Chapter 56 – The Lioness and the Lamb
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The cold wind danced around the noble campgrounds, carrying with it the scent of smoke, sweat, and anticipation. Somewhere near the heart of the resting zone, Selena moved swiftly and silently between tents, arms full of supplies. The quiet shadows hid her from view, but not from her instincts.
Something was wrong.
She'd sent Fin out just minutes ago to grab a healing salve from the storage carts, but she hadn't seen him return. Her fingers clenched the vial tightly as a creeping sense of dread crawled up her spine. She turned a corner near the water barrels and froze.
A group of noble young men—sons of various powerful houses—stood around a figure on the ground.
Fin.
He was sprawled out, his lip bloodied, one eye beginning to swell, his breathing ragged. The men surrounding him laughed crudely.
"You? A commoner? Walking in our war zone with our privileges?" one sneered, giving Fin a cruel shove with his boot.
Another leaned over him mockingly. "Isn't he one of Usher's rats? Can't believe that bastard trusts this trash."
Selena's entire body tightened. Her jaw clenched, and her eyes began to glow faintly with barely contained rage. She stepped forward, voice like steel.
"Step away from him."
The laughter quieted.
A tall noble with a curled smirk turned, clearly amused. "Well, well… if it isn't the ice doll. Come to pick up your pet?"
Selena stepped in front of Fin, kneeling down beside him. He groaned, but offered a weak smile when he saw her.
"I'm okay… just a bruise—"
"You shouldn't have been out here alone," she whispered softly, helping him sit up. "Let's get you back to the tent."
But as she moved to lift him, a hand clamped around her wrist.
"Where do you think you're going, princess?" the same noble sneered, stepping closer, eyes raking down her figure. "How about you stay and entertain us? You don't belong to Usher, do you? You're too fine to be tied down to a freak like him."
The others chuckled, clearly encouraging him.
Selena turned slowly, her eyes now glowing brighter. "Let go of me."
But the noble didn't.
He tried to grab her waist.
And that was the last mistake he would make tonight.
In one swift motion, Selena's free hand shot up and locked around his wrist. Her grip was iron.
Then—CRACK.
With a brutal twist, she dislocated his arm, spun him off his feet, and slammed him into the ground with terrifying force.
He didn't even scream. The air was knocked from his lungs as he lay gasping, stunned.
The group of nobles stared, stunned into silence.
"You... bitch!" one of them finally snarled, rushing forward.
Selena stepped forward with surgical precision. Her body flowed like water, yet struck like a tempest.
The first man threw a punch.
She ducked under it, drove her elbow into his ribs—crack—and kicked his shin out, sweeping his legs.
Before he hit the ground, she pivoted and caught the second man trying to blindside her.
She parried his fist, spun into a low sweep that knocked him off balance, then grabbed his collar and kneed him square in the face. Blood burst from his nose.
Another tried to grapple her from behind—too slow.
She twisted, grabbed his arm, dropped her weight, and hip-tossed him over her shoulder, sending him crashing down on the first.
"She's got enchantments—!" one shouted.
But no—this was all physical. No spells, no magic boosts. Just pure, hard-earned martial prowess.
Selena's eyes narrowed as another noble, brawnier than the rest, came at her like a charging bull. She stepped aside with a fluid sidestep, caught his wrist, and drove her palm into his elbow—pop. The arm dangled uselessly.
One by one, she dropped them.
Every punch, every block, every kick—perfectly placed.
She was a whirlwind of precision.
Bone cracked.
Teeth broke.
By the time she was done, the nobles were moaning on the ground, clutching bruises and broken limbs, a few too stunned to even crawl away.
Selena stood tall, barely winded.
One of them, face covered in blood and dirt, glared up at her with wild fury. "Y-You… You'll pay for this," he wheezed. "We'll make sure Usher regrets ever touching you. This isn't over."
Selena walked past him coldly.
"I suggest you rethink your existence before threatening mine."
She returned to Fin, who watched her with wide eyes.
"…You beat all of them."
She offered a tired smile. "I told you I don't like bullies."
She crouched, hoisted his arm gently over her shoulder, and lifted him up. Despite his protests, she carried him like he weighed nothing at all.
The two walked in silence as she took him back to the tent. Her expression softened when they were finally out of sight.
"You'll be okay," she murmured.
"…You're incredible," Fin mumbled, still shocked.
Selena shook her head, helping him lay down on a mat. "I'm just trained. And I've been in worse situations than that. But if they try again—"
"I'll be stronger next time," Fin said quickly.
Selena looked at him, surprised. Then she smiled.
"That's the spirit."
Outside, the fire at the nobles' camp still crackled. But nearby, a few watchers—guards, scouts, and passing soldiers—had seen the aftermath of the fight.
And word was already spreading.
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Back near the fire, Usher sat, his eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the shadows where he sensed a burst of energy earlier. His cup sat untouched.
"DO YOU FEEL THAT?" Stee'zz's voice echoed inside his mind. "THE FEMALE ONE. SHE HAS AWAKENED MORE THAN HER OWN STRENGTH."
Usher didn't answer immediately.
"YOU GATHER INTERESTING CREATURES. EVEN THE SMALL ONE, FIN, CARRIES MORE THAN BLOOD IN HIS VEINS. WATCH THEM CLOSELY."
Usher exhaled through his nose. "I always do."
"AND BE WARNED… THE FIRES OF NOBILITY BURN SLOW, BUT THEY SCORCH WHEN UNCHECKED. SOME OF THESE BOYS WILL NOT FORGIVE THAT HUMILIATION."
Usher nodded slowly. "They'll have to get through me first."
"YOU SPEAK AS THOUGH YOU'RE MERCIFUL."
"I'm not."
---
Meanwhile, inside the noble infirmary tent, the injured group groaned under healing spells. The one who had grabbed Selena earlier sat up, his dislocated arm trembling from the magical brace applied to it.
"That witch… she broke my arm."
"More like broke our pride," one of them said bitterly. "We can't let this go."
"She's with Usher, remember?" another muttered. "You want to go against him too?"
"I don't care. He needs to learn that commoners and his bitches don't walk where nobles do."
They sat in silence.
Plotting.
And waiting.