Triple X System-Chapter 243: Risk

"I didn’t expect to see her this soon." Kyle muttered, unsure how to react to lumia’s presence.

He was grateful to her saving his life and all that, which was one of the reasons he accepted the quest to save her. But that was the thing, he’d failed the quest.

The power difference between him and evil Lynn was separated by a wide margin. The wicked beauty on another level of power, far surpassing even her own father.

’Where does he breed them.’ Kyle joked, slightly shaking his head.

As a king he was technically the law himself, so he wasn’t bound to any confinements like the rest of the people here. But being a ruthless and cold killer, Kyle has never for once caught Troy converse romantically with any woman.

Strictly platonic and business, which made him question the maid from earlier, and her chef mother’s claims.

[Who knows, he was probably a busy fellow spreading his net in his younger days. For insurance purposes of course.] Snow added with a straight tone, but Kyle could sense the flattering hidden in it.

’Yeah, insurance purposes.’ Kyle repeated in his head dropping the topic. What Troy did in his past wasn’t his concern, only the present which was relative to him.

"Mhm." A faint grunt reached his ears, looking Lumia was struggling unlike Troy. She’d successfully channeled her raw energy out, but maintaining it was the real hiccup. Requiring deep concentration, which she failed to adapt to. And he couldn’t blame her, after all she’d been through.

"She’s probably some years younger than Yua." A weak smile flashed across Kyle’s face, quickly disappearing as it came.

’Thud! Thud!’

The heavy rainfall has now increased, adamant in achieving it’s goal. Making the atmosphere gloomy, covered with thick dense clouds of blue fogs. The various torch stamps and mana stones provided light in the castle.

"Heal. Lumia softly uttered, her left hand directed to Troy. About 6 meters apart from her, attending to two individuals at once.

"That’s as far as you restore my energy. You’re currently in no condition to keep up, I can sense you’re running out of mana." Troy declared with a subtle frown.

And he was right, lumia’s mana pool was infact almost completely drained. Hence hindering her concentration, divided into two. Focusing on channeling her raw energy out, while providing support to Troy.

"You’re right." Lumia answered, meeting troy’s fierce gaze. "My mana pool isn’t sumptuous as your’s or Lynn’s and it currently almost finished." She admitted, lowering her head a bit.

"So what?" She questioned with a look of confidence. "I may not be as strong as you, or smart as Lynn. But that doesn’t change the fact I’m a princess and next heir in line to the throne." She stated, each words carefully spoken with delibrate accuracy in delivering a message.

"Which means the safety of the people and the kingdom is my number 1 priority. And I’ll do everything in my little might to uphold the oath I took without question. Even if it means defying you, your majesty." She confidently declared, her voice unwavering or shaken.

Staring at her, Troy remained silent contemplating something. "You’re just as stubborn as your mother."

A bittersweet smile crept to troy’s lips, admiration and pride filled his eyes.

As the king he was tasked with many responsibilities at a young age, during the mysterious disappearance of both his parents. Leaving him with an entire Kingdom to run, on little knowledge at a young age. It was slavery to the crown, if one thought about it. But he took the duty without question.

Locking whatever sentimental feelings he had, focusing on his obligations as newly elected king. Until he met Aurelia, an elf woman hailing from the same tribe as Lisa.

Things moved slow at first, then sped up really fast. Hinting they’re early marriage at a considerable young age. And with the birth of his two daughters, the locked up feelings slowly strolled in like a tide.

Until disaster struck, leading to the brutal death of his wife. By a hooded figure with pale skin, and dangling fingers that resembled bones.

"She’d be proud of you." Troy smiled, earning a sharp nod from Lumia. Her eyes slightly teary.

"Let’s give this our all." Focusing, troy’s raw energy emitted from his palms. Bring absorbed by the two unconscious individuals, writhing in pain.

Soft gasps escaping their mouths, like a drug for relief was injected into their system. Slowly easing the pain to become more bearable.

Lumia did the same following suit, placing both hand to a young woman that appeared to be engaged. Unlike her father, the connection with her energy wasn’t instantly, requiring some time. Which they didn’t have.

