(Heartfelt thanks to Da Meng N Qiu for the 10,000 reward, and to Iker Casillas, Jian Jiao, Chenfeng☆, and Shun Luan for their rewards!)
Until just moments ago, Alice had been blushing furiously, looking like she wanted to die of shame. But the instant the flustered voices outside the door rang out, her expression changed completely. The flush vanished from her face, replaced by an incomparably stern look.
In that moment, Alice switched from an ordinary girl into the captain of the Wind King Knights, tasked with protecting the peace and order of Areishia Spirit Academy.
Without any hesitation, Alice stepped forward and opened the door.
Two girls stood outside.
Like Alice, both were equipped with the Wind King Knights' light armor and swords.
Clearly, these two girls were also members of the Wind King Knights.
"Captain!"
Seeing Alice open the door, the two girls sighed in relief. But they quickly spoke again in alarm.
"Something's happened, Captain!"
"Calm down." Alice placed her hands on the two girls' shoulders, signaling for them to settle down.
"What happened?"
The two girls exchanged glances, then seemed to reach an agreement. They looked at Alice together and spoke in unison.
"A large number of magical beasts have suddenly emerged from the Elf Forest and launched an attack on the academy gates!"
"W-What did you say?" Alice cried out.
"Magical beasts?" Noah's heart stirred, and he stood up as well.
—Magical beasts.
They were a species different from spirits, yet they also lived in the Elemental Spirit World.
They lacked the power to form contracts with humans, and they did not possess the various abilities spirits had. Strictly speaking, they were a type of wild beast.
However, these magical beasts generally possessed bizarre bodily structures and physical strength far beyond that of ordinary animals.