Levi mounted the black horse as he turned to face Anya who was also mounting her own horse clumsily. She obviously doesn't ride a horse often. "You don't need to escort me." Levi said, his tone neutral. Anya shook her head, "I can't just leave you alone. I really think it's too dangerous for you to go back now. We can go back to my home. I can ask my father to find someone to get you back to your kingdom safely. If you refuse, I'll go with you instead."
Levi stayed silent and observed her. "Why are you helping me?" Anya was caught off-guard by his question. She furrowed her eyebrows, "Why? Any good person would help someone who is so heavily injured!" Levi has never heard of such thing. He couldn't help but snort. "I never expected a princess to have such high morals." Anya was confused if he was complimenting her or insulting her. "What?"
Levi ignored her and urged the horse forward like a master horseman. Anya followed him clumsily as they left the apple orchard straight into the woods. Levi sped up expecting Anya would give up and go back, but then she actually made her horse gallop faster to catch up to him without a word.
Anya knew they couldn't dawdle and had to move as fast as they could. She didn't want to hold Levi back with her paltry equestrian skills, so she used a lot of effort to catch up to his frightening speed. After travelling for half a day, it was getting dark, and it would be dangerous to continue. Lighting up a bonfire would only attract attention to them, possibly assassins or bandits. They had to stay as lowkey as possible.
"Levi, I think we should stop for to-" Anya suddenly sensed an arrow whirling her way. She threw herself off the horse before she got hit, but another arrow came whizzing through hitting her horse in the neck causing it to whiny. Anya quickly took out the crossbow on her back and pointed it at the direction the arrows were coming form, shooting three arrows in a row.
Levi also stopped when he felt arrows coming their way and expertly turned the horse around to make his way to Anya. He didn't know why exactly he was saving her when he never minded other people's business. Perhaps he was thankful she saved his life, so he was now saving hers.
He saw Anya shoot three arrows from her crossbow before reaching to her back to load more arrows, but he picked her up by the waist and sat her on his horse. Before Anya could react, more arrows were flying their way as black robed assassins flew out of the surrounding trees. There were only five assassins this time, Anya quickly counted and realized the assassins must have split up in the forest to search for Levi.
Anya ignored the hand on her waist and started shooting arrows at the assassins. Levi also drew his sword and slashed at the assassins that flew near them. They had pretty good teamwork, Anya took care of the assassins far from them while Levi took care of the ones that went near them.
Unexpectedly, more assassins poured out from the forest surrounding them. Anya tugged on Levi's arm that was holding her waist. "Levi, we need to get down. If we stay on the horse, they will kill us. It's easier to fight on the ground." Levi shook his head. "It's too dangerous." Levi always took risks and he would probably do exactly as she said if he was alone, but there was a certain fox princess in his arms that he needed to consider.
Anya quickly sniffed the air as her hands went stiff. "Their arrows have poison. It's hypertoxic. It's going to be difficult if we get hit. We won't be able to move." She whispered as the assassins drew closer. Levi's arms also stiffened when he realized they were indeed outnumbered. He has faced his fair share of assassins in his life as a king, but his martial arts were always strong enough to take care of them, no matter how many.
He was injured by assassins for the first time that day. The reason was quite astonishing. Royal bloodlines that descended from animal fairies were capable of wielding magic during battles. He was aware of all the people who descended from animal fairies and wielded magic, but the assassins actually knew some. This caught him off-guard and allowed one of the assassins to slash at him. Although their magic was low-level, it was still magic.
Levi quickly circulated magic into his palms. Anya felt it and quickly looked at him with wide eyes. "Levi what are you doing? It's against the rules of nobles to wield magic against non-magic people. Have you gone mad?" Like Anya said, there was retribution for their kind, or the descendants of animal fairies for using their magic on the weak. In this sense, the people who knew no magic.
Levi ignored her as a force suddenly exploded from his body throwing the assassins back. Anya watched with wide eyes before looking at Levi. Was he actually a tyrant king and she just didn't know? Did she judge him wrong? She was about to ask again when she sensed an arrow flying Levi's way in terrifying speeds. Before she could react, the arrow buried itself in his shoulder while Levi didn't even flinch. He continued using magic to fight the assassins. When the assassins realized that he planned to use magic, they started retreating.
Anya watched the assassins retreat with newfound understanding. Those assassins could use magic. Only magic could allow an arrow to fly at such terrifying speeds. She realized why Levi didn't hesitate in using magic. Before she could open her mouth, she saw an assassin charging at him from behind. At a moment of panic, she forgot she was injured internally and shot a wave of magic at the assassin, throwing him back with such force.
Levi quickly urged the horse towards Baize when he felt his limbs losing feeling. Anya looked at the arrow embedded on his shoulder and shook her head. It takes two days to get to Baize and about half a day to Aonani. "Not good. Let's turn around Levi. Let's go to Aonani, it's nearer. The poison is about to set it. You're going to lose control of all your muscles soon. If we make it to the shack before morning, I can make a cure that can save you on time. Quick!" Just as she finished, she coughed up blood.
Levi looked at Anya as she stared at her bloodstained hands. He furrowed his eyebrows, "You have internal injuries? You still used magic despite that? How stupid can you be?!" Despite his anger, he was actually very shocked. She had risked her life and used her magic while harboring internal injuries just to fend off that assassin that had snuck up on him. Internal injuries meant that the user had used up to much of their magic and needed to recuperate. She must have used her magic on something before to get injured like that. And now, she used it again to attack that assassin.
Anya laughed before coughing lightly. "I'm fine. Let's go." She actually felt very dizzy now that they were going at full speed. She felt herself getting drowsy in the warmth of Levi's arms. When Levi saw her closing eyes, he shook her awake. "You can't fall asleep. Wait until we get back to Aonani." Heavens! His body was so warm. Anya buried herself deeper in his chest, seeking warmth.
For a moment, Levi thought about pushing her away, no one has ever gotten this close to him. But when he felt her little form shivering, he let her be. Levi felt her trying to find a comfortable position before finally relaxing. Her hair was actually tickling his neck and the scent of apples lingered on his nose.
In truth, Anya was a bit embarrassed. She too has never been this close to a male who was not her family. She was just too cold! A few moments later, Levi felt the fox princess fall asleep nestled in his chest. His lips curled up into semblance of a smile, but his eyes were still cold and dark as he urged the horse faster on the way to Aonani.