The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 289: The Forest Trial (Part Two)

Chapter 289: The Forest Trial (Part Two)

"Do you already need a break, Princess?" Damien asked as he seized his attacks for a fleeting second. His tone and gaze were a mixture of mockery and worry. Despite his determination to give her a hard time throughout the test, either to make her realize that she had a long way to go or to make her bring out her true potential, he was unable to keep the fact away that she wasn’t just anyone but mate. The woman he loved the most.

Annalise let out a shaky breath as she stared back at her husband while trying to catch her breath. Fighting without a weapon against him was definitely not a great idea, but again, she was the worst with weapons since she hardly knew how to use them.

She and Kenric needed to work on their weapon training sessions more than she first thought would be necessary. She wasn’t a fan of weapons but there was no denying that weapons were of great importance during a battle.

"I’m not that weak, My Lord." She ended up replying as she positioned her body for the next round. All this time, she didn’t divert her attention from those beasts either that were still lurking nearby but not attacking her yet, probably because they knew that she was still trailing them with her magic.

Annalise wasn’t really sure how she did it, but she somehow succeeded in dividing her magic into two different directions, one was working on finding a way to deactivate Damien’s illusion spell while the other was keeping track of the beasts who were supposed to be her actual opponent in this trial. At the same time, she was also able to handle Damien, though not very elegantly but still worth complimenting.

Damien tilted his head to the side while his eyes studied her. Only after remaining silent for certain long seconds did he finally speak - "I’m sure by now you must have realized that today you are facing a dual challenge. You must duel me and defend yourself against the fierce beasts that inhabit this forest. It’s not just about physical prowess, but also your ability to stay focused and keep your emotions in check. Are you ready?"

Annalise took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Yes, I’m ready," she replied, her voice steady.

To her surprise, Damien smiled warmly and stepped back, signaling the start of the second round but not before he threw a sword toward her that she somehow succeeded in catching right before it could have broken her nose.

"So... it begins."

Damien whispered as his own sword appeared in his hand.

Annalise unsheathed her gleaming sword, its weight causing discomfort to her hands. Her heart pounded with anticipation as she faced her beloved husband, now her opponent in this test of skill and determination.

Their duel began with a burst of energy, their swords clashing and dancing in the air.

Damien was an experienced swordsman, and hence, he put up a fierce fight, but Annalise’s months of dedicated training with him had honed her abilities. Though she was having trouble using the sword, she was still able to hold her ground.

Just as Annalise began to gain an understanding of the sword, haunting growls, and rustling leaves echoed from the shadows. It seemed like the forest’s beasts had finally decided to give up on their waiting game.

She could tell that they were surrounded by those beasts and Damien wouldn’t be of any help once those beasts would finally attack her. Her heart raced as she now had to confront not only her husband but also the creatures lurking in the darkness.

Her instincts kicked in, and with determination in her eyes, she faced the first beast – a snarling wolf, as it suddenly jumped out of the shadows on her right. Its eyes were reeking of darkness and it was nearly as big as her in height.

Her sword struck true, and she fended off the creature’s relentless attacks, but more adversaries closed in.

Once again to her surprise, Damien remained by her side, defending against the creatures as well, but he refrained from overpowering them, allowing Annalise to handle most of the confrontations.

Annalise’s heart pounded with every strike, and sweat glistened on her brow as she battled through the challenges. The forest seemed alive with adrenaline and energy as she engaged in this life-changing trial. She encountered wolves, wildcats, and even a formidable bear. Yet, with each adversary she defeated, she felt her confidence grow.

Time seemed to blur as she continued to fight the beasts that kept coming her way despite the fact that she had defeated many of them. With a final surge of strength and determination, she stood victorious against the last of the creatures. Her breathing was heavy, but her spirit soared with accomplishment.

But she knew that it wasn’t the end of the trial. Thankfully, she had successfully found her way through Damien’s illusion spell.

With a simple spell, she started undoing the threads of the existing spell and right before the next batch of beasts could attack her, the world returned to normal as the forest disappeared and she returned to the castle’s garden along with Damien.

As the trial concluded, her three husbands approached Annalise, admiration glowing in their eyes.

The one who spoke first was Damien and his eyes had nothing but respect for her - "You have surpassed my expectations, Princess. You fought with courage, skill, and an unwavering heart. You are now a true warrior."

Annalise’s face lit up with a radiant smile, knowing that she had passed this arduous test not only as a warrior but also as a partner to her husbands. This trial had not only strengthened her physical abilities but had also deepened their bond, proving that they could face any challenge together.

"Your ability to see through other’s magic and undo their spells is one of your greatest strengths, Annalise. From now on, we will be working more on that." Of course, Valerius was ready with the next plan for her training.

But despite her tiredness, Annalise nodded her head in agreement. She was just as excited to learn as they were excited to teach her.