Foresight activated. Looking 5 minutes into the future. Viewing time: 5 seconds [https://i.imgur.com/fTGOcU5.png]
Her head is spinning, there’s a pounding at the back of her eyes that’s threatening to reduce them to mush, and the excessive amounts of food she’d consumed earlier are dangerously close to reversing their path.
It doesn’t help that Lexi sees herself getting stabbed through her chest in the library, and the sight of herself bleeding and whimpering as more knights approach with swords drawn actually makes her throw up at last, doubling over and retching all over the cold stone floors, splattering partially digested food on herself and the unfortunate books around her.
“My lady.”
Heaving, Lexi tries to look up through watery eyes even as saliva and vomit drip from her mouth.
You’re...
In front of her - how long has he been there?! - is that mountain of a man, the one who’d carried her yesterday. His face is as impassive as ever - tanned skin taut, the deep scar running from his temple across thick lips to reach his chin still angry despite it no doubt being an old injury.
That's a fight I can't win. Not when I have zero attacking skills and haven't worked out in years. And especially not when he's armed and has his buddies backing him up.
How much time’s passed? Is this why I got caught in the library? Or did I try something else in that future? I’m sure I would’ve used Foresight, which means I would’ve tried to find a way to save myself. Did I try to make a run for it? No, I’m not that dumb, wouldn’t do that when there’s a whole bunch of angry armed knights out for blood. Maybe I tried to find another way out, looked for another door? Didn’t see one on my way here though. With my Charisma stat I most likely tried to negotiate, tried to prove I’m not this ‘demon’ person, maybe asked to speak to their boss then ended up stabbed near the door because I couldn’t get through to them with reason.
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Lexi straightens and steps back before darting deeper into the library - to buy time and increase distance from that location in her vision - mind racing as she tries to think of a way to escape that doesn’t involve going near the group of knights rows away.
There is none.
The library is on the third floor of an isolated wing of the castle, down a single corridor currently teeming with armored knights - running is absolutely not an option, since she’d have to fight her way out. Leaping out the window is out of the question for someone as physically weak as her. And reasoning is probably not a good idea too, let alone hoping for another door, given what Lexi assumes she’d tried in that future she’d foreseen.
No.
She’s unsettled enough from the vision of her death and the giant knight’s appearance that something cold begins to grip her heart, even as self-preservation instincts continue to search for a solution, a way out. Distracted by her thoughts and the after effects of using Foresight and throwing up, Lexi barely stops herself from stumbling and crashing into shelves, pace slowing as she feels another wave of nausea and tries to tamp it down.
Is this where it ends?
> ’First time usage of package permanently disqualifies player from quitting game.’
That probably means there’s no way home for her, no way to leave this world.
What would happen to her if she were to be killed then? Would she respawn, turn into some sort of creature, be trapped in some form here to suffer endlessly?
Her rebellious nature kicks into overdrive.
I REFUSE.
The mountain is suddenly right there in front of her, and in the blink of an eye she’s being lifted abruptly as the knight - irrationally she wonders why he isn’t covered entirely in metal armor - turns and strides towards his peers.
Hell no!
Trying to break the grip of large hands by grabbing fingers and pulling backwards as hard as she can, she realizes she’s still holding onto the book and briefly considers using it as a weapon before her feet touch the ground and then the giant knight is standing in between her and the others.
Huh? This…wasn’t in the vision.
“Vice! What the hell are you doing?!”
“You’ve been bewitched by the demon!”
“What makes you think this lady is a demon?” Now that she’s listening to him properly, the giant’s tone is smoother than his rough appearance belies, with impeccable enunciation and an almost melodic lilt.
“Vice! Don’t you know anything about history?” It’s Dome, based on the voice. Peeking out from behind her unexpected protector, Lexi doesn’t know why she bothered when they’re all wearing those scary looking helmets. “The last time a white haired, blue eyed time mage appeared from the forest, the world was destroyed!”
Bloody idiot.
To immediately assume that someone who happens to share the same hair and eye color, and happens to have the same attribute...
“There are other Alchemists and Sages in the world.” Vice actually sounds quite cultured, the more he speaks.
I guess Alchemists and Sages have time magic. Or maybe they’re all white haired and blue eyed.
With such a solid person in front of her, Lexi starts to calm down, looking around to try and think of a way out that doesn’t involve her getting skewered.
Nope.
It’s a dead end, and too much of a leap for someone like her. To be fair, she doesn’t think even this gigantic, muscular knight would survive such a fall unscathed.
Unless he has skills? That healer was an NPC because she had normal eyes, and she could cast healing spells, so that means the people of this world can use magic as well.
I didn’t see him in that scene when I was being stabbed. Which means I probably tried to run from him that time? Or maybe he stepped back when I was reasoning with these guys. I don’t know how many minutes it’s been since I used the skill, but if this guy’s here then things are already different.
