V2 Chapter 54
When the battle was over, the air around Cian, Sibylla, and Ruka started to vibrate and the cracked, like a surface of an eggshell. They immediately gathered themselves together. Sibylla and Ruka both stood at Cian’s side, holding the helm of his clothes...somewhat anxious.
“What is happening?!” Sibylla asked with a worried tone.
“This [Silent Sanctuary] or whatever it is, it should be slowly crumbling now that the owner had been defeated, returning us back into the reality…” Cian frowned but his [Eye] look at the front, and saw several translucent figures—like people standing behind a curtain. Because of the barrier slowly crumbling, Cian’s [Eye] was now capable of seeing past through it—but this brought another problem. Oriel and the other Demons are already standing in front of the barrier. Not only that, but a problematic character had also made her appearance. Although he was not sure but he was familiar with her aura…
What to do…?
Cian frowned and then his gaze turned towards Ezra’s body which was sprouting blood. No choice… Cian sigh and then picking up Ezra’s golden rapier, he stabbed it on his stomach—
“Aanuel?!!”
“Master?!!”
Two shock and panic voices immediately resounded in the interior of the crumbling space.
… …
By the time Oriel reached the dome-like barrier, the entire area was already thoroughly dyed with blood. The soldiers protecting her beloved little brother were by no means weak. Among them were even those with enough strength to join the Imperial Guards of the Demon Army.
But this……
“How did this happen?!” Oriel cried out in anger, her eyes turned blood red, even the sclera was dyed in crimson. Red vein-like marks appeared on top of her skin as she yelled out in question—a gust of wind circulated around her, along with a loud explosion.
“Where is my BROTHER!!!!” she cried out in anger as she turned towards the ones left of the guards secretly protecting Aanuel, kneeling with bloodied body and arms. They are trembling not because of pain but because of the pressure, Oriel was emitting.
Just at the middle of the market road, an entire mountain of corpses…civilians and guards all alike, they were slaughtered in cold blood.
All of them bore only a single sword wound.
Completely dominated by an overwhelming difference in strength.
“His Highness is…His Highness is currently trapped inside…!” One of the secret guards responded with a cracking voice. Baaang! His head burst out like a tomato being squeezed and blood sprouted like a fountain.
“Hiii!” The one left was terrified that he crawled backward. “Please forgive me your high—” however, he couldn’t finish his words as his head was suddenly severed from its neck, rolling down on the ground, still wide-eyed in horror.
“Aaaaahhhh!!!” Oriel yelled in fury, like a mad beast roaring. She rushed towards the barrier and punched it with all her power—but, it only created a loud explosion but the barrier still remained intact. “Give me back MY BROTHERRRRR!!!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Oriel’s hands were already dyed in blood but the first princess didn’t care and continued attacking the barrier with full force while screaming in anger and mourn. A nightmarish thought came to her mind: This may be their final separation or something those lines…
According to the report, the one who had attacked was the captured-turned-escaped Haaravar Empire’s youngest Sword Saint, the Golden Flash of Wind and known as the youngest but bearing the highest potential among the Haaravar Empire’s forces.
The Princess General; Ezra Redhawk!
Even with a stupid toddler would surely realize what would happen to the Second Prince now that he had fallen into the hands of this kind of person. And because of this, Oriel was extremely anxious and frantic—she didn’t care about the pain wrecking on her arms as she continued attacking the barrier, wanting to break it: Fist, Leg, Kick, Magic, everything she could do, she had launched it all towards the barrier but to no avail. In her vision dying in red, she seemed to see the usual back of Aanuel walking towards the spherical barrier, then he looked back at her with a satisfied expression before fading away…
NO!! NO!! Please stop!! Oriel’s bloodlust and insanity surged up.
“Your Highness, please stop!!” At this moment, several anxious voices suddenly appeared and from around Oriel, several figures appeared, hurriedly restraining her.
However, “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” Together with a beast-like roar, Oriel attacked the one who has stopped her and together with a dull sound, the figure was blown away. However, not long later, another set of arms restrained her.
