It is said that Princess Kharla Dante Rusthia's heart was always filled with bad feelings...
Loneliness... abandonment... hatred...
Being a princess was never easy for me.
Always confined to the palace, living in the shadow of my father, it was horrible... I always wanted to be free, to travel the world as an adventurer. I lived almost entirely in my dreams, wishing for my life to change, but without the determination to change it myself...
Everything changed when a dim-witted beastwoman kidnapped me for no apparent reason. I ended up in the middle of a plan to liberate slaves from the elven forest. I joined a group with an elegant elf, the foolish beastwoman, and a priest with a terrifying aura.
In truth, I didn’t like this group much, but elf Raiza and I hit it off very well. I felt very comfortable with her and she made me feel part of the team.
I finally had the chance to use my skills properly. I was finally using them because I wanted to, not by my father's orders... then we arrived in Cuencas and I practically spent all my time vacationing, while Ester and Chizze did most of the work, and I spent my free time with Raiza.
After one of Ester's jobs, he ended up hiring a domestic worker. I met Trevor and his children, a loving father with two adorable kids. I received so much love from that family, and saw something I always wanted to see: a father giving love and care to his children.
I began to feel that everyone was like family to me, but my dream was to be an adventurer and my companions had plans to travel to Dredprism. I had to say goodbye to Trevor and his children; it broke my heart to say goodbye to the kids.
"Don’t worry, we will see each other again. Just be good children, because if you misbehave, I will punish you," were the last words I said to Trevor's children.
The kids nodded and I said goodbye to them. I noticed that my companions said their farewells more casually. It was understandable; they were seasoned adventurers and, on their way to this place, they had to say goodbye to many people. I wonder if I will also get used to saying goodbye...
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Now we have just crossed the border and have an important mission: to protect a very strange woman. I notice her white hair peeking out from beneath a black hood that covers her entire body; it is clear she does not want anyone to discover her...
We are escorting this lady in a carriage. Miss Raiza and I are inside the carriage, while Mr. Ester and his slave are driving the carriage and keeping watch outside.
My job is to use my senses to detect if anyone is following us. It is one of my unique abilities, I just need to be very focused.
But…
I feel uncomfortable because the three of us in the carriage do not speak. Miss Raiza seems somewhat uneasy since we crossed the border, but I’m not sure if I have the right to ask her about her problems, especially since I haven’t even shared my own.
The woman we are escorting hasn’t spoken to us, not even to greet us. I can even hear Chizze and Ester chatting cheerfully.
In truth, I would prefer to be outside with them...
Wait, what is this...?
“STOP THE CARRIAGE, WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!”
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Let's rewind a minute and follow the thoughts of the Priest with white gloves, Ester.
I had just read General Darlick's letter. We were on our way to the capital of Dredprism. The journey is long; I believe that even at full speed, it will take us a month to complete this trip…
We were on a barren road, with only a few trees in the distance. It seemed like a relaxing journey when suddenly I heard Kharla scream…
“STOP THE CARRIAGE, WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!”
I heed my companion's call and immediately stop the carriage. Chizze gets alert, climbs onto the roof of the carriage, and says, “Kharla, use your magic, Sacred Connection.”
From inside the carriage, Kharla recited her spell, and Chizze, with her enhanced stats, jumped off the carriage and began striking the air.
I don’t know what she’s hitting, but it seems like she’s fighting something. Since I wasn’t under Kharla’s spell, I couldn’t see what she was fighting.
Raiza exits the carriage and looks very concerned. “Ester, Chizze will get injured in this fight; don’t heal her until I tell you, we’ll need your healing afterward.”
Chizze is thrown back towards the carriage. Raiza catches her in mid-air. She looked badly hurt; my instinct was to heal her, but I restrained myself and waited to see what had harmed Chizze.
“What a rude way to treat a beautiful lady. It’s clear you’re more beast than woman… Wait a moment, a beastwoman, a tall woman with a ridiculous helmet who takes care of two cute children… Do you happen to know Miguel Ángel?”
I think it was that woman who fought Chizze. She was a woman with long dark green hair, her body covered by an elegant low-cut black suit. That woman had an air of nobility, highlighted by the tattoos on her hands, not on her body, just on her hands.
image [https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/078/867/745/large/duval-saul-34434324.jpg?1723300374]
“That person told me not to mention his name too much because he has many enemies. Are you one of them?” Raiza replied.
“That idiot is my brother. Well, half-brother; we have different mothers. Call me Eurisia. I only came for the person in the carriage. Hand her over, and I’ll let you go in peace.”
Raiza, still looking at Eurisia, spoke to the princess: “Kharla, use your magic on me. Chizze, I know you’re badly injured now, but protect Kharla. Ester, protect both of them and our client. I’ll take care of this bitch.”
Raiza prepared her rapier while receiving Kharla’s spell. “Well, the negotiations failed. Miguel Ángel will be pissed when he finds out I killed his little girlfriend.”
The two women clashed and began their battle. Eurisia used short-range offensive magic, attacking with claws made of mana that had the power to cut steel.
