Alexia's Struggle

The sound of impact reached us immediately.

The thunderous roar echoing even down here made me tense up.

Azu pressed close to me, trying to shield me.

Even so, the mages didn't stop their work, continuing to supply mana to the barrier.

Each time magic collided with the barrier, it apparently drained significant mana, and someone collapsed from mana exhaustion with every boom.

Yet they continued giving everything they had to protect the Royal Capital.

Knowing Alexia was among them, she really was dependable.

Unlike the first wave that had caught them off guard, they were blocking the second wave completely, not letting a single spell through.

This should work out.

Elza's blessing was also strengthening the mages.

"Hey, isn't… the interval getting shorter?"

"That can't be—"

Finn was right, and the sounds reaching the basement were coming faster and faster.

The strain on the mages was visibly increasing.

Half the mages collapsed to their knees with mana exhaustion.

They looked utterly spent.

These were supposed to be the kingdom's elite royal mages.

Even they couldn't hold out?

"Hand me a mana recovery potion and that staff!"

Alexia shouted, sweat breaking out on her skin.

She and just a few others were now supporting the barrier, and they were nearing their limit.

I quickly pulled out a blue potion and the Thorn Staff.

Then threw them to Alexia.

The Thorn Staff felt like it was draining my strength just from touching it, which was creepy, but if Alexia needed it, I'd trust her.

Alexia caught them, downed the potion in one gulp, then gripped the Thorn Staff with both hands.

A bud bloomed at the staff's tip, extending vines that wrapped around her hands and locked them to the staff.

At the same moment, Alexia's magic power exploded.

The Thorn Staff's power was being unleashed.

The incomparably greater strain brought Alexia to her knees, but she used the Thorn Staff as a prop to keep from collapsing.

I hurried behind her and supported her body.

The shoulder I touched was ice cold, her clothes soaked with sweat.

The burden must have been enormous.

"Really. This absolutely does not pay!"

Despite what must have been considerable suffering, she spat out a snide remark to fire herself up, then stood again with my help.

The barrier remained intact thanks to her efforts.

It was blocking every incoming spell.

Gradually, the intervals between sounds lengthened and the impacts grew fainter.

Eventually the sounds stopped entirely, and when Azu went outside to confirm the second wave had ended, Alexia's body swayed and she slumped against me.

I caught Alexia firmly.

Her breathing was ragged and her face pale. She was completely spent.

Then the Thorn Staff's vines started reaching toward my hand.

Apparently with Alexia's mana depleted, it was seeking further sustenance from me.

"What a creepy staff."

Finn said this as she sliced through the vines and pried them from Alexia's hands.

Then she shoved it into a bag.

Was it my imagination that the staff seemed reluctant to part?

I'd known it was no ordinary staff, but this was practically a magic artifact.

And an exceptionally troublesome one at that.

What would happen if someone fell unconscious while still gripping it?

… I was starting to think selling this thing might cause problems.

For now, we decided to leave the basement.

I carried Alexia on my back.

She was more slender than her fighting prowess would suggest.

The mage captain expressed gratitude toward Alexia, so I promised to pass it along later.

Returning to the Royal Library, we laid her down on a sofa to rest.

"Alexia-chan, open your mouth. Good girl, good girl."

"Mgghh—"

Elza pressed a pill into Alexia's mouth and made her swallow it.

Her face scrunched at the bitterness, but her color improved quickly and she began breathing steadily in sleep.

"It's a special medicine of mine. She'll be better soon."

"Good medicine tastes bitter, huh. I was worried when she collapsed, but looks like she'll be fine."

Then I looked outside through the window.

The sun was bright now, and those terrifying falling spells were nowhere to be seen.

The people who had cowered during the second wave seemed reassured now that the barrier had held.

"It's just mana exhaustion symptoms. You're worrying too much."

"You're awake. Thank you."

"I just did my job."

Shortly after, Alexia woke up.

I handed her a drink of apple cider vinegar diluted with water and the sandwich we'd prepared, and she polished it off quickly.

She'd recovered just as Elza said.

"So what now? That princess suddenly made us help with all sorts of things, but we've done enough, haven't we? I want to actually sleep."

"You're right. We never got a proper break since getting back from that tower. I'll ask if we can go home."

"You better. Whatever happens to the royal family, it's really not our concern."

Finn had a point.

This was already far beyond what ordinary citizens should be involved in.

Though having gotten involved, I suspected we couldn't just walk away.

Permission to leave was granted easily enough.

However, we were firmly told to return to the castle after two days of rest.

This was partly to serve as witnesses regarding what happened in Alsarm, and Princess Tianis had even included a handwritten note insisting we absolutely come.

"I don't want to go…"

"Sir. In cases like this, not going will definitely cause more trouble."

"I know that, which is why I can't stop sighing."

"I see."

I hoped Orleans would at least let me vent a little.