Kingdom's Bloodline, page 218
The police officer activated his Power of Eradication, trying to fight back one last time. But his enemy's elbow was like the most terrifying weapon that struck the left part of his back viciously.
*Bang!*
A dull sound echoed. The hit dispersed the Glory of the Stars.
Kohen's face froze, his entire body trembled, and he painfully spat out a mouthful of blood.
'No.'
"Don't move, lad," the newcomer said coldly in a heavy accent. "The Glory of the Stars originates from the chest… I don't want to smash your heart next."
Wya watched in shock, then he was pounced by enemies who came surging from both sides
Dizzy, Kohen felt lighter—the enemy had hoisted him up onto his shoulder.
'No.' His vision swayed. 'No.'
The figure stalked onto the battlefield… to where Miranda and Kroesch were having their duel.
"Miranda…" An agonized Kohen coughed up blood, there was no more energy in his body. "Run…"
In his daze, Kohen struggled and groaned out, "Run away… Such an opponent… We… Can't…"
In the next moment, Kohen's vision darkened, and he lost consciousness. Miranda glanced at Kohen from the corner of her eyes and saw him being hoisted on someone's shoulder. She even saw the figure... and her entire body trembled.
Kroesch seized the chance and suddenly thrust her longsword out.
*Clang!*
A sharp, metallic sound echoed. The equilibrium between the two masters of the Pegasus' Music ended there; both had struck in the blink of an eye.
*Rip!*
Miranda's expression changed. She seized the chance to jab her longsword into Kroesch's left wrist as the latter attacked and became unable to dodge.
*Bang!*
On the other hand, Kroesch spun the hilt of her sword to strike at Miranda's stomach.
Kroesch clenched her teeth. Miranda staggered slightly and was about to strike back, but then a sword came into view without a sound, and without anything blocking its path. The blade of the sword pressed onto Miranda's shoulder. It was Kohen's longsword, held in an enormous hand.
Miranda felt a surge of massive, unparalleled power from the sword.
'This is an inescapable stranglehold.' Miranda thought.
*Bam!*
In the next moment, the swordswoman was pressed to the ground by that massive force. The Power of Eradication in her body was in chaos; the Pegasus' Music had been disrupted.
Kroesch came forward with a cold countenance. She kicked away Miranda's longsword.
*Ka-clink!*
Miranda's longsword clattered onto the ground.
"Why?" Miranda could not endure the massive force anymore. She lay pinned down on the ground and spat a mouthful of blood. Still, she raised her head stubbornly to glare at the newcomer.
"Why are you here?" She glared at the robust and tall, white-haired figure and roared in fury and indignation,
"Kaslan Lampard!"
Before Miranda stood the pride of the Tower of Eradication, the legendary commander of the White Blade Guards who was also the owner of the Hero Tavern, and nicknamed as the 'Ground-Shaker'.
The old man did not say anything. Stone-faced, he continued to press down on the long sword while still carrying Kohen on his shoulder.
It continued until the soldiers of Black Sand Region came to take the furious Miranda and the unconscious Kohen away. Wya's angry yells echoed from afar.
Kroesch sheathed her sword with a poker face.
"The archduke just sent an order," the swordswoman said coldly, "He needs help at his location."
The old man turned and looked at Kroesch.
"There was an agile woman who broke into the battlefield and rescued that boy." She calmed her breathing. "A supreme class."
Flustered from the battle, Kroesch adjusted her outfit. The old man's gaze was filled with sorrow as he watched Miranda and Kohen get taken away.
A few seconds later, a serene-faced Kaslan said slowly, "Don't hurt them."
His gaze was filled with a deathly stillness. Kroesch raised her head and stared into Kaslan's eyes.
She said slowly, "Of course, Uncle Kaslan… Of course."
Kaslan turned and disappeared into dawn's fog. Kroesch, too, turned and gathered her subordinates. Soon, the soldiers of Black Sand Region left the ruins. It was as if nothing happened.
A few minutes later…
*Creak. Creak. Roll!*
The was a sound of rubble falling onto the ground. The sound became increasingly louder.
Finally, a hand shot out of the wreckage.
A silver-masked man covered in wounds dusted off the rubble that covered his body.
He held his fractured arm, and still in great shock, climbed out.
Eyes wide open, Ralf the Phantom Wind Follower panted heavily and looked towards where the people from Black Sand Region had left. He looked as if he could not believe what had just happened.
Chapter 191: Stop Meddling into the Matters of Elders |
'Blood…
'Blood again…'
Thales shakily extended his right hand and touched his sticky face. Staring at the blood on his palm, which was becoming icy cold, he felt that his breaths were not his anymore.
"Shield District is filled with their people… Despicable Northlanders…"
Aida's voice rang.
It sounded like it was coming from somewhere far away.
"Listen up, kid, even though the calamity was there… Putray dispatched all your subordinates to search for you; that cocky brat from the Caso Family, that masked mute who's always by your side, and even Starlight Brigade's veteran…"
The elf protector carried the second prince under her arm and advanced rapidly. Rubble, fragments of wood and even dead bodies flashed past the prince's vision.
