The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 392: Rescued By Strangers

Chapter 392: Rescued By Strangers

"Hiarghh!!"

Drystan swung his sword towards one of the wolves, the blade slicing through the animal’s flesh. Crimson liquid dripped onto the ground as the creature fell with a thud.

The wolf that received the counter-attack whimpered, its chest heaving before gradually ceasing movement, succumbing to its wounds. As the pack member fell, the others began to snarl, encircling the trio.

Never had Drystan thought that this animal of prey would suddenly appear and target them. They were surrounded, with no chance of escaping in just a short moment.

"D*mn it!" the knight cursed.

His grip tightened on his sword as he braced for the impending onslaught. With a growing number of wolves surrounding him, Kiev, and Anna, he understood the need to conserve his energy and protect the Mederian Prince and the princess from harm.

Kiev rose, grasping Ramios. He knew his limits but was unwilling to let Drystan face the beasts alone.

"Your Highness, don’t!" the knight called out in panic, seeing Kiev preparing to join the fray.

He empathised with the Mederian Prince’s evident exhaustion. While Kiev refrained from divulging the specifics of yesterday’s ordeal, the knight discerned that a significant event had transpired, draining the prince’s vitality.

How else could a figure of his calibre, matching the grand duke in skill and possessing formidable magical prowess, appear so visibly spent?

"There are too many! You can’t handle them alone!" the Mederian Prince exclaimed.

Yet, before further discussion could unfold, a wolf lunged at Drystan, teeth bared. Reacting swiftly, the knight struck back, dispatching the creature. However, three to four more wolves advanced, jaws menacingly wide, aiming to overwhelm their prey in a coordinated assault.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Kiev intervened with Ramios, swiftly attacking the wolves. Wary yet hungry, the remaining animals maintained their encirclement, unwilling to relinquish their potential prey.

Exhausted and trembling, Kiev knelt with the sword’s tip anchored in the ground. Drystan rushed to his side, offering support in the face of the relentless threat.

"Princess Anna... protect her!" Kiev urged, dismissing the knight’s concerns for him.

Abruptly, blood spurted from the Mederian Prince’s lips.

"Oh, my God!" Drystan cried out. "Your Highness!"

Kiev collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving heavily. Ramios fell from his grasp with a loud clang, the weight of the emperor’s sword now too much for him to bear. He wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve.

"Fetch help, Sir Mills! Hurry!" he commanded.

"I cannot leave you! They will devour you, and Lady Raychard will also be in danger!" the knight protested.

"If we do not act, we all face death!" Kiev stated.

Bracing himself, he retrieved Ramios and rose once more.

"I will draw them to me and lead them away from here. Sound the horn again to summon the knights. Once they have me, they will no longer target you," he explained.

"What? You must be crazy! You cannot sacrifice yourself like this!" Drystan exclaimed.

Kiev’s gaze fell. If this were his end, he would accept it. Yet, one thought lingered in his heart – the desire to see Elis’s bright smile again. If only he could hold her again!

Nevertheless, his vow to protect Anna with his life stood firm.

"It is all right, Sir Mills... I am prepared for this," he affirmed, casting off his melancholy.

"No! No, Your Highness!"

The alpha wolves howled anew. More of the pack emerged from the forest, encircling their prey. Their growls echoed through the air.

"Dear Lord..." Drystan’s face paled with dread as he witnessed the pack swelling in numbers. Dozens of wolves now closed in, poised to strike at any moment.

Kiev stepped forward.

"Come and bite me!" he challenged the wolves.

The alpha wolf snarled in response, redirecting the pack’s aggression towards the Mederian Prince.

A fierce battle was about to begin – a battle Kiev knew he could not win. He closed his eyes, preparing for the worst...

’Zupp!’

An arrow streaked through the air, finding its mark in the alpha wolf’s neck. It howled in pain, falling to the ground as the arrow pierced its vein. Crimson liquid trickled down its majestic grey fur. Within moments, the alpha lay still.

The other wolves yelped in fear. Witnessing the downfall of their leader, the pack grew agitated.

Three more arrows were loosed simultaneously, striking true and felling three additional beasts. Drystan’s eyes widened as he beheld the accurate shots that dispatched the wolves. Such skill undoubtedly belonged to a warrior of high calibre.

