The Hidden Jewel of Sonis Village, Part 2

“I’M WITH YOU!”

“We’re with you, Milla!”

“The gods are with us! We’ll fight!”

“Tonight we fight! Tonight we fight! Tonight we fight!”

The villagers’ blood was now boiling, thick with adrenaline and a thirst for battle as if their fear had never existed in the first place. Satisfied with the results, Milla nodded at Oliver to take over, for his military knowledge would fare better than hers in organizing an effective defense.

The legionary was stunned by her performance, and as he exchanged glances with her, he noticed a slight sheen of blue light glowing in Milla’s eyes… a telltale sign of a spellcaster.

“No way… it couldn’t be,” he muttered to himself as Milla walked past him, striding off to her father’s side in the tavern’s kitchen. Nevertheless, Oliver’s train of thought was interrupted as the villagers soon pressed him for instructions.

Unbeknownst to Oliver, his hunch was spot on. The drastic change in the villagers’ hearts wasn’t only the product of Milla’s speechcraft, but instead of a much more powerful force: magic.

It was a divine gift usually exclusive to angels, demigods and mystic beasts, or the few fortunate mortals who made a pact with one of them. Yet for Milla, magic was a power she’d enjoyed ever since she was a child.

Alas, powerful as it was, such a gift didn’t come without downsides.

Devils and demons were attracted to spellcasters like moths to a flame, and the Empire had strict laws that decreed all naturally born spellcasters had to be surrendered to the Imperial authorities since childhood.

Milla, however, was an adult. And if she could live freely as a villager, then it meant...

“I’m sorry, Pops. I don’t think I can hide it anymore.”

She and her father were in breach of the law.

Milla knew this well, and she’d made painstaking efforts to keep her magic hidden ever since she was a child. But now, in the face of a monster attack, she found herself in a position where secrecy was becoming impossible to uphold.

“It’s alright, sweetheart. It’s the right thing to do.”

With the clumsy gentleness that his calloused hands could afford him, Jund patted Milla’s head. As a retired hunter raising a sorceress, moments of tenderness were rare for him, but this time he would allow an exception.

“No matter what happens tonight, my daughter, I’ll always be proud of you. You were a gift to this world, given by the grace of Lady Zarielle herself. Up until now, my selfishness has kept you hidden in here, but it seems the time has come for the world to know you.”

“Pops…”

“It’s okay. Now that it’s come to this, don’t hesitate. Go ahead and introduce yourself to those monsters. Let them know you are Milla, the hidden jewel of Sonis Village, and you are not to be trifled with.”

Milla quietly nodded onto her father’s chest.

The moment she used magic in public, their life as villagers would end and they’d have to surrender themselves to the Imperial authorities. Milla fully understood this, and yet...

“Take a good look at me, father. I’ll teach those monsters what is regret.”

Her will was as good as written in stone, and as if following Milla’s cue, the sonorous clang of the village bell came sounding from the distance.

“They’re here!” yelled Oliver. “Everyone, to positions! Remember your training over the past few days. Raise your spears, brace your shields, and let us show those creatures the way to Hell! For the Empire! For the Goddess!”

“Oorah! Oorah! Oorah!”

Seething with enthusiasm, the villagers hastened to leave the pub. Only the legionary was left behind, who turned to face Milla as she walked out from the kitchen followed by her father.

“Milla! Milla, I…”

Oliver called out to her but paused, not sure of what to say. He’d all but lost control of the situation earlier, and there would’ve been a lynching if Milla hadn’t stepped in. It was shameful, to say the least, more so given his feelings for her.

“It’s okay, Oliver. We don’t have time, and there’s something I must tell you.”

The legionary gulped as Milla looked at him, with a resolute air about her before she casually dropped a bombshell on the man.

“I’m a sorceress. Look.”

And just like that, she conjured a searing orb of fire on the palm of her hand.

Oliver went pale as he stared at the spell illuminating the room. Of all the things Milla could’ve told him, this wasn’t on the list of expectations.

“I’ve been like this since I was a kid, so it’s not from a contract. In any case, I’m pretty good at magic, so we can use this to kill the cyclopes... but you’ll have to give me a hand. I’ve never fought monsters like those before.”

Milla extinguished the flame as she finished her sentence, bringing the pub back to a dim candlelight. She might as well have snuffed the life out of the poor legionary, his heart trying to leap out of his chest from the sheer shock.

“Milla…! Wha- What. The. Hell?”

He was well and truly flabbergasted. Although he had prayed to Lady Zarielle for a miracle, Oliver didn’t expect her to actually deliver, much less in such a direct way.

A flood of conflicting thoughts rushed through his mind, his brain struggling to keep up with the plethora of implications of what Milla had just shown him.

“Calm down, Oliver. We’re still in danger, so I need you to stay focused and in your best shape.”

Milla’s eyes glowed with azure energy, her power permeating deep into Oliver’s head. Her will swiftly overcame the man’s instincts, soothing his panicked mind and restoring it into a state of tranquility. His tense body soon relaxed into a more loosened posture, still appearing cautious but generally at ease.

“Whoa. What was that? I feel… I feel unreal.”

Oliver couldn’t believe it. The accumulated stress, fear and exhaustion of the past several days had disappeared in but a moment, replaced with a feeling of liberation and empowerment instead. In his current state, he felt like he could face off against a cyclops and come out on top in single combat.

The source of his resurgence, however, looked at him apologetically.

“I charmed you. I made it so you can’t feel fear or exhaustion, but I’ll make it go away soon. You could get killed if you go out and fight like that.”

Oliver would’ve felt terrified by Milla’s words, if he were able to. Alas, her powerful magic forbade him from such emotions, leaving the way open for them to talk free from the petty disturbances of a human heart.

“So, experience. Or the lack thereof. That’s what you’re worried about, right?”

Half possessed by Milla’s magic, the legionary broached the topic in question. Milla acknowledged him with a quiet breath, before listing her battle record.

“I’ve fought a bear and a pack of wolves before, and I’ve killed a few goblins too. But a cyclops? No, nothing as big as that, and not a whole group of them. You’re way more experienced than me, so I need you to point me at the right targets, the right way.”

Oliver gave a quick snort at Milla’s description, breaking into a wry smile. Truth be told, if that was her kill count, she was already more experienced than anyone else in the village aside from him.

“I’ll be real with you, Milla. I’ve never fought cyclopes before. The group of them that killed Richard? That was my first. Even with my enchanted gear, I’d be lucky to take on one or two. I’m no Imperial Knight, you know? Didn’t make the cut; got dumped out here for running my mouth about it. So if you’re asking me how to kill those things… well, you’re barking up a dead tree.”

Milla’s expression darkened as she listened. Oliver, normally a confident braggart, was now laying bare his shortcomings and past failures; his pride dissolving under the pressure of her magic.

The souring in her mood didn't go unnoticed, and he rushed to patch it over.

“But hey now, I’m not about to let you or the others die without putting up a fight, alright? Hell no. Look, we’re doing this. I’ll break the news about your powers to the villagers. From there, we'll center the battle plan around protecting you.”

“Truth be told?” he leaned closer, dropping his voice. “Our guys don’t stand a chance. One cyclops could bludgeon the whole damn village. But with a demigod like you on our side? If we keep you safe and stay mobile... we might just win this.”