My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 253: Saving the Queen 19

"Try to guess~?" The response was teasing, almost playful.

Click...!

With a sharp sound, a blinding white flash enveloped the scene. In the blink of an eye, Siena's sword was drawn and then returned to its scabbard, leaving Sasha's body sliced and diced, though her regeneration prevented the pieces from falling apart entirely.

"Hahaha~ wow, you really are strong," Sasha's laughter resonated through the serene forest, its peacefulness contrasting with the intensity of the battle.

She nonchalantly shrugged off the onslaught of attacks from Siena, her body effortlessly returning to its full strength despite the ferocity of the assault.

Siena's eyes betrayed a flicker of irritation at Sasha's cavalier attitude. Though lacking divine powers to directly counter vampires, Siena had infused her attacks with a subtle yet potent amount of Aura.

Such an onslaught should have significantly diminished Sasha's regeneration abilities.

Yet, to Siena's bewilderment, Sasha stood unperturbed, her tall figure draped in a pristine white dress beneath her black cloak, devoid of any trace of blood despite the vicious combat.

As a high-ranking vampire, Sasha's resilience wasn't unexpected, but something about her demeanor seemed off, sparking a sense of unease in Siena's mind.

Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, the surroundings began to dim, bathed in an ominous crimson hue. Across from her, Sasha's smirk grew more pronounced as she concentrated, forming a blood bomb at her fingertips.

"You know what would happen if this were to explode, right~?" Sasha's voice dripped with sinister amusement as her gaze swept over everyone present

Siena clicked her tongue in annoyance, reluctantly realizing that she had no choice but to stand down for now.

The palpable instability emanating from the blood bomb was unmistakable.

One didn't need to be a seasoned mage to understand the catastrophic consequences if it were to detonate; practically everyone within a 500-meter radius would be reduced to mere atoms.

While Siena was confident in her own survival, the fate of the others seemed grim. Only she and the vampires would likely emerge unscathed from the devastation.

The abnormal level of mana exhibited by the vampires only deepened Siena's suspicions. Surely, there was more to these two than met the eye.

"What do you want?"

Suppressing her frustration, Princess Christine spoke up, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness she couldn't afford to show. They were effectively trapped, surrounded by the looming threat of destruction.

Sasha's hands gestured towards someone hidden amidst the crowd, obscured by the imposing presence of the knights standing behind her.

With a sinister smile, Sasha singled out the lone fairy among them.

"Queen Mavis, we just want her. Give her to us, and we will let the rest of you go~"

Queen Mavis's body trembled involuntarily as her gaze locked with Sasha's. Despite Sasha's facade of nonchalance and apparent kindness, the menacing presence of the blood bomb and the predatory glint in her eyes belied any sense of gentleness.

"W-we can't do that..." princess Christine voice wavered slightly, but her resolve remained firm.

"Hmm? Are you sure about that, princess? Are you truly willing to gamble her life against everyone else's here?"

As Sasha spoke, the blood bomb in her hands began to tremble ominously, hinting at its imminent detonation.

"Choose wisely, princess. The queen or your beloved subordinates?"

Sasha's threat hung heavy in the air as she raised her hands, poised to unleash destruction upon them.

But before Sasha could carry out her threat, the world around them erupted into blinding brightness. A pillar of golden light surged from the eastern horizon, piercing through the dark clouds that had shrouded the sky.

With a deafening explosion, the light burst forth, dispersing the oppressive darkness that had plagued the northern lands, revealing the true sun for the first time since the demonic invasion.

Time seemed to stand still as everyone present stared in awe and disbelief at the radiant spectacle unfolding before them.

he few remaining souls in the north finally basked in the warmth of the sun's rays.

Amidst the newfound brilliance, amidst the screams of Sasha, the scene took a dramatic turn.

Sasha crumpled to the ground in excruciating agony, her body convulsing as it sizzled like cooked meat.

The blood bomb she had wielded moments before dispersed into nothingness, its formidable power reduced to mere wisps of smoke by the overwhelming concentration of mana.

Beside her, Schwi, who had stood by Sasha's side, also fell to her knees, clutching her chest in pain. The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned, unsure of what had transpired.

Reacting swiftly, Siena raised her sword, ready to strike at the vulnerable vampires. But before she could make a move, darkness enveloped Sasha and Schwi, swallowing them whole before dissipating into thin air.

Confusion rippled through the assembled group, their minds struggling to comprehend the rapid shift from peril to safety.

"What's going on?" one knight muttered, his gaze shifting from the sky to the ground, trying to make sense of the surreal turn of events.

Just moments ago, they had been on the brink of disaster, yet now, the danger seemed to have vanished as swiftly as it had appeared.

"Hero..." Princess Christine's voice pierced through the quiet atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention back to the pillar of light that had bathed the surroundings in its radiant glow.

As someone who had experienced the divine power firsthand, she recognized the familiar sensation that now filled the air, a tangible reminder of the presence of the one who wielded such formidable divinity.

The word hero resonated with everyone as everybody immediately understood what was going on now.

The hero was now finally at the north and making his move.

A myriad of emotions played out on the faces of those present, but foremost among them was hope.

It was a sentiment that seemed almost surreal, as if lifted straight from the pages of ancient tales where heroes emerged in the darkest of times to bathe the world in sunlight and inspire hope in the hearts of all.

