The Game's Extra: Azhriel Odyssey-Chapter 131: Emergency Quest-3

"Prince…" The single word left Maera's lips in a trembling whisper, and the moment it did, her eyes flew wide open.

Memories—sharp, chaotic, and painful—crashed into her mind all at once.

"Ah… ah, no… the prince!" she gasped, clutching her head as panic took hold. Her breathing turned ragged, her voice trembling with urgency and fear. "No, I have to—"

She tried to stand up, pushing herself off the bed in a rush, but her legs barely responded.

"Wait—calm down!" Chloe said quickly, stepping forward as Maera stumbled again, nearly falling.

Sydelle tried to hold her shoulders, but Maera's strength, though unstable, was enough to push back in panic.

"No, let me go! They've got the prince! I have to go, I have to!"

Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes.

No matter how much they tried to calm her—Sydelle's reasoning, Raymond's soft tone, even Alicia's attempt to hold her steady—none of it reached her.

She was lost in desperation.

Through it all, Azhriel didn't move from his seat. His glittering azure eyes remained fixed on her, watching in silence.

There was no coldness in them, but neither was there softness—just quiet observation, as if measuring her state.

Nyverra sighed softly and looked at Caelyn. "Sorry, but… please."

"It's fine," Caelyn said, stepping forward. Her expression was calm, almost gentle, as she approached the trembling elf knight.

"Calm down," she whispered, placing a hand lightly on Maera's head.

A faint green glow spread from her palm—warm, soft, serene and only visible to Caelyn.

The change was immediate.

Maera froze, her frantic movements slowing, her eyes losing their wild panic. The tension in her shoulders eased, and her breathing steadied.

The frantic haze that clouded her thoughts began to fade, replaced by a calm clarity.

Everyone watched in quiet surprise.

"Ah, Caelyn—what did you just do?" Raymond asked, brows raised as he glanced between the two.

Before Caelyn could answer, Nyverra spoke quickly, a little too quickly. "I-It's just an artifact Caelyn has. Nothing special."

Raymond blinked, then nodded, accepting it without much thought. "Oh… okay."

The group shifted their attention back to Maera, who now sat quietly, her back against the headboard.

Samuel handed her a glass of water. "Here. Drink this."

She hesitated for a moment before taking it. Her hands still trembled slightly as she raised the glass to her lips and took a few small sips.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled only by the faint sound of her breathing.

Finally, she looked up at them—her emerald eyes still holding a faint trace of confusion and wariness.

"W-who are you all?" Maera asked softly, her voice weak but steady now.

"We are students of the academy, and…" Chloe began, her tone calm but gentle as she spoke to the elf sitting before her.

Bit by bit, she explained everything — how they had found Maera wounded and caged, being sold like an object in the auction.

Maera listened quietly, her emerald eyes focused on the girl as her pointed ears twitched slightly.

But when Chloe mentioned the auction — how she had been sold — Maera's expression changed.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, and for a brief moment, the calm in them hardened into something cold and furious.

Then Chloe continued, explaining how Azhriel had bought her only to prevent her from falling into someone else's hands, and how he had refused the branding ritual entirely.

"I see," Maera murmured after a long silence. Her voice was soft, but the weight in it was heavy. "Much has happened."

For a moment, she just stared down at her trembling hands. She could barely imagine what could have become of her if this boy — this human — hadn't intervened.

The thought alone made her chest tighten.

When she finally looked up, her gaze fell on Azhriel.

He sat a few steps away, his posture relaxed, Zephyriah curled up beside him — the little one had woken up from the noise but now rested quietly in his lap.

Maera lowered her head deeply. "Thank you… truly. I owe you my life. I will never forget this favor."

Azhriel's response came in his usual calm, steady voice. "…It's fine," he said. "I didn't do it out of pure kindness anyway. If an elf saw another of their kin being sold like that, it'd reflect badly on all of us. I just didn't want to see that kind of shame."

He paused for a moment, his sharp eyes watching her carefully.

"But now that you're awake, I think it's time you tell us what happened. Don't try to lie — those people back there," he nodded toward the others, "they're all influential. Heirs of dukedoms. We already heard you mention something about a prince."

Maera froze for a few seconds. The air around her grew heavy, her lips parting but no words coming out.

Then, slowly, she closed her eyes and exhaled. When she opened them again, there was a hint of sorrow and regret within the emerald green.

"…Alright," she said finally, her voice trembling just slightly. "I'll tell you everything."

She took a deep breath, her fingers curling into hardened fist.

"I am… a Royal Knight," she said, her tone low and filled with shame. "A Royal Knight of the Elven Kingdom — and the one who failed to fulfill her duty."

Her eyes lowered to the floor. "The one who had failed to protect the third prince of the elven empire."

[Emergency Quest]

'Huh' Azhriel was surprised, as just as soon as she had spoken about the Prince. The Quest Window coloured in a blaring red had popped up in front of Azhriel eyes.

******

Meanwhile, the first prince had reached the Mosseira city.

"Ariel call all pur Knight searching for the prince. We will attacking the kidnappers altogether, how dare they even think about touching my little brother."

The First Prince said, his eyes cold and angry as the natural mana around him trembled with intensity.

"Yes, your highness." Ariel swiftly called the group of Knights.