Chapter-11; Bedazzle

After hours of awkward silence and exchanging glances with a smile, we finally stopped for the night.

We set up our camps and I decided to stay in my camp and had my dinner there. I wanted to figure out what was going on with me. Did I really fall for Aleridge? Do I like Tyrell? While taking a bite of a soft bread and some porridge, I found myself thinking deeply of my past and future.

What if I can't go back to my world? What will happen to everyone? What will happen to me?

At the end, I decided to keep my feelings for Tyrell in check, I can't have feelings for him. A special captain and a crown prince? That's just absurd. It's impossible even, the king already detests me with all his might. I can't betray Aleridge. Tormenting myself with my absurd thoughts was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"May I come in?" Tyrell asked.

"Oh, yes you can" he sure is a gentleman unlike someone I know.

Tyrell looked a little upset "Did I bother you last time? Am I bothering you right now? You're not having dinner with everyone?"

"What? No! Why would you think that? There's nothing like that. It's just... somethings were keeping me zoned out, so I wanted to clear my head. I wanted some time alone to think things through" I explained.

Suddenly he stepped forward and said "you don't have to burden yourself with so much. You can share your burdens with me, Esmeray"

I smiled even without realizing what just happened. Suddenly all I could think was that he called me by my name for the first time. I took a step back after realizing how close we were. I nodded and made it awkward by laughing weirdly and talking to him as if nothing happened.

One more day of traveling was left to reach Lorvil. I couldn't deny it anymore that these carriages are not suitable for long travels! My body was stiff from sitting all day and my legs were sore. I can only imagine how dreadfully painful traveling on a horse might be. Why weren't we using our attributes though?

Tyrell noticed me fidgeting and shifting and sliding every few minutes and asked "are you uncomfortable?" Is he an esper?

"I-I'm alright" I was a little embarrassed. "Though why don't we use our abilities to travel? We can enhance our speed with mana"

"I get it" he chuckled. "But we don't because Croydon to Lorvil is a long journey. We won't reach before two days even if we traveled without breaks. Moreover, using mana for that long isn't something anyone can pull off. Also-" I interrupted as he was going on and on "yes I get that. I meant.. why can't we do it from here? It's just one day of travel on carriage, so we can reach much faster with our attributes right?"

As Tyrell took the hint he grinned and we took off from carriage.

Tyrell could basically fly using his air attribute. The morning breeze gently brushed my cheeks as we saw the beautiful sunrise.

Flying is everyone's dream! And here I am, living it. It wasso thrilling even though there was a lingering sense of fear, Tyrell's strong grip around me was comforting. I blushed on realizing we have never been this close before but my heart was beating faster.

I looked at Tyrell whose expression suddenly changed. He was looking down at the trees. As I stared at them, I realized there were some people hiding there! We sensed strong mana from them. We suspected them to be the perpetrators who were going to attack. Were they preparing an ambush?

Tyrell quickly landed and told me to inform the platoon. I nodded and concentrated mana in my legs and rushed.

Tyrell shouted "tell us where you're from and your purpose of being here in the forest" what we got in reply was "air slash" Tyrell used his spell "mana barrier" and proceeded to say "that's the wrong answer. Now you're under our custody" needless to say the attacks could be lethal but even the remnant mana couldn't reach him. So Tyrell's "invisible wall" didn't block the attack but mana itself!

As I finally reached the platoon, I told the support unit to cast their sheilds and wait for us while I took off with offense squad. I was worried about Tyrell, he was alone and we don't know how many of them are there.

On reaching, I noticed Tyrell had already engaged in battle and was... unhurt! I wonder what it'd be like to duel him.

I rushed to provide support as other squad members provided us cover. Someone came running to us and "mana barrier" Tyrell whispered. All of a sudden, the person fainted. What was that? Is that Tyrell's power? Wait! Since the wall blocks the mana itself, the people who have mana flowing in them, if they come close to the wall, their mana will drain? So that person fainted because of mana depletion and could possibly die!? I have to go save him, we can use him for interrogation, right?

I ran towards the body of the man. After reaching up close I realized how young he looked, since their faces are hard to see due to their cloak that covers half their faces, we didn't realize they were merely kids. "Esmeray, come back in! You're out of my radar!" Tyrell shouted. "Mist manipulation" someone whispered in a grim tone. "Fire defense, blue flames" then I quickly checked for his pulse, he was alive! "Esmeray, stay where you are" Tyrell shouted while he slowly walked towards me until he was just one meter away. "You're in now. Don't move out again" Tyrell sounded worried. But why did the wall not react to me? Even when I went out and now that I am in.

"It doesn't react to the people who move outside, it only works when people are coming in. And you can say I basically opened a door for you and after you entered through it, I closed it again. I am glad they didn't realize" someone shouted another spell. Right, did the wall cover the ground as well? There were alot of dust particles even inside and outside! They didn't only block our vision but I wonder what will happen if we inhale them, could the person control every particle? Suddenly someone grabbed my waist and we lifted off the ground. "I won't repeat that mistake again" Tyrell seemed extremely serious. "Air crystals" I've never heard that spell before, did he combine water and air spells? He is too good! There were many little crystals all around us, it was probably all the water particles in the air, controlled by the wind and the wind controlled by mana. "Bedazzle" Tyrell whispered. The crystals moved so fast that I couldn't even track their movement! The next second, everyone was on the ground. My eyes widened as the view became clear. It gave me chills. The ground bathed in blood. But they were children! Although he didn't know that.

"I only injured them so they can't move. You need not worry, they've only fainted" I hope so!

We finally came back down. Others managed to protect themselves and Tyrell most probably put his wall around them before taking off. I quickly went to that boy. Then I started looking around for some herbs in my bag. I found some herbs, excellent for healing. After coming back, I used my powers to crush them and extract some potion. I gave some to Tyrell after using so much mana and some to that boy. Tyrell ordered some mages to take the attackers, who were really alive, to the palace and we continued moving with one attacker with us to interrogate.