Reincarnated as The Naïve Princess

Chapter 34

Celestian P.O.V:

Ang laban ay tila walang katapusan. Habang kami ay patuloy na nakikipaglaban sa mga demonyo, hindi pa rin namin natutukoy kung nasaan si Selian, at hindi pa rin namin alam kung buhay ba siya o wala na. Ang lahat ng ito ay nagmumukhang isang masalimuot na pangyayari

Sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa namin, patuloy na nagsasakripisyo ang mga miyembro ng Hidden Guild at  estudyante. Kahit na pagod na kami, hindi namin kayang tumigil. Minsan, nakakalimutan ko na ako'y isang prinsesa lamang—sa gitna ng labanan, nararamdaman ko ang tindi ng responsibilidad na nakaatang sa aking mga balikat. Ang mga tao ay umaasa sa amin para tapusin ang salot na nagdulot ng pagkawasak ng aming tahanan.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, palaging nariyan si Captain Yuri. Kahit na siya ay may mga kalaban, hindi niya ako iniiwan. Tinulungan niya akong magpatuloy, pinapalakas ang aking loob, at ginagamit ang kanyang Darkness power upang mapadali ang bawat atake namin. Kung wala siya, malamang ay hindi ko na kayang tumagal sa labanang ito. Sa bawat sagupaan, nararamdaman ko ang kanyang presence, parang anino na hindi mo makita ngunit nararamdaman mong nariyan, hindi ka iniiwan.

"Celestian, magtulungan tayo! Hindi pa tapos ang laban," sigaw niya mula sa isang sulok ng field habang sinusuportahan ako laban sa mga kalaban. Ang kanyang tinig ay puno ng determinasyon. Hindi ko alam kung paano nuya nakakaya, pero alam ko na ang mga sandaling ito ay magsisilbing buhay at kamatayan para sa amin.

"Celestian, focus!" Yuri shouted, his voice harsh but steady, "We need to stay together!"

I nodded, panting from the exertion. "I know, Captain. But Selian... We need to find her. If the demons have her—"

"I know," he interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he swiped his sword through a demon’s neck, sending it crumpling to the ground. "We’ll find her, but we have to survive this first."

I nodded again, my grip tightening around my sword. Every time I looked around, I saw more and more enemies swarming in, pushing us back. But I couldn’t think about retreating. Not now. Not with everything on the line.

Suddenly, the ground beneath us trembled violently. My body went rigid as the earth cracked open, swallowing the space around us. A thick black smoke billowed from the fissure, and before I could react, I found myself separated from the others.

I stumbled, trying to regain my balance as the smoke engulfed me. I couldn’t see anything. I felt my heart race, panic beginning to creep in.

"Captain! Yuri!" I called out, but my voice was swallowed by the smoke. I moved forward, feeling my way through the dense fog. Each step felt heavier, as if the darkness itself was trying to pull me down.

Then, all at once, the smoke cleared.

I found myself standing in what seemed like an underground chamber. The walls were jagged, cracked with age, and there was a faint red glow emanating from somewhere deep within. It was eerily quiet—until I heard a voice, a familiar voice that made my blood run cold.

"It’s been a long time, Celestian."

I froze. The voice was deep, cold—familiar, yet terrifying.

I turned around slowly, my heart sinking as I laid eyes on the figure standing before me.

A man. But not just any man.

Elias.

My mind raced, trying to process the sight in front of me. Elias, the demon who had haunted my past, the one who I thought was gone for good, was standing right there. Alive. And somehow, more powerful than ever.

"I didn’t expect to see you here, after everything," I whispered, barely able to hold back the anger in my voice.

Elias smirked, his eyes glowing an unsettling red. "Did you really think I would just fade away? I’ve been waiting for this moment. For you to come to me."