“We’re a traveling sorcerer and mercenary.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Has... something happened?”
The lead soldier looked us over with an appraising eye. “A sorcerer... A magician, you mean?” His grim expression eased slightly.
Apparently the term “sorcerer” wasn’t all that common around here. “More or less,” I replied nevertheless.
“Perfect! Please help us! We’d be so grateful!”
“Give us the deets first.”
“I’ll explain on the way. We must make haste,” the soldier said, already on the move again.
“Sure thing,” I responded and began to follow him.
“I’m Bronco, captain of the guard in this city. Those behind me are my men.”
They look like mostly newbies, I thought, but kept it to myself. “I’m Lina. Lina Inverse. And my companion here is Gourry. We’re kind of on a wayward journey, and you guys look like you’re in some trouble, so we figured we’d see what was up. So, what’s up?”
My question provoked a grave silence from Bronco. “I’m not sure how to put it... It’s complicated. Just come with me. It’s possible you’ll know more about it than I do.”
“Is it serious?”
“I hope I’m wrong, but...” Bronco said, trying to hide his expression but looking rather pale, “it could be the end of Maricida City.”
The moment we saw it, we all came to a halt.
“What in the world is that?” someone whispered numbly, his voice trembling with fear. The sight before him must have been just that shocking to him.
“I don’t know.” Bronco’s response was similarly tremulous. “But... there’s some kind of monster in the area. We can say that much for sure.”
“Say, my grandfather told me a story once...” Another soldier spoke up. “He said that back when he was kid, long before Maricida got so huge, a wicked greater demon appeared and laid into the town. Hundreds of soldiers were sent from the capital to destroy it, and they managed to slay the demon, but half of them perished in the battle and Maricida was nearly destroyed. Do you think... maybe the demon has come back?”
“Don’t be absurd!” Bronco barked. “I’ve heard that old story before! But... there’s no way!”
“Then tell us what, Captain Bronco! What else could have done this?!”
While I listened to their exchange... I was filled with regret.
The soldiers continued. “What else could so effortlessly destroy the bandits who’ve been tormenting us?! And... to scorch the very ground itself? What kind of monster could have done this?!”
I’m really sorry. It was totally me.
The spooked Bronco—sorry, Captain Bronco—and his men had taken me and Gourry down the road between Latka and Maricida where I’d chucked two Fireballs at the poor bandits from yesterday. Needless to say, there were still two large, burnt craters in the ground.
The whole group was quickly abuzz with fearful speculation about the “legendary demon” reviving. Judging by their reactions, I presumed the Fireball spell wasn’t common in these parts. Back in the inner lands, it wasn’t so universal that all sorcerers knew how to cast it, but its name was widely known. It wasn’t unusual to go up against a foe who could use it. Even rank-and-file soldiers and mercs at least knew it was a spell that involved shooting a ball of light that exploded on impact.
“We... We’re finished...” The soldiers slumped to their knees, weeping.
“Lina.” While that was going on, Gourry placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “I think you’d better say it sooner rather than later.”
“You’re right...” I didn’t have a choice. I timidly raised a hand and said, “Listen, I—”
Captain Bronco gasped. “Wait a minute! I knew seeing something like this might make you want to run away! I won’t ask you to fight with us. But please, if you know anything, share it with us!”
“Um, this is kinda hard to say, but...”
“I don’t care! We’re ready for any truth you might reveal to us!”
“Actually... I did this. Me.”
Captain Bronco froze up for a few moments, then muttered, “What?” He was glaring at me. Super hard.
I found myself looking away as I continued, “Er, well, see, um... Yesterday, me and Gourry were out here... and bandits attacked... and I used an attack spell that... y’know... went all ’splodey.”
“Ahh...” As if he’d come to some realization, Captain Bronco’s gaze suddenly softened. “You’re trying to put me at ease. If only everyone could believe such a kind lie... But I have a duty to protect Maricida. Even... Even if we’re dealing with a monster. Even if it’s an unwinnable battle.” He cast a forlorn gaze out over the horizon.
So he’s the kind of guy who needs to see to believe, huh? He’d brought this on himself. I recited the incantation and took aim at a spot a safe distance from the group. “Fireball.”
The whole task force groveled before me.
I’m sorry... Really sorry...
The bar was so loud it probably should’ve gotten complaints from the neighbors. It was so raucous that there was nary a moment without an awkward cackle from some drunkard or other.
After we’d cleared up the whole demonic revival misunderstanding and I made it clear to the town guard that I was responsible for the craters, the men instantly moved to celebrating the bandits’ demise. We’d thus returned to Maricida and begun a drinking-slash-eating party. It wasn’t evening yet—in fact, it wasn’t even lunchtime. But they’d apparently been so run ragged by the bandits that booze was the first order of business.
Captain Bronco called in the rest of his soldiers (security brigade—whatever they were) who were on watch, bringing the total headcount to forty or fifty. There were too many of us to fit inside one building, so half of the guys were drinking out front. I really was worried we were disturbing the peace.
“Well, well! Mistress Lina! Your magics are truly incredible!” Captain Bronco bellowed.
With his helmet off, I could see he had disheveled red hair to match his beard. Years in the business had given him a forbidding gaze, and he was a big, muscular man. In other words, he kinda looked like a ruffian. If I ran into him on the road at night without knowing him, I’d definitely blast him on the spot with an attack spell and whisper to myself, “Whew, close call.”
“‘Fireball,’ you called it?” he continued. “To think a single spell could do so much! Not even the magicians of the capital are capable of that!”
Gourry gnawed on a chicken leg as he listened to Bronco gush. “Is Lina’s magic really that special?”
“You bet it is!” the captain said. “Such powerful magic could— Ah, Master Gourry, I’m sure you’ve gotten used to Mistress Lina’s magic after spending so much time with her, but I’ve never seen such a powerful spell! Normally folks never get to see magic at all unless they know a court magician! I myself only saw it once when I was a young lad, and it was nothing so incredible! They simply turned the horizontal stripes on a handkerchief to vertical ones.”
You call that “magic”?! Let me tell you—I had opinions about that. But at any rate, real magic was apparently quite rare out here in the outer lands. Even Captain Bronco, who made his living on the battlefield, knew next to nothing about it, which told me he’d never fought anyone who could use it.
“Say, you mentioned court sorcere—er, court magicians...” While I waffled over the wording, I asked Captain Bronco, “So if we go to the capital, might we find a sorcerers’ coun—rather, some kind of magical association or school?”
“A magical association or school, eh?” A furrow appeared in Captain Bronco’s brow. “I’ve heard of no such thing... but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. There are rumors that the high priests of Ceifeed can call upon divine miracles, but that’s not exactly an organization or school.”
He was right about that. Maricida had a temple to Ceifeed, which I’d visited the day before, but the priests and shrine maidens there couldn’t use any spells. Where I came from, most priests learned a basic Recovery spell as an easy way to grant blessings. I’d just assumed the churches here rolled differently, but it turned out there was more to it than that.
“Hmm... Could you tell us the way to the capital, then, Captain Bronco?” I asked.
“Absolutely! I’ll give you a simple map to Palbathos. Oh, and speaking of, I have an acquaintance in the guard there. I’ll write you a letter of introduction!”
That sounded great, and I was certainly grateful... but Gourry and I still didn’t have any leads on getting home.
What would I learn in this capital of theirs? Fighting back the anxieties in my chest, I decided to take this night to make small talk with Captain Bronco’s crew and enjoy all kinds of unknown foods.