“Release mee!!! I SAID RELEASE MEEE!!!” Oriel cried out, her eyes started letting out tears, but not just mere tears… but tears of blood! She struggled, attacked the people in front of her, wanting to rush out—she needed to break it fast and save him! If not, if not, if not…!!
Oriel was losing consciousness and was then replaced by a beast like aura—at this moment,
“What a troublesome child,” A beautiful and charming voice rang out and Baaang! Oriel who was going berserk was hit in the stomach. The attack seemed physical but when one look closely, the palm had yet to touched Oriel’s clothes but the magic power released from the hands, caused Oriel to almost lost consciousness.
“Cool down, child…” The figure towered upon her and muttered full of indifference.
“Blue Bird…r, ighness…?” Through her blurry vision and wobbling consciousness, Oriel turned towards the one who attacked her and saw a beautiful woman with blue colored dress standing before her, with a faint smile.
“Panicking and acting crazily at this moment would do you no good. Calm yourself… and set aside your tears for later—” Though I don’t think you would really need it—Blue Bird turned towards the dome-like transparent barrier that looks like nothing in a distance. But with its constant erratic motions, one can barely make out its spherical existence.
“This is a Sword Saint Domain Technique of the Human World…even with my powers, it would be—” Bluebird gathered powers in her hand and was about to strike the barrier, after all, even though it’s difficult but breaking this kind of barrier was not an impossible task for her.
Crack! However, before she could shoot her hand, the dome-like barrier suddenly showed signs of cracking and breaking—
“This is…?!” Blue Bird’s expression sank. The barrier-breaking only meant one simple thing, one or another—that which was occurring or happening within it had already ended!
Who won…? Unlike the other people whose expression turned unsightly because of a bad premonition, Blue Bird has this one thought. Different from them, she knows that the Second Prince that every person looks down upon and sees as a weak waste was in fact, not like what he displays in the surface.
He wasn’t a “coward” who kept himself safe in the hill while ordering his guards who protect him as a piece that he can discard anytime like everyone thought he was.
Deeper than any chasm she saw, and dark and mysterious as the abyss—the Second Prince was stronger than they thought him to be…!
And so, he would surely be able to protect himself this time.
But… this time, the enemy was a Sword Saint whose name covers the entire Continent like waves of a storm. So she wondered if the Second Prince will still stand up victorious against someone like her. If he would, then his power was much greater than she had imagined. Although, someone like a Sword Saint would never able to stand against her but that doesn’t mean others can do the same thing. Even the first princess Oriel or the Prince of Darkness Lucifalion would have a hard time dealing with this kind of person.
The barrier was slowly breaking, turning into countless shards of light shooting towards the sky and disappeared. However, when it did… Blue Bird’s eyes widened in shock.
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Even the people behind her stilled.
Oriel’s reaction was much fiercer—her eyes turned even more bloodshot and without any hesitation, she rushed forward, passing through Blue Bird, “NOOOOOO!!!” she cried out in a piercing cry. Before them, three people could be seen, while two females were safe and sound and only disheveled clothes and skins slightly cut but the one the most important, the Second Demon Prince, was lying in the ground, seemingly unconsciousness while being surrounded by a pool of blood.
Oriel felt her heart stopped.
Baaaang!! Sibylla and Ruka were blown away by an unexpected impact.
Sibylla was fine because she managed to react in time and was able to step backward, and placed a barrier before her, reducing the enraged princess sudden attack, but Ruka was much more pitiful as she didn’t expect anything at all.
The only fortunate thing was that she was slightly behind Sibylla so the power that hit her was much lesser compared to that of Sibylla. Even still, when she landed in the ground, she couldn’t help but coughed up a mouthful of blood, and her face turned pale.
Her chest heaved high and low, feeling her ribs been broken by several. But she didn’t dare say anything as she stared at the enraged wild beast-like woman glaring at them, all while holding her master protectively. All she could only do right now was to smile bitterly.
“AaaaaahhgggggggghhhhHHHHHHH!!!!” An extremely sharp, piercing shriek shook through the souls of everyone present in the area.
