LRHWB 19

Chapter 19

The Attack of the Mud Dolls

The quiet air was broken only by the soft rustling of trees as the wind occasionally passed through.
No matter where they looked, there was no one around.

“W–what is it, Lilith? Don’t scare me like that!”

But Zarel had already drawn his sword and stood ready, while Lilith extended both hands forward, palms facing the ground, muttering a spell under her breath.

“O earth that supports this entire world,
In the name of Guashuramdon, King of the Earth Spirits,
Lend your power to those who seek the truth for but a moment.
Dorcus Ren Rakra, sacred earth where water dwells and life is born, within those blessed layers of soil…”

Lilith’s voice echoed through the air.
Kian trembled and clung tightly to Yoshii’s back.

Zzz… Zzz… Zzz… Zzz…
A rumbling spread through the ground, shaking the earth beneath their feet.

“What the—?! An earthquake?!”

“Move behind me! Below your feet—something’s coming!”

Zarel shouted—something he rarely did—and quickly pulled everyone into a group between himself and Lilith.

“B–below our feet?”
Ai and Yoko stood frozen, clinging to each other.

“Kyah!”

Thud! Thud thud thud!

All around them, the soil suddenly began to bulge upward—and in an instant, a massive earthen hand shot out of the ground, grabbing Ai’s ankle tightly.

“Gyaaaaaaahhh!!”

“No! No, no, nooo!!”

Everyone kicked and pounded at it desperately, but the hand didn’t budge—hard and heavy like stone.

“Stand back!”

Zarel plunged his sword into the base of the hand.
It instantly crumbled into loose earth and collapsed.

“Ah! It’s just dirt! Ah—ah!”

Zshhh! Zshhhh! Clatter clatter clatter—!

The mounds of dirt all around them began to form into humanoid shapes—mud figures lunging toward Ai and the others.
Zarel swung his sword, cutting them down, while Lilith continued chanting her spell with deep focus.
Every time a clod of earth reached for her, her magic scattered it into dust with a gust of wind. Those attacking Zarel were sliced apart and fell back into the soil.

“This isn’t working! There’s no end to them!”

“Zarel! Just hang on!”

Lilith’s chanting grew faster—so fast it became impossible to make out the words.
Each time one mud doll collapsed, two more rose to take its place.
Zarel’s sword grew heavy with clinging mud, and finally, it got stuck in the ground.

“Ugh! Damn it!”

As if waiting for that moment, a mud doll reached out and grabbed his neck.
He tried punching it, but it didn’t even flinch.
With a cruel, mocking motion, the doll tightened its grip around his throat. Others reached for the children one by one.

“Kyahhh! Help us!!”

“Dorcus Ren Rakra! Dorcus Ren Lukra!
Water to water! Earth to earth!
By my name, release all bindings!
Guashura Sera Le Ruun!
I am Lilith, the wind!”

A fierce gust roared through the clearing.
The ground flared gold for an instant—and then, all at once, the mud dolls dried and crumbled into fine dust, scattering across the ground.

“Cough, cough! Haa… haa… tch!”

Zarel rubbed his bruised neck, flicked the dirt off his sword, and sheathed it.
Lilith hurried to help Kian, who was about to collapse, trembling and sobbing uncontrollably.
Ai and the others let out a long, shaky sigh of relief.

“Hey… why are there only two people protecting the prince?
Even with us helping, it’s barely enough.”

Yoko asked the obvious question, and Lilith gave a wry smile.

“This journey allows only the prince and three attendants.
Originally, there was another noble accompanying us, but he fell ill…”

“That’s kind of anticlimactic for a fantasy, isn’t it? ‘Fell ill’?”

“The attendants are chosen by the stars’ divination.
Even if one is lost, it becomes part of the trial we must face.”

It sounded like a rather rigid trial.

“I feel like I was the only one being targeted!”

“Well, duh—you’re the one carrying the stone!
So just give it back to Lilith already!”

“R–right… but how did they even know I had it?”

“The sorcerer must have sensed it.
As long as there is water, the Water Mage can see and control all things through it.”

“Wait, then—what about drinking water? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Pure spring water cannot be cursed.
It’s a law of nature.
Breaking it would incur the wrath of Lord Seelune.”

“Huh… I see.”

“There are a lot of rules in this world,” Yoko muttered.

“Yes,” Lilith nodded. “Without water, no living thing could survive. Now, let us continue.”

That made sense—but Ai still glanced down uneasily.
Her ankle bore a clear handprint… and she could still feel it.

“Ugh! Gross!”

Trying to erase the sensation, Ai scratched furiously at her ankle before hurrying to catch up with Lilith and the others.