But still she didn’t give up, pouring her heart and soul into this.

’For once in my life, it finally feels like I’m useful.’ The corners of her lips curved into a light smile.

From her birth to a young age of 7 she’d also seen life through a glass window. Transparent and clean without any blemish. But as she grew up, she was forced to accept the harsh reality. All that glitters isn’t gold.

It was a famous quote, but she held onto it at the back of her mind. And with the loss of her mother, it felt like her whole world along with her existence was shattered.

"I never did get to share that last dance with you mom." A single ball of tears strolled down her cheeks, falling to the floor with a soft thud. But the gravity and emotion surrounding the drop of tears was by far heavy.

"No time to sulk about the past now, my people need me." She sniffed, wiping her tears heading to another individual.

......

Staying idle, Kyle watched indifferently as the father and daughter duo took turns. Like a rotating shift, calming down the high spike in mana from the effects of the rain.

’What’s the updated count analysis?’ He calmly asked snow, seeing the numbers decreasing. Along with the gradual stabilization of mana in their cores.

[They’ve been able to balance the enhancing of about 60 individuals cores, rounding the total up to about 150] Snow relayed, calculating the statistics of surviving individuals.

’Guess I’m truly loosing my humanity.’ A weak chuckle escaped his mouth.

To be honest, he didn’t really care if the people of Lumia kingdom lived or died. There was just no reason to care!

Sure Lumia had saved him, but in a way, he’d repayed the favour back. Also earning his freedom from a horror entertainment death match. So technically speaking, he’d rightfully earned his and his little pack freedom.

[What is good and bad?] Snow suddenly asked, making Kyle raise a brow.

’What"s with that question?’

[You’re at a crossroads of deciding right from wrong, so your answer will clarify my analysis and determine if you’re good or bad.] Snow replied with her usual energetic playful tone.

Scratching his head, Kyle was lost for words. He understood the common principle for good and bad, but was conflicted on his own view about such matters.

"Umm.. I don’t know, isn’t being good necessarily accepted by society than bad?"

[Yes, but that depends on how they view the perceptive of such concept. So I ask you again, what’s good and what’s bad?]

’I hate these little interrogative sessions.’ Kyle grumbled, earning a sly giggle from snow.

"Ahh!" Lumia’s shout pulled him from his trance.

She was currently on her knees, hands placed to both sides of a little girl ear. Clutching a brown teddy bear in her arms.

’What’s happening to her?’ Kyle asked, sensing a fluctuation in her core.

[Karma of messing with the natural laws of nature. By constantly exposing themselves to the mana rain, they’ve opened a gateway directly to the same effects they tried curbing. Which led to the abrupt change in formation of her core.]

"Lumia!" Troy shouted, gritting his teeth crawling to his daughter. That’d now fainted, cracks of blue vein lines spreading on her neck.

’Hes also affected.’ Kyle also noticed the same blue vein lines running along troy’s neck. Greatly affecting his core, causing an imbalance accompanied by an excruciating pain.

"Damnit! Why don’t you ever listen to me." Troy cursed, tightly holding Lumia in his embrace.

Her skin was cold, chilly like ice. Even her aura had taken a change, spiking with dangerous levels. Prompting deep groans of agony from her, struggling to breathe properly.

"I’m not loosing you too." He’d made up his mind, he would trade his life for hers if the situation ever prompted itself.

And he knew in his cold heart, if he didn’t act fast now she was going to die.

’I should still have enough mana for one more.’ Placing his hand to her head, he expelled his raw energy.

A faint golden glow brushing past her hair, enveloping her body. Fighting against the blue vein marks, causing somewhat relief to Lumia.

"Ahh!" Just when he thought it was over, her sharp scream tore to the aur. No more writhing but rolling in pain, the effects seemingly doubled stronger than before.

"What happened? Didn’t it work?" Kyle inquired watching Lumia rolling in pain.

[Apparently not. They’ve been exposed to the high level of mana fluctuations for far too long. Their cores and mana are already corroded by the rain, hence leading to the failure in troy’s attempt.] Snow spoke in a low tone, laced with a hint of pity.