The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 378: The Return Of Her Powers

Chapter 378: The Return Of Her Powers

Kiev’s gaze briefly landed on Rafe and Callis, seated together in a secluded corner of the spectator area, away from the rest.

The couple seemed deeply engaged in conversation, their words inaudible to the Mederian Prince due to the distance. However, Kiev could notice the healer had cracked a joke, prompting Callis to burst into laughter.

A small smile graced Kiev’s lips as he observed the joy and affection between the couple. An instant longing to see Elis have the same laughter stirred within him, something he had yet to witness.

Though Kiev was now certain that she had begun to accept him slowly, the journey towards healing her from the past pain was still far ahead. He knew it would require time and patience to help Elis fully open her heart and find the same happiness he saw in Callis.

As Eric and Anna passed by, Kiev turned to the second-in-command knight, halting their steps.

"I’m going in for now. Callis and Rafe are still here to watch over Princess Anna," he informed.

"Understood. The training won’t last much longer, as it’s nearly noon. Feel free to take your leave," Eric replied.

"Please notify me if anything occurred," Kiev requested.

"No need to worry. I have everything under control," the second-in-command knight assured him.

Satisfied with Eric’s confidence, Kiev quietly departed the training grounds, his thoughts focused on Elis.

The remaining knights gathered in the centre of the training area.

"Alright, for the next demonstration, I need Sir Brooks to join me," Eric announced.

Noah looked up, his sharp black eyes gazing at the second-in-command knight with a stern expression. The two’s mood remained sombre due to their altercation the previous day.

However, Noah was not one to sulk unprofessionally. He understood the purpose behind Eric’s order, recognising it was in line with their agreed discussion in the lounge after the previous day’s training.

Though they still did not see eye to eye, their longstanding dispute fueling mutual disdain, both of them were willing to temporarily set aside their disagreement for the sake of their lady.

Eric waited, wondering if Noah would heed his instruction and comprehend the underlying intent. Thankfully, moments later, the knight rose to his feet.

"Yes, Sir Navin," Noah responded coolly.

He positioned himself before the second-in-command knight, ready to proceed with the demonstration.

"This will be presented like a spar but executed in a slower motion and controlled force so you can all clearly observe the sword movements and techniques," Eric said, his gaze briefly settling on Anna.

He then turned to Noah and gave a slight nod.

"Let us begin."

The knight agreed.

Armed with their blades, the two experienced knights commenced their dance, their swords clashing with a loud metallic ring.

Though the demonstration was meant to be in slow motion, the knights’ movements still captivated the watching soldiers, who eagerly anticipated the skilled swordplay between the renowned warriors.

As the spar progressed, the intensity gradually increased, but both Eric and Noah remained acutely aware that this was not an actual combat but a carefully choreographed performance.

Discreetly, Eric’s eye twitched towards Noah, signalling the time for a prearranged mock movement according to their plan.

Meanwhile, unnoticed by the others, Anna began to feel increasingly restless. A sense of dizziness overcame her, and cold sweat trickled down her back.

Seated at a distance from the knights to maintain decorum, her changing demeanour went undetected by the others engrossed in the display of martial prowess.

Noah, who understood the message given by his opponent, blinked twice in acknowledgement. He moved one of his legs back, creating an opening for the second-in-command’s attack.

Eric did not waste the opportunity. He surged forward for a close-range strike, thrusting forcefully against Noah’s blade, causing it to fall to the ground.

In an instant, the knight clutched his hand, feigning injury.

"Ah, my wrist!" Noah shouted, crouching his shoulders while holding his right arm and bending forward.

"Oh, my God! Sir Brooks, are you hurt?" Aware of the act between the two sparring knights, Luke exclaimed with a fake panicked expression.

The spar immediately came to a halt at the commotion.

Eli stood up and approached Noah, taking the knight’s hand and pretending to examine the injury. He, too, was in on the act, conspiring with the others to stage this display.

"Oh, dear! Sir Brooks’ wrist seems to be sprained. Sir Navin, how could you exert so much force in a demonstration? Luckily, there is no cut to his hand!" Eli turned to Eric, scolding the second-in-command knight with a furrowed brow.

