The Red Thread of Destiny

A bad thing

The cry that was earthy and getting louder from time to time, felt like a melody of an introduction to death.

For those who had never gotten a monster attack, what was happening now was already like an apocalypse. It was full of chaos and had no chance of surviving.

Along with one rope of life that is again broken, the hope that is owned by everyone there also fades. Those who survived could only tremble, feeling apprehension as to who the next unlucky person chosen would be.

"We need to take action."

In the midst of people who start to lose hope, Stella as much as possible uses her brain. As someone who was often caught up in monster attacks while in the Vandesca region, Stella could not let the creepy creature eradicate them all without a remnant. Before they were all conquered, Stella's abstinence was to surrender when she had not fought.

"You sure you can beat him, miss?"

A question full of disbelief from Dante that strangely re-attached to him, Stella ignored.

In addition to still feeling annoyed, listening to Dante's useless chatter with full attention will also not be a solution for Stella. So, deliberately assuming that the dark-haired man of the night had never existed, Stella focused all her attention on Dire Wolf who was still on the rampage. He completely ignored Dante who was hiding next to him.

How do you beat him?

Although this chaotic situation has often been encountered Stella while still in the main residence of her family, dealing directly with the monster as it is today, is the first time for Stella.

While still in the Vandesca region, Stella only noticed her two brothers fighting from a distance. Observing that while admiring the way her two sisters conquered monsters, Stella was never left to be directly involved in the process of clearing up the mess.

This is why I hate their protective attitude.

By the time they were together, Stella might have survived. But look at the situation now. Although Stella herself was aware that her two brothers forbid for fear of her why-why, in the end being an observer is not enough. When he was trapped alone like this, in the end the attention his two brothers gave backfired. Stella only knows that Dire Wolf is fast without having any experience and knows how to beat him.

What am I supposed to do?

The fight that Stella had observed from a distance, could end quickly because of the skill of her two brothers in conquering monsters. Having both strength and good cooperation, Stella remembers Fabian and Orfeo combining the advantages they each have very well.

Is there anyone who can help?

Stella looked at him. Red thread that unfolds in view, Stella looked one by one.

In the midst of this extremely unfortunate situation, Stella desperately wished that there was someone who could provide help.

They're all scared.

As long as he watched the people around with her Red Yarn, Stella was able to find some of them had power. However, unlike what Yarn Red shows, fear and lack of experience become a problem. In a state of confusion and not knowing what to do, those people could not bring out to the maximum the power they had.

Is there no knight here?

Cousins, friends, and family members. As far as Stella peeked at the lines of people's relationships at the auction venue using Red Yarn, there was no one that Stella found to serve as an official knight.

The average of them only had connections, not someone directly appointed by the Emperor.

Will this be my last day in the world?

As someone who always likes to ignore the warnings of the Brother, Stella believes the misfortune that continues to occur is a warning to listen more to her brother's request.

"Hey, have you found a way to defeat that monster?"

A whisper from Dante accompanied by his touch in the hand, resuscitated Stella from the reverie. Too focused on looking makes Stella unconsciously forget the full existence of the man.

If I'm not mistaken, he's from Cassie's family, right?

As the two blue-ocean neutrals of Stella collide with the gray color of Dante's iris, the full name that the man had previously spoken, is again twisted in Stella's head.

Cassie Duke. One of the imperial supports ruling over the southern region of Ormanda.

Based on those two things, even though Stella herself did not know what kind of ability was passed down in the Cassie family because it was kept secret, Stella could hope a little with the hidden advantages on the Emperor's orders, right?

"What's wrong?"

Aware of being the center of Stella's attention, Dante could not hide his nervous expression. Contrary to the spirit shown earlier, Dante shuffled away from Stella. As if getting a sign of danger, the waves that Dante showed were like people who would be attacked by wild animals only.

"If you're not mistaken your last name is Cassie, right?"

