The Branded Female Fencer

This is Aerial and Wintier talking. In an earlier conversation, Aerial was visiting Wintier himself because there was a part of Wintier's statement that caught on.

"Wintier, I wanted to ask you about the Spirit Guardian, which came out of an earlier conversation."

"Oh, is that so"

Wintier grins with a smile. But Aerial's expression was serious in itself.

"A Spirit Guardian is a person who has made a direct covenant with a superior Spirit like me."

"What happens when you make a pact with a superior spirit?

"It would be even easier to handle wind magic, for example if I made a pact with you, because you would first belong to that Spirit attribute. Depending on your training, you may also be able to use magic. At the price of this, it will be incompatible with other attributes."

"The point is, you're gonna be strong, right?

"It also comes down to the definition of strength, but given the magical skill, it will definitely improve."

Aerial nodded when he was good at hearing the words.

"I see. Then I'd like a favor."

"If you want a contract with me, I refuse"

"Why!?

The aerial fades. I look at her like that, with the sad eyes of Wintier.

"That could be the case with any of them. But it's still early. Because you're not ready for that."

"Ready? What am I supposed to do?

"... that's it. I don't want to feel that way."

Pointed out, Aerial gets annoyed.

"To be a spiritual protector, you can say its spirit and nature, or as if it were a soul, but not unless it was similar there. I'm the wind. Therefore, sometimes intense, sometimes gentle, the mind must always change freely like the wind. It has to be like the wind, always surrounded by people. You are impeccable in qualities and strength, but you are still mentally immature. I'm not even ready."

"You said you were ready!? If you're ready..."

"No, not yet"

Wintier ran out of words. Neither could Aerial argue with that way of putting it too clearly.

"Let's talk about the price to pay to be spiritual protectors first. If you become a spiritual protector, you will first stop growing physically at its peak. If you put it in person, you'll be immortal."

"And that means"

"Yeah. Am I going to disappear for some reason, or even elevate to superior existence, or will you die? Until then, it can exist in this world forever, without old age. But is that happiness as a person?

"It's..."

As he lives with Alphilis, he learns of Miranda's immortality, and also one end of his misery, Aerial hears. At that time, Aerial relieved herself that she was a human being. And Aerial thought that something called immortality was never a good thing. Live as a person, die as a person. If this is what human beings are supposed to be, Aerial wonders if that's the least of happiness.

Wintier goes on to talk further.

"Note that I was still born in the world for about 200 years. As a fairy, I elevated to the top spirits at an unusual rate. But the next 1000 years will remain like this. If you make a pact with me, you have to be ready to live with me for a thousand years."

"1000 years..."

"What's more, there are actually quite a few of us who have made covenants with the superior Spirit. But from what I've heard, they haven't always had a happy life. No, one way or another, we often follow a tragic end. Some were sacrificed and forced to fight unwanted battles to death. Some are all preceded by their parents and brothers, their birthplaces are also burned by war, and they self-determination in despair in their own lives of celestial solitude. Others were neglected by too much power and banished from their native land. And I still hear you fell into a war. Few have heard of those who have been able to make all the raw things they want until the end. Would you like such a life?

"I..."

Aerial was stuck in words. Wintier's right, I know exactly what I'm not ready for yet.

"But I..."

"Aerial, we just need a little time right now. In the eastern country, Alexandria, we hear that spiritual protectors of the earth still live in people today. Will it be alive for another 200 years? Are you sure you're a woman and a famous knight? It won't be too late to talk to that person and refer to him. Witches and mentors are also those who negotiated directly with the superior spirits, but many of them are raised by birth as covenants with the spirits. In that sense, things may be a little different from yours..."

"... then it might be too late..."

Aerial grabbed his fist all the time. Lifeless - That monster brings back memories of Aerial being knocked over. If he strikes again. Or when that man who defeated Faranx comes. Not very much, but I wasn't sure Aerial could protect Alphilis.

You haven't heard much from Uty about the situation around there, Wintier snapped his neck.

"What are you in such a hurry?

"Actually..."

Aerial told the story. The last of the Phalanx's enemies, the king of heroes. Listening to that story, Wintier's complexion changes.

"I knew Faranx was dead from the whining of the Spirits of the Wind... but is that right, something like that"

"That's right. That's why I want to protect Alphilis at all costs. Now I don't want to lose my loved ones at all costs."

"I see, I know how you feel. But prairies and alphilis. What would you do if they told you to choose one?

"Eh."

Aerial loses words. That's a question Aerial had to think about. Of course I was thinking about that possibility in the corner of my head. Alphilis can't stay in the prairie forever if he keeps traveling like this. That was the word she said, and you should have known it was Aerial. And I inherit after Faranx, and my mission is to protect this prairie. There are many barbarians in the prairie, and many humans still get lost in the prairie. Lead them and protect the prairie. Aerial thought that was natural.

But it's too cozy right now. Alphilis will stay beside himself in the prairie. This is taken aerially and in the most desirable form. Will I remain alone in the prairie as I am, or will I leave the prairie about Alphilis? We will no longer be able to postpone the conclusion any further.

Still, I couldn't get an instant answer to Aerial. Wintier sighed when she saw how Aerial was bewildered.

"Were you still worried? Somehow I imagined from previous occasions that... you can't seem to answer this question instantly, so your contract with me is still a long way off."

"Ugh..."

"Nevertheless, it is also heartless to look past such a situation in silence. I just want to think of something for you..."

At that time, a fairy flew in a panic. It seems to have panicked somewhat. And in a language Aerial doesn't understand, he's desperately appealing to Wintier. As I hear the words, Wintier's expression becomes a harsh object.

"... Aerial. Excuse me, but I need you to get out of here right away."

"What do you mean?

"There's a horde of demons looming that I've never even seen here. The fairies let me know. You'll arrive here with less."

"What!?

"There are too many of them to fight. Besides, there are other people approaching here. There's a skeleton-like man in this group."

When I heard that one word, Aerial turned bright blue. Lifeless came after me. It is no longer even a moment of respite. Unusual for Aerial, I couldn't hide the upset.

"What do we do?

"The first thing we talked about earlier is getting out of here and heading to the swamp as soon as possible. The marshlands are undeveloped lands. It will be the mountain of Sekiyama that will get lost, even if the servant goes into the marshes without any protection or knowledge. If we do well, we might be able to escape. Later we can only hope for the wisdom of Fairtoose"

"Okay. Then I'll be ready to leave right away."

"Before that"

Wintier takes off her right-hand bracelet and fits it in aerial. Wintier had it on her arms, but it was big enough for Aerial to be just a little above her wrist.

"What's this?

"It's a gift from me. We'll dump this inside right away, but this bracelet will attract us soon. We must meet again. I'm worried about Uti."

Hehe, and Wintier laughs. Normally, Wintier cares a lot about Utility.

"Okay. See you later, Wintier."

"Yeah. Oh, call Uti here before you do. Because I have something to say."

"I got it."

And as Aerial leaves, Wintier meditates her eyes. That seemed to make me ready for the stormy things that would happen now.

Continued