To Fight Back

"So will you now tell me? What happened during your trip?" Adriana stared at Astell, which he felt could drill him.

"We were ambushed by dark spirits. Some of my men got possessed and went rampage," paused Astell. "Those who were possessed began attacking us, which gave my men no choice but to fight back."

"Did you find anything then?" Inquired Adriana.

"Those possessed did not have mana nor used magic," answered Astell.

"It's like those who are vaccinated and not. They don't have resistance against the dark spirits."

"I agree. And those spirits were being controlled. Luckily, one of my soldiers caught an unconscious soldier who was possessed, and I pulled the dark spirit out before purifying it."

"And you found something unusual about it since the natural behavior of a dark spirit is if once they are pulled out, they will flee. But instead, it disappeared. Is what you were going to say," continued Adriana, and Astell nodded.

"We lost communication, and I must admit we were lost. It felt like someone had made a maze in the forest."

"I know who did it," admitted Adriana. "That bastard. I should have taken him down long before."

"Calm down. I can feel your energy rising," chuckled Astell as he thought she looked adorable. "Then, can you tell me what you did to save me?"

Adriana lowered her head and bit her lip. She thought she could prevent him from asking, but it didn't seem like it. But to begin with, she had promised him.

"Remember, way back before you got abducted by Issac, we had this kind of test. Where only three children from the Belladonna family would be kept alive," began Adriana. "During my battle against Issac, I thought I could avoid getting hurt, but it didn't work as I thought. In the end, my mana flow became abnormal, which led to now. This is why every time I overuse my magic. It would like I'm dying."

"And a way to keep your mana flow stable is to drink the blood of a unicorn," muttered Astell.

"Or for a light magic user to continually pour his mana in me," Adriana looked straight into his eyes. "You haven't realized? Every time you used your magic on me. My complex would return back to normal."

"Right…but light and dark magic don't collide. If things go wrong, you would never be able to use magic again."

"Which is why, as much as possible, you should not use your magic to help me," said Adriana, which made Astell frown. "Even if my life is in danger."

"I cannot agree to that," Astell stood up, facing his body towards the window. "There should be another way."

"I never said there isn't. There is someone who can help me. But she hasn't manifested it yet, and it may come because of me."

The future had changed so much that even the person Astell was supposed to be married to in the first place never went through. It was because the poison beauty was not how she used to be.

In the past, Adriana was somewhat like a bully or, rather, a villainess. She envied Leena Bryfiel, who was loved by almost everyone. And even now, it scared her a bit if Astell was going to change his mind and marry Leena.

If those two met in the first place. They might have ended up together.

"And that is?" Questioned Astell, who turned his back, not hearing a response from Adriana. He walked back to her side and gently wrapped his arms around her waist. "What's wrong?"

"What if I've been hiding so many things from you?"

"Then you can slowly tell me. I won't rush you or push you to tell me. So whenever you are ready. I'll be there to welcome you," answered Astell with a smile.

"And what if you don't believe my words?"

"Everything you say. I believe," Astell unwrapped his arms and looked at her. "Even if no one will. I will no matter how crazy or stupid it sounds."

"I will tell you another time…" hesitated Adriana feeling the adrenaline pumping through her heart.

"Don't worry. I'll wait," Astell laid on the bed. "Who is the person you are pertaining about?"

"Leena Bryfiel, who was supposed to manifest the powers from the Great Tree," answered Adriana.

"The Great Tree," muttered Astell, who immediately sat back up and was surprised while looking at Adriana.

"Yes, after how many years someone will receive the blessings from the tree. That person is Leena Bryfiel from the Forest Clan."

"How do you know about this?" Astell asked Adriana.

"When I met Madam Elphina. She told me there was another way to restore my mana flow," answered Adriana, who sighed after. "However, that is not our only problem. As you may know, I'm banned from entering their territory. After that incident."

"Wait…that day, you knew Issac was going to abduct Leena Bryfiel, but because you did that, it turned out to be me instead?" Astell asked Adriana, who seemed guilty even if she did not have to.

"Because Issac gave me a clue before, and some things needed to change if I wanted to stay alive."

Now that she told him. Will he start hating her? Adriana did not show it, but she was afraid. If that's the case, she doesn't blame him since he suffered.

"Then I'm glad it was me. Why are you showing me that face?" Astell creased her cheek. "If that didn't happen. I wouldn't have fallen in love with you."

Adriana was speechless. That was the boldest thing he had ever said to her. It feels like the longer she stays around him. Her expressions and feelings start to pour. Adriana doesn't know if it is a good thing or not.

"Anyways, I have to meet Leena Bryfiel. Though I don't know where to start. To make it worse, I'm banned from seeing her."

"I think I can help you."