Chapter 33: Princess Prisoner III

In their secluded hideout, Az remained lost in contemplation, haunted by the memory of his futile attempts to unlock the shackle restraining Freyn.

"It won't budge. We'll need to seek out the creator of this shackle," Freyn elucidated. "I'm not undermining your potential, but this task exceeds your current capabilities."

"And where can we find this creator?" Az inquired.

"Out there," Freyn responded, gazing skyward. "The Kunnigr are the artisan's race behind the shackle and your javelin. They are the creators of both of these instruments."

"What race? What do you mean?" Hex interjected, his curiosity piqued.

"You humans have much yet to learn, as you only have merely scratched the surface," Freyn remarked cryptically.

Az momentarily ceased arguing, allowing the revelation of another race's existence to sink in, casting a web of confusion in his mind.

However, it triggered a memory—an ethereal recollection of a colossal eye dominating the celestial expanse. In that heartbeat, he realized the earth-shattering truth—they were not alone in the universe; threads of an intricate cosmic web entangled their existence.

His contemplations shattered as Lumi swept into his chamber, her voice breaking the silence. "Are you ready to head out?"

Az turned to face her, a faint veil of perplexity clouding his expression. "Yeah, I just need to gather a few things, then I'll join you guys."

Lumi stepped into the room and settled beside Az, sensing the weight of his thoughts. "What's bothering you? Is it because we're leaving? Freyn's concerned the shackle might serve as a tracker."

"No, it's not just that," Az responded, his gaze distant. "It's the realization that there's something greater at play here than this invasion."

"I'm sorry I can't..." Lumi began, but her words trailed off as Az suddenly erupted into laughter. His laughter, initially jovial, spiraled into something unnerving, almost maniacal, until he tumbled from the bed, still consumed by uproarious amusement.

"Are you alright?" Lumi's concern resonated with her inquiry as she observed Az's unexpectedly serious face. Az's demeanor shifted, a glint of newfound determination illuminating his eyes.

"This is an exhilarating leap forward," Az proclaimed with a renewed sense of purpose. "It's time to put my newfound power to the test in this thrilling new adventure." His voice brimmed with both conviction and excitement, signaling a newfound enthusiasm for the challenges that lay ahead.

In a gesture of assistance, Lumi extended her hand to help Az up, but as Az grasped her hand, an unforeseen shift in balance occurred. Unable to control Az's weight, Lumi stumbled, and both of them crashed to the floor in an ungraceful heap.

Coincidentally, at that very moment, Elodie chose to enter the room to check on their well-being.

However, what she stumbled upon was the unfortunate spectacle of Az and Lumi entangled on the floor. Without realizing the true situation, her eyes widened in shock, misinterpreting the scene before her.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I should've knocked first!" Elodie blurted out, utterly mortified by the awkwardness of the situation she had inadvertently walked into.

Responding to Elodie's startled exclamation, Beatrice and Hex dashed into the room to assess the commotion. Their arrival only added to the chaos as they found Lumi inadvertently pinned on top of Az, both trying to explain the innocent accident.

"It's not what it looks like!" Lumi hastily attempted to clarify, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Beatrice, ever the mischievous one, couldn't resist teasing. "Oh, look who's getting cozy! Get a room, you two! Oh, wait, this is a room!" Her laughter reverberated through the space, adding to the awkward yet somewhat comical situation.

Despite their best efforts to explain the misunderstanding, the room was enveloped in a mix of laughter, embarrassment, and confusion, leaving Az and Lumi blushing and flustered amid the chaotic scene they inadvertently created.

Simultaneously, Freyn, unbeknownst to the others, lingered behind Hex and Beatrice, observing the unexpected chaos unfold with a mix of amusement and affection.

Despite the initial confusion and embarrassment, she couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the endearing antics of these humans in her company.

As she watched Az, Lumi, Hex, Beatrice, and Elodie entangled in the tangle of misunderstandings and laughter, Freyn felt a warm glow of fondness envelop her.

Her heart swelled with a pang of longing, yearning for the reunion of her own family, wishing to witness their shared moments of joy and laughter just like this endearing display before her.

She stood there, a silent spectator to the scene, cherishing this unexpected snapshot of camaraderie among her companions.

