CHAPTER 3: TO FIND HER - ACT 2
What in the world…?
A girl with long, bright silver hair and fair skin lies on the ground unconscious before me. She's wearing a beautiful sky blue dress, covered in golden stitch patterns.
Huh? A small crown on her head? Is she… a princess?
I shake my head to snap myself out of my trance. This is no time to be enchanted by an angelic face and fancy clothes!
I kneel beside her and feel her forehead. She feels cold, but at least she's breathing.
Her mouth and areas of her body are bruised and slightly bleeding. Judging by her many injuries and the way she's lying down, she may have fallen from the trees above. Could she have been hiding from that mysterious party from before?
I gently shake her. "Ma'am? Are you alright?"
Her eyes quiver. She slowly opens them to reveal a pair of sparkling blue eyes. Her smile is weak, but I'm struck by them, nonetheless.
"Hey," she whispers.
I stare at her beauty, and force myself to reply before an awkward silence can occur. "Hello. I'm Prince Goyasaku. Nice to meet you."
She tries her best to keep smiling at me. "It's nice… to meet you, too."
What's… happening here? I've just met her… And we're both in danger… But I can't feel a thing.
"Are you… okay?"
"Always," she replies casually. "And how about you?"
Huh? "Ma'am, don't worry about me. I'll get you to the river. You need water and rest."
She laughs weakly. "Ha-ha… No kidding!"
She continues to smile at me, and I can't help but smile back to reassure her. I carefully collect her up in my arms.
I then carry her through the dense greenery, and start moving along the wall. If I continue along it, I'll eventually meet the main river at the very center of the island.
I sense her looking up at me as we travel, so I face forward, with full focus and determination. I'm already proving my physical strength by carrying her, so I may as well seal the deal with a good, old-fashioned stoic look!
Almost there…
Man, she's… surprisingly heavy…
Ah! I see the river!
I rest the girl at the edge of the bank. I scoop up some water, and she drinks from my hands. "Here…"
Hmm, she doesn't slurp. That's a plus!
"There… You'll be okay now." I try to sound confident and hide the fact I'm out of breath.
I look at the water… It seems to flow through the energy wall effortlessly, but I don't think the fish would survive going through it.
I take out my sword, then slash it into the sky, sending a blue shockwave upwards.
The girl turns her head to the light with curiosity.
"Don't worry, ma'am. My friends will be here soon."
She smiles at me again in aknowledgement.
All right… Easy does it… I'll show her I can protect her! Just like the hero in my romance novels!
"Let's hope not!"
"Huh?" I turn around quickly. A tall, muscular knight in silver armor stands a fair distance from us. Whoa… His build and burly beard is really intimidating!
A deep and thunderous voice emanates. "You must be Prince Goyasaku. I'm Sir Zaiken, head of the East Side Knights. I apologize for intruding on your land."
I spot the girl looking upon the knight with wide-eyed fear.
"But you see," says Zaiken as he crosses his arms. "She's intruding as well."
I look down and note quietly, "I… I thought as much…"
Can't any of these women be from the West side?
"I'm tasked with bringing her back home, Your Highness. Once I've captured her, then we'll all be out of your hair."
Wait. 'We'?
I look around, and notice that other armored knights have encircled us with their swords drawn. They edge toward us.
"Now, step aside, Prince. I'll make this quick and painless!"
"NO!"
Zaiken and the knights halt at the girl's cry.
She struggles hard, but she manages to get up onto her feet.
"Zaiken," she growls through gritted teeth. "I order you to go back to the East side! I have no intention of returning there… ever!"
Zaiken sighs and tuts. "Princess, you have no idea how little power you have right now. Our orders came from the head sorceress herself."
"What? That's impossible! You're all under my command!"
"Not anymore. You relinquished power over your royal staff when you ran away. And besides, you know how vicious the head sorceress can be!"
Frustrated, the girl grips her gold necklace with both hands. "Damn it!"
