11 ✨ C H A P T E R T E N ✨

Chapter Ten

Turn the pain into power.

~*~

"We have surrounded you, your highness. It's best to just put down your sword and come with us quietly."

Lyma clench harder on the sword in her hands. There are about ten bandits that is currently surrounding her. And all of them are armed with three archers and seven swordsman. She can take care of at least three average knight, and so is confident she can take down at least five of the bandits but that is if all of them are swordsman. With the presence of three archers, she don't know her standing. And to make it worst, two of those archers are up on some tree somewhere around her with no clue for her to know there location.

'To survive this without scathed is an impossible feat.' She thought as she roam her look around them. 'Wait. They seems familiar.' She pondered for a moment where she must have meet them. And a memory came to mind. 'Right! During the Temple visit. They're those hiding in those small alleyways. I was right that they are not just some beggars.'

"I am sure you are aware that this is a crime against the throne." She reminded them.

"Yes we do, princess. We are very much aware. So if you could just throw away your sword and cooperate with us, this would be easy." The man with the long beard answered. Lyma thought that he is somehow the one who takes charge and lead the group.

"If I do so. What will you do to me? Kill me?" The man smiled viciously.

"If we can just do so. But your life princess has a greater value than our own revenge."

'What did he mean by that? Is he saying they would kill me?' She pondered. She thought about her choices. She can either go willingly with them or fight. 'I can just fight my way since they will not kill me. But the obvious power difference…' Then an idea come to her. It was an idea that needs a huge gamble. And the success depends on her control on her 'ability'. But it is also an idea that she don't want to resort to. As much as she wanted to come out of the situation alive she also wanted for no one to die, much more die from her own hands. And even though she's been having progress on controlling her ability. It is still something that triggers her bad memories. And thus, she knew that she is not emotionally stable enough to handle the pressure of taking away someone else's life. 'But if worst comes to worse...'

"So that means you won't kill me." She confirmed.

"But that doesn't mean we can't hurt you." The beard man replied.

Lyma look to her sides. The direction of the larger clearing is on her south-east. While the stream on her south-east. The starting point will also be on the same direction as the stream.

"What would it be, your highness?"

"Of course you have to take me by force. There is no way I'll go with you obediently."

"Then that's settled. Boys!" The beard man commanded and at the same time the men surrounding her simultaneously charged forward.

***

"The Inkanyamba is nowhere to be found." One of the knights reported.

"That's incomprehensible. How can a ten foot creature be nowhere to be found?" Gustave snarled. "Find it!" He barked. The knights immediately bowed and scattered to find the creature. Gustave massage his temples.

As he is in charge of the event, he is makes sure that nothing would go wrong. And as part of making sure that everything goes smoothly, he have stationed knights to ensure the number of the creatures that they have released into the area as well to make sure that if anything is to happen he will be notified immediately.

"Your highness, the knights stationed at the west side have not yet made their report." One of the assigned overseer informed him. Gustave hired people, aside from the knights, to gather and accumulate any news about the event. These are the people responsible to continuously report to him every twenty minutes.

"West side?" Gustave confirmed and the overseer nodded. A sudden jolt came up to his spine as the thought of no news coming from where Pandora have headed earlier. "Pandora. Call all the remaining knights and have them search the west side." He instructed.

"Yes, your highness." The overseer bowed and quickly leave.

Gustave walk back towards the royal tent and grabbed his sword. Then he walk towards his horse and mounted on it. And like a gust of wind he rode towards the west side of the hunting grounds.

At that same moment Lyma blocked the first sword using hers and drive it towards the side while allowing her body hit the person. She then freed her left hand and smack the person's forehead with the lower part of her palm. She ducked to avoid the other swords and used the person near her as her shield. "Sorry." She whispered as her sword pierce through one of the opponents. And at the same time she grabbed the pierced body in front of her and back away towards a tree. Just then she spotted the archer above and immediately ducked to avoid the arrows. The man's blood drip on her face as she use him as a shield for the arrows. She then let go of the body and move quickly towards another tree. She hid behind it as series of arrows flew towards her direction. Then she ran towards the direction of the base site.

"Two deaths." She whispered. "Ha. I don't want to use that ability because I don't want them dead. But what have I done? I already killed two person." She smiled bitterly as she ran as fast as she could. The remaining bandits are pursuing her just right behind. After just ten minutes of the chase, arrows started to fly towards her direction. Some have graze her arms and legs and one arrow pierced her left shoulder. She only made a grunt sound and continued to run. She can feel her shoulder throbbing and pain seeping through the wound caused by the arrow.

