A dazzling sun suddenly appeared in the darkened sky. Leo waved his hand at the five shining magic circles, causing the growing white ball of light to fall from the sky like an asteroid burning up in the atmosphere.
It emitted such a blinding glow as it slowly descended, it erased the shadows of the monsters swarming the air and land. The entire Field was whited out, and even a person standing one foot away vanished from sight.
Aki clung to Elias’s arms, which covered her body to protect her from the flash, and she squinted through the small gap between them.
She saw Leo’s side profile right in front of her, his eyes glowing even brighter than the flood of light centering on him. Hair whisked back by the gust of power blowing off the ball of light, he raised his hands to the sky as if summoning rain.
“O light that rules the heavens and earth, I am the one who listens to your plight with the power entrusted to these two hands.”
Is that an incantation…?
“…Oh my Goddess, he’s using that incantation…?!” one of the Mages nearby cried out in awe.
“I didn’t think anyone alive could cast it…!”
Leo’s lips curved into a proud smile as surprise spread through the Adventurers. Mina once told Aki that a Lunar Magic spell’s strength was determined by how brightly the caster shined during the incantation.
I can barely keep my eyes open, it’s so bright! Leo’s spell is that strong!
Face brimming with confidence, Leo raised his right hand toward the artificial sun and swept it down toward the ground.
“Burn away the impurities, Goddess’s Judgment!” He uttered the last word of the spell as if his voice commanded all the magic in the world, “Descend!”
Just as his imposing voice echoed through the Field, the ball of light that outshone the sun burst as though someone shot off fireworks. Innumerable arrows of light rained down like stair-rods.
W-Wow!
Aki watched the beautiful light show with her hand resting on Elias’s arm.
Curiously enough, the arrows accurately targeted only monsters and seemed to move around the humans as though they had a mind of their own.
Was there not even time for the monsters to shriek in agony? The moment they were struck by the light, they turned to charcoal as if burned by a fire, instantly turning to ash that was carried off by the wind.
The arrow downpour quickly dispelled the monsters, and the sky gradually cleared as if a storm had passed. Flowers glittered in the sunlight falling from the clear sky, and the shimmering remnants of the spell danced like fog, creating a fantastic scene.
Leo stared at the last vestiges of the hailing light with his lips pressed into a hard line and his jaw locked. With such a strong spell active, he couldn’t let his thoughts wander or become distracted for even a second.
Everyone present gaped as if they were witnessing a miracle in the works when at last the shining mist vanished.
True silence had returned to the Field that was now clear of monsters, and the plains outside the gate were so calm it felt surreal.
“H-Hell yeah….!” someone whooped, starting a wave of excited victory poses and cheers.
“We did it!”
“We won!”
“AWESOME!”
Guards and Adventurers alike hugged, high-fived, and celebrated in various ways as tension gave way to excitement.
Surrounded by their enthusiasm, it finally dawned on Aki that they had protected the city from hundreds, if not thousands, of monsters.
We did it! We did it! She was moved to tears.
“You did good holding them off, Aki.” Elias placed his big hand on her head. She looked up—his dazzling smile was within touching distance. It was almost as if they had gone back to the days before the trouble at the ruins.
Aki roughly rubbed the tears from her eyes and hugged him tightly. “Thank you. Thank you so much for coming, Elias…!”
“…Anytime. Actually, I’m the one who should be saying thank you. I said such horrible things to you, but you still believed in me and worked as my Right-hand. Thank you.” Elias scratched his cheek with an expression that was both apologetic and bashful.
Aki closed her eyes and softly shook her head.
She was hurt by what he said that morning, but after thinking about it calmly, that was him sharing his true, unfiltered feelings with her.
She was happy he confided in her without pretense. After all, she knew he only shed his Hero persona and let out his weaker human side with a select few people he trusted.
They shared a small smile as if to make up for all the hurt of that morning. Then Aki let go of Elias and turned toward Leo.
Leo had helped them out a lot—again. Without him, Elias might not have recovered from his depression or been able to work up the nerve to face Aki. And most of all, his magic had instantly cleared the Field of danger.
“Leo! Thank—”
Leo pivoted forward as she was trying to thank him.
“Leo!”
She wasn’t sure if it was her or Elias who called his name first. Aki dashed over and supported Leo from below before he could hit the ground. Elias also put his arm around Leo’s opposite shoulder to hold him up.
“…Sorry, Elias, Aki…” Leo muttered, exhausted, as he leaned on Elias. He pressed his eyes shut for a few moments before partially opening them and glancing around as if he couldn’t focus.
Aki placed one hand on his back and one on his chest to better support him on her side as she shook her head. “Don’t apologize! You were awesome, Leo! I’ve never seen more beautiful magic in my life…!”
Wrapped in a veil of light, Leo had looked like an angel sent to earth to take on the Dark Lord.
Leo peered down at her face and grinned like a rogue. “Just how awesome was I, Aki?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You were so awesome, I couldn’t take my eyes off you!”
Leo is so cool, kind, and strong. He always looks out for us.
“Thank you for everything,” she said in a teary voice.
He placed his free hand on her head and tousled her hair.