Chivalry of a knight

If Rosetta knew what I had been plotting behind her back, she would have definitely scolded me a lot. Just thinking about what kind of face she would make, I grinned. Lilly looked anxious but I gave her an assuring smile that everything will be alright. I assured them that I know what I doing right now. I would never do a gamble if I'm not confident of winning. So just trust me on this.

But before going forward, they asked me for the last time if I was fine with the arrangement and I replied: "what's the use of power if it doesn't come in handy in the time of need". With that I went to the market near the castle. People easily noticed me as I was wearing a black dress and I went to a shop to eat. I could feel everyone's starting at me but I was oblivious to all that. Light brown hair were tied in a bun and the green eyes were alluring enough to caught everyone's attention. I had lunch and was blacked out after eating. I pretended to faint since I had developed poison resistance after taking them for years one of those royalty's upbringing methods.

After a few minutes, two people came and they wrapped in a blanket and took me to their hideout. I opened my eyes when they threw me in a cell. Then they were gone and I tried to scan my surroundings hoping that Ash and Lilly would have entered without a hitch. I was glad that they didn't search for any items on my body. I was glad since they saved me from unnecessary drama.

After they threw me into a prison like place I opened my eyes to see young girls beside me. They all wore some kind of choker that was the mark of slavery. One of them was an elf girl. She was the only one who talked to me as rest of them were just too frightened. Her name was Elisa, she told me that the collar restricts their power so they can't escape. She said as you don't have any mana so they did not make you wear them. I was agian thankful to mother's ring as it hid my mana. I only talked to her briefly making sure not to do gave away my disguise.

At night time, a woman who was wearing a mid thigh length skirt came. I was surprised by her bold attire as this world was a bit conservative. She had tanned skin and dark brown hair that went well with her perfect figure and there was a snake around her neck that gave her an intimidating look. Two guards were accompanying her. She ordered them to take me out of the cell. I tried my best to look as terrified and weak as possible. She scolded them why they had not made me wear the collar. Her lackeys opened the cell and one of them dragged me out and threw me on the floor. The fall was rough as I bruised my knees but I tried my best to control my anger as it was not the time yet. She pulled me up by grabbing my hair, it did hurt like hell. Never I had seen this disrespectful behavior. But I tried to tell myself that I'm not a princess here.

Her name was Rina. She caressed my face with her sharp long nails and laughed saying that Lord Gabriel would be pleased as the green eyes were his favorite. She ordered the guards to take me to him as he would be pleased to have a companion tonight. I was shocked and angered by those words but mostly disgusted. Though I looked a bit taller than my age but I was still 12. And was that lord a pedophile? Despicable! So that explains why we're they kidnapping only kids.

I had no reason to play along anymore so when the guard tried to touch me he flew back and hit the wall. He coughed up a lot of blood. Rina was surprised but she smirked saying"oh a feasty little cat and a clever one. How did you hide your mana?"

I stood up and said:"what you're gonna do with that information after dying?"

The smile on her face paused but she was a third tier mage though incomparable to a fourth tier one. I trapped her lackeys in vines so they would not warn others about this situation. Suddenly the air got cold and Rina shot me with ice spears. Not bad I thought. She was ice mage. Rare... I thought.

But I countered her attack with fire. It was the best choice but her eyes widened as I was a dual wielder. Lilly came out of nowhere and was also surprised to see me in action. Ash came and he killed the other two persons without batting an eyelid. He was used to this. I was wondering what made him used to this kind of stuff. But lowering your guard in a battle was not a wise idea as I had hit by an ice spear. Blood ran out of my arm and I cursed under my breath, shit! I attacked her with a huge fire ball. She encountered with her ice but soon she ran out of her mana and that was my plan. In the very start she didn't take me seriously enough, I men who would take a kid seriously theses days. She lost to me and I trapped her in vines as it would take some time for her to get recharged. Lilly came to me with the collar that was originally for me. She made Rina wore that choker and made her black out.

