Rise of The Holy-Realm Rebel

I felt my heart thump in bone-chilling astonishment and was forced to take a step forward. Even If I ended up dashing in that direction.

How had I forgotten about her? About her conviction? How had I forgotten to associate that chaos with what she had revealed to me? It showed a sad truth... I had never believed in her conviction.

Nura and I had grown close during the past few months. I discovered that her reason for seeking me out was two-faced.

The first reason was because I proved to be different in the entire camp— And indeed I was.

Despite our closeness not once had I suggested anything beyond casual friendship.

Her second reason was more emotional. I sensed she harbored feelings for me. It was only a little flame, but a flame nonetheless.

Jumping and dodging, I found my way through that thick formation of trees, and eventually, my figure burst into my intended destination.

I stepped into a small opening in that forest—A few trees had fallen backward, creating more space. It seemed to have been that way for long, though.

The moon's light fell downward, unrestrained, allowing me to behold that scene with adequate clarity.

A figure lay next to Nura's kneeling figure, and even from that distance, I could see that worry had overcome her.

Nura flinched and even squealed in shock when my figure burst into that opening.

Still, my entire body ground to a halt an instant later when I felt the gaze of the lady on the ground landing on me.

It was heavy and made my skin tingle. It had been a long time since I felt that way, but I very much understood it.

Individuals who climbed the ladders of power, over time could affect the physical world with their very presence. This fact was more evident when their focus was on weaker vessels.

I for one knew this very much. After all, In my prime, I had made men weaker than me kneel from the mere weight of my gaze.

My eyes widened as my senses moved to understand the threat level of the lady. I muttered a curse under my breath raising my hands to show my goodwill. Nura had not lied.

"I mean no harm…" I announced not daring to take a step forward. Her gaze quite literally felt hot. My years of experience told me that despite her weakened state, she had enough firepower in her figure to vanquish me where I stood.

Still, my heart sank when a spark appeared mid-air and started to spin, gaining size and mass in a mere instant.

The light coming from the ball of flames lit up that portion of the forest. I recognized that light and that heat.

'Was she the only one to attack the castle?!' That thought shook me even if I continued to look forward in a daze. Nura's frantic pleas fell into the background as I contemplated death on the spot.

The ball of flames steadily grew in size, spinning and spinning as its caster infused energy into its mass, and despite incoming death, I could not help but find that sight... incredible.

The winds that did not add to the ball's fuel spread the heat it generated, and subtle tremors caused by the intensifying whirling of its manifestation traveled through the ground, as though to announce it. An attack in the Hill-Stage was more than capable of generating such an effect.

I knew it didn't matter if I ran. If all I had seen was true, she could wipe out that portion of the forest and I would inevitably be caught up in that mess.

"Goodness," I muttered in defeat, even if the whirling roar of that magical wonder drowned my voice. It stood a few meters from me, but the heat it emitted remained great. Hot sweat broke out on the spot and evaporated.

"After all that?" I asked myself. At this point, due to the ball's light, I could barely see Nura and the individual I concluded to be her sister.

Nevertheless, that swirling sphere of flames abruptly vanished. And everything fell silent.

Still, I continued to stare forward in bewilderment and even disbelief. Death had almost encountered me. The realization that I would survive hit me only when Nura rose to rush toward me.

My knees went weak and I fell to the ground, shaken.

Goodness, I had long forgotten what it felt like to be in the presence of inescapable power. Oh, how I missed my prime.

"Are you okay?!" Nura's knees dropped before me, and her worried tone calmed me a bit. Her pleas had worked, and were it not for her, I would be several seconds into experiencing fiery agony that would end in a charred corpse.

"Don't worry," I assured. "I'm perfectly fine." Albeit I now very much understood my mortality.

"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry," she wept unable to touch me.

Raking my finger through my hair I glanced at the moon whilst taking in a deep breath. My exhale managed to stabilize me, and then I held her hand.

"I'm alright," I said, making sure our eyes met even if my gaze crossed her figure to land on the lady in the distance. Despite all this, she remained in a lying position.

Nura got the gist and responded adequately.

"That's my sister," She announced the obvious. "The one I told you about."

I nodded and stood. I considered approaching the lady, but hesitation filled my chest.

Nura stood, however, grabbed hold of me and we both arrived before her sister and knelt before her. An eyebrow rose on my face the second we did. She emitted considerable heat.

More so, I drew in sharp breath the instant my eyes inspected her figure. Immediately, I understood why she remained still.

"I heard you know my little sister," the lady spoke, even if she did so through her teeth. This was due to pain. I imagined it was a lot.

"I do."

"Then I beg of you, take her and leave," Eiko announced and Nura's eyes widened. She nearly began to voice complaints, but I spoke before she could begin.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that."

"W-why? Is this a result of my actions? If so I apologize, laying down my honor as a knight."

I shook my head. "No, it's not because you nearly killed me. I would have rained attacks on anything that came out of these woods without hesitation too."

"I barely know my way around these parts. Or anywhere at all. I'm also weak. As such, I'm afraid I'd only endanger your sister."

Silence unfolded among us. Nura contemplated my words and so did her sister.

"Still, anything is better than staying here," Eiko declared, and I agreed with her on it.

"Maybe there's a way to help you?" Nura finally spoke and I recalled the state of the lady before me.

Eiko was in a state I had only seen a couple of instances in my long life as a 'Rebel'. And the results of those instances always ended in the death of the individual.

In terms of appearances, she seemed the spitting image of her sister Nura, except older and built. Far more built.

Despite her clothes, I tell her figure was sturdy, a state gotten from rigorous training. This was the only reason I believed she could remain awake even with the gash on her left side.

Yes, what looked like a sword wound had been embedded deeply in her left waist—even if its bleeding had stopped. Still, there were many other cuts on her face, arms, thighs, and chest. Although only superficial.

Nevertheless, those details would not have been a reason for concern were it not for the deep-blue marks that stretched out on her body, like roots.

Eiko was suffering from a damaged Solarin core. This event had turned all her veins deep blue and they bulged out, threatening to burst. I reckoned they caused a great deal of pain too.

Her entire figure had gone deathly pale, lacking the vitality of an individual in her stage. I could tell her prowess stood in the "Hill Stage." One more stage after this and she'd break through to become a Sky-realm expert.

Then again, I doubted her survival at all. Eiko would not live to see the next day.