“The elders of the wanderers once said: “This spell begins and ends entirely at the will of the caster. It’s as simple as deciding to end it.”
“Is that really all there is to it? That sounds easy,” Flora had replied.
“Simple, yes. But also the hardest thing. Never underestimate it. Do not forget why this spell was sealed away as a forbidden art,” the elders had warned.
After casting the spell, Flora sat with her eyes closed, quietly savoring the changes within her. The elders had warned that, according to the records, not once had a caster ever willingly stopped the spell themselves.
Now I understand why, she thought. How could anyone abandon this sense of liberation?
Her soul felt weightless. She couldn’t think of a more apt description for the sensation. It was as though the invisible chains that had subtly bound her were all gone, leaving her with a profound sense of freedom. Rules, morals, and all the other constraints that bind humans no longer held any meaning.
According to her original plan, Flora had intended to stop the spell once the kings breached the barrier enchantment or determined that they no longer needed to control the larks.
She had offered her services as a spellcaster to assist the kings, but she had feared that if the citizens of the capital saw her driving the larks, unfavorable rumors would spread. Some might call her a demon, and others could blame her for the chaos engulfing the city.
But now, none of that mattered. She couldn’t understand why she had ever worried about such trivial things. What if someone pointed fingers at her?
I’ll just kill them all.
Flora stood and opened the door. Even when Pides, who had been standing guard, looked at her as if she were a stranger, she didn’t care.
“Anika Flora!”
“O Anika, beloved by the gods, please protect us!”
Most of the knights, except for the Inquisitors, had never even seen a lark before. Although they were stronger than ordinary people, thanks to their natural talents and training, they were still no match for the warriors who fought larks regularly. The knights, their minds dulled from relying solely on divine intervention, had grown weak in both body and spirit. When they saw Flora, already half-crazed with fear, they rushed towards her in desperation.
But they were flung away before they could even touch her. The powerful backlash sent one knight crashing into a wall before crumpling to the ground. Judging by his stillness, he was likely unconscious.
The completed spell protected its caster. The defensive magic, now one with Flora, shielded her from harm.
Without a word, Flora glanced at the fallen knight, then turned her head as if nothing had happened and descended the stairs.
“Anika Flora,” Pides called out, following her. He reached out to grab her but quickly withdrew his hand, remembering what had just happened.
On the dark first floor, Flora’s family huddled together, trembling. Terrified by the monsters outside, they had drawn all the curtains shut.
“Flora?”
“Don’t touch her!” Pides shouted, but it was too late. Just as the middle-aged woman reached out to Flora, she was shoved back by an invisible force, staggering. Since she hadn’t rushed at Flora like the knights had, the impact was weaker. Another family member caught her before she could fall, and Pides breathed a sigh of relief.
Flora didn’t spare her family a glance. She walked straight to the door. When she flung it open, the bright light from outside flooded into the house.
“Oh no…”
“Ahhh…”
Dozens, no, hundreds of crimson eyes were gathered outside. Flora’s family collapsed where they stood, either screaming or breaking into tears. Only now did Pides realize what had terrified the knights so much earlier. A cold sweat broke out on his back.
Something is wrong with Anika Flora, he thought. He had noticed something strange when their eyes met earlier. Her black pupils had seemed unnaturally dark, as if they were absorbing all the light around them.
Flora stepped outside without hesitation. The larks, which had clustered tightly in front of the house, parted to make way for her. She felt an odd sense of calm in the presence of these creatures she had never seen before. The monsters did not evoke fear or disgust; instead, she was intoxicated by the overwhelming power that made her feel as though she could bend the world to her will.
A loud bang echoed in the distance.
Instinctively, she looked up at the sky in the direction of the sound. Blue smoke spread across the sky, signaling its meaning.
That signal means…
The barrier spell would soon be broken. Before casting her own spell, Flora had resolved to endure until she heard that signal.
But not yet, she thought. There was still something she needed to do.
To the Holy Palace.
The evidence must be erased. No one could know what she had done in the sanctuary. She would destroy the sanctuary and kill every priest who had witnessed it.
