My Yandere Empress

Chapter 8: Ch 8: Bewitcher

Meanwhile, the Hermanns had already subdued the Windsor Army and now surrounded the rest of them.

This was the same army that had wrecked their homes, killed so many of their people and pushed them this far into the Great Forest. All due to a minor disagreement between them and the Windsor Empire.

But now that the tables have turned and the Hermanns were in control, they all radiated heavy killing intent, creating a suffocating atmosphere under which the remaining defeated soldiers cowered in fear.

Among all these, Draven was the first to sense something off.

His pupils dilated as the golden hue in it burnt brighter than the flames lighting up the vegetation around them. His gaze was turned towards the forest, which ended in darkness.

But his vision was special. They pierced through the very darkness and saw what lay at the other far end of the forest.

Instantly his eyes widened in alarm and he muttered, his words meant only for Bloodaxe and Lysandra, both of whom were standing at an arm’s length.

"It seems like the battle is far from over."

Lysandra looked at him quizzically as she asked in return, "What did you see?"

Thorgar leaned forward, curious what his brother-in-law had to say.

Feeling the weight of their gazes, Draven sighed.

"Let’s just say the ones we have defeated were just the vanguard. The real deal is still on their way."

He lowered his voice further as he added, "I think they have Experts in their ranks as well."

Even as he said that, his eyes moved to Bloodaxe as did Lysandra’s.

Watching their expectant eyes, Bloodaxe huffed and cursed inaudibly.

"Not possible. I thought it was a well established fact among you two that my Soul Capacitor has limits and can only awaken at a specific time only."

His voice for the first time since Enzo’s appearance, appeared hesitant. As if he was unsure of his own powers.

"Tsk, a partial Expert." Lysandra clicked her tongue.

"Oi, don’t dare to look down on me. Just give me one more Blood Moon and after that, I shall show you how a true Expert fights."

He then looked back at Draven as asked in a serious voice, the mock anger from just a moment before now nowhere to be found.

"But before that, why did those morons send Experts in here? Do they know about my true powers?"

Stretching his arms, Draven shrugged. "It’s simple. They had information from beforehand. Don’t you see the patterns in which we kept on losing grounds?"

"...Really?" Bloodaxe had a surprised reaction to which Lysandra rolled her eyes.

"Leave him, he is only useful on a battlefield. Only his muscles have grown, wish the same could he said for his brain." She said in a sarcastic voice.

Draven chuckled, drawing the attention of several eyes.

"Not really. He is an excellent leader as well, Lysandra. As for what to do now, I guess we try to negotiate." He offered.

And then began to explain his plan in detail.

***

Trees parted, dried leaves crunched audibly under the marching feet and the first of the Windsor army emerged out of the covers of the forest.

Soldiers lined in rows stepped forward, their armours pitch black and an unicorn drawn in silver lining on their breastplates.

The Windsor flags rose higher, blowing in the night wind as they claimed ownership over where they traversed.

Behind the army lines, at the back, several types of huge weapons were rolled and dragged along the ground.

At the centre, protected by an encirclement of hooded figures was a lone horse.

A figure sat atop it, nudging it forward. This warrior like the others had on herself a full body armour. A cloak bearing the royal crest flowed elegantly on her back.

She had a porcelain face with a pair of mesmerizing eyes which looked completely devoid of any emotions. It made her appear almost...bored.

Her golden hairs fell behind her back as she lifted her war helm open. She then looked in front of her...and then simultaneously at the figures walking beside her horse. But this time, her eyes were filled with confusion and a look of inquiry.

Seeing that, one of these cloaked figures took to the skies as they looked at the battlefield.

...Or rather, what was left of it.

Thr area in front of them burnt in sizzling flames, as trees were turned into ashes and hundreds of corpses littered the ground. But that was to be expected given the fierce battle that had taken place before.

What was rather astonishing was the scene in front of them.

A silver haired man stood at the centre of the burning battlefield, his hands clasped behind him and his golden eyes focused on their approach.

Behind him, atleast three scores of Windsor men in their grey shaded armour were lined in a single row. Each of them were kneeling on the ground, their heads bowed as if in submission.

Shadowy tendrils rose from the ground, as their pointy tips touched their necks, threatening to kill each of them at the slightest movement.

Other than them and the silver haired man, the Expert levitating above the ground saw nobody else. Clearly, the other barbarians had escaped before they had arrived.

"What is the meaning of all this?" She shouted, her hands adjusting the hood covering her face.

The silver haired man looked upwards at the woman and in a calm manner explained.

"The meaning is what you yourself behold. Behind me are your men, one step away from their death."

He let the implication sink in as he continued, "As for what let me reach a desperate decision, I think the reason is clear." As he said that, he swept his hands at the flying woman and the party of other hooded figures encircling the princess.

"So...keeping these hostages in mind, I ask for a negotiation."

The woman suddenly burst into a bout of fake laughter as forced chuckles escaped her throat.

"Seriously? Did you actually think you could threaten us like that? By shoving down a measly few Sihapis against the ground and expecting us to save them?"

This time, several soldiers in the main army chuckled, obviously as amused as the woman levitating above.

"That’s enough." A clear voice rang out and suddenly, everyone turned silent. The hooded woman looked down at the figure on the horse.

"Princess, did I say something wrong?"

"Yes, you did." Came her direct reply. And without caring about her reaction, the princess added.

"We are here to save the measly Sihapis." Prinfess Valerie spoke the words in such a manner that it seemed like she was testing how the words sounded in her tongue.

"But princess, how can we let them try to blackmail us like this?" Another hooded figure spoke from beside the princess.

To which she calmly answered, "If your dignity is so hurt, where were you when these same Sihapis had led the vanguard against the Hermanns? I won’t tolerate any such words that disrespect my warriors. They are my country people and I expect you all to treat them as such."

"Now as for you..." She began, her focus now on the silver haired man. freewebnøvel.com

But she was once again intervened as the woman still above shouted in displeasure, "Princess Valerie, I can simply blast him to the Demon World. And then you can save your Sihapis as well!"

None of them however, noticed the way the silver haired man’s eyes widened as he heard the words "Demon World."

"These are no mere Experts. They are the devil sent Bewitchers. What are they doing here...?!"

His anxious words were however heard by none.

Across from him, Princess Valerie raised her eyes at the woman. In a stern voice, she asked.

"Did I give you permission to interfere with my decisions? Or has your power started getting to your head? Maybe you also think your words have more weight than the royal family itself?"

The woman fell completely silent, her expression hidden beneath the dark hood of her cloak.

Ignoring everyone else, Princess Valerie nudged her warhorse forward as her army parted to let her pass through.

"Let’s hear about this negotiation you so much want to offer us."