Levishia: The Prophesied Quest

Chapter 11: Miniscule Trolls and their Golem Knights

LEVISHIA QUINTESSENCE

"W-What—?"

I was cut off when two continuous quakes shook the surface, but lighter than the previous ones. Despite the ruckus, my eyes were fixated on the man in front of me. Equipped in his full metal armor, I clutched onto his chest plate, my hands merely grazing his toned chest under the chainmail cover.

I can't believe he's here... Is he here to take revenge because of what I did? Is he angry? Or was he just appointed to... Wait, what was he even doing here? In the trolls' lair?

Most especially, saving me?!

My heart leaped out of its cage and skipped a few beats when he smirked, his light stubble gleaming under the sun and only a glimpse of his pearly whites temporarily blinded me. Seriously, don't knights always look rugged and unkempt? Then why is he an exemption?

"Now's not the time to ogle, Princess," he teased, which earned an eye roll from me.

Just now did I realize that I was shamelessly drooling over him while his hands are still encircled on my waist and our face inches apart. I quickly squirmed out of his grasp and regained my composure, immediately remembering the current problem.

"A giant," I blurted my hypotheses. I looked over to see Zoren's face, his smirk still plastered to that handsome face, and looking at me amusedly.

"What?" I frowned at him.

He cleared his throat as if getting pulled out of a daze and erased his boyish smirk. What replaced was a fierce General and gone was the shy boy with the childish smile that I had dinner with. I straightened my tunic that was stretched when I almost fell and avoided eye contact.

This was way more awkward than when I woke up with Ard straight at my face.

"Where's the giant?" I queried after a moment of silence. I figured that there was a giant, and the two continuous earth tremors were the giant's footsteps, but where is it? It must've been somewhere near, and I think Zoren has scouted the place.

But why was he here and scouting the place in the first place? I shook off the thought. Now's not the time for that. I'm just glad to have another comrade here that I hope will support my decisions. But what if he's here to protect me? Given that I am the heiress to the crown and I have run away to my kingdom.

My eyes widened at the thought as I whipped my head to him, an obvious unladylike move.

"You..." I sneered. He turned to me, his forehead creasing. "You're not here to expose my royal status to them to kick me out of this, right?"

He tilted his head as, once again, amusement flashed in his eyes before going back to being nonchalant. "No. But that's actually a good idea."

My jaw fell at his remark. Is he jesting?

He turned his head in front of the cave and immediately pulled out a Claymore. My eyes slightly widened. A Claymore is a sword that can reach up to my waist due to its length and is also the common sword of high-ranking officials. I watched as he casually wielded the heavy sword as if it was just another saber.

I stepped back, already knowing that he senses a threat.

He carefully walked sideways to shield me from whatever danger is from the front and stopped in front of me. As if defending me. This action immediately made my blood boil as irritation washed over me. Is he thinking I can't fight yet? Is that how it's going to be?

"Don't hinder me from slaying the opponent. Move away," I ordered with the calmest voice I can muster. Even though my ego was stepped on, I still need to act professionally.

This is normal, I will encounter such people in my life as a female warrior. This is fine.

He didn't turn to look at me but still responded while keeping his eyes on the dark taiga. "I was sent here to protect you, your Highness. Please let me do my mission," he replied in the most formal voice I have ever heard from him. As if I've heard much.

I inhaled a large amount of the cold winter breeze to calm my fuming nerves. This... knight is annoying, truly is.

"Do you think I came here just to be protected?"

"No, I just meant—" He was about to reply when a figure moved in our front, halting us as I took a few steps back and held my lightweight shortsword and my stun grenade on the other.

I mean, if he wants to be in the front line, I'm not stopping him. I'm better off at being a lookout and explosives master anyway. He better do a good job. I held my breath as the leaves on the lower branches of a few pine trees rustled, a sign that the perpetrator is near.

"Levi!"

A heaving Ard emerged from the dark snowy taiga, huffing and clutching his knees. His worried gaze turned to me but eventually vanished when he saw Zoren in front of me in his fighting stance and raised Claymore. Ard frowned.

"Who's he?" He queried me, keeping his eyes on Zoren. I opened my mouth, fumbling for words and making up an excuse as to why a Ralentian General is in front of me, and in his defense stance.

"I—uh," I stammered, "He's my friend from Ralenti. I saw him wandering in the woods here."

Zoren stole a glance at me and I saw him subtly raising his brow but didn't oppose it. What, can he think of an even better alibi?

Ard scrutinized Zoren, surveying him from head to toe. From this angle, I can definitely see his princely attitude. Zoren is bulkier and taller than Ard, with golden brown skin and a more buff body, Ard looks like his apprentice—despite him giving off that regal aura.

What surprised me was that Zoren didn't back down and looked Ard dead in the eye. His face is removed from any expression except judgment which can be really intimidating.

They were silently pointing out each other's flaws and imperfections which can be worse than voicing them out.

Ugh, these two! How irritating men can be at times. I rolled my eyes.

And because I lost the mood to introduce them to each other, I arrogantly turned my back on them, letting the two feel my annoyance because of the pettiness this scene is giving off. I came back again in front of the cave opening and courageously whipped the vines out of the way.

I stepped inside the cave, my leather boots making contact with the cold, stone floor. I was actually shocked to see nothing but darkness inside. I swear I heard whispers and deep breaths!

I tried squinting to see what items are in the opening of the cave but to no avail. Everything inside was pitch black due to the thick vines hindering sunlight.

I twitched when I heard a few vines being swung from behind. I looked behind and saw the two boys fiddling with their swords and also roaming their eyes around the place. It was also very clear as glass that they were ignoring each other and had maintained a distance. I shook my head. Boys.

Breathing deeply, I decided to step forward and look for hidden passages. I can't be misled, there must be people here!

"Prince—" My head flew to land a sharp glare at Zoren who bit his tongue once he realized he was about to address me in my royal title. He's so stupid, it's irritating! Ugh!

Ard frowned, thinking Zoren was addressing him with his title. "What?"

This time, Zoren mimicked Ard's expression and also frowned. "What?"

I'm pretty sure he also doesn't know Ard's the Prince of Giraen because I didn't introduce them to each other. But, oh well, their fault.

"Can we please focus?" I almost pleaded.

The two looked at me, both wearing confused expressions. Nevertheless, I'm thankful they listened.

"Levishia," Zoren slowly called me. My name awkwardly rolled off his tongue, as if it was the weirdest thing he's ever said. He looked so uncomfortable addressing me like that. I suppressed a smile and tilted my head, motioning him to go on.

Beside, Ardal stole us a glance.

"You should stay back, this cave is bigger than you think."

This time, it was my turn to frown. "What do you mean?"

We were interrupted by Ard who immediately wandered to the left of the cave. How did he get there so fast? He interrupted us by nudging a part of the cave's wall. Or so I thought.

"What's this?" He wondered.

Ard's longsword clinked with metal when it touched the wall. What's confusing, is that I couldn't see metal anywhere. Ard unconsciously stepped back, and I solemnly vow the hair on the back of our necks rose when we heard a low growl.

"Bloody hell," Zoren cursed from behind.

As if the growl was the commencement of mayhem, a pair of silver orbs showed up from the dark pit of the cave. It was a few dozen meters above ground level and in front of Ard, which made us take a few steps back.

I looked at Zoren, the only one that I feel has answers. He responded to my confused look. "They're the ones making the momentary quakes. They're the trolls' knights."

I still don't get it, I'm still quite baffled. "What are they, really?"

He sighed.

"They're giant rock golems wearing steel armor."