Not wanting to waste any more time, Stella gave the question straight to the point. Could or not. Now their safety all depends on the answer Dante gave.

"Are you the heir in this generation?"

Putting aside the oddity of never seeing Dante at the debut party, Stella hung up her little hope. If Dante is the heir to the Goddess's blessings in this generation, then the risks that Stella can accept can be minimized. However, if Dante has not got it ... Stella had no choice but to reduce this mess to the extent of her ability alone.

"No. I haven't got it."

The gel, accompanied by a sour expression of Dante, was enough to be a determinant of Stella's madness. Immediately jumping out of hiding once knowing that only she could fight, Stella managed to change Dante's expression in the blink of an eye.

"Hey! What do you want to do!?"

Stella heals the ears from Dante's shocked cry. Continuing to run towards the monster, now Stella really advanced only with reckless capital and instincts she had as an owner of Red Yarn abilities.

In every precious second and step, Stella gathered her concentration in one point. With the determination that her brother Fabian could, then he could too, Stella moved to follow the instincts that Yarn Red showed her.

"Stella´s. For you, Red Yarn is only limited to seeing one's relationship bond, right? However, what if I say Red Yarn turns out to have a wider range?"

Stella doesn't know if this sudden memory is a flashback because she's about to die or is meant to be a savior.

"As the owner of the Red Thread, I think we can control the destiny of living things. Although I don't know if I can interfere in the realm of life and death that is the absolute power of Goddess Ilythia. I thought, we could use the Red Yarn as a weapon in a fight."

What Fabian used to say as a fellow user of Red Yarn, Stella is sure, because that's what he became brave. Still remembered clearly the serious expression of her late brother in mind, Stella applied what her first sister had ever exemplified her.

"Maybe it can't be fatal. However, as long as it is enough to stop the movement of the enemy before us for a while, it is worth trying."

Projecting the Red Yarn in a more organized line form, Stella used her imagination as a benchmark.

From what her brother had said, Red Yarn was not much different from magic. In order to control it more easily, Stella just needs to develop her imagination.

If previously Stella saw the Red Yarn like a rope that connects with every thing like a directional map, now Stella describes the Red Yarn in the form of a blob.

Focus.

Stella collects Red Yarn in one point. Focusing the shape of the Red Yarn like a vein, monsters that previously seemed dangerous to look like prey that can be conquered.

In the state of the monster body that now looks like transparent, Stella can realize that the Red Yarn now forms an important network of monsters.

The next fate of the monster is now in control, now the rest depends on Stella's choice

I have to stop him.

If Stella doesn't stop the monster from moving now, then there will be a chance of casualties. Therefore, even though this was the first time Stella had used Red Yarn with a different purpose, Stella could not let the doubts control her.

Ii'm sorry.

When the monster's sinister face was now right in front of him, Stella forcibly pulled the Red Thread that was connected to the monster. Using a lot of energy to pull off a single pull, Stella managed to break the monster's Red Yarn and stop its rapid movement in one blink of an eye.

"I .. succeeded."

Along with the loud thud, the evidence that the monster had been stopped, the Red Thread that Stella broke off earlier also faded.

Turning into a small shimmering flake, the other half of the Red Yarn gradually disappeared following Stella's focus which was split apart from exhaustion.

"Now we just have to wait to be saved again, right?"

Stella muttered to herself. Had there been no pulse at once tired that he felt, Stella might have thought what had just happened was a dream, not reality.

I ... stopped him, right?

A monster that no longer moved and could only grimace in a down position, Stella noticed. Although now he and the monster both could not move, the fear-filled debate did not disappear. Stella could still feel fear enveloping her body.

I think this is enough.

Now, with the monster no longer able to move, one of the biggest threats to their lives has all disappeared. The remaining people could breathe a sigh of relief as they could wait without needing to fear the shadow of death.

My body feels hot.

As someone who could subdue Dire Wolf, although her own body still did not stop shaking, Stella reduced a little of her vigilance towards the surroundings. The pain that came from being too self-imposed, was too hard for Stella to ignore.