"I’m so sorry! I must’ve got carried away just now. Please forgive me, Sir Brooks," said Eric, his eyes glancing sidelong at Anna, anticipating a response from the princess.

Undoubtedly, the caring princess would have rushed to check on Noah, reprimanding Eric as well.

However, an eerie silence emanated from her. The peculiarity of her non-reaction triggered the knights, who turned their heads to look at her.

A strange, creepy sense began to permeate the air around her.

Anna’s face had turned pale, and a black aura surrounded her body. Her head was bowed down.

"Why do I feel weird about our lady?" Damon whispered to Garin, who stood beside him.

"I don’t know what is going on with her, but I have the same impression," the burly knight responded, feeling equally uneased by Anna’s appearance.

Eli let go of Noah’s hand and turned towards the princess.

"My lady, are you... all right?" he asked.

As Anna raised her head, Noah exclaimed, "Dear Lord!"

The knights were astonished by what they saw. Anna’s face was no longer the usual rosy, friendly countenance.

It was now white like a ghost, and the most bewildering part was her eyes - not only the irises, but the entire eyeballs had turned completely black.

"Why are the lady’s eyes like that?" Damon asked, bewildered.

Suddenly, an eerie cackle escaped Anna’s lips. She laughed like a banshee, and her creepy smile and black-eyed gaze were now fixed on Eric.

"Do you think I would be fooled by that stupid move, knight?"

The question fell from her mouth, shocking the knights. Anna had never behaved in such a manner before, nor had a curse word ever escaped her lips.

Eric quickly grasped that the princess was not herself. He stepped forward and asked, "My lady, what is happening with you?"

Anna did not respond. Instead, she stood up and raised her hands, staring at her palms.

"Thes adan es nullar. Te sylvan es nar rehem..." she muttered to herself.

("This body is empty. The power is not here...")

"What is she talking about?" asked Eli to Luke, patting his companion’s arm several times.

"I’m not sure... But something is not quite right with her," said Luke quietly, gazing at Anna with concern.

From afar, Callis, who had heard the princess’s strange laughter, turned her head towards the group of knights. Her face was troubled.

"What’s the matter?" asked Rafe as he noticed the concerned expression on her face.

"Did you hear it just now? A woman’s laugh. I think it was Anna’s voice," she said.

"Yes, I heard. Probably the knights made a joke," said the healer.

"No... that kind of laughter is different from usual. Anna never laughed like that," said Callis.

"Are you sure it was her? Because other than you and her, Lady Rogers is also here, sitting over there with Sir Mills," said Rafe, pointing to the other end of the spectators’ seating where the couple were.

He wasn’t paying attention when Anna’s laughter erupted as he and his wife were at a distance.

"I’m pretty sure that is not Sylvia’s voice. I was with them during the betrothal ceremony of Mer and Sir Jarr, and I’m certain of how they laughed during that occasion. Perhaps I should take a look," said Callis.

"I’ll come with you," Rafe responded.

The Mederian Princess nodded, and the two rose to their feet to join the knights in the middle of the training ground.

Meanwhile, Anna, who had been silent after gazing at her hands, looked up. She cracked her neck. The grip of dark magic consumed her face, transforming it into a visage of aggression. Her black-pitched eyes glared at the knights with a piercing look.

She twisted her right hand, and suddenly, a golden cord was visible to the Mederian Princess. The cord’s light began to flow, revealing itself, and soon, her whole body was covered with it. It was as if Anna was tied up with the cord all over her body.

Seeing this, Callis, who was on her way, widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Oh, no!"

Panicked, she ran towards the princess, leaving Rafe behind.

Only Callis could perceive the mystical cord that bound Anna, leaving the others bewildered by her inexplicable behaviour.

Drystan, who saw the same, quickly stood up in alarm.

"What is going on with Anna? Why is she struggling like that?" asked Sylvia, curious.

"Stay here, and don’t move!" ordered the knight as he jumped to his feet and rushed over to the group.

"Ke édan thes adan! Nar allis te sylvan re’ gan!" Anna shouted at the knights angrily. She bared her teeth at them, her eyes glaring widely.

