It felt like there was nothing.

  No more feelings, no more sense.

  She just felt…empty.

  Time still seemed like it struggled to move as the giant hand clasped around her forearm again. This time dragging her away from the hall.

  It all seemed so fast, yet.

  So slow.

  The last vision Maya saw as her Batin dragged her away was the back of her mother - crouched over their Emperor and the javelin pointed towards the ceiling, now bound to his chest. A man takes his place next to the Empress, before he raises and slices his Katana downwards, travelling towards her neck.

  His yanks were more forceful now, telling her in which direction to go down the many different hallways. More smoke filled the air as it chokes the back of their noses, and sporadic flames ferociously whipping about from spotfires.

  The thick steel plate that he had around his chest for armour looked like it didn’t weigh a thing as Nikolai sprints and crashes through a door, opening the way into the castle’s library. An enormous assortment of books stood on shelves that were now dimly visible through the smoke.

  A body laid on the ground face-down with fabric and flesh torn off its back.

  It was Maya’s tutor, Jeffrey.

  She recognises that long wavy hair anywhere.

  Some energy returned, allowing her to gain some control over her legs again. Then tapping Nikolai on the arm to notify him that she can walk properly enough now.

  Maya had to swallow before she could speak.

  “My private study, Nikolai”

  “At once, Princess.” He calmly responds.

  Without hesitation, Nikolai takes a turn into another small hallway. This time running to the very end where four doors were. Two doors on each side.

  No charging or slamming into the door this time.

  Nikolai walks to the door farthest down the hallway, and gives it a gentle turn.

  A small peek.

  Before stepping into the private quarters, hand by his sword and ready to strike at any given moment.

  Maya waited by the edge of the door - expecting to hear something - before Nikolai’s gloved hand appeared from the room, gesturing her to come in.

  She quickly enters the room and hurriedly slams it shut behind her, before locking it.

  Running over to her desk, she opens a drawer and pulls out multiple strings of white ribbon, and a kaiken dagger. Hastily tying her dark-red hair up into a pony-tail, and using another length of ribbon to strap her dagger to her thigh.

  Nikolai remained stoic and undisturbed with his side to the wall, ears waiting to pick up on any unusual noises down the hallway.

  Her breathing started getting heavier as Maya threw books from a shelf to the ground and tipping it over. Revealing an opening in the wall almost half their size.

  She tears the bottom of her ceremonial gown off, revealing long legs that almost gleamed in the dim room - despite all the dirt, ash, and blood on it.

  A moment passed while Maya caught her breath.

  The pair share a look as Nikolai takes a step towards the opening before Maya stops him.

  “Nuh-uh.” She gestures, half-effortedly raising a hand.

  “Let me have this one.”

  Old memories flooded her as she took a step into the opening and jumped down into the tunnel. Memories of childhood, mischief, and Destructive High Magick Arts.

  She looks back as her Batin lands with a dull thump beside her.

  Echoes of the small stream running down the tunnel mixes with the reverberated sounds of explosions and yelling in the background.

  “When we exit into the alleyway, we will need to find a way out of the city, Nikolai.” Maya utters to her Batin.

  A small pause.

  Silence.

  “Do you have any ideas?” She asks, hoping to get something out of him.

  Nikolai shakes his head. Eyes closed with disappointment.

  They were getting closer to the exit of the tunnel that led to the alleyway now, so Maya was desperate to find something in her plans that might work.

  But, nothing.

  Maya comes up to the battered-down hatch that covers the entry to the tunnel. Giving it a small push, just enough to give a small peek.

  Clear.

  She gives it another small push.

  Still clear.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Eventually half her body is out in the alleyway, the two now inching closer to escaping the besieged city.

  It wasn’t a long walk until they were about to come up to another junction. But this time, it will be taking them to the main road near one of the bridges.

  “The bridge!” Maya blurts out.

  Nikolai raises an eyebrow. Egging her on to explain.

  In the distance the sound of the carnage continues.

  Louder this time.

  “We’re going to make a run to the bridge, Nikolai. It’s the nearest exit from the city right now.” Maya anxiously caressed her ring as she spoke.

  Her Batin halts, making her stop in her tracks just the same.

  Nikolai undoes his cape and throws it around the princess’ shoulders. The width difference allowing it to cover more than half of her bloodied ceremonial gown.

  After making sure that it was secured enough, he throws an end on her head, almost turning it into a hood.

  He sternly looks at her as he spoke.

  “Then allow me to take point for this one, Princess.”

  Turning around in place, unsheathing his blade.

  Nikolai’s rugged face burrows as he prepares to reach the junction of the main street.

  And right on cue.

  The first rebel soldier, dressed in dark-green and no armour comes charging around the corner. Yelling out a warcry, and blade raised above his head.

