The Princess of Wrath

Chapter 10 - Part IV: Born to Die

A few minutes later, Amos opened the carriage door and peered out to see how far it was to the checkpoint and the elevator. The stream of cold air that came down from the top of the mountain went in but Asura cared little for the contribution it made along with her implicit nerves.

She was not going to allow that renewed confidence to wane. It was very difficult to ignore all her insecurities and the fear of the risk that fell on the lives of all those who accompanied her, but she could not fail them now that they have come so far.

"Slow down, Mr. Hennessy, and keep it that way!" Amos yelled, and then turned his attention to Stanislaus. "Are you ready?"

"I-I am!" With the two bags of Dragon's Greed and sleep gas cylinders respectively tied on his belt, the young student stood up. Amos backed away slightly, letting Stanislaus cautiously position himself close to the edge. Outside, the horses neighed a little and the carriage began to slow down.

"Wait! What if they let us pass?" Asura quickly asked when that possibility and its implications appeared in her mind. "Stan won't be able to get back on without raising suspicions!"

"I-if t-that happens...," her best friend turned his head to see her sideways, dedicating one of those nervous grimaces that she was so used to since they were children, every time he decided to show his bravery in foolish games or challenges. But in this situation, where the line between life and death was very blurred, for Stanislaus there seemed to be no difference. "...then it w-will be easier t-to get you out of the c-city. W-wish me luck, p-please?"

With an admiring smile and worried eyes, the Princess nodded.

"Good luck, Stan... I won't forgive you if you don't come back to my side."

"T-that's the Asura I-I know."

With that said, Stanislaus jumped out of the carriage and eventually got lost in the darkness of the moor. Amos waited a bit and eventually reached out: by pulling hard, he helped Royce to go inside.

"Nothing to report from the rear, all clear," was the first thing he said as he fixed his misaligned uniform and hat. He closed the door behind him, partially extinguishing the sound of lightning that came from the heavens, but neither he nor Amos sat down as it was only a matter of traveling a couple of hundred yards before reaching the elevator.

"Perfect. Once we arrive, be absolutely silent. Everyone be ready."

Obeying the knight's words, Frida rechecked the consistency of her bag with the emerald powder and took a new look at the map. Meanwhile, Asura took a deep breath and looked down at the sheet metal floor, where Amos's gigantic sword lay for a matter of space and swayed thanks to the movement of the carriage. Her right hand had turned red from how numb she was gripping Bellatrix's pole so tightly.

"Princess... I've never seen you hold a weapon before," Royce commented with both surprise and joy drawn on his face. "Will you accept Amos's proposal on training?"

"W-well... It's not a bad idea," she confessed, in parallel trying to ignore the aching warnings in her mind about the past.

"She'll also need to learn from your skill, knight Baldur. I'd like to share the responsibility with you, if lady Asura so desires," the champion of the Empire concluded solemnly.

Beside her, Frida nodded in approval. Feeling overwhelmed but happy at the support she was receiving, Asura divided her attention between that knight who for so many years had protected her from countless dangers and the glaive that she left against the seat before releasing it.