Slowly, one by one, the knights knelt down, their heads bowed in reverence, their swords planted firmly upon the ground as they offered prayers towards the distant pillar of light.

Though the pillar itself appeared diminutive from their vantage point, its radiant glow was a testament to the hero's power and their capacity to bring salvation to the realm.

Even the most skeptical of mages, who had harbored doubts about the teachings of the Church of Light, found themselves drawn to join in prayer.

The impact of the hero's presence was undeniable, shaking the very foundation of the northern lands.

"Adrian..."

Trista whispered softly; his gaze fixed upon the luminous spectacle above.

Golden light suffused his form, enveloping him in its radiant embrace as a rough smile graced his features.

'You're finally here….'

Looking at his master's complicated face, Tristan knew they would be staying in this place for a while longer.

...

Beneath the tranquil evening sky, Elena and I sat together by the campfire we had carefully built, its golden glow casting flickering shadows across the surrounding snow.

Watching as the flames danced and the snowflakes melted upon its warmth held a certain fascination, a simple pleasure amidst the vast expanse of wilderness.

The silence of our surroundings was punctuated only by the gentle rustling of Elena's coat as she nestled closer to me, resting her head upon my shoulder. Her sudden question broke the stillness of the moment.

"Ian, aren't you tired?"

"Tired of what?"

Elena's gaze drifted to her hand, where her engagement ring glinted in the firelight as she extended her arm forward.

"I don't know... it's just, aren't you tired of all this, Ian? Being the hero and everything..."

Her words carried a tinge of sadness as she spoke, her eyes lingering on the flickering flames, yet subtly avoiding mine.

"No, I'm not tired,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I affirmed, though the weight of my responsibilities as a hero occasionally bore down upon me, there was a sense of fulfillment in the role I played.

Besides, wielding the blessings of the goddess certainly had its perks, making the challenges and burdens more bearable, if not enjoyable.

"Why are you asking all of a sudden?"

"I just had this weird thought recently," Elena began, her voice trailing off slightly.

"What if the two of us, no... along with the other girls, what if all of us just abandoned everything and lived quietly and peacefully somewhere."

Elena's words hung heavy in the air, the crackling of the fire providing a backdrop to the weight of her contemplation.

Though her face was obscured by the dancing flames, the seriousness in her voice was palpable, indicating that she had given considerable thought to this notion.

It took a moment for her words to sink in, but as I considered her question, I began to understand the underlying turmoil she must be grappling with.

The toll of our travels, the constant battles against darkness and adversity, it was undoubtedly wearing on her mental state.

Despite being a saintess, perhaps I had placed too much expectation on her.

At her core, she was still an ordinary girl, vulnerable to the same doubts and fears as anyone else.

The countless deaths and encounters with evil along our journey had undoubtedly taken their toll, threatening to erode even the strongest of spirits.

Reflecting on our past struggles, I recalled the profound grief that had gripped even the most stalwart of our companions.

Buka and Darius as manly as they can both be, even they cried with all their might when they faied to save a child in one of our encounters, it was no wonder that Elena was questioning the path we had chosen.

Louise, with her gentle and innocent nature, likely harbored similar doubts. Was bringing them along on this perilous journey the right decision?

I dismissed the notion with a shake of my head. Ultimately, it was their choice to accompany me.

They were well aware of the dangers that lay ahead, and had undoubtedly steeled themselves for the challenges to come.

Our path was fraught with peril, far from the idyllic fantasy one might envision, but they had made their decision with eyes wide open.

'Even though I asked Aunt to lessen the tone, I guess that wasn't enough…'

Even with their resolve, it didn't mean they wouldn't grow weary of the hardships we faced.

The constant specter of death and violence, perpetrated not only by monsters and demons but by fellow humans, took its toll on even the strongest of spirits.

It was inevitable that they would bear scars, both seen and unseen, from the trials she and others have experience so far.

As I grappled with these thoughts, my hand instinctively moved, drawing her closer to me.

"Do you want to run away?"

"No,"

"Then do you want to give up?" I pressed further, needing to understand the depths of her desires.

Again, she shook her head.

"No..."

"Then what do you want?"

"You,"

Chuckling softly, I gently prodded for clarity.

"Haha, I know that, but what do you really want?"

Her response was not immediate.

Instead, she paused, her head resting on my lap as she gazed up at me with eyes that betrayed the burdens she had carried in silence for so long.

"Rest... I just want to take some rest,".

A pang of sympathy welled within me, knowing all too well the impossibility of granting such a simple request in our tumultuous reality.

"You know we can't do that, right?"

"I know," she conceded with a tired chuckle, the resignation evident in her tone.

Slowly, she rose from her position, her expression morphing into a somewhat cheerful smile. Despite the occasional conflicts she had with Aria, one of my other fiancées, Elena exuded a maturity beyond her years.

Shaking off the snow that clung to her, she straddled me, her gaze meeting mine with a mixture of vulnerability and determination.

"Ian, I'm tired... can you give me energy?" she whispered in my ear, her breath warm against my skin.

And then, with a sudden boldness that caught me off guard, she kissed me, her cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment.

"Gladly."

Later that evening, as the fire crackled softly beside us, Elena awoke with a renewed vigor, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the warmth of our embrace.

As always she was like a succubus when it came to sex.