Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Seven

Noyini Guardian feat Cyclops

ZAIRE LEVI’s POINT OF VIEW

Tilting my neck from left to right, I take a glance at Elise along with the ice elf whose name is still unknown because it’s apparently in their culture not to disclose their names, especially to strangers and those weaker than them. The elf not telling me her name made me think if it’s because I’m a stranger or because I’m weaker than her.

“Are you all done?” I ask Elise after she placed everything on our carriage. She nodded her head that’s why I tell her to go ahead but of course, as expected of my lady maid, she wouldn’t do that instead, she waited for me saying it’s disrespectful for a slave like her to leave her master outside the carriage and go first.

It was pointless telling Elise to let loose of the rules she grew up with and taught with. Made me realize that some things in this world cannot be changed so easily.

“If that’s the case then —” My sentence is cut off short when the ground suddenly shook.

An earthquake?

“My lady!” Elise gasps clinging unto me. I watch as the people inside the inn all went out their complexion paler than vampires, some are running away and some mounted their horses and entered their carriage, those blessed with magical abilities used their affinities to escape.

Although natural disasters and phenomena like earthquakes are fearsome, I don’t think this earthquake’s magnitude right now is that strong.

“We have to go my lady!” Elise exclaimed frantically.

Thump... Thump...

I closed my eyes while crouching to feel the ground. From the sound of it and the vibration from the ground even how the pebbles and small stone rise and drop instead of going frantically from side to side — which is if I’m not mistaken how earthquakes happen — ground shaking. This... doesn’t look like the ground is shaking at all. It’s more like an intense vibration caused by a large thing hitting the ground repeatedly.

“Lady, you should all run away! The hunters are coming to stop the Noyini guardian!” A familiar old man, the one who welcomed us last night and also the inn’s owner shouted at us while glancing at the mountain just behind us.

“... Noyini Guardian?” I repeated.

The old man pales as the thumping of the ground grew louder, we were staggered along.

‘What is a Noyini Guardian?’ I thought, out of nowhere the mysterious book appeared — without being summoned by me — in front of my very face.

The golden letters slightly glowing.

[Noyini Guardian is a name given to a mythical beast residing in a cave believed to be located at the peak of the mountain. Noyini Guardian as its name entails guards special flowers only seen at the peak of the mountain, Arild. The guardian only awoken every once in five years whenever the flower blooms to protect it.

Level: High Tier]

“My lady...?” I turn to Elise, thoughts running into my mind, eventually though, I gave out a deep sigh.

“Let’s go,” I ordered, all of us, including the elf who doesn’t look worried even a teeny bit entered the carriage, the coachman is quick to maneuver the carriage. This is the fastest way for us. The inn owner as well left after warning us of the danger.

Only then I realized that not mages nor knights will show up to deal with the said mythical beast but rather, hunters. A high tier level and a mythical beast at that. I watch as trees we passed resembles that of a blur because of our speed.

My hands are fidgeting while thinking how that guardian must have look like, how huge it is and how strong it can be. I’m feeling antsy not being able to see it.

“You look extremely bothered, human.” The ice elf said out of nowhere her eyes boring at me.

I didn’t answer, instead, I closed my eyes and meditated my mind running scenarios of what might possibly happen if I were to see that guardian. I wanted to try something out but I can’t risk the safety of these people with me, especially Elise and the coachman. I may sound heartless but I don’t really worry for this elf’s safety. I don’t even know her, if it weren’t for the compensation that I need from her and her kind I would have left her there alone.

Ugh, why did I got carried away by this elf’s magic energy in the first place?

Meditating, the carriage abruptly halt sending Elise and the elf bumping into each other while I casted a wind spell to stabilize myself.

I surpass a fit of laughter watching them, Elise is on top of the ice elf while the latter is stuck in the carriage’s wooden wall, sandwich by Elise and the wall. Her eyes widen and mouth agape.

‘Lol...!’

I shake my head and went out. “What happened?” I ask the carriage although I don’t need the verbal answer. In front of us are ten to approximately fifteen one-eyed cyclops, colored gray and bigger than the ones I fought last night.

I watch as some of them are devouring the bodies of horses and humans alike scattered on the ground like toys. The pool of blood causing a batch of goosebumps on my arms to rise, the stench of both blood and something rotten enveloping the entire place. This is the usual path used to travel from Bayport and Noyini village to Noyini mountain, covered by some trees of different sizes, this is considered the safest path out of the other because hunters are hired to scout the area for threats and monsters. That is what I heard, by the looks of this all, not only are there groups of cyclops but the supposed guardian mythical beast is also on rampage. Even until here the ground is shaking.

‘Seriously now, did these two creatures had an agreement beforehand? Man, your timing is as wrong as your existence before me.’

“Coachman, please get inside...” I ordered while going out of the carriage, placing my facemask along with the cloak.

‘Serve your purpose, cloak. You made a hole on my pocket so I expect so much from you hundred silver cloak.’

“My lady I can—”

“No. Get inside.” The old man tried to reason out but I only glared at him, waved my hand and a gust of wind lifted him and placed him on the carriage. I’m about to place a barrier on it when the elf steps out of the carriage.

I frown. “Why are you outside?” I ask watching her approach me. From behind me I felt a sudden movement from three cyclops nearby along with a threatening formation of magic energy on certain part of their body, before they can even successfully form the beam of light from their lone eyes, a blinding light orb bursts in their very faces, the elf closed her eyes too.

“Keehkk!”

“Kiie...hok!”

“Grrrarrr!”

Pained groans and shuffling of their feet until something fell.

The elf looks behind me after covering her eyes then looks at me.

“I thought I’ll be helpful but it seems you can manage alone.” She turn her back at me so I did but she grab my wrist. “No galu guvad gen...” she nods her head at me and turned to enter the carriage again.

Unknown to the language she spoke, I just watch her even as she closed the carriage and sighs. I hope she didn’t said anything bad about me or something. Her face was so serious that my mind are thinking negative thoughts. Damn.

[Light of Protection]

A three layered wall of glowing gold and white light appeared behind me that blocked the laser beam fired at me by the cyclops and boy, it’s not even a lone laser beam at that.

My eyes stared right back the sets of their eyes watch me. I chuckles.

“Again. I hate being attacked behind my back.” My lips tug a grin, “so much.”

~

NOTE***

Elvish language is used in this chapter. I give rightful credits and acknowledgement to the one who generated that language, so helpful hehe!