IATAOTHKG | CHAPTER 75 – Novexa Novels

[CHAPTER 75]

Time seemed to stand still.

Caliph’s lips were tightly closed, but his eyes, meeting mine, seemed to convey countless words.

Pale from the terrible stomach pain and even greater embarrassment, Meyna quickly looked away.

Biterion’s shirt had fallen to the ground, soaked with rain.
The reflections of the three of them shimmered faintly in the puddle.

Meyna took a deep breath and struggled to speak.

“Your Highness… I…”

It was a halved plea for help.
A desperate attempt to escape the situation.

The moment she uttered Biterion’s name, Caliph’s grip on her arm tightened even more.

“Ah…!”

Startled by the pain that felt as if her arm would be torn off, Meyna groaned and lifted her gaze.
Caliph’s distorted face came into view.

Through his disheveled hair, his blue eyes appeared sunken, consumed by anger.

Yet, his twisted expression conveyed more than mere anger; it was anguish beyond words.
Even desperation seemed to radiate from his fingertips, and Meyna could not bring herself to push his hand away.

‘Foolish.’

To be swayed by past affections so pathetically.

It was Biterion who stepped in instead, since she could not act.

“Let go.”

He spoke.
His usually calm and soft voice now carried a chilling edge.

Biterion gently pulled Meyna’s back, adding,

“Is the young lady in pain?”

Although framed as persuasion, his words carried sharp reproach.
Caliph did not waver at all.

His grip loosened slightly, not because of Biterion’s words, but out of concern for Meyna’s suffering.
He seemed to block out Biterion’s presence entirely, focusing only on Meyna as he stepped closer.

“What’s wrong?”

In a harshly splitting voice, Caliph asked.
He seemed more concerned with her physical state than with anything she wanted to say.

His gaze scanned her body with worry.
Meyna bit her lip, refusing to answer.

“Meyna.”

“…”

“Where does it hurt?”

Caliph asked again, his anxious expression clear.
Yet Meyna’s eyes remained fixed on Caliph’s shoulder.

‘And you?’

Though writhing in excruciating stomach pain, her attention kept drifting to his injured shoulder.

Caliph’s rain-soaked shirt clung to his body, nearly transparent.
The contours of his massive upper arm and the wound were fully visible.

The injury looked as if flesh had been ripped away by enormous teeth.
When she first noticed the spreading bloodstain, she had thought it was the rain—but it was not.
Blood was pouring from the gaping wound.

“I’m fine.”

Meyna said calmly, looking at Caliph.

“Go home and rest. You should also tend to your wound.”

She repeated this without convincing herself, but to steel her own mind.
Gently, she tugged Biterion’s arm.

At that moment, a strange slicing sound cut through the air.

Shhh. Siiik…!

A tiny but distinct noise approached rapidly from somewhere unknown.

Kkik!

The metallic friction-like sound rang in her ears, accompanied by an intense heat that seared her skin.

“Young lady!”

Biterion shielded her with his arm.
Reflexively, Meyna curled inward and squeezed her eyes shut.

Time felt twisted; seconds stretched into eternity.

Biterion let out a soft sigh.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the shocked faces of the gathering bystanders.

“What happened?”

“What just flew past?”

Among the confused voices, Caliph’s low groan could be heard.
Now he was visible.

Something had been stopped by his hand, but blood flowed from the severely torn back of his hand.

“Sir Lennox!”

Horrified, Meyna broke free from Biterion and ran to Caliph.
Reflexively, he tried to lower his hand, hiding the wound, but what she saw in an instant was terrifying.

Between the shredded flesh, bone was exposed.

“It’s a Spiculum.”

“A Spiculum…?”

Terrified, Meyna repeated his words.
The Spiculum was an assassination weapon and a magical creature, its shell so hard even metal could not break it.
Shaped like a throwing star, it flew swiftly through the air, revealing hidden blades to pierce vital points instantly.

Biterion, clearly aware of it, said,

“Why target the young lady…?”

It was a weapon that targeted a specific victim; the unknown assassin had clearly aimed for Meyna’s life.
Caliph had no time to draw his blade, yet if he had not blocked it with his hand, she would have died without a scream.

Caliph used a glance to clear the surrounding bystanders.
Few could control an S-class magical creature like the Spiculum.
Precisely, as far as he knew, only one person in the entire empire could tame and use it.

‘Banze Motenson.’

But she would never send an assassination creature to kill Meyna…

Caliph quickly assessed the situation with sharp eyes.
Another danger could strike. He needed to move Meyna to safety while remaining behind to assess the situation.

Wincing in pain, Caliph said to Biterion,

“Take Meyna to a safe place.”

It was a dreadful task to voice, yet Meyna’s safety came first.

“Understood.”

Biterion gently held Meyna’s arm to support her.
She could barely move, tears in her eyes as she kept looking at Caliph.

Like at the drain last time, leaving him behind felt like abandoning him.

“Go ahead first.”

Caliph seemed to read her thoughts.
He said it with a calm expression, as if adding, “I’ll take a short walk,” or “I’ll have another drink.”

Despite the pain in his hands and shoulder, no trace of suffering showed on his face.
Meyna nodded weakly and turned with effort.

“Young lady.”

Biterion’s voice sounded anxious.

“The portal won’t open.”