The Guardians' Throne - The First Magic Swordsman

Chapter 362 - Aleni's Past (2)

            During the first part of the trip, Aleni didn't have to do anything. She only truly worked when she had to find food, but then her worries increased when the attack at the birthday party happened, and Ameria began to fight. In many situations, Aleni thought that she would have to reveal herself, which was one thing she didn't want. It wasn't for the mission. It was for herself. She didn't want to reveal her existence to those who were so oblivious to her existence in the first place.

            However, in the end, Ameria never got hurt, and she even was the one who killed the enemy who had created the whole mess. It had been around that point that Ameria noticed Aleni's presence, she noticed it, but she couldn't quite pinpoint where she was… it was thanks to the fact that Zaos taught her a new technique.

              Around the same time, Aleni noticed that Ameria was growing closer to Drannor. Before, they were like close cousins, but things began to change as they grew older. That was another thing Aleni couldn't understand. When they were together, they were so defenseless and so unguarded… why would people stay close to others who make them weak?

            As those two grew close, Aleni noticed that Zaos grew further apart from them. Everything started at the end of that trip, and then it was consolidated when Zaos found out about his mother's death. Around the time Zaos left to the West, it was the first time Ameria found Aleni. At first, she almost attacked her, but then she stopped when she noticed that Aleni had plenty of chances to kill her, but she never did it.

              Eventually, Ameria discovered who she was, and she began to talk with Aleni. At first, Aleni thought that would hinder her mission, but that never happened, and since it had been so long since she talked with someone, she really liked that. The fact that Zaos grew distant from her probably was what made Ameria feel so eager to create a new friend, but in the end, that doesn't matter for Aleni.

            Aleni suddenly became a real part of Ameria life. She no longer had to sleep in the corner or eat without letting anyone notice her. In fact, Ameria began to eat more in her room in order to make Aleni more comfortable when it was time to eat. Eventually, Ameria even asked her father the right to be the new owner of the slavery spell, and since Dalyor had messed up more than a few times lately, he did that to gain a part of her trust again. Ameria also tried to make Aleni meet all her other friends, but she always disappeared when that happened. She wasn't eager to become friends with everyone.

          Time passed, and then eventually Ameria and Drannor got married. While Aleni's work would increase since now she had to protect both of them, she didn't mind it. Seeing Ameria smiling all the time also made her feel happy. Still, then things finally began to take an unexpected turn in Ameria's life. First of all, Zaos went missing in the North. Everyone assumed that he had died, but Ameria and Drannor didn't think that was possible. Soon after, it was discovered that Ameria was pregnant. At first, that dispelled the dark clouds that had been cast over the castle, but then Ameria began to feel sick and weak.

          All the doctors and healers said that it was normal, but Ameria didn't tell them about her mana that was being drained. Aleni helped Ameria in doing some research, and then they discovered that the demon god had that power… drain mana from others. Ameria didn't mention that before, but then Aleni learned that she had the gift of the demon god, and that was why she was so good with magic. However, that didn't change anything from Aleni's perspective.

            Both of them began to work on a solution to that problem, but time passed too fast, and then Ameria grew even weaker. She also began to feel that she was losing life force… but she hid that from everyone. She didn't want to let others think that her child was a monster or something. A few weeks before Milliendra's births, Aleni heard the king, Drian, and Laiex talking about the possibility of Zaos being alive and he being the one who was attacking the bases where they produce focus amulets, and she reported that to Ameria.

            At first, she hesitated since Zaos was doing some weird things as of late, like trying to make others think that he had died. Still, in the end, she decided to trust him and ask for his help with that issue. However, Aleni found him too late, and they returned to the capital, not in time…

          Aleni, for the first time in a while, felt sadness in her heart. She lost the only person who treated her like a human being. In exchange, she regained her freedom, but she didn't know what to do with it. Her dear friend asked her to work with Zaos and protect her daughter in her last moments, but Aleni felt unworthy of such a task. She was only an assassin who only knew how to take lives and not think for herself. She never said that, but it seemed that Ameria noticed that she didn't want to keep living that life forever. Aleni swore in her heart that she would do her best to protect Milliendra, but in the end, she hesitated in touching her with her hands dirty with blood.

            If Zaos hadn't been around, Aleni probably would have been forced to overcome her fears much faster than before. Still, in the end, she was thankful that there was someone around who could help her move slowly toward her goal.

            The incident with Vamir made Aleni even eager to reach that. Zaos was also someone who took many lives.. When he directed his Earth-shattering blood lust toward him, even Aleni raised his guard. However, despite all that, he still was someone who could make faces and play with Milliendra just to make her smile a little bit…