IV. The Sleeping Beauty needs to be woken up

The four stood beside the frame of the bed where Mae laid. They felt sorry for the situation she was currently in. The frail body that laid across the queen-sized bed looked more lifeless than hanging on. The extent of injury could be guessed by the way you look at her.

“She was hit by a piercing spell one of the opponent’s magicians fired. The spell pierced through her stomach. The wound was so big that the treatment compared to the loss of blood she had did not prevent her being in danger. She had been unconscious since we have rushed to travel her back here at the demon palace.”

Morgianna explained what happened between the battle with the opposing members and how Mae ended up on her current situation. She was apologetic. She had been ever since Fred and Dax arrived.

Fred approached Mae. He reached out to her hand. It was still warm. It was better than arriving back at the palace only to touch a cold body. Dax knew all of this. Now that he’s I front of Mae all he could do is to cry.

Not only he had not accomplished nor discovered anything with Fred back at the ancient ruins, but he also did left the Thelesmata sisters alone.

That was the only trigger the opposition was waiting for them to execute their plan. The absence of the Patron made the ‘Diplomatic’ faction so vulnerable.

They failed to assassinate Mae Militum Thelesmata but it put the target to a comatose. Partly they have accomplished their goal, but their target was still alive. They could strike back anytime so the best course of action was to rush Mae Militum to the Demon Capital, the safest place they could hide her for the time being.

“At times like this…”

Dax tried to hide his anger, regret, and worry.

“What are you trying to pull Irish…?”

It was true, Irish and her loyalist have sided with the humans. It was one of the biggest factor of this incident.

The aim is justifiable by the human’s perspective. They have raged war and competition with the demon race ever since the beginning of the history books. With a huge composition of several half-half races, the demi-humans, march across the demon capital for whatever reason, either to have peace talks or to strengthen forces with an alliance, will be a huge threat towards their success. An assassination attempt towards their high leaders should led the nation at a state of emergency and stall their movement for a long span of time.

Irish might have not known of the human’s ploy to assassinate Mae, or she might be informed. But what made her to side with the humans at this point of time?

The timing was too perfect.

That was one the things Dax tried to figure out ever since they have left the Gargantua Forest.

“I admit I’m not yet on par with Irish’s battling capability as it was in the nature of her calling, but once you wake up, I’ll promise you I’ll get a clean hit punch at her face for all the trouble she’s causing…”

Dax crouched near Mae’s face, acting like trying to whisper something to her ear while holding out her hand.

“…so please wake up now.”

The door suddenly opened. It was one of the nurse/scientist that have been taking care of Mae and researching about the condition of her body.

“Oh. Milord Maou. Pardon my intrusion.”

“No, no, It’s okay. Ah… Actually, that depends on whether you give us good news or not. Just Kidding.”

The scientist had an unexplainable expression.

“I’ve come with the results of the examination of Lady Mae’s body.”

A light of hope.

Everyone had been waiting for this, especially Dax.

“Please, any hint. We could figure out something immediately.” –Fred answered.

“Yes, upon checking there had been mana residue that have scattered through her blood vessels, which have been circulating within her body since she went on unconscious state. This is bad. If we could not remove the remaining residue from her body for a few more days the residue will start to enter her brain too and she will be paralyzed. There are trained mana manipulators here at the palace but it will take a few more days to finish the treatment, which was the thing we are avoiding as much as possible.”

Dax looked at Fred. Fred nodded. A single ray of hope, now within Dax’s grasp.

The treatment is simple: Mana manipulation.

Back at their encounter with the high-tier spirit at the forest. They only way they defeated the high-tier spirit cluster was due to Dax’s mana manipulation skill that he executed when in Transcendence*.

This will be a surefire method, but there were also huge risks to take.

First was Dax’s mastery of the skill is too low.

Second was the complexity of an individual’s body, especially the blood vessels scattered throughout the whole body.

Third were the cons if they were to mess up. They could assume only death of the patient.

“Dax, you really need to surpass yourself and do this.”

Dax look at the unconscious Mae. He then looked at the nurse/scientist standing in front of them.

“I have to do it. I will do it.”

“Okay, Miss Scientist, please prepare the materials I’ll be listing. I will also explain the treatment process that we will be doing. It will need absolutely high precision and mana transfer process.”

“Yes Lord Maou.”

The joint operation group (Everyone at the treatment room) started preparing.

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Just like a princess from that awoke from her deep slumber, Mae Militum opened her eyes.

“Where am I?”

Mae looked around the room after she asked. There were a few people but she only knew two of them. It was Fred and Morgianna, who were having tea at the table near the window.

