She stared at the injured prince as he continued to cough until she see some red blood in his mouth. Pheia gasped and the first thing she said was.
"Why are you here? You're supposed to be healing!" He glared his eyes at her as if saying "You're supposed to say THANK YOU!"
Maiden then recovered herself, looked at him, and said, "Thank you for saving me."
Then she walked towards the wolf who's been frozen to death and pulled out her knife that was frozen too. Even though she exerted more effort, she couldn't pull out the knife from the wolf's flesh. She struggled and even guided her feet as an anchor of strength to pull the knife but still, nothing happens. And for a while, she became frustrated and ends up stomping the frozen wolf.
The Prince who had been coughing at the side witnessed all of her struggles. Watching from the side while clutching his abdomen. Probably, the supposed to be healed wound suddenly opens up because of his effort of traveling away from Pheia's house to here and even using his magic. Tsk. Not even thinking.
Prince Steel caught her look of ridicule and knew what she was thinking. But, for some reason, he himself thinks that this chubby girl in front of him is to be ridiculed also. She was exerting force on a magically frozen thing, seeming stupid as it was impossible for a certain commoner without attribute to shake it. However, he was also amazed at this chubby girls fighting ability. When that wolf pounced her, he was watching at the sideline. He was certain at that very moment that it was over for her but he was wrong. She'd make it through, although with gashes and injury, that until now hadn't sunk to her mind as she continued to pull the knife out, without experiencing pain from her injury.
After pulling some time, Maiden finally comes to realize, when you're just a commoner, even if she was once an assassin, she couldn't even taint a single crack on the ice. What a life of a non-magic user!
In these past few days, aside from exercising Pheia's body, she had spent her time reading things about this world. Although, her mom is there to give further details, what she wrote in the novel was quite the broader idea. It does not explain the 'real' happenings here. So she needs to learn and start from what Pheia's memories couldn't remember or literally doesn't know.
And what she found out can explain why she couldn't pull the knife out from the frozen wolf. It is because it was cast by a magic-user. Oftentimes, what a magic-user cast, may it be fire, air, earth, water, ice, etc., it can be easily broken or extinguished if you're a magic-user too but if you're not, then you would spend half of your life to break, extinguish, destroy the magic, and you can never fight with it, too. It's too powerful for normal people. It can even put them, the non-magic user, on the brink of danger or sometimes death without even struggling. Moreover, from the readings she'd got from the public libraries of the kingdom, there is a certain thing called allex inside the magic user's body where he can store magic energies. It can be compared to the dantian in ancient China's Wuxia stories or mana in some Japanese anime.
Allex as it served as storage requires some time to form and solidify. It needs the power of will and patience to fulfill. Although some were born to have full allex like the royalties some also like ordinary people -commoners, for example, has little allex inside the body- but since it was not easy to cultivate and takes quite some time, maybe about 10 years to fill the first level out of the fifth levels. That's why, mostly, commoners just let their allex as is because certain things as livelihood are more important and practical for their concern. However, some commoners also have special cases, some breakthroughs at such a given small amount of time. But it was so rare amongst the commoners that's why, if it was found out to have one among the commoners, celebrations will be made for them. They will be praised, worshipped, and idolized but with the respect they're receiving they still knew that -as spiderman say, Great power comes great responsibility. It is the magic user's responsibility to take good care of the non-magic users.
On the contrary, the royalties or nobilities often limit people's cultivation because, of course, how are they going to rule with an iron hand if all of them has specific powers of equal strength. They will never agree with that. That's why for a couple of years, they decided to brainwash commoners that livelihood is better than having magic powers. Actually, what Pheia found out about cultivation amongst the commoners, it just takes 2 years to lead ones allex into the first level but because people believed that it would take ten years they never yearn. That is what her mother and some hidden books inside the library said.
Also, what royalties really fear was that, unlike, a commoner who practiced cultivation, once they damaged their allex it can be repaired but the royalties can't. It was their foremost secret that Pheia have known from her mother. Just like this prince who is heavily injured, there's a great possibility that his allex was damaged, but since he can still freeze the big bad wolf it might have recuperated. Maybe, a little bit portion of his allex was just damaged.
And back to Pheia's knife, as she was redeeming that knowledge, it is still stuck and she can't help but look at the man who freezes it.
