The time was ticking as the big snake was crushing the molded earth that was formed from my magic.

Gab was nowhere to be found. ​​

"Gab!!!"

I braced myself for the impact when I saw the huge black snake successfully destroyed the barrier. My body was out of energy because of the broken bones I sustained when I was thrown away, and my magic was completely depleted as the spell consumed more mana than I thought,

*huff *huff

The sweat trickle down to my chin, my body was leaning to the ground, my head was feeling dizzy with the frequent use of the chant. And the one I trusted in this forest was nowhere to be seen.

I gritted my teeth.

'This is what I get for helping you?!' My hands clenched a handful of soil as my body was boiling with anger.

Knowing that my small body has exceeded its limit. I looked up and raised both my hands forming a cross. It is the last resort that I have.

'Come at me! As long as I can kick the father and son in the balls then I wouldn't mind breaking this hand!!!' I thought to myself.

I was ready to scream and yell in pain when everything went silent and a loud -boom! resounded the whole forest.

A beast was in front of me. A chain was placed in its neck and he's left foot was bleeding.

I was scared that the wolf who's standing tall is another monster to deal with, but the thought soon disappears as the red wolf was angrily gritting its fangs in the direction of the snake who was pushed back.

His red fur was swaying under the twilight. His gaze gives a familiar feeling. I thought to myself the red-headed boy that was with me a while ago. But I pushed back my thoughts.

I trusted my instinct that the wolf won't harm me.

The staring soon disappeared as the black snake attack again.

"Damn snake! Die already…!!!"

I squeezed out the remaining mana that I have and unleashed a spell.

"Wind Canyon…" the wind attacked penetrated the scale and now the giant snake was injured.

"This is our chance…" I looked at the wolf with pleading eyes, trying to send telepathic words, and wishing that it can understand the graveness of my situation.

The wolf didn't hesitate and bite the snake where my wind canyon injured the black snake.

The snake tried to fight back but it eventually loses its strength and died.

Seeing the huge black snake that looks like a giant king cobra died after fighting it the whole afternoon, my whole tensed body was soon felt relieved.

But the red wolf who help me to kill the monster was kneeling in the ground.

My gut was telling me that something was wrong.

I run and reached the falling red wolf, I then noticed that the beast was shrinking.

*psshh

The sound of the body-transforming back to its human form was now clearly seen after the smoke cleared.

I was shocked as it is the first-time that I saw a beast who can transform but soon the surprised turned into worry.

I saw the boy who was with me earlier lying butt naked in the ground and the wolf was nowhere to be seen.

I hurriedly approached the boy with a bloodied and bruised body. The boy was panting hard and sweating cold buckets.

I placed my hand in his forehead and felt like I touched a newly boiled kettle, then the boy cough.

It was blood. The blood was thickening and turning black.

"Damnit…!!!"

The boy was poisoned when he bit the snake.

'The snake was powerful as well as his saliva, what more was the blood?' I contemplated to myself.

I tried to find my bag and see if the medicinal herbs that I picked were still here.

"Where is it…?!" panic rushed to me and I tossed everything that was inside the grey drawstring bag.

"Shit…! Don't die on me… Gab!!" I looked at the boy who's weakening every second.

I found the whistle in my bag and I impatiently blow it.

-tttuuuut!

I can only wish that what Shiek said would work. That he will come to my rescue.

After fighting all day, my strength was drained, and my eyes blurred, and everything was spinning.

"No… I can't… I need to…help"

-thud

And I fall beside Gab and everything went blank.

***

The Duke's office was quiet than usual, the only thing that can be heard was the rustling of the bushes outside the mansion.

Two people were sitting and facing each other.

The crown Prince Edickart was smiling while the Duke was glaring without care.

"You should try to relax, Duke." Said the Crown Prince whose green eyes shimmer in the dark,

"Crown Prince, I would be thankful if you tell me why you graciously come to my abode." The Duke said in an aristocratic manner but with a hint of ridicule.

The Crown Prince who interprets it as 'Tell me why you're here and get the hell out of my mansion'. Edickart laughs and stubbornly make the Duke wait.

The butler soon knocked, and the refreshment was placed in the table.

Edickart sniffs the aromatic smell that came from the tea.

"Hmm… earl grey tea, exquisite." Then the Crown Prince proceeds to sip the tea.

The Duke was only looking at his watch indicating that the Prince was wasting his time.

"Looks like the Duke is busy so I will tell you why I come here." The Crown Prince stated.

"…"

The Duke didn't respond. It only made the Crown Prince smirk.

"His Majesty the King, granted permission and made a decision that Lady Evelyn will be betrothed to me… aren't you happy, Duke?"

The Duke who knows what the Crown Prince came for silently stared at him with mysteriousness in his eyes.

"I'm here to personally hear your response, Duke! Aren't I a good son-in-law?" The Crown Prince continued mockingly.

The Duke takes his share of the tea and takes a sip. Silent fell on the room, then the Duke with his cold voice answered.

"I can't do much if his Majesty himself gives the order, right?" the Duke coldly gaze at the Crown Prince, Edickart.

"Unless… I complain to his Majesty?" The Crown Prince only smiled at the Duke while all knowing what the Duke said.

'He's not really complaining… He's going to rebel. That's what he's saying.' Edickart thought.

"I'll keep that in mind, Duke!" The Duke only blinked.

"I'll be leaving now… I've taken up your time."

"…"

When the Crown Prince is near the open door, he said his goodbye.

"Then I'll look forward to becoming your son-in-law, father-in-law." Then, the Crown Prince laughs while exiting the office.

***

While Shiek was waiting for the return of Lady Evelyn, he can't erase this feeling that something wasn't right.

But he pushed down the thought and only focused on sharpening his sword in the training area of the Emsworth Mansion.

After hours of waiting, and the sun was already ready to set. Shiek was more worried about his student.

He grabs his sword and left for the forest when he bumped into the Young Master of the Emsworth family. It was Allan.

"Greetings, Young Master Allan." Said Shiek while doing a light bow.

Allan only raised his brows and quietly left.

Shiek was relieved as he is now in a hurry, he tried to run but was put to a stop when Allan spoke suddenly.

"I didn't see my dumb sister. I heard that she had a deal with Father?" then Allan tauntingly smirk.

"She's late…Did she die in the Forest?" he continued.

Shiek only looked at Allan indifferently.

"What are you looking at?" Allan's eyes glistened with anger.

"Nothing … Young Master, Allan." Shiek answered and Allan smirk in response and left.

Then a whistle that only he can hear came from the forest.

"The Lady…!" Shiek immediately runs going to the Shield Forest.