Alavin grunted in pain, but in the face of life and death, there was no time for caution. Barely touching the ground, he charged forward, scooping Mariela Spirre into his arms and darting into the nearby woods.
The Violet Lion was enraged, failing to capture its prey time and again. It roared to the heavens, its purple aura billowing like the tide, swirling violently to form the outline of a mighty lion. It was colossal and ferocious, resembling a real giant beast. Its surging purple energy propelled it forward as it rampaged through the forest with terrifying force.
"Let me go!" Mariela, regaining her senses, realized she was being held tightly by Alavin, chest to chest, her lips nearly brushing his neck. Her face turned dark as she struggled fiercely.
"Silence!" Alavin snarled, teeth clenched as he pushed on, the wound on his back throbbing with pain and bleeding profusely.
"Release me!" Mariela's expression grew even colder; she was almost ready to draw her sword and end Alavin. She was a woman of high virtue who had never had such close contact with a male Protégé, let alone being held so closely by Alavin. Their bodies pressed together without a single gap. She could even feel his rapid heartbeat and the warmth of his breath, while Alavin's hands were gripping her side and thigh tightly.
"Shut up! Who told you to come back?"
"You..." Mariela's face paled, filled with rage. Even with her typically cool and composed nature, she was close to slapping him.
"Hold on to me!" Alavin suddenly yelled, bursting out of the woods with long strides.
What lay ahead?
A cliff! A great river!
He held Mariela tight and leaped off the cliff into the raging river below. The towering illusion of the Violet Lion passed overhead without causing them harm.
The cliff was a hundred meters high, and Mariela screamed, feeling weightless, instinctively holding onto Alavin, but then, realizing her indignation, she pushed and struggled with all her might. Alavin could not care less. Holding her tight, he seemed almost ready to twist her body in two.
"You bastard! Pervert!" Mariela cried out in pain, struggling even harder as Alavin's grip tightened.
He was in agony, his back wound still bleeding, but thankfully, the Violet Thistle in his possession remained intact.
Mariela lay unconscious by the fire, her white gown clinging wetly to her body, revealing her perfect form and the smooth skin beneath. Even her undergarments were soaked through, hinting at the blush of her modesty beneath. Her current state left little to the imagination, and she seemed even more enticing than if she had been undressed. Her long hair was a tangled mess, clinging to her delicate face, which appeared even more tender in the flickering firelight.
Alavin took a deep breath, his mind far from enjoying the sight before him. He had caused a great commotion. He could have escaped with the Violet Thistle and vanished, and even if Mariela found him later, he could claim he had thrown it to the Violet Lion. But now, Mariela, with her intelligence, would surely suspect his trickery. Worse than losing the Violet Thistle was the matter of Mariela's purity.
Mariela, pure and proud, had lived a secluded life in the mysterious and sacred Botanic Haven. Ordinary Protégés hadn't even caught a glimpse of her face, much less seen her in this state.
If Mariela awoke and saw her state, realizing he had brought her here, and had seen all there was to see, wouldn't she go mad? How could she allow her sacred body to be seen by a mere servant? Perhaps she would even suspect he had taken liberties while she was unconscious.
Alavin chuckled ruefully, picking out a dry garment from his pack to cover Mariela, then quietly left the cave.
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