Chapter 26

Kill her...

Yes, if she had died then I wouldn't need to fight.

I slapped myself on the cheeks, 'I can't blame my own weakness on something like this, and I'm not that confident in getting away with murdering the sole heir of the Empire so I suppose I'll have to push those thoughts away.'

"Tsk, I'm out of time already?-"

Then I felt her presence dissapear, I felt someone appear behind me and felt them grab my shoulder. I manifested 'Edge Of Nightfall' in my right hand.

"First Form, Hazy Moon."

I didn't hold back, whoever was behind me wss monstrously powerful. I would die if I didn't use all the power I had. I forced all the in my body into my arm, my sword created a small sonic boom as it surpassed sound. I heard my bones shatter, then I felt my sword stop and I heard the ground around me crack and my legs broke.

I felt a hand on my eyes, I didn't move. Or rather I couldn't.

"Try opening your eyes now."

The voice was authoritative yet kind, I obeyed and slowly opened my eyes.

"Your imperial majesty..."

The man who instantly annihilated that assassin was none other than the Emperor himself. I looked around us, guards and medics were on standby but no one from my family was there. I was slightly disappointed as members of 'my' own family weren't here, especially since this all happened at my party.

Ah I lied, there was one person there, Lillian. I waved to her, I then quickly hid my hand as I realised that it must have been heavily wounded, and looked back at the Emperor.

He had long golden hair that resembled Angelicas and the same golden eyes as her. Needless to say, but he was handsome as fuck. He looked as good as Lucas, but he felt divine, or inviolable, while Lucas felt like a true sovereign.

"A strike that surpasses sound, that's pretty fast for someone in your Mana Class. But seeing that it requires ambient Mana it's got its flaws, since your utilising ambient Mana you're exerting force that isn't meant to be exerted by your body. That's why so many of your bones broke when I used my finger to stop it. If you use that attack too often then this will happen, especially if you stop trying to protect your body. I assume you normally enhance your entire body before using that attack, when you do that you brace your body for the impact which makes the backlash a whole lot more bearable."

'Wait, his finger?-"

I looked at his hand, there wasn't even a crease where my attack should have landed. It was insane, I put in all of the Mana I had left in that strike. But he didn't even flinch? And what's with that speed, as soon as he arrived that assassins presence just dissapeared.

I looked towards the body of the now dead Catherine, it was riddled with holes, she had missing chunks of flesh, her eyes were connected to her sockets only by a thin string of flesh. Her bones were producing from different angles.

Then I saw her stomach beat, it let out blood, so much blood that you'd think it was from the heart-

I came to a realisation, her heart was stuffed inside her stomach, I saw into her head, literally. Parts of her skull were missing.

'I nearly died fighting her- He slaughtered her before I could even flow Mana through my body, and he didn't cast a spell. He did all of that just by using mana to enhance himself?'

Her face was distorted, literally. Her chin had been snapped and upturned. I suppose I should count myself lucky, since he seems to be fond of me since I sustained all these injuries for his daughter.

"Oh right I was hurt wasn't I?"

With that I fell, I felt someone catch me. I heard two young and feminine voices screaming my name as I passed out.

***

I woke up on my bed, I two weights on either side of my leg. On one side there was a mop of navy blue hair while on the other there was a mop of golden hair. When I took I a closer look I realised that it was Angelica and Lillian who seemed to be resting their heads on my bed.

'Man, if I were any normal person I think I'd be calling them cute. But they're honestly being hindrances, because although I want to change my clothes, I can't because it'd be awkward if they woke up. And I'm not sure how good it'd be for my reputation if I kicked the Princess of the Empire and my own sister out of my room.'

Then, a metaphorical light bulb appeared above my head and I gently pat their heads. They both slowly got up and looked at me wearily.

The first to move was Angelica, she started tearing up and screamed.

"UWAHHHH- REINHARDT, YOU'RE ALIVE."

She practically flew to me and grabbed me and hugged, her grip felt like it'd crack my ribcage, I even considered using mana to protect myself.

Lillian moved her arm forward and pulled Angelica back.

"Tsk, so immature. You do realise he's just woken up after being comatose for over four days. And you do remember WHY he was hurt in the first place, right?"

Angelica shivered and sat down again on her chair. She looked down and teared up, she started apologising over and over saying that she was eternally grateful and that if I ever needed anything she would be there. She made a point of emphasising that if I just asked, she would be there no matter the request.

I was a bit confused as to why she was this grateful, but it was nice. I looked at Lillian and thought to myself.

'She saw me in that state and she's fine? She's matured a lot, if this was the her from a few weeks ago I think she may have had a mental breakdown. I think I underestimated her, well I've learnt my lesson, don't underestimate a heroine.'

I heard a knocking on the door.

"You may enter.".

The person who came in was none other than my personal knight, Charlotte Aires. She was clad in lightweight armour, it was missing certain bits at the joints, likely to support mobility. She had a sword and sheath attached to her waist, she knelt down on one knee.

But before she said anything Lillian spoke, "Charlotte, no need for the knightly stuff, you can be a bit more relaxed since it's just us."

She replied in a monotone voice, "Yes my lady. Ahem, young master."

She dashed forward at speeds that seemed to surpass light itself and hugged me.

"YOUNG MASTERRR, IM SOWWY FOR NOT BWEING DERE FOW YOUUU!"

She started bawling and her speech became mushed, she made my clothes wet with her tears.

'What?- T-this i-is the woman who's going to be feared as 'The Bloodstained Valkyrie?-'

I gently pat her back, and hugged her back. The other two hugged me as well and we all simply relaxed, enjoying the moment of oesce and sense of security we had.

I shouldn't have to say this anymore but I will just for you guys, I didn't feel anything. They of course seemed to be fairly happy about this.