Thessa tried her best to follow the battle. Although she had said that she would support from the back, the speed was too much for her. While she could still track it, attacking precisely was another matter entirely.
She had decided fairly early on that she would simply pose a threat, remaining a shadow at the back of Jodie’s mind. If she ever actually attacked, the fourth-ranked Core Disciple would find out pretty quickly that she wasn’t actually a threat.
As for the two guards by her side, she knew they wouldn’t attack even if she told them to. With three of them gone, their focus right now was definitely her safety first and foremost. They were on high alert for anyone that might try to sneak attack them.
In this low visibility, they were even more on alert than usual.
That was why when a young man suddenly appeared to their backs, they noticed him the moment the vague outline of a shadow took shape.
They immediately turned, their blades brandished. The sound of unsheathing weapons caught the attention of the three protectors locked in combat with Jodie, but they didn’t have the luxury of seeing what was going on.
The shadow suddenly accelerated. When they felt its aura, their expressions all changed at once.
What was going on? That aura, it was at least of the Fifth Silver Resonance. But there shouldn’t be anyone here that powerful outside of the Core Disciples and Selena. Did Dorian or Vaeilina return?
The two pivoted, standing shoulder to shoulder to protect Thessa’s back.
Thessa looked as well, feeling taken aback by the change as well. But she realized along with the others that it wasn’t Dorian or Vaeilina at all.
‘This isn’t good…’
The figure’s face was covered, but their strength was true.
Unlike Dorian and Vaeilina, Thessa’s two protectors might have quite some experience in fighting together, but the fusion of their strengths wasn’t nearly as seamless.
BANG!
And much like Thessa had thought before… against an opponent so powerful, they would need three.
The two protectors stumbled back, barely managing to stop the first assault. But they were quickly put on their backfoot as a flurry of attacks ensued.
By the third exchange, they knew that things would never go their way.
“PRINCESS! RUN!”
Thessa’s expression changed, clenching her fists hard. She bit into her lip so hard that blood trickled down, falling into a line down her chin.
There was no time to hesitate.
With a step, she launched herself out and to the side. The unknown figure tried to rush after her, only for her protectors to block the way like their lives depended on it.
There was only one way out of this. She needed the Fire Soul no matter what.
“PRINCESS! NO!”
Thessa didn’t look back, launching herself into one of the many geyser openings. She had been paying close attention all the while. She knew that this one had erupted just recently, and this would be her best chance.
Fire pulsed around her as she seemed to become a flaming woman, disappearing from sight.
…
Thessa fell fast and hard, but the increase in Fire Mana also made it easier for her to sense things around her. Unlike others, because she was a Soul Mancer who veered into the path of Fire Mancy, her senses were naturally far stronger, as was her Third Eye. Compared to Theron, who took advantage of the concentration of water vapor to extend his own sense, hers were still ten times better, clearer, and wider in range.
Unfortunately for her…
Thessa sensed the figure and the fist instantly. She realized that it was Theron a moment after.
It was just that it didn’t seem to matter in the slightest.
She slapped out with a palm, not having time to pull out her sword. Falling through the air still, she pulled on her soul and activated her Fire Soul, the blazing aura around her becoming even more violent.
The fist collided with her palm, but rather than feeling like she had just rebounded against a great force, it was almost like punching into a cloud.
The fist’s elbow bent and Theron’s body pivoted in the air, causing her to overextend herself as he drove a knee right into her gut.
Thessa’s mouth opened, her tongue practically flailing out of the opening as all the wind in her body was knocked out.
She keeled over, but the strength of the knees caused her downward momentum to slow and Theron’s to speed up… and that only added strength to Theron’s oncoming elbow.
She felt something heavy and sharp slam into the back of her skull. Her world spun and in those last moments, she couldn’t believe it.
How had she… lost so easily again?
Her vision went black.
…
Thessa awoke to a painful tug of her hair.
The first thing she saw was a cold pair of blue eyes staring at her. Somehow, despite the cold indifference on Theron’s face, it looked as though he was using every fiber of his being to hold back from killing her right then and there.
She couldn’t even understand it… she was the one that should hate him for everything he had done. What had she done to deserve this sort of hatred?
Her heart shuddered at the thought. Could it be because of Soren and Teagan?
Thinking of those two, she bit her lip even harder than before to hold back the tears.
She had no idea that Theron couldn’t have cared less about that.
“You will help direct me to the Fire Soul. You will be silent and obedient, or you will not only lose your life, but your dignity.”
Theron truly didn’t care about the deaths of those two, or why Thessa had done it. But he could guess.
In all likelihood, she didn’t have a choice. He had been tricked before, but not to the point that someone could make him think they cared about someone they didn’t. He didn’t believe that.
That meant that to Thessa, protecting her reputation right now was worth the life of two people she called friends. And that was something he could use.
Especially if he was going to set a trap to kill a duo of Core Disciples and a Chosen.