Lyma change directions. She ran from left to right and made use of the trees for cover. This made the bandits scatter and lessen the distance.

'That was a bad move.' Lyma thought when she realized that the bandits are already closing in on her. 'I need to hide.'

Because her body is continuously swaying from running left and right, the arrow piercing her shoulder shifts. And in return she bleed more and more and the pain and the throbbing intensified. Adding this to her body being starting to feel exhausted from running, Lyma knew she cannot last longer. Just then she heard a sound of horse steps coming from her side. And when she turn to her right, her legs gave up and she stumbled forward. She screamed when the shoulder pierced with the arrow hit the ground. Instantly her vision blurred and she can feel that her blood is rushing to her head. Lyma panted and tried to sit up, coaxing her throbbing injured shoulder.

"Pandora!" Gustave shouted and his eyes widened at the sight in front him. He quickly unmounted from his horse and grabbed the fallen princess. "Pandora?" He cupped her face with his two hands. "Pandora?" He called out again.

She opened her eyes and greeted her brother with a smile. "Brother." Her voice is faint and is almost a whisper. She felt tired all of a sudden.

His face dimmed as he look at her smiling her face with smears of blood. And his chest tighten when he noticed the arrow sticking out from her shoulder. "Who did this?" He asked with a hard voice laced with anger. Gustave turned her head towards the side and saw the bandits that are chasing Lyma. The men are standing just a few feet from them with their swords pointing at him. He smiled but it did not reached his eyes. In fact, his smile is cold and dark just like of a fiend. "You don't value your lives, do you?" He then look at Pandora who have already passed out. "Please hold on for a while, Mushroom." Then he kissed Lyma's forehead. He unsheathe his sword as he stood up. "Then I'll gladly take it."

Gustave is not as good in combat as the crown prince but he can still win over the best knights in the Fortalitia. His strength lies inside her his head. Vast amount of knowledge and a quick mind to calculate the situation and formulate a plan.

Currently, there are five men standing in front of him and four of them have their swords pointed at him. He also spotted the archers standing on the trees. "It was bold of you to ruin this event." He commended. Then he slowly walk towards them. "And harmed the only princess of this kingdom."

"Greetings your highness." The bearded man respond to Gustave. "Seize him!" He instructed his men and the four men in front of him charged forward.

Gustave quickly raised his sword and aim for the charging men. In one fell swoop all the four men fell to the ground with wounds on their abdomen and blood flows along his sword's blades. The men still tried to sit up and continue to fight despite their wounds. But Gustave did not show mercy on them. As if toying with their bodies, he made several deep cuts on their respective arms and legs making them bleed more. Their bloods started to dye the ground red.

Not long, the four men sprawled on the ground lifeless. Gustave on the hand did not even break a sweat despite fighting four swordsmen. In fact, he look as if nothing ever happened.

"Impressive, your highness." The bearded man commended him. "As expected of this kingdom's second prince."

Gustave did not replied. Instead he smiled coldly as he look pass the bearded man and into the branches of the trees where he have noticed the archers a while back. The three of them are no long standing there. Gustave deduced that the three have fled while he was dealing with the four swordsmen. His look fell back to the bearded man who have unsheathe his sword.

At that moment, the knights have arrived at the scene and Gustave immediately ordered them to capture the bearded man. Though he tried to fight back, he was still outnumbered and was captured.

"Bring him to the dungeons. I'll deal with him later." Gustave instructed the knights. He then walked over to where Pandora's body is lying and quickly mounted her on the horse's back. He have snapped the arrow and have his left hand put pressure on the wound to lessen the blood flow. Then he quickly rode towards the base site and immediately called for a healer.

***

The event was called off and all efforts was given into securing the area of the escaped bandits and cleaning up. Even though the palace tried to lessen the damage the news about the bandits still reached the citizens. Even the fact that the royal princess got injured spread like wild fire. Many have speculated that the king would end the celebration abruptly but no such orders are issued.

Pandora woke up hours after the incident and she was once again greeted by a familiar scene. The royal family waiting in the receiving area and Lily crying on a corner. 'This is interesting. I have fainted a couple of times that this scene becomes too familiar for me.'

Then she felt a sudden jolt of pain when she tried to move herself. 'Ugh. I forgot about the wound.' She took in deep breathes to lessen the throbbing sensation after the pain. She even reach her right hand to massage her left shoulder.

It was Lily who first noticed her waking up and she quickly informed the royal family. And with just a couple of seconds Lyma was surrounded by three men. The King sat beside her on the bed while the two princes are standing patiently. While Lily call for the Head Healer to come.

