Soon, a small group of knights left the northern capital and headed for the northern borders.
When they crossed the endless snowy plains, time passed so slowly that it seemed the journey would be quite long.
However, as they continued on their way with almost no breaks, making only short stops for the night, time continued to pass surprisingly quickly.
The Lord of the North seemed like a monster who simply did not need rest and was ready to continue on with the same intensity. And the knights of the north seemed to emulate their mistress in this.
Nevertheless, out of politeness, Asil asked several times:
— Lady Dexsin, if you are tired, we can make a stop.
— No... There is no need.
Although these assurances were not entirely true, the young head of the order still could not tell the truth and admit that she was less resilient than Lord Sever.
After all, throughout her life, the woman had travelled almost exclusively by carriage, and her experience with horseback riding was not that great, especially over such long distances. But Liana simply could not say that out loud.
In the end, she simply endured the fatigue and held on with all her strength as they continued their journey through the cold northern lands.
From time to time, Liana glanced around. They were travelling through snowdrifts due to the lack of proper roads, which were impossible to build because of the specific climate of the north. Apart from snow, the landscape consisted only of gloomy coniferous forests, which were dark and dangerous-looking. After surveying the gloomy landscape, the woman turned away and sighed deeply to calm her pounding heart.
After some time, or more precisely, after several days of continuous travel, their cavalcade stopped:
— We have arrived.
When Asil announced this, she was the first to dismount from her horse. Liana Dexsin, who followed her, also dismounted and saw piles of demonic creatures scattered on the ground, stiff as stone.
In the open space of the winter forest, the scattered entrails and bodies of black-furred monsters were visible:
— Demonic beasts, — the princess said calmly, looking down at the corpse of a beast at her feet. — Lady Dexsin, this is your first encounter with them, isn't it?
Liana managed to swallow the bile rising in her throat. She no longer wanted to look at this unsightly sight:
— So this is where it happened? — the woman asked in a trembling voice.
— Yes. It was here that our knights found your sister's body, — sighed the princess. — As you can see, there are still quite a few of them here. After what happened, we tightened control at the borders, and that is why these monsters were destroyed earlier by our soldiers while on patrol.
Consciously turning away from the bloody scene, Liana turned her head and looked around. Among the numerous coniferous trees and snow, it was indeed difficult to notice anything unusual. Nevertheless, it was in this very place that her younger sister had tragically died, torn to pieces by such monsters.
Looking at the horrific corpses of the demonic beasts, Liana found it even harder to accept that her beloved sister had really encountered something like this.
Finally, clearing her throat, the woman slowly opened her mouth:
— I'll look around here.
— Of course, — Asil smiled distractedly, — Lady Dehsin, would you like me to accompany you?
After a moment's hesitation, Liane replied unexpectedly:
— If it's not too much trouble for you.
— Nonsense, — she smiled, — I'm happy to do you this favour.
At that moment, the young head of the order exchanged glances with Hannes Raightly, who was also one of the experienced knights participating in this campaign. Without saying a word to each other, the woman soon turned her head away.
At that moment, the commander of the fortress opened his mouth:
— Your Highness, I will remain with the knights and keep order.
— Yes.
The princess snorted, not even deigning to look at the knight.
As the two walked through the snow-covered forest, Asil spoke:
— Lady Dexsin, as you can see, there is hardly anything interesting here. It's just an ordinary forest.
— We just arrived here. Don't be so sure.
— Of course, of course, — Asil smiled, — But may I ask what led you to that conclusion? What exactly made you decide that there was something unusual about your sister's death?
Liana Dexsin frowned.
— I'm just sure that my sister couldn't have died so easily, — she said in a heavy tone.
The silver-haired woman smiled even wider when she heard her words.
— How can you know? Your sister was just an ordinary person. Why are you so sure that she couldn't have met her death at the claws of a demonic beast?
— Just consider it family intuition, — Liana replied.
— Well, as you wish. I can't argue if your intuition tells you otherwise.
As they continued walking together, the young head of the order kept glancing discreetly at the woman walking beside her. Contrary to her expectations, the princess was still full of strength and energy, and there was no sign of fatigue in her behaviour.
Liana Dexsin looked around. There was no one else around.