  His first mistake.

  And Nikolai made sure that it would be that soldier’s last.

  An explosion of red.

  The body thumps to the ground in two pieces.

  He stood no chance.

  Stepping into the middle of the street, the carnage was worse than they could have imagined.

  Soldiers and rebels clashed their weapons together.

  Some townsfolk crying as multiple bodies of different factions littered the city street.

  One Madura Empire soldier just casually sits down on a bench and takes his helmet off. Look of utter disappointment in his face before he gets tackled down to the ground by a group of rebels.

  Nikolai and Maya striding at a decent rhythmic pace now. Her Batin putting in work - leaving behind a literal trail of broken bodies in his wake - their leather and hide armour no match for the power that he wields through his sword.

  A fellow Madura Empire soldier gets sent through a window of the nearest fitting boutique by his powerful kick after getting too close and randomly swinging at Nikolai. Clearly having reached his mental limit and losing his mind from the day’s traumatic events.

  Maya focused on defending the sides and rear.

  Channelling and focusing her spirit energy from her feet to her palms - Destructive High Magick Art, Raze Incantation No. 20 - each push of spirit energy into her palms would send mere rebel military soldiers flying back a ways away.

  Each Raze Incantation blurring the air around her.

  The pair turned the corner of the next junction that they came to, and that’s where they saw it.

  The bridge.

  The bridge that will send them out of Madura Castle and into the forest.

  From there they may get some breathing room to collect themselves and decide on what should be done next.

  No time for hesitation now.

  Nikolai slices at the last rebel that was in between them and the foot of the bridge.

  He sheathes his sword as they begin their full pelt run across the bridge as the rebel withers behind them, blood spewing and collecting underneath him.

  Gasping deeply for breath, trying to cling onto whatever life he had left in him.

  The princess leans forward into her sprint, catching up to Nikolai.

  “Do not stop for anything until we cross this bridge, got it?” She huffs, in between breaths.

  Another simple nod from her Batin.

  The middle of the bridge had a small crest, so it was not entirely clear on who or what could be just over it. But it was obvious enough that this bridge has not had any military action on it since the raid started.

  Except for two figures appearing into view. Running through the light smoke.

  Their two silhouettes progressively getting clearer and clearer the closer they got.

  One of the figures was very tall, hair bouncing in the wind, and one hand reaching behind it about to draw its blade.

  The other was almost half its height. Hair swaying side to side in beat to each of its strides.

  This one too was reaching for its blade, albeit from its hip.

  The moment finally came where both parties appeared out of the haze - finally able to visually see each other.

  Two women.

  One massively taller than the other, with lean muscle that wanted to bulge through almost every inch of her body that wasn’t covered.

  Strong.

  Solid.

  Dangerous.

  And the other looked focussed.

  Intent.

  Angry.

  Elegant.

  With no hesitation, Maya drops her arm to her side and swoops it in a diagonal motion in front of her - Destructive High Magick Art, Raze Incantation No. 15: Dragon’s Bane - the position of her fingers mimicking those of claws as it sends a wave of destructive energy through them.

  Destructive aura ripped through the air with such force that three crescent lines mimicking dragon claws almost appeared, tearing up pebbles and bricks from the ground as it travelled.

  A crack was heard as the flash of a sphere-like aura appeared around the shortest of the girl, dissipating a brunt of the blast, but not stopping her from getting thrown up into the air and off the bridge.

  The tallest of the two was stopped in her tracks and had her arms in a cross in front of her face, somehow able to almost completely stop the blast.

  Nikolai and the Amazonian-like women lock eyes.

  His hand now slowly reaching for the handle of his blade.

  She looks at the sea off the side of the bridge where her companion got thrown off of, and then looking back at Nikolai and Maya.

  The woman takes a step backwards, before running and leaping off the stone edge, diving into the water.

  Maya looks back at the aftermath, ensuring that there were no stragglers trailing them.

  She eventually slows the pace down to a brisk walk, being very cautious as they get to the foot of the bridge on the other side. Making Nikolai slow down to match her pace as well. Both members of the duo constantly scanning their surroundings.

  A lone red ribbon falls through the air and gets caught around Maya’s arm.

  She stares at it dazedly as she holds it in her hands.

  “Are you alright, Princess?” Nikolai asks.

  She clutches the ribbon as she looks back behind her at the burning capital. The explosions have begun to settle down, but sporadic screams and yells can be heard.

  Nikolai stands near her, waiting.

  The orange setting sun outlining the contours of her face as minutes pass.

  Maya turns to look at her Batin.

  Dark amber eyes almost glinting in the orange light.

  “Where to, Princess?” He asks.

  “Don’t call me that.” Her voice did not tremble.