A/N: Hey everyone, author here! First off thanks to CPT Ratchet for PRing the story. Also I know this chp is kind of short but please forgive me for it this time ~_~ I'll make it up with a longer chp sometime this weekend. Well hope you enjoy the chp!

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“Eh? A crow?”

When Han Byul saw the crow, she couldn’t help but leak out her surprise. The crow’s feathers were made out of a smoky substance, while it had three legs instead of the usual two she had associated with crows. What attracted the most attention though was its eyes. Instead of the dark black/brown color, this crow’s eyes radiated a golden light.

“Ahhh…. It’s been tens of thousands of years since I’ve taken a material form…”

As Samjoko said that, he extended his wings outwards in what strangely resembled a human as they stretched. The assailant, who had gotten into a defensive posture, began to move toward Han Byul to finish her off. Just as he was about to reach her, however, his body began to unconsciously shiver.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you…”

As he brought his gaze back toward the voice’s source, what greeted his view was the two golden eyes that seemed to pierce through his very soul. The assailant couldn’t help but despair at the situation. He had never been told that someone beside the princess could materialize their elemental! And such a fearsome one at that!

“It is a pleasure to finally greet you Princess Han Byul. I am Azrael’s elemental Samjoko.”

Even though Samjoko had greeted her politely, Han Byul couldn't feel any sort of inferiority from him. On the contrary, he stood regal and had a majestic air that was usually only felt in the most senior members of the royal family. She felt as though she was standing in front of a superior being.

“Unfortunately our first meeting shall end here. I have more pressing matters to attend to. Please enjoy your brief rest.”

“Eh?”

As she heard Samjoko’s words, she couldn't help but feel confused when a sudden rush of fatigue came to her. Looking at Samjoko in shock, her consciousness slowly faded away as sleep took her. As he saw Han Byul lying next to Azrael sleeping with a peaceful face, Samjoko’s eyes softened for a brief moment before turning cold as he turned around toward the assailant.

“Even though your Lord has appeared you dare not come greet me?”

‘M..my Lord!!!’

As a sharp cry rang through the assailant’s mind, a smoky substance immediately appeared beside him and solidified into an ethereal form of a large anaconda. With a height that reached ten meters even though it was coiled and black scales, Rakkun was a menacing figure to view.

This menacing anaconda, however, was bowing its head toward the tiny in comparison crow while visibly shaking in fear.

‘This humble servant Rakkun greets the Lord!’

The assailant couldn’t help but view the events occurring at that moment with disbelief. Rakkun, his elemental for the past thirty odd years, was one of upper tier darkness elemental races. With an ignorant personality, Midnight Anacondas viewed other races with contempt and scorn. At this moment though Rakkun, a member of the proud Midnight Anacondas was bowing its head to a small crow. How couldn’t he surprised at this?

‘Hey Rakkun…. For you to be so respectful… Just who is that crow?’

‘…Master, how could you dare call such an esteemed being a mere crow?! This being here is…”

“…You dare have a private conversation while in my presence?”

Even though the voice had been so soft that it seemed like a whisper, both of them could feel every muscle in their bodies freeze at the sheer coldness that radiated from in front of them. As he looked upon the two as if they were mere ants, he went straight to the issue.

“Now speak, whose life were you attempting to extinguish?”

“…”

“…You choose silence?”

Samjoko’s golden irises quickly turned into black. With eyes that seemed to drag you into the abyss at contact, an area of ten meters around him suddenly lost any light that resided and was filled with a darkness so sinister that it made the assailant unconsciously flinch and retreat backwards. Even though he had been in many terrifying and nightmarish battles in the past, none could compare to the dismay he felt at the sight of the approaching darkness.

‘My Lord! My master Sean was sent to assassinate the Princess!’

At the words of Rakkun, the approaching darkness receded back to Samjoko. With it gone, Sean couldn’t help but let out a sigh. He felt so relieved that the darkness had disappeared that he was not even mad at his elemental for speaking

As he heard the reply, Samjoko nodded his head. Even though his master was a prodigy and would one day not too far into the future become an excellent mage, he was still a child and vulnerable. He had been afraid that someone had already begun to target him but was relieved to her they were after the princess. Even if his master was very fond of her, to him his master’s life always would come first.

While Sean observed the strange three legged crow, a small hope began to arise from within. He didn’t understand how it was able to materialize itself while its master was conscious and at death’s door but knew that this elemental could kill him in an instant. He began to pray that it would show mercy.

Even though this was the first time meeting him, Rakkun was well aware of Samjoko’s strength. He knew no matter how much he and his master struggled, they were insignificant beings to him. All that they could hope for was his mercy. All they could do was patiently await for the verdict on their fate.

Alas, to their dismay fate was not on their side.

Hundreds of shadows from the trees shot toward Sean and Rakkun. Speeding along the forest floor, the shadows jumped up and surrounded them. Seeing the sheer amount, Sean panicked and attempted to flee but was quickly blocked off. Rakkun, on the other had already given up and silently awaited death.

