Four bandits emerged from the shadows, followed closely by two fully armored soldiers from Silla. Lilian gasped at the unexpected confrontation. At the center of the chaos rode the prince, his sword flashing in the dim light as he skillfully subdued the attackers.
"Kalen," Lilian whispered in recognition, her heart racing.
As one of the bandits lunged at Lilian, aiming to capture her as a hostage, Obene reacted swiftly. His blade sliced through the air with precision, cutting down the would-be captor before he could reach her.
The battle raged on fiercely. When the last bandit fell, the soldiers moved quickly, securing the remaining attackers with tight ropes to ensure they wouldn't escape. Once the dust and sweat settled, Kalen finally spotted Lilian. He dismounted his horse with urgency and rushed towards her, enveloping her in an unexpected embrace that drew gasps from the onlookers.
Lilian, taken aback by the sudden and intimate gesture, could only stand in stunned silence.
"Get off her!" Obene shouted, pushing Kalen away with force.
Kalen's eyes narrowed in anger at Obene's intervention, but Obene stood his ground, challenging the prince. The two men's swords clashed with expert precision, each strike and parry a testament to their skill. Kalen's blows were powerful and precise, but Obene matched each one with equal skill, deflecting and countering with practiced ease.
"You're quite skilled with your weapon," Kalen remarked between strikes.
"You haven't seen the full extent of it yet," Obene replied with a touch of arrogance, advancing with a surprising move that Kalen barely managed to counter.
"Enough, Kalen! Obene! Stop this!" Lilian screamed, her voice filled with desperation, but her pleas went unheard as the two men continued their fierce duel.
"Let them be. They needed that," Victoria whispered to Lilian, her eyes watching the fight with a mixture of intrigue and amusement. "It seems Obene has a rival for your heart," she added with a knowing smile.
"Mom, not now..." Lilian replied, trying to redirect the conversation.
Victoria raised her hands in surrender, smiling at her daughter's plea to stop the teasing.
The two soldiers watched the duel with mixed emotions. Secretly, they hoped their prince would emerge victorious, their lingering resentment towards Lavitica fueling their desire to see Obene defeated. As the fight intensified, they tightened their grip on the bound bandits, their anger evident in their harsh holds.
Eventually, both Kalen and Obene, exhausted and battered, collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"I almost grazed you," Obene gasped between breaths.
"Almost, but you didn't," Kalen replied, equally breathless.
They lay sprawled on the ground, mouths open and chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath.
"Are you guys done?" Lilian asked, leaning over them with a mixture of concern and exasperation.
"Here, drink some water." She quickly handed them the water she had brought. They gulped it down eagerly, asking for more, which Lilian provided without hesitation.
Once they had recovered, the two men sat between Lilian and Victoria, eating the food that Victoria had prepared. The soldiers joined them silently, the campfire crackling softly between them.
Kalen's gaze lingered on Victoria, captivated by her fiery hair. He then turned his attention back to Lilian, gently touching her arm.
"Is she what I think she is?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
YOU ARE READING
The Absolute Surrender
FantasyLilian's upbringing held one stark truth: she was abandoned. As she matured, the enigma of her true identity grew more haunting. Strange occurrences surrounded her - visions of an uncharted realm calling, mystical powers defying reality. Deep within...
