Chapter 55: First Fight for Their Lives

Chapter 55: First Fight for Their Lives
Isolde was stunned with the fact that she realize but not too stunned not to know what to do. Whether she likes it or not, whether she feels fear for herself and for the prince she is with, it doesn't matter because what is most important right now is that she must accomplish what she promised to the Spirit King because not fulfilling it means worse than death.

"Any plans?" She asked Theron while still keeping her voice as low as possible, she doesn't want to catch the attention of that glacier wolf just yet.

"Are you seriously going to try and fight that thing, Princess?" The Prince asked in disbelief or maybe amusement because of what she just said. He never thought that she would be the one to bring up thoughts on having any plans because for him, he would lie if he said that the first thought that came into his mind was to run away and ask for professionals for help.

In fact, it was utmost necessary to ask for help in the situation they are in, especially with already observing that the forest that once cared for now turned into a breeding ground for something that shouldn't exist.

"It's better than to let it stay here, right?" she answered and Theron couldn't help but to let out a sigh. He knows that as a prince, a prince that has been keeping his powers and capability a secret to avoid being targeted by his brothers who are so obsessed with acquiring the throne for their own desires he has nothing to do with this matter. To be honest, what he is just planning is to secretly investigate the sudden fluctuations he felt and the moment that he already acquired his answer he will just leave a tip to the authorities and leave.

It was never his concern, in the very first place.

But now that he is suddenly involved with the princess of the Ansirad duchy, he feels like he literally has no choice but to follow her.

"Have you been taught about Glacier Wolves back at your duchy?" he asked as a sign of defeat already of what is about to come next. He already knew that from this point foward, he will be immersed in a battle that may cost him his life because he already made a silent vow that at least the princess of the Ansirad duchy will be safe after their arrogant move to eradicate the monsters in the forest.

"Yeah, I know a thing about them."

"A thing? Seriously? Do you think that is enough to defeat these fuckers?" He answered in frustration. He always thought that the only woman in the duchy of the great defenders of the empire is treated as a literal or even more than a princess of their own family, but he never thought that it was to this extent. A while ago, he thought that maybe its just because this girl just don't want to leave the place doomed to filled with monsters but right now, it changed - he thinks that Isolde Ansirad is plain reckless.

"Well, just watch okay? And make sure to keep everything you see a secret - ah no wait, lemme cast something for a moment" she blurted out and for a short while Theron saw a flickering golden light, it was like fireflies approaching him. He didn't flinch but he was curious what those things were because the moment that they entered the forest full of miasma, there were no signs of life.

The golden light touched his palm and for some reason he felt like something has been made between the two of them; something that he wasn't sure about. But rather than to be concerned of what just happened, he simply was curious on what exact did she mean by saying that he needs to keep everything a secret, he was about to ask her what she meant by those words when suddenly she heard Isolde talking about something, in fact it was more like she is casting a spell than talking and suddenly, golden light started to emit from her body, the same light that touched his palm a while ago.

"The heck is going on here."

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After Isolde casted a spell of promise to the Prince, she immediately activiated her innate ability to coat herself with holy light, a spell that was taught to her by her father. It was for basic self defense simply to avoid herself from getting hurt too much physically. She made sure the light was only enough to make sure that the Prince that she is with wouldn't feel too shocked or bothered with what he is going to see next.

"Dad mentioned that I always need to keep my guard up especially when it comes to the empire, but I think casting the spell of promise is already enough to keep him from talking to others of what he will witness next. I also feel like he wouldn't really tell anyone."

After coating herself with holy light, Isolde swiftly jumped from the ground up to the tree.

"Diane" She said and a golden bow appeared on her hand. It was a artificat, a gift from her magic teacher. According, to her magic teacher it was an artificat that could change its form according to the capabilities or need of the wielder and because she prefers bows more, it took such form. The Glacier Wolf was huge—a monster made of jagged ice and thick, matted white fur. Its breath came out as freezing fog. The second Isolde landed on the tree branch, the wolf’s glowing red eyes locked right onto her.

It had caught her scent.

Isolde didn’t wait for it to jump. She pulled back the golden string of her bow, Diane. Instead of a real arrow, her magic formed a sharp, glowing bolt of golden light.

Aim for the chest, she thought.

She let go of the string.

BANG!

The arrow flew through the air like a streak of lightning and hit the wolf right in the chest, breaking through its heavy ice armor. The wolf let out a painful roar as the golden magic burned its hide, forcing it back a few steps.

It’s tough, Isolde realized, pulling back her bow again. The ice armor is already fixing itself!

"You really are crazy!" Theron yelled from below.

Even though he complained, he didn't run. The prince moved like a shadow, pulling out a plain, simple sword. The lazy look on his face completely vanished, replaced by sharp focus. He slammed his sword into the ground, unleashing a hidden blast of shockwave magic that sliced right into the wolf's back leg.

The wolf tripped mid-jump, missing Isolde's tree branch by an inch and shredding the wood instead.

"Thanks, Prince!" Isolde called out.

She jumped down from the branch into the air. While falling, she created three light arrows at once and fired them all directly into the wolf's cracked back.

BOOM!

The golden light exploded, melting the ice and burning the monster. The wolf cried out in anger and whipped its heavy ice tail straight at her as she landed.

"Watch out!" Theron shouted.

He darted forward and pushed Isolde out of the way, using his own sword to block the heavy tail. The force sent him sliding across the dirt, but he stayed on his feet.
Standing side-by-side in the dark forest, both of them breathing heavily, Theron looked at Isolde with a tired smile.

"For someone who only knows 'a thing' about Glacier Wolves," he panted, "you hit pretty hard."

Isolde grinned, raising her bow again. "I told you to watch me, didn't I?"

"Talk later, we still have a lot to do" Theron said and as if on cue, a pack of glacier wolves with glowing red eyes surrounded them