As if sensing what Pheia wants, the ice around the knife that was embedded on the Wolf's limb gradually thawed. After all ice around the knife melted, Pheia pulled it out successfully this time and thank the prince again.
The prince continually coughed with blood and Pheia walks towards him. As an assassin, she is used to seeing blood. That's why she just walked towards him rather gracefully and asked him, "Why did you get out of bed? Does my mom know that you're awake?" As she said these words the prince looked at her, puzzled.
"So you escaped." Pheia sighed and look at him accusingly.
Maybe mom's in a panic right now! Tsk.
"Do you know that I was the one who carried you from here towards my house? And do you know that you're in House Edame's territory?" With those two questions, his already puzzled face becomes even more puzzled and soon replaced with realization and cautiousness.
He stepped back, ready to run away but Pheia caught his wrist and said, "You don't have to be worried Prince. Although I and my mom lived here in House Edame's territory, we didn't plan to report or tell them about you. In fact, we already decided if you haven't woken up, we will bring you out of here and send you to your Kingdom, just like a smuggled good. So you don't have to be cautious around me. You should be thankful that I saved you, and I and my mom are ready to help you." His face hardened and yanked Pheia's hands away from his wrist. And, in spite, putting down a bit of his caution, he is still guarded.
Well, even if Pheia is an enemy of him, and even though he's injured she is still no match with his magic. That's what she wanted him to know.
"What do you want in return for helping me?" He asked coldly. "Do you want rewards of money or gold? Just say it so you don't have to bragged that you've saved me." When he said those words, Pheia gripped the knife in her hand. Is he insulting us?
What an arrogant jerk?!
"We are not penniless. And we don't need your money nor your rewards," she said with a little fit of anger but put her face in cold mode. "Since you've woken up, you can go back to where you're supposed to be. To tell you honestly, we don't need your reward because you're just a burden and a threat to us, PRINCE." She walked past him and stride back to their house.
What does he think of us? Beggars? He should not act as if we're the ones who are in dept with him. Rather, he should be thankful. What an ungrateful jerk!
Pheia walked away and left him until she reached the edge of the forest. Clutching her shoulders and chests that are still bleeding due to the claws of the wolf, that she hadn't noticed back then. She noticed it not until she walked inside the forest where ferocious beasts are staring at her. But thankfully, they just stared at her, because if they don't, she really is now a dead meat.
When she reached the edge of the forest, someone noticed her bleeding shoulder and chest and offer some help. She is an old woman, carrying a bunch of bags in her cart.
"Why are you injured, lady? Are you attacked?" She asked.
"Yes, I am attacked with some wolf in the forest," Pheia said casually and shrugging her shoulder in the process.
Seeing that she was not worried at all about her injuries. The woman sighed and said, "You should be careful especially in that forest. A lot of beasts are roaming in there recently. You're just lucky, with that blood oozing out of your shoulder and chest, you stayed out alive."
"I also wondered why I stayed out alive, I even saw some of them staring at me fiercely, but backing away as if they are scared," Pheia said nonchalantly.
"What did you say? They just stared at you?" She asked and then continued, "That's unbelievable because we all know that blood can ignite their excitement for prey. It boils their inner self and they are willing to die just to get it. But what you said really was unbelievable, unless, you're a magic-user. They will absolutely not attack you unless, of course, you're in your weak state. Instead, they will fear you."
"I am not a magic-user, so why did they fear me? And if I am a magic user, I shouldn't have suffered this injury." PheiA laughed mockingly at herself.
As if shocked with her half-hearted mocking, the woman deliberately inspected her and the next second a sudden realization is shown in her eyes. "You may not be a magic-user, but your aura was covered with ice element. Have you encountered an ice magic user, lady?"
"Yes, I do. Why?" The old woman sighed and said, "You are just so lucky to meet that person, he cast an aura on you, so any beast will not attack you. But you know? It takes a lot of allex to cast that magic. It consumes more than a fourth of your allex. That person must be really powerful." She coils the last bandage on Pheia's shoulder and chest and pinned it. She must be a wandering doctor. As Pheia can see much of the doctor's tools in her cart. But does she really need a bandage? I just see it was just a scratch, the Prince's injuries should be the one given the banda---- wait the Prince. He is injured and coughs blood and... and he even cast magic that consumes a fourth of his allex...
Stupid Prince!
