Chapter : 45
The Knight Commander, Rel, had already vanished somewhere, and the knights who had rushed out of the barracks were cutting through the camp, running toward the rear of the base.
Calix was running as well, carrying me in his arms.
Part of me wanted to get down and run on my own, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak.
Calix probably wouldn’t let me down, and even if I tried to run on my own, my poor stamina would likely make me stumble or fall behind, causing more trouble than help.
The best I could do in this situation was to burrow myself deeper into Calix’s arms and cling to him, cooperating as best I could.
Even while carrying me, Calix was moving at such incredible speed that we soon came into view of where the horses were tied.
Then it happened.
I thought I heard a “whoosh,” followed immediately by a “thud” right behind Calix.
I instinctively closed my eyes, but when I finally opened them, I saw Rajif staggering.
!!!!!!
“Rajif!”
He had been hit by arrows.
Not just one.
Three arrows were embedded in him—one in his back, one in his leg, and one in his arm.
It seemed that one had struck earlier, and the other two had hit in quick succession.
Rajif had been shielding Calix from all the arrows flying toward him, taking the hits himself.
It had happened exactly as I had foreseen…
I had brought Rajif here expecting this, but seeing him hit by arrows right in front of me was horrifying and shocking.
Guilt surged through me as I realized I had brought Rajif to such a state.
I muttered absentmindedly, like a person in shock.
“Rajif got hit by arrows…”
For a moment, Calix faltered in his steps, though he was still running.
The burning barracks and seeing someone I knew get struck felt surreal.
It felt like a blockbuster movie was unfolding on a massive screen right before me.
I found myself murmuring again.
“It’s my fault… it’s because of me…”
Calix shouted at me.
“Snap out of it, Kaelin!”
His shout finally brought me back to my senses.
I managed to speak.
“Please… put me down.”
Faced with such an unreal situation—seeing Rajif hit by arrows—my fear had strangely disappeared.
All that remained was a sharp clarity that I had to save Rajif.
Calix stopped immediately at my small but firm voice.
“Please, Calix… I beg you.”
After a brief hesitation, Calix finally set me down, compelled by my resolute tone.
“I can run on my own. But you… please save Rajif.”
My last words, urging him to save Rajif, were drowned out by Rajif’s cry.
“Go! Quickly!”
Are you insane?
Go where?
Are you planning to die right there?
I didn’t bring you here to die.
I brought you because I knew you wouldn’t die.
So why did you get hit by three arrows?
It wasn’t some random arrows from unknown enemies—it was a single spear thrown by Eden Dercus!
Three arrows… that’s deadly, right?
Why isn’t it happening the way I wrote it in my story? Why is it changing!?
Anger surged from deep inside me at Rajif, who, despite the danger, wasn’t protecting himself.
I ran toward him, shouting, directed at the character who was no longer just a supporting role to me, but simply Rajif—the person who had become familiar and real over the time we’d spent together.
“Rajif, shut up! Get on Calix’s back! If you don’t, I’m not moving an inch. You know how stubborn I am!”
In the midst of the crisis, I threw caution and etiquette aside, letting my temper fly freely.
Rajif’s eyes widened at my shouting, and even Calix looked at me in surprise.
Meanwhile, Dercus’s soldiers were infiltrating from behind, closing the distance.
“Both of you lost your minds? Calix, get Rajif on your back!”
At my shout, Calix finally lifted Rajif onto his back.
Then, without hesitation, he started running, and I ran alongside them like my life depended on it.
Even though I usually got tired just walking, having death at my heels seemed to give me strength from head to toe, and I ran without even noticing my own breath.
Finally, when we reached the horses, Rel appeared and caught Rajif.
“Evacuate the princess first!”
Calix pushed me toward a knight.
What’s with you, Calix?
As if answering my question, Calix drew his sword and charged toward Dercus’s troops.
This isn’t right!
Has he gone mad too?
He’s going to fight them alone?
Normally, Calix would have retreated at lightning speed from here.
I was dumbfounded by his sudden change in behavior.
“Hey, Calix! You should be running!”
I unconsciously stepped in the direction Calix went.
Amid the dangers and tension of the battlefield, I had already dropped all formalities and honorifics toward the crown prince.
A knight carrying me on horseback approached.
“Kaelin, don’t make things harder—run!”
Calix shouted at me fiercely.
By now, several knights had gathered beside Calix and me, drawing their swords.
They should have been fleeing on horseback.
Why were they standing against Dercus’s soldiers instead of retreating?
Ah!!!!!!!!!
At that moment, understanding dawned.
They were buying time to get me away first.
My presence had complicated this ambush.
This is insane!
My head was spinning, and my chest felt like it would explode.
The distance to Dercus’s troops was closing fast.
I made my decision.
I had to run!
I had written that they wouldn’t die—this was my mistake.
If I ran, Calix could also escape safely.
I turned to run toward the knight’s horse approaching me.
But in my haste, I twisted my ankle, lost balance, and fell toward Calix.
At that split second, Eden Dercus appeared like a flash of light and vanished, and a short, sharp spear flew at my chest with incredible speed.
“Ah!”
I screamed and fell backward.
“Kaeeelin!”
A tremendous roar echoed faintly, and I lost consciousness.
“Kaelin! Are you awake?”
When I opened my eyes, Calix was there.
I… hadn’t died……
“Calix?”
“Kaelin.”
Calix reached out and brushed my face.
Wait… why is he touching me like that?
Even in my daze, confused about being alive and the situation, the gentle touch of Calix on my face sent shivers down my spine.
“I… I didn’t die?”
I should have been pierced by a spear… my chest should have been…
Was this a dream?
I instinctively touched my chest.
A sharp pain was there, right in the center.
“Kaelin, Kaelin…”
Calix grasped my hand as I touched my chest, holding it while continuing to stroke my face.
Why is he doing this?
Why is he touching me like this?
His hand was calloused, yet warm.
His eyes were bloodshot, veins visible.
“Didn’t I get hit by a spear?”
The pain was still there, but I hadn’t been pierced—otherwise, I would have died.
“You’re not dead, Kaelin. You’re alive.”
Holding my hand, he stroked my face with his other hand.
Seriously, why is he doing this?!
“Could you… take your hand away?”
I couldn’t endure the goosebumps rising as Calix held my hand while touching my face, looking at me with such intense emotion.
I was curious and confused about why I was alive, but that was one thing. Him touching me like this was entirely another.
Calix finally removed his hand.
“Kaelin, you must never do that again! Never!”
Wait, never do what?
Confused, I heard him continue.
“I wish I could stay longer, but I have to go now. I’m glad you woke up. I’ll be back soon, Kaelin.”
“Go… where?”
He reached out again as if to touch my face, but seeing me flinch, he clenched his hand and rose, looking regretful.
Ah!
I realized I was lying on my bed in the Aolium Fortress, and he was sitting on the edge, looking down at me.
Having survived death, Calix felt unbelievably close.
He hesitated briefly, then finally turned and walked out of the room.
Only then did I realize I was in my quarters at Aolium Fortress.
“Ah…!”
I tried to sit up but groaned in pain from my chest.
I loosened my clothes to check the injury.
There was a deep reddish bruise on the chest.
Right?
I was hit by the spear, wasn’t I?
But I survived with only a bruise?
So, what exactly happened?
I had run from Base 3, twisted my ankle and fallen, saw Eden Dercus, and got hit by the spear…
Ah!!!!!
Wait!
Could it really be…?
Suddenly, I realized everything that had happened in a flash.