The sound waves emitted from the First Princess mouth rippled out to her surrounding as if it had substance. Everyone felt their eyes turn dark. Spectators watching from far away felt their ears buzz while those nearby felt like the back of their heads were struck by hammers…and they fell down, some foaming on their mouths, fainted while those who were luckily only felt dizzy.
What a very terrifying sound wave attack!
This kind of terrifying scream was impossible to avoid, it’s as if it could directly attack one’s soul.
Even the infamous Blue Bird was somewhat affected as she steps back in surprise. She frowned. However, Sibylla and the Ruka was much worse, they once again vomited mouthful of blood. Sibylla was dizzy slightly but Ruka was on the verge of fainting.
The First princess was truly angered this time…!
Not just mere anger either...!
It seems like the city will be bathed with blood from her anger. Even the next battlefield against the Haaravar Empire, it seems like the first princess would slaughter the entire army with no mercy this time—all soldiers, even including the two Generals who were present in the scene felt their back shedding cold sweat.
“No! No this can’t be happening! This can’t be happening!! Please, please wake up!” After letting out that mournful cry, Oriel turned towards the youth on her arms, his body covered by blood.
There were two holes on his stomach, a long one on his shoulder and a small wound on his cheek. He was unconscious with faint breathing. Seeing this, Oriel couldn’t help but let out a cry once again as if her brain and heart were being shredded from the inside.
Emotional pain flowed out of her every pore. From her mouth came a cry--so raw that even the eyes of the strangers around them were suddenly wet with tears.
Oriel cried as if the ferocity of it might awaken the Second Prince on her arms; as if by the sheer force of her grief the news would be undone.
He was her brother, her only beloved brother and he could not be gone. She had vowed herself to protect him, took him from the chaotic capital, and even from her mother’s asylum because she was certain that Aanuel would be safe and sound in her embrace, or so she thought—but then, this happened…!
Safe my face!!
His brother was hurt like this and was one on the verge of death …!
Is this her meaning of safety?! Oriel’s cry raises an octave higher once again.
The grief surged with every expelled breath, always reaching higher peaks, never sufficiently soothed by her long intakes of the damp winter air. Her golden eyes well up and tears streak down her dirty face, her lips trembling until she bites them and throws back her shoulders.
“AaaahhHhhHHHHH!!!”
She cried like a mournful beast, all while grasping Aanuel's body tightly in her embrace.
“Wake up! Please wake up!! Aanuel, it’s fine now! I’m here so please wake up!! Please…!!”
“Your Highness restrained your grief! He’s just fine! If you want to wake him up sooner, then let him received proper medical treatment!”
“?!! That’s right! Healers!! Where're the healers!!” Oriel snapped awake from Blue Bird’s voice and immediately cried out but before anyone could reach their position, a large magic circle appeared beneath them, shining with bright azure color.
Blue Bird was muttering something in ancient demon language that Oriel barely understands but this wasn’t what is important right now, Aanuel’s condition is much more essential than these trivial things.
From behind the two people, stood Sibylla and Ruka--the former slightly amazed while the latter was smiling proudly.
As expected of her master, he was not mistaken. Blue Bird, indeed, made her move and heal Cian herself. Thus, his life would never be in danger and he would recover almost immediately--although, the state of his wounds are not that really fatal, and most blood on him are all from that detestable human, albeit he caused himself to lose consciousness, still, with Blue Bird's intervention, no one would be able to know the true condition of his body. And therefore, he would be able to avoid unnecessary doubt and suspicion--the only problem is...
The thing would come after...
Interrogation...
... As well as, whether Cian would wake up first and save them (not necessarily Sibylla but Ruka specifically) from punishment.
Well, even if not, Ruka would be happy to give her life for Cian and for all his plan to come to fruition.
She had long been prepared for this kind of situation to arrive.
For her master, Ruka had long ago treated herself as a Lizard's tail that can be discarded, all for him.
... ...
Under the beautiful azure colored light of the magic circle, Aanuel’s body was slowly recovering in an incredible speed.
