Chapter 10
At this moment, Xerath asked him to bring out a defense crystal from the study, and she extended her left hand, saying, "‘Burning flame tongue!’"
The commotion from the fire element made the little one on the couch excitedly yell. Xerath didn't have time to deal with her right now. The flame tongue burst out from her fingertips and sprayed onto the ground, turning the heated stone into a semi-molten state. She somehow took out a delicate dagger, writing intricate patterns on the semi-molten stone. Sylas curiously ran over. Xerath was prepared to cast a defensive spell before Sylas caused any trouble—the spell was in her hand after all. However, Sylas just quietly watched beside her, watching as she carved a circle of patterns on the edge of the living room floor.
When she finished, Sylas clapped beside her and exclaimed, "Absolutely splendid!"—a very elegant and difficult word that would rarely be heard from a rustic country bumpkin. Xerath turned around, bowed slightly, and replied, "It's an honor."
The deep blue gentleman happened to bring back Xerath's robe, and the ground was still emitting heat, making a "sizzling" sound as he passed by the doorway. He didn't ask much, but assisted Xerath in hanging a small crystal from the chandelier.
After finishing her work, Xerath declared, "Okay, this is absolutely safe, unless she can fill the crystal." She put on her wizard's robe and tidied up her appearance carefully.
Not long after breakfast, Xerath heard someone knocking on the door. She went outside and it turned out to be Virgil. Virgil pulled her aside and said, "Xerath, as a Demon Hunter, there's something I have to remind you about."
"What is it?"
"Sylas - your little wild creature - is a demon beast. There's a mark on her collarbone, don't forget that."
Xerath asked confusedly, "So?"
"So, I think you shouldn't be too gentle with her. When necessary, you should enforce the contract. It will have a very good effect, I promise."
"Why? I believe she's still a human being, and humans - should be equal, right?"
Virgil interrupted her impatiently, "I'm not here to debate whether humans are equal or not. Human nature, animal nature, beast nature - they all have something in common. If you attack her, treat her well, and make her understand that you are her master, she will be grateful to you. No animal is an exception."
Xerath used to scoff at these things, but seeing Virgil's serious attitude, she changed her tune. "Okay, thank you for your advice. I will consider it seriously."
"If you need anything, tell Hyectra, okay? I hope you won't get too bored staying here." Before pushing the door, she reminded, but she looked inside and let out a quiet cry of surprise, quickly running inside.
"Xerath! Xerath, can I come in?" Xerath ignored him, so he couldn't help but stick out half of his head from the side of the door, and the cold wind with sand blew in.
Sylas pushed open the door and ran outside, disregarding everything. Xerath rushed over and unexpectedly leaped over the sofa in front of them. It was unimaginable for a mage.
Virgil whistled, "Pretty cool!"
"Thank you!" She didn't have time to argue with Virgil. Sylas noticed her following and shouted on the windy terrace.
Xerath finally understood what she was shouting. It was a few simple roots in the ancient Saiti language, "wind," "rise," "fast."
Her arm waved, and the lively wind element obeyed her call. With her help, it not only broke through the wind barrier surrounding Aimekotes, but also gathered into a powerful force rushing towards Xerath. Her robe became the biggest obstacle at this moment. The strong wind blew up the large robe, blocking her vision, so she could only use wind blades, using magic to create a vacuum around herself. Sylas's air cannon collided with the vacuum, causing chaotic air currents and loud noises. The wind blew the sand so hard that Xerath couldn't open her eyes and had sand in her mouth while reciting spells.
In the gaps of the swirling robe, she saw more wind elements running wildly in the air, all following Sylas's encouragement, squeezing towards her. Her speed in writing in the air gradually couldn't keep up with Sylas's extremely simple, almost non-existent incantation.
Damn it, Xerath thought, if she died here, it would be difficult to determine if it was an accidental death or murder.
"Xerath! Move aside!" shouted Virgil. Upon hearing this, Xerath stepped aside from the door, and Virgil's arrow flew out precisely towards Sylas, but it was immediately swept away by a strong gust of wind.
"Uh…" Virgil hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran outside to pull Xerath in. However, Xerath broke free.
"No! She's going to jump!" Sylas stumbled towards the edge of the terrace. Instead of returning indoors, Xerath followed her towards the edge.
"What in the world! You're crazy!" Virgil was extremely surprised. The frail mage had actually broken free from his grip. He took a step outside to chase after her, but immediately retreated and held onto the door frame. The wind was too strong for him to resist. No wonder the arrow had been carried away. These two magical beings could only withstand the raging elements with their magic.
"Xerath! Use the contract!"
Xerath trembled and immediately shouted, "Sylas! I command you!"
Sylas's small body stiffened and she suddenly clutched her neck.
"I command you to kneel!"
The thin figure seemed like she was about to kneel down, but she resisted with her last bit of strength. Xerath thought this must be a difficult situation for Sylas, but she couldn't let her die or escape. She couldn't let her thousand gold coins and research paper go to waste.
Sylas held on tightly. She covered the burn mark on her collarbone with one hand, and grasped the railing of the terrace with the other - even though it wasn't high, the wind was almost blowing her off.
"I command you, kneel!" Xerath repeated loudly, she hadn't shouted so loudly in a long time, to the point where her voice cracked.
Sylas's thin arm, gripping the edge of the terrace, showed visible strained tendons. But she was getting weaker and wobbling. Xerath ungracefully wiped the sand that had spurted from her mouth, and with both hands, she wrote something in the air. A small wind barrier formed around her, temporarily keeping the wild wind element at bay. Sylas knelt on the ground, covering the burn mark on her collarbone, and looked up at her with a fierce expression.
The howling sound was kept outside. Xerath's voice came through easily.
"Good child, it's too dangerous outside, come back with me."
Sylas didn't show any response, while Xerath slowly approached her. After a few steps, Sylas suddenly rushed forward. Without thinking, Xerath opened her palm, causing a cloud of dust to rise around her. Sylas was instantly thrown to the ground. Xerath continued walking, hands writing in the air. Sylas's body quickly floated up and was soon bound by a small tornado.
Xerath asked softly, "If you fall, you will die. Even if you don't die, you won't be able to leave this desert alive. Why do you still want to escape?"
Sylas sobbed helplessly. However, all the wind elements in the wind barrier orderly gathered around Xerath, ignoring her. This made Sylas feel extremely frustrated. She had bravely run out, not fearing the Water Lord or the Fire Lord, but only this weak woman, with her supreme authority, had rendered Sylas utterly defenseless.
"Virgil."
"Yes, I avoided it! I went downstairs! I just wandered around myself!"
"He's so conscientious today…" Xerath whispered to the gentleman in the deep blue who was tidying up the room, while holding Sylas.
Hyectra replied softly, "I think he just ran away."
He glanced back at Xerath and said, "My lady, you look really disheveled today."