Here, the quality of Ellen’s work is evident: both the sword and the armor she forged withstood the attacks. Their fight was so fast that I barely understood what was happening, but I noticed it was a battle of attrition, and the first to give in was neither Raiza nor Eurisia…
It was Kharla herself.
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This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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Let’s rewind a few minutes with our princess Kharla…
Thanks to my enemy detection, I realized we were in danger. I shouted to alert my companions.
I heard Chizze instruct me to use my stat-boosting and control magic on her.
“By the power of the goddess, bless this person with bravery, strength, and courage. Give her the power that we all have in our souls and hearts, Sacred Connection.”
Using Chizze’s body, I could see the source of the danger: a beautiful woman with a dangerous aura. It wasn’t as unpleasant as Ester’s aura, but it was quite disagreeable.
At first, the fight was even, but quickly Eurisia took control of the battle. If this continued at this rate, that beastwoman was definitely going to die…
“Miss Raiza, this is looking very bad. I think I’ll need your help to defeat that woman,” I said these words in front of Raiza and the hooded woman, who was listening silently…
We exited the carriage and prepared to continue fighting. Once Chizze was defeated, Raiza made sure her body was safe.
“Kharla, I’m counting on you…” As soon as Raiza finished speaking, I cast my spell…
“By the power of the goddess, bless this person with bravery, strength, and courage. Give her the power that we all have in our souls and hearts, Sacred Connection.”
With my magic active on Raiza, I felt a strong connection with her, it was almost as if I was born to join with her.
At the start of the fight, we had the advantage. Even with how powerful that woman was, she was no match for Raiza, but I felt something strange.
I felt something was missing for our connection to be perfect, so I had to force the connection by putting in much more effort, but at some point, I simply…
broke…
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We return to Ester…
I saw Kharla vomit blood and fall to the ground.
I was frozen with fear; I didn't understand why this had happened. The fight between Raiza and Eurisia was interrupted by Kharla’s fainting. With the connection lost between them, Raiza showed an opening and received a direct attack that sent her flying.
Without wasting any time, Eurisia launched a powerful long-range magical attack directly at our carriage where the entire group was.
I had to decide whether to save the client or my companions.
I didn’t even think twice; I grabbed Chizze and Kharla and dodged the attack, letting the carriage break into pieces…
I saw our client’s body split in half, flying through the sky. It was a terrifying sight.
After that, Raiza delivered a direct attack with her sword to Eurisia, pushing her back and leaving her vomiting blood.
“I’ve had enough. I was only supposed to kill that woman; that was my whole job. It was fun meeting you, Miguel Ángel’s little girlfriend. Anyway, I hope we meet again.” Eurisia wiped the blood from her mouth and sped away.
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Rammus was in his office in Cuencas, sipping whiskey on the rocks while reviewing some documents. “Hey, don’t you think you gave that priest too much work with that escort mission?” Rammus was accompanied by Fernanda as he did administrative work for the guild.
“Quite the opposite. I wouldn’t have given that job to anyone but Ester. I’ve looked into him; he’s not just anyone. If he can’t get that woman safely to the capital, I’ll gladly quit my job and become a housewife. My wife makes more money than I do anyway.”
“Really, I don’t know why Olivia’s parents insisted so much that you marry and have children with her. I always thought she deserved a better man.”
Rammus relaxed his gaze and finished his glass of whiskey, replying to Fernanda, “We can agree on that, and that’s why I need to be a better man. Now I’ll pray that my friend Ester arrives safely at the capital.”
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I was crying as I looked at the unconscious bodies of Kharla and Chizze on the ground. I didn’t have the courage to look at the dismembered body of the client. I had failed; I was useless; all the work I did in the mercenary guild, everything I did, led us to this outcome…
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen from being kicked, leaving me breathless. It was that damn elf…
“Ester, get back to reality. You need to work now. First, heal Chizze and Kharla. Don’t use accelerated healing, just prevent them from sustaining serious damage.”
I regained my breath and, following Raiza’s instructions, began to heal my companions. However, despite my efforts, they remained unconscious.
“Good job, Ester. Now follow me.”
I obeyed Raiza and we approached the remains of the carriage.
I saw the client’s body split in half among the carriage wreckage. Raiza took the two halves of the client’s body and joined them as if trying to repair a broken glass plate with glue.
She rejoined the girl’s body that seemed to be lifeless. Finally, I could see her without the black hood…
She was an albino woman who looked to have not yet entered adolescence. What caught my attention were the flowers on her head; they were not ornaments like the flowers that adorned other women, but were literally attached to her skull.
Raiza took my hand with her left hand.
“The plan is as follows: use your degenerative magic on me while applying Accelerated Healing to the client. Don’t ask questions, just do it.” I didn’t think about anything, I just used my “Degenerative Magic” on Raiza lightly to focus on reciting my “Accelerated Healing” on the client’s body.
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It seemed incredible to me.
Even though this girl should have been dead, her body responded to my accelerated healing, albeit somewhat slowly.
