“Lady Genesis, you can’t sleep again?” Derill asked as he turns his sight to Genesis who is sitting on the sofa.

“My mind won’t let me even though this time is usually when I sleep.” Genesis answered as she leans back on the sofa while rocking her feet.

“Oh, now that you said it, it’s already past eight. Lady Genesis, what you do you find difficult and unsatisfactory?” Derill extends his thoughtfulness.

“Nothing. You, my servant, did well in your job.” Genesis bluntly said.

“Ahehehe, really? Thank you very much! How about Miss Alef then? What do you think of her?” Derill asks another question.

Derill stares at Genesis, trying to figure out what kind of expression she is going to make. The only reaction he got out of it is Genesis averting her line of sight.

“Hehehe, Lady Genesis, you tend to avert your attention to something else when you don’t want to answer something troublesome. At first, I thought you are cold as what Miss Alef described, however, from my perspective, you are just troubled on how to express yourself.” Derill said to Genesis with a faint and gentle smile.

“You look into things way to deep. Can you stop with your heinous talk? I can’t find the mood to sleep now.” Genesis replied.

“I’m sorry, I got too carried away.” Derill hangs his head.

“I’ll try changing the pace by getting some fresh air. Prepare the bed for my return.” Genesis ordered as she started striding out of the room.

Genesis left the cabin and stares at the sky with a myriad of stars sprinkled throughout the horizon. The night that blanketed the land emphasizes the charisma of nature that was further beautified by the moonlight.

Genesis could see her breath as the night seeps in deeper making the summer daytime seem like a lie. The breeze isn’t like what would the winter wind brought but rather, a refreshing gust mixed with the scent of the trees.

However, even with the natural theater laid out in front of her, Genesis shivers in as chill got the best out of her. She is aware of her vulnerability and her persistence should come to an end when its necessary.

She gently kneads on her arms with both of her hands. Her skin is cold like she thought and warmth slowly fades into the coldness.

“You are weaker than usual human so don’t even try acting tough.” Alef, coming out from the woods, said as she glare at Genesis.

“…” Genesis didn’t respond to Alef’s words and just stared back.

Alef knows that Genesis won’t respond so she really didn’t expect anything. Rather, she just nonchalantly remove the coat she was wearing.

“Here you go. Can’t have you delaying our departure tomorrow because you got sick.” Alef covered Genesis’s whole body with the coat. Because it was too big for Genesis, the coat hangs up to her knees.

“Hmph, heathen.” Genesis scoff at Alef.

“You jerk…” Alef fought back.

Genesis clutches on the coat she is wearing as she watches the serene lake that reflected the moonlight. The dazzle it brought is like dancing crystal atop of the water.

For Genesis, it was mesmerizing.

“She looks damn innocent and bit adorable if she keeps her mouth shut and her eyes gentle like this.” Alef thought as something else mesmerized her.

A minute passes by, two, three, five, and they keep their eyes lock on the thing that seems to suck their attention.

However, in an instant, Alef’s whole body reflexively moves as her very core was alerted. Her heart rate spikes up and her hand immediately grabs Genesis on her embrace as her first instinct.

In the next moment, Alef saw that there’s an arrow sticking out from her shoulder.

“Damn it!” Alef curses as she pulled out the arrow and started covering her body with scales.

Alef immediately faces the forest where the arrow flew and she immediately entered battle mode as she saw the numbers of her enemies.

A dozen or more she thought.

“Are they sent by the king of Mesola? They can’t use any more legal means to capture Genesis so now they are relying on assassins to do the job!” Alef inwardly thought as she tried to cover Genesis with her body.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“You lot, what business do you have with us?!” Alef shouted towards the group of men, however, their reply is simple and quick.

Another arrow.

Alef, realizing that these people are not even bothering for any negotiations, brought out her massive dragon claws and repel the arrows.

Seeing that their arrows are ineffective now, the assassin drew their blades and charges towards Alef. Their formation is all over the place as they spread out.

“I’m not some weakling. You guys are underestimating me by just sending this few!” Alef shouted as she sprouted wings and a scaly tail and charges towards the enemies with Genesis on her left arm.

Alef clashes with the assassins.

“Right, left, front, rear, and even from the top. They are everywhere and if they are carrying bows with them escape by flight will be impossible. Not to mention, I need to carry this woman.” Alef tried looking for a route of escape.

She found none.

“It will just be a ton faster if I get Genesis to use her staff. It’s not like she’ll be against it anyway.” Alef thought as she forces back four assassins that tried to steal her mobility by cutting her limbs.

“Miss Alef! Lady Genesis!” Derill, from the cabin, shouted.

“Ah, that idiot!” Alef shouted as she rushed towards Derill’s location.

