Fake Princess
CCCXCIV Chapter
“Lux,” Izumi's voice sounds slow, “I know. We are getting closer to him, it is likely that he also feels our presence,” said Lux who chimed in on Izumi's words.
“You guys,” Izumi back up, her words had stopped for a while, “don't let go of the rope, and take your horse running as fast as possible!” Izumi raised her voice, my body almost falling to the side if only I didn't hold firmly on the reins of my horse.
My horse turned left as the rope I held from Izumi was pulled in the same direction. I, I don't know what's really going on. However, “Eneas, to the left!” Izumi again shouted followed by the sound of a strong falling object heard from the right.
“Don't take Sachi's eyes off! Just ride your horse running forward as fast as you can!” The grip of my hand on the bridle grew stronger as Izumi's voice snapped at me was heard, “to the left!” Izumi again shouted out loud, quickly quenching my horse until she ran quickly to the left as Izumi pointed.
“Nii-chan, exactly what attacked us?!” I asked him back, “I don't know, I have a hard time explaining the body of the creature,” he told me.
“Sa-chan!”
“Kou!” I shouted loudly calling out his name as my horse turned sharply to the left.
My body fell upside down as I felt a violent wind sweep from the right. I raised my head to the side, the biases of sunlight falling on top of Kou's body also made a little bright situation around.
“Are you okay?” I turned my head back when I felt something touch my shoulder, “I'm fine, nii-chan,” I said slowly to Izumi who directed her hand to help me to stand up.
“How are you guys doing?” Haruki made a sound, Izumi and Izumi turned towards him who was walking towards us with Aeneas also walking behind him.
“What creature is it?” Aeneas stopped his footsteps beside me, his eyes still staring at Kou who was standing in front of a creature I had just seen this time.
From the head to the belly, it has the appearance of a lion, complete with fangs and tapered claws. Meanwhile, the other half of his body was shaped like a scorpion with his pointed tail sticking out upwards. The feathers that grew on his body, looked a little dented and also tangled with the marks of dry soil that stuck there.
“Manticore,” Haruki muttered beside us, I slightly glanced at him who seemed to be looking down at the creature standing before Kou.
“Manticore?” I asked him back.
Haruki turned his head towards us then lowered his gaze again, his hands grabbed and opened the bag he was carrying. He took out a brown-coated old book whose surface had slightly peeled off to me, “what is this?” I asked him back.
Haruki again threw away his gaze at the creature, “I accidentally found the book while rummaging through the contents of the library. In the book, a lot of valuable information is stored,” he said without looking at me.
“Manticore,” said Izumi when I stopped at one of the pages in the book, “ drawn, with what we see now is a little different. But they are the same, right?” Haruki turned his head back towards us before he looked back at the creature who slightly moved his legs towards Kou.
“Sa-chan, ask Kou not to kill him. Pinta Kou, to just conquer it,” he said back to his head and smiled at me.
“I understand,” I said closing the book in front of me and then turning my eyes back to Kou.
“Kou!”
“Whatever happens, don't kill him. We need the creature alive,” I said a little step forward, “ according to your orders, My Lord,” he said that ringing in my head.
Kou spread his wings again, I slightly raised my right arm to cover my eyes as I felt the dust flying by the flapping of the strong wings carried by him pointed strongly towards us. The creature, referred to as the Manticore, raised its scorpion-like tail back high into the air, the roar emitted by the Manticore filled the air as Kou lifted his pointy tail into the air.
Kou's eyes turned red with small white smoke billowing out at the corners of his mouth. Flapping Kou's wings again flew strong air towards us, the Manticore turned his head upwards looking at Kou followed by his two front legs raised forward, trying to grab Kou who was flying above him.
“A disgusting creature,” Kou's voice again ringing in my head. He opened his mouth wide towards the creature, the Manticore moved sideways avoiding the ice that Kou was spitting out. Haruki pulled my hand until I hid behind his body as the Manticore ran towards us instead.
The creature was getting faster and faster running followed by magic Kou who followed his footprints. I tightly closed my mouth, nausea again enveloping as the creature roared, opening its mouth wide at us. His eyes tried to glance back, followed by his pointy tail moving knocking on the layer of ice that froze his entire body.
I retreated a few steps back as Haruki who was standing behind me also took a few steps back, Kou's tail that suddenly hit the ground before us was moving to the right, knock down all the trees around. The black shadow again enveloped Kou, a shadow that gradually disappeared as Kou slowly regained his ground.
Kou moved his foot closer to the Manticore, I closed my mouth shut as the Manticore roared again, opening his mouth, like the stench of a pile of carcasses I once encountered in that forbidden forest.
Kou opened his mouth again as he stood beside the creature, the fragments of ice that came out of his mouth in an instant froze the Manticore's tail until its tail covered with green mucus was immovable, “My Lord,” said Kou's voice that appeared in my mind.
I gulped my own saliva and slowly stepped foot over him. I walked further and further as the Manticore roared loudly beside my ears, my footsteps halting, and my footsteps coming to a halt, my body was slightly jolted when suddenly Kou's hand had firmly gripped the creature's head until it fell to the ground.
I sat down with both hands tightly shut to my ears, the sound of agonizing screeches being released felt like it wanted to break my ears. I raised my head back, both my eyes widened and looked around, “please ask them not to stand far away from me, My Lord! They come, all who hide has come,” he said, as the leaves on the tree again move to clash with each other.