Pheia hurriedly gave her thanks to the old woman and excused herself because she have to save the prince. And scurried back to the forest while the old woman shouts for her to stop.
But there's no time to stop, she needs to save the Prince..... again.
Pheia ran hurriedly inside the forest, not minding the twigs that left blood in her exposed skin, like the arms and thighs.She grab her knife tightly as she imagined all possible scenarios of the Prince today. Maybe he was eaten by a pack of wolves, a pack of hyenas, or even bitten by some poisonous animals.Maybe he was now paralyzed and is just waiting to be eaten alive by the beast, or worst, he was now a piece of fleshless bones scattered on the earth's grass floor.She might prefer seeing him paralyzed than just bones, at least she could watch him die... No! No! I am not an assassin anymore that enjoys killing. I am now Pheia, a virtuous young lady, who is generous, helpful, and a lively person. Besides, the prince helps me earlier so I just have to return the favor. But is it him who has paid the favor? So we're quits and even now. So why should I help him? I should have let him die. But my mother
"Do you know how worried my mother was back then, seeing you heavily injured? As if you're her child and not me? She continued to attend to you and stopped when she realized that you should not be there. And we're in danger. Do you know my mother cares about people around her here? Do you----""Can you please stop your nagging? I know, okay. So stopped." He butted in and was annoyed by Pheia's ceaseless nagging.Pheia sneered, You should be!Seeing him annoyed was a satisfaction to her, and knowing that he couldn't reason with her, the prince tsked and surrender. He climbed down very skillfully from the tree leaving Pheia there staring at his, already at the ground, self.How about my effort?"So what now? You're not going to climb down and go, or what?" He asked plainly. He look at the vines in Pheia's w
A couple of days passed since, Prince Steel escaped from Pheia's home and then, was brought back. And for these passing days, all they did was to plan for Prince Steel's escape towards House Minders.Every night since that day when Pheia found the Prince wounded inside the forest, guards of House Edame's are patrolling around the area. And was asking people for any peculiar movements.Thankfully, people around the area are all close-mouthed about the fact that the Calibers did bring someone wounded but were now gone out of their Kingdom. That--- is what they know. They do not know that the wounded man was still inside Pheia's house. But nonetheless, those people are thoughtful enough to not drag them to the issue between royalties.Now, guards heavily guarded the vicinity and the borders, that is why it took them days to plan and put things properly. Although Pheia and her mom will just send him to the border, it will still be very difficult considering the person's identity.Once Prin
"NO! That is not how you do it, Pheia. You have to focus your allex on one place and let it through easily but do not suck all of the energies. It will surely bounce back to you." Prince Steel shouting at Pheia's jeopardy. Prince Steel presses the bridge of his nose as tons of annoyance are creeping on him. He has been telling Pheia the proper way of directing the energies inside her allex but no matter how good Pheia is at directing it, what she did was beyond Prince Steel's expectation.A couple of minutes ago, when Pheia started to contain energies at her allex, there are great fluctuations in the energies of the environment. It havocally enters her allexes and in the end, she suffered great retributions of pain. And while Prince Steel's reprimands run through Pheia's ear, she wasn't even comprehending at all. It was as if her body was pushing her to suck in all energies. It wanted her to have it all in one go. And even though, she has been in tremendous pain inside, and all sweat i
Pheia's mind was a mess again. She can't seem to figure out what exactly was happening. She instantly stood once she heard her name and was looking back and forth searching for the source of the sound.Still clueless, she decided to answer the voice, "Who are you? Why am I in here?". A moment of silence was then heard after she asked.Then she saw how the bright lights occupies the space she was in, sucking all the colorful lights. She covered her eyes with her hands and just let them down once the light slowly fades its brightness.When she finally adapted to the light's brightness, what she saw immediately brings scrunch into her face.In the middle of the white space was a kid wearing nothing but underwear. The kid looked up to her and smiled.Pheia, on the other hand, was more than baffled. She asked herself, Just what in the world is happening in h
