The feelings of being alive again and the unexpected turn of events were still lingering on Lucelle's mind. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that the chieftain was killed in a dishonorable state.
Maybe if he was killed by me while fighting could still be considered as a noble death as a warrior. But with a boulder? Such a humiliation way!
Lucelle shook her head and sighed, "No, I shouldn't think about it anymore. How he died has nothing to do with me. What matters is I managed to stay alive... But... I should  reflect my actions instead." said by Lucelle to herself.
She continued, "I should not be scared, I should not tried begging him to stay away from me. Instead, I should be courageously try to think and create a better strategy to turn back the situation, even without the use of magic power... Even a normal human can kill a lion with traps, so why can't I?"
Then she became quite when she realized something.
"But... when shall I be arrived?! How did I manage to easily get into the rough terrain but I barely able to take a step to go down?!" she grumbled.
Yet, here she was, trying to walk in an unstable state just to go to the children's position. Maybe because she was still energetic earlier that she easily reached the rough terrain unlike today. Or maybe, it was just like the saying, 'it's easy to climb a tree, but hard to go down'.
"The barrier I made for the childrens' protection must have been broken already the moment I ran out of magic power," Lucelle mumbled, "Even though all the goblins were already killed, I can't feel at ease knowing that there's still their Lord Dominus in the black coffin, slumbered. And even with my full state, I'm not confident of defeating him alone. Therefore, I need the children to get out from this mountain as soon as possible. If not, good luck won't be with me anymore."
Taking a step to walk was unusually tough as if the bone of her feet would crack from being too fragile and it wasn't even a straight walk.
She was still suffering from the backlash of the forbidden spell and from the draining of magic power. Aside from the pain of her abdomen, she also had heavy internal injuries. Nevertheless, she was greatly thankful that the backlash wasn't her being in a coma state or worst, eternal slumber.
A loud shout along with grief from Lucelle's mouth came out when she was stumbled by a rock. The rock was sharped enough to make her right foot in bleeding. It was painful!
See? I really don't have any strength to protect myself, that even that small rock made me hurt.
Just when she tried to stand up in order to walk again, she heard a familiar voice from afar.
"Powerful sister! Are you alright?!" yelled by a male child as he rushed to Lucelle with the other four children.
Oh? It's John, the child earlier who was speaking.
She nodded weakly, "I'm okay."
"But you are bleeding!" said by another child after he saw Lucelle's bleeding right foot.
"I can endure it." she simply replied.
Well, it's the truth that I can endure the wound. But it's not the same as the backlash. And I don't want to tell them that as to not make them worry about me.
"By the way, powerful sister!" shouted by John, trying to get Lucelle's attention.
"Don't call me powerful sister anymore. Just call me Big Sister Celle," she corrected them, "So what's it?"
"Yes, Big Sister Celle. Hmmm... after the barrier was broken, we saw some manuals and elixirs. Thus, we picked them all before coming here!" then the child showed the items to Lucelle with a smile.
"Oh?" said by Lucelle.
They are beginner manuals and elixirs for awakening magic. Perhaps these were owned by the goblins I killed? She thought after seeing them.
Lucelle refused, "It's no use to me. You can have them and share them to your friends."
John quickly shook his head, "No, we can't do that. We don't need these items. You saved our lives from danger and that's enough for us."
She couldn't help but to laugh. How adorable of him, not forgetting kindness and avoiding greediness!
"Really, I don't need them. So just accept them because it can help you all becoming magicians or even warriors who were able to use magic power."
"But..."
"I'm not finished yet," Lucelle quickly added, "Just for you not to feel guilty---even though you don't need to---, I will have this scroll." then took the teleportation scroll from him.
"T-this is still too much..."
She emitted an audible breath, left with no choice, she said, "I have a single condition. Is that alright with you?"
With shimmering eyes, he responded, "Really?! What is it? We will agree whatever your conditions is!"
"After learning magic, you must protect this village from any dangers. I don't want this village to be filled with dangerous being. I don't want any kidnapping of children like you to be happened again."
"We will do that!" he shouted as a reply and turned his gaze to his friends, "Right, guys?"
Then the other four children nodded as they smiled.Their minds were full of thoughts. Like...
"Really? We are now able to use magic?!"
"I never thought being kidnapped gives me an opportunity to become a magician."
"Finally, I can protect my family from any harm!"
"I want to be the most powerful person in the world after learning magic!"
Lucelle secretly smiled under her hood--- the red cloak was back to normal again as she didn't have any maguc power left---, "But promise me you will never cause any trouble in the village, unless it's necessary and for the people's sake. Understood?"
The five children answered in unison, "Yes! That's not a problem!"
"Good!" she uttered, "Anyway, we need to get out from this mountain first."
Just when she tried to take a step, she involuntarily kneeled down on the ground.
But it was not the same reason earlier, not weakening caused by backlash nor caused by draining of magic power, but enlightenment.
An enlightenment for the road of breaking through to another level!
"What's wrong with you, Big Sister Celle?!" John yelled with a worried face and tone.
"I'm alright..." she gasped, "I just need to break through."
"If not, my magic power will regress and if that will happen, I won't have any confident to ascend into higher levels someday." she thought.
"What help can we do for you?"
"The more I know him, the more I find him adorable!" she murmured.
"I need you and the others to protect me from any kinds of disturbance such as animals, human beings or other creatures, while I will mediate in a certain magic array," Lucelle explained to them, "Will you do it for me?"
"Yes!" John exclaimed, "We will surely obey your command to us since you saved our lives!"
"Good!"
_TRAVANGEL_