The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 46: Hello I’m Nina Clarword

Chapter 46: Hello I’m Nina Clarword

The one who I named Rhino launched a blast of fire which I waved away with a swipe of my hand.

Rhino shrugged, gave up that approach and rushed in close quarters.

Green bullets curved around me like snakes, sometimes they tried to contain me, other times to kill me. While on top of all that, the jumping bullshit of their commander was really getting on my nerves.

I thought teleporting was supposed to be difficult and expensive! 

 (“ It is, he is just a cheater and a min-maxer so not much you can do about that”)

Thanks for the help!

I was still using [Furious Flame] for disruption but I was dealing with the goons more directly now as well. Slicing, burning, and tearing them apart whenever one neared the crack or when I felt the opportunity was right to snipe a few on the ground.

My Mana and Starlight were lower and I already used more shots from my canon. 

I wasn’t worried about losing, but the combination of Rhino, the Sniper and the Commander was a devastating one that kept me on my toes. But I had a feeling that the Commander was still keeping cards close to his chest. Lucky for me, so was I.

Espr suddenly spoke up again with a warning.

 (“ Energy fluctuation have begun to stir ”)

Where?

 (“ I think you have a good idea ”)

Oh? A hidden smile emerged under my helmet.

They were on the outskirts of the city, medium two-story buildings sat still along the stone paved pathway but on the other side of the pathway were fields of grass and benches where families could sit back and relax. However, only a few people were in this part of the city today as the major festivities were happening on the other side of town.

Oh god, this can’t be happening… Lila internally screamed. She was now wearing her combat gear that she pulled out of her storage skill, she was hiding just out of sight when everything happened.

She didn’t really know what to think.

Everything just happened.

Nina Clarwood showed up, in the worst spot she could’ve ever chosen.

Right next to the Stella family.

“Hello,” The lady wearing a green dress bowed. Her blond hair was tied up into a long ponytail and her green eyes warmly focused on the family in front of her. “I’m Nina Clarword. Do you require any assistance?” 

The interaction was short and sweet, with no fanfare, or spectacle, Nina showed up where an issue needed to be solved. 

“Yes, can you help my daughter…”

“Certainly.”

“Will it hurt?”

“No dear.”

From a distance away, Lila saw Nina tap her staff on the ground.

It was a large two-metre staff, with an intrinsic bark pattern on the pool and at the tip was a  large crest of a silver crescent moon with a smaller pool holding a moon-shaped orb in the centre of the crest.

A warm light engulfed the area, but only Mella was truly blinded for a moment.

She couldn’t see what happened but immediately Mella felt a warmth in the two limbs that she hadn’t felt in such a long time. Weirdly for her, they always felt like they were still there, just cold, turned off, and not real in a way…

“I… can feel them…” Mella’s eyes shot open and she instantly tried to stand up but had difficulties as her left hand couldn’t properly grab the chair's handle and she was unable to put strength in her left leg.

Nina gently grabbed her, sent some magic into her and slowly sat her back down, “It will take a couple of weeks before you can properly use them again, it is always hard for those who have lost their limbs for a while.”

Watching the miracle made Lila start to tear up. Happy at least something was going right.

But then she received a message from her leader, and after that, it was dead silence until… the sky ripped in half. 

To say panic erupted in the city would be an understatement, Lila herself was panicking at the sight, only the terrifying words of her leader broke her out of this state and made her reaffirm what she needed to do. ‘We are coming down now, prepare.’

However, of course, Lila never expected the sky to split and was unsure what the best method of action was.

On the Stella family side, the first to react was Tella.

Tyell had froze, unsure what to do, his mind blanked out and then acting upon instinct he followed the first command spoken by a figure he trusted.

“Get back Tyell, Mella!” Tella yelled, and without really thinking. Tyell grabbed his younger sister off the wheelchair and used his skills to jump away and run.

He eventually made it to the buildings away from Nina when he zoned back into reality to hear Mella’s scream.

“Tyell! Tyell!” 

“Ah! Sorry, I’ll let you down.” He gently placed her down in the alley, but she kept screaming.

“No, it’s not that! Mum, Mum is in danger!”  

A diamond barrier of light covered Nina and Tella as not a moment later a bombardment of attacks came pelting it.

Nina apologised, “Sorry miss, I am unable to move you to a safer position at this time.”

“That’s… okay.” Tella had fallen to the ground, her voice shaky, but she stood up. She gulped, “Let me help you.”

