Chapter 228: A Caged Wife (1/2)

Noticing that something was wrong with Ellie, Eric challenged his worn out body and rushed to her. He descended down a crater that was created from her attack, and upon noticing her limp unmoving body, he felt a pain in his heart. It felt like someone gripped it to the point where it became numb. Small, yet countless, beads of cold sweat filled his entire body. His clothes became drenched in an instant. He could do nothing but stare at her with his mouth slightly opened.

'This is not the time!' Eric banished all the thoughts that flooded his mind and put his hand above her heart. The first thing Eric did was to infuse her body with QI. However, the QI didn't remain in her body and left it as soon as it entered it. Eric felt like he was trying to catch rain with a punctured pot. 'Is this what Ed felt?' Seeing that nothing he did was working, and the fact that Ellie wasn't getting any better, Eric felt like giving up.

Death. Unlike most people in this world, Eric was fortunate enough not to experience it, nor have anyone close to him experience it. The only ones that he felt sorrow over losing were the three Elders that laid their lies down to create a brighter future for everyone. However, at that moment, a close friend of his was dead. A feeling of hopelessness and weakness took over him. He couldn't help but think about how useless his training was if he wasn't able to save his friend when she was in front of him.

Even though the fight was no longer, neither the citizens nor the soldiers dared to approach the castle grounds. The silence that ensued the battle felt even more dreadful. Only three people stayed where the castle was. The despairing Eric, the deceased Ellie, and Gazef's wife. Gazef's wife Aaushi and she had pure white hair. She wore an equally beautiful white dress. Her eyelashes and eyebrows looked like they were covered by frost, while her cheeks carried a natural blush. She was able to fly, which meant that she was quite powerful, yet because she detested her husband, she didn't join in on the fight.

Still, Aaushi's eyes produced a single tear once she confirmed her husband's death. She descended towards the crater at a slow rate, yet Eric didn't manage to feel her approaching. It wasn't until her feet hit the ground, producing a galloping sound, that he turned around to look at her.

”You are?” Eric's face had two trails of tears. He asked Aaushi as he gripped his sword, showing his intention of fighting.

”I'm but a woman that will be forgotten, no need to know my name. However, know that I am not your enemy, and what I'm about to do, will bring no harm to your friend.” Aaushi, with a soft yet powerful voice, spoke to Eric. Noticing that she has no intention to fight, Eric released his grip over his sword and watched Aaushi approach Ellie's body.

”You may say that you bring her no harm, but I'm not so stupid as to allow you to do with her body anything that you wish to do.” With a domineering voice, Eric told Aaushi before she could do anything. She looked at him and sighed.

”I'm going to save her, at the cost of my own life.” The first part of her sentence shocked Eric, but the second part made him feel worse.

”I'm not so nave as to stop you from saving my friend while saying 'I won't let you use up your life'. If it was up to me, I'll let you do it anytime. However, due to knowing her long enough, I know that Ellie will say just that.” Eric explained his stance.

”Ellie TigrisI've always admired her, even though the number of times we've met could be counted on one hand. She always seemed so aliveso freeLet me tell you, future king of Avalon. I love nothing more in this world than my life. Ever since I was born, I knew nothing except my future as the wife of Gazef. I've been in a cage even before I knew what a cage was. I've come to love my life, even though it was worthless.”

Aaushi's words started to confuse Eric. She told him how she loved her life, but she was trying to save Ellie at the cost of the very thing that she loved. It didn't make sense.