บท 21: The Aftermath
When Lara and Sabrat reached the battleground, they discovered Rasoul lying lifeless. Lara promptly lifted him and began administering a health potion, but it appeared ineffective. Tears welled in her eyes, unaware that a white light emanated from her body, entering Rasoul's form. Sabrat observed this but remained silent as the light gradually started to heal Rasoul.
Soon, the princess and her soldiers arrived, astonished to find a substantial crater where the monster once stood. They observed a young man with white hair peacefully sleeping in the arms of the lady accompanying him. Vira quickly discerned the situation and instructed everyone to step back, anticipating their hero would take some time to awaken.
An hour later, Rasoul finally opened his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Lara inquired anxiously.
"I'm fine. I need to cultivate for a while, so you and Sabrat can return to the city. I'll join you when I'm done," Rasoul replied, wearing a tired expression on his face.
"No, I'll stay by your side until you wake up," Lara immediately responded.
"I'm staying too," Sabrat chimed in.
"Alright, but don't stay too close to me. I don't know what will happen during my cultivation, so stay back a little," Rasoul cautioned. He then assumed a lotus position and began his cultivation.
*****
Like a comet, news of the events in Orange Field City spread rapidly to the capital and other cities. In the capital, people rejoiced, not just because Orange City was safe, but because Princess Vina had survived the Monster Tide against all odds. The exaggerated news that the Princess had defeated a Great Beast added to their joy.
In a tavern, three locals were having a drink while sharing the story, garnishing it with their own twists:
"Did you hear? Princess Vina defended Orange Field City and took down a Great Beast; not a single civilian was harmed! She's totally queen material," exclaimed a dark blue-haired guy, taking a big gulp of beer.
"That's badass. The princess, without a doubt, will be our next queen," another guy added.
"Killing a Great Beast is not easy. I will riot if the king doesn't choose the Princess as the next queen," a lady said with a slight smile.
"Well, it wasn't the Princess who killed the Great Beast. I heard some adventurer guy did it all by himself," someone said from a nearby table. Despite his attempt to correct them, his words were brushed aside.
"Come on, dude, it's still the Princess's mission, so she deserves the credit," the blue-haired guy insisted.
"That's right. She took on the challenge and succeeded. Give her all the credit! I hope the king sees her value and hands over the crown already," someone else chimed in.
"You do have a point...
"Hey, who were those three individuals who jumped into the battle at the last minute? Rumor has it, their presence turned the tide, and they even brought Mana and Health potions for the soldiers," a lady in the corner of the tavern remarked.
"They've gotta be from one of the Great families. Regular folks can't afford that many potions," someone speculated.
"Sounds about right. But one thing's for sure, they're gonna be famous soon. Maybe then we'll learn more about them," another person added.
"And that person who denied her extra soldiers must be regretting it now," another person joined in, anticipating trouble for the one who turned down the princess's request.
"I heard it was the first Prince who denied her the reinforcements," replied another individual in the tavern.
"They tried, but they couldn't stop her. I mean, defending a whole city with 20,000 soldiers against 500,000 monsters? Princess Vina deserves the crown more than any of her siblings. I'm with her all the way," the bartender chimed in.
"Yep, me too."
"Count me in."
"She's got my support as well."
And just like that, the princess's fame soared in every corner of the capital, quickly spreading throughout the kingdom. Meanwhile, the first Prince paced anxiously in a hidden chamber within the palace. He wasn't having it easy at all. All his plans continued to fall down the drain.
A little later...
"Knock, knock."
"Come in," he said in a hurried tone.
"My prince, why are you so tense?" the person entering the room asked.
"It's nothing to worry about. Is it done?" he replied promptly.
"Yes, my prince. Our allies have responded. They've dispatched 35 Grandmaster assassins. By the end of the week, the Princess will be history. No need for you to stress. They've got it all under control," the individual assured before turning to leave.
"Good. Keep me updated on further developments," he replied, finally showing a relieved sign.
*****
Simultaneously, 35 individuals were gearing up for a mission in a dimly lit room near the capital. In the service of the first Prince, these hired assassins were preparing to eliminate Princess Vina. Among them, an individual who appeared to be the leader commenced briefing the team.
"It's been rumored that the princess and her soldiers are fatigued from battling monsters, so there shouldn't be significant resistance. Our task is to infiltrate, incapacitate them, and eliminate the princess. We must execute this swiftly and discreetly. Given the mission's importance, exercise caution," the leader instructed.
"Should any issues arise, you all know the protocol.
