Chapter 20 - From a Normal Life into a Life of Survival
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[Lily Helianthus POV]
"Lily, go hide yourself. I'll deal with this bad boy."
Mr. Sai's earlier warning and the violent shaking of the ground started making me in panic, but it was thanks to Mr. Sai's confident words that made me feel a bit of assurance. I kept my composure and meekly did what he said and hide behind the mushroom that felt the safest to hide at.
I took a breather for a moment—hearing some explosions of some sort on my behind. I tried to shoot a peek on the situation, and I can see that Mr. Sai was already in his stance, but to my surprise, I was frightened on the monster he was about to fight against.
"Y-you're kidding?!" I mused in disbelief. "H-how is he supposed to fight something like that?!"
What emerged from the ground in front of Mr Sai, was a giant slug quintupled the size of him. This slug was mostly covered with mushrooms that glows dimly.
Just by its unbelievable size, he can easily be eaten whole by that monster! He was pretty confident about it but... I know you're strong, but not as strong as to beat that thing! P-please...
Please don't take the same fate as my father...
"Even though I'm starting to get a closure from you..."
But then, such traumatic sight made me remember everything that happened before. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
Before my life was turned into a mess, I was just a normal girl. I—who is the daughter of the Helianthus Family, was of a noble with a higher status.
My Mother was a Viscount of the Elven Royalty and was known to be as one of the strongest Elves in the country. My father is also a Viscount but compared to my mother, he was affiliated with other countries which means, he was a human. But such things didn't stop the two from being with each other and thus, existing me in this world.
My mother was on the dominating side so we're currently a resident on the Elven Country. Since my mother was a fighter, my father who's not as strong as her, was the one to attend and manage all the political affairs instead of the latter.
There is a trait my father was known at, and it's having an extreme sense of Justice. Just like the name implies, he chose the side of what he thinks is right. This caused some major issue regarding about him from the Elven Novels which made them hate him lividly. Thankfully, my father doesn't it mind at all.
My father likes to dote on me. So, on daily basis, I was pretty spoiled myself. Even with still my age, it doesn't stop him from spoiling me that my mother is starting to worry that I might become to spoiled. But it's okay, for even I know my limits.
"Father, what is it you want to tell me?" I asked.
"Lily, starting today, you will be enrolling on the Imperial Academy." My father announced. "It's the Academy you've always wanted to enroll to, right?"
"R-really?!"
"Yes, you'll be starting from the next 2 months. That's why, practice your Bow as always, so you won't get left out by the other students." My father remarked, then added. "Knowing you, you might become a Top Student and get presented into of a higher standing."
"Yes, I'll do my best! Thank you, father. Hehe~"
Those where the happiest days of my life. Living a normal life and finally enrolling at my favorite Academy... Or so I though.
It was the day after, my father was assigned to take care of managing the Caverns that was discovered near our land. To my father's luck...or not, what he found was something that anyone's mouth will starts to drool out.
It was his luck that he manages to find an abnormal Cavern that placed many treasures called [Life Essence] that's scattered around the place. As a person with a high sense of justice, my father tries to hide the treasures himself and secretly reports it to the King of the Elven Kingdom. Even with a possible risk, my father still held into his belief.
But the truth will always be exposed no matter how much you hide something. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before the other affiliation discovered it and began to bare their fangs into my father.
My father, whom they lividly hated began to cooperate an invasion into our territory.
A number of Assassins began and invaded our mansion and destroyed everything they see. My father who immediately gets the gist of what's happening, took all the [Life Essence] in him and run away together with me.
They timed it by the time my mother was out into an Expedition, so we were at a disadvantage. Me and my father fled with all our might, but it was futile.
It was of a day it was heavily raining. My father was horribly bruised with cuts and was nearing his exhaustion while were still being chased at. Knowing there was no chance of escape, my father tightly held me into my shoulder as he firmly gave me his final words.
"Listen carefully Lily, take this and run far away from here." My father had given me the [Life Essence] as he speaks. "Run and use this thing. That way, you can escape them."
"F-father! What about you?!" I shouted as tears began to fall into my eyes.
"We both won't survive if we both tried to escape from here. That's why you should go! I'll keep them at bay here!"
"No! I don't want to! Please Father!"
