned.

  “How do you like a taste of holy magic?”

  “I don’t have time for this!”

  Adeline released more of her mana as her red mist appeared, covering the entire forest. She suddenly fell to her knees as she started to vomit blood; a sharp pain pierced her heart. Her mist retracted back into her body. She started to wonder if she had truly dealt with the poison.

  ‘I need more power! Give more power.’

  A beautiful song could be heard; drops of green light started to slowly rain down in the forest. Adeline stared at the sky as she felt the energy enter her body as blood started to ooze from her body. Jack sharply turned behind him as he saw an elf singing. He disappeared, then appeared in front of the elf. He plunged his sword into his gut, but the elf did not stop singing. Blood started to flow from his mouth as his complexion turned grey. Jack sharply pulled his sword as he tried to cut off his head, but it was then a burst of red mist filled the entire forest.

  “You are too te. The divine punishment of the goddess will now strike you.”

  Jack swung his sword as Joseph closed his eyes, accepting his impending death, but he hit a blood-red shield. Jack felt terror behind him as he disappeared once more, then appeared next to Catherine, who started to pray more loudly as blood poured from her eyes as a bright gold barrier was invoked, pushing the red mist out. Jack turned towards Adeline, who had fully changed. Her horns had grown bigger, pulsating red. She was now slightly rger as the leather fur barely covered her body and was torn further. Her eyes were dark red with red lines running down her darker skin. Her shoulders started to contort as a pair of rge dark wings emerged from her body. She instantly tore through the mist as she nded next to Joseph, who was gasping for air while spitting out blood.

  “Why did you do such a stupid thing?”

  “I did what I needed to do, to protect the forest.”

  Adeline started to rummage through his body as she finally found a healing potion. She slowly poured it inside his mouth as his complexion got slightly better, then became worse. Joseph weakly stared at Adeline.

  “Don’t waste the potions; my fate is sealed.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I traded my life so you could be connected to the forest.”

  Joseph weakly held her hand as his eyes slowly dimmed.

  “Ask the Queen for forgiveness in my stead, and it’s been an honour.”

  His hand fell on the floor as vines grew around his body and wrapped around him. It slowly pulled his body deep into the soil, leaving behind a small flower which erupted into a small tree.

  ‘To love means to sacrifice one’s heart.’

  The goddess’s words rang deep in her heart as a bloody tear fell on the small tree, releasing a beautiful green hue. Adeline’s heavy emotions were lifted as she watched the green light go into the sky as her resolve strengthened. Adeline was not going to let his sacrifice be in vain.