Book 13: Chapter 33


    Who exactly are you?


    Its meaningless even if I told you, right? In short, you just need to remember that Im here to protect you.


    Xia, lying in my arms, nodded feeling reassured: Thank you.


    Dont worry about it.


    Xia spoke to me as if she was pleading me: Are you willing to save me when youre a stranger? But can you protect my sister? You saved me Hence, people will attack my sister My sister wont retaliate. They will treat her the same way You need to save my sister, too, if you are to save me My sister is surely struggling right now. I know my sister loves me She must be suffering inside. Can you help her so that she doesnt continue suffering in pain


    I held Xias hand and responded in a serious tone: I will.


    Xia slowly nodded, and then leaned onto my chest. Her breaths were weak. She was too weak, so weak that she couldnt even continue speaking. Lucia stood behind us and watched the vigers in front of us with her dagger drawn. s, Lucia wasnt as imposing as Nier due to her smaller stature and because she had a dagger. The vigers watched Ying fight Nier with satisfaction and demanded Ying kill Nier.


    They were quite evenly matched. It was the first time I saw Nier expend so much effort in a fight. Yings sabre wasnt a Japanese katana. I thought it was, but the de was straight. It was more simr to the Chinese sabre in ancient times. Ying swung her sabre so fast it was virtually impossible to get a clear visual on it. Even Nier had to sometimes roll to evade her horizontal shes.


    The moving bright des induced nauseous feelings. All you could see was shing lights, and all you could hear was their des shing, leading to one gasping as they watched thebat. You could also hear the wind whistle as a result of their swift body movements.


    Nier looked incredibly stern. Sheunched a five minute onught. Lucia wouldnt havested that long if she was Niers opponent. However, Nier still hadnt managed to even nip a corner of Yings robe. Yings expression didnt change. It was my first time seeing Ying fight and how vicious her expression looked. I was originally worried Nier would hurt Ying; however, I started worrying Nier would get hurt.


    I always thought Nier was unparalleled in a sword duel, but I ended up questioning that. Ying didnt look any less skilled than Nier with a sword. Both Nier and Ying refined their swordy through fights with their life on the line. If there was a slip in their swordy, it would spell death. Consequently, the two of them sharpened their sword y to an overwhelming level.


    The vigers fell quiet. They nkly watched the duel between Nier and Ying. The crowd seemed to be aware of how powerful Ying was. They were certain Ying would destroy Nier when thetter challenged her for that reason. As Nier and Ying were evenly matched, nevertheless, they began to worry and fear, for their source of confidence was Ying. Without Ying protecting them, they wouldnt dare to utter a word. They brayed and carried on boldly, because Ying sided with them. With Nier going blow for blow with her, they were mere denizens who were afraid of death once again.


    Lucia shifted over to my side and quietly asked, Your Highness, do you want me to throw a knife to distract Ying so that Nier can subdue her?


    I shook my head: Dont. Dont interrupt them. I dont wish for either of them to suffer any harm. Theyll stop on their own once theyre tired. Most importantly, Ying is currently wounded, so she wont be able to hold out for long. Im confident Nier can defeat Ying. Yings physical attributes are inferior to NIers. She definitely understands, Argh!!


    Lucia widened her eyes. I suddenly felt a painful sensation from behind. An attack to my lower back almost caused me to fall forward and drop Xia. I couldnt help but grunt. An arrows feather on my right shoulder wobbled dangerously. Lucia swiftly spun around and threw a flying knife in a circr motion. Her knife opened a wound for the blood of the person by the door to spray out just as he went to scream. With a groan, he dropped to the ground.


    Your Majesty!!


    When Nier turned her head to shout, Ying leveraged her moment of distraction to sh at her, only for Nier to spin around and deflect her attack and follow it up with a kick to her chest. Suffering from pain, Ying grabbed her chest and retreated one step. Nier followed up with a knee, thereby knocking Ying upright. Yings wound opened again. The intense pain robbed her of her movement. Nier then grabbed her by her cor and viciously wrestled her to the ground. Following that manoeuvre, Nier then stabbed her sword through Yings lower abdomen to pin her to the ground.


    Aah!!!


    Nier had no intention of stopping. She picked up Yings sabre, and then charged toward the vigers. She decapitated several people before I could stop her.


    Stop! Stop!!


    My body quivered due to the pain. I shouted for Nier, who went on a killing spree, to stop. However, Nier totally ignored me. She hunted down the vigers. There were screams of despairing from outside, but all the voices soon died down.


    I knew that it was toote by then. The arrow didnt kill me, but it killed them. Nier will never spare anybody who harms me. Nobody could stop her rage now. Nier will kill all of the vigers, even if I tell her not to.


    I heard Ying scream at the top of her lungs. But nevertheless, nobody could help her. Lucia nkly knelt next to me. She grabbed the arrow in me and quivered. Her tears apanied her shaky voice: Sorry Sorry Your Highness I didnt notice I didnt notice I. I didnt hear the iing attack at all


    Its nothing. Its nothing, Lucia. Just pull the arrow out for meter.


    Lucia had enhanced senses; still, it was difficult for her to notice a discreet shot over the chaotic scene and the fact that she was talking to me. I was too close to the crowd. Even if she hypothetically noticed it, the best she couldve done was take the hit for me. This arrow was very short. It mustve been fired from a small crossbow.


    Lucia wouldve been able to protect me if she still had her wind elves buff, but she was considerably weaker without them. In addition, she hadnt trained as diligently as Nier. Consequently, she never noticed the arrow flying toward me. I didnt me her; it wasnt her fault. Fortunately, the arrow only hit my shoulder. Had it hit any higher, Id be dead.


    Sorry Sorry I I


    Lucia grabbed the arrow in my shoulder and trembled. She snapped the arrow then tried to pull it, only to discover that it wasnt sharp arrow but a mere wooden stick. Lucia, relieved, sped my face. In a concerned tone, she asked, Is there poison on this arrow? Is there poison?! Your Highness, how do you feel?


    I feel all right. Nothing aside from a lot of pain.


    She let out a breath of relief, and then tore some of her clothes to bandage my wound. She then sat down to one side and wiped her tears.


    Dont Dont! Dont!! cried Ying.


    I never thought itd end in a massacre. I wanted to help Ying, but all that was left in the end were her sobs. Nie was covered in blood. Lucia was overwhelmed with fear. And I had myself an injury


    I asked myself, All those deaths just for Xia. Was it really worth it?


    <strong>Glossary</strong>


    *The sabre used in China in ancient times was simr in shape to a katana, but the de was straight, as opposed to curve  not to be convinced with a sword (jian). Itsmonly mixed up with the broadsword, which is an entirely different beast. A broadsword  as the name suggests  has a de with a wider surface area. Both are split into single-handed and double-handed versions, with the former being more poprly used as a single-handed weapon.