Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Fourteen

Return of the Four

ZAIRE LEVI's POINT OF VIEW

Jumping out from Luxes, apparently, I was still inside Luxes when I met my familiar, it was just outside the house. I was completely shocked upon seeing Alarkson in his full-grown dragon that I forgot to properly check my surroundings.

Walking towards the entrance of the cave where Elise, Eufema, and Blake might possibly be, Alarkson, Vana, Kiera, and Siren are still on me, yeah, on me because the four of them have taken the liberty to use my body as their resting place. Should I feel honored? I hope they did not acknowledge me as their Mistress for this purpose.

I quietly watch as Elise helped Eufema heal her wounds while Blake is sitting on the corner, playing on his dagger. Speaking of a dagger, I should let these three choose their weapons on Luxes. Anyway, what should I call the residence on Luxes?

Zaire's Property? Zaire's? My Domain? Zaire Kingdom?

Pfft! Weird names. Maybe I should ask Elise or Aya for suggestions later.

"My lady..." It's Blake. He bowed his head when he noticed me. Ah, he's getting better at unveiling other's presence. I shouldn't have chuckled; I might still be unnoticed until now.

"You look ragged." I tell him. I noticed that his physique looks more mature now, he grew some muscles too and he's taller.

"I have finished my training outside my lady," he informs, I nodded my head with that and smiled too. I'm glad that he grew stronger, I can feel the confidence and his magic energy emitting from him. Undoubtedly, the three of them grew so much within this one month.

"And your shadow magic improved drastically too. That's good." I praised him.

Suddenly, he kneeled in front of me making me gasp. What the heck.

"If it wasn't for you my lady and the scroll that you gave me, I would not reach the high intermediate level and change my magic base's color into Gray within one month's time. Please accept my gratitude, my lady!"

"Shush!" I wave my hands in front of him and walk past him. "If you don't stand up now we'll leave you here behind." I threatened him while making my way towards Elise and Eufema, at the same time, Kiera jumped off of me, Siren is hiding on my nape, it's actually very ticklish ever since she moved in there minutes ago.

"You should stay in Luxes for now." I tell my familiars through our link. Without answering, Alarkson, Vana, and Siren went to Luxes while Kierra stayed outside. I look at her green eyes but she shakes her head at me, sighing, I let her be.

"My lady! Where have you been?" Elise asks after healing Eufema's wounds.

"Just somewhere, how is she?" I ask glancing at Eufema who is fixing her robe right now.

"Her wounds are superficial my lady. It wasn't difficult to heal her." I chuckle while nodding my head. To think that when Elise started her training, casting small healing spells takes a huge ton on her body before but now, she can multi-cast healing spells.

Well, I expected that given that her magic base is now colored gray, and just like Blake, she is also high intermediate level now. Her growth within one month surpassed those arrogant nobles. Just thinking how Elise would show them their places makes me look forward to it actually happening.

"How was your training outside?" I ask Eufema while Blake and Elise started fixing and organizing our things since we're going back today.

"This mountain is truly magical and magnificent. We encountered a lot of magical beasts and I was able to make an equal pact with a Glacier Starling beast."

Glacier Starling, a bird with an ice and wind attribute known for its offense and defensive strength in terms of ice magic.

"Damn, that's a General level magical beast isn't it?" Eufema proudly nodded her head. "That was badass, you elf." I complimented making her blush. Lol, even though she always acts all high and mightly almost all the time, one thing I learned about Fema is she sucks at compliments. I turn to Blake in wonder. "Have you contracted a magical beast?" I ask.

Blake shakes his head. Hmm, if Eufema was able to contract a magical beast with the same attribute as hers, I wonder if it's possible for Blake to initiate a contract with a magical beast with a shadow attribute too, but shadow attribute magical beast are rare, rarer than a person who has shadow magic.

I should study summoning magic on our way back. If I will master that magic I might summon beasts for Elise and Blake instead of taming magical beasts here because magical beasts here dislike humans, hates them even.

After having our things settled, the artifact Agro's Claw sent us directly into the side of the lake near the exit of the forest where we entered before.

I can feel a little disturbance from Alarkson when we step out, I should check on them later. It's important that those legendary beings are settled properly and comfortable inside Luxes, wouldn't want to get on those beings' bad side.

Walking towards the exit of the forest, a sudden scream sounded on our western side. Blake and Eufema were quick to shield me on both sides while I keep Elise behind me.

"I can feel a strong magic energy from that side, my lady." Informed Blake while on high alert and he is right, the pressure from that person's magic energy could render those at Advance level mages, what more the weaker ones. I wonder how strong that person is, no wait, if ever it's a human. 

"Should we check it out?" Asks Eufema. I shake my head.

"That would be too troublesome. If that was a magical beast it's best to let it run amock within this forest. If ever that was a human, that's not part of our business. Let's go." I said dismissively and continued walking.

"Are you sure, my lady?" Elise asks me to which I just nod my head.

"You knew it wasn't a human but a magical spirit, right Mistress?" Asks Kierra from our link. I did not answer her and just help her settle herself on my shoulder where Alarkson and Vana were. 