"How are you feeling?" The King inquired. "Is it still painful?" He added referring to Lyma's shoulder wound.

"Nothing that I cannot endure." She replied, her voice faint and croak. Instinctively, Guerrier who's standing beside the table, reach for the pitcher and fill a glass of water before handing it to her. The king helped her sit up and she drank the contents of the glass. "Thanks." She mumbled feeling more refreshed after drinking. "What happened after I passed out?" She turn to look at Gustave. And he immediately shifted his head away. That surprised Lyma. 'He don't want to talk to me?'

"The second prince fought with the bandits and was able to take hold of their leader." The King answered. "And was brought to the dungeons for questioning."

'Oh. They caught the bearded man.' Lyma though and the picture of the bearded man flashed inside her mind. "How was it? Did he say anything?"

"He confessed everything. But we are not overly convinced that he is saying the truth." The King stated. Then he reach out for Lyma's hand and hold it using both hands. "Now tell your father how you really feel."

The king and even the two prince is not satisfied with her answer earlier. The three of them knew how severe her wound were. In fact…

~

"You daft!" The king shouted and his right hand hit Gustave's face hard. It was so hard his cheek instantly inflamed and his inner cheek bleed. "You almost killed my daughter!"

Gustave remained silent and endured the burning sensation on his cheek.

"How could I have a fool as son?! A murderer! She was of the same blood as you!" The king roared and another slap was forgone. The king's eyes are red from anger. Gustave knew that even the word 'angry' would not justify what the king is feeling right now. If the king would have his own way Gustave's head would have long been severed from his body and is rolling on the floor. But he is thankful that the king still sees him useful enough to let him live.

Gustave internally smiled bitterly. It was always that way. He thought. It was always Pandora. Nothing would equal Pandora's worth in the king's eyes. But despite the obvious favoritism, he cannot put the blame on her. Not when she smiled sweetly at him while calling her 'brother'.

"She would have died. I thought you use more of your brain that your feet. You're just as incompetent and idiotic as your brother! Did you hear what the healer said?! She would have died if you delayed another minute just because of your selfish urges to fight!"

Gustave gritted his teeth. Of course he heard the healer! He was their when the Head Healer told them that Pandora's injury would have caused her death if treatment was delayed for another minute. And that the Head Healer can only lessen the 'probability' of the injury not to be fatal and not fully heal it. And then there was the princess' scream when the medic carved out the arrow out from her body. It was an agonizing ten seconds of his life.

"You know very well what would be the cost of her death."

~

"I am fine, really. Aside from the sad fact that I cannot freely use my left arm for the time being, I don't feel any particular thing that everyone should worry. In fact, I wanted to eat." She lied.

If her body can speak up for itself it would have screamed 'pain' every second. Her shoulder is still throbbing and it's somehow hard for her to properly breathe. But knowing how the king and her brother would react if she says the truth she would rather endure.

'Endure. Right. Endure the pain but…'

"I have ordered the kitchen beforehand and you only need to tell you attendant if you wanted to eat." The King replied.

Just then the door opened and the Head Healer together with Lily went inside.

"You highness." The healer greeted. "May I have a look?" He asked as he extended his hand. Lyma just nodded and hand over her right hand to the healer. "I see." He whispered then gave Lyma a look. She instantly knew what that look means. He knew she is in pain.

"Is there something wrong?" The king inquired.

"There is nothing much to worry, my king. The princess just needs to stay in bed for a couple of days to replenish her energy. And I suggest no strenuous activity for at least three days." The healer explained. Lyma sighed internally. She wanted to hug the healer right this moment for covering for her.

"See. I just need to bore myself out for a couple of days and I'm good as new!"

The three is still skeptical about the healer's words and Lyma's actions. A fatal wound would not just quickly regress to a simple wound just after a couple of hours. Even an experienced knight in war would be bedridden for at least a day. Much less the princess' body.

It is not known and even the princess herself does not know the fact that her body is not compatible with magic. More accurately her body ABSORBS magic especially healing magic. The reason no one have noticed it is because using magic is still somehow taboo in the kingdom despite the king's efforts to have friendlier relation to a magic kingdom.

"Then you must your rest now." The king announced. He stood up and look over the two princes standing by the side. His eyes grew darker as he gaze at the second prince. Then he turned back and faced Lyma. "Take a good rest." Then he kissed her forehead and exited the room. Guerrier also kissed her forehead before following the king. But Gustave on the other hand simply turn his back without even saying a single word.

'Is he mad at me?' Lyma asked confused at Gustave's actions. Then she turned her attention to her personal attendant. "I gave you another reason to cry, didn't I?"