"Please Lily! This is the only way for you to survive." My father regrettably remarked. "Moreover, it's a father's duty to protect his daughter with his life. Run Lily!"
Gritting my teeth, I began running away behind him as I weep. I just sprinted ahead without looking back. I began to hear some explosion but what I marked on my mind was just to do only but escape.
Days of hopelessly running, I was finally relieved that I had escaped them, but such things wouldn't be that easy. Those Assassins that went from my father had found me once again.
"Hey, it's that kind!" The guy clads in armor informed as it tries to catch me. "Catch her!"
Breathing heavily, I ran as fast as I could, until it was at that time I found a Cavern. Having no choice left, I sprinted until I ended up at the lowest part of the Cavern—the dead-end.
"N-no...!" I timidly said as I trembled in fear.
"This is the end for you Viscount's daughter." The guy said, then began to smile creepily. "Since you're alone, why don't I have some fun before I give you back into your father?"
the guy licked his mouth as he forced to lock and put a chain both in my hands and feet. I squirmed as hard as I could, but it was to no avail—I was exhausted. But to some kind of fate, something began to light into my feet.
"Kuh! Bastard...!!"
"NOOO!!!"
I screamed as the guy tried to grab me. But before I know, I was already in a dark eerie place. It was all black as I felt like I had become blind all of a sudden. Me whose mind was in shambles began to wander around the place in complete darkness. Walking aimlessly, the tapping of my footsteps and the clanking of the chain is the only sound I can hear.
But then, I began to hear some kind of bones clanking. My eyes wander around to know what it is then suddenly...
*Cuts*
"Eh...?"
For some reason, I can't feel my left foot anymore.
"Ugh?! It hurts! It hurts!"
I shouted as I cried in agony. My foot was cut-off by someone.
Thanks to the adrenaline rush, I—who fall on the ground crawl as fast as I can. It was a miracle that the monster didn't follow after me but unfortunately... It was not like I'll be able to survive after this. At that point, I started to feel nauseous, and my eyes is beginning to get heavy.
"Ah... I might be dying..."
Then I remember, there was still a glimpse of hope as my father talks inside my mind. Ah, I still haven't use that, wasn't I?
(Run and use this thing. That way, you can escape them)
I took a [Life Essence] under my sleeve. But instead of normal means, I decided to eat it. Ugh, it's hard, like I'm eating a rock. But I had no choice but to use the last bit of my strength and do it.
I felt mildly better after I consumed one. Thus, I decided that I'll eat it whenever I felt hungry. If it turns like a poison and kills me, then that's just how life decided to end me here.
I idly sat from who knows where. Sleeping and eating the [Life Essence] if ever I felt hungry. Until a week later...
There's nothing left for me in here anymore. The [Life Essence] had finally run out. The eternal darkness has left me going crazy. I don't even know the reason why I tried to survive here anymore.
"Dizzy... I'm feeling tired... Father... Mother..."
As I timidly talk to myself and is ready to accept my fate, my ears who had become sensitive because of the darkness had heard a faint footstep approaching me.
Then I remembered the time my foot was cut-off, from that then, any sound that I heard aside from me had started to frighten me.
As I was in a state of panic, light suddenly came into my eyes. It hurts! I averted my eyes who had become sensitive after not being on exposure for a long time. The footstep began to reach its way into me. In such hopeless situation, I had no choice but to beg.
"P-pleash... don't hurt me... please don't kill me..." I whimpered.
I was accepting my death just then but why do I have to die in pain! Is what I thought but...
"Don't worry," I heard a faint sound of the guy then began pouring some potion into my mouth. "I won't hurt you."
To my surprise, all the pain in all of my body had begun to dissipate slowly. Even my foot that had been cut-off can be feel again. Eh? I'm being saved... Why?
All my experience told me how this world is a world that's being lived by species with full of greed and selfishness. But why is this guy, who is a stranger, is saving me? It was so weird...
No people in this world will help someone he doesn't even know. But this guy is different.
After that, he began to really take care of me—giving me a [Healing Potion] that isn't considered a cheap item. He gave me food and drink, and even lent me his clothes to cover myself...
He made me comfortable as he tends and didn't do anything for me while I sleep. I was actually half-awake from that time, so I fully know what happened—which is why I began to get some closure to him. He's kind and strong—a gentleman.
"That's why... please don't die!"