Chapter 96: The Third Day of the Festival (XXV).
"No way in light... he's mad." (Lord Ein) who watched the whole match knew what was going to happen. He immediately looked at Analissa who was in utter shock and such a fragile state.
'She's going to run again... I did all I can to calm her down but seeing Lady Evelyn like that I don't think I can stop her now.' He grits his teeth, cursing the Crown Prince Dereck for being so stupid and absentminded!
People change but goodness this is a whole other level of change.
"He... I can't believe he's done this." (Analissa) wasn't going to let Lord Ein scold her to rest. Not when she's seen what horrible things that crown prince did to the villainess! "Ngh...! I have to go down there!"
She stood up, her legs wobbling as fatigue started to catch up.
"Analissa-!" (Lord Ein) looks at her determined face, it was different and in this situation anyone would want to know how Lady Evelyn is doing. "Agh, I'll help. I can't stop you now... after seeing what happened I fear you might be the only one who can help. Knowing Dereck this is personal. Here, lean on my arm. It's going to be a long walk and I'm sure that the professors are going to be there first."
Lord Ein supported her as she leaned on his arm, and with a heavy heart, he turned to his servants. "I'll be back. Stay here and make sure everything is in order."
===
"Move it, move it!" A voice rang out through the crowd.
"Excuse me-!" A flurry of chaos filled the air as students jostled each other, all wanting to see Lady Evelyn. Amongst the chaos, a familiar red-haired girl shoved her way forward, pushing past the crowd, her voice growing louder with each step.
"We want to see Evelyn! Please, let us through!" (Lady Serene) demanded, her voice sharp and commanding, her feet stomping in frustration as she tried to get the guards' attention. "I need to see her right now. I have the right to make sure my friend is safe! If you don't move, so help me, I'll make sure you get fired! I demand you let me in!"
Her fierce determination pushed through the crowd, her presence commanding and impossible to ignore. She wasn't just any student- she had the authority, and she knew it.
The guards, however, stood firm, blocking the entrance to the arena.
"They're the ones with the Alarie family," one murmured, eyes wide. "I guess it's understandable... that they're not letting anyone in. Duke Vernon is not going to be happy when he sees his daughter looking like this."
"My apologies, Lady Sinclair, but we were ordered not to let anyone in..." The soldier's voice trailed off apologetically.
"Halt! You may not enter the stage!" another guard called out, his tone stern, trying to prevent any further chaos from breaking out.
Lord Ein, having seen the desperation in Analissa's eyes, held her steady as she regained her balance. She took a deep breath, focusing on her purpose.
"My name is Analissa Blanchet from class 1-A, and I know light magic. I can perform light magic on her. Please... let me through!" Her voice was firm now, the fear replaced by urgency.
The guard's eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical.
"Commoner, you're here-!" But before he could finish, Lady Serene, still as forceful as ever, stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Right... you have light magic... then you can make sure she's okay! Hey! If you can't let me in, at least let the commoner girl go inside!"
"A-Ahaha..." (Analissa) chuckled with how she still kept calling her commoner, she thought there was a bit of progress on their bonding.
"Ugh... I'm sorry, but I can't let you in. Orders are orders, and I'm afraid I'll be punished if I don't follow them."
Analissa's frustration boiled over, and she stepped closer to the guard, her eyes intense and pleading. "If you don't let me through, she'll die!"
The guard faltered, his face paling at her words.
"...!" His resolve began to waver.
Lady Serene who couldn't take it anymore steps on the guard's toe. The guard does its best not to react but in the end the young woman with the fiery temper seems to be determined to have Analissa inside the arena.
"Do you want Duke Vernon Alarie's daughter to die?!" Her voice grew cold, the weight of her words sinking deep. "Knowing that maybe-! if you had let her in, there might have been a chance to save her?! That commoner is a light magic user! She's supposed to be the next saintess to be in line for succession!"
The tension in the air was thick. The guard shifted nervously, unsure of how to respond. It was clear he was struggling between his duty and the possibility that the daughter of Duke Alarie's life was in danger.