It was a huge room, huge enough to make you wonder how he did got in. Behind her were huge windows, covered with long silk curtains. The windows were left open so the fresh breeze could enter the room. It was refreshing. Along with the breeze outside she could hear the chirping of birds outside along with the sound of the leaves of the trees as the wind blows. The sound was so gentle and recovering.

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She still feels weak due to her recovering body. It was not like she had an amnesia or a part of her could not remember what happened back at the forest. In fact she could remember all of it. Of course she could not remember any of what happened after she went unconscious. It really felt like a long time. She had been in coma for weeks.

Fred and Morgianna who were having tea besides one of the windows finally perceived where the voice came from and looked towards Mae. Fred just smirked, in contrary to Morgianna who was so shocked and happy. Mae could only wonder how severe the injury she had was.

The two stood up and head towards her.

“Uhm… Lord Maou. I’m really sorry. I was such a heavy burden.”

“No need to apologize so much. Perhaps you should be thanking Morgianna here who did her best to drive away the attackers.”

Fred chopped Morgianna’s head beside him in a joking manner. Morgianna pouted and looked at him with a playful expression. What Fred did was simply to lift up the heavy feeling was lingering within Morgianna. She had been anxious all this time, blaming herself of what happened. Now that Mae’s wellbeing has been confirmed she should feel relieved. Fred just gave it a little push.

Mae laughed on a low volume. She could not laugh out loud yet. She just woke up. Her throat must be dry. But her happiness came to a halt as she looked at Morgianna.

“Ah… That…” –What she pointed out was Morgianna’s lost arm.

Fred noticed what Mae was trying to point out.

“Ah this… It’s quite unfortunate on our part but we’ll manage somehow. I’ll find a way to recover my lil sister here’s left arm.”

Being called a little sister made Morgianna blush. She hit Fred’s side.

“Ouch what was that for!”

Calling Morgianna a little sister, and also seeing how they treat each other back at the forest, Mae could only think of how much Fred cares for Mogianna. He had been treating her as a family, not a slave.

Must be nice to have a big brother care for me –she could only think from herself.

But still, seeing Morgianna lost her arm due to a spell which she used to drive Irish’s forces away, Mae could feel her weakness and being able to do nothing but be a burden. She was the target. If she could anyhow defend herself nothing of these would’ve happened.

“Oh by the way” –Fred cut her thoughts.

“Make sure you thank the one who did his best to save you. The situation was dire and uncertain, still he managed to save you.”

Mae realized something. If Fred was already there, then he also came back with two people with him. Ricardo the elite fighter, and most importantly, Dax.

She had loved Dax ever since they were kids. She still loves him now and she will love him forever. Dax went with Fred to his expedition towards the ancient ruins and now that he’s back Dax should be with him too. She felt a very long time of longing to see him ever since they went separate ways from the forest. How much had she missed him. She will never forget the warmth of Dax’s hand every time she holds them.

That was still a familiar feeling, even then. Even that moment that she’s feeling it. And as she felt the warmth from her right hand she finally noticed.

Fred gave a smirk.

“Come, Morgianna, let’s leave them for a while. They will have a lot to talk about.”

Fred moved towards the door. Morgianna gave a bow towards Mae and followed Fred.

After the two left it was just Dax and Mae.

Dax never let go of her hand ever since the operation succeeded. He had been there for a few more days that Mae took to finally recover.

“Ehem!!” –Mae tried to wake Dax up. He went up in response and was too shaken. He was still asleep when Mae woke up.

“Huh?! What?! Who?!”

“Hahaha!! What are getting you too shaken up for? That battle already ended… And here I am, still alive. I told you before I won’t die young right?” –Mae tried to joke about what happened.

Dax looked at her in a face of relief.

“I thought I… I was afraid… I was… I’m sorry. I was away when this happened. I’m not able to protect you…” –Dax was crying. He couldn’t hide the gladness he was feeling at that moment. He have waited for days for Mae to finally wake up.

“Now don’t be. You did everything to save me right?”

“There was this— Then that— Then I was suddenly needed to do this, and that— And I did my best and— It went fine.”

“Gosh what will I do with you. Hahaha! You need to relearn your speech, seems like you need a teacher. Want me to teach you?”

The operation went for a whole span of ten hours. Along with a skilled mage from the demon palace to pinpoint the location of the mana, Fred who used his Transcendence* and mana manipulation ability tried everything to extract the mana debris flowing all throughout Mae’s blood veins. Even if they have secured ninety percent of the debris extraction as a safety threshold for Mae’s body, Dax still pursued to recover everything. Of course Fred had been transferring mana to Dax for him to keep up his Transcended form and keep up with the operation. It was the longest ten hours of Dax’s life.

