More days had passed and before Risa knew it, a month had already gone by. Her days were uneventful by the standards of the residents of that world if she was to ask Jehan about it. The majority of what she kept on doing was learning potion making and harvesting herbs, doing household chores, and conversing with Qilrun and Frindall during her free time.
Even with that, she could tell that a strange feeling only made her feel uneasy the whole time. She was unsure where that feeling came from. But it seemed that the seal in her magic began to weaken.
Of course, it was what the dragons told her one time when Jehan left for the capital and she was left alone in the Master Mage's house.
'Whatever is it that bothers you, my lady?'
Risa heaved a heavy sigh before looking up to face Frindall that was beside her when she decided to sit in the open field and watch the birds flying in the clear blue sky. Her hand was placed on the female dragon's foot so that she'd be able to hear what it wanted to say to her.
"How are you sure that the seal on the magic inside me is starting to weaken? Honestly, just the thought of what it can truly do to me once the seal is broken is enough to scare me out."
'Us dragons were given a gift of sharp senses when it comes to magic and other energy presence a long time ago by the gods that created this continent. Even after thousands of years, we can still sense such energies residing within a person. That is how we were able to realize that you're starting to release your ability as a dragon listener even when you're still trying your best to recover from the wounds you sustained.'
"No matter which world, I guess dragons are truly magnificent creatures in their rights."
She heard Frindall chuckle that only made her smile. It was in times like this that Risa felt she found amazing friends in a foreign land such as the Kingdom of Revia. Even though she hadn't come out of the Hareskoven Forest all the while she was there, she didn't need to go out and explore the outside world, as she'd like to call it.
"By the way, where is Qilrun? I haven't seen him all morning since Jehan left," Risa asked and looked up to face Frindall.
But the dragon didn't utter anything in her mind. Its head was turned in a certain direction with narrowed eyes. At least, Risa could tell that even from her position. She then started feeling her heart pound fast as she eyed the direction that the dragon was looking.
At that point, her eyes widened at the sight of Qilrun emitting blue fire toward a group of dark dog-like creatures she had never seen before.
"What the heck is that?" Risa stood up and tried to get near the scene. But she stopped when a big shadow flew overhead and soon saw Frindall land in front of her.
It looked like the dragon jumped to stop Risa in her tracks.
'Stay here. But it would be best if you head back to the house to keep you safe.'
Risa's hold on Frindall tightened after hearing that in her mind. But she knew that the dragon was right. She would only be a hindrance if she insisted on approaching the scene, even if it was for the sake of checking the situation. She looked up to face Frindall and nodded.
"Be careful."
With that, she ran toward the house as fast as she could. She paid no mind to the strong pounding of her heart. But before she could even reach the shrubs where she knew the barrier was erected, she screamed as soon as she saw a dark fire beam striking the barrier.
Though it didn't destroy the barrier, Risa was too frozen and scared to even continue moving to reach the house.
"What was that?" Her hands holding her head were quivering and she didn't know what to do next.
It took a while before she was able to gather her wits and look behind her. Her eyes widened upon seeing Frindall fire a purple beam toward another group of those dog-like creatures. They could have been the ones who tried to stop her from reaching the house. But for what reason?
Frindall's roar resonated loudly and interrupted Risa's thoughts. Both dragons continued to fight those creatures and fend them off. Even in her scared state, she was still astounded at seeing the gallant way the dragons were fighting. But she had to get out of there and not get in the way of the dragons dealing with the situation.
"What is going on here?"
Risa turned to the source of that voice, only to frown upon seeing a long-haired man on a black horse behind her. If she was to base it on his clothes, it looked like this man was a noble.
"Who are you?"
But the man didn't answer her. Instead, he dismounted from the horse and drew his sword from its sheath. Of course, seeing it did make her heart pound again. Only this time, she knew it wasn't aimed at her.
"I'll take them from here. You're trying to get inside the barrier, right?"
Though confused as to how he knew that, Risa nodded. "I don't know why, but it seems that those creatures tried to stop me earlier from reaching the barrier."
The man clucked his tongue and looked in the direction where the two dragons were fighting. "That means you could be their target."
"What?" But why would they target Risa?
"Get inside. Don't come out until I tell you so. Okay?"
She had no idea why would this man help her. But she didn't want to think about it at the moment. What she had to prioritize was her safety. She'd gather answers later after the fight.
After taking a heavy sigh, Risa dashed toward the barrier. A few more steps and she would reach it. But the heat that she felt behind her slowly grew hotter, making her stop running once again and turn around.
"Miss!"
Her eyes widened at the sight of the approaching beam of dark flame shot toward her. She could run faster, but the fire beam would still pass her or shoot her even before she reached the barrier.
"NO!"
Risa could only close her eyes tight as she screamed that. All she heard was an explosive sound followed by a strong gust of wind that nearly threw her but she still held her ground. She had no idea what was happening as she could still feel the gust of wind.
But the roar of the two dragons cut her from thinking anymore and she opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes widened once more at the sight that greeted her.
"What in the world?"
What was with the tornado blocking the fire beam attacks that the dog-like creatures cast toward her? It was a steady tornado that appeared to be... shielding her.
"W-what happened?" Risa could only ask herself as she looked at the still twisting tornado in front of her.
As if taking the situation as an opportunity, both Qilrun and Frindall emitted their respective fire attacks toward the group of dark dog-like creatures trying to get past the tornado. It wasn't long before the remaining creatures turned to ashes and stopped attacking Risa.
It was then that she sighed in relief and collapsed to her knees. The stranger approached her in a hurry.
"Are you alright, Miss? Are you hurt?"
But Risa's ragged breathing answered as she was still trying to take everything that had happened just a while back.
"What was with those creatures, anyway? Why would they attack me, if what you said to me was true?"
Despite her desperate attempt to find answers, the young man shook his head and looked at him in concern. "I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that, Miss. But I'm glad that you're not hurt."
The man helped her stand up around the same time the two dragons landed on the open field filled with ashes and leaned toward Risa who ran to reach them.
"Qilrun! Frindall! You're not hurt, are you?"
As soon as she touched the two dragons, she got her answers.
'We are the ones who should be asking that to you, my lady,' Qilrun said that only made her smile.
"I guess I managed to escape their fire attacks, even though I have no idea how."
'That tornado was a spell that came from you,' Frindall responded which made her frown this time.
"What do you mean it came from me? Are you telling me that I cast it?" But that was impossible, right? She didn't even know how to cast such a spell, even though there was a magical energy in her.
"You did. But it seems you did it subconsciously."
Risa frowned as she heard another voice that doesn't belong to the man who arrived earlier. When she turned around, a young man wearing a royal blue hooded cape arrived on a horseback, riding a black horse.
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