Ash came to me and told me rather than trapping we had to kill them. We can't allow them to warn others. As we still don't know how many of them are here and we still need to find the kids. I understood his meaning but we were not here to wipe them all but to rescue the children. I turned to Elisa she gave me a warm smile. She was equally surprised by the turn of events. She was grateful to me as Rina came for her but unluckily encountered me instead. She told me that she will be waiting for me as the key to the collar was not with Rina but with the lord Gabriel. So it was impossible to get out without facing him.

The situation was more complicated. I looked at Ash. He was quite angry. Lilly told me they saw how they treated me. She had a hard time blocking Ash from lashing out. I was also furious, and I just wanted to see how the things would go forward. Never had I expected this kind of rudeness. I only saw them in movies or so. He clearly wanted to kill Rina. It was the first time I felt his bloodlust. As I only had seen his mischievous side until now. We took Rina with us to hideout they found. I slapped Rina's face with a little bit of force and she woke up because of the pain. We asked about the whereabouts of key and how to get there but she refused to tell us. Lilly and Ash found a safe place for us. It was a storage room. So we will be fine for some time. As we did not have time to waste, I turned to Rina and threatened her with my blue flame. I set her snake on fire and told her it would be her turn next if she does not prove herself worthy.

"Does loyalty matters or your life more? You can decide now." I laughed as I said.

Her eyes widened with fright and she thought for a moment. It didn't take much for her to decide and she told us about there are more than a thousand kids. And laughed saying, "do you think kids of your size can actually save them? Almost in an hour they are going to set more than half of them on the ship to set sail. And just when the ships will come your little play to be a hero will come to an end kiddo."

I told her, "nobody will know before trying."

The key was kept in the lord Gabriel room and he himself was a five tier trimage. And he also has a personal guard that could kill us all on his command. And then she started laughing wickedly. I slapped her once agian shocking my companions. It was annoying and she was stepping on my nerves for quite a time. But I closed my eyes as if to calm myself down. I need to to devise a plan. Think Athanasia, use your brain. And then it hit me.... An idea!

I took out my sword hell crasher and told her:"if you think that your lord is invincible then you must have not seen the world dear lady". I put a sleeping spell on her to shut her annoying mouth. Then I shared my little idea with them. I asked Lilly to keep an eye on her and then turned to Ash. "What do you want to do now?" It did not look like we could just barge in. I knew ash was just also hiding his true strength. Since I could not sense his powers. He looked disturbed and asked me what I want to do. I told him we just need to locate the lord Gabriel's room and have to retrieve the key. He was baffled. I turned to Lilly and asked if someone could be trusted from outside because we have to save all the kids. She looked at Ash, he noded and then told me her father is the head of knight order of Obelion here. She could ask for his help. I told her to contact her father and block the ships and capture all those slave traders. And for the evidence she can take Rina with her. She teleported Rina using a scroll.

Now I looked at Ash and he threw an unexpected question, "who are you?" I answered with the same question, who are you, Ash?"

At first I thought it was just a joke but he had an expressionless face. He laughed at my expressions and then turned serious. He took my hand and kissed my knuckles saying: "It's been a while your highness. I'm glad you're doing well unlike the rumors". I was baffled and I could not even register what had happened. How did he recognize me? My disguise was perfect. Then I looked at him closely and realized who he was. He was that brat. Oh my God, Aerick. I tried to compose myself and said: "Lord Cazar, do you always act like this with ladies".

"Not with the others but just you my lady".

I controlled myself not to blush and ignored his comment and asked:"how did you know it was me?"

He said:"what would I get in return if I told you?"Shamless as always I thought.

"Never mind then I will know anyway".

He smiled and I reminded him saying that today's incident should be kept secret. He nodded seriously. And then we both got on our way to Gabriel.