Maybe, just maybe, if this man helps me...
“None of them came out of the forest with white hair and blue eyes!” The helmet does nothing to hide the shrill shrieks. Lexi doesn’t need to look to know that spittle is probably flying from that rabid mouth. “That demon you’re protecting is exactly the same as the one who...”
Whatever it is the moronic madman wants to say next, Lexi never finds out. A painful sound resonates as another helmet is swung full force at the back of Don’s metal head, the man going down loudly on solid stone, and then the knights are yelling and turning around to see...
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Alric?” It’s spoken almost incredulously, muffled somewhat by a full face visor, but Lexi can tell it’s the captain.
“Captain Clint Marianna.” Lexi’s eyes widen further. The Eric she’d met yesterday had been a cheerful young knight with innocent eyes, a warm smile, and a friendly demeanor.
The man standing before them all now, dressed in leather and cotton and metal like the hulk protecting her, would never be mistaken as cheerful, innocent, warm, or friendly. His brown eyes - so wide and childlike yesterday - are narrowed and flint-like; that expressive face is hardened and closed off though no less handsome, thin lips set in a line instead of a curve as they always had before; a hand resting on the hilt of his sword while he moves into position between the mountain and the madmen with a feline grace that’s also distinctly predatory.
He’s dangerous.
Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to be his target, if the deliberate turning of his back on her is any indication, and Lexi lets out the breath she’d been holding.
“You...what is this madness?!” The captain has removed his own helmet, and though his hair’s a mess his voice is now clear and booming. “How dare you strike your comrade, the viscount’s nephew?!”
Ah, another nepo baby.
The redhead doesn’t even deign to answer, but the air seems to chill and Lexi can only assume it’s his doing somehow. Then he moves, as does her large protector, both of them pulling something out of their jackets and holding them out slightly - the sight of whatever it is makes the captain’s eyes bulge almost comically as he sputters. There are gasps, murmurs, nervous movements from the previously murderous men in metal, and now Lexi is really curious and confused.
“Si...sirs! I apologize for my rudeness, sirs!” Captain Mario stiffens and bows hastily, that action prompting every other knight to do the same.
Oh? Are these two actually some super special knights?
She hears it then, the whispers from the corridor.
“The Hawk Legion!”
“Imperial Knights!”
“Those stars on the medals...”
“Commander and vice-commander??”
“But isn’t Alric only eighteen?”
That last comment makes Lexi roll her eyes at the sheer idiocy of assuming age is an absolute indicator of ability.
Some things never change.
“My vice-commander and I are leaving with the player. Now.”
No need for ice magic with this guy around.
It’s clear that Captain Clunk is at a loss, torn between his master’s nephew and a knight of (Lexi assumes) infinitely higher rank. As the older man dithers, Eric takes a casual step forward.
The effect is immediate, soldiers of the viscounty backing up hastily and bumping into each other like complete noobs.
Wow.
A gloved hand the size of a dinner plate on her shoulder startles Lexi, and she jumps slightly as she stares up at green eyes looking down at her.
“Stay close, my lady.”
Nodding, because her voice is caught in her throat, she shuffles a little closer to the reassuring presence and tries to stay in step as they move towards the doorway.
“What’s going on here?”
Late to the party, aren’t we?
Just WHAT is it you do during the day, old man?
Once again, the viscount appears disheveled, clothes askew even as he strides forward in that narrow corridor with armored knights trying to squeeze themselves into the walls.
“Viscount Seffran of Brego.” At those soft but authoritative words, the master of the house freezes in place, eyes darting nervously about before landing on her - peeking out from behind her mountainous protector - and then glaring accusingly at Captain Cluck.
“My lord, this...”
A weathered hand waves dismissively, before turning back to the tall redhead, composure regained. “Explain yourself, Alric Arielle.”
There’s no response, save for the rustling of fabric and the creak of light armor, then the viscount steps back slightly, swallowing visibly as dark eyes widen. “You...”
“You will address Commander Eric Tridentia of His Majesty’s Imperial Knights’ Hawk Legion with respect.” The huge, hulking man’s voice really doesn’t match his appearance at all.
A mousy mustache flaps as thin lips gape and close and gape again wordlessly, before a thin voice wheezes out proper greetings.
“We’re taking the player to the capital.”
Eric doesn’t even bother responding to the sycophantic words and gestures, striding forward once more. Lexi hurries to keep up with the ridiculously long strides of the walking boulder next to her, trying not to trip over the hems of her dress and robe, glad that she’d refused high heels and opted for flat booties instead.
“Wait! Commander!”
What the hell does this idiot want NOW?