"Can you handle that responsibility?" Her voice was angry but the edge in it made the guard pause. She wasn't just speaking to him- she was speaking to the weight of the situation itself. "I am her friend, I will not stand by and just do nothing when I know this commoner has the chance to save her from this!"
"T-The healers are... on their way. Students should not be... uh... let inside..." His words started stumbling and as young Lady Sinclair screamed one last time.
"They might not be enough!" (Lady Serene) tugged onto her skirt and started crying. The tears dropped as she wept, she hadn't even apologized properly- she's not going to die but... her feet dragged her into the arena without even thinking ahead. "If she dies or she didn't get proper care in time I'll hold you responsible!"
"Lady Serene..." Analissa's eyes softened seeing her in that state.
The lackey who was selfish, rude and was even violent to the heroine in the original- right now she looks like any human with flaws.
"...!"
Just then, a quiet voice broke through the tension.
"I suggest you do as the young lady suggests. The House of Loucrat vouches for this girl. She'll be able to help her." The voice came from behind, calm and authoritative. Lord Ein stepped forward, his gaze steady. "As the eldest son of the Loucrat household, you have my word. You will not be in trouble, let the responsibility and decision be mine to bear."
The guard hesitated for a moment, glancing at his comrades, before finally nodding. "Alright."
With a final, silent exchange, the guard stepped aside, allowing Analissa to pass as Lord Ein helped her walk.
"Thank you, Lady Serene." The path was cleared, and without another word, she hurried toward the stage, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Hah..." (Lady Serene) who was left all alone in the corner tried her best not to cry. "I haven't even... properly apologized."
===
Middle of the Arena
===
The villainess' face was barely recognizable, half of it charred beyond recognition.
Her skin, once fair and smooth, was now a horrific, burnt ruin.
The left side of her face was blackened, the skin bubbling and sizzling from the heat, leaving only the raw, red flesh exposed. Her eye on that side was closed, swollen, and burnt so badly that it appeared lifeless.
The contrast between her once-beautiful features and the fiery damage was haunting, and the stench of burning flesh filled the air.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Dereck, with his exaggerated, dramatic gestures, was now on his knees, his face contorted in a mask of false sorrow.
"Oh...! Evelyn, my dearest fiancée, I'm so sorry. It was an accident. This... shouldn't be! Please-! Someone save her!" His voice cracked as if he were truly devastated, but there was no sincerity in his eyes- only a calculated desperation to appear the grieving lover.
His hands shook as he hovered helplessly near Evelyn, but there was no urgency in his actions, no true concern. Instead, it was a performance, a show meant to deceive the onlookers.
He leaned forward, staring at her burned form with what could only be described as theatrical anguish. "Please, someone, help her! She's everything to me! I didn't mean for this to happen!"
The professors, who had been watching from the sidelines, rushed forward in a flurry of movement, their faces grim as they tried to assess the situation.
"We need to get her first aid immediately. The burns are extensive, and she's not responding-" one of the professors muttered, frantically checking the villainess' pulse.
"It's spreading! It's spreading across her body!" Another professor exclaimed, his voice rising in panic as he tried to gather his relieving [Water Magic] spells onto her skin. "[Water Magic: Healing Water]."
"[Heal]." Despite their efforts, they were too slow. The damage was too severe, the fire too intense. Lady Evelyn's body was still twitching weakly, her breathing shallow as the fire had taken its toll on her fragile form.
As the professors scrambled to help, Crown Prince Dereck's voice rose again, an insincere sob breaking through the façade.
"I didn't intend for this... I never wanted to harm my beloved Evelyn. It's all a horrible mistake!" His eyes briefly flickered to the crowd, catching the stares and whispers.
He couldn't afford to lose the sympathy of the onlookers.
His voice shifted, cold and calculating.
"How pathetic you are to get in my way. You'll get what you deserve." He spoke not to anyone in particular, but more to himself as he looked down at Evelyn's crumpled form. 'Once you're gone, Miss Analissa and I will get married. I'll impregnate her so many times... we'll have so many children and live happily ever after.'
He chuckled under his breath, an eerie, sickening laugh. "I'm so... so... excited."
