Chapter 21 - [I] Rescue

( I guess this is it... It's not even been a year yet since I become a knight and it will be over in an instant... ) Alex thought as she saw the flames of the enemy slowly gets thrown at her.

A knight.

Her father, grandfather, and almost everyone in her family was at some point, a knight. It was like before her family could even decide what name they would give her, it was already written that someday, too, she will become a knight.

But, of course, she did not hate that she became a knight at all; to protect her people and to protect her city was something she was able to pride on since she became one.

But alongside it was the danger. And she did not realize that until now.

The flames that had destroyed their base and killed her companions will now strike her.

There was no way she can dodge it as she cannot even move a finger anymore. Her head also felt heavy as if she will lose consciousness in any seconds now; she must've already taken much damage from the enemy and her body is supposed to be at its limits.

There was no way she can escape anymore.

And so, at the last second, she just closes her eyes - prepared to die.

Then it finally came...

***

( Huh...? What is happening? ) in her conscious mind, she asks.

She should be dead by now, why is she still conscious?

[ ... ]

She opens her eyes and sees nothing but a blur. So she blinks to focus them, and soon, she saw him.

A plain-looking guy with jet-black hair.

[ What is... ] she whispers as she looks at him.

Right now, he's holding her in his arms trying to support her body. He doesn't seem to be in a panic as he has only a calm expression, but the way he acts, searching for something, was rushed and at haste.

Not a moment later, he was able to find what he was looking for - it was a potion.

( This person...? Is he helping me? Is he one of the reinforcements? ) she asks as she continues to stare at him.

[ Ah... ] a breath escapes her mouth as the black-haired person tried to force her to drink the content of the potion.

But...

( No... I... Can't swallow... ) her body is completely numbed and paused that she can't even force herself to swallow the liquified contents of the potion. It baffles her how she was still even able to breathe now that her entire body is not functioning properly anymore.

( Ah... Just let me die already... ) she mutters internally and closes her eyes again.

[ Tsk! ] she hears the person that is holding her clicks his tongue.

'Maybe he has already given up?' - she thought.

But...

[ ...! ]

Immediately, she opens her eyes again as she felt it.

( This person is...! )

'This person' - had delivered the contents of the potion on her mouth by using his.

*Gulp!

Maybe because of shock, maybe because of the force he put that she was able to make her swallow the liquified potion. But nonetheless, he had locked lips with her. He forcefully locks the content on her mouth and he did not let a single drop to be wasted.

She thought that she won't feel it, but she definitely does, every accident that occurs, she does. The accidental touch of their tounges - she can feel and even taste.

And how many seconds did it take? No, maybe it already even reaches minutes and he's still doing it.

*Gulp!

Again, the speed of her gulping down its contents increases, and soon, there were none to swallow anymore, except the saliva that was built up from the long minutes they have locked lips.

[ Puhaa... ] she hears her own voice as he finally stops.

( Is... Is it over? )

The effects of potions take minutes before it occurs, so she doesn't know why how her blurry eyes had suddenly focused on the face of the person holding her, and how her mind suddenly becomes clear.

'Who are you?' - she wanted to ask, but she can't.

But rather than that...

[ Tha... Thank you... ] the words escape her mouth. It was quiet and hard to understand, but that was all she can do for now.

But the 'person' did not reply nor react at all. He only removed his hold on her and laid her on the floor. Then, after - she felt her body being covered by some kind of a blanket.

Is it because some parts of her body are now completely exposed? Yes, that was the only explanation why he would do such a thing.

She wanted to stand up to further express her gratitude, but her body still wouldn't allow her to, it really just doesn't work that way. And opposite to what she's expecting to happen, her consciousness slowly fades away looking at the man who saved her.

***

[ Tsk! ]

( Too late! )

The person on top of the small tower is already unconscious.

Zero saw earlier flames getting thrown so he's guessing she must've gotten a direct hit from it.

Ignoring the wyvern, he runs towards her.

[ She's... She's still conscious...! ] he put a finger on her neck to see if there's a pulse, and there is, she's still alive.

[ !!! ] the dragon made an ear-piercing roar at him. Threatening him as it did.

What should he do? Which should he prioritize?

Defeat the wyvern first or cure the person?

[ Right... ] he whispers the word as if he realized something.

A meeting that should never happen.

Zero is a dragon and his enemy is a wyvern. This is something that he can take advantage of.

Wyverns are especially afraid of dragons and they will not dare fight them. Zero still doesn't have a full-on dragon transformation, but there's one ability he has that renders every monster afraid.

DraconicAura - perhaps the most useful ability he has right now.

The wyvern in front of him must have a higher level than any monsters he had encountered so far, but once it realizes that its enemy is a dragon, it will nevertheless back off.

So, Zero put his DraconicAura to its limits.

This was the first time he had seen it, the full power of his DraconicAura - it has a physical appearance, it was like a wave of blue light that spreads everywhere.

Any monsters that have a lower level than him will definitely run off by now, but that was not the case for the wyvern, he needs to pour mana on it more.

If predetorial instincts and bloodlust can kill - then his ability 'DraconicAura' definitely can.

*Growl!!! - again, the cry of the wyvern was heard.