Lina

## [source]

**Lina**, also known as the **Dragon Mage**, was one of Gaton's Thirteen. After his fellow knights and Gaton became lost in Rosie Plane, she becomes the most supportive of Richard amongst the remaining Thirteen, and ultimately dies to protect his life.

Although Richard himself might deny it, he and Lina shared a rather special relationship. She died in the Resting Orchid Plane and was laid to rest in the highest graves in the plane amongst the beautiful garden.

## Appearance

She had a head of fiery-red hair that looked like flames leaping over her shoulders, and when she turned she showed thick lips with an unconcealable sex appeal. She was wearing dark red robes, the dense elemental aura flowing from them indicating this was a rare mage robe that could provide a powerful boost to dire elemental magic. However, unlike normal robes the neck was cut exceedingly low, revealing fair flesh and half of two swollen globes. Few mages wore something so revealing, but the elemental aura she continuously emanated made it obvious that she was a grand mage.

There was a realistic black dragon tattooed between her breasts, its head and tail occupying the two spheres. It seemed built to attract the attention of all males.

## Abilities

Lina often uses fire magic. She has a pact with the dragon Kaloh, is is able to summon it.

### **Spells**

Summon Kaloh Grade 9

Draconic Flames Grade 9

as a spatial mage of great skill she could easily craft a portal to get there whenever she wanted.

Lina, you’re much more valuable than you think you are. For me, at least, an earldom is worth much less than your trust.” Having said that, Richard waved once more to her before leaving the room.

Lina suddenly felt like she was suffocating, forced to find a sofa and plop down. The different smiles of two very different men seemed to pop up before her eyes; Gaton was full of passion and severity, while Richard was gentle and caring. However, they both carried similar levels of charm. 5;23

## Other info

When Gaton ventured into Rosie Plane, Lina was tasked to guard the newly sequestered Forest Plane from the aboriginal forest elves. Richard comes back and assumes command of the island, and Lina becomes his follower. This, in turn, became a great help as Richard was able to push back the encroaching elves towards their homebase, the Tree of Life. They were then able to take control of the giant tree and the surroundings, pumping up an astronomical ammount of money that left the dirt poor Archeron's in the dust. She becomes a trusted ally due to her sacrifice against the child of the forest, which scarred her beautiful face. She helped Richard push back the other Norland invaders in Faelor. Priestress Noellene fixes her face after some time in the future and regains her beauty.

Even though she had been aiding his cause for years now, she had always seen him as the cute and stubborn child who had blushed when she first sent a flying kiss his way. At best, she was seeing silhouettes of Gaton’s greatness within him. Now, however, that youth had become a man of his own.

In truth, Gaton and his thirteen were more business partners than master and servants. He didn’t restrict their actions at all, relying mostly on his charisma to bring them to his side. Lina wasn’t tied to him by any contracts, not even verbally. Her thoughts shifted to Richard for a moment. The youth was completely different from his father; his followers were closer to him, and although there was a slave contract between them she could tell that he was a wonderful leader as well. He also ensured to meet all their necessities, from runes to equipment.

When she was only eighteen, Gaton had pulled her all through the myriad planes to fight in wars. Together they had seen many multiple battles, explored many planes. It was him who had exposed her to a vast universe.

And when Gaton left, Richard followed behind. She was still young when she first saw him, and as she grew older she saw miracles spring forth from his hand just like his father’s. Alas, Richard and Gaton were very different. The father was much more meticulous, able to empathise with others and capture their feelings.

Later, Richard entrusted the Blackrose Castle to her.

### **Sacrifice**

this beam would blast him into smithereens. His genius and his runes would slowly turn into a myth, sang of in tales that would slowly be eroded by the streams of time. The prospects of the future saint runemaster would quickly fade away. No matter how amazing he was, he would only be remembered for his work on Lifesbane, a rune that wasn’t even grade 4. There were innumerable geniuses throughout history, but only those who managed to survive were lauded for their greatness.

*His glory was at an end.* Richard turned cold as ice, making his final preparations. This was a struggle to escape the grasp of death, but unlike others his would be calculated and efficient.

\*Whoosh!\* As he turned around to face the incoming attack, Richard’s eyes went wide. A figure was stood before him, obviously intent on shielding him from his impending doom.

“LI—” his scream was drowned out by the rumbling energy in the pillar of light. The Dragon Mage’s teleportation had been far too sudden, capturing him unprepared. It was too late to direct the attack away from her.

Richard could only see Lina’s back, and those stood below could barely see her feet within the light. However, the massive amount of mana she was pulling out of her body moved the hearts of everyone present. She had basically destroyed her mana pool to reach the absolute limit of her strength!

The pillar of light enveloped Lina and Richard, continuing to move forward for a few moments before all the energy bundled up into a ball of pure light. The hundred-metre-wide orb exploded without a sound, pieces of shattered energy fluttering about the sky.

The pillar of death disappeared, and when the fragments dissipated it felt like it had never existed before. Lina and Richard came into view once more, still flying across the air in the same positions as before. The Dragon Mage’s back was slightly arched, but her hands were still outstretched and she covered most of Richard’s body. Richard’s hand was outstretched, but he was a metre away. He had tried his best to catch her and throw her away, but even the one moment that took had been too long. He could only watch as all of her mana and life force had been burnt away before his eyes, defending him from the pillar of light.