Right. That wasn't a human but a magical spirit, to be specific, a flower magic spirit that has attained a physical body. No wonder the pressure from its magic energy is utterly overwhelming. If it wasn't for the magic energy barrier that the four of us practiced then these guys would have been on their knees.

"Let's go. Don't bother yourself with what is happening in this forest right now. I assure you, no one's dying." I tell them, I guess that was enough to put Elise at ease since she's one feeling worried and guilty for leaving. If I knew it's a human, well I am not that heartless to just turn my back and leave without helping especially if I can do something but I also know that kindness should have a limit. One must know whether an action is an act of kindness or recklessness. 

One single benevolence could lead to one great mistake and disaster.

"I trust my lady's judgment." Elise said behind. I just smiled to myself and finally, we have reached the exit of the forest. Before leaving, I bowed to the forest three times and walk away. 

That act is to honor the kindness that the magic spirits showed us while we were inside the forest and to also honor the resting place of Agro and part of him. The artifact was part of Agro's body so it's only righteous to be thankful that a legendary being and part of him, inside his claw's subspace helped us, inside that place we were able to grow.

While walking towards the inn where we left the carriage, I can't help but notice that there the people looked problematic. Far from the usual calm and smiling faces these town's people had when we arrived. 

"I cannot believe that Lady Jozine would do this to us!" 

Halt.

I turn to where the voice came from, it was a woman that seems to be in her 50's along with two other elders. They are outside a certain eatery, the anger and frustration are visible on their faces.

Jozine. Me?

"Even I can't believe that she would order such an increase of tax to us! I always thought she was a compassionate noble lady, different from her mother and sister yet it turned out that she is just as greedy as them!!!"

"All nobles are the same!"

What the f**k?

Why is my name being hated right now? Increase in tax? 

Ahh, I think I know already what's happening.

"Shall I punish them for you—"

"Oi calm down." I stop Blake from whatever it is that he is planning. The anger written on their faces made me laugh. Gosh, they are angrier than I am. I'm not even mad at the town's people for reacting that way since they have the right to do so. "Stay here," I tell them and I walk towards the elderly talking. I showed courtesy by slightly bowing to show respect for them before speaking. "May I know how much is the increase in tax?" I ask directly.

The elderly on the left sighs exasperatedly. "She ordered us to pay 50 pieces of gold coins every month. Each shop is now required to pay that much and are not allowed to miss paying every month otherwise the shop will be closed down. It's too much! Far great from the previous 500 pieces of silver!!" The elder exclaimed both angrily and sadly.

My eyes widen upon hearing that. Well, they really have the right to be mad, heck, I would too.

What the hell is that numbskull named Clarence been doing within this one month? And she has the guts to use my name huh!

Yes, MY name because I am Jozine too. I am Zaire but I'm living as Jozine right now! Oops, who am I even mad at? Tch.

"I see. Thank you. I'll be sure to settle this matter once and for all." I said turning away to go back to Elise and the others.

"What happened?" Eufema asks cautiously probably because she can see the rage written all over my face. 

"Let's go back, quickly." I announced with finality.

Three hours later, we are now hitting the road to go back to the Vesaurius mansion. 

"I'll be meditating, don't disturb me." I tell Elise, she nodded her head and closed the curtain that separates her side and mine while Eufema and Blake are outside, Blakes as the horsemen while Eufema insisted on being a lookout if ever accidents occur since the town's people from Valyr stated that there has been unusual appearances of portals in different places of the kingdom lately, beasts and monsters are also becoming unstable to the point of attacking travelers.

Bringing my subconsciousness to Luxes, I am greeted by Vana and Siren, Alarkson is nowhere to be found while Kierra is still with me outside on my physical body.

"I felt the change and disturbance within Alarkson, is he okay?" I ask worriedly. Well yeah, I'm worried since he is my familiar and of course he's a great dragon, a legendary being, if something were to happen to him I could be in trouble. The word could be in trouble and I'm not exaggerating.

"Alarkson is currently meditating to calm himself down for he is grieving over Argo's death." Vana said.

I flinch. Right, Alarkson must have known Argo since both of them are dragons.

Suddenly, in his mimick form, Alarkson came flying to me. Although he appeared out of nowhere and surprised me I still carried him in my arms and pets him, I was unsure if I should really pet him but seeing that he did not get angry for treating him like a domesticated pet but enjoyed being petted, I continued doing so to help him calm down.

I can feel his distress through our link.

They must have been close friends. I can only imagine how sad he is knowing that Argo's death. He must be missing him a lot.

"That insolent fool! To die by the hands of such a weakling! He should have died by hands instead! Ahhh!! Argo was foolish to even in his death."

...Or not.

Vana and Siren look away seeing how my face crumpled. Pushing the great dragon away, I glared at him.

Alarkson looks at me wondering why I stop petting him and even pushed him away.

"I'm comforting you because I thought you were sad, I seem to be mistaken."

