Chapter 196 Hunting Part4
Sylvia and the two wolves, followed by the other two wolves continued walking through the forest. It was a beautiful night and the stars were shining brightly.
She wasn't aware but they mainly stuck to the outer perimeter of the forest as Roman had instructed them beforehand.
So they only came across weaker wild beasts and chatted with each other as if this was merely a stroll in the forest and not the serious hunt which took place every lunar cycle.
"Your highness, is it alright if I ask you something?" Mila smiled.
"Sure."
"Why did you choose to join our hunt on the harvest moon festival?"
Ahem. Sylvia coughed awkwardly. She didn't know how to answer this valid question. "Umm... I just... I just wanted to experience this once?" She answered something vaguely.
In truth, perhaps she should have ignored Melissa's taunts and returned back to the palace but instead, she took this risk and decided to see just how far her sister had planned things.
Sylvia knew that there was no point in trying to place hide and seek with this new and powerful family of hers. If they wanted to kill her or harm her, then she would be dead. There was simply just no doubt about this.
She had only one option left and that was to simply face the music.
Sylvia looked at the two women walking beside her. She hadn't thought about this before, but now that she did, she realized that she had also inadvertently ended up risking other's lives.
She couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
While she was in deep thought, Mila suddenly jumped in front of her and smiled as if she had some exciting news. "Princess Sylvia, we are almost there. There is a beautiful waterfall just behind"
Mila's eyes widened and she stopped speaking abruptly. However, something told Sylvia that it was not out of excitement.
"What happened?" She hurriedly asked and both the wolves stood frozen as if they couldn't even begin to comprehend how to process what was happening.
Roman and Isaac were quicker to react and their figures blurred before standing in front of Sylvia, Mila, and Bloom.
"Stand back. Now." Roman shouted.
And just as his voice sounded, a majestic silhouette walked out from within the shadows.
covered by fur like a beast, and yet they retained their human features.
They muttered something inaudible and before Sylvia could move an energy barrier surrounded the It was a huge panther with eyes red and flaming, but more importantly, there was a faint ominous aura seeping out of it and violet haze enshrouded it.
The Lord was here all along? Sylvia was startled. She gazed at the tall and the powerful Lycan lord and then at the beast.
Sylvia had no doubt what this beast was. A magic beast and it was looking straight at her!
This was the second time she was seeing one in person and that too up close.
"Stay near me." Roman shouted again.
He and Isaac assumed some sort of half-human and half-beast form, most parts of their body covered by fur like a beast, and yet they retained their human features.
They muttered something inaudible and before Sylvia could move an energy barrier surrounded the five of them.
The panther roared in anger and then slashed its paws at the thick barrier.
Bang! Everything trembled.
Violet strands of energy peeled from the barrier and it grew visibly weaker. "Damn it. What the hell is a rare magical beast doing here near the settlement?"
"Isaac, did you signal for the reinforcements yet?"
"Yes, my Lord." The previous playfulness in the wolf's voice was long gone and he replied with a serious and formal tone.
"Mila and Bloom, escort the princess to safety. Protect her at all costs. We will keep the beast occupied here in the meantime."
"Reinforcements should be here soon. Do not break formation. Move now."
Mila and Bloom bowed and nodded. They understood very well what their Lord meant. The princess needed to be protected at all costs even if that meant them losing their own lives.
The two muttered something together and a thick fog swirled around, blurring everything. The fog didn't just blur the vision but it blurred every single sense including smell, masking the presence of everyone completely.
After that, they quickly prepared to leave the barrier, but when they turned around, they saw that Sylvia was not moving.
"Princess?"
"Your highness!"
The two of them gasped in shock. However, Sylvia did not look like she was prepared to leave any time soon.
Roman obviously noticed this and turned around. "Your highness, you need to leave now. You don't have to worry. We will hold back the beast." He growled, barely hiding his anger, enunciating each and every single word he spoke.
Sylvia shook her head.
"Your highness. This is not the time to take a stand or be brave. Listen to me now and leave."
"I am sorry, Lord Roman." Sylvia's face had an unusual calm and there was a resoluteness in her voice.
Roman gnashed his teeth in anger. They were all facing a life and death situation and he didn't have the time right now to pander to the spoilt royal princesses.
"Sylvia. LEAVE NOW." He howled.
Just as he did, the last layer of the barrier crumbled like a sheet of glass and his powerful voice reverberated through the silent forests.
Every single wolf in the vicinity heard him and howled back in response.
They all could recognize that their Lord was calling for them and began dashing towards the source of his call.
"NOW. GET THE HELL OUT NOW." Roman shouted at her again, but Sylvia stood still like a stone.
Her eyes were bright golden in color and her body was shimmering like the stars in the sky. "I am not leaving anywhere." She calmly muttered.
Roman shook his head furiously.
This was all the attention that he could spare her. Now that the barrier was down, he need to deal with the magic beast in front of him.
Swish. Swish. Swish. Three wind blades flew out of his hand, striking the panther. The beast moved several paces, dodging the attack.
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