She was definitely not human. I also noticed that her torn dress healed along with her body, and although Raiza was giving me her vitality, I felt dizzy.
Using two magics at once was too much for my body; I almost fainted, but the client held me in her arms.
She was still alive.
“Although your aura is terrifying, you seem like a good guy. Your name is Ester, right? I’ll remember your name, sweet boy,” said the client…
When did this woman with the appearance of a little girl dare to treat me like a child? Although strangely I felt calm in her arms, I think I was too scared by the possibility that she might have died.
“How much longer did you plan to pretend to be dead, old woman?”
“Don’t be rude, Raiza. I only did it to make that woman leave.”
Why were these two suddenly arguing… I didn’t understand what was happening.
“Ester, this woman is the Dryad of the South, one of the four nature spirits.”
image [https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/078/867/746/large/duval-saul-r23r3r3.jpg?1723300377]
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We delve into the deep thoughts of Princess Kharla Dante Rusthia.
That dream again… that damn dream once more. I am in the Rusthia royal palace. There are many people in the palace, but to all of them, I am invisible. Even those artificial servants look at me with indifference.
Is it even normal for me to feel so alone?
“Kharla, remember that you are no longer a child. Now you have people who need you,”
I recognize that voice… “It’s you, brother.”
“Remember that you are not alone and, please, take good care of your companions. We will see each other again.”
Wait, brother, don’t leave me…
“BROTHER”
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“Kharla, you’re awake,” said Mrs. Raiza. I’m no longer in the palace; this is the exact opposite: a somewhat damp cave with a campfire in the middle.
Chizze is sleeping in Mr. Ester’s lap, who, more than asleep, seems to be fainted from exhaustion.
“Mrs. Raiza…”
I notice a very strange white-haired woman beside Raiza. “Miss Victoria, what are we doing here, and who is this woman?”
“She is what is known as a Dryad, a forest spirit thought to be gone, but she returned to get us into trouble.”
Now that I see this albino woman more clearly, her entire body is aura. How did I not notice it before; usually, people have their aura separate from their body, but with her, her body is her aura. She is definitely not human and doesn’t have an evil aura; it’s quite the opposite.
“Raiza, don’t be rude. Respect your elders. Besides, you agreed to escort me to the capital.” So this albino woman knows Raiza’s real name; well, I don’t care.
“Ms. Dryad, what was that woman who attacked us?”
The Dryad says to me with a smile, “One of the heralds of the Celestial King Amber. I suppose I’m a nuisance to the demon king’s plans and he wants to eliminate me.”
I am stunned and start trembling, shouting loudly:
“What the hell? Celestial King Amber? The demon king? What the hell have you gotten us into? I wanted to be an adventurer, not fight against the four celestial kings.”
Raiza puts a hand on my shoulder and says, “You can rest easy, we won’t fight against the four celestial kings.” I breathe a bit relieved…
“Currently, three of the four celestial kings have been dead for a long time, although I was only able to kill one of them.”
I am stunned. “Wait, you killed a celestial king? What are you, Raiza?”
Raiza looks sad and responds, “I don’t think we ever had time to talk about this. I am the former Hero of the Kingdom of Dredprism, Raiza Corddian. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, but you joined the group without anyone asking, and by the time I realized it, I already saw you as a friend. I’m sorry for keeping such a big secret.”
Raiza bows her head while giving me her awkward apologies.
I have a lot to process. I think I was stunned because the Dryad pinches me on the arm, pulling me out of my trance.
“Ouch! That hurt, stupid.”
After the shock, I look at Raiza’s face. She avoids looking me in the eye, but I notice she is holding back tears…
Without saying a word, I start hugging Raiza. I think I have nothing to say; for now, I just want to stay like this with her.
“Hey, Raiza, you said that three of the four celestial kings are dead. What happened to the other two if you only killed one?” asked the Dryad. I hadn’t thought of that, but I’m curious to know what happened to them. Raiza takes a breath and says in a calm voice…
“The demon king killed them… They opposed the demon king’s way of fighting and wanted to end this war quickly and bloodily…
I suppose in the end, they had their long-awaited battle, but it was against the demon king himself. He tore them apart in front of a human army. Everything happened before a battle began between the celestial kings and an army of volunteers and soldiers from Dredprism against the forces of the celestial kings Sapphire and Ruby.
When the demon king arrived on the battlefield, it was the first time humanity saw the demon king.
Many soldiers saw their own deaths, but the demon king, to everyone’s surprise, attacked the armies of Amber and Ruby.
But his target was only the celestial kings. It couldn’t be called a fight; it was a public execution, with humans and demons as witnesses. Once the demon king killed them, he left without saying a single word.
The armies of humans and demons dispersed without fighting, and the war continued its normal course, advancing slowly as the demons gradually took over the continent.”
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I listened in silence to Raiza’s story…
So the demon king killed his most powerful soldiers. This is a lot to process…
But my decision remains the same: I want to stay with Raiza…
At least for now…