Having experienced Nyra’s healing abilities before, Kaloh immediately landed on the ground. The dragon knew that the soul shepherd was capable of resurrecting his friend even if she had truly died. Asiris bounded up the dragon’s back the moment it came to a halt, flashing over to Lina’s location before bringing her down in front of Nyra.

Nyra quickly assessed Lina’s wounds, finding that the burnt life force had negated most of the impact. The Dragon Mage was still breathing, but her face was flushed and the beam had pierced through her body. Her heart had been completely destroyed, so only resurrection would be able to save her.

Richard himself had a number of wounds, albeit much smaller in scale. The beam of light had pierced through Lina’s heart and then destroyed his defences before getting to his body.

However, Nyra just lifted her head and smiled helplessly, “I haven’t resurrected someone yet, no, but Miss Lina’s soul is beyond any hope of resurrection. Whatever that beam was, it eroded her soul sea to the brink of complete destruction; even if I insist on resurrecting her, Miss Lina would only return as a zombie without life. I do not believe the Dragon Mage would want to live in such a state.”

“Lord Richard, Miss Lina only has ten minutes to live. This is the limit of my ability, please do not hesitate.”

“Lina… W-why did you… Why did you do that?!” He took on an admonishing tone, but his voice was shaking worse than ever in his life.

The Dragon Mage just put a finger on his lips, not allowing him to continue. Her gaze upon him was filled with struggle, but she spoke gently, “Don’t talk about that, I don’t have much time. I wanted to say for a long time, and question too. Please forgive…”

Seeing Richard nod, a smile appeared on the Dragon Mage’s face. Her cheeks then blushed, her gaze suddenly shifting to the ground, “I wanted to say… Actually, question first! No, let say…”

Her face continued to turn redder, words more and more incoherent. She eventually took a sharp breath, but even then her voice turned meek, “I’m… tired. Let me rest against you for while.”

As Lina leant forward, Richard grabbed her and rested her head on his shoulders. She then fell silent, leaving the tent completely silent except for her breaths.

*One, two, three…* Richard counted, and then even that sound was gone.

“… Lina,” he called out gently.

There was no response.

“… Lina?”

There was still no response.

Richard did not call her name again, just hugging her forcefully while his tears dripped down in silence. This beautiful woman was an extremely gifted grand mage, but in certain ways she was just as stupid as she was smart. She was stubborn, insisting on things she fancied without ever thinking of compromises.

The words she wanted to utter now were the exact same words she had wanted to tell Gaton when she was younger. They were the same words that had been bottled up in her heart ever since he had walked in on Cardiff’s harassment years ago. However, she always found reasons to keep quiet. Even in the end, she hadn’t managed to speak those words out loud.

The words themselves were simple, but their meaning was deep and profound. She also didn’t need to say them for Richard to understand. Perhaps that was the true Lina.died in v5ch72/73

### **Burial**

According to Archeron tradition, the first choice of burial for a skilled warrior was in the family tombs. However, Lina didn’t have Archeron blood, and even otherwise Richard had a better idea in mind. She was a beautiful mage, and she deserved a beautiful resting place.

Everyone followed him to the top of the shrine, past a long suspended bridge to arrive at the most sacred graveyard of the Resting Orchid Plane. This was a gorgeous area, with a mysterious force blocking off the bitter winds from an isolated world of jade. Spring water flowed down a slope and scattered about this small world, entering ten exquisite pavilions each of different styles. Every pavilion was also a tombstone, marking just who was buried within. The explanations were brief, merely stating the greatest accomplishments of the deceased individual during their lifetime, but by this plane’s standards every single one was earth-shattering.

They held a short ceremony in Archeron style before he placed his hand on Lina’s upper body and formed a dim red fireball.

The flames looked gentle, but this fireball had been powered by his truename’s energy. Once it touched Lina’s body, it erupted into a conflagration that burnt brighter than any he had previously cast. Everyone bowed their heads and started singing an old, bleak war song. The song itself was fairly short, but it was sung repeatedly and hearkened back to the times when each Archeron struggled just to survive.

When the flame finally died down, the world no longer had a Dragon Mage. The only thing left in the grave was ash, and Kaloh who had been circling above finally let out a pained roar as he ripped space apart and returned home.

From start to end, Richard had remained silent without shedding a single tear. Neither did his followers, nor even Asiris and Senma.

There was no need for tears when an Archeron left the world. 5;74

## Revisiting

Senma had entered his residence at some point, and was waiting for him on a rocking chair. Leaving the city had just been a trap; Richard could have caught the man regardless, but it would have taken more effort.

“Go pack,” he said as he walked out, “We’re going to Lina.”

Senma nodded, moving away quickly. They were standing before Lina’s tombstone that same sunset, looking at the resting ground that was just as beautiful as before. He squatted in front of the tombstone and brushed away a thin layer of dust, taking out a star-shaped badge and placing it in front. There was a pain-warped face in the centre, Stardragon’s face.

Senma raised an eyebrow upon seeing the badge. It was clearly a powerful rune with a legend’s soul sealed within; it was grade 6 at minimum.

“The bastard who killed you is dead, I’ve turned him into a magic soul and sealed him here. He’ll suffer for eternity, so rest well. I’ll come see you again when I have time.” Softly stroking the tombstone, Richard sighed before turning around to leave. Senma glanced at that badge and waved goodbye, following him away.

## References

1. ↑ ?
2. ↑ Book 8, Chapter 99