As Lovell trekked through the garden of the manor, a billowing cloud of smoke rose from the window he had shattered. Time was not on his side, and he needed to make sure he had enough distance between him and the Dreadborn if he was to make it home safely. He looked back to make sure no one was following him. He was already strained from the injuries he had suffered, and adding the weight of Derek only seemed to increase the difficulty.
He wanted to place him down and catch his breath, but he knew better than to take such risks in enemy territory. Just considering how upset he had made the Dreadborn only further fuelled the need to leave as quickly as possible. He approached the fence he used when his little adventure began, but he was now in far worse shape and also had to carry the burden of an extra body.
Now what?
As he was about to strap Derek on his back and scale the fence, a muffled voice came from his back.
"Lovell??... What happened? What happened to the Dreadborn? Where are we?"
A sigh of relief came from Lovell. Now that Derek was conscious, he knew he was most likely going to be okay. He then responded to Derek with a joyful tone in his voice.
"Well, right now we are in the garden. I've just barely shaken her off, but we aren't safe yet. Ah! I also gave her a rather memorable present earlier. I'm sure it left an impression. I'm sure it did. It was a gift from the heart after all. How could she not appreciate it? I'm sure she is on her way to give us her thanks right as we speak."
Derek listened to Lovell and was a little surprised by his relaxed tone. Not exactly sure what had happened when he was unconscious, he decided to get the full story from him once they were back at their hideout. Although he was heavily injured, He forced his body to stand on its own without Lovell to support him.
"Let's leave before we attract any more unwanted attention.
...Now that I recall..."
He staggered a little as he approached Lovell. He then kicked him in the shin with all the strength he could muster. Lovell was taken aback by this action and looked at Derek with an inquisitive look.
"What was that for you, bastard?"
Derek then looked at Lovell like he had been wronged and was demanding justice.
"You have the nerve to ask me that, you stupid bastard? I told you we should leave, but did you listen? No, you start to spout some nonsense about her being injured and whatnot, but look what an Injured Dreadborn was able to do to us. Imagine if she were in her normal condition. Those things fight against Horrors that have devastating power. What possessed you to think we had a chance against her?"
Lovell heard his complaint and understood his emotions. He wasn't exactly angry with him. It looked more to him like he was worried.
This guy...
" Well, what's done is done anyway. Let's just get out of here before she comes looking outside."
He placed his hand on his shoulder and spoke nonchalantly. Although he spoke like this, inwardly he too was a little rattled. This was not his normal behaviour. Something had affected his ability to think rationally. He glanced at his foot and saw that there was now a mark on his ankle. He had never noticed it before. It resembled a row of lines with irregular edges. Almost as if they were a row of teeth. Crooked teeth, one might add.
What is this? When did this attach itself to me?
His mind raced, trying to remember when something like this would have happened to him, and he quickly recalled the vagrant.
What did that old pile of rags do to me?
Questions began to race in his mind as he was trying to understand exactly what had happened. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Derek shout at him.
"Are you coming, or are you expecting to be welcomed as a guest by that beauty up there? Move your ass before she finds you."
Noticing Derek was already halfway up, Lovell then began to scale the fence as well. As they landed safely on the other side, they heard an explosion come from the direction of the manor. Immediately, a second explosion was set off in front of them. This was more of an impact than an explosion as rocks were sent flying, and a small crater was created before them.
"Where do you think you are going? "
A chilling voice carrying immense malice was heard from the dust cloud. Before Lovell had a chance to speak, her fist connected to his chin, sending his consciousness far, far away. Derek was alarmed when he saw this, but before he could do anything, she vanished from his vision. Following that was a sharp pain from his neck as she rendered him unconscious, too.
"How dare you cause all this trouble and hope to escape from me?"
...
A short while later, a group of people wearing blue and black clothing arrived. Leading them was a man who was the only one wearing armour. He took off his helmet and prostrated before the aloof beauty who was sitting on top of two unconscious bodies.
"Knight Commander Anthony of Gravia's 4th frontier station greets the princess. What is your instruction for this lowly one, Your Highness?"
Anthony couldn't tell what she was thinking since she never changed her expression, but he was sure she could not be too pleased. Just a quick look at the state of the manor was enough to inform him that she was most likely in a foul mood.
"You have the nerve to ask this? Surely you must be familiar with these fools who lie below me. What have you done to catch them? Have you made any efforts? Now look at what they have done to my property. Make no mistake, someone is to be held responsible for this, and I can assure you, it will not be me."
Anthony heard this and felt like he was suffering from an injustice. He, of course, was being held responsible because there was no one else whom she could blame. Her resentment poured onto him, and he, too, needed an outlet. His gaze fell onto the two thieves who had caused this whole mess for him to clean up. His eyes widened when he recognized the two. They were famous after all.
Lovell and Derek!! What are those two bastards doing here? Last time those named came to my desk, a Wealthy tycoon came to file a report about his stolen goods. Most of the evidence pointed to their petty group of thieves, but we had other matters to attend to and didn't do much about it. Now what? They storm the house of a Dreadborn? I heard they were a brave group of youths, but this is just insanity.
"Worry not, Your Highness, this matter will be handled by me, and I will ensure proper punishment is delivered upon them."
"Worry yourself not, Knight Commander, I have already decided what will befall them this day. Send them to the academy. They may better repay their transgressions by bleeding for me on the front lines. You just make the arrangements and conclude it before the week's end. I will return to the castle in three days, and I want them gone by then. Have I made myself clear... hmm, what was your name again?"
"Anthony, Your Highness, and yes, we will conclude everything as quickly as possible, Princess Yvonne."
At the mention of her name, she glanced at Anthony, who simply stayed down, motionless. She turned around and proceeded to her burning mansion at a normal pace. She was tired, injured and needed rest. Anthony saw that she was heading to a burning building and shouted at her.
"Your Highness!! Maybe you should wait outside for a bit. I've sent one of my people to go fetch water to douse the flames."
"No need."
With that, she raised her arm, and the silence grew around them. Then came the dark, followed by the raging fire, coming to an abrupt halt. She proceeded inside without saying anything more. Anthony was a little rattled but quickly regained his composure. His attention was now brought to the two leaders of the infamous Sleight of hand. He had his men bind them and drag them along.
"They will be locked in a cell down at the office, and make sure they have been secured. I will send a bird to the academy and inform them that they are to expect two more students. Move out immediately!!"
"Yessir!!"
...
Lovell dreamt of his life at the Orphanage. Unlike everyone else who lost their parents in the battles with the Horrors or to the hazardous environments, he was there because he had never had anyone. He just showed up on his own one day and started living there.