I was all ears as Penum filled me in with the bizarre facts I had no idea on.
"It's a highly secretive issue I am going to expose to you, so never even mutter a thing about it, my lady. Please."
Like a last 'please' would soften his demanding tone, but I nodded.
"There is a threat to the whole world. And your mother was preparing to demolish that threat."
"What threat?"
Penum gently spread the pieces of the bookshelf I tore apart on the meeting table before he continued.
"While your father's ancestors were ruling the River kingdom, the ominous powers arouse in the darkest parts of the world. But nobody cared for that. Except for your mother, that is. Eres married the richest man to gain enough power for the upcoming clash, but she died, and that deadly creature cultivated. He grew in power, size, followers."
I grimaced unintentionally as the dread conquered every inch of my body. My skin prickled, and my upper lip twitched. So much information was inset in my mind I wanted to vomit.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Penum gently caught my elbow to make me sit at the head of the table as his voice was laced with concern.
"Go on, please."
"Only the higher-ups know about this. Only the dragon king, king Axel, can defeat that creature. Or that is the only solution that we came up with. Considering your mother's and your hidden power, I am certain you are as capable of that as the dragon king. Together you two can take down that gruesome thing."
"How are you sure Axel, I mean, the king will side with us?"
"No, my lady. We are the ones who should side with him."
"What? No! Did you see what he is like? He's a freaking tyrant! Even my fath… the king is afraid of him!"
"The dragon king is already preparing for the war. And… Princess, your mother, sacrificed herself for world peace. We should too."
Those words sharply sliced my heart. I imagined as it bled with crimson red blood. Hah, manipulating a person with only a spot her heart sinks at is so easy.
"Alright, Penum. What should I do?"
"So, princess, let's start. King Axel has the most sources about that ominous creature. One of your tasks will be to get all the information possible about it."
I snickered at him. Penum wanted me to eavesdrop on the most powerful king alive like a rat.
"I have no clue how well do you know me, Penum, but I'm not an unfair player and definitely not a traitor. I will not suck that knowledge out of Axel that way. That's just not my style."
"He will never let you in."
"I can make him," I mumbled as I trailed my gaze to the books behind him. Penum lifted his eyebrows and sighed as he wiped wetness under his nose. His skin was glistening with sweat due to the tension in the royal library.
"How, my lady?"
A few thoughts crossed my mind, and the brainstorming made the corners of my lips tug into a triumphant smile.
"I don't quite know what that is, but I will do something so astonishing that Axel will have no other choice but to share some facts with me to stop me."
Penum audibly gulped as he bore into my eyes. "My lady, don't make a mistake that will cost you a high price."
"Listen, Penum," I raised to my feet and strolled towards him. "I'm already risking everything by having this conversation with you. It looks like I can't be a sixteen years old kid and enjoy my careless years. I've already lost more than that price you're talking about. So, as for now, trust me. I'll try and find a way, but if I lose," I almost invaded his private space, "Then I will be a rat in the dragon's cave." I said with a clenched jaw.
"As you wish, princess," He bent his upper body, "I will be there at the wedding ceremony and provide you with anything your plan will require."
I nodded and extended my arm to shake his hand, but he was reluctant.
"But princess, I would advise you not to even think about this matter in king Axel's presence."
"Deal."
I said, and we both shook our hands.
Present.
That's how I appeared in front of the appalling serpent. As I was studying the blonde priestess nearing my clone, I heard a demanding shout filled with dread, "Run!"
Immediately, I let my eyes snap to my only threat at the moment – the snake. It advanced towards me at immense speed, and only a thing I could manage was to roll to the side and wield a sword in front of me.
It was just a beginning of a crucial fight for me and my ally, and I was letting myself loosen up. How dumb, Rebel!
I heard as the snake slithered around briskly and approached me with the same rhythm. I was on one knee as I slid out my dagger from the boot and shot him. The snake dodged but made a fatal mistake as it drifted to the side. Then I jumped up and sliced down my sword in that direction before he even made a choice. The loud shoutings and yells filled my ears as I was so close to the sweet winning.
As my sword was about to collide with the snake's almost unpenetrable skin, I felt something curling up around my body, and in an instant, I was thrown to the other end of the arena. I let go of the sword to shield my head with my arms. The crowd's images rushed between my eyes.
The impact of me crashing into the wall was so strong I saw stars. My body dropped to the ground as I was speechless from dismay. How did that damned beast calculate my moves? Nobody could!
I looked up to check the situation up there, beside Axel. The priestess was engaged in a conversation with my duplicate that I hoped was Lee. I glided my hand on my neck as the hot liquid trailed down my shoulder. Fuck. I still couldn't defend my head. At least I was cautious-
The shadow crept around me as I warily lifted my head to be met by the erected, thick tail of the snake.
I yelped as it came crashing down on me. The pain that embraced me was unbearable. At this point, I was considering that my head was split in two.
I sucked the energy out of my body to detect the snake's subsequent movements and gasped as the tail started snaking around my body. I could barely open my swollen right eye as the hit damaged my vision.
Hastily I hopped out of its grasp and rolled to the other side but was too late. A ruthless tail crushed my limp body again as I bounced up from the impact. I was so dead. I felt miserable and helpless as I coughed out the blood.
"Give in, human," a low, raspy voice poured in me as I could barely lift my head. It was so deep it vibrated from the ground. Blood was oozing from my nose, eyebrow, and god knows from what else.
But I wasn't going to give up.
"No!" I shouted as I staggered on my feet and made a dash for my sword.
"Big mistake." The voice added before the shadow covered me again as the thudding noise followed me. I was more thoughtful as I sharply took a different path and the tail came down on the sword instead. The unpleased groan made me believe the snake wasn't expecting my move.
The sword bounced from the dusty ground, and I rolled to my side and underneath the weapon to catch it. The serpent charged in my direction, and it was a matter of seconds before I grabbed the fucking sword or that monster shred me to pieces.