TFSAWE - Chapter 243: Fear of Letting Go (Patreon)

Outside the tent, a fierce sandstorm raged, obscuring all directions. I raised my arm to shield my face and looked up. As expected.

"Aslan.."

He stood there, with a mocking expression, arms crossed and eyes cast downward.

In order to conceal his presence and not give away his identity at my request, he had been concealing his gestures in the palace. But now, he had no reason to hide anymore.

"What in the world is the author up to?"

The Imperial Knights in the vicinity felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, unable to hide their fear as they looked up at the sky. I, too, was no exception. It was undoubtedly the Aslan I knew, yet I sensed a fierce anger that could explode at any moment.

"Is he a sorcerer?"

"No way. Even if he were a sorcerer, this is..."

A young knight, appearing somewhat inexperienced, trembled as he looked at Aslan. His determination not to retreat, even as sweat poured down his face, was admirable, but that was the extent of it. The sound of horses in various encampments going wild and the screams of civilians who had been helping at the encampment echoed throughout.

Aslan alone had turned this place into one of terror by his mere presence.

In the meantime, the seasoned knights quickly regained their composure and armed themselves. They shouted at their still-dazed comrades, urging them to prepare for the impending attack. However, everyone knew that such an assault would be futile against Aslan.

Seeing Aslan floating in the air, his red hair fluttering in the wind, I once again realized the nature of the pact I had made and embraced him. And how much he had "graced" us.

"What brings you here, Aslan?"

Leon, who had followed me out, asked Aslan.

In this moment, I felt a genuine respect for Leon. He was the only one here who could stand against Aslan's eerie presence without being overwhelmed.

"How about toning down that sharp aura of yours a bit? Lina isn't feeling well right now."

Leon said so while embracing me. However, Aslan's presence became even more ominous.

"Mmm..."

I felt a tingling sensation as if needles are pricking my skin. In the past, the power that resided within me would have protected me to some extent from Aslan's magic, but now, having lost all my abilities, I was nothing more than an ordinary civilian.

As a result, I could only stagger and collapse, devoid of strength.

"Oh no.."

As if anticipating this, Leon quickly grabbed my waist and pulled me into his arms. It was only by holding onto his arms that I managed to stay on my feet. At that moment, I noticed that Leon's body was trembling.

"Is he trembling?"

Without casting a glance at the people around us, Aslan approached me and Leon, extending his hand as he spoke.

"Come here, Lina," he beckoned.

In that instant, I could feel Leon's body trembling as he pulled me into his embrace. It was then that I understood why Leon was shaking. It wasn't because of Aslan; it was because he feared that I would go.

Aslan shot Leon a cold gaze.

"You, commend yourself for guarding the saint while I was absent. It's truly fortunate that one of the two bastards was actually carrying out their duty."

Uncertain whether it was praise or criticism, Aslan extended his hand to me once more.

"You have a contract to uphold with me. Now I know that I need not wait any longer, nor do I need to wait at all."

His words were true. More precisely, it was a contract with Evelina, not me, but as long as I inhabited her body, it was a contract that I had to fulfill.

I turned my body to face Leon. As our eyes met, his face contorted. It was a face that seemed to know exactly what I was going to say.

"Leon."

"No, Lina."

"Thank you for turning a fake saint possessed by demons into a princess consort. Without you, both Latvan and I would have already been in the hands of Carl."

Leon's actions to rescue Latvan and me were not just those of a knight from the Empire. He had formally raised his flag against the Empire. And he had chosen not the new saint, Iris, but the fallen saint, me.

His choice had no advantages. Now the Empire would officially declare the Empire an enemy nation, and those who believed in and followed the gods would raise their banners against the Empire. Within the Empire, he would face all sorts of criticism, and his choice would ignite the flames of rebellion in the once-conquered nations.

A cunning prince who claimed not to suffer any losses. He had made his first choice in his life where he was at a disadvantage. How could one not wonder what it meant?

I reached out and cupped Leon's face, then slowly pressed my lips against his.

"Leon."

"Lina, please..."

As Leon stood still, his eyes reddened as he accepted my kiss. The prince of the Empire, who ruled over half the continent, was crying because he couldn't let go of just one woman.

It is not my fault to find such a sight of Leon endearing. I wish you didn't have any feelings for me.

I pushed Leon's body away, and he took a step back, unable to hold onto me. I immediately turned around and shouted to Aslan.

"Aslan! Take me away quickly!"

As if waiting for those words, Aslan approached me and embraced my waist, whispering to me.

"As you wish."

In the next moment, Aslan and I were soaring through the sky.

***

Latvan rose and glanced over his shoulder. He felt a slight stiffness but sensed no particular abnormality. After inspecting his shoulders a few more times, Latvan drew the borrowed sword from a fellow temple knight. Soon, a swift, slicing sound filled the quiet forest.

As he swung the sword vigorously towards the woods, the gleaming blade reflected the moonlight, tracing a radiant path. Moments later, a decaying tree, located at a distance, split effortlessly into two pieces, with its upper portion gracefully descending to the ground.

Had other knights witnessed this scene, they would have felt disheartened. Those who possessed the ability to cleave distant objects with a swing of their swords were few and far between in the entire continent. Naturally, among them, Latvan was the one who effortlessly harnessed this power.