The Sorceress: Blossoming Power - Volume 3

Prince Zelmer knew what was happening outside his domain, but he had to focus with the headstrong Lifen. He peered out once when Xian Lang showed the armor’s power, but when he realized the prime minister was not a Chiangda, he didn’t bother to look back. He believed his men could withstand Xian Lang’s intimidation until he succeeded the mission.

The prince looked at the sound asleep Lifen, lying on his bed and under his power. The fact was, what Nianshi saw was the actual event taking place. What Lifen saw: the room, the beach, and anything else, happened inside her mind. It was a more realistic dream under the prince’s control.

After he took Lifen away from Galdriel and let them go, he entered her mind and kept it in a slumbering state while his maids cleaned and laid her on his bed. He was trying to influence her willpower to cave in and bend to him. This was the only way he believed he could find the location of the mines and make her marry him. Although he was against the abduction, the deed had already been done. Thus, he wouldn’t waste this chance given to him. It was also his means to honor his servants who died for this cause.

However, in Lifen’s mind, she was in control. The prince was on the floor, black and blue, after her beatings. “Why did you kidnap me? Speak or I will torture you.” She stomped a foot on his purplish face.

“You are mistaken, I don’t do such despicable acts. I’m an honorable prince. I only saved you from your kidnappers.” He said in a low, hush tone. “I couldn’t bear to hurt you. I can’t even dare to lay a finger to the woman I care about. Please, believe me.”

“Who kidnapped me? Where are they now?”

“I don’t know. He escaped. I tried to capture the guy, but he left you behind when we were about to surround him.”

“What was he wearing?”

“I can’t tell with the darkness.”

“Where did he go?” She placed all her weight on the stepping foot and kneaded it in his face.

He groaned in pain. “I don’t know. I didn’t bother to follow I saw it was you in the blanket. But I can help you find him, if this is what it takes to prove my innocence.”

“How do I know that you’re telling the truth?”

“Why would I lie?”

Lifen let go and sat back on the bed. “Then why are you keeping me here in your domain? Do you think I’m a fool?”

The prince rolled and lay on his back, on the floor. His breathing was deep. “No, you’re wrong about me. In my eyes, you’re the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. To become the governess of this city is really something. No one can do what you do. I’m enamored by you. You’re the woman I was waiting for all these years. I always wish a talented lady like you by my side and rule with me in my kingdom, but my other wives aren’t like you. They are timid and only know how to obey, unlike you. It’s my first time meeting a woman like you.”

His words touched her but didn’t let her guard down. But about the kingdom he spoke heightened Lifen’s interest. “Where is this kingdom you’re talking about?”

The prince smiled. ‘It’s working,’ he thought. He sat up with hands anchored on the floor. “I can’t tell you because it is out of this world. It is a beautiful and magical place. I can bring you there now, but we need to get married first. Only those related to me can enter. You can bring your family too, if you wish.” He said with enthusiasm with his swelling face.

Lifen went silent. He sounded convincing, but she kept a nonchalant face. She had her doubts.” Send me home now,” she said.

He slowly stood up and almost stumbled in front of her, but her hands caught him first.

He looked deeply into her eyes and said, “Please, trust me and say yes. Be my wife. I promise, I will love you forever. I will disregard my other wives and give you my undivided attention.”

She didn’t accept every word he said and looked away and only helped him sit on the bed while she stood in front of him. “Why are you buying the stones?” The heaviness in her voice lowered.

“The reason is simple. Those are magical stones and can help us protect our magical land from invaders.”

“How assuring. That’s all?”

“I really mean what I said.” He raised an opened palm. “I swear in my Father, the king’s name. I and my men meant no harm. We only want to keep our people safe. We are also giving you a good trade. The city and your people will benefit out from this. To show my sincerity, I will raise the amount for every stone sold to us. Trust me, no amount is worth the lives of my people.”

This, he said with sincerity, for this was their true reason for risking their lives here in Chiji. Mostly that they considered that the Great King would make his move soon, unless the present Chief Guardian could stop them. But they would do anything, even to defy the indifferent Great King for Platanna.

His words almost convinced her, but she remembered what Xian Lang mentioned to her once. “I don’t trust you. How are you related to the Cleansing Fire Organization?” Lifen asked.

The prince was about to reply, but the ground trembled.

“An earthquake?” She held on a beam at a corner to keep her footing. And as he turned her head back to the prince, he was gone.

[If you are not reading this in Web novel dot com, please read it there to support the author JoanB.]

Earlier outside, the time for the armor’s power to end had come. The Bernavoles guards regained their strength and swung their swords at Xian Lang, but Luqat took the hit by receiving the blades with his rock hard hands and broke the steel into pieces. The red-haired Valiez shrugged and vines sprouted from the ground up, wrapping the guards’ feet and lifting them from the ground.

Yet, the guards were truly worthy to be the prince’s men, for they didn’t freak out. Instead, they swayed the remnant of the broken steel attached on the hilt to cut the vines. However, Valiez grew more winding stems to hold both hands apart and held them high. The guards formed a cross in the air.

Fu and Luqat made a defensive stance while facing the other guards coming their way. Without waiting, Luqat erected a stone wall around the prince’s tent and enclosed them with it. The people outside tried to smash the walls using their huge hammers, spears, and swords, but in vain, even if they had the Wag stone.

The prime minister went inside the tent and saw that the prince was nowhere to be found.

Thud! Thud!

With no warning, arrows with fire struck the tent and sent it into flames. Longwei didn’t tarry and sprayed water from his palms, extinguishing the fire right away. The tent’s top became a gaping hole in no time.

But the Bernavoles people would not give them a breather. More flaming arrows flew above them. And not just that. Another round of arrows followed, but this time, tiny fragments of the Wag stone covered the arrow’s shaft.

On the right timing, Longwei and Valiez lifted their arms and built a canopy of dirt on their heads. But an arrow found a hole and grazed Luqat’s shoulder before it pinned the ground. Thus, part of the canopy fell on their heads.

Xian Lang didn’t delay and lit a flare, shooting a red light in the sky. “Stay down. Create a solid rock cover. Now!” Hence, Longwei and Valiez erected a stone igloo, hiding them inside.

The captured guards rolled at the sides, away from the firing range, but the arrows had no eyes and found their way to their opened flesh. One died as an arrow pinned its head. The other one was bleeding profusely when arrows plunged on his back, but he was still breathing. Those scraps of armors didn’t do them justice and hardly protected them from the deadly barrage.

Seconds after the hidden troops caught sight of the signal, the ground immediately shook. The waiting Chiangdas began their attacks.

An earthquake shook the camp grounds. Flames stormed down like fireworks flying from the surrounding trees. Winds rushed and fanned the flames, burning everything in its wake. Screams of agony and cries for help resounded. Almost everyone panicked. A few had their shield over their heads as they ran away from the surging fire. It was a living hell in the camp.

[If you are not reading this in Web novel dot com, please read it there to support the author JoanB.]