She ran once before.

Ever since her parents were wiped out, she left the palace. She was sly as a fox. Her traces were never been found by the royal guards.

It was an abrupt decision. It was all too sudden for her. Her father Jven left them with a smile but was returned to the coffin.

They mourned but only in a day then the next morning they immediately knocked on the palace doors demanding the next heir. It was a long afternoon for the nobles including the three generals to discuss who should take over the role as the ruler of the Ylfon Kingdom. There have been some complications among them considering the qualities of the two princesses.

Mola is assertive, has the mind of a leader, taught proper etiquette at a young age. However, Caroline is the complete opposite, she’s not good at expressing her thoughts, but she has ideas for the betterment of the people, she has a heart for those in poverty, more importantly, she grew fond of visiting an orphanage and playing with the children. That was 3 months ago. She’s different now, but she’s firmed on not taking the role as a princess.

If it weren’t for the revolting nobles who had wanted her head then she wouldn’t have been a force to return on the kingdom.

Even if she hated it, there is a slight regret in her heart. Her older sister, Mola, has been facing the crisis all alone. Maybe she shouldn’t have run away and instead fought together.

Thinking back now, Caroline doesn’t want to run away anymore. It sounds dumb, but it is right for her to help them. She never thought of them as mere mercenaries. She considered them as humans even though their name precedes negative views on the outside world, she opens herself to them. It may sound strange that she felt that way, but ever since she knew that Alastor was part of them, Caroline’s worries had eased.

She can’t explain it clearly, but when she first met him, she thought of him as someone who is daunting, who had a cold exterior that is impossible to penetrate, it’s the very same to his father. Naturally, a King would have a strong gravitas so that others won’t underestimate him, but deep inside he is a caring father. Alastor appeared too similar to his late father.

It was later that she confirmed that Alastor was not that bad as she think he is. He may not admit it, but he has a heart despite all he’d gone through and she understood that. Whatever happened back then must’ve caused him to shut himself down and closed his emotions as much as possible. Something tells her to avoid him, but knowing this it reeled her to know him, she must know him and she wanted to help him.

Alastor has spitting remarks to her late father and because of that, she will not abandon him just like how the others turn their back on her father.

It was a long run, but Caroline found her way back. Despite regretting running away, Caroline snapped from the truth.

The explosions are getting closer. Caroline walked heavily and firmly up to a sludgy path.

She heard gunshots, hence she prepared protection magic.

She’s indeed right. A bullet flung to her protection shield and fell to the ground. She turns right and furthermore followed the path and took the uncharted route.

Peering behind the wood, Caroline saw the unknown woman battling against 4 individuals who wear the same face but different in some features. They wore different clothes, they have different textures of skin and hair, different in height.

She successfully killed one of them, but at the same time, she got hit by a man who has a built body. Regardless, she stood.

Tin rushed at him. The enemy’s huge arm swung and she slipped flipped forward to evade a shadow blade. Her boots slide against the ground before bouncing back and shot the enemy at his legs. He felt it and kneeled. Then she shot him on the head.

They all stopped.

The man applause her.

“You’re good. Far too good. You’ve defeated 2 of my clones despite being outnumbered.”

“So what?”

“We are in dire need of skillful warriors like you.”

“Ah. You want me to join your merry boy band.”

“Precisely.”

“Sorry, I already got my own gig and I don’t deal with scraps.”

Benny raised a brow.

“Scrap, you say?”

The dark aura began to grow.

“That is the most imbecile thing I’ve ever heard. I gave you a chance to join us, but you refuse me.”

Tin appeared to be unaffected but deep inside she’s afraid.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.” She spoke in her thought.

The dark energy gathered in his palm and formed a sphere. A bolt of lightning sparks that graze her and then is followed by more.

“I intend to take you alive that is why I used my clones to restrain you but it appeared I have to use all I got.”

The clones jumped away and vanishes in thin air. The questionable came to her but as soon as Benny threw the dark sphere at her, Tin completely stood frozen.

It was at this moment Caroline jumped to save her.

“What are you doing here?!” Tin asked. “You were supposed to be running away, not the other one.”

“Sorry, but there’s a change of plans.”

“What?!”

Caroline took a deep breath. She raised her palm and chanted.

“Cinque Parete Invisible!”

It was the spell that she learned from Alastor. Five transcended walls appeared and blocked the dark sphere. The force broke through the first layer and then another one.

“How come it’s not slowing down?”

“This is your first time using this magic, right?” Tin asked. Finally, she broke the spell that binds her. She put her hand on Caroline’s shoulder and lend her the strength. “If it is, then you’re completely out of commission, but thanks to me, you’re not going to get our ass kicked.”

Tin’s mana flowed to Caroline’s body.

Caroline felt the surge of mana transferring to her and to the spell. The crack from the third wall was repaired.

“You see that? That’s the right push.” Tin stated.

When the dark sphere reached the breaking point, it shattered and exploded.

The two warriors exchange attacks. Their movements are swift. They are almost on the same level in terms of combat abilities.

It was thanks to Alastor's latent potential that awakened.

Each cutlass is aimed at their throat. Alastor parried Ursax dagger and he parried Alastor’s knife.

Alastor retreated. One of his floating walls fell and blocked Ursax on his way. Another fell down.

“Meaningless.”

Ursax swung his blades and destroyed the wall. He took a big leaped. In the midway, Alastor smirked. It was all for another ploy. A wall smacked him and crashed to the tree.

“How bothersome.”

Ursax cursed in his thought.

Even if he uses magic on him, the walls would be able to protect him no matter how many times he threw him with magic. Given that Alastor can conjure a huge number of walls, it is best to utilize his mana in physical strength rather than compete with him with magic.

Alastor pushed forward with confidence.

He's getting comfortable with the twitch as if his body grew accustomed to it. It was wishful thinking though. That kind of power was beyond his comprehension yet.

His body gave up.

Alastor fell to the ground. His body is shaking. The twitch brought pain once more.

A jolt of pain course through his nerves.

“Damn it! What’s happening to me?”

Alastor couldn’t move a muscle even a bit. Her motor functions have shut down.

“Why?! Why now?! I am so close.”

Ursax beamed widely. “It appeared that’s the limit of your body. Whatever that power resides within you, you cannot fully regulate it. For now, of course.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit.”

“It’s my win.”

A powerful explosion resonates out of nowhere. The towering fire endlessly climbed up to the sky.

“What was that?”

Ursax uses his observation magic. He felt mana from three different people. The two appeared to be fine, but the other one is on his knees.

“This can’t be. Benny got defeated just like that?!”

Alastor grinned even in his dire situation. “Poor guy. She blasted him away, I supposed.”

“Impossible, she’s alone and— Oh.”

Ursax panic expression completely wipes off his face and was replaced by a wide smile.

“It appeared that the princess is not that far away.”

“What? Damn, that is naïve. I told her to run away.”

Ursax chuckle. “There’s no need for me to get into trouble anymore.”

“Hey. Can we have a ceasefire?”

Ursax kicked him in his gut.

“Impudent. Shut up. I thought you were useful once, but you became an empty vessel. I have no need for you.”

Ursax walked past him, disregarding him completely.

(A/N: I was wondering. Does anybody read this novel so far? Comment 'Present' if you are.")