Although the blood in the torn clothes couldn’t be erased but the blood on his skin as well as wounds seemed to be retreating on Aanuel’s body, as if the time was being reversed. At the same time, Blue Bird was checking Aanuel’s body—she was very much suspect that this was just another of Aanuel’s ploy and he might also be pretending to be seriously injured.
However, when she did—what…? He was really unconscious…? She was startled.
How is this possible…?!
He had lost consciousness and his body was riddled with wounds—even if the young human Sword Saint is strong, with Aanuel’s power, he shouldn’t be in this state at all and lost to that inexperience young knight—was she mistaken…?
Blue Bird’s expression darkens and then, when Aanuel’s body finally completely recovered, the magic circle slowly dimmed and faded, then eventually disappearing.
“Your, your highness! Thank you,” Oriel’s sobbing voice muttered softly.
“Relax, Princess Oriel, as someone of Royalty, you shouldn’t be the one who loses her bearing in times like this.”
“I know…I’m sorry, I…”
“Save it up…” Blue Bird cut her off and said, “Take him back to the palace at once and give him proper care. He should be alright…”
“Yes!” Oriel nodded her head, looking at Blue Bird with a gratified expression. Picking Aanuel up from the ground, Oriel didn’t let anyone carry him and instead take him upon herself. She glanced at Sibylla and Ruka one last time, her gaze somewhat fierce and sharp and then turned around and started walking away.
Blue Bird remained on her position and then turned towards Sibylla who was supporting Ruka and was walking towards them.
“Where is the human knight…?” She asked, doubtful.
Sibylla’s expression darkens, and then she sighs, “She escapes…” she bit her lips.
She’s lying… Blue Bird’s expression turned sharp. Although Sibylla and Ruka’s expression look natural as they answered, even displaying some real bitterness and grief, but was that still enough to fool Blue Bird…?
Cian might be able to pull it off with his skills but for these two women...they still have a long way to go to be better actors.
Blue Bird’s brows furrowed and then her gaze turned towards the pool of blood that can be seen not far away from the Second Prince’ original position when they came—that blood, it surely belongs to the human knight. It was far too much for those degrees of injuries.
Then, this farce… Bluebird look at the figure of the Second Prince who was still lying unconscious on Oriel’s bosom… Hmm, it seems like my little servant is once again playing a very interesting game… but where was the body…?
That was the question... where was the body...!
If that young knight was alive or dead can be confirmed if there was a body. But, where is it...?
Bluebird's gaze turned towards the obsidian ring on Cian's fingers. There...? However, if that is true, then the young knight is already dead.
Unless one died, an Interspatial Ring cannot store a living being’s body…then, does it mean that the human knight is truly dead…? Then, why is he doing this useless farce…? He can actually let the guards process the body and wouldn’t need these ‘fainting’ incident.
Does he want to hide his abilities that much…? Even if that is the case, he could have just said that the Vandlehouse daughter and their cooperation have defeated the human knight…there’s no need for this farce, so why…?
What is this brat planning again now…?
“…both of you returned and tend to your wounds, I want to ask you some questions later…understand?” Blue Bird’s authorities voice rang out from within their ears, as Sibylla and Ruka felt their bodies tense up.
“Yes, your highness…” The two girls smiled bitterly and then started walking towards the soldiers where they were immediately accommodated.
After all, Sibylla was still the Second Prince fiancée, while the other was his precious personal servant.
Everyone knows how Ruka was treated by the Second Prince as she was the only servant that was with him every day and even slept inside his room every damn night…! This was not a secret...not like it could be hidden from the people since the people involved was not really trying to hide it either...
Blue Bird look at the puddle of blood and then look around—not finding anything else, she turned around and started walking away.
When she passed by it, the puddle of blood slowly froze over, turning into ice, and then, slowly disintegrating into countless tiny shards of red light flying away. After the puddle of blood disappeared, she once again turned around and saw nothing else, aside from the sword marks and explosion marks on the ground, there was nothing else, she turned around and left finally.
… …