MLMAS 03

Chapter – 03

 “Then where is Shasha?”

It had already been three days since her little sister disappeared.

If she had truly been kidnapped, they would have left the village long ago.

Marie’s face darkened.

“Can we get there today?”

“No.”

Crofot answered calmly.

Marie’s brows drooped as she grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“Then what do we do? Walk there from now?”

“I told you, you can’t go without me. We’ll use magic.”

Ah, magic.

Marie blinked—then suddenly gasped and pulled her hand away. The dirty print of her small hand was clearly stamped on Crofot’s pristine white clothing.

She glanced at him nervously and apologized.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Crofot narrowed his eyes slightly, looking between her and his robe. Then he shook his head.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Without waiting for her reply, he quickly walked toward the back of the shack.

Startled, Marie hurried after him.

After checking that no one was nearby, Crofot swung his pipe and began drawing a pattern into the dirt.

White and blue light traced the tip of the pipe as the design carved itself into the ground. Forgetting her earlier gloom, Marie stared with wide eyes.

“It’s pretty…”

“Step inside.”

“What is it?”

“A teleportation spell.”

She didn’t know what a spell was—but she knew teleportation.

The ability to travel anywhere, regardless of distance.

Marie’s eyes sparkled as she immediately stepped onto the glowing pattern.

Crofot let out a deep sigh. Her own sister had likely been kidnapped with magic, yet the child showed almost no caution.

Shaking his head, he finished sealing the glowing lines and stepped onto the spell beside her.

Cold wind wrapped around them. Marie stared blankly at the white light rising from beneath her feet.

The glow expanded, spiraling upward.

In her green eyes, it looked as though a sea filled with stars flowed overhead. When the light grew too bright and she squeezed her eyes shut, the air around them changed.

“Ugh…”

Before she could even look around, dizziness and a splitting headache struck her.

For the first time in her life, Marie experienced motion sickness. Her stomach churned and she staggered.

Crofot caught her by the cloak.

“As expected. Human.”

“Ugh… why do I feel like this?”

“Because your body was disassembled and reconstructed by magic.”

Disassembled? Reconstructed?

“Humans don’t accept mana well, so the moment you’re broken down into particles—”

He stopped when he saw her blank expression.

Letting out a light sigh, he looked around.

The loud crash of waves. The damp scent of the sea.

They stood before a sea cave along some coastline. Clicking his tongue, Crofot turned his back to the bright moon and looked into the dark cave.

“Your sister is inside.”

“How did you know Shasha is here?”

“Magic dust gave me the coordinates.”

“Magic dust?”

“My pipe ash.”

“Wow.”

Then what are coordinates? How does magic dust tell you?

Questions poured from Marie one after another. For once, her sorrowful green eyes shone like those of a normal child her age.

He frown slightly. She sure asks a lot when it comes to magic.

“Coordinates are numerical values that measure and define space. I selected a safe point among the coordinates that share the same space as your sister and—”

A question mark practically appeared over Marie’s head.

Crofot fell silent and gestured.

“Anyway. Let’s go see your sister.”

“Yes!”

Marie trotted beside him.

He glanced at her as he entered deeper into the cave where the moonlight faded. Snapping his fingers, he created small orbs of light.

Three warm spheres appeared—two illuminating Marie’s path, one lighting his own.

Marie reached out absentmindedly toward the glow.

“You’ll get burned.”

He lowered the light out of her reach.

She quickly pulled her hand back and continued quietly.

“Um, Mr. Wizard… the one who kidnapped Shasha… they’re a mage, right?”

Crofot looked down at the girl walking diligently beside him. She looked both sad and angry that her innocent little sister might be trapped in such a damp cave.

“Who knows.”

He didn’t give a clear answer.

Marie didn’t dare complain, only swallowing her frustration.

Suddenly, Crofot waved his hand, extinguishing the lights. He gestured to her.

When she looked up, he whispered:

“It’s true the kidnapper used magic. But humans aren’t the only ones who can.”

Marie tilted her head.

Pressing himself carefully against the cave wall, Crofot shifted his gaze. Marie peeked out from beside his leg.

“Things like that can use magic too.”

Where he indicated stood two men covered entirely in thick brown fur, guarding a barred cage and growling.

Marie froze.

Everything except their eyes, noses, and mouths was covered in beast-like fur. Long, thick claws extended from their fingers and toes.

They’re not human.

She stepped back instinctively, but Crofot caught her cloak and pulled her forward before she could fall.

He crouched to meet her eyes.

“You stay here. I’ll bring your sister out.”

The sudden danger muddled Marie’s thoughts.

Fear surged through her, and she clutched his robe.

“Is Shasha inside that cage? What if they hurt her? She’s only four…”

Tears filled her eyes instantly.

Crofot clicked his tongue, glancing back briefly before answering quickly.

“They haven’t touched her. I guarantee it. They’re werewolves.”

“Werewolves…?”

“Yes. They occasionally cross into the human world and target young, unprotected child mages. Your sister is merchandise. They wouldn’t damage her.”

Marie’s small hand fell from his robe.

Merchandise? Child mage? Did that mean her little sister was a mage?

Her gaze flickered between Crofot and the werewolves.

He straightened.

“I’ll explain later. Stay here.”

After hesitating, Marie nodded.

He snapped his fingers, lighting his pipe again, and began drawing a spell in the air.

The werewolves sniffed the air, looking around. Marie gasped and covered her mouth.

Finishing the spell swiftly, Crofot placed the glowing sigil above Marie’s head, stamped his foot twice, and burst forward like a gust of wind toward the werewolves.

“Who goes there!”

“Where did he come from?!”

As they bared their teeth in surprise, murmurs rose from the children inside the cage.

Crofot glanced toward them and swung his pipe.

“Who knows.”

Though two large figures blocked his way, he approached without the slightest intimidation.

“Stop! This place belongs to Lord Omito—!”

The werewolf couldn’t finish.

From a casual swing of Crofot’s pipe, two massive circular spell formations burst forth, overlapping perfectly as they shot toward the creature.

The symmetrical white light rushed toward the werewolf’s yellow eyes.

“Aaagh!”

Struck directly, the werewolf was launched into the air, engulfed in blazing flames.

“W-What?! How can a spell—?!”

Inside the dark cave, lit only by torches, both werewolves and the children stared in shock at the figure burning like a small sun.

The other werewolf recovered first.

Shaking off fear, he pulled out a worn stack of papers and pierced one with the dagger at his waist.

The sound of crashing waves echoed.

From outside the cave, a towering column of water surged toward Crofot.

He glanced at it dismissively—then stomped twice and teleported a short distance away.

“That’s impossible!”

When he teleported, the flaming spell dissipated, dropping the burning werewolf. Though the flames had seemed powerful enough to incinerate everything, the creature was still alive.

The second werewolf immediately slashed his dagger again, sending the water crashing onto his companion. Steam hissed as the flames died, and agonized screams filled the cave.

“As expected. That alone isn’t enough to kill them.”

“Who are you?! How can you cast spells and teleport without tools—?!”

The werewolf suddenly stopped.

In the flickering torchlight, white hair tinged orange by flame, piercing blue eyes, and a long pipe etched with gold markings—

The werewolf recognized him.

“Crofot Lynn!”