His room was located on the third floor. The only way was to pass through the guards. We both made our way by making ourselves invisible using a spell. We reached the place but when we tried to open, we both flew back and fell on the floor. As the floor was carpeted so were not hurt. But many guards came to us. We heard a voice saying: "No one can enter this room". It was a boy 13 or 14 yrs old. He had silver hair and pale blue eyes. It was a rare combination but we both realized who he was. He was one of the people of Azure tribe. Azure people were quite powerful. They could even compare with the Aurelius family as they had mixed blood of demons and human. Because of this they hid themselves but two decades they were all wiped out in the Civil War. As all kingdoms saw them as a threat. How could that lord be more stupid than this? He actually enslaved an Azure. He must have a death wish. As they are the most cruel after demons. And why on earth this boy just let him enslaved by a human. I could not understand the situation any longer. He should hate humans.

The boy was powerful I hate to admit but he was on equal footing with me. Aerick's expressions were also not good. That boy also had a silver collar. The only way is to get the key. I looked at Ash and he understood. He started fighting with the guards and I decided to took that azure down. I told the boy that I'll be his opponent. His eyes were cold as if devoid of any emotion. I felt like he was someone who had given up on his life but there was something in those eyes of despair.... He was a fourth tier mage. So I had to be serious in this battle. He used ice magic and the temperature dropped below zero. His ice was a lot more pure than Rina's. I countered him with fire arch. But his ice did not melt. I threw ballsof fire one after the other but it did not melt. I did not want to use blue flame. He used spells to encounter my attacks. I took my sword out and lashed out on him, he dodged and confronted me with mere air. The wind did make my clothes looked like raggs. I could only think he was a monster..... just like me as he did not seem exhausted at all. But maybe I overestimated him as I still could take him down by using my other elements. But it was not a wise choice. I tried to get closer to him and took this chance to talk to him.

"I'm not here to harm you kid! My enemy is your lord so just step out, I won't hurt you". He didn't answer and only the sound of swords clashing in the hallway could be heard. I saw Aerick from the corner of my eyes, he was against five. Two were sword masters and two were fire mages. One was a three tier mage. He was breathing heavily and when he saw me, he smiled. Just then that boy was able to inflict an injury on me. I kicked him using my full strength and he hit the door hardly. Seeing we don't have much time, I used blue falmes, they were strong enough to melt azure ice. He was caught up in blue flame but he did not make a voice. I felt like I was fighting a robot. When I clearly remembered how much it had hurt when that demon used his fire spell on me. It hurts like hell. So I put off the fire as I could hardly control them that's the reason why I avoided using them before. And gave him a health portion. He was confused with my behavior. I was also confused because I did not know why I was doing this either. Why I was taking pity on someone and that someone is my enemy. Maybe because he lost his family just like me. I thought we were similar. I gave Aerick a hand and but just then the door opened with a burst.

There was a man with brown eyes and hair. He was tall not more than twenty five. He was handsome but the scar on his face was giving him a dreadful look. He was amused by seeing his people lying on the floor. Without wasting my time I demanded the key, I knew it was futile. It was just formality anyway. He gave a wicked laugh. And I saw his lustful eyes. Indeed he was a pedophile. Disgust was the only thing I felt. Aerick came by my side as if he would just lash out on him any given moment when he had already defeated his opponents. He was too abnormal.

Gabriel flicked his finger and the azure boy stood up and kneeled in front of him. Gabriel gave him a kick. He coughed up blood as he was already injured. But then he again stood up and with a blink of an eye he came with his sword at us. Aerick almost reflexively stopped him. I could see the blood on him, I said almost furiously: "what the hell are you doing? He would die like this".

"Little girl, a monster like him won't die easily".

