Radelia exhaled in relief.
"Hah... that idiot... I forgot he had that skill."
The Manticore staggered back to its feet, growling weakly. Large portions of its skin were burned off, and parts of its face were charred and dripping blood.
But it was still alive.
Minato glared at it, his body trembling.
"Damn... still not enough..."
He pressed his palm against the ground, lifting himself up on one knee.
His legs were healing slowly, new flesh forming, but the process was slow and painful. He winced with every movent.
The Manticore roared again and prepared to charge...
...but Minato raised his hand, his breath sharp.
"Blood... spear."
The blood around him rose like threads, twisting and rging into a long, sharp spear.
He grabbed it tightly and hurled it with all his strength.
SHUUN!
The spear pierced the Manticore’s throat, tearing straight through it and embedding itself in the far wall.
The creature stopped moving instantly.
Its body twitched once... then collapsed.
Silence filled the arena.
Alia’s legs finally gave out and she dropped to her knees on the spectator platform.
"...He won..." she whispered, tears rolling down her face.
Minato slumped backward, exhausted, blood still dripping from his wounds.
He looked up toward the stands, exhaled shakily, and managed a faint smirk.
"Told you... I’d be fine..."
Alia didn’t even hear the rest of the voices around her.
The mont Minato forced out that tired smirk, she stood up and jumped straight off the spectator platform...landing hard but steady...before rushing toward him.
"Alia...!" Elizabeth called from behind, but Alia was already gone.
She stopped right in front of Minato, dropped to her knees, and grabbed his shoulders.
"You’re not fine!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "Don’t say things like that when your legs are lted!"
Minato let out a weak laugh.
"Well... they’re growing back... slowly..."
"That’s not the point!" Alia’s voice rose again. She touched his face with trembling hands, wiping away dust and blood. "Do you know how scared I was? I thought... I thought that thing was going to kill you..."
Her voice choked mid-sentence.
Minato blinked. "...Alia?"
She didn’t answer. She leaned forward and hugged him...carefully, terrified of hurting him...her arms wrapping around his bleeding neck.
Deborah whistled loudly from the stands.
"Well damn... she moved fast."
Elizabeth sighed. "Let them be."
Radelia crossed her arms, smiling a little. "Minato needs the affection. Look at him...acting like he isn’t dying."
Minato placed a hand gently on Alia’s back, feeling her shake.
"...I told you not to worry," he said quietly.
He wasn’t joking this ti.
Alia pulled back slightly, her face red, eyes wet.
"You keep saying that, but then you go and almost get yourself killed. Again."
He managed a soft smile. "I survived, didn’t I?"
"...Barely."
The guards approached cautiously, unsure if they should interrupt.
One bowed his head. "Princess... should we bring a blood healer?"
Alia didn’t look away from Minato.
"No. I’ll take care of him."
She slid one arm under his back and the other under his knees...careful not to touch the lted areas...and lifted him with ease.
Minato’s eyes widened a bit.
"H-hey... I can walk..."
"No you can’t," she snapped back. "Your legs look like half-cooked at."
"...You didn’t have to say it like that."
Alia hugged him closer, ignoring the others.
"We’re going to your room. You’re not moving again today."
As she carried him toward the exit, Minato sighed.
"...I really need to get stronger."
Alia heard it...
She held him tighter...
"You will. Just don’t die in the process."
Then she stepped through the arena doors, still carrying him in a bridal-style, ignoring the stares and whispers of every knight they passed...
Slowly as Alia carried Minato down the long corridor, the other guards they passed all paused and watched...so stunned, so confused, most terrified...
It wasn’t every day the Princess of Domination personally carried soone, especially a man, like he were the most important person in the palace.
Radelia, Deborah, and Elizabeth followed behind them, each with a different expression:
Radelia was smiling...Deborah looked amused...Elizabeth looked like she was trying to hide a smirk.
When they finally reached Minato’s room, Alia kicked the door open gently with her foot and brought him inside. She lowered him onto the bed with slow, precise care...like she was placing sothing fragile down.
Once he was settled, she knelt on the floor right beside the bed, staring at his legs with a panicked and concerned frown...
"...Minato," she said quietly, "don’t do sothing like that again."
Minato sighed. "Alia, it was training. I need..."
She cut him off imdiately.
"That was not training. That was almost dying."
She looked up at him, her eyes watery and shaking. "You didn’t see your own legs. I did."
Minato looked away for a mont. "I handled it."
"No," she said firmly. "Your blood magic saved you. Not you."
He paused at that...
Silence lingered for a mont.
Then Deborah stepped in, leaning over Minato with a teasing grin.
"Well, well. Our little princess is completely attached, isn’t she?"
"Shut up, Deborah," Alia snapped without even looking at her.
Elizabeth walked to the opposite side of the bed, examining Minato’s legs with an analytical stare.
"I can get a very good blood healer," she offered. "They can speed up recovery."
Alia shook her head...
"No. His blood magic is already repairing him. And he doesn’t like being stared at when he’s hurt."
Minato blinked. "...I never said that."
"You don’t need to," Alia replied, refusing to back down.
Radelia stepped forward next, arms behind her back.
"You did good, Minato... but next ti, please don’t make watch sothing like that. I felt your pain through the familiar bond."
He sighed. "Yeah... sorry about that."
Then another sudden ping echoed faintly in Minato’s vision.
[DING]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
CURRENT CONDITION: CRITICAL DAMAGE
REGENERATIVE RATE: 12%
[SUGGESTION: HOST SHOULD REST FOR 8 HOURS]
[WARNING: UPCOMING OBJECTIVE REQUIRES OPTIMAL CONDITION]
Minato exhaled. "Figures..."
Alia leaned closer instantly. "Is it the system again? What did it say?"
"That I should rest," Minato muttered.
"Good," she said, standing up.
Her expression softened, though her eyes still held worry.
"I’m staying here."
Deborah raised a brow. "All night?"
"Yes."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes affectionately. "You’re shaless."
Alia ignored them and gently placed her hand on Minato’s forehead.
"You sleep," she said quietly. "I’ll be right here."
Minato sank deeper into the pillow.
"...Fine. But don’t stare at while I sleep."
"I will," Alia said.
"...Please don’t."
"I will."
He sighed in defeat.
Deborah burst out laughing, Elizabeth chuckled softly, and Radelia shook her head with a proud smile.
Alia pulled a chair beside the bed, sat down, and rested her arm on the mattress...her hand lightly touching Minato’s.
"Sleep, Minato," she whispered. "You’re safe now."
Reviews
All reviews (0)