Noah p.o.v
Diana walked away amid the ruckus. She looked so out of it and I did not understand why. Mr. Brown was looking furious, and Miss Sutton was just watching without trying to stop her. While Mr. Rogers was in the background, face-palming at the whole situation.
I wanted to run and catch up to Diana, but this matter will take turn to a worse if I left it be. I have to convince Mr. Brown that everything is alright so Diana could join the Championship.
I walked closer to Mr. Brown.
"Mr. Brown, I can assure you that Ariana is alright. I know her for years and she's stronger than that. Being pushed to the ground is normal in Swordsmanship." I reasoned with him, but his face did not look like he was convinced. It was as if he turned deaf and did not listen to what I said.
"Not only she was pushed to the ground, but a sword to her head ! If she did not fall to the ground, she would have had a serious concussion and the future of the Kingdom will be doomed !"
My body lost its tension. After hearing that, the blood that was rushed within me turned calm immediately. I sighed, leaning out.
"You only this persistent because you want to be in good favor of the future Queen, do you ?" I calmly stated and made him redder than he was being furious over the situation. He looked abashed, before his face twisted, and his anger was directed toward me.
"Nonsense ! Don't try to walk out of this, Noah Sinclair !"
I walked away, not wanting to hear any more from him. There was no use trying to convince him. I am pretty sure Mr. Rogers would do something about it. I did not know why it got me worked up so badly. I never would act this way if it was for someone else.
What important right now was Diana.
I was watching when she sparred with Ariana. Yes, I was worried because I know what kind of nature Ariana had that probably would brush badly on Diana. However, even from afar, I sensed a different aura from Diana, forcing me to pay attention to her.
I saw how reckless Diana's movement was. There was a lot of opening in her movements, but it was equivalent to the power she was throwing on Ariana that the latter had no time to recuperate.
Once I saw Diana overthrow Ariana, I quickly ran way towards her from my spot which was further away. I knew that was bad news for Ariana's teacher, Mr. Brown.
Now, I only knew one place she would be and it would be her dorm. This would be the time I started to regret not asking her about the marking sooner. By asking the warden, it will take me more time from reaching her, and I need to be by her soon.
The inside of me felt uneasy. I have not marked her yet, but my heart thumped like crazy, worrying over the last state I had seen her.
The sky was turning dark, and my gut told me something bad had happened to Diana.
I paced even faster, even running through the school ground to get to Diana sooner. I did not care what everyone think of me from the stares I got.
I need to be by her side.
Once I got close to the dormitory, I saw someone else running out of the gate. It surprised me to see Ian Bennette coming out of the girl's dormitory, but I knew instantly it was about Diana.
There was a blanket in his hands, I knew exactly what that was meant for.
It was as if he was looking for me when I saw him relieved at the sight of me. He walked towards me and threw the blanket to my chest.
"Follow me." Demanding as ever, but it was not the time to complain.
He sprinted through the empty field, reserved for the students of the school to go for a werewolf run, and I followed his trail. He ran to the top of the hill, and that is where he started to look around.
"Damn it, her scent disperse here." Ian cursed, taking a breather. I did the same, not saying anything as he was trying to relocate her.
Then, he began to run into the forest that the school did not own; out of property. It was dangerous since there could be wild wolves out there. While they were nothing much against werewolves, they have the mind of literal animals that devour anything in sight, while we respect them for being part of our species.
The forest got darker, but it was no obstacle to our heightened visions. The only problem was the scent, which it seemed Ian had trouble trying to sense them. He looked even more worried than I do, prancing back and forth and cursing as every second passed.
Having enough of him getting more irrational, I questioned.
"What is the problem here ?" I asked, trying to figure out the situation so I could lend him a hand. Ian wiped his face with his hand.
"Diana completely hid her whereabouts by spreading the scent everywhere. Knowing her, this must have happened unconsciously. I have no time to waste on the goddamn false trails. She might go further and further away by seconds here as we speak." He finally opened his mouth to explain, and it came out as a barrage.
"Fucking relax then ! Aren't you a genius ? I'm sure you can figure it out." I lashed at him, snapping him from his anxiousness. He clenched his hair and nodded hastily.
The rain started to pour down, and I looked up worriedly.
The rain could wash the scent away, but Ian did not seem to faze.
However, after a minute of the rain, he looked downwards from the sky and opened his eyes. He now looked more calm and collected, and in a condition where he knew what he was doing.
"Come on." He said and began to run again. I just followed him from behind.
Dispersing the scent, was not something a normal feat a werewolf can do. Only someone of similar power to Bennette and Sinclair could do it for the purpose on the battlefield.
