Yelena only remembered that Talulah was silent.
She silently returned to the Duke's Mansion, without saying anything more.
Life continued as usual.
Until half a year later.
"Yelena."
Talulah, covered in dust, walked into the Duke's Mansion, carrying her sword.
"Miss? Weren't you on a mission? This sword… you didn't like it before."
But Yelena did not get an answer, yet she saw the Red Dragon's no longer hesitant gaze, and she understood everything.
"You've made up your mind, then. I'll wait for you outside the door; you mustn't leave me behind."
Saying this, Yelena adjusted her clothes, bowed to Talulah, and turned to walk towards the main door.
And Talulah, with a complex heart, knocked on Koschei's door.
Yelena didn't know what happened in the room, but when Talulah burst out of the Duke's door, covered in blood, she knew what she had to do.
What followed was escape, and aimless wandering.
… …
"ursus curse word! Don't let them run away! Otherwise, we'll all be in deep trouble!"
Amidst the black crowd, the commander was loudly giving orders, continuously sending the surrounding Soldiers to the front.
And their targets were always only two.
"These guys are really troublesome!"
Talulah conjured a ball of flame in her palm and threw it forcefully backward.
The flame, following the arc of her arm, spread out in a fan shape towards the Soldiers.
"Ah, ah, extinguish them, this ursus curse word fire!"
The Soldiers ignited by the flames wailed and rolled onto the ground. Yet their so-called comrades continued to advance.
"Miss, quickly!"
Yelena was behind Talulah.
"Before their crossbowmen and artillerymen arrive!"
"I know, Yelena, you go first; they can't hurt me. My flames will drive them away."
Talulah did not look back; she drew her sword.
Yelena saw the fiery red cracks on that sword, like lava.
"Miss, you can't use Originium Arts anymore; your illness will worsen."
Yelena reached out, wanting to stop Talulah.
But the Red Dragon's flames had already begun to burn; it was the smell of sulfur.
"This ursus curse word Vaivan, she's about to unleash a move! Shield Guard, move forward! Why haven't the artillerymen arrived yet? The crossbowmen are here? Good, listen to my command, fire!"
Soldiers holding huge shields suddenly rushed to the very front of the battle line, and behind them countless crossbow bolts flew towards Talulah.
The Shield Guard charged at her.
Hoo, ha.
"Watch out!"
Yelena rushed behind Talulah, her gloves glowing with lightning.
In an instant, all those lightning bolts burst forth, weaving a net in front of Talulah. The crossbow bolts were detonated upon contact with the lightning net, and the raised dust blocked both sides' vision.
The Shield Guard's last sight was only a flash of red light.
Flames spread with the casting of the spell, melting the shields.
It turned all visible metal into molten iron, and living beings into charcoal.
"Ha."
Talulah was somewhat unable to support herself, and just as she was about to fall, a pair of hands held her up.
"Phew, Yelena, you go quickly; they'll be back soon. I am Koschei's adopted daughter; they wouldn't dare kill me."
Talulah tried to push Yelena away, but she couldn't exert much strength.
In the distance, the commander had probably personally arrived at the front line of the battle, and Yelena could clearly hear his roar.
Drones rose into the sky.
"Artillerymen in position, no firing without my command. Where are the Shield Guards? ursus curse word. Can't see anything. Sorcerers, send Rift Beasts to check the situation."
Although she didn't know why there were so few sorcerers in this army, Yelena didn't intend to waste time thinking about it.
If she killed that commander, could they get rid of them?
Lightning gathered in her hands again, but this time its power was greater, and it was no longer for defense.
The Rift Beasts, under the command of the accompanying sorcerer, charged into the rising dust.
Perhaps it was the commander's underestimation of the enemy, or perhaps the intelligence officer hadn't expected that there was also a skilled sorcerer among the two, or perhaps it was because Yelena had never used lightning for an active attack.
His voice was very loud; Yelena didn't even need to aim for too long.
Zzz.
"Hmm? Why is there light? Haven't the sorcerers figured it out yet?"
Yelena raised her right hand, and lightning gathered into a ball between her fingers.
The energy within instantly erupted.
The lightning whistled forth, connecting him and several people beside him into a beam of light.
They didn't even let out a scream.
The air was filled with the smell of barbecue, which made the Soldiers recall the stewed roasted meat they had eaten a few days ago, the only meat they had encountered in days.
Immediately after, the Soldiers discovered that where their commander had stood, only a few black things remained.
Just like the burnt meat from a few days ago.
Black carbon formed on skin that didn't belong to beasts, cracking with a crunch.
And what flowed out from inside was a mixture of red and yellow liquid. Just like the beer they drank and the red wine the officer drank, but no one wanted to remember when they last had a drink.
No one knew which Soldier started it first, but they pulled off their masks and began to vomit, expelling the sour bile from today, yesterday, and even the day before.
The smoke and dust gradually dissipated.
The army began to fall into chaos.
And Yelena, supporting Talulah, saw her "masterpiece."
But without time to think, she seized the opportunity to quickly pull Talulah along and ran towards the depths of the forest.