7. ONCE AGAIN, SAVED

The guards apprehended Esthela, carrying out their orders with swift precision. Meanwhile, the women rushed to tend to the wound Esthela had inflicted on Florian's face. The locals, filled with resentment, cursed her name and hurled objects in her direction. Her actions had brought reprisals upon them all, and now they were being pressured to divulge any clues to her potential hideaways.

The next night, shrouded in an eerie fog, Leoric made his appearance. Upon seeing him, Esthela exclaimed and embraced him, tears streaming down her face.

"Leoric! You shouldn't have come. They will kill you; please go away."

"I can't leave you here, Estelita. Follow me quietly," Leoric urged her after releasing her from her tether in the tree. "Can you walk alone?"

"Yes. Do you know anything about my brothers?" Esthela asked.

"Florian's men say that a monster from the forest devoured them," he whispered to her.

"How?, are you sure?" asked Esthela, frightened. "I haven't seen any monsters. It's all my fault; I should have accepted my fate."

Esthela wept bitterly upon realizing that she had become the misfortune of her family. She should have sacrificed herself for their sake. Now, the only thing left for her was to evade capture, ensuring their deaths would not be in vain.

"What shall we do?" she asked Leoric through her tears.

"We'll get married, and then you'll be safe," he replied as they navigated the darkness. "My father is arranging everything. We must stay hidden, though, because I deserted my post at the border to come and rescue you. No one must see me until we're married. After that, you'll go to a safe place with my father, okay?"

"Yes, I will do everything you tell me, Leoric," Esthela replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for helping me."

Leoric and Esthela had been in hiding for a month, unable to marry due to the relentless pursuit of Florian's men. Now, they also faced the wrath of Leoric's father, who was furious upon learning what his son had done to rescue Esthela. Weary from the constant fleeing, Esthela turned to Leoric with a desperate proposal.

"Let's go to the hut in the forest, in no man's land, Leoric. I never should have left; they won't find us there," she pleaded. "Lotha was right; they dare not venture that far. I spent all this time there, and not a single soul came by—no monsters either. I will be yours forever."

"As for our marriage, Esthela," Leoric began, a solemn tone in his voice, "there is something my father wishes to tell you before we proceed. Once you know everything, if you still desire to be my true wife, I will take the risk. And if I cannot withstand the trial, I will die content in the knowledge that you were willing to be my wife."

Esthela, her brow furrowed in confusion, responded, "I don't understand what you're implying, but I've already promised to follow your lead." "Now, let's find some food."

"Alright," he agreed, seeing the wisdom in her words. "We'll stay hidden until I can marry you before the Count. My father is arranging that. Afterward, Florian won't be able to touch us, and once my father devises a plan to return us to our rightful place, we'll accompany him. You stay hidden here; I'll gather supplies."

As nightfall enveloped the town, Esthela watched Leoric stagger away, his body hunched over from the wounds he had sustained. He was on the verge of entering the tavern to scavenge for food when they ambushed him. The assailants caught him off guard and began to beat him mercilessly. Esthela, driven by a desperate urge to help, dashed towards the fray but was swiftly recognized and seized by some guards. With Leoric's intervention, she managed to break free from their grasp.

"Run, Esthela! Get away!" Leoric shouted at her, bravely confronting the guards to prevent them from pursuing her.

Meanwhile, Oryun, true to his promise to Dragon Prince Erick, had left the imperial entourage and descended to check on Esthela. His intuition told him something was amiss. Upon arriving at the secluded cabin in the midst of the forest where Esthela was supposed to be, he immediately noticed her horse was not in its usual spot.

In his human guise, Oryun knocked on the door. Receiving no response, he cautiously entered, only to discover that Esthela had vanished. He traced her steps to her parents' home and soon caught sight of her being pursued by a formidable group of men.

Faced with the unfolding chaos and uncertain of his ability to save her amidst so many humans, Oryun had no choice but to call upon Dragon Prince Erick for assistance.

Prince Erick was fraught with anxiety, sensing that something was amiss with Esthela and troubled by Oryun's prolonged absence. His apprehension only grew until he finally felt Oryun's urgent call. With a swift apology to one of the princesses, Prince Erick excused himself and materialized beside Oryun on Earth.

"What's the matter?" he inquired of his friend.

Oryun didn't speak; instead, he gestured towards Esthela, who was sprinting for her life.

Prince Erick arrived just in time to witness Leoric, armed with his sword, battling furiously to fend off those attempting to capture Esthela. Leoric's voice cut through the chaos, commanding her to flee as he saw her falter in hesitation and terror.

"Oryun, attend to the man. I'll ensure the safety of my human," the prince commanded.

"Are you certain?" Oryun questioned, concern etched on his face.

"Yes, just assist him in escaping without causing too much of a scene," Prince Erick affirmed.

