Chapter 52: Healing Bath
Leon did not utter a single word of protest or attempt to peacefully explain the situation to the aggressive garrison commander.
He activated his monstrous one hundred and thirty five points of Agility and vaulted effortlessly off the back of the giant armored wolf.
He landed perfectly silently on the muddy ground separating himself from the noble daughter and placing his broad rugged frame directly in the path of the encroaching spearmen.
Captain Thorne sneered viciously viewing the servant’s bold movement as a pathetic attempt to resist arrest.
The arrogant officer raised his glowing runic broadsword intending to deliver a brutal nonlethal strike to the boy’s collarbone to forcefully drop him to the dirt.
"You dare resist the authority of House Sterling you filthy street rat?" Thorne barked loudly ensuring the gathering crowd of local loggers witnessed his brave display of power.
He stepped forward and swung his heavy steel blade downward.
Leon did not bother drawing his ironwood practice sword from his satchel nor did he attempt to dodge the slow clumsy attack.
He raised his right hand and tapped into his expanded magical core utilizing the Silent Casting skill he had mastered in the cellar.
He unleashed a concentrated pulse of his newly acquired Kinetic Repulsion directly into the flat of the descending blade.
The invisible wall of raw kinetic force collided with the enchanted steel. The sheer disparity in physical density was laughable.
A deafening metallic crack echoed across the muddy courtyard.
Captain Thorne’s expensive runic broadsword instantly shattered into a dozen useless jagged fragments that rained harmlessly down onto the dirt.
The residual kinetic shockwave violently rattled up the captain’s arms numbing his hands and causing him to drop the broken hilt in absolute pure terror.
Before the arrogant officer could even process the destruction of his primary weapon Leon blurred into motion.
He closed the distance in a fraction of a millisecond.
He reached out and firmly wrapped his large muscular hand around Captain Thorne’s armored throat. His massive ninety points of Strength allowed him to effortlessly lift the fully armored Adept knight entirely off the ground.
The surrounding spearmen froze in sheer unadulterated horror. They were witnessing a ragged bloodstained servant barehandedly lift their garrison commander into the air with zero visible effort.
"You are making a massive mistake Captain," Leon stated in a deep chillingly calm voice that promised imminent lethal violence. He squeezed the man’s throat just enough to restrict his airflow without snapping his neck.
"I am Lady Seraphina’s personal warden and you will show us the respect we deserve. Kneel."
Leon forcefully slammed the gasping officer directly down into the muddy earth.
Captain Thorne crashed onto his knees coughing violently and desperately clutching his bruised throat while staring up at the terrifying dark eyes of the monstrous servant. The arrogant illusion of his regional authority was permanently violently shattered.
[Quest Completed Successfully!]
[Your boots remain spotless and free of animal manure.]
[Distributing Rewards: +15 Strength, Skill ’Intimidation Aura’ Acquired, 200 Shameless Points.]
A sudden explosive surge of dense muscular power flooded his body elevating his total Strength to an astronomical one hundred and five points.
The newly acquired Intimidation Aura passively integrated with his Charisma projecting a heavy psychological pressure that made the surrounding spearmen instinctively take several fearful steps backward.
Seraphina watched the brutal flawless subjugation from her perch on the giant wolf and a deeply satisfied predatory smile graced her beautiful face. She did not reprimand Leon for assaulting a military officer belonging to her own family.
Instead she utilized the opening he created to assert her own dominance.
"My warden speaks the truth Captain," Seraphina declared coldly her voice cutting through the silent courtyard like a razor blade.
"We were ambushed by an Eclipse Syndicate Grandmaster in the woods. Leon saved my life and escorted me here safely. You will immediately prepare your finest private suite and draw a hot bath. If you disrespect my personal staff again I will let him crush your skull."
Captain Thorne scrambled to his feet covered in dark mud and bowed frantically offering pathetic stuttering apologies before rushing off to execute her strict commands.
Within thirty minutes Leon and Seraphina were escorted into the grandest manor house in Oakhaven.
The private suite was luxurious by frontier standards featuring a massive plush bed a roaring fireplace and a large separate bathing chamber equipped with a deep heated porcelain tub.
Seraphina dismissed the local maids with a sharp wave of her hand preferring the absolute privacy of their secluded suite.
She stood near the roaring fireplace struggling weakly to undo the remaining leather buckles of her combat suit. Her arms were still trembling violently from the residual magical exhaustion making the simple task incredibly frustrating.
Leon silently set their leather satchels down and walked purposefully into the steamy bathing chamber. He checked the temperature of the water ensuring it was perfectly soothing before returning to the main room.
He smoothly approached the exhausted noble daughter and gently brushed her trembling hands away from the stubborn buckles.
"Allow me," Leon murmured softly utilizing his magnetic Charisma to ease her wounded pride.
Seraphina did not protest. She closed her violet eyes and let out a soft weary sigh allowing him to meticulously unfasten the heavy armor.
He stripped away the dark leather leaving her standing completely bare in the warm firelight.
Her athletic statuesque physique was breathtakingly perfect although currently marred by dirt dried blood and the fading purple bruise on her collarbone.
He gently guided her into the bathing chamber and helped her step into the deep porcelain tub. She sank into the steaming hot water with a loud groan of pure euphoric relief resting her head against the back of the basin.
Leon did not leave the room to grant her privacy. He rolled up the torn sleeves of his bloodstained tunic and grabbed a soft sea sponge from a nearby wooden stool.
He knelt beside the tub and began gently washing the grime from her flawless pale skin.
The atmosphere in the steamy room grew incredibly thick with heavy unresolved tension.
Seraphina watched him work through half lidded eyes completely captivated by the man diligently tending to her vulnerable state. His large strong hands moved with meticulous care ensuring he did not aggravate her recovering magical pathways.
Just as Leon moved the soapy sponge down the delicate curve of her neck intending to push the boundaries of his service a sharp frantic tapping sound echoed from the thick glass window of the bathing chamber.
Leon paused and turned his head. A small mechanical silver bird an elite magical messenger construct utilized strictly by the high nobility was frantically pecking at the glass.
A small metallic cylinder was attached to its leg bearing the official glowing blue crest of Beatrice the Head Maid.
Leon smoothly opened the window and retrieved the tiny scroll from the construct. He unrolled the parchment and scanned the elegant highly urgent handwriting.
His dark eyes instantly narrowed into dangerous predatory slits.
"What is it Leon?" Seraphina asked softly her peaceful relaxation instantly shattering as she recognized the grave expression forming on his handsome face.
"It is an urgent missive from the Head Maid," Leon replied in a low chilling tone that carried the heavy promise of impending warfare.
"The Patriarch has been severely poisoned. The Eclipse Syndicate has breached the outer defenses of the Sterling estate and Beatrice is currently holding the grand library under siege. We need to return immediately."
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