Chapter 7 - Resolution

Minutes, and hours passed until Maiden and her mom finished talking about the things that has happened in the past and their great resolution for this upcoming dilemma.

Maiden found out that her mom, aside from being a writer, was once a military personnel. She's part of the team that rescued several people from terrorist attacks in their country before. But when she met Maiden's dad on one of her mission, they hang out and developed feelings for each other.

It's just funny that her mom was the one who proposed to her dad for marriage. Well, of course, her dad agrees because if he didn't, he'd be a lump of dead meat. Her mom's coercion brings them to a prosperous marriage. She also found out that her mom didn't know that her dad is a multi-billionaire and when she did find out, she was shocked and decided to cut ties with Maiden's dad. But of course, Maiden's dad will not let it happen. It turns upside down, her mom's coercion in marriage turns out to be her father's coercion to let her stay. Her mom then quit her service and lived together with Maiden's dad. They lived in harmony, they never fought even when dad makes a mistake in trusting Uncle Brook.

Maiden sighed while lying on the grass. Reminiscing the things that happened and the talk they had with her mother.

With that talking, she found out that Uncle Brook was not actually her father's brother. He was an adopted child of their parents that were raised in slums. They treat her Uncle Brook the same as how they treat her dad. Her dad also treats her Uncle Brook as his true brother but her Uncle Brook was just too greedy to be contented with what he has. When Maiden's paternal grandparents died, their wealth was divided as the half was given to Maiden's father and a half to her Uncle Brook. It was an equal distribution. But because her Uncle Brook was not thrifty enough, not even a business-minded person, ends up penniless. While her dad brings the CALIBER Corporation as one of the biggest corporations in the world.

Uncle Brook was jealous of her father's achievement but after he went penniless, he approached Maiden's dad and her dad supported him. Her Uncle Brook was given, again, the chance to experience back the life of the rich. But was again too greedy. After he bounced back, he threatened Maiden's dad for what was shared with her by her mom earlier.

Maiden is upset that her Uncle Brook does not see her father's benevolence towards him but sees it as pitying him. Maiden is angry at him and herself because she was used and she never knew it. She feels like that was the biggest mistake she had done in her Earth's life. Being dumb and stupid to believe her uncle.

However, she knew that no matter how much she regretted and loathed the things she have done and towards her Uncle Brook, it doesn't bring the past back. It will never change the things that had happened. That's why she made some resolutions. Of course, together with her mom.

The only thing she has been wary about is how to execute their plan.

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"Mom, what are we going to do now?" she asked her mom after they talked about the past, it's now time to face the upcoming threat in their lives.

She sighed and said, "I have been thinking about it as well. I know I've said to just flee away but I know now that it's not the best idea. So I have this idea. How about we send the Prince to their country in secret? We can cooperate with the healer to have some cart and supplies as well."

"But mom it will take how many days just to cross the border. And of course, how can we outsmart the guards?" Maiden said and looked at her mom.

"Well, it's difficult I know. Even though we can fight, we didn't have any weapons but also it's not a feasible thing to fight with the guards it'll make us more wrong." She said and stands up.

"That's why I decided to use some tactics in this that I often used in my novels. Although, I wrote the soldier to be sturdy enough for battles but not keen enough with their surroundings. We can hide him in the cart as your brother that is injured and needs treatment at Minder's Kingdom since the best-known doctor is in that place."

"That could do. But we should think of some contingency plan if something happened out of the original plan."

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Lying on the grass in Pheia's secret training field, she closed her eyes and processed the different things to come up with her contingency plan.

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.

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That's it!

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After she sorted everything, she finished her training routine and decided to take a bath at the nearby stream.

She walked just 100 meters and reached the stream. Before she soaked herself in the water, she pictured herself on the mirage. After a week of training Pheia's body, she felt changes dramatically happening on her body. The weight that was over 100 kilograms is now at 80 kg. Her fat arms, wide waist, and chubby cheeks were now a little bit thinner. It's like she's been squeezed and some of the fats were taken out of her body. She, as well, felt much flexible and lighter. She now can run for at least 10 minutes without stopping around her training ground. However, she also felt that inside her body, something unidentified things are forming in her deepest. She doesn't know what it is but it's a relaxing sensation that keeps her calm and focused.

After a while, she dips herself in the water, of course, naked. She bathed herself and feels the cold water enveloping her warm body. Minutes later, she detected that someone's aura was just around the area. She hurriedly climbed back to the stream bank and dressed as quickly as possible. She immediately searched for some movements and peculiar behavior of the surroundings and met with two fiery eyes.

The two fiery eyes are looking straight at her like it has finally searched for its prey. It tells various emotions like victory, greed, and hunger. It scanned her body as if a laser panel detecting some anomaly. It walked nearer her and alas, Maiden can see its full body shape that was once covered by the bushes. It was a wolf, but not a normal wolf that she knew in her previous life. This wolf is twice as much larger and bigger than the 4 feet to 7 feet long wolf back then. It is covered with scary scars, canine teeth that seem to be sharpened just earlier, and claws like razors.

I'm definitely in big trouble!

As the wolf stepped forward, Maiden stepped a couple more backward. She slowly grabbed her knife near her waist and hold it firmly.  Although Pheia's body was near in good shape it was not suitable for fighting for now especially with this towering wolf in front of her right now. She just has to pray that she can get through alive.

From slowly walking towards her, the wolf suddenly quickened its pace and soon pounced at her. A total of 140 pounds was given to Pheia. She was immediately brought down lying while trying to keep a hold of the wolf's magnificent strength. Pheia struggled hard not to be bitten at the jugular. She tried stabbing it while she was being pounced but, just cause it to have some scratch. Its claws pierced right through her shoulders and as the blood oozed out of her body, the wolf seems to practically sense satisfaction and joy causing it to double its momentum. Maiden was once again scratched at her chest. She agonizingly tried to stop from crying. She can't be this powerless. She knew she can do better, and she knew that she have to stay alive. She finally found her mother. She finally found her home so why back down on this stupid greedy animal? She is a primate, above the animal kingdom. The top predator, the top of the food chain.

I am a predator, not a prey. Got hold of yourself, Maiden. she thought.

With the newfound motivation, she firmly grabbed her knife in her right hand and thrusts it, with all of her strength, towards the chest area of the wolf. The wolf's body shivered as it whimpered with pain. It loosened its hold on Maiden's left arm. She pulls back her knife from the wolf's chest and passed the knife to her left hand and thrust it to the wolf's shoulder limb. It continually whimpers, as it also fought with its life but soon stumbles to Maiden's right side. However, even with its injured limb and chests, is nothing to it especially when it has finally cornered its prey. It bounced back and tried to bite her again. But, Pheia wouldn't want to be bitten either, so with great difficulty, she stands up and runs hard knowing that she'd be totally dead because she has no weapons now. The knife was still embedded on the wolf's right limb so she has to take the initiative to run and escape.

I ran hard but the wolf runs faster. It caught her midway but to Maiden's expectation of pain again, it didn't occur.  Maiden confusedly looked at the wolf, it was freezing halfway. It tried to move, to run but his limbs were freezing. Its body was slowly covered with eyes until it finally was. Maiden looked at it astoundingly.

She finally woke up from her stupor when she heard someone coughing at her side. She glance and saw the very least person she'd expect to help. It's none other than the injured prince, Prince Steel Minders.