She was dressed like a knight, her silver armor gleaming in the sunlight. A beautiful, shiny sword hung from her hip, its hilt adorned with detailed designs. As she stepped closer, her boots crunching on the grass, she took off her helmet, revealing her flowing blonde hair. I was amazed by her mesmerizing beauty. Her anger seemed even more intense.
"What are you staring at, outlander?" she hissed with a sharp voice. "Do you have a death wish?"
With a swift motion, she unsheathed her sword, the steel flashing as it caught the light.
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, taking a step back. "I was teleported here somehow… I don't know where I landed. In any case, I am not here to cause trouble."
"I bet you left your manners back where you came from," she said in a mocking tone. "You little shrimp could not have possibly opened a holy gate by yourself! You'll be dead before you could even try. Hahaha!"
Her tone was infuriating, but she was double my size. Calling me a shrimp was not an understatement.
"I came here with Aloen… A tall silver-haired man, with his golden eyes covered… That traitor has not kept his word!" I blurted, frustration rising in my chest.
In a blink of an eye, her sword was at my neck, the edge so close that a few strands of my hair fell to the ground. I froze.
"What the hell? Are you nuts?" I shouted, panic gripping me.
"Do not speak ill of my lord," she snarled, her voice ice-cold with fury. "Or I swear your head will lie on that filthy grass, where it belongs."
The intensity of her hatred was palpable. It was overwhelming, like it could destroy entire armies with a single breath.
Before I could respond, a calm voice rang out. "Put your sword down, Ellis," the voice commanded.
I turned to see Aloen approaching with a dignified posture, but his steps were slow and labored. "She is my guest, and I expect you to treat her as such. Is it clear?"
The woman immediately dropped to her knees, her head bowing in apology.
"I deeply apologize, my Lord. Seeing her wander around your property unescorted seemed suspicious."
"I should have informed you of her arrival. It is my fault as well," he turned, and looked at me with relief. "We were teleported in different locations because I didn't have enough mana to keep us together. I hope this explains why you were alone, my Lady...I mean Mia."
His explanation was a mix of sincerity and quiet humility. Despite his lordship, he didn't need to explain himself to me. I couldn't help but smile at the thought. Ellis, however, scowled at me, her eyes full of disdain.
"My Lord, did you fight with dark creatures before coming here?" she asked, concern threading her voice.
"You needn't worry, Ellis. I am fine. I was just overpowered by an old acquaintance," he said, walking away. His body was clearly struggling. His wrist was still bleeding, leaving a tail of crimson on the grass.
Proud as he was, he would never accept help from anyone. Ellis knows it too. She kept a close eye on him, ready to intervene if he stumbled.
She was a towering figure, both physically and emotionally. In her early thirties perhaps, her face etched with the wear of endless battlefields. Around her neck, she wore a pretty necklace, small but significant, where something was engraved. It certainly belonged to a deceased loved one. A brother… or a lover…
"Won't you mind your own business, Lady?" she snapped, catching me staring at the necklace, her hand instinctively clutching it.
"Sorry," I murmured, surprised by her sudden outburst.
"Guessing my story will only give you false impressions," she said with a harsh tone. "So quit it already!"
"I wasn't…"
"That's enough!" Aloen screamed with pain in his voice. "This is no way to treat a guest, Ellis, you disappoint me greatly…"
Before anyone could respond, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his body hitting the grass with a dull thud.
Ellis gracefully carried him on her back, her movements deliberate despite the weight she bore. Her eyes flicked toward me, emotionless, as if she had already decided I was nothing more than an inconvenience.
"He fought to protect you...right?" she asked bitterly. "Let me tell you something, little missie, Lord Aloen is precious to me; I won't allow anyone to hurt him"
Judging her impulsive nature, telling her the truth won't do any good. If Aloen wanted to tell her what happened, he would have told her himself.
We walked for ten long minutes, not exchanging a single word. It felt like an eternity, only the sound of the rhythmic crunch of our footsteps appeased the tension.
We reached an astonishingly beautiful mansion. Its Victorian style was breathtakingly imposing. A real masterpiece of stonework and towering spires. Every flag hanging from the high walls bore the emblem of the narcissus flower, giving the whole place a touch of mystery. The surrounding gardens were carefully manicured – flowerbeds bursting with vibrant color, mainly with the golden shade, and a large fountain at the center that splashed the air with droplets of water.
The door opened slowly, revealing a tall, imposing figure in dark robes. His presence was dominating, and his expressions unreadable.
He glanced at Aloen's weakened state, but his expression remained stoic, unmoving. Without a word, he raised a hand, and a glowing array of symbols appeared in the air around him. The symbols pulsed with energy before spiraling toward Aloen, lifting him gently from Ellis's back.
At that moment, I felt a strange warmth coursing through me. My insignia glowed on my neck and absorbed the energy the man released. The glow intensified, as though it were absorbing the very essence of his power.
I placed my hand over it, trying to conceal it, but it was too late. The man's eyes, sharp and calculating, fixed me.
He had seen it.
His gaze darkened, and with a cold, commanding voice, he ordered, "Arrest her!"