nagpurpolice Chapter 422: Special Bloodline (3)
Chapter 422: Special Bloodline (3)
Chapter 422 - Special Bloodline (3)
Skiing demanded a remarkable amount of stamina.
Aspiring magic warriors were naturally accustomed to consistent physical training, so they generally had excellent endurance.
Spending the entire afternoon skiing from lunchtime until dusk wasn't out of the ordinary for them.
Swoosh!
Flame slid smoothly down the slope on her snowboard, leaping off a hill.
Her short black hair fluttered, and snowflakes scattered in every direction.
Whooosh...!!!
The rush of cold wind whistled past her.
For a moment, she felt as if she were weightless and a tingling sensation ran down her spine.
It was the kind of heart-pounding thrill only experienced by advanced skiers.
Nicknamed the 'Dragon Course,' this elite track was designed for experts, complete with ski and snowboard jumps. Its exhilarating challenges were the envy of many.
While her friends stuck to beginner and intermediate courses, Flame had ventured alone to the advanced track.
She felt a slight pang of guilt about leaving them behind, but considering she had spent the entire afternoon helping them on beginner courses, she figured it was finally time to have some fun herself.
"Hooh, I'm exhausted. I wonder how the others are doing..."
The last she saw of them was about forty minutes ago when they confidently declared they were ready for the advanced course.
Since then, there hasn't been a word.
She sometimes wished for a smartphone at moments like this, but there was no real need for concern. They had already arranged to meet at the lodge by 7 PM.
They weren't children, and worrying about Stella Academy students at a ski resort was ridiculous.
Although she still felt physically fine, fatigue was starting to creep in.
Flame decided to head to the lodge located at the top of the advanced course.
The interior was surprisingly spacious and styled like a café. The warm fireplace made it the perfect resting spot for those worn out from skiing.
After ordering a hot coffee, she quietly settled into a corner to rest.
That's when she felt someone's gaze.
'Is it her?'
'Yeah, I saw her earlier. She's pretty.'
'Isn't she a high schooler?'
'Who cares?'
By focusing her mana on her hearing, Flame managed to pick up bits of their conversation.
Although she wasn't a Knight Mage—specialized in enhanced senses—just hearing those few lines made their intentions painfully obvious.
Deciding it wasn't worth the trouble, she chose to ignore them.
As expected, one of them, likely in his early twenties, strolled over with a self-assured air.
"Hey, I couldn't help but notice you earlier. Looks like fate brought us together again."
Flame quickly scanned him from head to toe.
Faded blond hair, slightly tanned skin, rainbow-colored goggles that seemed impossible to see through, and a mismatched ski outfit with red and blue colors clashing terribly.
'Bleached blond, tanned, and a punk?'
She never expected to encounter someone like that here.
Whether in her past life or present, Flame had never been fond of being hit on.
Her expression soured.
"Yes? What do you want?"
"Were you surprised because I suddenly talked to you? No need to be nervous. Someone like you must get hit on a lot, right?"
"Yeah. About seven times before you showed up. All of them were taller and better-looking than you."
"Haha... Is that so?"
The punk's smile faltered, twisting ever so slightly.
Flame wasn't exaggerating. While skiing earlier, several men had approached her. She turned them all down, saying she wanted to ski in peace. However, since she was now resting in the lodge, she couldn't use that excuse anymore.
"If you get it now, why don't you just leave? I'm exhausted."
"Ah... But that's not what I meant. I'm different from those other guys. Can't you tell? I may not have the best looks, but I know how to have fun."
"Oh, really? How old are you?"
"Huh? I'm twenty."
"I'm still in high school. Maybe you should think about that."
"Come on, it's just a year or two. Besides, I'm sure I'm better than your school friends."
"Better in what way?"
"I'm an adult."
"An adult, huh... So what exactly makes you different from students like us?"
Hearing that, the punk's face lit up, as though he had finally found an opening.
"I graduated as an apprentice from the Gordon Magic Tower. I'm even about to get my Class 2 Mage Certification soon! Isn't that much better than hanging out with high school students?"
Despite his bragging, Flame's expression remained unchanged, making him scramble to add more.
"You know the Gordon Magic Tower, right? The one led by Mage Gordon? It's super famous."
"Never heard of it."
"Wait, seriously? You probably don't know because you're not a mage, but it's where one of the seven re
"It's just... She's already popular enough. I doubt she'd want even more attention here."
"Hmm, I see..."
The man stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought, before his expression softened again. With his eyes half-closed, he flashed a faint smile.
"I understand. You Stella students really do look out for each other."
"... What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing in particular. I'll just go find her myself."
With that, the man turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
"What the...?"
Even after he disappeared, an icy sensation lingered at the back of Flame's neck.
'Something's not right.'
The man gave off an unsettling vibe.
'I need to warn the others...'
Just then, a low rumble echoed in the distance.
... Boom!
"Kyaaah!"
