The moment I saw the magic collided into Nerina, my mind went blank. Emotions built up inside me almost killing all the guards that are shielding me. I rushed up to her side and carefully held her with my arms.
When I called out her name, a wave of relief rushed inside me when she caressed my cheek and said 'I love you'. However it was short lived as I felt a surge of panic as Nerina's hand dropped from my cheek. Her eyes, usually bright and full of life was slowly closing.
"Nerina, my nymph... please don't go," I whispered, my voice trembling with desperation. I reached out to grab her hand, trying to hold on to her as if she might slip away from me at any moment.
The room was a whirlwind of activity, but my focus was solely on Nerina. I could barely register the commotion around me, my entire world narrowing to the sight of her still form. My heart pounded with an intensity I had never known before, each beat a plea for her to come back to me.
My voice, filled with desperation, called out your name repeatedly, each utterance tinged with a helplessness that broke my usual composure.
"Nerina, wake up... I still have a surprise for you, I should have told you earlier. I'm sorry, please wake up now hmm?"
I felt a pang of despair as I realized that Nerina wasn't responding to me. I gently shook her shoulders, trying to rouse her, but she remained still and unresponsive.
I glanced around, feeling a sense of chaos erupting around us. Javier was shouting orders, and the sound of knights rushing to respond to his calls filled the air. Biron's voice was calm and authoritative, directing the rescue efforts.
But I couldn't focus on any of it. All I could think about was Nerina, and how I had to get her back to safety.
And then, suddenly before my eyes, I saw the second prince of Themon fallen on his backside with his eyes wide open with shock while staring at Nerina.
The moment his figure entered my eyes, all I saw was red. I slowly released Nerina as I stood up and unsheathed my sword.
Just to save a stupid man like him, Nerina was now at the boundary of life and death.
"You impertinent bastard, I can see now why they sent you here instead of the king. This was your goal all along. To sacrifice yourself so that the war will reignite again? Tell me, what should I cut first? Your arm? Leg? Or head?"
My voice was laced with venom as I advanced on the second prince of Themon, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword. Each step I took seemed heavier, fueled by my anger and desperation. The prince, still in shock, struggled to rise from the floor, stammering as he attempted to defend himself.
"N-no! I swear I didn't know that my father, the king offered me as a sacrifice!"
However, I seemed to become deaf as I can only hear whispers inside my mind to torture him slowly.
"Augustus! Stop!" a voice called from behind, but August didn't waver. His mind was consumed with the image of Nerina's lifeless body, her final words echoing in his ears.
"I will not forgive you," he muttered through clenched teeth. His grip on the sword tightened. "You were willing to sacrifice everything for this war. Now you'll pay the price for your arrogance."
Just as he was about to bring the blade down, a hand grabbed his wrist.
"Augustus, enough!" It was Javier, his trusted advisor and friend. "You'll end up giving Themon what they wanted. If you kill him, everything she sacrificed will be in vain."
I seemed to snap back into reality as my eyes flickered over to Nerina, lying motionless, surrounded by the royal healers who had rushed to her aid. The rage that had burned so fiercely moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by overwhelming grief and the urge to be with her.
Reluctantly, he lowered his sword. "Fine," I whispered. "But if anything happens to her, Themon will pay."
I turned sharply, making my way toward Nerina. My hand reached out, trembling, as I knelt by her side.
Meanwhile, Javier exhaled in relief, watching as the knight order quickly took control of the situation. The second prince, still shaken, was escorted away, and the healers worked swiftly to tend to Nerina's injuries.
After the commotion, Nerina was transferred to her private chamber.
The healers worked tirelessly, their hands glowing softly with magic as they treated her wounds. Ember, her loyal fox, whined pitifully at the foot of her bed, his large, sorrowful eyes fixed on her almost lifeless form. His usual playful demeanor was nowhere to be seen; he could sense the gravity of the situation.
August stood by the doorway, barely able to breathe as he watched over her. Every second felt like an eternity, the weight of his emotions nearly suffocating him. He turned to the head healer, his voice tight and strained. "How is she?"
The healer hesitated for a moment before answering. "The injuries from the blast itself were not as damaging as we feared. It is the trauma from being thrown by the shockwave that caused the most harm." She glanced at the motionless figure on the bed. "With time and continued treatment, she should regain her strength."
August let out a shaky breath, his body tensing as he processed the healer's words. Relief washed over him, though it was tempered by the uncertainty still hanging in the air. "Why didn't the magic harm her more?"
The healer furrowed her brow. "That, Your Majesty, remains a mystery. It's as though her body resisted the magic attack more than it should have."
August nodded, but his mind was still racing. He looked at Nerina's serene face, wondering what kind of power or protection had shielded her.
August turned his gaze to Eliana, who stood near the bedside, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Her face was etched with concern, and her hands were trembling slightly.
"Eliana," August said softly but with authority, "I trust you to protect her. Don't let anyone come near without my permission. And if anything, anything changes, you report to me immediately."
Eliana wiped her tears with the back of her hand and nodded firmly. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will stay by Her Majesty's side at all times. You can count on me."