MCAV Chapter 16

Chapter 016

Leon was lying on the ground, bleeding, while Ronschka had lost control.

“D-Die!”

Flames rushed toward the dark sorcerer, but he easily blocked them.

“Tsk, how annoying.”

Adele instinctively tried to move toward Ronschka but stopped. What could she do if the dark sorcerer was still there?

She took a deep breath and reached for the small dagger she had hidden in her waistband, given to her by a guard.

‘I can do this. I have to.’

Adele dashed toward the sorcerer, who was distracted by the flames, and stabbed him.

“Aaah!”

The dark sorcerer screamed in pain from the unexpected attack.

Adele didn’t hesitate. This man had tried to hurt the children. She gripped the dagger tightly, determined to finish him off.

In horror movies, the monster always came back to life if you didn’t finish the job properly.

However, she didn’t realize one thing—the sorcerer’s robe was looser than expected, and the dagger had only grazed him.

Regaining his composure, the sorcerer knocked the dagger away with his staff and kicked it further out of reach. Then, he pointed his staff at Adele.

“Mom!”

Ronschka’s voice rang out from behind her.

Surprisingly, hearing her son’s voice calmed Adele instead of making her more afraid.

Maybe this was her chance—to make up for the mistakes she had made with Ronschka.

‘Ronschka, my son…’

Leon had also regained consciousness. Adele quickly assessed the children’s condition and the distance between her and the sorcerer.

“Oh? So you’re the mother of my experiment?”

The dark sorcerer smirked. This would make things easier. Blood ties were strong—if he took one hostage, the other wouldn’t run away.

“Ronschka, do you remember what I told you before?”

When they had encountered the bear in the past, Ronschka had refused to leave her side, even though she had been so cold to him.

He needed to learn to value his own life. He didn’t have to stay in danger just for her.

So she reminded him.

“If something dangerous happens, you must run away.”

Ronschka thought for a moment before asking, “W-With you?”

“It would be best if we ran together. But if we can’t, you have to run alone.”

“W-Why? I-I don’t want to.”

“I want you to live a long life and experience more happiness. If we go to heaven together now, you won’t get to do that.”

“I-I don’t care.”

“My sweet son.”

Adele hugged Ronschka tightly, pressing her cheek against his.

“Still, remember this. If the time comes, you must run. Promise me.”

Ronschka pouted and grumbled, but in the end, she made him promise.

Was it all for this moment?

Adele let out a bitter smile.

Even though she couldn’t see him, she knew exactly what expression Ronschka was making.

But Ronschka… I want you to live.

You can smile more now. You stutter less.

You have friends. A teacher. People who love you.

You have a home to return to.

So live.

Adele smiled toward the unseen Ronschka. And before that smile could fade, Ronschka ran away with Leon.

***

At first, Ronschka hated his mother.

She was his entire world, so how could she ask him to leave her behind?

She was always so cruel to him.

While running, Ronschka suddenly stopped.

“Go ahead.”

His voice was shockingly clear and firm.

“What?”

Leon turned back in confusion, but Ronschka had already made his decision.

He ran back.

In the clearing, his mother was clinging to the dark sorcerer, grabbing his robe and staff.

She was covered in wounds, but she didn’t care. She was holding on with all her strength.

“So annoying.”

The sorcerer punched her. He wanted to use magic, but she was too close for him to cast spells properly.

That was her strategy.

But despite her determination, the difference in strength between them was too great. All she could do was hold on.

Seeing this, Ronschka clenched his teeth.

He gathered the wild flames that had been burning the forest.

His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it.

“Listen to me!”

At his command, the flames obeyed and moved toward him.

The dark sorcerer finally noticed him.

Frowning, the sorcerer kicked Adele away. She went limp.

Ronschka’s heart dropped.

The flames wavered as his focus broke.

‘No. Not now.’

He forced himself to stay calm.

Maybe she wasn’t dead. She had survived the bear attack before.

The gathered flames took the shape of a massive wolf.

“I should have killed this woman sooner.”

The sorcerer’s voice was chilling.

“This is getting annoying.”

Even though Ronschka was just a novice spirit mage, the sorcerer decided to be careful this time.

The fiery wolf lunged at the sorcerer just as the dark magic spell was cast.

A black bolt of lightning struck the ground, but instead of continuing its attack, the wolf turned and shielded Ronschka.

That was the difference between magic and spirits—spirits could think for themselves.

The wolf chose to protect its master instead of attacking.

“No!”

Ronschka screamed, reaching toward his mother.

‘Not me! Protect her instead!’

But the wolf didn’t listen.

Ronschka hated fire.

Never, not once, had it brought him happiness.

Because of it, his mother had despised him.

But Lucas, his teacher, had told him to accept the flames. That was the only way to control them.

His mother had agreed.

So he had tried.

And now, once again, fire had betrayed him.

Time seemed to slow.

The black lightning finally faded.

However, Ronschka lay on the ground, crying and crying. He had no more strength left to fight.

No matter how strong he pretended to be, he was still just a child who had only recently turned seven.

“M-Mom… Mom… Mom…”

Through his tears, Ronschka lifted his head. If this was the end, he at least wanted to be by his mother’s side.

So, with his dust-covered hands, he wiped his eyes, rubbing away the tears. He didn’t want to lose sight of his mother.

Then, as he slowly got up, he noticed something strange about the dark mage.

Crackle, crackle!

“Aaaaargh! Aaaahhh!”

The dark mage was engulfed in blue flames. He burned so fast that his body crumbled almost instantly, and his screams soon disappeared.

When it was all over, only a small pile of half-burnt ashes remained.

Ronschka blinked in confusion, then looked farther ahead. There was a familiar figure.

It was Lucas. He was standing there, holding his mother in his arms.

“She’s safe, thank goodness,” Lucas sighed in relief and turned to look at Ronschka.

“M-Mom? What about Mom?”

“She’s safe too.”

Though her body was badly beaten, at least she was still alive.

At the last moment, Lucas had rushed into the lightning storm and shielded Adele with his own body. Because of that, he was the one who had taken the brunt of the dark mage’s attack.

Despite the severe burns on his back, Lucas focused on checking Adele’s condition. Ronschka silently watched him before finally stepping closer to his mother.

He collapsed beside her and gently took her hand. Then, pressing his ear against her chest, he listened.

Thump-thump.

He heard the sound of her heartbeat.

His mother was alive. She was injured, but the doctor at the mansion would heal her.

Thank goodness. He could still stay with his mother for a little longer.

That thought filled him with joy, and Ronschka cried as he smiled.

***

A little later, Leon arrived at the clearing, panting heavily. He had helped Lucas find the right direction, playing a crucial role in their survival.

He had run and run as fast as he could, and now he was curled up on the ground, trying to catch his breath. But in the end, everyone was alive.

Leon placed a hand on his chest and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Honestly, he had wanted to turn back too. But if he had done that, there wouldn’t have been anyone to get help. So, he had made a rational choice.

In the end, it was the right decision. But for some reason, his heart felt heavy.

‘I wanted to stay with them too.’

Adele had been kind to him as well, but… he wasn’t sure.

If he had been the one in danger, would Adele have risked her life to save him, just like she did for Ronschka?

He knew it wasn’t right to think like that, but the thought wouldn’t leave his mind.

And he hated that feeling.