("You bound this body! No wonder the powers are gone!")

They were all confused, not understanding a single word she uttered. Callis, who had nearly reached them, stopped abruptly upon hearing the princess’s remarks. Her face registered shock. From where she was running, she was facing Anna’s back.

"Anna! You... What..." Callis hesitated.

The princess ignored her calling and remained still, not even turning her head to look at her friend.

Trying to gain her attention, the Mederian Princess began to speak in the old Ro’an language.

"Anna! Anzur at ettar! Re’ ke immas?" she asked.

("Anna! Look at me! Are you all right?")

Hearing the Mederian Princess talking in a familiar language, Anna turned.

"Am ke weol te Ro’an len. Re’ ke te sa uu das thes? Oleg shera ullen!" she demanded.

("So you know the Ro’an language. Are you the one who did this? Release her now!")

Callis screamed in fear upon seeing the princess’s eyes. Her hands were trembling hard.

"Callis!" Rafe, who had been left behind, quickened his pace and hurried to his wife.

He grasped her shoulders, his expression one of concern. At the same time, Drystan also arrived by the Mederian Princess’s side.

"Get my brother! Get him! Now!!" Callis shouted to Rafe.

Rafe didn’t understand what was going on. But as he saw Anna’s darkened eyes and the black aura surrounding her, he was sure something dangerous had happened.

Callis had never been so alarmed, and this was his first time seeing her scared like that. The healer turned and ran as fast as he could towards the mansion’s main building, where he last saw Kiev heading.

"What is going on with her?" Drystan asked the Mederian Princess.

"She’s possessed! Black magic is consuming her soul!" Callis said, fear gripping her.

"Oh, my God!" Eli exclaimed.

"Release her! Release her!" Anna shouted again as she wriggled her body to free herself from the golden cord wrapping all over her.

This time, her voice was no longer soft but sounded hoarse and satanic, which made their hair stand on end.

"Surround and protect our lady!" Eric declared as he was made aware of the danger.

The knights began to form a circle, with Anna in the middle.

"Don’t go close to her! It’s too dangerous! Whatever happens, never touch her!" Callis shouted.

Hearing her warning, the knights took a step back.

Callis rushed into the circle and faced Anna. She was scared. One wrong step and the princess’s life would be lost. Nevertheless, she needed to take action.

"Give me your sword!" the Mederian Princess ordered Eric.

"What are you going to do? You said we cannot touch her. Are you going to hurt our lady?" asked the second-in-command knight.

"She’s not your lady! The one you see speaking in the Ro’an language is an ancient spirit harnessed from dark magic! It needs to be destroyed. Otherwise, Anna will..." Callis swallowed hard, unwilling to continue her ominous words.

Her unfinished sentence brought panic to the knights.

"Wha... what do we do now?" asked Damon, clueless.

"Armed yourselves with whatever weapons you have! Hurry!" said the Mederian Princess.

The knights began unsheathing their swords. Noah returned to retrieve his blade from the ground and quickly rejoined the group while Eric, having already given his sword to Callis, drew a dagger from his hip.

Seeing the armed forces around her, Anna let out a mocking laugh.

"Do you think your mere weapons can outwit me?" she asked condescendingly. "You haven’t seen anything!"

She raised her left hand, her pointing finger touching the cord. A thin line of black aura flowed into the cord. Her eyes closed as if examining it.

The knights exchanged uneasy glances. Even Callis was uncertain of what to do next. She had only read about such dark magic in ancient scriptures, quickly recognising the princess’s permeating black aura and consumed black eyeballs.

A sinister smirk twisted across Anna’s lips as her eyes opened to narrowed slits, her gaze radiating a vicious intensity.

"Seja! Shera ve’ tha daya," she muttered to herself quietly.

("Good! She has that ability,")

Anna then looked up to the sky and summoned in a commanding voice,

"Weam ullen, ettar sylvan andal.

Imbali, akut ant dhinn ettar sery!"

("Awaken now, my power enthral.

Return, obey, and heed my call!")

"No!!" Callis screamed in horror.