Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 44

Mila and ZH had finally reached the lower levels of the mine, where the air was thick with the scent of earth and stone. All around them, the walls glittered with stones of every kind, their colors muted in the dim light. The sight of the stones brought back memories for Mila—memories of the first time she met Vivian, when her life had changed forever.

As they stood there, the ground beneath them suddenly trembled, and Mila felt a powerful presence stir. 'Who dares to awaken me from my long slumber?' The voice echoed through the mine, resonating deep within Mila's mind. It was a voice that carried ancient power, and she could hear it as clearly as if the beast were standing right beside her. ZH, however, remained oblivious to the voice, unaware of the conversation taking place between Mila and the unseen entity.

"Who are you?!" Mila called out, her voice firm despite the fear that gripped her. ZH turned to her, confusion evident on his face. To him, it seemed as though Mila was talking to no one, shouting into the empty darkness of the mine.

"Mila?" ZH questioned, glancing around the cavernous space, trying to make sense of what was happening. There was no one else in sight, no sign of the source of Mila's sudden outburst. But before he could ask her anything more, Mila suddenly bolted, running deeper into the mine as if driven by an unseen force.

"Mila?!" ZH shouted after her, his voice filled with urgency as he took off in pursuit. The mine around them began to crumble, the rocks and stones shifting ominously as the structure became unstable. "Look out!" ZH yelled, his voice strained with fear.

Mila, her focus solely on the mysterious voice, didn't notice the danger above her until it was too late. She glanced up just in time to see massive rocks breaking loose from the ceiling, tumbling down toward her. In an instant, ZH reached her, pulling her close and shielding her with his body as the rocks fell. Mila squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact, but all she felt was ZH's protective embrace.

"ZH?" she whispered, slowly opening her eyes. The dust settled around them, and to her shock, ZH was lying over her, shielding her from the fallen debris. "ZH?! Are you okay?!" Mila's voice trembled as she scrambled to sit up, her hands frantically checking him for injuries.

ZH groaned softly, pain etched into his features. "I'm stuck," he managed to say, his voice strained. "I'm trapped under the rubble." Mila's heart sank as she looked over, realizing that one of his legs was pinned beneath the heavy rocks.

Without a second thought, Mila called out, "Vivian!" Her voice was a desperate plea, and within moments, Vivian appeared in her true form, her presence filling the small space with a comforting glow.

'Mila, what happened?!' Vivian's voice was filled with concern as she took in the scene before her, her eyes landing on the pile of rubble that held ZH trapped.

-edit-

"Can you try to move the rubble?" Mila asked urgently, her eyes fixed on the rocks that pinned ZH in place. She was desperate to free him, knowing that they couldn't do anything as long as he remained trapped.

Before Vivian could respond, a cold voice interrupted them. "Oh, isn't this perfect." Mila and ZH looked up, their hearts sinking as they saw the governor standing behind them, a cruel smirk on his face. Beside him stood a massive Two Tusk Fire Boar, its nostrils flaring with intense heat as flames flickered from its tusks.

"Mila, get out of here!" ZH grunted, struggling to free himself from the rubble. The urgency in his voice was palpable, but the weight of the rocks held him down, leaving him vulnerable.

The governor sneered, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Maybe I can have her as a sacrifice. They say a ritual needs a sacrifice." His voice dripped with malice, and Mila's blood ran cold at the thought. She knew her chances against a fire beast were slim, but the mention of a ritual piqued her curiosity and fear. Rituals had not been used in a long time, and she wasn't even sure if one was truly required to summon the dragon the governor sought.