Kidnapped?!

Dust particles hovered over the area for some time. Nox and the princess, who stood next to him, were but shadows behind the cloud that surrounded them. Stricken with anxiousness, those present couldn't help but feel helpless during that time.

Obscured vision and deafening silence created imaginary scenarios in their minds. King Gor feared the worst when he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Hurry! Get my daughter out of there!"

The Royal Guards left two or three of their own behind fighting the Desert Scorpions whilst the others rushed towards Nox's location. The uncertainty in their hearts kept them from further endangering their princess. They waited for several minutes until the dust settled.

Painted on their faces, surprise. Planted into the ground, the Desert Scorpion had the poisonous end of its tail cut off and the culprit was nowhere to be seen. Missing with him, the princess.

The Royal Guards slid down the crater that Nox created with his previous attack. Cracked ground and green goo splattered at the center as if something made the scorpion explode from the inside. The hard exoskeleton broke into pieces, and scattered in all directions.

Although the guards were in shock, they tried their best to hide it as they got busy as soon as they could by going through the rubble, digging the ground with their hands, soaking it in blood. "Princess… Can you hear us?"

King Gor, who watched from the distance, narrowed his eyes, hoping to get a better look at the situation. He stuttered in shock. "M-My daughter! Where's my daughter?"

Earlier, when Nox landed on the scorpion, he turned towards the princess, who kept staring at him, unsure of her future. Her soft voice, audible only to Nox, got his attention. "Are you perhaps the one who created the antidote for me?"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement when her grey eyes met with Nox's purple ones. Her pale skin radiated life that left the young man rejoicing. At that moment, he couldn't care less if her father was after him. A fluttering in his heart made him smile.

Even though they left the palace in a hurry, Nox unconsciously wondered what had happened to the princess, since he didn't have the time to check up on her. A feeling of failure lingered in his heart.

But that notion of uneasiness vanished the moment he realized his efforts weren't in vain. The young man couldn't help but fill his lungs with pride. After all, the remedy he took time to prepare to the point of collapse helped bring life back to the body of the girl beside him.

Nox smiled and nodded. "How are you feeling, princess?"

"Much better, thanks to you…"

Nox shook his head. He kept the smile on as if his facial muscles froze in place. "Don't mention it. I'm glad to see you well."

Under the hazy cover of dust, Nox kept his vigilance at its peak. Although the dirty cloud covered him, it wouldn't last for much longer. That's when he turned to the princess with a somehow worried expression. "I'm really sorry about this princess, but can I borrow you for a while?"

The girl looked at him, confused. In her heart, she understood the meaning behind his words, but her body was reluctant to accept it until his warm hands got a hold of her slender waist. "Hold tight!"

The princess, without having the time to utter a response, felt a downward pressure as Nox jumped out of the dusty cloud with every ounce of strength he could muster. Among the chaotic situation, Nox pierced through the cloud of dust and nobody noticed him.

Cool wind caressed her face. Her long, silky black hair danced in a frenzied manner and the sudden change in temperature made her shiver. The princess welcomed it with a smile, which revealed two rows of white teeth.

Moments after meeting, Nox carried the princess out of Aeptian Town with a single jump amidst the commotion. The Royal Guards and King Gor searched the crater and, under the rubble, left behind, to no avail. The General Lizard-man reported to his king. "Y-Your highness, the princess has disappeared!"

King Gor clenched his fists and growled. "Find her!"

As soon as Nox reached outside the walls, he jumped on his camel with the Princess riding with him. She hasn't once struggled or created a fuss. She followed in silence, all the while looking back, as Aeptian Town became smaller and eventually out of sight.

The young man's camel ran at full speed and reached the camp around dusk. Malia and the others rushed to Nox's side and, wary of his companion, drew their weapons and pointed them at her.

The young man shook his head and urged them to put their weapons down with swift motions of his hands. Yulia recognised the girl sitting behind Nox. She tapped Malia on the shoulder and moved to the front. She bowed as soon as her soft voice escaped her lips. "Princess Anya!"

"P-Princess?!"

Their shock, painted on their faces, made Nox uncomfortable, but he understood what his actions entailed. Their thoughts varied, but one was similar among them. 'He went to get a Desert Scorpion's tail and returned with their princess.'

Nox then turned to Roi. With a glance, he urged him to follow. Malia, Kali and their cousin, Yulia, helped the princess off the camel. They escorted the girl to their tent. The three girls fidgeted but couldn't bring themselves to ask questions.

Nox rushed over to Umbra's side. With the Desert Scorpion's tail at hand, he kneeled next to the Mana Hound and worked on the antidote. Roi brought him the Sand Flower and handed it over with both hands as carefully as possible.

Yulia began preparations for their dinner as the most knowledgeable on the subject, whereas Malia and her father walked the perimeter and kept a lookout at their surroundings. Kali stayed back with Roi and Nox. She kept Umbra calm as she often patted his head.

Mirena cast her spell to keep Nox's stamina up since the making of the elixir drained it fast, and he barely recovered from last time. The young man worked diligently and without rest during those hours.

Princess Anya approached Nox and company and watched from the side, bewildered. She knew Nox helped her by creating the antidote, but she didn't know the process or how taxing it was. The whole time the young man with purple eyes worked on the antidote, she stared with admiration painted all over her face.

The chilly night embraced the land. The bright silver light of the full moon shone and illuminated the camp area. Roi took a break from assisting Nox and built a fire to keep them warm.

Meanwhile, Yulia finished preparing the ingredients and moved from under the tent to the fire. She threw everything she cut inside a deep steel pot with a lid of the same material. Without her asking, Roi grabbed the pot.

Yulia blushed, her fluffy tail wiggled and her furry ears flapped. "You don't have to…"

Roi shook his head and carried it over the fire. "Don't worry about it."

Malia's sudden appearance interrupted their conversation. "Someone's coming! We saw their torches in the distance!"

Roi turned to Malia. "Where's old man Sholl?"

Her facial expression turned grim when she heard Roi's question. "H-He stayed behind to keep an eye out…"

Roi rushed to get the pot down and put the fire out. "This should buy us some time…"

Malia returned to her father's side. A sand mountain overlooked in all directions, which made it easier for them to assess the situation. The girl whispered as she lied in her belly watching in the distance. "Any changes…?"

Roi and the others anxiously waited for news while Nox and Mirena worked on the antidote. Even though he knew of the approaching danger, Nox continued, despite the princess' pleas.

A few minutes later, Malia returned. "They are not from Aeptian. Their attires look different."