Chapter 14 - Return

Chapter 14 – Return

“Are you not going?” The scoffing knights’ voices rang inside the room. Ronée raised herself up.

As soon as the Bell jumped out of her arms, he growled at the knights, determined to bite them.

The knights flinched. Some knights who had been bitten by Bell in the arms were still unable to lift their swords.

“Now, it’s no wonder that fox cubs are burned to death.” The knights turned away as if they had no respect.

“Let’s go.” Ronée picked Bell up. Bell looked back at her. His face, which had become gentle again, seemed to say ‘I’ll fight as hard as I can.’

But Ronée knew that Bell could get hurt too. Bell seemed to be heavily influenced by her strength. She could not have been full of strength, as she gradually lost sight of the sun and could only eat with the help of Ryne.

On the day he stood up against the knights, Bell was battered. Every day, Ronée was afraid of Bell’s death.  Still, Bell would never die, even if he would return to the shadows.

Ronée held Bell tightly. It seemed unbearable to see the few people she treasured in the world die. “Let’s go.”

But the knights seized her despite her resistance. Ronée thought she could really make it.

Suddenly, one of the knights whispered to Ronée. “Listen without answering, Ms. Ronée.”

It was a polite voice, as if showing respect. A voice Ronée had rarely heard in her life.

“The Lord has spoken to me.”

Ronée opened her eyes wide. Lord? Who, the Count?

But the Count’s knight wouldn’t be so polite to her. Ronée suddenly recalled the man whom she had wanted to see for ten years. A familiar figure crossed her mind, bringing her back to the first time they met.

“Now, you’re not alone.”

Nabel. Ronée opened her mouth slightly.

“Please forgive my discourtesy.” The knight on her right side also spoke very quietly. Ronée thought of someone else through them.

Nabel was coming.

“Come on, get her down to the basement!” Knight Commander Devant ordered. The knight, holding Ronée’s arms, dragged her down the chuck. Ronée did not rebel.

Bang! Devant, the leader of the knights who opened the door roughly, even pushed Ronée’s back. The sound of the knights’ military boots filled the hall, and nobody found anyone coming near the mansion.

Hihing! An ornate golden-embellished carriage traversed the Countess Rieda’s estate. In front of it, a white horse had rushed out with its owner on board, seemingly unable to withstand the slow pace of the carriage.

When the hood of the blue robes reclined, it revealed a hair that was as black as midnight. It was originally a bright gold hair.

*

Ten heresy interrogators came to Count Rieda’s estate. One of them was on the sixth of the nine steps to god. It was the highest-rated wizard among those who engaged in external activities.

The wizard raised his hand, while Ronée’s hands were tied behind her back. The sorcerers, who were on their knees, checked if there were any magic barriers around her.

The method was very simple.

Ouch! Ronée’s rosy hair became drenched. Cold water poured over her suddenly and she took a deep breath without realizing it. The taste of water inside her mouth was salty.

“There is no magic barrier,” said the wizard with four bracelets on his wrist, which meant that he was ascending towards the fourth staircase.

The wizard of the sixth step raised his hand. “Then start the diagnosis.”

“Lady!” Ryne screamed.

The magic circle which unfolded in front of the wizard was the magic circle of the Lightning System. After the magic circle had glowed white, electricity started to flow from within.

Clang! Bell popped out of Ronée’s shadow. The wizard was startled and shouted. “Is that the summoner?”

“Yes!” Knight Commander Devant replied. Even with a sword in his hand, he still looked tense. He looked back on the wizards. It was clear that he thought that he could defeat the fox this time, with the strong wizards by his side.

“Attack!”

It was when the wizard, who identified the enemy, attempted to hit the magic circle. The knight next to the wizard suddenly turned the sword at him.

“What the…!”

It was one of the knights who had previously held Ronée’s arms. Because the knight wielded the sword with his back on her, she could not see the wizard’s arm being cut off.

Her vision was obscured by someone’s sleeve. It was the sleeve of a blue robe. The ends of the sleeves were decorated with an ornate golden leaf.

The owner of the sleeve then gave her a large black robe, covering the sunlight under its hood. Ronee’s body, which had been chilled by the cold water, suddenly felt warm. Afterwards, the blue robe’s sleeves had disappeared in front of her eyes and someone had held her tightly.