Iordera’s Return and the Shocking News

The city of Saroyan awoke with the dawn.

Before the East District Governor’s mansion, priests and mages of various disciplines streamed in, their expressions hurried.

Outside, no one knew what transpired within the mansion’s walls; only a pervasive unease settled over the populace.

Meanwhile, the United Academy buzzed with its own commotion. The young woman, her sword still by her side, remained rooted before the boys’ dormitory, unmoving. The crowd swelled around them, and the clamor condemning Augustus grew steadily louder.

The situation hadn’t been so unequivocally one-sided until several teachers arrived. Like Greg, they initially armed themselves, intending to breach Sophia’s sword formation.

But they simply couldn’t prevail!

To be seen fleeing in disarray before their students would surely spell the end of their teaching careers. Thus, like Greg, they decisively retreated from the formation, then righteously declared their allegiance to Sophia.

“It’s not that we couldn’t defeat her,” they asserted, “but rather, we agree the fault lies with the Little Prince.”

“Augustus, come out and give everyone an explanation.”

“The sea of suffering knows no bounds, but turning back leads to the shore. If you step forward, the teachers are still willing to believe you and hear your explanation.”

“Augustus, you are still young with boundless prospects. Do not act rashly in a moment of despair.”

With the teachers leading the charge, the other students grew even bolder, nearly erupting into full chants.

Left with no alternative, Augustus steeled himself and appeared at the main entrance of the dormitory building.

His face grim, he declared with palpable impatience, “I have no knowledge of Busius’s actions. I informed him to come, but he never arrived, and now he is unreachable. Believe what you will!”

His perfunctory attitude deeply displeased the students gathered there.

“Hey, what kind of attitude is that? Can’t you speak properly?”

“If you’ve done something wrong, can you at least have a better attitude?”

‘Busius didn’t come, and he’s unreachable?’

Though the speaker had no ulterior motive, Sophia seemed to grasp something profound, drawing her sword and returning it to its sheath.

“If that is the case, I shall grant you more time. I will no longer disrupt your classes.”

Uttering these words, Sophia parted the crowd and departed.

The onlookers couldn’t help but murmur praises.

“She is both beautiful and kind-hearted.”

“Indeed, and so incredibly powerful.”

“I think I’m in love.”

Yet, at that very moment, Sophia had already slipped away from the academy, heading along the route between the school and the Governor’s mansion.

Not far along, she encountered a group of people outside, chatting about a great disturbance that had occurred around the corner, seemingly a duel between powerful individuals, which had deterred them from approaching.

Sophia rushed over to investigate, and there, amidst the wreckage on the ground, she discovered the two halves of Iordera.

‘Could she possibly still be alive?’

Without time to ponder further, she scanned her surroundings, noticing numerous sacks filled with flour near the corner.

Sophia found a relatively intact sack, carefully placed Iordera’s two halves inside, and stealthily made her escape.

****

Time passed slowly. Before the smoke of lunch fires began to rise, Sophia arrived at Iordera’s home with the sack.

Nina opened the door, a slight surprise crossing her face at the sight of the travel-stained Sophia. “You’re that girl from last time… How is the Young Miss?”

Sophia, too breathless to speak, entered, set down the sack, and gasped for air.

Nina seemed to anticipate, “Is the Young Miss inside?”

Sophia nodded, her expression grave.

Nina quickly opened the sack and, upon seeing its contents, let out a sigh of relief. “It is indeed the Young Miss. Isn’t this quite good?”

“Quite good?” Sophia exclaimed in shock. “She’s been cut in half!”

Yuna waved a dismissive hand. “Calm down, beautiful. It’s only two pieces.”

“Still, I understand why you’d find it hard to accept, given the Young Miss was whole when you found her last time, and now she’s in two pieces,” Nina acknowledged with understanding. “But truly, it’s nothing to worry about. The first time we found her, she was in far more pieces than this.”

“Huh?”

Sophia was utterly bewildered, simply sitting by and watching the two maids piece Iordera back together.

“Don’t worry about her; she’ll be fine after some rest,” Nina said, standing up and patting her skirt. “Would you like to stay for lunch, beautiful?”

****

A fragmented consciousness slowly awakened from the haze.

[…Repair time: 48 hours, Repair successful]

So much time had passed, then.

The morning sun, not yet blinding, filtered through the window, allowing her eyes, closed for two days, to behold the world anew.

Several familiar voices still echoed in her ears.

“It’s been two days. Is Iordera truly alright?”

“She’s fine, didn’t you see? The cuts on her waist have already sealed themselves, as if she was never injured.”

“No need to worry. The Young Miss’s auspicious nature always brings about good fortune… Look, she’s awake now, isn’t she?”

Yuna was the first to notice Iordera stirring. Sophia turned her head, vigorously rubbing her eyes.

Then she abruptly lunged forward, embracing Iordera.

“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful,” the young woman whispered excitedly. “It’s good that you’re alright.”

Iordera coughed softly, then said weakly, “Another ounce of pressure and something truly bad will happen.”

‘Be mindful of your strength as Sophia.’

Iordera closed her eyes and took a deep, deliberate breath. After passing through life and death, she opened her eyes once more, finding herself back in her home, surrounded by the most familiar faces of family and friends—a truly comforting return.

‘Wait, wait…’

Suddenly remembering something crucial, she pushed Sophia back with surprising force. “No, you must leave quickly. Leave me here alone.”

“Why?”

“Because I killed him! Most likely, Sorold, the Sword Saint, will come investigating,” Iordera said, biting her lip.

“Go, quickly.”

Sophia, however, let out a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry,” she reassured.

As she spoke, she picked up a newspaper from the table and handed it over. “Take a look.”

Iordera took the newspaper, her eyes immediately falling upon the report in the corner.

[Shocking News: Busius Sunhand, Governor of the East District, passed away at the Governor’s Mansion. He reportedly suffered unknown injuries, and despite the best efforts of priests and numerous mages, he succumbed to his wounds!]

Iordera managed a weak smile. “Good, I succeeded.”

“That’s not what I wanted you to see,” Sophia said, unfolding the newspaper and pointing to the front-page headline. “Look here.”

[Sensational News: Late the day before yesterday, Hecate, the Witch, appeared at Moore Manor. The three legendary figures guarding Saroyan immediately rushed to confront her in a decisive battle.

During the fierce engagement, Sorold, the Sword Saint, was specifically targeted by the Witch. The other two esteemed figures remained largely untouched, as Hecate relentlessly focused her attacks on the Sword Saint.

Though Hecate was compelled to retreat from Moore Manor, her whereabouts once again unknown, thanks to the combined efforts of the three formidable individuals, the Sword Saint’s condition was precarious. His injuries were undisclosed, and he declared his intention to return home for at least six months of secluded recuperation.

The editor-in-chief of this newspaper, the city’s most esteemed Bard, offered his analysis: ‘The Witch’s focused assault on Sorold, the Sword Saint, was an abnormal and concentrated attack, far from what one would expect in a typical battle. It was, in all likelihood, a matter of personal vendetta!’]