"This is it."
Andrew stepped into a vast clearing within the forest.
At its centre was a large boulder about five metres tall. They arrived at the clearing around midday and the person they were supposed to meet was going to arrive that night.
With a bit of time on their hands, the group simply decided to rest.
The surrounding area was rather safe but the air around Andrew was palpable.
Rosaly could sense that the masked figure was nervous, but she couldn't understand why. From listening to faint bits of her captor's conversations, she learned that they intended to meet someone.
For what purpose?
It seemed that even the other two captors did not know. It would have made more sense to meet the other individual in Castillan.
"This whole thing screams setup." She thought.
Speaking of the other two captors, Rosaly originally thought that they were seasoned awakened with small physical stature. But after taking a better look at them, they were much younger than they tried to let on.
They were maybe in their late teens and if her deduction was correct, their level of skill would be well ahead of their peers.
To solidify that fact, they both seemed to possess a level of positive core dilation which allowed them to output power well above the rank of their core.
***
As stated above, core dilation refers to the quality of output an awakened's core can possess, making their abilities more potent. This output is mainly affected by core dilation and the density of an awakened's animus
Most awakened possess neutral core dilation and a minority of them possess negative core dilation; the quality of their core's output is well below its rank. An even smaller minority possess positive core dilation.
***
Just from a glance, Rosaly understood that the two younger figures weren't as strong as the larger one, but she knew they were quite formidable.
One was still injured after saving her from the horned wolf, his left arm was now secured with bandages and ointments.
The wounds weren't severe enough to require the use of a healing potion nor the pain that comes with one.
But it also wasn't mild enough to be treated with bandages and basic ointments alone. She could obviously see that the masked young man was uncomfortable.
"A leader that doesn't care for his subordinates." She noted.
The sun slowly began to set and quickly receded below the dense canopy of trees surrounding the clearing.
Rosaly began to feel more and more anxious; she would have to do something soon. If she broke free from her bounds, she knew that she wouldn't get far.
She couldn't gather enough information about the relationships between her captors, so she didn't know how to exploit any weaknesses between them.
But there was one other thing…
"If I can get free for just a moment and use it, just maybe…" She thought briefly.
She hadn't considered using such a method before because frankly, this wasn't the first time she was kidnapped.
It was the second, and knowing the people that were going to be looking for her she thought her captors would have been long dead or captured by now.
But she could understand why, her last kidnappers were merely inept rank awakened that had grabbed her without knowing her lineage.
These masked people weren't as simple, they obviously knew she was of royalty. Hence why they decided to hide their faces for the entire journey.
Night swiftly approached and the intensity between her captors was only getting thicker.
"It's now or never…"
"..."
Just as Rosaly began to enhance herself using animus, she felt a daunting presence behind her. Turning her head, she saw the larger of the three figures standing there.
His eyes were wide and filled with a sudden rage.
The roots of her hair groaned as Andrew tightly grasped Rosaly's hair.
He raised her up, leaving her feet dangling helplessly. Her soft voice screamed in pain as she tried to raise her hands towards her head, but she was bound.
"What do you think you're doing? Now is not the time to get any ideas." Andrew's words were stifled by his suppressed anger.
Why would she try to ruin his plans then of all times?
He had known that she was awakened but she was an artificer just like her father. She was born with one of many Lineage spite that ran in the Lionheart family.
There were many plans put in place to demoralize the young Lionheart before they reached the clearing, but she had never tried anything.
"Now you want to cause a ruckus!"
Andrew cursed inwardly, infuriated by Rosaly's timing.
In a swift motion, he swung her away by the scruff of her hair, leaving a few strands left in his grasp. She soared for a moment before slamming into the large boulder at the centre of the clearing.
Upon impact she released a short yelp and fell to her stomach.
Seeing the manner Andrew had treated the young girl, Xaryus had suddenly risen up from his seat.
"This bastard!" he thought briefly, his blood boiling.
Xaryus then felt Zadius' gaze on him and came back to his senses. He hid away his animosity and turned his rage filled gaze away from Andrew.
It wasn't time yet; he only had to wait until Zadius gave him the signal.
"That was close." Zadius sighed inwardly.
Xaryus had almost made things worse. Zadius knew his younger brother was hot tempered, especially when it came to the wellbeing of girls and women around him.
But to think Andrew would treat the young princess in such a rough manner.
He wasn't surprised by it but seeing him launch Rosaly across the clearing wasn't a pleasant sight.
Zadius himself had to use every fiber of his being to hide away his dissatisfaction.
"Not yet…"
After a few moments, Rosaly had finally come too.
The force of the blow had momentarily knocked her out, and the pain still lingered. She wasn't able to keep up her calm facade anymore; she was scared and she wanted to go home.
Nestling her face in the grass, she silently let her tears fall.
"I'm going to die here."
Whilst Xaryus was seated, he interlocked his hands as tightly as he could in an attempt to smother his anger but to no avail.
To make matters worse, he had noticed that Rosaly was crying.
The sight of the helpless young girl was heartbreaking.
She wasn't meant to be out here with them; she was merely collateral to Andrew.
Xaryus cursed at himself for daring to love such a man.
His heart raced and his mind darkened. Deep down he strangled whatever sick and twisted love he had hidden away for Andrew.
Now, only hatred and contempt dwelled in the hearts of the two young brothers.
"He's here."
Andrew alerted Xaryus and Zadius to the presence of another figure approaching them.
His tone and posture suddenly became serious, more serious than Xaryus or Zadius had ever seen before.