Chương 46: A Desperate Move

Oscar stared at Leah, her breathing still steady despite the pain.

"You're about to die, you know that?" Leah tightened her grip on the sword hilt, blood running down her side and across her face.

"This isn't the first time I've been this close to death…Your Majesty". With a muffled cry, she lunged forward, unleashing a series of desperate slashes. Oscar dodged them effortlessly, then struck her with a vicious kick to the stomach. Leah collapsed to her knees, the air leaving her lungs in a ragged gasp. Oscar turned toward the soldiers, spreading his arms in a theatrical gesture before shifting his gaze to Felicity.

"I'm sorry, Felicity. It looks like, in the end, you'll have to marry me after all". He approached Leah with slow, confident steps. But she, her eyes burning with rage and determination, gritted her teeth, grabbed her sword with both hands and in one sudden motion, hurled it at him. The blade cut through the air and buried itself in Oscar's stomach. The King's eyes widened. He looked down in disbelief. A mouthful of blood spilled from his lips and his legs gave out beneath him. He hit the ground with a heavy thud.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Teresa went pale.

"What are you waiting for?! Kill them! Kill them now! And call for the physician!" she screamed, running toward her son. Felicity did not waste a second. She slammed her forehead into the nearest soldier's face, snapping his head backward, then rushed toward the throne. She rubbed the ropes against the blades of her swords until they snapped and once free, she seized both weapons. Leah, however, had already been restrained by the soldiers.

Felicity took her stance, ready to fight, but before she could move, black portals opened around her and Leah, wrapping around them like living shadows. In an instant, they vanished.

"There's a mage!" Teresa shouted hysterically.

"Find her! Search every corner of the city, immediately!" The soldiers obeyed at once. Teresa knelt beside Oscar, gripping his hand tightly.

"Save him…please…save him", she pleaded to the physician who had just arrived, her eyes glistening with tears. Felicity and Leah reappeared beyond the walls of Virelia, in a vast field of grass swaying beneath the night wind. Xia stood before them. She observed Leah for a moment, then stepped closer.

"I'd say you've both been through quite a lot", she said calmly. She helped Leah lie down and began treating her wounds, running her hands over them with surgical precision.

"Where the hell did you disappear to?" Felicity asked.

"Look at my horse's saddle". Felicity walked over and froze. Resting on the saddle were three swords.

"You found the third legendary sword…" she murmured.

"Why did you leave us on our own?" Xia continued treating Leah without looking up.

"Because I knew you were capable of handling yourselves. Besides, if I had taken you with me, you would have ended up as vegetables. That sword creates extremely powerful illusions". Felicity returned to Leah's side and looked down at her.

"You fought well". Leah gave her a faint smile.

"You, giving me a compliment…it must be about to snow tomorrow". A barely visible smile appeared on Felicity's face. Xia continued tending to Leah with calm precision while the night enveloped the plains and for the first time in a long while, danger seemed far away.