Alani used to visit Pheia at their house once or twice a week. But because Maiden is now in Pheia's body and with her unfriendly nature, it is extremely difficult for her to be friends with anyone. Especially with Alani because she didn't know her in the first place. And she wasn't used to having a 'friend' since she was a kid.Who wants to be friends with her-- an heir showing only cold emotions? Especially after her parents died and were trained under her uncle Brook.That's why it was her mom who takes the initiative to personally invite Alani into their house for dinner.Alani arrives at 5 in the afternoon. They greeted her more formally than they used to be with Pheia but thankfully she doesn't ask any further.Once dinner is set, they take their seat, and Alani noticed something is different, that was what they actually planned to. They wanted Alani to feel something pecul
Wait, what? How can she think of that? How can getting married be a risk to our lives?, Pheia thought.Pheia rolled her eyes at Alani, and she gulped whatever things she wants to add and instead said, "I'm sorry."Pheia stands up and gestures to the Prince for his introduction. "Good evening, young lady. I am Prince Steel Minders of House Minders. Please do act with your promise." After his introduction, Alani can't help but be utterly shocked, and the next second panicked and the next fear. She stands up and said, "W-why is he here? W-why are you here?" She said stutteringly."This is because I foun
"So you're saying that I have to ask for Claveria's help on this?" Alani asked as she picks some cookies on the table. "Yes, and it's up to her on how can she steal... ahemm.. borrow the seal from those wealthy people who visit the green light district," Pheia said. The people around Pheia smiled at her word but said nothing. Well, 'stealing' is the right word for what they are going to do then. -----------------------After their talk last night, Alani agreed to help and decided to approach Claveria the next day. So when the sun rises from the east and extends its rays on the fields, she prepares herself to leave and proceed to the green light district. But before she went down, she has to wait for Pheia at the market as Pheia would be her chaperon when going to the district. Pheia, on the other hand, was very consistent in her morning and exercises routine. Even though, they have to be early on going to the green light d
When morning comes, Pheia, Joan, and Alani are already waiting for Lady Rhina at the receiving area of Earl Bairn's mansion. Lady Rhina walks out of her room and immediately heads toward the receiving area. When she arrives, she unknowingly shoots glares of daggers at Pheia. Pheia sighed as she sees how Lady Rhina's actions are caused by their consecutive disagreement or better say it, their petty conversations, yesterday. "You are all here.", Lady Cristiana said enthusiastically, as she emerged from the side door of the receiving area. "Good morning, Lady Cristiana.", politely greeted by the three guests."Good morning, Mother.""There's no need to be polite.", Lady Cristiana said. "I know what had happened the other day and yesterday is not fully settled. So, I want everyone, especially Pheia and Rhina to make amends." She gestured for Pheia and Rhina to get closer to her. She holds each of their hands and puts them together, "What should you say, Rhina?"Lady Rhina huffs with exas
Lady Rhina whose been sitting arrogantly earlier and was excited to ridicule their guest has her energy lowered down seeing that their guest was eating as if it was their normal way of eating. Especially the girl who came last. She might be a bit fat but the gracefulness she exudes while eating was tantamount to her own table etiquette or was even higher.An hour ago, when she and her parents arrived from their trip from one of her father's affairs. They were told that they have guests that were welcomed by her older brother. And these guests were the ones with Prince Steel from a neighboring manor. She was so interested and couldn't help but asked who are they in further detail. And when she knew that they were peasants, she couldn't help but be more interested to ridicule them. She has the attitude after all.After sitting down, Pheia finally said her greeting that most of the audience are waiting for. "It is my pleasure to meet and share this meal with you, Earl Bairn, Madame, and L
The three girls stopped what they were doing and fixed their eyes on the two guys."Steel, is this your friend who tries to kill Pheia?" Joan said angrily.The prince was stiff for a moment and nodded. He knew that his friend was playful but didn't expect it like this. And he knew Joan's affection towards her daughter so he didn't talk much but nodded. He respected this mother after all."Pardon, madam. As you can see, even if we tried to, we can't do anything to your daughter because she has the skill." said the man who smiled and added, "I didn't expect you here Prince Steel. Aren't you in the academy?"The Prince nodded and said, "A long story. Bairn, I need your help."-------------------------When they arrived at the mansion's gate. The guards' attention turn sour as they knew that this group of people were the ones earlier. They