The corridor is narrow, and the giant takes up most of it, which means Lexi’s left arm brushes metal with every step. It’s making her nervous, being so physically close to the men who’d just tried to kill her for no reason, and she really wants to get away now.
“You dare command me?”
She doesn’t need to look to know that the viscount is probably quaking in fear at the tone. Her own knees tremble slightly, and she isn’t even the target.
“I..I...I apologize, Commander! Please, please forgive me!” Daring a peek, Lexi turns slightly and wants to throw up again at the groveling, submissive stance the viscount has adopted. “It was not my intention to impose myself on His Majesty’s will, please be generous, Commander!”
Her ears pick up a slight huff coming from the redhead further along the corridor, and her instincts start to whisper that sparing the noble on the ground is a very bad idea. She’s not sure why - the man had had her well taken care of, hadn’t shown his face until now, seemed unaware of what was happening until the commotion...
No. Not unaware.
It’d been the viscount who’d ordered the maid to take her to the library, this secluded room in a tower located at the end of a single corridor. And though Dong was his nephew, the ultimate authority to mobilize the knights could only have come from the nobleman who tries to hide the glint in his eyes as he speaks again.
“Commander, I humbly beg of you to allow House Brego to provide the player with some comforts to ease her journey.” The way those eyes flick to her before he lowers his head makes her instincts scream louder, and she doesn’t need to use her last remaining MP on Foresight to know that she needs to run away as quickly as possible.
“Denied.”
She gets only a split second look at the clenching of fists, the shock and anger on a face that snaps up, before her large escort wraps a thick arm around her shoulders and begins to pull her along.
They sensed it too.
Grabbing a fistful of silk, Lexi raises her hems and steps up the pace, heart rate spiking from exertion and the knowledge that they have to escape, they have to get away from House Broken immediately or else.
Should I use Foresight to check? I didn’t see this scene since it showed me getting stabbed in the library, but I don’t know if I can use it while moving. Probably not a good idea to try right now if I end up puking again.
They’re almost at the foyer when it happens. She trips on a stair, feels something fly dangerously close past her ear, hears the clang as a dagger misses its mark and clatters along the floor uselessly.
What...
Lexi doesn’t even have time to react before she’s bodily lifted, and then the two Imperial Knights are sprinting out into the courtyard, swords drawn as the calls to stop them resound and the thumping of boots fills the air.
It’s dizzying, being carried like this after throwing up earlier, especially as her escort spins on occasion to swing his sword at things she doesn’t see, the unfamiliar sounds punctuating shouts and cries, the scent of blood making her even more nauseated...
Oh my GOD!
She knows it’s an idiotic thing to do in a situation like this, a sign of weakness, but she’s never seen a human body look like that in real life, so Lexi squeezes her eyes shut and tucks her chin into her chest as much as she can while being jostled and spun like a rag doll in a malfunctioning washing machine.
Breathe. Just breathe.
Some days it’s easy to get locked in her head.
Today is not one of those days.
“Ray.”
A grunt from somewhere above her on her right, and then it feels like they’re falling which makes her squeeze her eyes shut tighter, holding her breath as she braces for impact.
It’s not as hard as she’d expected it to be, though she does feel disoriented - like they’re rolling, but she’s held firm against a solidly built body - and then they’re running again.
Chancing a peek, Lexi cracks open a teary eye before both eyes widen.
WOW.
Based on the landscape, they’re safely out of the castle and - she twists as much as she can - putting considerable distance between them and their pursuers at an incredible pace.
Hang on.
These Imperial Knights are moving at a speed far too quick to be normal. Peering down at the feet of the giant carrying her, it looks almost as though he’s gliding forward on some sort of swirling, shimmering cloud as the ground rushes away from them and towards the castle.
Is this some sort of special skill?
Not that Lexi’s complaining. The farther they get from their pursuers the better.
Then her ears pick up the sounds of hooves and she wishes these two crazy idiots had thought of that.
There’s no way we’re outrunning horses on foot!
She starts to tense up again, feels her heartbeat thunder the closer the stampede draws, when suddenly she realizes that the man carrying her is closing the distance with Eric, gradually overtaking the redhead who’s turning around, something glowing writhing around his blade.
Is that what the webtoons call ‘aura’?
Even though trying to watch from this position hurts, since she’s not used to twisting her body so much, she holds herself as steady as possible and looks on as Eric swings his sword suddenly despite their opponents still being a distance away.
That’s amazing.
The shining tendrils she’d seen burst forth from the blade, charging towards their pursuers and rendering them a bloody heap of man and beast parts. The Imperial Knight doesn’t even bother waiting to check if his strike hit - after swinging his sword and unleashing whatever it was, he’d turned back around and started that absurdly fast run again, catching up in no time.
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CRYSTAL TOWER BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 3 END