Suddenly, two figures emerged, wielding spears against the wolves. In a relentless onslaught, the unknown men unleashed ferocious attacks upon the beasts without mercy.

Terrified by the attack, the wolves fled to the other side, only to be met with another volley of arrows. In the aftermath, the pack retreated, disappearing into the forest. Tranquillity returned to the surroundings.

Drystan tightened his grip on his sword as the two men, clad in peculiar garb, approached him.

"Stand back!" he commanded, brandishing his blade against them.

While grateful for their aid in quelling the wolf pack, these unfamiliar men’s motives remained a mystery to him. Thus, he resolved to stay vigilant.

Kiev, who stood at a distance, felt the urge to rush to the knight’s side to protect him and Anna, yet his steps faltered after a few strides, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

"Fear not. We mean you no harm," one of them reassured.

"Who are you, and why did you come to our rescue?" inquired Drystan.

"Who we are is not important. What truly matters is that I believe our interests align in pursuing the same individuals," a voice resonated above the tree, prompting the knight to gaze upward, seeking the speaker.

Without warning, a figure leapt down from a lofty branch of the massive tree, landing gracefully on the ground. A strap crossed his torso, securing the long bow slung over his shoulder. His movements exuded a sense of extraordinary skill.

These three men bore a striking resemblance—tanned skin, long ebony hair, and deep black eyes.

Clad in tunics crafted from robust, handwoven fabric dyed in earthy hues and leather trousers, their attire was adorned with intricate beadwork and tribal motifs. Sashes crisscrossed their waists, carrying pouches and essential items.

"Are you... tribesmen?" Drystan ventured a guess.

The bow-bearing man smirked.

"Isn’t it evident? We attempted to adopt your people’s attire, but it simply does not suit us," he responded.

His gaze shifted to Kiev, who lay nearby.

"Go assist him," he directed his companion.

His manner of speech exuded an air of authority, surpassing the other two. One of them bowed and hastened to aid the Mederian Prince.

Kiev raised his head, and the tribesman was struck by his captivating presence. Despite his weariness, the Mederian Prince’s ruby-red eyes and handsome features held a mesmerising allure.

"Are you all right?" he inquired as he knelt beside him. "You appear drained. Here, drink this."

The tribesman offered a small bottle retrieved from his pouch. Initially hesitant, the man’s assurances eventually persuaded Kiev.

"It is not poison. If our intent were malevolent, we would not have bothered saving you from the wolves," the tribesman said.

After a moment’s contemplation, Kiev acquiesced. He took a sip from the bottle. The liquid tasted bitter, like herbal medicine. Encouraged by the man, he consumed the whole content.

After assisting Kiev to his feet, the tribesman guided him to reunite with Drystan and Anna.

"Are you all right, Your Highness? That was a close call! Thank the heavens, nothing happened to you!" exclaimed the knight.

"I am unharmed. Princess Anna... is she unscathed?" the Mederian Prince inquired, his concern evident.

"She is safe and sound," Drystan affirmed.

The three tribesmen directed their attention towards the unconscious princess.

"What happened to her?" queried the leader of the tribesmen.

"She fainted," Drystan informed.

"Oh..." The man knelt before Anna, extending his hand to check on her.

"Don’t touch her!" Drystan and Kiev interjected in unison, causing the leader to retract his hand swiftly in surprise.

"Why not?" he inquired.

"She... she..." the knight hesitated, turning to Kiev as if seeking his approval to disclose Anna’s condition.

Recognising their debt to these tribesmen, the Mederian Prince nodded in assent.

"She was possessed by dark magic. Its residual effects may pose a threat to you," Drystan elucidated.

The leader of the tribesmen’s countenance darkened.

"I see... so those men have also targeted your people," he remarked.

He then stood up and retreated a few steps away, adhering to the warning.

"Who are those men you speak of?" Kiev pressed.

"I cannot definitively identify them. A few weeks ago, they appeared near our settlement, and one of them slew three of our maidens for a dark magic spell. We found out based on the remnants of the ritual. There were two figures, and we have been tracking them since then. What is certain is their mastery of magic that alters their appearance. One transformed into an elderly figure, while the other, a disabled man, totally changed his face," the tribesman explained.

"That must be Brone and his mage!"

Before Drystan could elaborate further, a familiar, resounding cry echoed through the air.

"Sir Mills! Your Highness!!"

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