13 Astride The Night

"No..."

Anasthasia eyed him with distraught as she almost let go of the stone in her hands, "What did you say?"

"I don't think I have, there were no records written in the history." Michael sighed

"That can't be!" Anasthasia's vision started to blur as she recalled the tragedy.

'What's going on? Our existence were utterly erased from the history?!'

Anasthasia had her arms upright, pressed her head from the throbbing pain. She winced, this alarmed Michael.

"What's wrong?"

"No..." She brushed off his hand, "I— " then watched how his hands retracted, clenched into a tight fist.

"I'm sorry." He drew back and assumed his usual position. Stared back into the dark sky, he shut his eyes and immersed himself into the tranquil forest.

"Don't be, I was just flustered." Her hands subconsciously doodled along Freidmirth's scaly body. She glanced only to see his firm nod; the Prince was calm— as though he was never scared of her.

'What could this possibly mean?' She stared at the pristine stone, then turned to his direction once more, "Well, going back..."

He hummed while eyes shut, there was a subtle smile that curved in his mouth.

"I have no idea what artifact you're looking for—" Her fingers twitched, stopped her doodles as she realized something else, "What about your kingdom's progress?"

"Progress?"

'I can't say the term 'technology,' or it'll arouse suspicions.' She nodded curtly. "You have that so called 'Navigator' in your hands, that mean there's quite improvement."

"I wish it was that easy," His smile dropped but not that severe, there was a tinge of sorrow behind his somewhat pale beige lips, "Apparently, it wasn't something that can be dealt with accordingly in this method."

"So not those 'strange' items that you carry? Do you think more time is needed?"

"To upgrade, yes." He sighed and opened his grey eyes, "Apparently, we don't have much time."

She slipped back the stone in her pockets before she spoke gently, "This artifact that you require would be—?"

"— Divine powers..."

"Divine powers?" Anasthasia tilted her head when she heard about his conjectures but then her eyes widened, she got a premonition on where this talk wanted to go, "Oh no, no, no, no!"

"If you're asking me to bestow divine powers, you got the wrong one." She crossed her arms. Her eyebrows creased even further.

"Why not?"

"Unfortunately I'm no God." She slowly handed the sleeping dragon to his arms without any retaliation. When it was all set, she stood up and carefully dusted off the dirt on her dress, "I'm just a normal human being like you."

He chuckled from the remarks, "You're not normal, that's for sure—"

"Excuse me?" She hooked her hands to her cinched dress, accentuating further her well-rounded hips.

"Let's state these facts." He shoved his fist mid-air, "You were on that ice for who knows how long."

"Absolutely! " She nodded as he looked at his finger, slowly raised.

"You beat this dragon here—"

"Mhm, definitely... "

"You definitely cured his severe injuries—"

"Uh-huh..." She had her chin up as she succumbed to her fantasy though not look she had a face crack, words escaped her lips got cranky, "But— But it was normal..."

"Alright, 'normal' it is," He rubbed his chin with his other arm carefully cradled Freidmirth, "I believe you."

Anasthasia inwardly cursed as she bombed this time around, she scratched her head from the nuisance.

'That was simply a 'regeneration,' I only accelerated the growth of his cells and let the nature takes its course—'

She dismissed her thoughts, "So you wanted to give it a try?" She met his eyes that glinted with wisdom, which sent her hair on ends.

"And I'm not an artifact, mind you."

"Artifact or not, shouldn't matter at this point, as long as you can cure His Majesty, the King."

"What? No way in heck you'll present me like this—!" Her eyes gazed deep as his clenched fists and jaws. She was so familiar with that gesture, and his eyes screamed utter desperation.

"I can't guarantee anything at all!" She harrumphed and averted sideways. It would be a disaster if she kept his hopes up. But her peripheral vision gleamed brighter than ever.

"That's alright. It's better than nothing at all." He slumped back to the trunk and released a heavy sigh, "It's been years since I have searched for one."