Unconsciously, alarm continued to grow in the depths of her mind. Suppressing it, Liana asked:
— Your Highness, are you not tired yet?
— Oh, no, not at all. I'm fine, — Asil replied easily.
— Are you sure? All this time you've been walking practically without a break...
Asil smiled.
— It's nothing, but I appreciate your concern, — she said sarcastically. — I've been fighting since I arrived in the north. Sometimes I can't rest properly for months. So a trip like this is really nothing to me.
Finally, after listening to her, the successor to the order pressed her lips together.
— I see.
— So you have nothing to worry about. I have more than enough strength to ensure your safety on this trip.
«.......»
Liana Dexsin, who had pressed her lips into a thin line, couldn't suppress her own emotions.
The woman continued to look around. It seemed as if she was looking for something or someone. But finding nothing, she turned away and continued to stare straight ahead with mixed feelings.
— Lady Dexsin, you're looking around so intently. Have you found something? — Asil asked curiously.
— I...
Before Liana Dexsin could answer, all her attention was focused on the object in front of her. A demonic beast was not far from where they stood. The hideous creature, covered in black fur, bared its fangs and slowly approached.
At that moment, the woman's heart froze.
Hadn't the princess warned her earlier that all the demonic beasts in this area had been destroyed before their arrival? Then where the hell did this monster come from?!
Liana grabbed her sword and hurried to draw it. Although her hands were shaking uncontrollably at that moment, she tried to keep the weapon in her hands.
She had never fought such monsters before. The heir to the order couldn't control her excitement.
«Garrrrr!» The beast let out a loud, threatening roar. Naturally, it attacked without warning.
At that moment, the beast roared and lunged at her. Liana managed to block its jaws with her sword right in front of her. In the end, the demonic beast, whose physical strength was simply terrifying, easily knocked her off her feet. Liana's sword ended up in its mouth, and she continued to hold on to it with all her might.
But...
Crack!
Surprisingly, the sword, made from the most expensive metal on the southern continent, began to crack under the force of its fangs. The monster's terrifying jaws, radiating death, were right in front of her face. Liana couldn't help but feel terror.
The cracks on the sword grew larger and larger. It was becoming clear that the weapon would not last much longer.
Liana couldn't believe that she was really going to meet her death here. Right here, where her younger sister had suddenly died not long ago. However...
Just as the woman was about to close her eyes so she wouldn't have to see this horrible sight, something unexpected happened.
Asil, who had been standing next to her the whole time, swung her sword at the spot where the monster's corpse now lay. Before her eyes, it gradually began to turn into pieces of flesh.
«Ah...» The heir to the order suddenly felt dizzy at the sight of blood dripping onto the snow from the monster's body.
No matter how much effort she had put in up to that point, Liana was unable to offer any resistance to this monster. The monster itself was incredibly terrifying and powerful, but Liana Dehsin had the impression that the Princess of the North was simply playing with it.
«This is madness.»
Her mind refused to accept what was happening, and the woman was ready to lose consciousness. However, at that very moment, the princess, with a glove stained with the monster's blood, reached out her hand to her.
What was happening confused Liana.
— You... just saved me? — she asked, puzzled.
— How else could it be? — the princess smiled easily. — How could I let you die in a place like this? After all, the spirit of Lady Dehsin's younger sister would never forgive me.
Hesitating, the heiress of the order accepted this and sighed.
— In that case... thank you.
Liana Dexsin was ready to extend her hand to accept the offered help. However, at that moment, the northern princess continued her previous speech:
— By the way, your sister remained just as beautiful even after death. To be honest, it was so pitiful. So much so that I even regretted not being able to use her remains to make something beautiful.
Liana froze, staring at her with a blank expression. Her outstretched hand also froze in midair at that moment. But Asil continued without hesitation:
— What do you think, would a scabbard made from her skin be perfect for my sword?
«........»
Liana couldn't believe she had actually heard those words.
A mocking smile spread across the northern devil's impassive face, and it became clear that she was simply mocking her at that moment. Her opponent's heart pounded loudly.
Her eyes darkened with anger. Liana Dexsin felt that she would not be able to bear it if she did not finish off the northern princess right here and now.