One Seven One? Sarane thought that was her name as a Soulless?
As they continued to examine the Soulless girl's wounds, the Soulless girl began to struggle precipitously; perhaps out of fear of what she might have experienced earlier.
Poor Soul.
"Plea... se, stop." The Soulless girl tried her best to utter some words. However, after she bumped into several trees and due to her sealed senses; she barely said anything.
"Too bad I don't have any antidotes as of the moment," Quinn said worryingly.
The usage of such concoction around the kingdom was strictly banned. Naturally, with this rule, only a few people carry antidotes for such scheming potion. Moreover, few apothecaries brew such, which made it harder to obtain.
"Not a problem, I have some. The potency would not suffice, however, something is better than nothing." Sarane said as she took out a glass bottle filled with violet substance. At first, she still hesitated, seemingly embarrassed. She relented later on after seeing the poor girl suffering. As she uncorks the glass bottle, the potent fragrance of lavender wafted the vicinity.
Heliotrope Syrup!
The Heliotrope Syrup is more of a commodity potion more than a healing antidote. It reduces the anxiety levels of any creature. This could benefit someone greatly, especially with the disarrayed state of mind. It can prove slightly useful in repelling the Gold Dust powder that the Soulless girl was dosed with.
As for the reason why the Princess have such?
"A countermeasure, huh?" Recognizing the aroma of the potion, Quinn could not help but suppress her laughter.
Quinn thought that Sarane sure can be hot-headed unexpectedly, yet well prepared as well!
"Not a word!" Sarane retorted, and as if she cannot stress her words enough, she glared at Quinn like daggers that could kill.
She then delicately hoist the head of the Soulless girl to support her while she pours the violet potion on her mouth. The substance was viscous, so the process took quite some time to pass through her throat. The Soulless girl didn't relent as she lost all her connection to her senses.
Quinn caressed the girl's hair. "If you can hear us, we are giving you a potion that can somehow lessen your suffering."
It took a while after the potion emptied. As soon as it was, the girl tried to articulate some words slowly.
"Please don't kill me. I'm not very good at chores, but I can do my best. I know a few tricks that can entertain you as well. Please, I can still be of some use." The Soulless girl rattled, the potion made her regain some senses; however, the overruling dreadfulness remained in her eyes incontestably.
Sarane's eyes welled up at what she saw and heard from the Soulless girl. She hugged the girl tightly. "Don't worry you are safe with us."
The Soulless girl began to cry erratically.
Quinn stared at the both of them by the sides, smiling at all corners. Her ears suddenly took the hue of reddish pink. This what made her admire Sarane so much. Her kindness just radiates the familiar warmth of all that is good in this world which is rare to see in this era.
"I don't want to die." The girl sobbingly mumbled, in which Sarane's hug further tightened.
"You will be safe. What's your name? Did you escape from the Soulless camp nearby?" Quinn asked the Soulless girl; she can hear Sarane muffling her sadness, so she proceeded to ask questions rather than to allow the atmosphere to get heavy.
Sarane then let go of the girl, so that she can speak comfortably.
"I'm one seven one my master, and yes master, I am an escapee. Please don't take me back master. I promise to do anything that you will command to me! I swear my loyalty to my masters and I will serve both of my masters with everything I have, body and soul! " One Seven One stuttered at her introduction, then boomed in pleading the two not to take her back to the camp.
"As long as we are here, you won't be going back there. Do you have any companions which are escapees from the Soulless camp as well?" Sarane consoled her, then proceeded to ask her.
If there are other escapees as well together with one seven one that got stuck in the forest diffused with the Gold Dust powder, it could prove strenuous work for them to execute a rescue plan.
"Thank you very much, master. I can't thank you enough. I am unworthy of your goodwill." One Seven One started to cry once more, suppressing the excessive elation from the immense gratitude and relief she's currently feeling,
After wiping her tears, she continued.
"No one knew I escaped and everything went smoothly. Its as if something guided me on a safe path." One Seven One contemplated the situation earlier,
"Then, when I reached a good distance away from the camp. I saw the golden powder enveloped me. " One Seven One paused, "The next thing I knew, someone tried to dice me up with swift sword cuts. I sprinted immediately for my life until I passed out."
"After that?" Quinn asked her after a brief moment.
"I woke up here master. Sorry for the ineptness of my worthless memory, that's all I can remember. " One Seven One regretfully admitted.
"That's alright; you said someone diced you up? Do you have any recollection of the person's face?" Sarane asked determinedly.
"Pardon my ineptness master, I am just a plebeian Soulless; I do not possess any particular capability as such. I'm just Soulless livestock in line for slaughter. I could not possibly match up the assailant's speed with my eyes," One Seven One struggled to remark fervently.
Compared to a cultivator that holds the power of authority, even with incomplete and poor comprehension, Soulless like One Seven One could only be helplessly killed in a snap of a finger.
If you could situate it, by comparison, it would be like a lagging snail trying to race against a frisky cheetah.
"Don't say such words," Sarane earnestly remarked. She has no stomach these worldly views for the Soulless that just became a stereotype and trivial knowledge.
It's all clear for them what others had instilled in the minds of the cultivators and Soulless alike.
"Sorry if I have shown you great disrespect master," One Seven One apologized hurriedly, then she began to kneel and bow her head on the ground. She clearly understood that if she offends her saviors and they decided that she was not worthy of anything.
She's better off dead!
"Stand up, lead us to the Soulless camp if you can still remember the way. A ruthless camp should not exist. I shall eradicate these stains of malice within the Von Morgen Kingdom!" Sarane valiantly declared, her forehead illuminated an auroral light as she raised her rapier.
The wind sumptuously blew as if heralding the voice and pressure of the universe.
"My master, you are in SSS rank? forgive me for such a brazen question, but master, are you by chance Princess Sarane Von Morgen?" One Seven One quickly stood up and was shocked by this revelation.
There could only be one SSS rank in the entirety of the Von Morgen Kingdom or even the nearby kingdoms!
The Gracious Princess!
"No need to treat me differently," Sarane spoke genuinely.
"I dare not to! Y-your majesty, I have long heard of you kind soul." One Seven One said, with a hint of deference and a bit of fear. "If your majesty requires my assistance, I will unquestionably obey! It would be inexcusable and insolent for me not to cooperate. "
"Since you know of me, it would be unfair not to recognize you, is it?" Sarane gently spoke as she looked at One Seven One calmly.
"Your Majesty requires my lowly name?" One Seven One hesitated to confirm her thoughts.
Sarane nodded to confirm her intention. One Seven One could not believe what she heard. For the longest time she had suffered, this was the only second time someone asked her of her name. One Seven One decided to tell the Princess her name.
"My name is Li—"
Before One Seven One could even finish her introduction once more, she felt something pierced her chest. When she looked down, she saw a chain-hook attached to where her heart situated.
Quinn and Sarane had blanched faces at what they saw.