Blood Drop Stone (2)

After 3 days of pain and agony, a young woman with red hair and red eyes sat still and silently inside a dimly lit room. There was a man with black hair and dark eyes sitting behind the door with his eyes closed.

"Done?" he asked in a deep calm voice. Lucien slowly opened his eyes to peer at the sweat-drenched girl.

"I swore..." she slowly stood up from her spot and walked step by step near him. "That if I survive that pain..." she stopped in front of him. "I would-"

Slap!

The sound of slapping jolted the four people waiting anxiously outside the door.

Yllana clenched her hand and gritted her teeth.

"You...you agitated me just so I would swallow that stone in anger! Despicable!" Yllana's wobbly feet was almost at its limit. Her stomach was growling and her vision is quite blurry but she had to fulfill her promise to herself when she was enduring that torment day and night.

Plop!

Finally, her body couldn't take it anymore, she gave in to tiredness and her vision went blank.

Two strong arms caught her in time and pushed the door open.

"She did it." Those three words from Lucien lit a spark of hope in Yrah's heart.

"She had been through great pain. How is she?" Yrah asked with a worried voice.

"Sleeping." He turned to Mira who was in the corner looking anxious at the sleeping young woman in his arms. "Bath, then bed." He handed her over to the servant and went inside his own room to rest.

The three days and nights have been a hell of torment to all of them. Inside that dark room, a red glint flashed in Lucien's eyes and a devilish smile crept into his face. "I never thought she'd be that rough. Seems our diamond is still really unpolished but I like this side of her." His eyes turned into blood-red as he caressed his swollen cheek.

"Hehe."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning.

"Lucien placed a magical barrier around the inn so your breakthroughs to Legendary rank is not known or else this will bring a huge uproar. Just think about it, you only spent 3 days just to surpass one whole level. You are one walking disaster, my dear." Midel cupped his chin and frowned at Yllana while scolding her.

"It was already too late when I realized it." Yllana smiled awkwardly. She looked at Mira and asked for her sister.

"Eldest Miss is still sleeping. She lacked proper sleep these few days for worrying about you, miss." Mira smiled. However this second young miss of theirs changed (especially the color of her eyes), she could feel that their Eldest Miss knows for certain that it truly is her sister so she didn't doubt her mistress' judgment.

"I made you all worry. It's time I head to the palace." Yllana's stern gaze was filled with determination. Her resolute face resembled the aura of one of the missing knights since the war months ago.

She swept her left hand over her right to open one of the space rings. She pulled out a set of silver armor of a knight representing the North Kingdom's army.

Shiiba's eyes lit up when she saw Yllana wearing the silver armor.

Her silver robe was dancing magnificently against the wind coming from the window. Her breastplate and shin guards glistened in the rays of the sun. And her helmet only shown her blood-red eyes casting a mystery to people to guess the knight's identity.

She turned around before slipping her robe to fall on her left shoulder to cover her last piece of costume. A small golden light flicked inside her robe that no one noticed. Just then, palm-sized golden badge with the number 10 under a roaring lion's paw appeared on her chest. It was a very distinct mark known in the entire kingdom. And it only appears through magic bestowed by a great mage on the soldiers' armors.

Yllana breathed in deeply before heading out alone. But her two hands were caught in a tight grip. One was small with soft palms, like a furry stuffed toy, and the other was big and rough, obviously calloused from work. Her red eyes coldly glanced at the two people stopping her from her steps.

"Shiiba, Lucien?" This is her family's fight. She will never let these people she considers friends sacrifice their life over her family's affairs. "Take care of my sister. That's all the help I need from all of you right now."

When Lucien looked at her wearing the armor, something within him stirred. His black eyes wavered a little before he let go of her hand. "Stay alive," he whispered softly.

"Midel...will worry if I don't go with you." Shiiba's hesitant tone was obvious but Yllana just patted her head. Something about Shiiba still gives her fear that she doesn't know. And whether if she will know what this fear is, will only be answered if she get out of this suicide mission alive.

"Stay here." Then she eyed Mira who's tears were constantly flowing endlessly like a river. "I haven't gone out yet and it seems you are already mourning for me Mira."

"Miss! Please don't say that! It could be a bad omen if you say something bad. Me and the Eldest Miss will be looking forward for your safe return." *sniff sniff*

When the door closed, Midel walked to Lucien's side. "You need to go with her. You have to."

Lucien's indifferent gaze swept over Midel's face before staring at the door again. "Not yet."

~~~~~~~~~~

When Yllana closed the door, she covered her eyes with her right hand. "Golden sheen of sunlight, come and color my sight."

Between her fingers, small pecks of dull golden glitters fell out. She gave a last look at the door of the inn feeling a piercing gaze inside. She sighed then never looked back again.