"What was that? An earthquake?"
"A landslide?!"
The ground trembled beneath their feet, sending people stumbling as panic rippled through the lodge.
Though brief, the tremor felt disturbingly close.
"No way...!"
Flame's face went pale. Without hesitation, she bolted for the exit.
Her heavy snowboarding boots dragged against the ground, slowing her down and adding to her sense of urgency.
"Oh my god, what's happening over there?"
"I don't know... But isn't that the advanced course?"
Outside, a restless crowd had gathered, murmuring anxiously. All eyes were fixed on the advanced course.
'Advanced course? My friends shouldn't be there...'
For a moment, Flame almost let out a sigh of relief. Until she suddenly remembered what they had said earlier.
"... Didn't they say they were heading to the advanced course?"
There was no mistaking it.
Her friends were naturally athletic and had picked up skiing with surprising ease. Fueled by excitement, they had been eager to test themselves on the advanced course.
Boom...!!!
Before she could fully process the thought, another tremor rumbled from the direction of the course.
A massive blade of ice erupted into the sky, solidifying her growing sense of dread.
'Eisel's magic...!'
Magic of that scale was strictly prohibited in areas where civilians were present. It could only mean something had gone wrong, forcing Eisel to use it.
Flame had to get to the advanced course—and fast.
But there was a problem. She was currently at the expert course, which was located on a completely separate peak from the advanced course.
To reach it, she would need to snowboard all the way down, then wait in line for the lift, and ride back up.
Given the chaos caused by the tremors, the lift lines were bound to be long, and any delays could cost precious time.
"... Hey, Chicken. Are you listening?"
— Yes, Flame. We can always hear you when you call.
"I need to borrow your wings for a bit."
— As much as you need.
Flap...!
A pair of brilliant golden wings unfolded from Flame's back, shimmering with radiant light.
As she shot into the sky, shimmering feathers of light trailed in her wake, leaving the crowd below frozen in awe.
"Wait. Isn't that the girl from the newspapers...?"
"Yeah! Doesn't her face look familiar?"
"Isn't she that mage—Flame?"
The whispers grew louder, but Flame wasn't paying attention.
'Damn it! Why is this happening?!'
She had just wanted to enjoy a relaxing day of leisure sports with her friends and maybe surprise Eisel with a small gift.
And yet, even such simple, peaceful moments seemed impossible for her.
Her golden wings cut through the icy air as she soared straight toward the advanced course.
When she arrived, she found Eisel standing amid a chaotic battlefield, just finishing off two medium-size monsters with massive spears of ice.
"Eisel! Are you okay?!"
"Huh? Flame! I'm fine!"
Eisel greeted her with a cheerful smile, casually waving her staff.
'Thank goodness...'
Flame exhaled, her shoulders loosening ever so slightly.
Nearby, a group of civilians huddled together, their faces pale and drawn with fear. But in front of them, her friends stood firm, gripping their staffs tightly as they maintained control over the situation.
"Was it a monster attack?"
"Yes. But it's no big deal. We just happened to be here, though it's pretty unlucky for the monsters."
"... Lucky for the people, at least."
What were the chances of monsters attacking a ski resort?
Fortunately, with Stella Academy cadets present, the situation was resolved without casualties.
The civilians, though still shaken, visibly relaxed after witnessing the monsters being taken down. Some even let out quiet cheers.
'Yeah, it's nothing serious. Something like this could happen anywhere...'
"... So it was you after all."
***
A voice echoed from behind, sharp enough to send a jolt through her body. Flame spun around, her staff already raised and pointed.
"You...!"
It was that man.
His casual, almost clumsy demeanor was gone. Now, he stood stiff, his narrowed eyes radiating a cold fury.
"Why did you lie? Because of you, I almost hurt innocent people."
"What...? What are you—"
"It doesn't matter anymore."
He flipped through the pages of a book he held in one hand. After seemingly confirming something, he snapped it shut with a loud thud and made it disappear into thin air.
'Spatial storage...?'
Flame's heart sank.
Only rare individuals like Baek Yu-Seol could use spatial magic... it wasn't something just anyone could do.
"Who... are you?"
"Who am I...? We live in times where that question has become meaningless."
The man tossed aside his glasses and opened his eyes wide.
And then—
Flame froze.
The moment their eyes met, her breath stopped.
His pupils were slit vertically, sharp and narrow—like a cat's.
An uncontrollable chill shot down her spine.
"I am Alpha of Angelus. The last descendant... of the Angel Hunters."
With those words, he raised his hand and pointed a finger directly at Flame's heart.
'Danger—!'
Her instincts screamed at her. She twisted her body even before she could activate a shield—
Slash—!!!
Her left wing was ripped apart.
Shredded feathers scattered through the air as pain seared through her back.
'What...?'
It had happened too fast.
Even as her body plummeted toward the ground, Flame couldn't comprehend what had just hit her—or how.