Tears streamed down Esthela's cheeks as she finally mustered the strength to run. With every step, she realized it might be the last time she would see her dear friend. As some men gave chase, she dashed towards the path leading into the forest. Suddenly, she felt enormous claws grasp her shoulders, lifting her high above the ground.

She screamed in terror, and through her panic, she noticed arrows being fired at her airborne captor. Unable to see what was happening, she fell silent, resigning herself to the thought that death might be preferable to the clutches of her pursuers.

From her vantage point, she could see Leoric in the distance, valiantly fighting against the many who attacked him without mercy. As they were about to vanish from her sight, she witnessed those encircling him scream in terror as they caught fire. Seeing her dear friend seize the opportunity to escape filled her with a deep sense of relief.

They soared through the sky until Esthela, overcome by exhaustion and resignation, slipped into a half-sleep state, oddly at peace with the prospect of being devoured by the mysterious creature that carried her. Eventually, they descended onto a vast mountain. There, she was set down gently. Straining her eyes in the dim light, she could discern no details of the beast. Huddled on the cold ground, she awaited her fate, but only the whisper of the wind met her ears.

"I've ensured the human's safety," Oryun reported as he entered. "I was uncertain about bringing him along; I didn't want to cause alarm. Besides, an old man appeared and took him away." He paused, then asked, "What's she doing? Why doesn't she enter?"

The prince, observing Esthela from a distance, replied, "She'll come in. Now, we must leave before my father notices my absence. I believe she'll be secure here."

"Look, she's entering," Oryun pointed out as Esthela approached. "Make sure to seal the cave properly this time; we can't let her escape."

Prince Erick nodded in agreement with his future advisor's suggestion. "Alright, I'll create a protective barrier," he declared, weaving a spell to seal the entrance of the cave where Esthela had taken refuge. "There," he said once the task was complete, "I'm not sure how she managed to evade us, but I hope she stays there quietly. Now come on, my mother is searching for me."

"Don't you think it would be better if I stayed?" Oryun asked.

"There's no need. Now that the barrier is in place, I truly believe she won't be able to leave. Later, you can bring her food and clothes; she won't need much," the prince instructed.

"Alright, but first let's bid farewell to Princess Luddie of the waters," Oryun suggested with a light-hearted tone.

Together, they made their way back to the imperial dragon palace. It seemed that their brief absence had gone unnoticed. They were just beginning to relax when a deep, resonant voice startled them.

"Erick, I need to talk to you now!"

Moments earlier, Esthela, realizing that none of what she had anticipated was happening and feeling the biting cold, stood up and ventured into a vast cave. To her amazement, it was furnished with skins, vessels, and some food. Having abandoned all hope, she resigned herself to fate, thinking that if she were to die, she might as well die with a full stomach.

Remarkably, she managed to light a fire with little trouble. She prepared a hearty meal from what she could find and, after eating her fill, she wrapped herself in a fur and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Days passed, yet the enigmatic being who had both kidnapped and saved her did not return. Each time Esthela awoke, she discovered fresh food, and even new clothing — coats and boots — reminiscent of those she had found in the cabin in the woods. The identity of her invisible benefactor was a constant enigma, occupying her thoughts. Could it be the demonic deer that seemed to watch over her in the forest? What did they want from her?

Winter had seized the landscape, draping everything within reach under a white blanket of snow. Despite the biting cold, Esthela found herself well-provided for; there was always enough wood for the fire, ample food, and coats to fend off the chill. It was as though an unseen guardian watched over her from afar, ensuring she wanted for nothing. But who could this benefactor be, and what did they seek in offering such help?

Resolved to unearth the truth, Esthela chose to stay concealed in her refuge, away from Florian's men who were in pursuit of her. She yearned to identify and understand the source of her silent safeguarding. Yet, no matter how vigilantly she observed or how many hours she spent awake into the night, she never caught more than a glimpse of those fleeting moments when a hefty wooden mallet would levitate through the air, coming to rest beside her campfire. This inexplicable occurrence, this phenomenon, seemed to be the workings of some supernatural entity.

That vision only solidified her belief that she was in the care of a supernatural entity. What could its interest in her be? What hidden purpose lay behind these benevolent acts? To Esthela, nothing else seemed to matter anymore. She had resolved to remain with her unseen guardian, to live under this enigmatic protection for as long as it was extended. After all, this mysterious being had shown her more kindness than any person she had ever encountered.

Feeling its presence around her, she started to speak to it, pouring out her thoughts and emotions, even though she never received a reply. Intrigue and anticipation held her captive each time she attempted to reach out to this supernatural presence. What did the future hold for her? What secrets would unravel as she explored the depths of the connection that seemed to bind them? Only time and her unwavering determination would unveil the answers she so desperately sought.