"Alright, time for me to freshen up!" She sauntered her way by the riverbed. Michael got the gist as he stood upright, then astride to the shadows.

"He might be gone, but I still don't trust men!" She flailed her arm up, which erected a couple of monoliths so high that acted as a barrier around her, "This should do."

She slowly took off her torn yet elegant dress and was hanged by the monolith's protruding rock shard. She bathed herself in the freshwater. She scrubbed against the muck that clung to her voluptuous figure. Her body acted automatically despite her mind drowned in thoughts.

'I can't make hasty conclusion if I never saw the changes myself!'

'This is absurd! Was my empire gravely forgotten?!'

'We boasted the rise of magic and advancement of technology. How can this be?!'

'The other races...'

When she finished her bath, she casually warmed herself with heat magic, then reached her hand towards the hanging dress. "This needed some cuts and shapes." She danced her fingers, released small slashes of wind that trimmed the edges with sophistication. It was effortlessly made as a mini dress.

"It's time." She snapped her fingers, and the ground began to rumble. The monolith crumbled and melded well with the ground. She gracefully walked back to the direction and met Michael, who calmly leaned by the tree, eyes affixed unto Freidmirth, who occasionally snuggled into his embrace.

'Fried doesn't care when he's sleeping.' She rolled her eyes.

"I'm back, let's go!" Michael nodded and went back to their way with the twins. They didn't dilly-dally further and reached safely. Liam generously waved his arms, face lit up with glee when they arrived.

"Your Highness, you're back!" Liam curtly bowed, but shivered as his gaze met Anasthasia's, "My Lady—"

"We have a lot of things to talk about, right?" Goosebumps. It was all Liam felt throughout his body; his soul was scared witless as he stared her cold gaze.

"Ahh! Y-Yes!" Liam struggled to utter such words. He had no idea what had happened. But one thing was clear, an impending doom.

Anasthasia sighed, 'Nothing I can do about it, really...' she strolled towards Levi when her senses tingled.

"I sense someone, elusive."

"Enemies?"

"Who knows," She squinted her eyes, "Several miles away from us— they are approaching fast!" She squealed from sudden fright.

"This is not good! Your Highness!"

"Levi, I understand. We shall assume our position."

'I would love to see how these guys fight.' She secretly peered them and smirked, "Too bad I'm with them, their enemies are my enemies as well.'

"They have encountered the wrong one." Anasthasia snickered with great malice. They momentarily froze and gulped hard from the pressure. They looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

She spread her palms and released a coalesced moisture, splashed, and extinguished the bonfire created by the twins. It was relatively dark, and utter silence dominated the area. Swords unsheathed, assumed the position for the nightly assault.

"They're here!" Anasthasia hissed, she bit her lip as her hands twitched.

The rapid rustles heard also alarmed the three; they tighten their hold on their hilts. Muscles tensed from inevitable trouble. They watched Anasthasia, and there was nothing but calmness in her face. She met their stares and smiled.

"I'll go first." She smiled.

'Five, seven, nine people— nimble movements. I see...' She knew their location. For her first target, his dagger glinted in the dark. She got tired, lurking in the shadows, a sudden vortex of wind formed her palms, pointed towards the unfortunate target.

'Wind shot!' A small burst of air propelled, deeply penetrated his heart. They all flinched from the surprising attack, but the man was in deep agony, no matter how he clutched his chest. He vomited a mouthful of blood and deathly convulsed.

"Be careful!" A man shouted in the distance, further alarmed the enemies in the area.

Anasthasia pounced, she waved her hand as she cast 'Blinding Light!'. For a second, the night turned opposite, and all they could do was squint and block their eyes with their arms. She took her chances as she coalesced flames in her hand.

'Frostbite!' The temperature of the area plummeted. The air froze and bound well with enemies on her line of sight, which caused few on ice sculptures!

"A magician!"

When they backed out from the vicinity, Anasthasia could feel the impending constriction on her neck. The attacker found an advantageous position to strike her neck.

It was just a subtle sound.

She knew then and turned around.

A bullet flew her way.