26 Second Awakening

Elijah punches Sean as they landed inside the castle gate. The guards hearing the noise turn to see their crown prince sitting on the ground with a girl in tatters on top of him.

The guards quickly hold Elijah down, mobilizing him from moving and attacking the crown prince.

"Release him and takes these children to ask where they are from then send them away. I have a meeting with Marquess Tremaine... And sorry for not saving her," Sean said as he starts using his mana to teleport again.

"You know nothing! She is in a really critical situation right now! From the symptoms she's displaying, she's beginning her second awakening! I thought it was just a cold but... having a very high fever, breaking out in sweats, being unable to control your shakings... those are early signs of the second awakening. And you should how hard it is without help or support from someone! It felt like someone's crushing your heart into bits... worst of all she doesn't even know she's beginning her second awakening!" Elijah shouted out as the guards release him and he runs to seize Sean's collar again.

He glares angrily at him, "You piece of sh*t."

Sean's eye's open wide not buying Elijah's words. For a person's second awakening to happen so late in the year is unheard off. Everyone's second awakening usually happens between the age of eight to nine.

He releases him after saying his part and steps into Francis's study area, only to find servants scribbling around in a hurry with Francis's loud voice ringing out.

By the time he made it through all the servants, he saw Leon being carried in the back by Cain as he rushes through the study room.

"What's going on here?" Elijah asked as he made eye contact with Francis.

Francis just quickly glimpses at him before going back to instructing the servants.

Elijah saw that on one side of Francis jacket was traces blood, he tracks the blood down to see a puddle of blood on the ground with maids trying to clean it up.

From the door came a hurried doctor that is way out of breath. This only made Elijah extra confuse without a clear answer but he can deduce that something must have happened to Leon with all the blood and now a doctor.

"You're finally here, doctor. This way, please. ...When Stacey comes clearly explain everything to her nicely," Francis spoke as soon as the doctor made his appearance.

Francis leads the doctor to where Leon is supposed to be, only to find Cain and Sean glaring at each other when Cain is supposed to bring Leon to a bedroom.

Francis cough twice before their attention is directed at him.

His eyes were as tranquil almost like the calm before the storm. Cain quickly bows and run, heading towards Leon's bedroom.

Sean gives his bow to Francis with Cinderella still unconscious in his embrace.

Francis just quickly said, "Bring her along." Before moving on with the doctor.

...

"What are you going to such a good product!" the lead merchant yelled out as he came inside the tent.

"Boss. This little brat let the other get away," the fat man said out as he squeezes Drizella's neck.

"Stop! Stop! And it's your fault for letting them go!" The lead merchant now known as the boss shouted out.

The fat man loosens his grip: "How can you say that boss."

The boss merchant waved his hand indicating to let the girl down. He checks for her breathing, only to hear shallow breathing. He checks her face to discover bruises everywhere, there's even some on her arms and legs. He shakes his head, concluded that the girl won't even be worth a copper with such disfigurement.

He waved his hand again while covering his nose as he said, "Take the girl out to feed the wild creatures."

The fat man excitedly follows his words as he grins from side to side.

The other merchants look at him as he walks past them and he just laughs giving a small explanation, 'Heehee. Damage good.' and they all understand his meaning.

He throws Drizella roughly onto the sand as he proclaims, "It's not my fault. So don't come back to hunt me."

After he left Drizella slowly and weakly open her closed eyes. She lay on her back trying to catch her breath. She doesn't know how hurt she is but she can feel pain all over her body.

"Sh*t! It hurt like hell! That pig really knows how to give a beating," Drizella slowly mumbles to herself.

She was trembling uncontrollably and sweating unstop. Laying on her back isn't helping her at all as she crouches down, hugging her legs. She believes all her shivering is due to the desert cold climate. However, it didn't explain the burning in her chest. Her heart felt like it's going to leap out of her chest as if someone is squeezing it. She feels like throwing up. Her skin… her whole body…

Everything about her, she couldn't clearly tell or have the mind to think as the only thing she can do right now is endure all the physical and mental discomfort.

She really wanted to close her eyes and sleep but the pain and cold kept her awake. Tears that she didn't realize fell down her face as she kept hugging herself to keep warm.

Her eyes slowly close as she remembers Francis's words to her 'Remember of all survive is the utmost. Do everything to survive even if it meant admitting defeat.'

...

"Princess! Princess! Wait up. Where are you going this late at night?" the maid asks out of breath.

"Don't follow me if you can't keep up. This will tell father and brother not to bully me," Jasmine the Princess of the Desert Empire pouted.

The maid can only sigh as she criticizes the emperor and the princes for spoiling the princess rotten in her mind.

Jasmine pout turns into a snicker as she thought about the commotion that might be happening inside the palace due to her disappearing. But her father and brothers should learn not to mess with her so much. She is already a young adult and can take care of herself unlike before.

Jasmine trap as she was in her own thought. Getting up she was going to scream but saw that what she tripped on was a human. A kid at that... maybe about her age was laying there.

She went closer to take a look if the kid is dead but by placing a finger near the kid's nose, there was shallow breathing.

Looking at the kid with the moonlight's help, Jasmine saw that the kid is a girl with bruises all over her body. Making her wonder what makes the girl so strong that she is still holding onto her life.

With a clever smile on her lip, she decided to take the girl with her, back to the palace as her playmate and bodyguard since even with all the bruises on her, she wasn't broken yet.