"Due to the mission's significance, I will accompany you, intervening only if things go awry.
Without delay, the 35 individuals set out towards Orange Field City.
*****
Back in Orange Field City, cheers reverberated through the streets. The city's residents were relieved to be alive, although some couldn't shake the sorrow of losing loved ones in the battle.
Exhausted from recent events, Princess Vina and Vira slept soundly in each other's embrace. Instead of joining the celebrations, they took a brief rest while waiting for Rasoul to awaken. Unable to assist him and his companions, a short nap seemed prudent.
After a while, they awoke but remained on the bed.
"Do you believe he'll be alright?" the Princess inquired.
"There's no need to worry, Princess. He's not facing any trouble. He simply required some rest to alleviate fatigue and heal a few wounds," Vira reassured her.
"Have you ever encountered individuals like them before? It might sound peculiar, but I've never come across young humans with pure white hair in this kingdom or any others. They don't seem to be from around here. Additionally, did you notice the potions they provided? Completely pure, without any impurities. It's unusual for strangers to possess such large quantities of 100% pure potions. We need to exercise caution. We're uncertain of their motives, and we already owe them a considerable debt," the princess conveyed her concerns about Rasoul and his friends.
"That is indeed peculiar. While I don't believe they hail from our region, one thing is certain: they've assisted us, so we should treat them with kindness as we delve into their backgrounds," Vira replied.
"Before long, inquiries will begin. We currently have the upper hand. Let's avoid anything that might drive them away. Caution is crucial," Vira advised as she tried to rise from the bed.
"Where do you think you're headed? Take a breather, Vira. There's nothing else demanding our attention right now; just relax," Vina advised, tightening her arms around Vira.
"Princess, we can't be seen in such a state; it won't be favorable for your public image," Vira replied, a faint blush coloring her face.
Unaware of the imminent threat posed by approaching assassins, the princess and her maid continued to roll on the bed.
*****
Boom... A surge of energy erupted from Rasoul's seated form in the lotus posture, sending dust swirling around. When it settled, a young man with white hair opened his eyes and yawned. He had been in a peculiar, dream-like state for five whole days. During that time, he received numerous messages but couldn't check any of them. Now awake, he focused on his friends standing before him.
"Who's feeling hungry?" he inquired.
"You're awake!" Rasoul suddenly felt gentle hands around his neck, and teardrops began to soak his shoulder.
"Please don't tell me you've been crying all this time. I just took a short nap. No big deal," Rasoul said, attempting to comfort Lara, realizing he might have startled her a bit.
Princess Vina and Vira arrived shortly after. Concerned that something terrible had occurred, they hurried there, but upon seeing Rasoul and Lara embracing, they exchanged glances and shook their heads. How could this guy be so unabashed, hugging a girl while only half-dressed? Of course, Rasoul remained oblivious to their thoughts, partly enjoying the embrace. After a while, they parted, and when Lara noticed the situation, she blushed slightly. However, Sabrat, the observant assassin, took note of everything.
"Look at you, blushing like a baby. Weren't you the same Lara who was taking down monsters just a few days ago?" he teased, attempting to appear tough, but his emotions were evident to any observer. Unlike Lara, who possessed her soul, Rasoul would face a similar fate if he were to perish.
"I miss you too, buddy. And hey, ease up on Lara; she doesn't appreciate all that attention," Rasoul said, gently holding Lara's hand.
Meanwhile, 35 assassins could be seen hastening toward the city, only a few hours away.
Rasoul and his crew entered the city, freshened up, and then joined the Princess and her maid for a meal.
Invited for dinner, they accepted the invitation, but just as Rasoul was about to engage in conversation with the Princess, his radar illuminated, warning him of imminent danger.
"Hey Sabrat, we've got 34 Grandmasters and a Peak Grandmaster assassin heading this way. Take out the 34 and capture the Peak Grandmaster."
The Princess and her maid looked at him, utterly bewildered. They had no clue what was happening. However, Rasoul, true to his nature, couldn't resist asking,
"Princess Vina, who wants you dead, anyway?"
******
Sabrat swiftly exited the city and perched on a tree branch, ready for the intruders. Today was not the best day for these assassins to launch an attack. He had endured five days of suspense, anxiously waiting for his master to wake up, and just when it happened, they chose to strike. Needless to say, he was furious, and these assassins couldn't have picked a worse time.
His frustration was reaching its peak, and he intended to let it all out on these intruders. They were in for a surprise, becoming the unwitting targets of Sabrat's pent-up anger.
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