His head tilted. "I am not sad, though I feel regretful letting him die like that and not dueling with him again." Suddenly, he smiled. It honestly looks creepy seeing a creature with the face of a lizard and even smiling. "He must have felt bored fighting a weakling and just let it killed him instead. Well, it's good that he died, he's been wanting to die ever since." Alarkson jumped off of me and laid on the ground. "Loneliness is such a strong enemy. It can kill without shedding blood." He said with a sigh and closed his eyes, probably to sleep or just lazy around.

I feel silent because of what he said while internally thinking of what he said. Yeah, he's right. Loneliness is such a scary enemy.

Having thought of that, I wonder how old these creatures are and somehow, I ended up thinking if they must be lonely all this time. 

I shake my head. I'm acting weird again.

Wait, oh my god! I just glared at Alarkson moments ago as if it's the most natural thing to do! 

With my eyes wide open, I turn to Vana and Siren, doing so, I caught Siren's small smile while looking at me. Seeing that I caught her, she looks away and flew towards the second floor to read books maybe, or just escape from me since I caught her. Vana, on the other hand, is silently watching Alarkson, she must have felt me looking at her because she turned to me and nods her head as if assuring me that Alarkson is fine.

I smiled at her and is about to study summoning magic when I felt something from the physical word. Ugh. I should study this when I reach the mansion.

Opening my eyes, I heaved a deep sigh.

I noticed it again. My magic base changed color. There's no explanation why my magic base would change color outside of the classification. 

"We stop, what happened Elise?" I ask.

"There are hunters in front of us my lady."

Hunters?

I closed my eyes, truth, there are five hunters in front of us, two of them kept their magic energy in check. I am unable to tell whether what level they are at or how strong they are while the three of them are in the high intermediate level.

"My lady," Blake said after knocking on the carriage's door. 

"Speak."

"All five of them are wounded. Should we help them?" 

I heaved a deep sigh and slid the curtain open to look at Elise and just as I thought, she looks worried for them. 

"My lady..."

I nod my head at her. Without further saying anything, Elise hurriedly left the carriage while I follow her. Indeed, the hunters are wounded, the two of them are not as heavily injured as the other three and they are also the ones who have their magic energy hidden. 

They look familiar. 

This familiar masked man, they are the hunters from Yabut one month ago. They grew stronger from before, especially the masked man or he could be hiding his real strength at that time and even right now. The other one was the man who's named... I forgot his name, I have a really shitty memory in terms of names. 

Since we're not wearing our masks that served as our disguise at that time, it would be impossible for them to know it was us who they met at that time.

"What happened?" Eufema asks them.

The man beside the masked one is the one who answered since the three are being treated by Elise. I sigh while looking at Elise's sweating face, she's healing one hunter while looking at the other clearly worried. 

I silently approached her and taps her shoulder. "You won't be able to focus on healing him properly. Let me heal this one." 

Elise nodded her head and stared at the one she is healing. 

Taking the bandage, a magical bandage made from the flowers in Luxes known for their healing properties and also a healing pill. This one was stored in the house.

I don't know much about pills and alchemy but since the description stated its uses and ingredients I did not worry much when I fed it to the wounded hunter and wrap it around his wounds. After doing so, I stood up and waited for Elise to finish.

Feeling the burning sensation on the side of my face, I turn to the one burning hole on my face and raised my brows. It's the masked dude.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" I ask since he did not bother looking away.

"Indeed there is."

My face twitches. The f**k does that he meant by that? Composing myself, I smiled at him politely.

"I see. So what's wrong with it?"

"... Nothing." He answered looking away.

I bit my lip to stop myself from frowning and tearing that masked off his face and tell him the same thing, or maybe something worse. I could also insult him directly. The hell I care! Who wouldn't be pissed after hearing someone said that there is something wrong with your face and that someone is wearing a mask then afterward tell you 'nothing'. 

THE HECK!!!!

"Is what you said the truth?" I heard Fema exclaimed.

"It is. I would never lie about this matter since this has been happening recently."

"How about the town Sylb, what happened there?" Eufema asks again. I walk towards them while waiting for the hunter's response.

He heaved a deep sigh. "Unfortunately, the mages and knights arrived late that's why Sylb and the nearby houses were destroyed. The town is completely destroyed."

My eyes widen. s**t. Sylb is just hours away from the Vesaurius mansion!

"When did this happened?!" I hurriedly ask gripping his shoulders.

"This... three weeks ago."

Fucking hell. Three weeks ago. Mom...

"Jozine, let me go first to check the situation with your household. I'll ride my familiar." Eufema offered.

"Yes, please do." Without further ado, Eufema summoned her contracted beast and flew away.

"Kiera, can you grow bigger?" I ask my little fox that is resting inside the carriage.

"I can, Mistress. Rest assured, I will accompany you on this journey." 

That relieved me. I will have to ride her while these wounded hunters and Elise will use the carriage. 

Kierra hop out of the carriage and jumped on me. I smiled at her and run a hand on her fur to calm myself.

I just hope that nothing happened to Mom. Regarding Clarence and Felicia, knowing those two's selfishness I have this hunch that they already run away leaving their servants or they might have used their servants as shields to keep themselves safe.

Damn, I sound so pessimistic. 

I hope Mom's safe and the other servants too, especially Carlito, the coachman who served me well.