The truth of his malicious intent began to spill out, masked by his pretended grief. 'So please, help me make sure you die. I've gone through enough trouble picking out the right poison for you. It's slow, but as it coated my flames... oh, what a marvelous sight to see you burn. Soon, nothing will be left of you, and I'll frame Lady Mirelle Avalon for everything.'
Just then, one of the professors, after realizing something was off, pointed urgently at the Crown Prince's wand.
It was Professor Fraeya who inspected it carefully, "Let me see your weapon."
She demanded for the wand to be handed over, the crown prince clutched his wand thinking of wanting to kill this light forsaken elf for noticing something she shouldn't have.
"By all means." (Crown Prince Dereck) handed over his wand and knew that he needed to come up with another lie to cover up his act once she saw the poison.
"It's poisoned." The elven professor spoke in a calm, measured tone as she carefully examined the wand. Her sharp eyes had caught the subtle drip of black liquid seeping from the tip, and she held the wand steady in her hand, letting the dark substance fall to the ground.
"...!" As it touched the earth, the area around it began to darken, withering slightly as the poison's effects were made clear. "Your highness, were you aware that your wand was laced with poison?"
"W-What?!" Crown Prince Dereck's face twisted in feigned disbelief, but his guilt was written all over him. He tried to pull away, but it was too late.
"I-I was not aware! Who would dare tamper with my wand like this?!" (Crown Prince Dereck) stammered, his voice shaking with feigned innocence. He turned quickly toward Lady Mirelle Avalon, his eyes wide and filled with crocodile tears. "W-Who would harm my beloved like this... the only person I was only with was... Lady Mirelle Avalon from our last match."
Lady Mirelle Avalon's hands balled into tight fists, her knuckles turning white.
'That bitch is going to frame me for his crime! So this is the price of accepting his offer?! He'll pay for this!' Her mind raced with fury, plotting how to expose him for his treachery. 'I was wrong to be on his side! Loyalty to the crown my ass!'
Professor Lionheart carefully removed his hands from Lady Evelyn's arm, checking her pulse. His face remained grim as he confirmed that she was still alive, but barely.
The sight of her burned and fragile body filled him with an increasing sense of dread. He looked to the professors gathered around and said, "She's still alive, but just barely. We'll need more than ordinary healing magic for this..."
Professor Fraeya stepped forward, her expression a mix of shock and determination as she took in the severity of the burns.
"This is no ordinary poison," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "The burn is spreading. This was intentional. I haven't seen this rare poison for a while. I can't make the antidote quickly, and this won't be healed by ordinary healing magic either. If this continues, she's going to die."
The air around them grew thick with tension, every second feeling heavier than the last.
If Alarie dies, all hell will break loose on the school.
"How could the system let something like this pass undetected? She's... we need to get her to a professional healer or else her father will-!" The thought lingered in the minds of everyone present, chilling them to the core.
Duke Vernon would not tolerate such disrespect and mismanagement. If his daughter perished here, there would be no mercy for those responsible.
The professors knew that they would be held accountable for not properly checking the Crown Prince's wand. And worse, the academy's detection system, a symbol of pride and security, would be utterly humiliated.
The entire institution would face the fallout, and no one knew how far Duke Vernon's wrath would reach.
They couldn't afford to let her die.
"Stop!" The shout came from across the arena, cutting through the tension.
"Is that Lady Analissa Blanchet?" The professors all stood stiff, a blonde hair girl was running in their direction. "What is she doing here? Students are not permitted to go inside."
"...!" Crown Dereck's eyes brightened, a sickening smile forming on his face.
'Things are just getting better and better! Now that Evelyn is no longer in our way, could it be...?! Has she come to see and congratulate me on winning?!' His mind raced, his false joy evident in the way he straightened up.
"Lady Analissa, how have you been? Did you come here to congratulate me on my victory? Were you watching me the whole time?" His tone was syrupy sweet, laced with false warmth, trying to mask his sinister intentions.
"Ngh..." Analissa's voice trembled with anger as she pushed through the crowd, her body tensed with determination.
"...move!" she commanded, her voice fierce as she stormed toward the stage.
Thud!
"Huh?" (Crown Prince Dereck) blinked in confusion, taken aback by her sudden forcefulness.
