The beast is weakened after that continuous attack and the mana of these mage are already depleted. I need to hurry and end this beast quickly or else we wouldn't stand a chance at all. I can see the distress in their faces and some of them are ready to give up. I wouldn't deny that my mana is depleting after using it so many times by creating shields, protective barriers, boosting their movements, healing their deep wounds and supporting their attacks. It is such a mess. Why is it so hard to protect than to kill?
Arthur keeps on using the technique that I've taught him but it is not strong enough to penetrate the thick shell of that beast. I can see that these kids are tired. They already used all of their strength and sending them again will actually lead them to their death. Arthur is the only one that still have enough mana left in his body, I taught him well to handle it. But I am sure that he cannot stay longer as well.
As soon I saw an opening, I casted a sharp ice block to pierce the back of the beast. What surprises me more is that it some of its sharp hair strands actually breaks . I concluded that there is a reverse effect of the attacks. Physical attack can penetrate the front of the beast and the back cannot withstand the effects of the elements. The beast fell on its belly, I yelled at Arthur to do the technique once again with this full force to end the life of the beast.
This is it. We can finally kill it. Arthur used some spell to suspend his attack to give a finally blow. With this ending, people will witness the strength of our family.
Arthur jumped higher above the ground preparing to execute the technique. The beast is about to stand up but I delayed it from making a slippery floor to step on. However, I didn't anticipate that the beast has another hidden ability. He can manipulate his fur to mark a specific target. It releases that rod like hair strands targeting Arthur who is defenseless in the air. I knew that instance that once those rods like hair strands hit him, he will surely die. I promised to mother that whatever happens I will protect and save Arthur. I ran towards the beast and jumped in front of Arthur.
I can feel two rods penetrating my body and a sharp object passing through. I guess the ice blocks didn't formed on time and let some rods to escape. Two of it was stock on my back and the other sensation is the sword that Arthur is holding. I jumped in front of him in the middle of a strike that's why I received the blow instead. It's an odd feeling that I didn't even felt the pain. All I can see is that my brother's distress face. I suddenly realize that the beast is still on its belly. I slowly removed that sword out of my body and used all of my mana and strength to struck that beast. I kicked Arthur out of the way and deliver the final blow on that stupid beast. The beast is wounded and I froze its insides leading it to its death.
The beast was frozen, but I know that it is not yet the end. I froze the holes on my body on both ends first before loosing a lot of blood. I didn't removed the rods yet. The pain is suddenly directing to each and every corner of my wounds but I cannot stop there. I used all of my mana shattering that frozen ice beast. After that my vision is getting blurry as if I am so sleepy. The hot fluid coming out of my body making me all dizzy. I am hearing sounds but I couldn't tell where that sounds coming from. I'm just feeling dizzy and sleepy. I bet Arthur is now safe. That beast is really something. Whoever mistook that beast as a young beast, surely, I will kill him the next time I see him?
I am hearing voices surrounding me. Who is that making noise while I am sleeping? Are they tired of of living? I tried to move my body slowly but there is a mysterious pain that stopping me. The pain runs down to those piercing wounds and it causes me to pass out once again.
The next day, I found myself lying on my bed. There is no one around and I felt that pain again. Right, I tried to save Arthur from those rods flying towards him and instead of him I am the one got struck. It is not my ways to save people but I guess it is different when it comes to my family. I heard a knock on the door and mother came in with a person. She looks at me and started to cry. She runs towards me and I anticipating that she is about to hug me.
"Stop mother, I am wounded and hugging me will put a lot of pressure to my wounds."
She suddenly stops and instead she held my hands while crying. The person next to him went closer and introduced himself as the palace's healer. He said that he is going to check my wounds once again and heal any possible internal wounds. He told me that a sword struck me and it went through to my body. There are some internal organs affected but. He told me that I did a good job freezing my end wounds, it actually stops the bleeding too much.
He keeps talking on an on and before he leaves, he gave me at least ten bottles of potions to heal my wounds faster. He instructed me that I should also use some of my mana to heal faster. I am a mage and I knew that even him without mentioning it. He said that the wounds were already treated and it wouldn't leave scar so I shouldn't worry.