...~o0o~...

Different from the state of the very quiet upper city, the basement of every shop that Davion passed by was extremely chaotic. Stuff scattering, people running in fear, or corpses scattered. As if to add to the level of gloom from a hidden place storing the dark side of the people of this capital, the blood scattered here and there, further aggravates the view of the dungeon is just terrible.

"You smell of blood."

Whether or not how many victims had fallen from the monster rampage, Davion's previously clean shoes, were now covered by bloodstains completely. As if Davion's shoes were not black, but rather deep red, the color of the blood managed to cover the original color of Davion's shoes perfectly.

"Theater, clothing store, and magic equipment shop."

In his gloomy journey, Davion marked one by one the list of names of places he had already settled. With several places that have got a check mark, there is only one more place left.

"Cake shop."

Among all the places in the report that Davion has been to, the basement of the cake shop becomes the last piece to check.

Ha ... basic people sucks.

What was on the minds of the organizers of the illegal auction, absolutely Davion could not understand.

Using the dungeon for despicable actions .... Although Davion knew they were doing this to avoid the Emperor's view, Davion still felt they were stupid. No matter how gentle the current Emperor was, an Emperor was still an Emperor. It is impossible for a leader to let a pest destroy the precious fabric of a city, let alone let those vile people destroy it.

"Let's go to the next place."

After making sure the last survivor has successfully manipulated his memory and sent directly to the palace, Davion uses magic connected to nature to destroy the dungeon.

Without even bothering to cast a spell, Davion condensed the empty part using her magic. From the ground, back to the ground. That's the image Davion uses.

Perhaps, this large-scale magic would feel difficult for others. However, since the owner of the magic tower chose the right messenger, Davion did not find it difficult to realize his imagination in reality.

"Now let's head to the next place."

Once the third place he went to was settled, it was time for Davion to head for the other basement owner's cake shop. In one blink of an eye, before the ground had stockpiled him, Davion moved in in an instant.

I'll get it done as soon as possible.

Ignoring the strange views of the people, Davion entered the cake shop with a confident pace. No matter how piercing the gaze that led to her, Davion continued to walk leisurely. Because no matter how much reaction people show, in the next few minutes, they will not be able to remember what Davion did. He will manipulate their memories so that no news spreads.

...~o0o~...

The last place Davion went to was not much different from the previous three places.

Filled with chaos and pools of blood along the eye of the beholder, this place was arguably even worse than the other three places.

It's macabre.

The only difference Davion could find in this place was only one. Namely, no one survived. Like a wrecked ship crashing into a reef, there was only a trace of chaos and the unfortunate humans were left.

Intermediate-level block magic.

The concentration of air in the room that seemed awkward, caught Davion's attention. Paying attention to the ceiling of that basement, he tried to find the source of the monster's unilateral slaughter.

No magic patterns etched.

Just like the floor on which he now stands, Davion could not find any pattern there. No matter how hard Davion searched, he saw no magic pattern, proof of the creation of this terrible state anywhere.

Because of this magic, the trapped person could not escape.

Davion furrowed his brows. Different from the previous place that still allowed people to survive, the hidden place in the cake shop that was still not until the corn was completely isolated from the outside world.

The mid-level blocking magic that automatically severed contact from the cake shop with this secret underground chamber, was nothing more than a catastrophe for the trapped people. Without the artifacts of higher-level teleportation magic scrolls or much greater power, death would be the only way out.

"This barrier is weak, but no one has survived. It's weird."

The number of casualties, Davion can see most of them wearing fancy clothes. To a noble, a high-level teleportation artifact that had exorbitant prices, was something as easy to obtain as breathing. Having so much money to spend, Davion believes there should be at least four or five survivors.

It can't be just a coincidence.

As if this place was deliberately used as a grave for nobles, Davion found no signs of the departure of humans from this place. Whether it was the one with the artifact or not, in the end they all turned into corpses. It splits and ends up tragically becoming monster food.

