Previously, on Sword Of Vengeance,
General Bale became embarrassed after he had been snapped out of his wildest imagination.
It's a relief that Princess Lirl had no idea what was going on in his mind.
"Sorry, what were you asking me to do?."
General Bale apologized rubbing the back of his head with his hand.
"We're moving out him outside"
Princess Lirl answered hurriedly, going outside ahead of him.
General Bale braced himself, lifting the body from the bed.
He felt a jolt of repulsive energy coursing out from his body; it was like an invisible barrier keeping people at bay from establishing direct contact with him.
No wonder, Princess Lirl lost her stamina and flew backwards the other time she touched his neck using her bare hand.
It was draining him faster than he could ever imagine.
Hurriedly, he gritted his teeth carrying him outside.
"Drop him into the water."
Princess Lirl said, telling him what to do.
General Bale nodded, doing as he was told.
He stood up, taking several steps away from the tub breathing heavily.
A Wild, scorching hiss filled the atmosphere as a violently sharp molten metal collided with ice. Anchoring an unbearable heat and steam which rose in great plumes, colliding and twisting in the unconfined air.
Carrying acrid the stench of iron or something darker, nauseating their stomach and choking their lungs.
Coughs echo into the silent night as they retreat farther from him.
The surface of the water turned frothy, releasing a vicious, guttural howl as it began to seethe and churn.
The bubbling intensified, each pocket of air bursting with increasing ferocity, until the chaos reached its breaking point—erupting into a violent underwater explosion that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Splashing in all directions.
Instinctively, Bale took the bait by protecting Princess Lirl.
General Bale winced as the water splashed on his back, white curling smoke emanating from his back after that.
Princess Lirl, on the other hand, was shocked, too, to her core.
When the explosion occurred, which resulted in a splash, she realized that at the place, she was standing, it was going to splash on her face, but she failed to react on time.
Had General Bale not protected her, it would have splashed on her face instead.
Which would disfigure her beautiful face for life.
Her grip on her gown tightens until her knuckles are almost white.
However, after that General backed away from her.
"Bale"
She whispered, her eyes widening like saucers.
"It's okay Princess, I am fine. "
General Bale grimaced in pain, refusing to look at her.
Gaze fixated on the wooden tub instead.
"You have a blister at the back of your neck; come here, let me get it treated."
Princess Lirl protested worriedly.
"Princess, you need to see this. "
General Bale said, trying to avoid getting close to Princess Lirl again.
Princess Lirl appears from his back. Standing beside him.
Curiously, Princess Lirl walk up to the wooden tub taking a closer look.
The first thing she noticed was the absence of the massive hole in his chest. It had vanished entirely as if it had never existed.
Every minor wound, scratch, and bruise had also disappeared, leaving his skin unblemished.
She hesitated for a moment before reaching out a tentative finger to touch his skin. His body was warm and smooth—completely unlike the cold, lifeless texture from before.
Soft and tender, almost like that of an infant.
Fascinated, she pressed two fingers lightly against the side of his neck.
Though his pulse was faint, it was steady. More astonishingly, his chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.
How could this be possible?
General Bale was right, he's not human.
She turns back, gaping at General Bale and then Jenny.
"He's alive! He is.......breathing."
Princess Lirl rasped, choking on her words.
Did he use the water to transform himself?
General Bale took several steps forward, seeing things for himself.
"So unbelievable"
He rasped, hunching and reaching out and extending the length of his arms into the water. Enjoying its soothing warmness until he attempts to carry him from the wooden tub.
"Argh"
General Bale grunted, slumping on his knees with a mixed expression on his face.
How strange. How could he be staying afloat and, at the same time, heavy?
"What's wrong?"
Princess Lirl's eyes widen in fear.
"Princess, this guy has suddenly become heavy. I can't get him out of this tub alone."
General Bale paused mid-sentence.
"I'm afraid we're going to need more men for this."
He continued, rising slowly on his feet leaving Princess Lirl and Jenny behind.
Minutes later, he came back with dozens of his underlines.
For minutes they couldn't hide the shock on their faces. They gape at a full-grown, naked, muscled, ripped man staying afloat in the water in the bathtub.
To make things more absurd, the Princess and her maid were there too.
"Ahem, enough sightseeing. Let's get him off the tub and move him inside"
General Bale spoke deeply, trying to be brave.
He could virtually interpret every meaning behind the emotions on their faces.
"Yes, sire !."
The warriors saluted in unison exchanging glances. Perplexed as to how their General will require their help in carrying a body that is already afloat on the water.
To them, the man there looking at them is as good as dead.
Not until when they all tried to lift him.
With great restraints, they lifted the body out of the tub, hunching their backs and sweating profusely till they dropped him inside the tent.
With a mixed impression on their faces, they marched out of the tents stretching their limbs.
General Bale turned to Princess Lirl.
"Princess, we can't continue to leave him naked like this. It's high time we dress him up."
General Bale suggested.
"Don't worry Bale, I'll be the one to do that."
Princess Lirl said deep in thought.
"Geez! No, Princess, you can't do that."
General Bale exclaimed in frustration.
"Why not?"
Princess Lirl rolled her eyes, frowning this time around.
"Because he is a man. A full grown man Princess, he deserves some respect."
General Bale fired back.
"Let me make something clear, Bale, I was the one who found him, not you. And as far as I am concerned, he has become my asset ."
Princess Lirl said calmly, not backing down.
"Oh! Come on. Really?"
General Bale rasped, frustratedly holding his hands up.
"Yeah really. And.. oh! Now you know he is a man, right? Didn't you refer to him using words like a monster, being, and creature earlier on?"
Princess Lirl mocked, folding her hands underneath her breasts.
"Fine! Have it your way"
General Bale whispered by keeping his rage in check and then stormed out of the tent.
"Let's dress him up ."
Princess Lirl turned to Jenny, who had been there the whole time witnessing their heated argument.
"Yes, your grace."
She answered.