The assassin took notice of Derill, no, they are well aware of his existence. After all, they’ve been spying on the tree ever since they entered the forest.

They know that they can tie Alef’s hand if they have more playing cards. Actually, Alef is also aware of that risk, that’s why she immediately rushes towards Derill.

Alef’s decision was correct and the assassins hold off their attacks.

“You moron. You know that there’s a fight that broke out and yet, you still go outside. Anyway, take this woman insi--!?” Before Alef could say anything else, her legs gave out.

“Miss Alef!” Derill shouted.

“How—No, it’s the arrow earlier…it was coated with something.” Alef concluded as she started sweating profusely.

Before she could even process more information, the assassin attacks as they saw an opening.

“Don’t look down on me!” Alef shouted once again as she forces her whole body to move, ignoring her paralyzed legs and swung her claws and tails.

Behind Alef are Genesis and Derill.

In front of her are the assassins.

“Haaa!” Derill charges with a sword in his hand and fought off one of the assassins.

“Oh, you should have said something about using a sword.” Alef said as she grins a little.

“Our village is deep in the forest so I and my brother are practicing with it if ever we encounter any savage animals. Now I can say, it paid off really well this time.” Derill said as he resumes his fighting stance.

“Boy, try to protect our lady here, alright?” Alef said as she once again dashes towards the clusters of assassins.

Spark started flying everywhere. Alef would occasionally use magic but because she will strain her reserve for her physical enhancement, she uses it sparingly.

She receives cut and wounds everywhere but she thought that mere scratch is far from being lethal.

It was too late when she realized that…

“They…are wearing me out…” Alef said inside her head as she jumps back to where Genesis is. She realizes that she is now covered in wounds and her breathing became ragged.

She’s one thing but, Derill, even though he tried his best repelling one assassin, is also tired.

The arrow that took her by surprised earlier is no proving lethal as she is feeling numb on her legs. How many seconds has passed already? She doesn’t know.

“Last resort…huh.” Alef muttered to herself.

“Hey, Archbishop Genesis, get your staff already and end it in one blow.” Alef suggests to Genesis who was only standing there while the fight unfolds.

“Now, now, we can’t have that.” One of the men spoke as he walks leisurely towards their direction.

“Finally…someone spoke.” Alef said as she got impatient.

“Archbishop Genesis, come quietly with us and your companions won’t get hurt any further than this.” The man said as he extends his hand.

“Hey, woman, get your staff already!” Alef persuaded her.

“If you move towards anywhere other than my direction, we are going to go all out and kill this girl.” The man said as his companions pointed their blades Alef.

“Hmph, fools. This woman’s lack of compassion will be your demise.” Alef thought.

“Okay, I’ll go.” Genesis simply said as she started walking towards the man.

“Good decision.” The man commented.

As such, Genesis started walking slowly with small steps.

“Eh…?” Alef widens her eyes and gapes her mouth as Genesis agreed. She looks back and saw the resplendent holy woman with a determined eye but also tinged with loneliness.

“You can’t be serious…Hey! You know what will happen if you go back to that place!” Alef shouted to Genesis with a face full of anxiety.

“I don’t know what you are up to but I know that the king will only turn you into his toy! I know…he will only turn you into his woman with the intention to violate you against your will!” Alef tries to make her appeal but Genesis didn’t stop walking.

“I…will lose her? No…not like this…not like this…I won’t let that happen…” Alef dug her claw on the ground. She tried feeling her numb legs but to no avail, she can’t lift them.

“It was simple and easy! She just needs to go inside the cabin to retrieve her staff, the Claimh Solais, and then she can wipe everyone here! No regards for anyone, she will definitely do what she thinks is the most logical! So…now…why…?!” Alef gritted her teeth as Genesis slowly approaches the man.

In Alef’s eyes, the world moves ever so slowly. She can see that Genesis expression immediately changes into one that full of despair.

Her mask isn’t made of stone.

It was crumbling…

Yet, she was so steadfast in her decision.

“…Like I’d let you!! Don’t joke with me!!” With a revived vigor, with her heart being squeezed so tight by the scene of a girl in despair, Alef forced her legs to move and grab Genesis away from the assassin and retrieve her back.

“You…” Genesis could only mutter.

“Miracle! You believe in miracles, right?! Ask for that from your god or something! At the very least, I won’t let anyone else steal my prey!!” Alef shouted as she glare at the assassins who scoffing at them.

“Miracle…is that so? Then…please…answer my prayers…” Genesis joined her hands and prayed.

“Miracle…miracle…” She repeated those words inside her heart.

Alef’s warcry enters her ears.

All she can do is ask for a miracle right now. I concept that she knows will always be at her side.

At the same time…

“Web Binding!” A woman of a short darken hair appeared and immobilized several assassins with her magic.