It took Thales some effort to breathe. He turned and saw that Little Rascal was being carried under Aida's other arm. Grasping her glasses tightly, she looked stupefied.
"I was the only one who came to look for you in Shield District. I did not foresee such circumstances. What's going on with these soldiers? Why are they attacking both of you and the White Blade Guards?"
'No.
'They were not attacking me and the White Blade Guards,' Thales thought in a daze.
The smell of blood lingered in his nose.
This made him recall the gullies around the Abandoned House, and the insides of Giza's tentacles. They smelled almost the same as this.
'They were after King Nuven.'
"Say something, kid!" Turning a corner, Aida asked impatiently. "What on earth happened?"
'What…
'Happened?'
Thales felt tired and overwhelmed. He tried his best to put his memory in order.
He remembered Kentvida's smile; the sound of arrows being fired by the crossbows of the Black Sand Region's soldiers; the countless black silhouettes shooting towards him; and the numbness as well as shivering that extended from his scalp to his shoulders and neck.
Aida carried one of them under each arm, and they finally escaped the ruins of Shield District. Neat and undamaged streets as well as houses began to appear before Thales' eyes. Not a single person could be seen though. The king's orders for evacuation and curfew were indeed very effective.
The elf protector navigated the streets, which were in much better condition compared to the ones in Shield District. Taking a couple of turns, she skillfully and nimbly looked for ways forward.
However, Thales was still lost in the shocking memories from earlier on, unable to free himself.
With a fraction of a second on their hands, the four remaining White Blade Guards did not even have time to complete the execution of their attacks of kneeling down and raising their shields.
Instead, they turned and extended their arms without hesitation, kneeling and hugging each other in a circle. They protected Thales and Little Rascal with their bodies.
Thales recalled himself and Little Rascal hugging each other without being conscious of it. They were feeling frightened and helpless. Their visions were completely blocked by the White Blade Guards.
Then, the sound of countless arrows tearing into flesh rang.
It was just like the sound that the butcher in the grand bazaar near Eternal Star City's Western City Gate made. It was the sound of him chopping piece after piece of meat every morning.
Shivering, Thales trembled as he inhaled a mouthful of cold air.
He recalled the faces of those guards.
As they were ravaged by the arrows, their bodies trembled non-stop, and their faces became increasingly paler.
They glanced at each other, their gazes filled with hatred and indignance. He remembered how in the end, their gazes looked peaceful as if they had resigned to their fate.
It was as if rain and snow, instead of arrows were falling on their bodies.
Thales also remembered how those arrows exited the guards' bodies, piercing through their shoulders, necks, and stomachs, bringing blood along with them.
An arrow even pierced through one of the guards' head, exiting through his left eye socket. The warm, splattering blood dyed Thales' face red.
The bright red tip of the arrow stopped right in front of Thales' right eye.
At that time, with her eyes shut tightly, Little Rascal hugged him and cried.
With their eyes wide open, those guards coughed out blood. Some even flashed him relieved smiles.
They hugged each other and crumbled to the ground one by one, never getting up again.
"You must survive, citizen of the Empire." Thales recalled how a guard gritted his teeth and grabbed Thales by his collar. His breath was faint. "Protect her well and make them pay the price…"
He also remembered how one last, young guard rose in grief and indignation amid the dead bodies of his three comrades. With five or six arrows stuck into his body, he used his last ounce of strength, raised his blade and staggered towards his enemies.
He sacrificed his life and performed a counter-attack for the last time, delivering chaos to the bow-wielding soldiers.
Kentvida's furious scream rang across the crowd of people.
Thales recalled how he took Little Rascal by the hand and crawled away from the guards' dead bodies.
He remembered how he was in a trance and almost at a breaking point; and how the White Blade Guards who guarded their rear let out one last, sorrowful cry.
He did not even realize it when Aida appeared from the ruins beside him and charged out of the chaotic crowd with him as well as Little Rascal in tow.
Until… now.
With a glazed expression and a heart full of delirium, Thales turned and stared at the equally horrified Little Rascal.
Without realizing, he extended his hand to wipe off the blood from his face again.
The blood on his face had dried up.
He thought that the battle in the birch tree forest was hair-raising enough, that the breaking out of encirclement in front of the fortress was already an extremely close call, and that the duel with Giza was shocking enough.
But...
In the birch tree forest, Serena abducted him out of the battlefield. In front of the fortress, Arracca brought him to safety with his unstoppable charge. Even earlier, he was protected and escorted by Black Sword's fighting skills, his mysterious mystic energy as well as the strange Blade of Purification.
It was only until blood was shed so close to him, when the guards died one by one right before his eyes... It was only when the White Blade Guards were totally annihilated, and sorrowful cries as well furious roars rang one after another that Thales realized—he realized how despicable, painful and unendurable it was.
Aida suddenly stopped and put Thales as well as Little Rascal down on an empty and clean street.
They were standing at the corner of the street, but Aida did not have any intentions to keep going.
The cloaked elf turned and fixed her gaze on the empty street.
"What's the matter?" Still in shock, Thales raised his head and tried to compose himself.
