The Reborn Witch Princess

Lost

"Rara, you're injured!" Hara's voice trembled as she scrambled to her feet, her body shaking just as the very air around them seemed to ripple.

(Hurry and come back here!) the old man's urgent voice echoed in Rara's mind, thick with concern.

Rara's vision blurred, her surroundings spinning. She could feel the magic pulsing weakly within her, struggling to keep her conscious. Desperate, she knelt and traced ancient runes into the dirt with trembling fingers, summoning the last of her strength. Her hands felt heavy, and her vision darkened, but she managed to finish the spell just as her body gave way. With a final sigh, she collapsed onto the ground, her energy completely drained.

As she fell unconscious, something extraordinary happened—her body shimmered with a soft golden light before vanishing entirely, leaving behind only the delicate bracelet she always wore, now glowing with a faint magical aura.

"Ugh..." A groan escaped Rara's lips as she slowly regained consciousness. Every part of her body ached, as though she'd been pulled through space itself.

"You're awake!" Hara's face hovered over her, eyes wide with relief.

Rara squinted at the ceiling before grunting and weakly pushing Hara's worried face aside. She glanced around and spotted the old man, who was seated cross-legged behind her, his hands glowing softly as he focused on healing her wounds. The air around them was thick with magic, shimmering with an almost ethereal glow.

Sweat dripped down her brow as she closed her eyes, aligning her magic with the old man's. Together, they channeled their energy into mending her torn muscles and healing the deep gashes that littered her body. The air hummed with their combined power, and the ground beneath them seemed to resonate with life.

Several long minutes passed before the old man finally lowered his hands, exhaustion evident on his weathered face as he rose to his feet.

"You are too reckless, Rara!" His voice boomed, echoing off the walls of the chamber. "Look at yourself! You can't just go off like that, letting your anger control you!"

Rara stretched her aching limbs, feeling the tightness in her muscles ease. "Aiya! Old man, you're so dramatic. You know I had to do it... That fool of a king pushed me too far," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

"You—! You always make excuses!" The old man crossed his arms, his face flushed with anger. "I'm your elder, Rara. You should listen to me!"

Rara smirked, raising a single brow. "Oh? Really? Then explain to me how I managed to spank your butt a few decades ago, hmm?"

The old man's face turned beet red, and his body shook with indignation. "That was... that was different! You—!" His voice cracked as he sputtered, recalling the humiliating memory.

"Ha!" Rara stood up slowly, towering over him with her arms crossed. "Face it, old man. You should start calling me 'sister' now."

His body trembled with barely restrained fury. "I will never—"

"Then perhaps another spanking is in order?" Rara teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Hara stood nearby, watching the bickering pair with a helpless expression. She sighed softly, but a small smile crept onto her face. Despite their constant banter, there was something comforting about the scene—a strange normalcy in the midst of chaos. For a moment, Hara felt a flicker of peace.

Meanwhile, back at the guest yard...

"Pack everything. We leave tomorrow," Prince Xavier ordered, his voice sharp and authoritative as he stood from the grand dining table. His words left no room for hesitation. The sumptuous feast laid out before them, now cold and untouched, sat as a stark contrast to the skeletal faces of Loton's starving citizens.

As he turned to leave, the 'goddess' followed him, her expression unreadable. The matter of the vacant throne in Loton would be left to the prime minister—for now. A suitable replacement would be chosen later, but Prince Xavier had more pressing concerns on his mind.

Mayonne paused as she watched the king and his family, unconscious and bound, being dragged from the hall. She sighed heavily, her eyes flickering to the still-laden banquet table. Her stomach churned, a deep disgust rising in her throat. She had lost her appetite completely, unable to reconcile the wasteful excess with the images of the emaciated people she had seen.

Turning away, she made her way upstairs, deciding to check on Rara.

"My lady... My lady!" Mayonne knocked on Rara's door repeatedly, but the silence that greeted her deepened her worry. There was no answer.

Heart pounding, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to find the room empty. Panic gripped her chest as her gaze landed on the wide-open window, the curtains billowing in the soft night breeze.

"Lady Chihara is missing!" Mayonne shouted as she rushed into the hall, her voice echoing throughout the three-story guest house. The guards below froze, their faces pale.

The Chosen Lady... gone? The news spread like wildfire through the palace, sending a wave of anxiety rippling through the ranks.

Assistant Bear, hearing the commotion, wasted no time. He charged up the stairs and burst into Rara's room, scanning the area quickly. His eyes locked onto the open window, and without a second thought, he rushed toward it. He was about to leap when a cold voice stopped him in his tracks.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Assistant Bear stiffened, turning to see Prince Xavier standing in the doorway, his gaze icy and unreadable.

"Your Excellency," Bear stammered, bowing his head instinctively. "The lady is missing. I was thinking of searching the forest..."

Without a word, Prince Xavier strode past him and leapt out of the window with a fluid grace. Bear, momentarily stunned, scrambled after him, heart pounding as they raced into the dense forest.

After several minutes of searching, Prince Xavier halted abruptly near a large, twisted tree. His sharp eyes caught something on the ground—dark stains of blood. His heart tightened as he knelt down and picked up a familiar golden bracelet, its surface shimmering faintly. Scrawled into the dirt nearby were words that made his blood run cold:

'Don't look for me...'

Bear gasped as he caught up, his eyes widening at the sight of the blood and the ominous message. "Your Excellency, could it be that she was...?" He trailed off, not daring to finish the thought.

Prince Xavier's face was unreadable, but his grip on the bracelet tightened. "We're leaving," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"But... but the lady—" Assistant Bear's confusion was palpable.

Prince Xavier shot him a cold, piercing look before turning on his heel, leaving Bear no choice but to follow.

Back at the house, Bear relayed everything to Mayonne, and they hurriedly began preparations to depart, though the weight of unease hung heavily in the air.

Back at Prince Xavier's personal quarter.

Fresh from the shower, Prince Xavier emerged from his bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. The dim light of the room bathed his sculpted physique in soft shadows, but something unusual caught his eye—a figure lying on his bed.

"Chihara?" His voice was laced with disbelief as he quickly approached the bed. His heart raced as he knelt beside her.

Rara was unconscious, her lips pale, and a faint sheen of sweat covered her forehead. A bloodstain marked the corner of her mouth, and her expression was tight with pain. His pulse quickened—something was terribly wrong.

He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against her forehead, only to recoil sharply as a wave of heat burned through his hand.

"Rara!" he called, shaking her gently, but she didn't respond. Desperation flooded his veins as he knelt beside her, his mind racing. He had to act fast.