No Escape

They tried to finish off the remaining captives with a rain of arrows, but I waved my wand, and an earth barrier shot up just in time. The ground trembled as jagged rocks rose, blocking the attack.

The masked assassin cursed under his breath. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?"

I ignored him. The captives needed protection, but with assassins still lurking, I couldn’t afford any distractions. I flicked my gaze toward Riri, and with a slight twitch of his ears, he understood.

"Riri, guard them."

With a deep growl, Riri leaped in front of the prisoners, standing between them and the assassins. His mismatched eyes glowed under the moonlight, daring anyone to come closer. The assassins hesitated, gripping their weapons tighter. Even they knew better than to take on a beast like him head-on.

"Hey!" I called out to the assassins, locking eyes with them. "You're not leaving... which means you were ordered to kill everyone here, right?"

They raised their bows in silent response. Arrows—swift and lethal. I needed armor.

"Ἑσθής τῆς Βαλκυρίας"

The incantation left my lips, and molten energy surged through me, wrapping around my body like living fire. A protective layer formed, shielding me from their attacks. But I felt the danger immediately—the heat gnawed at the frozen seal on my wound. If I kept this up for too long, the curse would spread.

"Oh?" The masked assassin with twin blades tilted his head, intrigue flickering in his eyes. "This is a first. A witch fighting with armor? A normal witch wouldn’t dare use such human weapons— Wait! That face…"

His voice faltered as recognition dawned.

"You’re the previous crown pr—!"

I didn’t let him finish. "You talk too much." My voice was cold as I lunged forward.

All the assassins burst into laughter.

"Throwing away your precious title is such a foolish move, princess!" one of them mocked.

I lowered my gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. "You wouldn’t understand…"

"What was that?" another sneered.

I lifted my eyes, meeting theirs with unwavering resolve. "All I ever wanted was a simple life." My grip on my wand tightened. "That title was a chain. I never wanted it."

My place was to become a witch. I am meant to be one.

I picked up the arrow embedded in the throat of the man who had been killed earlier. Blood dripped down my fingers, warm and thick.

Lowering my hand, I released the plant spell that bound the captured men. Then, I turned to Riri.

“Riri, if any of them move, kill them.” My voice was cold, unwavering. My eyes locked onto the prisoners, silently warning them. “If they stay put, protect them.”

A tense silence followed before they all nodded hesitantly.

I turned my attention back to the assassins, rolling the bloodstained arrow between my fingers. “Hiring assassins must cost a fortune, doesn’t it?” I gripped the shaft tightly, feeling the grain of the wood beneath my fingertips.

Their eyes flickered with unease.

A smirk tugged at my lips. “This arrow… it’s made of wood, isn’t it?”

I traced my fingers along its bloodstained shaft, letting my magic flow through it. Hmm. Count Terrosa? My earth magic allowed me to glimpse the past of plants that once lived. And now, this arrow would reveal its secrets.

The masked man with twin blades stiffened. Panic flickered in his eyes.

“Sh*t! Kill her!” he barked.

But it was too late. The memory unraveled before me—clear and vivid. Count Terrosa, a well-known noble in high society, stood at the heart of it. A man of influence, and more importantly, the father of Lady Morphin.

Lady Morphin... The woman linked to Crown Prince Alexander.

***

“What?! I can't move!” The masked assassin’s voice wavered in shock.

Panic spread among the assassins as they realized—they were all immobilized.

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “Oh? Did I forget to mention?” I let out a small chuckle. “Who in their right mind would storm a slave traders’ base without a plan?”

With ease, I leapt onto the roof where they stood, looking down at their frozen forms.

“What’s happening?!” One of them stammered, his face pale with sweat.

I leaned in slightly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Haven’t you noticed all the plants around here?”

The assassin with twin blades stiffened. His eyes widened. “You mean—!”

“Yes,” I confirmed, my smirk deepening. “I made the plants grow, the flowers bloom… and the moment you stepped foot here, you inhaled all their pollen.”

“You cunning witch!” He seethed, his body trembling with rage—but no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t move.

Without hesitation, I drove the bloodstained arrow—the same one he used to kill the man earlier—straight into his right leg.

“Argh!” He let out a strangled cry, biting down to muffle his scream. His glare burned with hatred, but there was nothing he could do.

“I didn’t know a witch of this caliber will come here. I didn’t sign up for this.” One of the assassins said.

“She’s a monster.” Their voices trembled as they spoke, their fear thick in the air. Some struggled against the invisible hold of my magic, but it was useless.

I crouched down, gripping the arrow still buried in the assassin’s leg, twisting it just enough to make him wince. "A monster, am I?" I mused, tilting my head. "And yet, you're the ones who butchered innocent lives without a second thought."

The assassin with twin blades gritted his teeth. "Damn it… We were just following orders!"

I scoffed. "Then your employer made a mistake sending you here."

The vines curled tighter around their limbs, thorns digging into their skin as if the forest itself wanted vengeance. I could end them all here.

Suddenly, the twin blades in the assassin’s hands glowed fiercely before exploding. A powerful shockwave swept through the area, knocking down everyone nearby. Some were left barely conscious.

Riri jumped in front of me, using his body as a shield. The impact shook him, but he stood firm. His mismatched eyes glowed as he let out a deep growl—he was unharmed.

I clenched my fists, staring at the broken remains of the weapons. “These blades… they were made of pure mana,” I muttered. “Designed to fight witches.”

Who created such weapons? Who would go this far?

I looked around at the fallen bodies—both assassins and captives. Even after all they had done, I couldn’t ignore them.

“I can still save them.” Without another thought, I raised my hands and cast my strongest healing spell. Warm light spread over the battlefield, mending wounds and pulling the injured back from the brink of death.

As the golden glow of my healing spell faded, silence settled over the battlefield. The wounded stirred, some gasping for breath. Blood and burnt mana lingered in the air. The assassins and the other men who survived lay motionless, bound and broken. Their leader clutched his bleeding leg, eyes filled with fear.

I stepped forward, magic humming beneath my skin. “Did you really think you could escape?” The ground tightened around him as he struggled. Kneeling beside him, I locked eyes with his panicked gaze. My voice was ice. “Run back to your master,” I whispered. “Tell Count Terrosa—I’m coming for him.”

Darkness crept at the edges of my vision. Then, everything faded.