Despite all that wounds, he was moving at a very high speed just as Aerick. He did not show any signs of pain on his face as if he did fell any pain. It was impossible unless he was dead. Suddenly seeing two young girls in cage in his room, my emotions took control of me. I could not control my outburst. I, at a lightning speed, slashed Gabriel's head with my sword. He was not armed with a sword. And it was not my style but he was not human,so I did not feel the need to traet him as one. I kicked him hard. I started slashing his dead body like a mad woman. Blood was coming out of his body like a fountain. The azure boy could not use his powers because of my dreadful aura. Aurelius family has special power to suppress the mana of others but not everyone could use this. And it was my first time using it. Ash was surprised by my appearance as I was showered by his blood. My eyes and hair came back to their usual color as I had use 'absolute command' without even conscious of it. They had also stopped maybe a long time ago. When I started lashing out. I made him burn in my blue falmes depriving him of his chances of getting a burial. I could hear his shrieks, just my imagination though. Aerick's voice made me come back to senses. As if realizing what I had done I stopped. I saw the bewildered look in them. I was sure I looked like a madman just now. Then we heard the girls sobbing. I cleaned the blood from my face and entered the room. There were two girls one was a bit older but due to malnourished body, I could not guessed their age. But they were older than me. They were humans but I could sense mana on them. Their bodies were covered in bruises. Just as I took a step further towards them, that azure boy came between us and glared at me. This was the first time I had scene a spark in his eyes as if he was trying to protect them. Maybe he thought I would hurt them. So I took my sword back to ring and put my hands on air as I tried to assure them I would not hurt them. Then I took the health portions again and gave it to them. I also gave one to Aerick. He smiled and drank without questioning. After drinking, his wounds were healed in an instant. Seeing him healthy, they all took the drink. I smiled at their confusing look.

"Hello, my name is Athanasia. What is your name".

The girls had light blue eyes and pink hair. It matched each other perfectly. They were beautiful. I could see why they were locked here. I opened the cage and they came out reluctantly. The older one told me their names.

"We are grateful for her highness for your kindness. My name is Ellen and this is my sister Eve and this is Yustav".

It seemed like azure boy could not talk. His eyes still seemed distrustful but he pointed towards the wall where was magic circle. Ellen told me as I had killed the lord Gabriel now I can deactivat the magic circle and all the slaves will be released. I put my hand on the circle and it glowed red and then I herad the sound of lock opening, click.

They were free now. I scan the room there nothing of much importance. I flickered my finger in the air and a little fire came out. I put the room on fire to remove the traces of mana. We teleported at the back of the castle. Knights were already there rescuing the slaves out. I could see Lilly among them. I turned to Ellen and asked where she wanted to go and told her she would be save if she wants to follow others.

I turned to Aerick:"lord Cazar! Can I trust you with our meeting today?" He placed his hand on his heart and said "I'll protect thsi secret with my life". I was satisfied with his answer.

I moved a little but Ellen and other two kneeled in front of me telling me that they want to follow me as their master. I was taken aback when she told me that lord Gabriel used a spell on them making them their spell by blood contract. As I had killed him now I'm their master. Because of all the fuss, I couldn't sense the bond but they were right. I smiled and decided to take them away from the scene for now. Then suddenly realizing something I told Yustav if he can perform memory altering spell. He nodded as expected of Azure tribe, they are awesome. I gave him a order to alter everyone's memory about today's incident. No one would remember us from the scene. Aerick's face hardened and he gave me a sad smile as if his heart was broken. That smile stuck on my mind for a very long time. He and Lilly would forget about me and these kid. Yustav was out of mana and I gave him mine to complete the spell. I also put Aerick to sleep. Though he was sad at my arrangements but he did not resist at all. Soon we left the scene but I also took that elf Elisa with us. As she could help me to get into their kingdom.

Next day in the news it was rumored that some noble kids from Magix academy found about the illegal slave trading and reported the knights. But the culprit was died in fire. They found nothing about how the fire broke out. Since it's normal for such incidents to happen so they closed the case. With Yustav's help, I avoided a cumbersome situation. Elisa was an elf, so I asked her to help me out. She gladly decided to guide me to the Avalon kingdom since the route is hidden. Before continuing my journey I sent a message to Rosetta. Since I'm not alone anymore. And I need someone to take care of them.