176 A Single Slap.

Step*Tap*

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence, growing louder with each passing second. I turned my head to see the blue-haired female knight, Cecelia, dashing towards us.

'Cecelia,' Blaze whispered her name in my thoughts. Her approach was swift and decisive, her gaze fixated on Aron. In the blink of an eye, she unsheathed her blade, its gleam catching the faint light that filtered through the tree's canopy.

"Help...agh!"Aron's agonized groans filled the eerie surroundings, and his pleas for help were punctuated by a sense of despair and confusion. It was clear that he was in considerable pain, but the source of his suffering remained a mystery.

My thoughts briefly flickered to the arrogant prince, pondering if there had ever been a time when he faced harm. It was unusual for him to be in such a vulnerable state, and this unexpected cry for help only deepened the enigma surrounding him.