Chapter 436: Swearing At The Witch
Explore the latest events in "The Devil's Betrothed" Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Swearing At The WitchA tall figure emerged from the door in that dark...
Chapter 436: Swearing At The WitchA tall figure emerged from the door in that dark hallway, taking one unsteady step at a time, visibly struggling to maintain his balance. Oriana had an impulse to rush towards him, but Yorian gently held her hand, preventing her from doing so. She shot him a questioning look, silently conveying, âWhat now?â
The last time Yorian had restrained her, but now she felt an overwhelming need to reach Arlan. She was determined not to act recklessly, though.
Yorianâs grip on her hand tightened, and he shook his head, silently signaling her to stay put. Oriana understood that this elf was resolute in not allowing her to go any closer, so she complied without resistance.
The door to the witchâs chamber remained ajar, and Yorian was concerned that, upon seeing Arlanâs condition, Oriana might impulsively rush into the room. Her behavior was unpredictable at times, and her emotions could easily overrule her rationality.
They observed Arlanâs painstaking progress as he moved forward with great effort. However, he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. This alarmed Oriana, and she made a move to approach, but Yorian still held onto her hand firmly, unwavering in his determination to keep her in place.
âArlan,â Oriana called out to him silently in her thoughts, her eyes filled with concern as she watched his feeble figure struggling on the floor in an attempt to crawl away. Even the act of crawling seemed to drain him, and just when it appeared he had given up, his body ceased its efforts, leaving him motionless on the ground.
Oriana turned her gaze towards the elf, her eyes pleading with him to release her, but he remained resolute. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her lips moved as if to implore him, yet Yorianâs focus remained fixed on the still-open door to the chamber.
Why was the door left ajar? Was that witch expecting something, or was she savoring the sight of Arlan, weak and crawling on the floor like an insect?
Suddenly, a heavy thud resonated through the corridor.
Finally, the door closed, and Yorian released Orianaâs hand. Without a momentâs hesitation, the young witch rushed towards Arlan. She knelt on the floor and gently touched his back. "Your Highness."
There was no response from him, which sent panic coursing through Oriana. Yorian arrived and knelt beside Arlan. "Heâs unconscious."
Oriana, her voice trembling with worry, asked, "What did she do to him? He canât evenâ"
"He was already weakened from last night," Yorian interrupted. "Since waking up, heâs been using his powers to teleport and arrived here without nourishing his body."
Oriana clenched her teeth and stood up, her gaze fixed on the door. "Open the door, you wretch." Her angry words reverberated through the corridor.
This was precisely what Yorian had feared when the door to the room had remained open. He knew all too well how Oriana would react. But this time, he didnât stop her, as she was already charging down the corridor in a fit of rage.
"You damn witch, if you want me, Iâm here. Open the door now!" Oriana yelled again, but there was no response.
"Open the door and see how I drag you out by your hair, you wretch! How dare you hurt him again and again. I swear Iâll tear open that vile brain of yours!"
Sure this young witch was good with foul words.
There was no response, and the door stubbornly refused to open. This only fueled the young witchâs anger. "Are you scared now? Open the door," Oriana taunted as she strode toward the door with the intention of forcing it open. However, the moment she made contact with it, her body froze. Just like the last time she touched the door, a flood of painful images from Arlanâs past filled her mind.
Yorian, who had remained by Arlanâs side, harnessed his lightning-speed power and whisked to her side, pulling her away before the malevolent memories, infused with dark magic, could affect her as they had done the last time she touched this very door. He held her trembling form firmly in his arms, wrapping her in a comforting aura of his divine magic to shield her from the worst of the impact this time.
The previous time, Yorian had needed to assess the effects of the black magic and understand what Oriana had witnessed, so he hadnât tried to protect her entirely, allowing her to endure some suffering. However, there was no need for such an approach now.
Her trembling hands clung to his clothes, her petite form seeking solace in his embrace amidst the chaos of her mind, which the memories had unleashed.
"Are you alright?" Yorian inquired, concern lacing his words.
In response, he heard the sound of her sobs against his chest, signaling that she had once again been exposed to something dreadful. Even with his protection, the malevolent black magic had still managed to wreak havoc on her mind.
"You canât be affected like this. We need to get Prince Arlan back to his quarters," Yorian stated.
Hearing Arlanâs name, Oriana finally withdrew from Yorianâs embrace and looked down at the injured prince.
"Letâs take him back," the elf said to which she could only nod.
Yorian released her, and the two of them knelt on the floor. Oriana cradled Arlan close to her, and Yorian exchanged a knowing look with her. She nodded, indicating that she was ready and had encased Arlan in her protective magic.
The next moment, three figures vanished from the hallway and reappeared inside Arlanâs chamber. Oriana and Yorian carefully settled Arlan into his bed, covering him with warm blankets.
"Why donât you attempt to transfer some of your power essence?" Yorian suggested.
"Can I do that?" Oriana inquired, her voice tinged with hesitation.
"Of course, you can. You possess divine power within you."
Perplexed, she gazed at him and said, "I donât know how."
Yorian approached the bed where Oriana was standing beside Arlan. "Place your hand on his forehead."
Oriana gently rested her right hand on Arlanâs forehead. Yorian continued with his guidance, "Close your eyes and focus solely on your divine power. Once you sense it, concentrate on channeling it into his body."
Oriana followed his instructions and soon managed to do as he advised. Yorian watched her progress and eventually said, "You can stop now."
Reluctant to halt, Oriana obeyed, understanding that she had to heed Yorianâs instructions. After experiencing his cold and stern demeanor during their previous encounter, when he had warned her about teleporting, she had learned not to defy the elf. Moreover, she recognized that his guidance was ultimately for her benefit.
Oriana opened her eyes and met Yorianâs gaze. He remarked, "You must know when to cease. Just because you can improve his condition doesnât mean you should exhaust your own strength. Before assisting others, you must learn to safeguard yourself. Thatâs the fundamental and vital rule when transferring your essence to someone else. If you neglect this, youâre not truly prepared to aid others."
"Iâll keep that in mind," she replied.
Yorian gently held her hand and said, "Youâve been affected by the black magic as well." Closing his eyes, he began chanting a spell. Strands of divine power flowed from his body to hers. After a moment, he ceased and regarded her. "Did you observe how I did it?"
She nodded and affirmed, "Iâll do the same next time."
"Are you feeling better now?"
She nodded once more, and Yorian added, "Take care of him, and you should get some rest as well."
Yorian turned to leave but heard her speak in a hushed tone, "I had new visions this time."
He halted but didnât turn back to face her. "Iâm aware. Weâll discuss it tomorrow. Itâs late, and you should rest."
Oriana couldnât detain him and watched as he disappeared, leaving her to ponder why the elf hadnât inquired about her recent visions, as he had done before.