"Is it possible to do middle-level magic?"

The awkwardness of the state of the basement of this cake shop, quite disturbing Davion. From what Davion learned so far, block magic is divided into two, namely partial and complete.

Blockage magic, which can also be referred to as limiting magic, is at a high level if the scale is wide. As for the middle level, it can only block between two only, which is blocking the entrance or exit.

"I can get out of here, but it seems to take a little effort."

It should be as long as it's not Felix, it's not difficult for Davion to use magic more freely. However, as if the barrier had been combined with other forces, there were some restrictions that prevented Davion from using mana freely in this place. Davion could sense the flow of mana of hers was now being messed up by something unusual.

To make things easier, I need to know what kind of monsters are attacking them.

Without taking his eyes off the awkward floor, Davion tried to recognize the traces left by the monsters on the corpses that were scattered. Such a neat cut, as if it had just been split by a sharp object that Davion had found in response, made Davion's brows furrow even deeper.

"Dire Wolf in the middle of town? It's definitely an intentional act done by someone."

A monster that should have avoided the crowd could have been in the capital like this .., it was definitely not something natural.

Wide-scale magic applied in the absence of special patterns, then the existence of Dire Wolf is awkward. Without needing to guess further, Davion believes this chaos has been planned in advance with careful consideration.

"Hm? Are there any survivors?"

The red-coloured glow glow glow signifies the presence of an abundant mana owner, distracting Davion from the imprint made by Dire Wolf.

Puddly red?

Given the brighter the color flows, the purer and greater the power produced, to be honest this color was the first time Davion saw. Of the many streams Davion has ever noticed, only this time Davion discovered which one has a large concentrated red glow.

"He ...."

Following the flow of the unique mana, Davion found a woman sitting while busily covering her mouth.

Feeling something strange about the woman, Davion sped up. The color of his dark hair that slowly turned blonde, somehow gave a strange sense of anxiety. Although his face was covered by his messy blonde hair, Davion felt confident recognizing the woman.

"Stella?"

Justright. As Davion thought, the woman who owns the nickname 'Golden Star' from the east, is the one Davion knows.

As the only Young Miss in the Vandesca family and the owner of another common thread ability in this generation, Stella Aresya Vandesca, the youngest child of the Duke Vandesca family before this is a figure who always gets the spotlight wherever he is.

Always in the newspapers and weekly news of the Ormanda empire, the rumors of a Stella who was famous for her beauty and elegance, always made warm news among the mages of the tower. Never left behind, Stella's fame in fact, arguably became the sweetener of the gloomy lives of the witches in the tower that is notoriously difficult to access.

"What's going on?"

Stella's unrelenting cough, shrinking panic in Davion's calm demeanor. Stella who was in pain alone in the middle of this terrible situation .. couldn't prevent Davion from wondering what had really happened to this place.

"Why are you like this, Stella?"

The fishy smell that came out, distracting Davion completely from the other irregularities in the room. Feeling something strange, Davion could see Stella's previously clean hands, now filled with blood.

"S-sickness. It's very painful."

Stella's tight grip on her robe, managed to stain the beautiful blue in red. Increasingly filled with panic, Davion, who could feel Stella's body turning hot, carried the woman into his arms.

"I'll get you out of here. So, please hold on a little while longer" whispered Davion. "Now you're safe, Stella."

Davion ignores Stella's blood that stains her shirt. As much as possible, Davion protected Stella in her robe.

In the middle of this very chaotic place, there was only Stella a survivor. Davion found no other life left. So, clearing up the rest of the mess while tightly hugging Stella, Davion destroyed this auction room. Just like the three places he had been to before, Davion did not show his compassion in the least.

"Let's go see your sister."

As soon as he made sure the last place on the list was done, Davion left the room. Together with bad premonitions and question marks, they left behind one of the traces of chaos in the capital.