“Miss, that is kind of you but–” Nina paused as small vines grew out of the ground and touched her legs.

Noticing a positive change in her mana without any issue she smiled, “What a rare skill.” Nina nodded, “Impressive.”

“I will take that as a compliment.” Replied the scared Tella who was a little paler.

Nina asked, “Please stop if it puts any strain on you.”

“Understood.”

As the first wave cleared up, Nina Clarword lifted her skirt slightly and curtsied, and she introduced herself. “Nice to meet my uninvited guests, my name is Nina Clarword, can’t say it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nina Clarword's eyes glowed as she examined the five individuals who showed up uninvited. 

“Wherever you come from, someone has done a wonderful job injuring you. I suggest really seeing a doctor or a specialist. Though I wouldn’t recommend coming to me, I don't tend to provide free or cheap services to those attacking me.”

In the distance watching the chaos, Mella begged, “Tyell, we need to do something! Please we got to help Mum.” 

“But you–”

“Aunty is just there, it's fine.” Mella, not wanting to say Lila’s name, called her Aunty, “Please… Idk, we need to do something.” Mella was panicking and still high on her previous emotions, truly not even sure what she was asking for.

But all Tyell could say was, “Your right…” 

Tyell wanted to do something but he didn’t have much he could do.

Name: Tyell Stella | Race: [Human]

Level 64 | Awakened

Mana: 97%

Vocation: [Package Runner]

Skills:

- Pockettory

- Quick Step

- Alert

- Retain Stamina

- Quiet Step

- Quick Hide

- I Belong Here

- Pain Reduction

- Hit & Run

After all, he didn’t own a single true offensive skill.

Dominous Hood attacked the barriers as Nina continued to make multiple, some covered all directions while others were a single plane floating in the air.

Nina launched back some geometric light constructs but Tyell couldn’t really tell how effective they were.

Soon a few more Dominous Hood members appeared. These lots were clearly more injured than the last.

As Tyell was wondering what to do, one Dominous Hood member began firing at the barrier close to where Mella and Tyell were seated.

Maybe… Tyell thought.

Tyell whispered to Mella, “Stay here…” He trusted Lila to keep her safe.

Tyell pulled out a reinforced rod from his [Pockettory], a basic weapon he picked up long ago. He then poured more mana into it, strengthening it.

He slowly stepped forward, using his years of experience to not make much noise before launching forward with [Quiet Step].

The Hood member was unaware as Tyell jumped him from behind wacking him with his rod. 

Ding

The goon groaned and stumbled forward under the force of the impact, but it really didn’t do much.

In retaliation and not really looking at their foe, the Dominous Hood member fired a beam of water at Tyell.

Tyell activated his glove in a panicked response. A shield of light emerged from the glove like a bubble and surrounded him.

The water bolts smashed into the barrier and Tyell felt the bump of the impact but there was no damage and the water faded away.

“Get lost kid, don’t be a hero.” Said the Dominous Hood member as he realised it was just a boy with a stick who attacked him, and he jumped away.

Tyell deactivated the barrier, to save the mana in it the glove.

…Fuck that was scary…

Tyell was now having second thoughts on doing anything, maybe he should just go back to Mella and get further away instead of this vain attempt to save their mum.

The Dominous Hood member launched another attack, however, this one was of course not aimed at Tyell.

After three seconds of charge up, a large spiralling beam of water was headed for Nina tearing apart the ground as it travelled. He felt its power in the air around him tearing it apart.

No Mum! 

But in the way was still Tella–as all Tyell could focus on was her–and she was still determined, standing behind Nina supporting her.

The idea that Nina’s barriers could’ve blocked the attack never came to his mind, as on pure instinct he [Quick Step] into the path of the attack. 

“No!” He raised his hand again, and bet his life on the gift from his sister.

The bubble formed around him once again moments before the beam of water came colliding in. 

Erhh! 

The impact caused the shield to shake.

But it seemed stable… before a small dark light cracked in the centre of the shield.

… Tyell was terrified. 

The bright light on the shield began to crack, however, as it did, it flashed a brighter light and the cracks faded away and the shield withstood the attack.

 (“ Ceella better thank me for this later ”)

An unknown voice spoke in Tyell’s mind and before he even got the chance to question it.

“WHAT’S HAPPENING!” 

Screams erupted all over the city again as those few who had been looking up through the crack witnessed a catastrophe.