What do I do here? She's trespassing on my land, but she must have fled her home for a good reason…
I'm frozen in thought, and I see some of the surrounding knights smirk at my uncertainty.
Zaiken victoriously snarls and starts confidently marching toward us. I guess he's realized I'll be a pain if I'm not taken out.
Do I protect this trespasser or not?
What's the right thing to do here...?
BOOM!
Someone lands on the ground before me.
Dust and dirt is thrown up in the air from the impact, and the girl and I shield our eyes with our arms.
"Huh?" I open my eyes a little, and see the silhouette of a girl with a pointy hat and a black cloak crouched on the ground. She stands up, and faces Zaiken.
"What?" he exclaims. "It can't be…"
The dust settles, and the identity of the witch becomes clear.
"Akashi!" Zaiken and his knights take a step back in fear.
With her arms crossed, she stares at our opponent with no emotion. I have no idea what's happening here, but at least Akashi's giving me more time to think!
"Report back that you couldn't find her, Zaiken."
"Huh? What was that, witch?"
"Respect her decision. As it stands, she wants nothing to do with the East side, so get lost!"
Wow. Akashi is really scary when she deepens her voice!
"Akashi…" the girl whispers. "Be careful!"
Huh? Is Akashi famous on the East side or something?
I shake my head to get a grip.
I move to Akashi's side.
No one has to get hurt!
"Sir Zaiken, I recognize that this person has crossed the border without permission, but so far she has not caused any harm to my land. As the monarch of this land, I must put her through our immigration process. Our court will decide if she's a refugee or an illegal immigrant. We will follow the laws of this land while she's here, and our decision will be fair and just!"
A silence sweeps the forest as the wind rolls by.
"Ha… Hahaha… Hahahahahaha!"
His maniacal laughter… That's not good!
"You think I care about how your side of this island works? Listen, Prince, we're bound to follow orders from the East side monarchy no matter what. And besides, if we don't take her back, the head sorcerer herself will just come over here and do the job herself!"
The two women gasp. Akashi uncrosses her arms in concern, and the princess's shoulders become tense.
As for me… I refuse to get scared! This is my land, and everyone here will play by my rules!
"How dare you laugh at a monarch! I want this settled with words. There's no need for violence here!"
"Sorry, Prince. Sometimes, the sword really is mightier than the pen!"
Zaiken unsheathes his sword with his right hand.
Akashi grits her teeth, and crystals begin to coat her clenched fists.
I guess it's time to party!
I unsheath my sword, and place my left hand on its handle. "Ancient light, increase my might!" My weapon begins to glow.
The princess steps back.
"Akashi, take them all out!" I command.
Fast as lightning, she dashes to the side.
Huh? She's not going for Zaiken first?
She runs up to a knight and punches him with her crystal covered fist, knocking him into a tree.
The other knights gasp as they see their now unconscious comrade lying on the ground. They react with a harmonious battle cry and charge at Akashi.
Akashi generates crystal balls in her hands, and starts hurling them at the knights.
SMASH! CLANG! BASH!
Their helmets fail to protect their heads from the heavy impact of Akashi's pitches!
As she fights on, I turn to face Zaiken, who's now grinning at me like a menace.
I can't believe it! Akashi was supposed to take out the leader to morally weaken his knights. But instead, she's put her wingman duties first, and made ME the one to fight the boss!
I guess I'm to defeat Zaiken and look like a hero in front of the princess…
I glance behind me. Yep, she has a front-row view.
I smile and wink at her frightened face. "Don't worry, princess. I'll handle this brute!"
"You'd better! He's never lost a fight!" she proclaims, clutching her necklace once again.
"Huh?" My smile disappears with a gulp.
Oh, man… She'd better be impressed after all this!
I slowly turn back to Zaiken, and force myself to concentrate.
Here I go! I slash my sword and fire a shockwave at the head knight.
SWOOSH!
What the?
My shockwave gets chopped up before it even reaches him!