The pain I am feeling is actually my wounds internally so I instructed mother to let no one enter the room. As soon they left, I walk slowly to the tab with water inside. I drank three potions at once and took a bottle of healing potion that I bought before. This is an S-class healing potion than can be mix with water. Dipping inside for five hours and using your mana can heal any wounds you have in your body. The only side effects of that potion are your skin will look younger and will give a glow shine.
I dipped myself on that tab and I started to manipulate my mana. I can see all my wounds inside and it was really bad. I guess I have to praise Arthur after this because he really put all of his strength to that blow. Sad to say that I am the one who got hit. Both of my large and small intestines are damage I am just happy that I didn't damage my womb or else I wouldn't be able to have a child in the future. I have a broken shoulder blade and a broken rib. Thankfully, nothing much is damage.
After healing my wounds, I lay on my bed like I wasn't injured before. Thanks to that healing potion that my whole body got rejuvenated.
The next day, I woke up again because of the noise. It is coming from the outside of the mansion and I saw those kids who were in the arena bringing some gifts.
The door opened and mother saw me near my window. She told me to not stand up yet since I have wounds but I told her that I am completely healed. I explained about the potion and how I used it to heal my wounds. However, mother is still the same, she still concluded that I am still wounded. Oh well, what can I do to a worried mother right?
Father, Arthur and Corra went inside on my room seeing me sitting down on my bed. Corra was worried of me, I guess I can say how worried Silvester is now upon seeing Corra's reaction. Father told me how worried he is when he saw me being wounded badly. He cried like a child without thinking his reputation as a duke. Arthur was so depressed and he keeps on blaming himself to what happened to me. But I praised him about the technique and told him that it is enough to kill a beast and enough to kill me. Arthur became more depress after hearing those words. Well, I told him that it is not his fault to almost killed me but it was an accident.
After few more days, my wounds are perfectly healed. Suddenly the king invited me to award my deeds. Well, it would be nice if he is not going to ban me anymore from entering the North. But instead, he declared that my sixteen years ban will be minimised to ten years ban. I didn't question him anymore for six years cut off from the original number is enough. After the meeting, Corra also went back to North.
The news spreads out to the whole Kingdom and those nobles who were usually treating me as nothing are now trying to ask my favour to train their children instead. I kept declining them and keeps on using different excuses like, studying the etiquette. In the end of the day, they just gave up and hired masters to train their children. I also received thank you gift to those kids' families.
Days are really going fast as another letter coming from the palace arrived today and it is addressing to me. The king wanted to meet me personally. Now, that's strange. Why would the king wants to meet me? The next day, I went to the palace without telling my parents about it. Upon arriving in the palace, a knight immediately approaches me and leads the way going to the king. This time, we are not going to the hall but more on the inner part of the palace. I entered a room and I saw both the king and the crown prince inside.
"Welcome Lady Winters, I would like to personally thank you for what you have done during the academy's joust. Without you, those children might have been dead by now. Thank you." The king said.
Somehow, I can feel that this is not the reason why he called me. "To be frank your majesties, I am expecting more than thanks. Did you really summon me up just to thank me or is there something behind this?"
"We couldn't hide anything from you milady, but you are right. We summon you here to ask a favour." The crown prince said.
"The western border's gala is coming up and the princess, my daughter, wanted to attend. The road going to the west is far more dangerous. Even if we want to send hundreds of the imperial knights, I am afraid that it will actually might caught more attention and that is what we don't want to."
"So, my king, you want me to be an escort of the princess?"
"You are really frank lady Winters, and yes you are right. I know that asking you will put my worries at ease."
"The truth is I wanted to decline but I am still your subject. I am going to accompany the princess to the west your majesty." I answered.
"I am taking that as an honour. The princess was invited to attend to be the partner of her fiancé, Nate Azure. He is the son of the Duke of Cleiden. The gala will be in two weeks' time and the travel will take you a whole day."
"Then I shall accompany the princess."
"Thank you very much. I know that the princess is safe with you. The princess as well requested you personally since both of you are engaged to the Azure Family. She felt that being with her future sister in law is safe to travel."
"..."
Just wait. Wait. Just fucking wait! Did I just hear it right? Engage? Me? Is that even possible without me even knowing that I am actually engaged?