Valerian, The Legendary

Chapter 335: Witch & Demon.

Valerian finished killing the two soldiers and burnt their bodies with flame mana. The execution was quick and clean. Haista frowned and asked, "How many people have you killed before you came to join the order?"

Valerian replied without hesitation, "I never counted."

His answer would not have bothered Haista if he was older, but the old Commander knew this child was yet to reach sixteen. The two of them returned to where Valerie was, and the old man asked, "You said you have walked through the flames before?"

Valerian nodded, and Haista asked, "What is it like, to take the last step?"

The young man said, "I do not recall. All I know is that when I took the seven tests, my heart was firm enough to avoid all the obstacles. The goddess does not test you for a merciful heart, but she tests your belief."

Haista thought briefly before he nodded and asked, "So, what is your belief?"

The young man replied, "Mercy should be given to the people according to their crimes."

Haista shook his head and said, "Although I understand what you believe in, how do you determine who deserves a second chance and who does not? Didn’t you get to join the order after countless killings?"

Valerian shook his head and said, "I have only ever killed four people for personal reasons, and the rest were soldiers I faced to protect the innocent civilians. Do not go labeling me as someone who is bloodthirsty."

Haista was surprised and asked, "You were in the military? Let me guess, western continent?"

Valerian nodded and said, "Do not overthink now, Commander. Somethings are best undiscovered."

The old man took the hint and gazed at Valerian again. He could not help but imagine what the true identity of this guy could be. They arrived at the place, and Valerian waved his hand to undo the magic circle. Valerie rushed over to him and jumped in his arms as she cried.

Valerian did not stop her and patted his back gently. He looked to the side and found Olivis being healed by the healers of the knighthood. He walked over to check on Anne and found her mane ruffled up.

He patted her head and cast a big healing spell on her. The physical trauma she must have suffered was cured. Valerian looked at Olivis and found that the dryad almost died. He was torn apart from the abdomen.

He sighed and cast a wooden spell. The people did not have a wooden attribute spell. It was one of the rarest elements among the mages. Valerian did not mind the surprising eyes but channeled the much-needed life force to Olivis.

The dryad improved, and his torso was reattached. Valerian said, "Thank you for your help."

Olivis shook his head and said, "It was just my duty."

Valerian asked, "What was it that made you this miserable? I doubt it was some human attack."

Olivis shook his head and said, "Look inside the magic pouch of these people. They are loaded with artifacts. The one they used against me was an orb of magma. It can spit out a blade made of pure magma. That is why I was hurt like this."

Valerian frowned his brows, and Haista said, "The magic pouches have been gathered. We shall check them once we have arrived at the safe place."

The people nodded, and Haista said, "Your grace, please allow us to show our gratitude. Stay at our place as a guest until you heal properly."

Olivis was surprised and did not know what to do with the courtesy extended by this human. Valerian looked at his widened eyes and said, "What are you even thinking about, you big tree stump? Shall I call on Her Excellency Boo-too?"

Olivis shivered and said, "Brat, you cannot wait to gloat, can you? Humph, fine I accept, but I stay in a garden."

Haista nodded and said, "As you wish."

Then a few guards held Olivis up, and Valerian cast a vine spell around his waist. Olivis glared, and Valerian said, "Stop glaring with those beads. It will keep you from falling apart."

...

The crowd moved back to the settlement. Gwen and the rest of the people have freed the captured children and consoled them all. Valerian asked, "Commander, what will happen to these children?"

The old man said, "They will be sent to the temples, and after they have all healed from the aftereffects, they will be sent back to their homes."

Valerian nodded and said, "A few miles south of this place is a small settlement. I promised those people to find their children and send them back. I wonder if you can help me with this."

Haista nodded and said, "The word of a knight ought to be kept even if the price is life."

Valerian nodded and walked to the side. The child in his arms was still sobbing, and his heart was being stabbed. He consoled the little girl calmly and told her she should stay strong.

Valerie was tired and scared. All this led her to fall asleep in Valerian’s arms. At this moment, Calor approached him and said, "That lady, who is she?"

Valerian shook his head and said, "I do not know. Why do you ask?"

Calor said, "She almost fled by drawing a magic circle on the ground with her feet."

Valerian sneered and said, "Not so surprising if the people call you the witch of the East."

Calor sensed his pupils constrict. He asked, "Those infamous three?"

Valerian asked, "Can you tell me what you know of these three?"

Calor nodded and said, "The infamous three, or the witches of the eastern continent, are the members of the second circle of the Gladius Empire."

Valerian nodded while patting Valerie’s back, and the elder knight continued, "They are three sisters adopted by Immortuos’s father. So, the tyrant is their young brother. However, they could not inherit the throne due to no blood relation. It was said that these three have never been spotted away from each other. And the princess of Gladius, Leana Tyrant."

The young man asked, "What about her?"

Calor shook his head and said, "It is nothing, she was a pampered child, and she has been cared for by the three sisters. I heard that when Greta Mage Divinus fell, the dragons managed to capture and imprison her."

Valerian shook his head and said, "You are slow with your news."

Calor asked, "What do you mean?"

The young man said, "I will tell you when we reach the headquarters. Make sure that the witch is knocked unconscious."

Calor nodded and went on to arrange things. Haista arranged for Gwen and another small group to deliver the children to their settlement. The rest were sent away to the various temples and will be relocated after treatment.

Valerian rode Anne with Valerie in his arms. He looked at the settlement behind him and said, "The place that manifests evil should not exist within the natural surroundings."

Then he cast a wood magic spell. The entire valley was covered with flowers and pods. Olivis watched the sight from the sky and mumbled, "Natura."

Haista nodded. They shared the ride, and the old man asked, "I wonder how he does it."

Olivis said, "You people ignore details. He can do it because he has the blessing of nature."

Haista looked at him in askance and said, "Those who have had the honor of meeting the goddess, they have all been blessed. His blessing helps him use the spells more easily and effectively."

The old Commander asked, "I wonder if all his elements are enhanced now?"

Olivis nodded and said, "They are, and just between us, this child can use all seven of them."

Haista opened his eyes wide for a bit and then said, "Despite knowing all this, I am still surprised every time."

Olivis nodded and thought, ’Wait till you find out more.’

...

It took Valerian an entire day to ride Anne to the said headquarter and he waltzed inside the place with Valerie in his arms. He did not rush to go and visit the Witch but first tended to the little girl and ensured that she was tucked in properly. She was mentally tired and needed some more rest to recover.

The young man asked around about the prison and came to the place where Calor and a few senior knights were watching Haista talking with the witch. However, from what it seemed like, the woman did not give the old man any face.

As soon as Valerian arrived, her eyes were locked on his face. The young man also did not hide and walked up close to her. The woman smiled and said, "Are you enjoying your time here? It will not last long."

Valerian slapped her face and used proper strength to disfigure her. The people were surprised and the boy said, "Commander, I set up some detection boundary spells around the place. Two of them set off. We have two enemies approaching. I wonder if you want to prepare for a home-ground battle."

Haista nodded and said, "A boundary spell of ours also went off. Let us prepare."

The young monk nodded, took out a knife, and said, "You know why I am after you and your band of people? Because that master of yours, that ungrateful cynical piece of shit, Immourtous Tyrant killed my parents."

The crowd was shocked by this sudden confession and Valerian went on to say, "That whore you called sister, Leana. She was murdered by me too. I sent her body to your brother, I caught two of your kinsmen. I will erase your brother’s existence from this world."

The witch opened her mouth and was about to say something when Valerian grabbed her tongue and cut it off. He said, "I would like this news to stay a secret a few more days."