I look closer, and see that there are five long threads tied to Zaiken's fingers and thumb on his left hand. They were hidden as he had that hand closed until now. He must have swiped at my shockwave, and those magical threats diced my attack!
"Hahahahaha! Be careful! These threads cut deep, you know! Yaaaaargh!" Zaiken launches at me, and swipes his left hand. I jump to dodge his attack, and his threads chop up a tree bark behind me instead. The tree falls to the ground in multiple chunks!
Those threads are bad news!
Striking at Zaiken would be useless. He would just chop up my shockwave every time. I avoid using my sword. I can't afford to get that destroyed as well! All I can do now is avoid his thread and sword attacks!
Akashi is faring better. It seems the other knights are skilled fighters, but they have no magical powers. Akashi has no problem knocking them out one by one by striking them with her crystal balls.
One of the knights tries to punch Akashi. She makes a crystal shield and blocks the punch. The knight cries out in pain from injuring his hand, then Akashi uses her shield to pummel the attacker unconscious!
I, on the other hand, am doing terribly. I can't keep dodging Zaiken forever! There has to be a way to defeat him before his threads chop me up like that tree!
"Arrgh! Nooo!"
I turn around to see a knight grab the princess, and she struggles to get him off her!
"Princess!" I shout.
"Hi-yaaaaaaa!"
That knight is drop-kicked in the face by a short witch, and he falls into the river.
"Oof!" She lands on her backside, then awkwardly waves and smiles at the princess. "Hi, there! I… did just take out a bad guy, right?"
Thank goodness Etsuko finally made it!
Suddenly, a filled potion bottle flies past my head from behind me. It smashes on the ground before Zaiken's feet and explodes!
BOOM!
"Arrrghhhh!" The blast thrusts him back a few hundred yards!
"Looks like someone needs a lesson in manners!"
I turn to see my comrade and smile in relief. "Miss Momoka!"
As the lady stands beside me holding another potion ready to attack, I use this precious break to assess the situation.
"Etsuko! Heal the princess now!" I order.
"Yes, Your Highness!" She jumps up and inspects her patient. "She has a lot of injuries. It may take some time!"
"Alright! Just get her strong enough to use her powers!"
"Huh? My… powers?" the princess nervously asks.
"I'll give her an adrenaline boost," offers Momoka, before racing over to the princess. Etsuko places her glowing hands on the girl.
I then look around frantically for one more person, before my eyes finally land on her. Eren stands still in the distance, silently watching me.
"Eren! Levitate the knights!"
Eren's eye widens and she freezes up. "Huh?"
"Do it, Eren! That's an order!"
She shakes her head to wake up. She closes her eye, and raises her palms into the air. Her body begins to emanate a purplish glow.
Soon, the other knights, conscious and unconscious, as well as Zaiken, begin to glow as well.
Suddenly, they all begin to float in the air as if gravity never existed for them. Some panic and try to swim back down to Earth, but it's no use. All of them helplessly rise.
Eren starts to shake and sweat from all the strain she's placing on her body.
I turn to the princess, who finishes drinking a potion Momoka has given her. Her eyes suddenly open wide and she inhales deeply as her adrenaline levels surge.
"Princess! Create a whirlwind!" I shout.
Without hesitation, she faces her palms upwards, and she gazes into the sky with deep focus.
I feel the wind beginning to pick up.
"Everyone hang on to something!" Upon hearing my call, Etsuko and Mamoka break away and grab onto the nearby trees.
I also hug a nearby trunk.
Akashi runs over to Eren and tackles her to the dirt, breaking her deep concentration. "Eren, grab on!" They both embrace some raised tree roots on the ground.
The glowing vanishes and the knights begin to fall, but they never reach the ground. Instead, they're all swept up by the howling wind! Soon, they find themselves trapped, spinning around and around in the giant whirlwind created by the princess!
The only knight left who has not been sucked into the whirlwind is Zaiken. He's managed to grab onto a thick tree branch. "Arrrrghhh! I'm not going down… I mean, up… without a fight!"
