Elina coughed and pressed her palm against her stomach where she felt a burning pain. A piece of
wood had lodged itself into the side of her stomach. Blood now coated her hands and her already
bloodied tunic. She heard the boy suck in air at the sight and feebly opened her eyes. She was growing
weak and tired. Her energy was drained. the glow in her eyes was merely just a flicker now.
"Save yourself. Go. I'll heal soon." She said softly and tugged on his shirt which was starting to get
crimson from her bleeding.
His unusually bright blue eyes which reminded her of the ocean, stared at her own honey gold ones
rather unsure. Slowly his grip on her loosened. He let go of her and got up. Elina slowly propped
herself against a pile of stones, the only remains of the house that once stood in its place. She hissed
in pain as she carefully took out the piece of wood. She would heal but with her energy drained out,
she doubted if it would be on time. She was sure one of the dark soldiers would find her and kill her
even she managed to heal. She bit her lip hard, drawing blood, when a sudden shoot of pain coursed
through her body. Though a great mage, she was still a five year old child who barely reached up to the
height of her father's waist.
Beings that possessed magic like herself were much stronger and grew up faster compared to the
humans - mentally and physically. Though they did stop ageing normally once they reached the adult
age. She wondered if Fin would find her and take her to the Guardian Agatha that her mother
mentioned. Elina was almost in an unconscious state when she felt something wrapping around her
stomach.
"Can you stand?"
It was the same blue eyed boy, she realized with a start.
"Why are you still here?" Elina squinted at him.
"You saved my life once, it's now my turn to return the favor. My mother taught me that a Prince always
puts his people and kingdom before himself."
'Prince? From where?' Elina thought to herself.
"My dragon Fin should be around here somewhere. You should be able to recognize him by the royal
crest on his saddle. He's a mixture of green and blue." She told the boy, her voice barely above a
whisper.
"I think I see him. Come on, just a little farther."
The boy was strong for his age. He supported Elina's weight on his back and managed to walk them to
Fin without getting spotted or burnt. He helped Elina onto Fin and hauled himself up, a moment later.
Elina was surprised that Fin didn't object. He usually didn't take well to strangers.
"Fin find the Guardian, you should be able to see her at the end of river Avalon." Elina told the dragon,
who at once flapped his huge wings and took off the ground.
The boy wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from falling and kept his other hand on the
reins. For some reason Elina felt safer being close to him even though she knew they were far from it.
Her consciousness was held together by a thin thread which was ripping by the second.
"Stay awake." The boy whispered and shifted Elina in his arm. He was easily an inch or two taller than
her which made it a little easier for him to keep his grip.
No sooner had they reached when a woman who looked to be no older than in her twenties, with long
raven hair and bright silver eyes, swiftly walked towards them. Her eyes widened when she took in
Elina's state.
"Princess Elina! Gods, quick boy follow me. This is getting out of hand too quick."
Agatha quickly saw to that Fin was properly nursed before grabbing a few bottles off shelves.
"She's the princess?" The boy asked in a surprised tone.
"I thought you would have recognized by the shade of her eyes. She's Princess Elina Madeleine Aurora
Dragna, heir to the throne of Corona." Agatha said as she dabbed a dark blue substance on Elina's
stab wound using a white feather.
Elina groaned and slightly squeezed the boy's hand which she held tightly in her grasp.
"It's alright. It's over now. You're okay."
'Will you be alright as well?'
The boy's eyes shot wide open when he heard her voice in his head. 'No that can't be right. Must be
my imagination.' he thought frantically.
"That should do it. We better get goi- Are you alright boy?" Agatha looked at the boy staring wide eyed
at Elina.
"Y-Yes I'm quite alright. Where are you taking her?" He asked Agatha, still looking at the princess lying
in front of him. Agatha gave him a once-over and observed his face.
"Somewhere far, far away. She will be safe there." The old witch replied as she packed a little bag. The
boy's heart dropped.
"Will she come back? What will happen to us?"
"When the time is right, she will. It is not the nature of a Coronian princess to abandon her kingdom."
After a pause, Agatha placed a small duffle bag onto the boy's hands.
"It has enough food and money to last you for a while. Take Fin and leave through a portal at once. It's
the tree with silver red leaves. You should be able to spot it quite easily. Fin will know. I hope you will go
back to your family safely."
The boy clutched the bag in one hand and looked at the other, which the sleeping princess was still
holding.
"Thank you. Stay safe as well."
Agatha glanced at him for a split second before proceeding to wear her thick hooded cloak. Something
mysterious danced in her eyes as she eyed both of them.
While she wasn't looking, the boy bent down and kissed Elina's cheek lightly.
"Stay safe Rora. May we meet again someday." He whispered.
He gave her hand a little squeeze and gently tucked it to her side.
As the Guardian climbed onto her dragon, she looked at the blue eyed boy, who sat on Fin waiting for
Agatha to take off.
"What your name, boy?"
"It's-"
But what his name was, Agatha never got to hear, for at the same time, they heard loud yelling and
flapping of wings.
"Search the forest. Quick. I need that girl alive."
"It's time. Goodbye boy, thank you for all that you have done. One day, Corona will look up to you and
bow their heads in respect." She said cryptically.
The boy gave Agatha a small smile and watched as she took off with Elina safely tucked into her cloak.
'Until we meet again, Rora.'
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