An Owl's Rise

Upon hearing that her uncle had killed her father, Meave stopped in place. She had kept the situation under control and suppressed her feelings, but now she could no longer.

Her entire body shuddered in rage, and when she could not take it anymore, she turned around and leapt towards her uncle.

Despite being blinded by Lucia, Morten could sense his niece rapidly approaching him, and smiled as she did. He may have lost, but he would not go out alone.

Being bound and having all of his magic items confiscated there was no way for him to use normal magic. However, there was one last act of defiance open to him.

Building up the energy within his magic core, Morten let it go wild through his body. This was a last resort suicide move that would cause a massive explosion.

Ever since he had been captured this was the moment that Morten had been waiting for. He knew as long as he could goad his niece into attacking him, she would drop her guard and get close enough to where he was certain this final move would take her out along with him. It was only icing on the cake that the mercenaries that had beaten him were in range as well.

"You're all coming to hell with me!" Morten shouted.

He laughed crazily, like his victory was already secured.

Except, the moment before his magic core ruptured and caused a grand explosion, his perspective suddenly changed, and he felt himself flying up into the air at a tremendous speed.

He attempted to halt the process he had already set into motion, but it was too late. Far away from anyone else, Morten exploded high above the sky and lit the area with a bright flash.

'Whew. Can't believe the guy went and blew himself up. I'm glad I was ready to act just in case he tried something.' Evelyn thought, her gaze looking up at the flash of magical energy.

Thanks to her gravity and wind magic, she was able lessen the pull of gravity on Morten's body and shot him up into the air like a ballon before he popped. Had she been any slower or her magic less potent, Morten's suicide attack certainly would have caused no small amount of damage.

It took nearly a half dozen seconds before Maeve and her guards to snap out of their dazes.

"Y-you saved me." Maeve said, staring at Evelyn in astonishment.

She had made what surely should have been a fatal mistake, but the death that should have come for her was easily cast aside by a single mercenary.

Seeing that all eyes were on her, Evelyn bowed her head towards Maeve.

"I was just doing my job. Think nothing of it."

Evelyn was hoping that this display of modesty would be enough to get attention away from her, but everyone's eyes were still on her.

'Um, did I act a bit too rashly. I'm pretty sure I moved quickly enough that no one other than probably Lucia saw what I truly did.' Evelyn thought, breaking into a cold sweat.

She did not have time to cast spells in the way that humans normally did, so it was possible that she had given her true abilities away. Thankfully this was not damning evidence that she was a beast since humans could learn the method to fully control magic as well.

Still, from what she had heard, it was not disclosed to many, and often only learned by those with either a prestigious status or had reached the magi rank.

"Young mistress. I believe that you should return to your carriage now. Things may be safe for the moment, but there is no telling who else might be after you." One of Maeve's handmaidens whispered.

Thanks to her insistence on confronting her uncle she had been put into great danger, and those that were sworn to protect her wanted to get her back into the safety of the magically protected vehicle.

Sighing, Maeve nodded her head, before going back towards her carriage.

Yet, before she got far, she turned back around and addressed Evelyn.

"You again have my thanks for saving me. Would you mind telling me your name?"

Standing like a deer caught in headlights, Evelyn did not respond for an uncomfortably long amount of time.

Eventually she did get herself together and hastily replied to the person that was technically her boss right now.

"It is Evelyn, young mistress."

"There is no need to be so formal. You may call me Maeve. We are both first class citizens of Usturg Federation after all." Maeve said, a friendly smile on her face.

"Now, Evelyn. After what just occurred, I'm a bit concerned for my safety. Would you mind accompanying me back to my carriage?"

Evelyn had to hold herself back from grimacing at this request that was really more of an order.

Of course, she was not the only one, all of the loyal personnel Maeve had brought along were having hide their distress at this turn of events.

Of the seven guards that she had brought from home, three of them were women. If she really wanted someone else to join her in the carriage as security, it would be more logical to ask one of them.

Nevertheless, none of her loyal servants spoke up. They could tell that their mistress was serious and would not be dissuaded.

"As you wish young mis-" Evelyn started to say, but was cut off by a glare from Maeve.

Realizing where Maeve's displeasure was coming from, Evelyn held back a grumble and said, "I would be happy to accompany you, Maeve."

"Yes, that's better. Now follow me. I have a great deal I want to speak with you about." The young mistress of the Taidale family said, a bright smile on her face.

Evelyn could only do as she was asked and walked behind Maeve.

When they reached the carriage the two handmaidens acted swiftly and opened the door.

From the outside it looked like a space completely covered in darkness and even with her impeccable sight Evelyn could not see anything within. This was certainly another of the carriage's protective magic enchantments.

However, as she stepped inside, a lavish space far from what she was expecting opened up before her eyes.

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