Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 183. The King's Game of Chess V
As Rose and Angel observed the soldiers, they saw Frost approach the royal couple.
"Your Majesty," Frost said, bowing deeply as he reached them. "You must be parched." He held out a water bottle.
Rose and Angel accepted the offering gratefully, their throats dry from the journey and their bodies weary from the day's events. Although the drink was small, it was enough to quench their thirst.
Angel too took a hearty drink, his thirst sated by the offering. He lowered the bottle, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, Frost," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Frost approached the royal couple once more, his voice carrying a note of concern as he addressed Angel. "Do you wish to eat something, Your Majesty?" he asked. "We have bread as emergency provisions, in case we are forced to spend the night in the forest."
Angel shook his head, a small smile playing upon his lips. "I am not hungry yet, Frost," he declined.
Turning his attention to Rose, Frost repeated his inquiry. "And what about you, Your Highness? Would you like to partake of the bread?"
Rose too declined, her voice soft and gentle as she spoke. "I am not hungry, Frost," she said. "But thank you."
With a nod of his head, Frost acknowledged their responses. "Very well," he said. "But if you should require something, do not hesitate to let me know." With a bow, he turned and walked away, leaving Rose and Angel alone once more.
Silence descended upon them, heavy and oppressive as they stood together in the clearing. Angel's gaze was focused upon his soldiers, watching as they tended to their wounded and refreshed themselves. Meanwhile, Rose's gaze was fixed upon Angel, her eyes studying the strong lines of his face and the determined set of his jaw.
Finally, she could stand the silence no longer. "Angel, may I ask you something?" she said, breaking the stillness with her gentle voice.
Without turning his gaze, he spoke, "Say it."
Rose's eyes narrowed in confusion as she gazed upon Angel. "I do not understand," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. "There should not be anyone here who can use magic abilities, yet you still possess the ability to utilize your dark aura. How is this possible?"
Angel turned to face her, his eyes alight with understanding. "To use magic," he began, "a person must gather energy from the surrounding area and convert it into the power they wish to wield. The magic shield in place prevents energy from being gathered, which is why no one can use magic here. But my dark aura is different. It does not draw energy from the outside, but rather it takes energy from within me. This is why I am still able to use it to a certain extent."
Rose was stunned, her mind racing with the implications of what Angel had just revealed. 'So that is why you do not require casting time to use your power, like most magic users,' she thought to herself. 'I have never heard of anyone who can convert their own energy before. But no matter how strong someone is, their energy remains limited...'
Unable to resist, she voiced her thoughts out loud. "What will happen if your energy runs out?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I will faint and can't move all day," Angel explained, his voice filled with trepidation, "In the worst case, my dark aura will take away my life energy." The way he spoke of this dark aura was like it was a sentient being, one that was constantly threatening to consume him and end his life.
Rose's heart raced as she listened to Angel's words. She knew that magic was not without its consequences, but she had never heard of someone's life energy being taken away before. "Angel... do you know that your power might kill you one day?" she asked, the worry evident in her voice.
Angel turned his gaze to Rose, and for a moment, she could see the fear in his eyes dissipated, replaced by a calm resolve. "I know," he said simply, "but everything requires sacrifice."
Rose was taken aback by Angel's words. She had never heard him speak so calmly about something so dangerous. "What exactly do you want, to sacrifice yourself like that?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Angel's eyes were distant as he looked at Rose, and for a moment, it seemed as if he was lost in thought. Then, he spoke, his voice filled with pain, "Protecting what is precious to me."
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