He's not letting go of that branch, and the princess can't maintain the whirlwind forever in her state! She suddenly becomes weak and drops to one knee, but she grits her teeth and powers on.
I have to finish this!
I do a two-finger wolf whistle. Ban appears in the distance away from the whirlwind.
"Ban! Cut his branch!"
Ban's eyes shoot lasers at the target.
Zaiken lets his left arm go from the branch, and he swipes at Ban's lasers, chopping them up before they reach him.
"Huh?" Just as Zaiken swipes his armed hand and it goes over his right shoulder, my sword flies toward him and slices the branch he's holding!
SNAP!
"Arrrghhhhhh!" Zaiken flies up into the whirlwind. My distraction worked! I sure hope he doesn't get motion sickness!
The princess uses the last of her strength to throw her arms over her shoulders, and tosses the whole tornado over the energy wall.
I see the knights fly up through the air and far into the distance of the East side!
Slowly but surely, the wind dies down, and we're all able to safely let go of our respective trees.
Just as the sun begins to rise in the distance again, the princess collapses to the ground exhausted.
"Princess!" I race over to her, and kneel by her side.
I scoop up her head into my hand, and look into her barely conscious, glistening eyes.
The other witches gather around us.
"Forgive me, Princess… I pushed you, even though you're badly injured!"
"Hey, don't worry about it, Prince," she responds gently. "After all… You… saved me."
Her eyes close, and she passes out.
I pause, then look away. "Dammit," I mutter under my breath.
"Etsuko, restart her healing," Momoka instructs.
"Yes, ma'am!" Etsuko places her glowing hands on the princess once again, and I stand up.
Argh… Did I do the right thing here?
Was protecting a trespasser really a smart move… especially after all those sorcerers from her side tried to kill me?
Can I even trust her?
I close my eyes and grind my teeth. So many frustrating thoughts cross my mind. It's like I'm swimming against the tide!
"Hey."
I open my eyes, and Akashi stands before me, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"Your Highness, you're her hero, and girls totally love heroes!"
Her words snap me out of my disgruntlement.
She's right! The Princess… just complimented me! I guess my manly heroism totally paid off!
"You're also pretty sharp!" I look at Eren. She's… smiling at me for a change. "You knew I had levitation powers."
"Y-yeah… I figured that was the way you spotted the energy wall, and how you snuck up on me back then. You levitated into the sky to look ahead of us, saw the barrier in the distance, then landed behind me."
Eren crosses her arms and closes her eye. "Hmph! Impressive!"
"And the princess's wind powers?" asks Akashi.
"Oh, yeah… When I got near her for the first time, I was hit with a gust of wind, then it changed direction and guided me toward her. None of you can control the weather, so it must have come from her. I'm glad my logic was on point, or else we'd all be doomed right now, ha-ha!"
"Alright! Excellent work, Your Highness!" exclaims Akashi as she gives me a wink and a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, Akashi." I really appreciate being cheered up like this, but as soon as I face the sleeping princess again, my smile vanishes as my guilt takes over me.
Hmm? I see Momoka standing at the river bank, looking closely at the water. Curious, I walk over to her side, and also observe the river.
With the sun rising, the water becomes clearer. I suddenly lean forward in shock at the sight before me.
The fish in the river are swimming through the energy wall unscathed! So that's where the opening in the energy wall is, hiding in plain sight under the water's surface!
"What will you do with the girl?" Momoka asks.
I straighten my back, and take a few moments to think.
"I will stand by my words. The court will decide if she stays or leaves. As far as I know, she hasn't committed any crimes here, thus the process for new illegal immigrants must be followed."
"I see." Momoka crosses her arms and closes her eyes. "But please be warned, Your Highness… Taking her with you will put your entire kingdom in even greater danger. After all, she is involved with the head sorceress."
Hmm…
Momoka… is absolutely correct.