Amidst the flurry of laughter, apologies, and explanations, Freyn held onto the hope that one day, her family too would find themselves caught up in such delightful and lighthearted moments of togetherness.

As Freyn immersed herself in thoughts of her family, reminiscing about the warmth of their shared moments, a sudden disturbance shattered the tranquility of the hideout.

Something crashed from the makeshift ceiling, startling Freyn as it landed directly in front of her, plunging her into a moment of surprise and alarm.

Reacting swiftly, Freyn's instincts took over as she recognized the figure before her. With a gasp, she reached out and supported the weakened figure in her arms. "Brother Byurn!" she exclaimed, a mixture of relief and concern evident in her voice.

The abrupt entry shocked everyone in the room, but it was Az whose reaction was most surprising. Upon hearing the name "Byurn," a flicker of recognition crossed Az's face, triggering an instinctual response within him.

Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged for his hammer and sprinted toward Byurn, inadvertently colliding with Hex, Beatrice, and Elodie by the door, stunning them with his sudden and aggressive action.

In a whirlwind of chaos and confusion, Az leaped, his hammer poised to strike, aiming to end the mysterious figure's sudden intrusion. With a swift and powerful motion, he swung the hammer toward Freyn and Byurn, who stood together.

As the hammer descended, threatening to collide with them, Byurn, weakened but determined, swiftly intercepted Az's attack, halting the hammer's deadly trajectory with a single hand, defending himself and shielding his sister.

The force of the impact echoed throughout the hideout, unleashing a shockwave that reverberated violently, sending tremors through the surroundings, shattering the walls and scattering debris in every direction.

Amidst the chaos, the room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the tense standoff between Az, Byurn, and the bewildered group, each grappling with the sudden turn of events and the enigmatic arrival of the figure known as Byurn.

As Byurn confronted the figure who aimed the weapon at him, expecting a stranger, a faint smirk formed on his lips as he saw a familiar face. "You! Haha, still weak aren't you..." he uttered, his voice trailing off as a wave of unconsciousness swept over him.

Tilting his head slightly in the fall, a visible scar became evident on his face—a remnant of their first encounter.

Witnessing Byurn collapse, Az, caught in the heat of the moment, held his hammer aloft, poised for another strike. His resolve wavered, teetering on the edge of aggression and uncertainty.

But before he could unleash the impending blow, Lumi swiftly wrapped her arms around Az from behind, her embrace a plea for calm and reason amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, Freyn, her eyes fixed on Az, detected the tumultuous conflict brewing within him. She stepped forward, locking eyes with Az, her gaze imploring him to cease the impending attack and assist her fallen brother instead.

Her silent plea echoed with a sense of urgency and concern, pleading for his cooperation in tending to Byurn's sudden collapse rather than exacerbating the situation further.

In the tense stillness that hung in the air, emotions ran high, fraught with uncertainty and apprehension. The room was enveloped in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the faint sound of crumbling debris, as each member grappled with the unexpected turn of events and the inexplicable arrival of the scar-faced figure, now lying unconscious on the floor.

Caught in the intensity of the moment, Az hesitated, his grip on the hammer loosening slightly under Lumi's calming embrace. Freyn's urgent plea echoed in his mind, compelling him to reassess the situation.

With a deep breath, he lowered his weapon, the tension easing from his shoulders as reason prevailed over instinct.

Gently extricating herself from the embrace, Lumi turned Az to face her, her eyes conveying silent gratitude for his restraint. Meanwhile, Freyn rushed to Byurn's side, concern etched on her features as she knelt beside her unconscious brother.

As the group gathered around Byurn, Hex, Beatrice, and Elodie cautiously approached, their expressions a blend of concern and curiosity. Elodie quickly fetched a canteen of water, handing it to Freyn, who tenderly sprinkled some on Byurn's face, attempting to rouse him.

Moments passed in tense anticipation until Byurn stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. Blinking against the dim light, he squinted at the faces hovering over him, his gaze eventually locking onto Freyn's worried expression. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he tried to sit up, visibly weakened.

Freyn's voice trembled slightly with relief. "You're awake, Byurn. What happened?"

Byurn's voice was faint but steady. "We need... We need to run away."