This action was to confuse the opponent of the lower power.
In this case, the only person that would be able to do so on the Bennette was the royalty.
That was my speculation, but if it was true, then that would answer the dominion aura spread across the field earlier that halted everyone naturally, reacting to an apex predator.
It was as if the King himself making an appearance.
The rain fell to earth for a while now, and I noticed Ian stopped running and began to walk. I just followed his pace, anticipating that he had found Diana.
Then, there I saw a werewolf curled into its tail, hiding underneath a tree to find shelter from the rain, which was still showered by it through the gap of the leaves.
I quickly ran towards it with the blanket and wrapped the blanket around it. Its body was trembling, scooting closer to me for warmth, and slowly I felt the stature shrinking.
Then, I felt a head leaning against my chest, the black hair that I had known for a while now. Diana is safe but frail and cold. She continued to find warmth from me and I hugged her to lend what she sought.
Suddenly, I felt her trembling even more. I looked over at Ian and he was standing there, looking hesitant.
"You're a traitor..." I heard her speak, and even I felt a whip out of that words. With the pain that spread across Ian's face, I could sympathize with him even though I did not know the context of what was happening.
I saw Ian begin to walk towards her, and I already knew it was a cue for me to give space for these two.
"You're a fucking traitor ! Don't come close to me, I hate you !"
The words cut deep into me as if her pain was resonating within me. I let go of her and walked away, my gut told me it was the best choice I had.
I watched as Ian hugged her, and a few moments later, Diana began to cry her heart out. I looked away, feeling my eyes watering, seeing how miserable she was.
Seeing her crying, begging for some love I could not quite understand, I instantly made a promise to myself; that I would protect her from anything that could make her cry like this again.
I swore to protect her and to treasure her, to love her deeply so she could forget her failed love. Whoever it was, whether it be her past boyfriend or mother or father, I swore I would love her much more.
The rain that went hard earlier slowly turned lighter and soon stopped. My entire body was soaked from the rain, and on Ian's shoulder, Diana had fallen asleep.
It must have been tiring hours for her and how I wished it could be different, where I would the one to hold and comfort her.
I have to make a change to that.
I watched as Ian carried Diana in his arms, who was sleeping soundly. Suddenly, Ian stopped walking and turned to look at me.
"Go freshen up and take a rest. Thank you for today, Noah." He thanked me again, and all I could do was nod. Our first time meeting was unlikely to be a warm one, and I am not going to lie that seeing how close they are affected me. However, I was not going to act childish and complain about it.
"Please, take her out with you this weekend." My eyes fluttered at his words.
"Take her out, cheer her up, and comfort her. I think the one who she needs the most right now is you." I just stood there, shocked. I did not know what to say, nailed to the ground, and awkwardly stands there like I was facing her father.
"... I give you my blessing." Now, I felt even more embarrassed. While I was soaking wet even to my boxer, this man in front of me was giving me his blessing. The timing was horrible !
"I know it's useless, and you're made for her and all," He turned his body as he was leaving.
"But Diana is my only younger sister, and you make one slip up.." His eyes glistened with a menacing stare.
"You better pray for Moon Goddess to take on your side because you're not going to like what's going to happen."
The threat sends shivers down my spine.
"She will be resting for a few days."
Finally, he left for the girl's dormitory, and the water was already pooling around my feet while I was threatened by Ian earlier.
-
Ariana p.o.v
The image of that incident in the field still haunts me.
The pair of eyes stared down at me like I was lesser than a pest. The way she was towering over me, remind me of that time when the King made me fall to my knees.
His pair of red-eyed pushed me down to the floor, forcing me to kneel to him. It was as if my soul was sucked out the longer I gaze into his eyes.
There was no emotion displayed by him, but my whole body trembled and I was on verge of crying. If it was not for my mother's intervention, I might have died there.
I shook my head violently, not accepting what had happened to me was similar to a life-and-death situation with the King.
There was no way a mere, random girl from an unknown noble could make me cower like this. It was just a feeling, a trauma of the past that no one could ever survive if they went through the same.
This fear within me was proof that I was the chosen one. I am the next Queen of this Kingdom.
"Gardner !" I called out for Eden, and I noticed him simply give me a side-eyed. I rolled my eyes at his attitude.
"Do you have any idea how to ruin this... ambitious little girl, Diana Danielle ?" He rolled his eyes at my words, and I huffed out seeing him standing up, and walking out of the room.
"Don't include me in your pesky scheme. You're on your own."
I watched as he has gone from behind the closed door.