The Tired Maid

Chapter 9

 And just as everything was going so well, there had to be assassins - or are mercenaries the right word? - to disrupt this happy atmosphere.

God, he hates you.

"Get the princess!" someone shouted in the crowd.

"Papa!" Stella screamed.

The nobles soon crowded you, making you unable to see the princess or the assassins. Helios grunted at this, "Get out of the way!"

Through the crowd of frightened nobles, Helios and you made your way through to make sure Stella was safe. A cacophony of shouts and screams rushed through your ears as you tried to get past them. When you managed to get where you last saw the princess, which was in the middle of the dance floor with Prince Perdon, your fingers furled inwards as you gritted your teeth at the sight.

Prince Perdon had his leaf blade out, the shades of green and the sharp pointy edge gleaming in the ballroom light, pointed at a masked man with dark clothing to conceal his features. The man had Stella in his arm and a dagger at her throat, making her stop struggling but pale and scared.

Helios growled in protectiveness near you, the dragon part of him coming out. The masked man brought the dagger closer to the princess, "Jaxon, we're clear to go?"

"Yeah, boss," another voice, male, responded amongst the crowd - likely to scare the nobles. "The guards have been taken care of."

"What is this foolishness!?" Vikesh roared in fury at the event before - which is not only the disruption of his daughter's debut but also her being kidnapped. What a bad day to have a debut, or maybe it would've happened no matter what day he held it. Vikesh continued, "You dare kidnap the princess of Sollar, on her debut nonetheless!?"

Helios, being the protective and impatient brother he is, is attacked first with his blades of light. He swung at the bastard who has his sister, aiming for his arms when another masked figure intercept it, holding something in their hand as the prince's blades made contact with it. A purple shield formed as fast as Helios's blades touched the hands of the figure and were flown back.

A flash of purple caught your eye from their hand. "Rutile," you muttered in realization. Rutile is the only mineral that goes against the powers of the dragons, so for them to have that at their disposal means. . .

'They're working with the Demon Emperor,' you looked hastily around, hoping to see a glimpse of the guards. 'Where are they!?'

Seeing that they're a no-show, you focused on Stella as she squirmed in her captor's arms, " Jaxon, let's get out of here!"

Your body moved on its own before you realized it.

Picking the knife you hid in your dress, you threw it at the guy with the rutile, stabbing him right in the wrist. He screamed in pain. The leader was bewildered, "What the-"

You took this as your chance.

You ran at them, a blade was swung at you from your side, and you slipped into a split as you swung your legs to swipe at the other guy's legs. He fell, landing harshly on the floor. Taking no time, you quickly got back up and swiped one of his blades from him before going after the man who had Stella.

A yellow and orange glow lighted at the corner of your eye, making you spin while in mid-run as you slash the plumes of flames that came your way, the punch, and wine from the buffet table quickly flew out of their bowls and cups your blade as you slashed down the fire, extinguishing it.

"They're so predictable," you muttered as you flexed your hand, the many liquids that had a bit of water gathering at that one hand to form a sort of gauntlet to punch the mercenary who tried to lunge at you.

A light of pain exploded on your arm. Fuck, he got you when you punched him. You winced as you felt blood drip from the wound.

By that count, you've taken care of... Most of them. It's just the leader and that one guy named Jaxon.

Jaxon leveled his axe that was imbued with what you assumed with steel magic, the metal it was made of sharpened even more than before, giving it a deathly edge. You prepared your weapon and stance, however, behind your back, your finger was flexing for what was about to come.

From what you remember from the internet, science lessons, and biology, the plasma of blood consists of water, salt, and protein. So by logic and science, you're able to control the blood of any living being with your magic category. . .

You're practically a blood-bender from the Last Avatar.

When Jaxon lunged at you, you bend your fingers around empty air, as if you were grabbing something. And that something is his heart.

Jaxon fell to the ground, gasping and heaving as he clutched his chest in desperation. The crowd gasped at the predicament. The leader of the mercenaries, alone, his men immobilized, took a step back as he hurriedly dug in his pocket.

Not taking the chance, you rushed forward, pulled Stella behind you, and slashed his chest. Blood sprayed against your dress and face as a scream of pain shot through the elegant room. The leader rolled around as he clutched his torso in pain. "You fucking bitch! What are you!? A monster!? Those animal women!?" he shouted at you. " You took down my men as if they were nothing! And you're a woman!"

You whipped off the blood of your sword, unbothered by the blood on your face, as you stared down at the leader of the mercenaries. "And Eve was born from one of the ribs of Adam, so we're basically another version of you," you shrugged, "But you don't see me complaining."

-*-

They were brought to the dungeon.

Stella's debut went on, but the event had caused some nobles uncomfortable. Vikesh has ordered the guards, who were put asleep by the mercenaries before they woke up again, to the dungeon to be interrogated. Meanwhile, the king ordered you to be sent to the medical wing. Helios brought you there, he stayed by your side as the medic wrapped your arm with linen bandages after applying herbs.

After a small doctor's order to rest and leave it be for a week or two, he left you two alone. You glanced at the bandaged arm, wincing when you tried to move it.

Well, you might be relieved of your duties for a while, just until you could do things with your arm again.

A cough caught your attention, Helios avoided your eye as he looked at the window. You tilted your head as he spoke, "Thank you for saving my sister, you proved to be more capable than any of the guards in our palace."

You blinked in surprise since Helios never showed or spoke of any gratitude in the book. And the fact he's prideful. . .must have taken a lot of courage and resisting his pride to thank you.

Feeling amused that the change of behavior, you smirked as you responded, "It's nothing, your highness."