"You fools dare attack my master and hope to live afterwards? Hmph feel honored that I allowed you quick deaths at the very least...."

As the last of the shadows enveloped Sean, the last image that his eyes saw through a small opening was that of the merciless Samjoko’s emotionless eyes before it was covered. Slowly the shadows converged inwards until it reached the size of a tiny ball. As quickly as it had enveloped Sean and Rakkun, the shadows unraveled and retreated back to where they had come from. In the space that Sean and Rakkun had just occupied, nothing remained.

‘Bonghwang, how are master’s wounds?’

‘They are no longer life threatening.’

‘Good job.’

While Samjoko had dispatched those that had caused harm to Azrael, Bonghwang had been attending to his wounds. Casting fire attribute healing spells, she was able to close his wounds and stop the intensive blood flow. Even though it was only emergency treatment, it should last until they found help.

‘My work is done then. Princess Han Byul, I pray that the fate between you and master lead to a more joyful outcome than in your previous life.’

The smoke that surrounded Samjoko soon began to dissipate and fade. As his outline disappeared, it took the form of smoke and was absorbed back into Azrael’s body. Shortly after Samjoko had disappeared, movement could be seen under Han Byul’s eyelids as they slowly opened.

“Eh? What just happened? I remember seeing that weird three legged crow telling me to have a good rest before suddenly feeling tired and laying down… Oh no, Azrael!”

As she tried to recall the events that had occurred, the memory of Azrael receiving severe injuries popped up and she frantically inspected him. Seeing that the blood flow had stopped and the wounds had closed, Han Byul lets out a sigh of relief.

“Whew, it looks like he isn’t in a life threatening condition now. If he had died while protecting me I would have felt guilt all throughout the rest of my life. I should still take him to the healing ward as soon as possible. Hm… I guess there is no choice but to carry him...”

The thought alone of carrying him all the way to the healing made her cringe. It would take many stops and all her strength. As she thought about how Azrael had gotten hurt, however, Han Byul berated herself for cringing.

While she made sure to not reopen his wounds, she wrapped both of Azrael arms around her neck and painstakingly lifted him up. After she took a few moments to recover her breath, she wrapped her arm under his armpits and began the long trek towards the healing ward.

“Haa… Haa… This is not nothing compared to what Azrael went through to save me. Han Byul! You can do this!”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“*snore*…..*snore*….”

“….Eh?”

Slowly opening his eyes, what greeted Azrael’s vision was the image of a goddess. Sitting in a chair right beside his bed, Han Byul had fallen asleep while resting her head right beside the pillow. Even though it appeared that it was night at the moment, the candles illuminated the room enough for him to clearly see her face. As he saw the peaceful expression on her face, to Azrael there was nothing in the world at the moment that could appear as beautiful. Hearing the cute soft snoring sounds she made, Azrael couldn’t help but smile.

‘Master! Are you alright?’

‘Ah, Chunyong. What happened? The last thing I can remember was that Han Byul and I had been attacked and I had sustained severe injuries before passing out. Next thing I know I wake up in what I am assuming is the Academy’s healing ward? Anyways, do you know what happened while I was unconscious?’

‘Master, when you fell unconscious I took emergency measures and force materialized myself to ensure Princess Han Byul’s and your lives were not in danger. I disposed of the threat and Princess Han Byul brought you here.’

‘Eh? You can materialize yourself? I thought that I had to reach a certain purity capacity with my mana for you to materialize?’

‘If it had been Chunyong or Bonghwang that would have certainly been the case master. I am, however, what you would call a special case. With the mana that I had stored since assimilating with you, I was able to forcefully materialize myself.’

‘Oh why didn’t you tell me this before Samjoko? It would have been useful knowledge to know.’

‘There is a consequence master. I will not be able to cast darkness element spells for you until I have recovered enough mana.’

‘How long will it take you to recover enough?’

‘It will take me one month to recover enough mana master.’

‘’...That is quite the consequence...’

As he heard what the consequence was, Azrael couldn’t help but make a bitter face. Even though he had been planning to not use darkness element spells in this tournament anyways, It was, however, reassuring knowing that he had a trump card with the element. Now that he didn’t, it felt as though he was wide open.

While he was discussing the matter with his elementals, Han Byul slowly began to wake. Seeing her tired face, Azrael couldn’t help but smile.

“Why good morning Princess. I heard that you..”

“AZRAEL!”

At the sight of Azrael finally awake and up, Han Byul didn’t give Azrael an opportunity to finish his sentence as she dove inside his chest and embraced him tightly.

“Thank the gods...*hic*...Thank the gods you finally woke up Azrael… I had been..*hic*... so worried when you didn’t wake up..*hic*... I wasn't sure what'd I do if you...if you...*hic*”

Being suddenly embraced, Azrael was at a loss over what to do. Feeling embarrassed at the sudden turn of events, Azrael let Han Byul release all the tears she had pent up and began to console her. Han Byul, not caring whether there were anyone else in the ward, stayed inside of Azrael’s warm presence and let all the fears and concerns flow out of her through the tears.