"Pheia, wait for a second," Alani calls for her best friend to stop. They have been walking too far from the Bairn estate. Which adds to the aching foot of Alani. Pheia halted her step and looked behind her. She doesn't know if this girl two meters away from her, who is now panting and sweating profusely, is stupid or not.But she sighed and walked towards her now, deep inside Maiden's heart, considered her close friend. At least not an acquaintance anymore. It was a good improvement in Maiden's social skills.Pheia then asked, "Why? Is there anything you need?" She glance at Alani once in a while as she also examined the place that they were in. Earlier before she walks out of the group, she had already sensed some peculiar movements on the east side of the forest. So she purposely walks away from the group and heads unto it. But she didn't calculate that this considered close friend followed her until here in the area w
The day was bright. The sun shone out on the whole manorial estate. Animals graze at the outgrown grasses while farmers plow and cultivate the fields. Pheia, her mom, and Prince Steel together with Alani are inside a red-plated carriage. This carriage was rented by Joan in an exclusive carriage renting shop with the cheapest price she can get. The carriage was styled lavishly but emanates a common feeling. It's as if it was owned by someone outstanding but not that much, a nouveau riche per se. Although financially unstable, Joan really choose to rent in that exclusive carriage renting shop as they are a privately owned business that keeps the information of the renters confidential as much as possible. Even the chauffeur of the carriage didn't ask about how Pheia's group acquired Deputy Commander Costanillo's seal. The carriage continuously drove into the mudded road for two consecutive days as yesterday the rain started to drizzle the lands. Putting out
When Pheia and Alani returned home, they quickly arranged all works and loads they'll use to escape this afternoon.Pheia collected the raw materials for artificial prosthetics used to make Prince Steel old, while Prince Steel coldly stare at the materials."Is there no other way than making me old?" Prince Steel asked while disgustedly picking the pieces of stuff."If you had any other idea now then we can change it, but if you hadn't just shut up!" Pheia said irritatedly since when she collected these things, Prince Steel got no other things to do but to pester her like he does not deserve being vegetative because he is a handsome prince.Earlier as Pheia gathered her things, she collected brown eyebrow pencil for creating false crease lines, white powder for creating a pale-like face, white tendrils of hair, and pieces of cotton and brown make-up. All these are used
"What do I owe this pleasure to meet you again today, Alani?" Claveria sweetly said to Alani. And her eyes swept through to Pheia. She eyed Pheia, and Alani feeling the inquisitive gaze lingering on Claveria's eyes towards Pheia, she instinctively introduced her best friend. "Claveria, this is my friend Pheia, the one I often told you stories about." "It is my pleasure to meet you, Innocent Claveria." Pheia humbly said. In Claveria's mind she thinks that although Pheia looks gentle in her quite chubby physique, there seems to be something hideous hidden within her fatty flesh. Something she couldn't fathom, even though she is an expert in criticizing people. However, she didn't feel troubled nor threatened, but she feels that Pheia is someone she can trust and follow. A leader aura that she often sense to aristocratic leaders that have gone by in Innocence Inn. "It is also my pleasure, Pheia." Claveria gestured the two to sit down on the chairs adjacent to he
Pheia followed Alani as they walked into the path towards the green light district. Since there were no carts and wagons available for the commoners to use without fee, then they have to walk for a couple of minutes or hours to reach the Innocence Inn. On the way to the inn, Pheia familiarize their way and come to notice that a lot of wealthy people's houses were in this area. A lot of guards roamed around the vicinities of the houses. While looking at the houses, Pheia haven't realized that there was a fast-approaching wagon in front of her. Alani noticed this and shouted at her. "PHEIA! WATCH OUT!" Pheia immediately looked at Alani and at the carriage that is approaching. Pheia was shocked but quickly dodge it as she rolled herself on the ground. The carriage suddenly halted to a stop as it tries to not bump into Pheia. As it halted, a squeak can be heard inside the carriage. After a moment, an unpleasant voice came out, "What are you do
"So you're saying that I have to ask for Claveria's help on this?" Alani asked as she picks some cookies on the table. "Yes, and it's up to her on how can she steal... ahemm.. borrow the seal from those wealthy people who visit the green light district," Pheia said. The people around Pheia smiled at her word but said nothing. Well, 'stealing' is the right word for what they are going to do then. -----------------------After their talk last night, Alani agreed to help and decided to approach Claveria the next day. So when the sun rises from the east and extends its rays on the fields, she prepares herself to leave and proceed to the green light district. But before she went down, she has to wait for Pheia at the market as Pheia would be her chaperon when going to the district. Pheia, on the other hand, was very consistent in her morning and exercises routine. Even though, they have to be early on going to the green light d