Professor Fraeya stops her from getting any closer, "Miss Analissa Blanchet. It would be wise to turn back, if you saw her in this state it is... not right for a student. The other professors are working on healing her."
Two other professors were indeed busy with healing Lady Evelyn but for naught, the burning hasn't stopped spreading on her skin slowly.
"Professor Fraeya, please-! Let me help, I can heal her I swear!" (Analissa) begged the elven professor to give her a chance.
Professor Fraeya knowing where to draw the line a student must not experience this much trauma, "This might not be... fit for an inexperienced caster like yourself. Healing magic won't be able to remove poison so easily. And you... do you even know any advanced light magic spells meant for healing?"
"P-Poison?!" (Analissa) bites her lip. She glared at the crown prince behind his back who seemed to be in a happy mood seeing the heroine being near him. "But please let me try, you have nothing to lose!"
The other professors were still proceeding with basic first aid.
At this point... there really was nothing they could do but try something else.
"Just... be careful." The elven professor moved out of her way and finally let her see the villainess in her burnt state. "This is nothing any human child like you should see but I admire your courage."
"My god... she's... it's going to be fine. [Inventorium]." (Analissa) muttered under her breath, her hand raised. She hadn't expected to rely on these spells again, but Lady Evelyn's life was at stake.
She doesn't care about the consequences of using her newly obtained OP items now, she takes the powerful grimoire hands shaking and asks it, "Book! Please, tell me how I can save her?!"
The floating grimoire hovered around Analissa, its pages flicking as it scanned the scene, observing Evelyn's burned form. Professor Fraeya, who had been standing nearby, watched in disbelief as the book moved on its own.
Her eyes widened in shock, and a glimmer of excitement flickered in them.
"That book... it can't be." She muttered, her voice a mixture of shock and awe, the realization sinking in that she was witnessing something truly extraordinary. "After four thousand years... I never thought I would see it again."
"What the hell is that floating grimoire?" Crown Prince Dereck's voice was filled with disbelief, his eyes wide in confusion and suspicion. "Analissa what are you-"
"I suggest you don't come any closer, Your Highness." Analissa's voice was firm, no longer hiding the anger that burned within her. The weight of the moment was clear- she wasn't backing down.
She was going to save Evelyn, no matter what it took.
Lord Ein backs her up protectively, getting in between them. "Well... you heard her. Respectfully, your highness, it's best to give space for Lady Analissa."
The book opened to a series of pages, glowing with soft, ethereal light, revealing spells for antidotes. The book doesn't move, the instructions for the spell were clear and all of the professors were both curious and livid about the situation.
"What's that book? It looks... sacred."
"I don't know but I can't read some of the inscriptions."
"I wonder where she even got it."
Professor Fraeya couldn't help but stifle a laugh as she overheard the other professors discussing the First Saintess' spellbook as though it were just any other text.
Her amusement, however, was laced with a quiet disbelief.
'It's written in Ancient Common Tongue,' She thought to herself, shaking her head slightly. 'A language from thousands of years ago. Only a handful of people alive today can even read or write it. It's a lost piece of history.'
The spell book was a key to long-forgotten magic, a rare treasure lost in time, and the fact that the others were so casually speaking of it only underscored how little they truly understood the gravity of what they were dealing with.
"Hm."
It seems that Analissa has bonded with it.
"T-This one then?" (Analissa whispered), her fingers trembling as she touched the words. She thought of the risk, she'll most likely faint with the amount of mana she has left- it was barely enough but... better than nothing.
"My light, her face..." (Lord Ein) muttered under his breath as he leaned over to see the villainess' burnt form. The sight of her disfigured, half-burned face shook him to the core.
He turned to the Crown Prince, his expression hardening.
For a moment, he hesitated, the full weight of the situation hitting him. He had never thought Dereck capable of such cruelty- especially to someone like Lady Evelyn Alarie.
"This is just horrible." Lord Ein's voice trembled slightly with disbelief, though he did his best to remain composed. The image of Evelyn's ravaged face would haunt him for a long time, and the reality of Crown Prince Dereck's actions finally settled in, leaving him disturbed and angered.
The heroine was right to worry.
And he regrets not acting sooner.
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