"We're being followed," Aida's quiet voice sounded under her cloak. "I tried to throw him off, but it hasn't been very effective."
Her words were smooth. However, her tone was unprecedentedly solemn.
Thales' expression changed. On the other hand, Little Rascal lowered her head and stared at her glasses, which were covered in blood.
"So?" the prince asked probingly.
"So, the both of you should go first." Aida tapped him on the shoulder in a relaxed manner.
"I'll go find it." Her palm was bloody due to the blood of various people that covered Thales' body. She then rubbed her palms together in disdain. "I'll catch up with the both of you after I get rid of that tail."
Thales froze.
'You go first.'
He recalled the night at Red Street Market.
The girl wielding dual blades said the same thing to him.
"The opponent is very powerful, isn't it?" Thales asked absentmindedly.
"You're not confident in winning, and have no choice but to let us go first?"
Under the cloak, Aida did not move at all. She seemed stupefied.
Cold wind glazed past the empty and hazy street. The sun was starting to rise, illuminating the space with a faint green light, which was exclusive to the dawn.
A few seconds later, Aida suddenly raised her right hand and swung it at Thales' forehead.
*Smack!*
Aida flicked his forehead hard with her finger once again.
But this time, Thales did not try to stop Aida. Instead, he quietly let the latter flick his forehead.
"Huh?" Aida was a little taken aback by Thales' reaction. "Why didn't you try to stop me at all?"
Thales felt the burning pain on his forehead. He shook his head with a grave expression.
It was as though this was the only way for him to feel alive.
"Otherwise, you won't be at ease about us fleeing by ourselves," he said, feeling down.
Aida seemed a little angry. She raised her right hand once again and seemed to want to hit him.
But Thales did not move at all.
Aida's hand hung mid-air.
A few seconds later, she sighed in disappointment and lowered her hand.
"Haih, you're no fun," the cloaked woman said in resignation. "You're a dead fish just like Mindis."
"So it's true?" Thales inhaled deeply and said in a deep voice, "That the enemy is very powerful?"
"Hmph." Aida was as expressive as usual. She shrugged and threw her arms open in exaggerated motions to show how relaxed and nonchalant she was.
The elf fanned herself with her palm. "How powerful can a sneaky person who hides around be?
"As for you, stop worrying so much about adult matters." Fanning herself strangely in the cold weather, Aida said, "Besides, as a prince, you will have to grow up one day. I can't be protecting you all the time."
Thales lowered his head.
"Don't think too much," Aida's tone slowly became dejected, and she put down the hand she used to fan herself.
"This is a test for you from me."
At that moment, Thales felt a little sad…
It felt as though something was lodged in his chest.
"I get it." Taking Little Rascal's hand, he said in a choked voice, "We will go first and wait for you there."
'I'm used already used to it a long time ago, aren't I?'
Aida's tone became spirited again.
"Hurry up then. After this corner, go straight and you'll reach West-Express Avenue. Upon reaching the end of the avenue, you'll see the blockade. I don't suggest seeking out the patrols, because we don't know what their attitudes will be...
"Hide for a bit if there's really no other way. The others are looking for you too, and they'll pay special attention to children… You'll be safe when you meet people like Ralf or Wya…
"As for me…" Aida paused fleetingly.
"I'll catch up soon."
Thales lowered his head and did not say a thing.
The next moment, as if he had made up his mind, he dragged the stupefied Little Rascal by the hand and broke into a jog.
However, he suddenly stopped.
Staring at him, Aida tilted her head. She seemed puzzled.
"Hey, Aida." Thales turned with difficulty. "I know that you may not like it when I ask you this, but I really want to know…"
Aida put her hands on her waist.
"May I know if you're…"
Thales took a deep breath and solemnly said, "'The Oath Keeper', Mindis the Fourth's queen—one of my great great great… grandmothers?"
Hearing this, even the dazed Little Rascal could not help but raise her head.
There was silence.
Aida's expression could not be seen under the cloak.
A few seconds later, the elf protector sighed.
"Hey, stupid brat." Aida raised her head, allowing Thales a clear view of her unusually delicate, smooth and fair chin.
She flatly said, "Stop meddling in matters of the elders."
Thales froze momentarily.
He then pursed his lips and forced a smile.
The next moment, Thales grabbed Little Rascal and broke into a run without turning back. His figure disappeared into the corner.
Staring at Thales' disappearing figure, Aida inhaled loudly.
But she immediately turned. Her entire body trembled.
'That person's coming.'
Aida stood at her most vigilant.
She swept her gaze past the empty street from the corner to the roofs, and from the alley to the low walls, letting nothing slip.
'This is such a sh*tty situation.'
The piercing pain and numbness on her skin told her that the enemy was a ruthless person.
'How long has it been since I encountered such a powerful opponent?
'When I conquered the peak of Wild Vast Mountain with Keira?'
"Show yourself," Aida said flatly. "I can sense your presence."
Footsteps rang.
A tall and big figure emerged from the corner, appearing in front of her.
Aida's pupils contracted slightly.
"It's you." The elf exhaled. Her tone was filled with sarcasm and disdain. "The boss of the tavern."
