Chapter 42 – New Companion III

As she stood with Shawn’s support while holding his hand, her hand gripped tightly around Shawn’s hand. Without warning, she pushed Shawn aside with one swift motion. Then she took her weapon from the ground and twisted it in the opposite direction at the middle, which triggered the edge of the long stick, revealing a sharp, spear-like edge that glinted under the pale moonlight.

In one fluid move, she thrust the weapon forward, driving it into the chest of the burly soldier who had been sneaking up behind Shawn, ready to strike. The soldier’s eyes went wide in shock, but his attack never came. Blood poured from the wound as he crumpled to the ground at her feet, lifeless.

Shawn blinked but was unfazed, momentarily taken aback by her swift action. He looked at the fallen soldier and then back at Princess Selena, his smile widening with admiration. “Well, thank you, Princess,” he said with a chuckle.

Princess Selena, breathing heavily, glanced at Shawn, her expression a mix of relief and determination. “This makes us even.”

Makara, overhearing the conversation, called out from the campfire. “Well, that was a good show, but can we eat now?” He gave them both a thumbs-up, completely unfazed by the chaos that had just unfolded. “Plus, we’ve got a perfectly roasted deer here, and it would be a crime to let it go to waste!”

Shawn and Princess Selena exchanged a glance, both amused and slightly exasperated by Makara’s carefree attitude.

The three of them gathered around the campfire, the warm glow of the flames casting dancing shadows across their faces. Makara had reignited the fire, the flames crackling merrily as they roasted the deer. The savoury aroma of cooking meat filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest. As the deer sizzled over the flames, the campfire provided a comforting cocoon of warmth and light in the darkened forest.

Princess Selena sat quietly, watching Shawn and Makara with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. She had never felt more acutely aware of the two beside her. She couldn’t help but wonder. Makara’s seemingly casual demeanour belied a level of competence, and he was not a mere messenger that she saw in her kingdom and the truth of Shawn as the guardian whose skill was beyond as she faced him and wondered, “How much more these two have been hiding?” Her gaze shifted between Shawn, who was thoughtfully chewing on a piece of roasted deer, and Makara, who was happily tucking into his meal with enthusiastic gusto.

Shawn broke the silence, his voice contemplative. “Makara, those soldiers…,” he said, a hint of disappointment in his tone. “They weren’t like the enemies we’ve faced before. They were not nearly as formidable as we’ve encountered before.”

Makara paused mid-bite, his mouth full of roasted deer. After swallowing and taking a generous gulp from his sake gourd,” That’s because their core powers are weak—or they just don’t have one.” Shawn frowned. “How can you say that?”

Makara ate another bite and then continued, “Not everyone’s born with core powers, you know,” he said casually. He waved his free hand dismissively. “Some people are born with core powers. Others acquire them later in life, and some are never born or develop core power at all, which is also common.” Princess Selena and Shawn leaned in, intrigued. This was the first time both had heard such a straightforward explanation of what core powers are.

Makara continued, wiping grease from his mouth with the back of his hand. “Take that big guy you fought earlier—the burly one. His core power was probably just physical strength. Nothing too special. He was probably the strongest of the group. As for the others, they might have had powers, but I took them out before they could use them.”

He leaned back, stretching with a contented sigh. “The strength and nature of these powers vary widely: for some, they are an intrinsic part of who they are, directly tied to their core essence. For others, their powers must be drawn from external sources, making them dependent on forces outside their own core. Their powers resonate with yin to act defensively or yang to react offensively or both, depending on the strength and nature of their core. Some can channel these forces effortlessly, while others struggle to harness even a fraction of what they are capable of.”

Makara’s face brightened with a mischievous grin. “And then there’s the princess here,” he said, gesturing toward Princess Selena. “The fact that she can breathe underwater—that’s part of her bloodline power. Totally different from core powers.”

Princess Selena’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected Makara to know about Atlantean bloodlines. “How did you…?”

Makara waved away her surprise with a nonchalant flick of his wrist. “I’ve travelled a lot and heard all sorts of stories. It’s part of the job.”

Shawn looked equally astonished. He hadn’t known that Princess Selena’s ability to breathe underwater was her bloodline power.

Makara leaned back and yawned, stretching his arms. “Prince Zhao is also a person who has more than one, a core power and a bloodline power,” he said, his voice beginning to slur slightly as he took another swig from his gourd. “Traits of an octopus are his bloodline power, and the ability to create portals would be his core power.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “And some folks even have control over magic on top of everything else. It’s a lot to keep track of—powers, cores, magic….” His words trailed off, and his eyelids began to droop. Makara had barely finished his sentence before he started nodding off, mumbling incoherently in his sleep.

Shawn glanced over at Makara with a bemused smile. “Well, there he goes,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ll have to get the rest of that explanation from him later.”

Princess Selena smirked, shaking her head. “Yeah, morning then.”

Shawn looked over at her, his expression turning thoughtful. “Can I ask you something, Princess?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Princess Selena tensed slightly, unsure what Shawn would ask. ‘Would he question her about why she didn’t return home or about her bloodline power?‘ She braced herself.

“Were you scared?” Shawn asked, his gaze steady.

Princess Selena blinked, taken aback by the question. She had been so focused on the danger she’d faced that she hadn’t really considered her own fear. “Indeed, I was scared,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I felt completely helpless, and I thought I was going to die.”

To lighten the mood and distract from the heavy conversation, Shawn changed the topic. “So, other than your bloodline power, do you have a core power?” he asked with a grin.

Princess Selena chuckled, shaking her head. “I can control water, but only to some extent.”

As they continued to chat, their conversation took on a lighter tone, filled with laughter and playful banter. They lay back, gazing up at the starry sky as the fire crackled softly beside them. The weight of the night’s events began to lift, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and relief. Makara, now snoring softly, was sprawled comfortably beside the fire. The warmth of the campfire and the soothing sounds of the forest lulled Shawn and Princess Selena into a peaceful slumber.

A gentle whoosh of focused air passed through the camp, stirring the embers of the fire and rustling the leaves in the trees as they drifted into sleep. The sound was subtle but distinct, like a whispering breeze with a purpose. The night settled around them, and the campfire’s glow faded into a serene darkness.