Seeing the fruit of the successful operation which they risked everything with, Dax could not hide his happiness now that Mae woke up.

“Seriously, I’m sorry this happened. It was due to lack of experience, foresight and will.” –Mae apologized.

Mae could only ask herself about the decisions she made and where it went wrong.

Everything was fine until all of those events happened. Why did Irish decided to side with those planning to assassinate Her? Did they threaten her with something? Is she planning to side with the humans from the very start?

They went to the Demon Capital to advocate peace talks between the demons and the demi-humans, initially due to Mae’s request. Considering the option of joining the joining the war and choosing sides was option #2 for them. Plotting an assassination attempt with one of the leaders, being led by another one of the leaders was not a very smart move.

Bearing that in mind, the painful expression can’t be painted on Mae’s face as she cried.

“I’m really a useless sister, a one who can’t even decide who to trust even though her sister already betrayed her. A part of me still believes in her, that she would come back to us.”

Dax went near Mae and placed his forehead towards hers.

“Quit thinking too much. We haven’t been sure of her real intentions. For now let’s just focus on your recover. Don’t worry, when we get her back I’ll make sure to get a punch on her good looking face for what she did to you.”

Dax smiled.

This was the Dax that she loves. Quite simple, dense, and always thoughtful. She needed to convey her feelings in the most direct way if she wanted to progress with him. The timing was perfect, all Mae needed to do was to act, and she chose to.

In the heat of the moment Mae blushed. And pushed herself towards Dax. She pressed her lips with him. Dax welcomed it without opposing. It was a quick one, perhaps Mae was too embarrassed. She pulled out of being close to Dax. She was bright read.

“Th-Th-That was… Uhm… how will I explain it?”

“…” –Dax looked at her.

“I know there’s Irish, and all of the other stuff. Perhaps we both share the same feelings too. I’m not trying to pull out one ahead of her, but I feel like this is the right time to convey my feelings. Dax… I—I—I’ve been in love of you for a long time already.”

Mae looked at Dax. He was smiling, like teasing her of her feelings.

“No—Nooo!! You already know!! Since when?!! AAAAAAAA” –Mae lost her sense of speech.

“To be honest I didn’t know up till recently, not until that stupid Maou told it to me directly. I was really hoping to hear a direct confession from someone but he spoiled it on me. Well what can I do, it’s already here.”

“UWAAAAAAAH!! I’m so embarrassed.”

“For the record he told me Irish loves me just as much as you too.”

The conversation Fred and Dax had at the road towards the ancient ruins, were true. Mae had confessed to him. Probably Irish would if she was there too.

“Please forget everything that happened!!” –Mae was still trying to retract her decision.

“Sigh… what if I won’t?”

“Eh? What?”

“I mean, it’s not like I decided yet, but after all the things that Irish have done. I will be needing an explanation from her first. Things will be different now. I promise you I will protect you as long as I’m alive.”

Mae’s eyes widened. It was not a direct answer but Dax have already decided to choose her by the looks of it.

“I-I-It’s not like I didn’t like the kiss though…” –Dax tried to hide his embarrassment too.

Mae wiped the tears in her face.

“It seems like it will be the two of us from now on.” –She joked on Dax.

“Yea,”

Dax looked at scenery that could be glanced past the thin curtains that hang from the wall. The wind that tried to enter the window that moment was so refreshing that it relieves them of all the pent up stress and worries they had for a long time. Irish was not with them to feel the same way as they are at that moment. It had always been the three of them when they experienced things like this. Now it was only the two of them. For whatever reason they could think with as to why Irish have made that decision, they try to shove it away for that very moment and just think of themselves: one who will continue to show her love and affection towards Dax, and one who will try to accept Mae Militum Thelesmata as a woman and support her for the rest of his life.

What a scenery…

“Ssssh!! What will we do if they hear us!”

“Hey I can’t hear let me closer”

“Master… I realy think we should not be doing this.”

“Hey don’t push!!”

Dax could already hear faint voices from behind the door outside.

“Wha—Who touched my butt?!”

“Hey don’t push!! Don’t push!!”

SLAM!!

And the eavesdroppers finally popped out of the door and fell towards the ground. It was the tutor, Ricardo, Dax and Morgianna.

Fred looked up towards the two and said, “Smooth as fuck moves, Dax.” While giving a thumbs up.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” –screamed the embarrassed Mae as Dax just sighed.

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