Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 118 - 104: Kaede

"Lead the way to the cake!" she ordered boldly and Kaede beamed dash off and she followed behind.

A rush of memories flooded Aurianna’s mind, transporting her to moments that transpired in her past life. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"I am Kaede Beechsong, the future Saintess’ most loyal knight!" a teenage Kaede declared, his voice filled with determination as he knelt before a teenage Aurianna.

Aurianna couldn’t help but giggle, her eyes shimmering with fondness. "Well, Sir Kaede, I trust you with my safety," she replied playfully, a radiant smile gracing her lips.

The scene shifted to a haunting memory, shrouded in darkness and despair. Kaede carried Aurianna in his arms, their figures silhouetted against the backdrop of a foreboding forest.

"Kaede, please," Aurianna’s voice trembled, her words laced with agony. "Leave me here to die. I am already blind, my limbs are broken and my body has been poisoned. I won’t live for long due to the toxins that are destroying my body to ensure a painful demise. So please stop this! And spare yourself the torment," Tears mingled with the bandages that concealed Aurianna’s disfigured form, while the blindfold over her eyes hid the depth of her suffering. Her face, hidden beneath a hood, bore the weight of the afflicted torture on her.

In the face of Aurianna’s plea, Kaede’s voice cracked with anguish, his distress palpable, "I swore to be your protector, your little brother," he cried out, his voice strained with pain and unwavering loyalty. "I am your knight. There’s no way I’m leaving you to die!" Kaede yelled his voice in pain and his face filled with worry.

"I can’t accept those accusations they claimed about you! I know you’ll never do that. I was a fool not to be at your side to protect you when it mattered most. And that wretched Duke Huns, despite me trying to reason with King Girsal that bastard just made it worse. I’ll never forgive him!" Kaede clenched his teeth, the memories of when Aurianna was brought to the throne room, all battered and scarred with injuries, her blinded eyes, flooding his mind.

The path that brought Kaede to this moment played out vividly in his thoughts. A few days ago, within the palace walls, he witnessed Russel and Duke Huns were pleading with King Girsal, begging for mercy. They presented their arguments justifying the torment inflicted upon Aurianna, igniting a searing fury within Kaede.

Gripping his palms tightly, he took a step forward and knelt before King Girsal, his voice booming, "But, Your Majesty, the Saintess has never posed a threat to our country nor has she ever done anything to bring harm to the country. These accusations we’ve heard are baseless, lacking any substantiating evidence. Moreover, she has saved countless lives and maintained harmony among the different races!" Kaede’s words pierced through the golden helmet he wore, his eyes glaring fiercely at the supposed heroes.

Aurianna’s head snapped in the direction of the voice, startled by its familiarity. To her astonishment, the guard valiantly defending her turned out to be none other than her personal knight, Kaede!

His thoughts snapped back to the present moment, his words laced with outrage, "Those damned heroes, how dare those bastards of heroes let this happen to you? How dare they lie? I had a hunch there weren’t to be trusted. I know no matter what you won’t do anything to harm this kingdom," Kaede said to Aurianna who’s lips trembled hearing her words. Hearing someone believe her story made some relief in her broken heart. "I can’t believe King Girsal would order for your execution. Even if you weren’t his daughter, he still raised you for twenty-one damn years!"

"He can’t get far on foot, catch him!" The knights’ shouts reverberated, their intentions clear as they charged relentlessly toward Kaede, their weapons poised and they rode on their droles.

"Kaede, I’m ordering you to leave me behind and save yourself. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you!" Aurianna’s weak and injured hands pounded against Kaede’s steel armor, her desperation palpable. But the unwavering determination in his eyes remained steadfast.

"Come on, sis, have a little faith in my strength," Kaede declared, a mischievous grin spreading across his face that Aurianna couldn’t see.

As they entered an open space, Kaede’s brows furrowed in concern as he realized they were encircled by several knights loyal to King Girsal.

"Oh, sister you are truly pathetic, always relying on men to fight your battles," Venassa sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. She gracefully dismounted her drole, landing with an air of elegance, her long skirt billowing in the wind.

"Why not have some guts for once and accept your execution. Your mere existence is now an embarrassment to the entire family!" Venassa spat out, her words piercing through Aurianna like daggers. Anger surged within Aurianna, her teeth gritting with determination. "I won’t just sit there and die! I won’t! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I want to live and escape from this wretched place!" Aurianna’s body quivered with both rage and fear.

"Unfortunately, sweetheart, your wish ain’t gonna be granted. You’ve lost your worth, and Father decided it’s time to discard you. You know damn well what happens to those who’ve outlived their usefulness in his eyes," Venassa taunted, a wicked smile playing upon her lips. With a flick of her hand, a large fan materialized, and she pointed it menacingly toward Kaede and Aurianna.

Kaede’s eyes narrowed, his grip on his sheath tightening. "You won’t lay a finger on her. Not while I’m here to defend her, no matter the cost," he declared, his voice laced with a resolute determination.

Venassa responded with a twisted smile, her eyes glinting with madness. "Ah, Kaede, Kaede, what a pity indeed. Such wasted talent, risking your life to save my foolish sister," she taunted. "You know what I despise most in this world? Weak women. And the fact that she was part of my family, and utterly weak, it disgusts me. Women who hide behind others and always seek help and not fighting their own battles, they’re nothing but cowards in my eyes. Can’t you be brave for once and just die? Then, maybe, I can acknowledge you’re not weak!" Venassa’s words echoed through the air, her twisted aura flaring around her. Aurianna’s brows furrowed at the intense aura she felt, her lips trembling, as her sister’s harsh words struck deep within her.

"I will protect my big sister, even if it costs me my life!" Kaede proclaimed, his voice unwavering. As Venassa swiftly lunged towards him, her hand transforming into a dark purple hue, the fan in her right hand mirroring the same ominous color, Kaede reacted with lightning reflexes. Using his leg, which too emanated a dark purple energy, he deftly parried Venassa’s attack, blocking the vicious slash from her fan.

Their clash was a dance of opposing forces, darkness against unwavering resolve. Kaede’s every movement exuded a fierce determination, matched only by Venassa’s relentless assault. The air crackled with tension as their powers collided, creating an explosive spectacle that showed the dire stakes of their battle which was a battle to death.

The clash of their powers ignited a dazzling display of sparkling energy, causing the very ground beneath them to tremble and shatter into fragments. They finally disengaged, and Kaede cradled Aurianna gently in his arms, his gaze locked on Venassa with unyielding determination.

"You’re undeniably strong," Venassa begrudgingly praised, a hint of reluctant admiration in her voice.

In an instant, an abundance of weapons materialized from the very earth, jutting out in a formidable display. Kaede’s strategy was clear—he was going all out from the start, leaving nothing to chance. The ground bristled with an array of blades, spears, and various deadly implements, a testament to Kaede’s unwavering will and strength to protect his sister.

Venassa’s eyes widened with a mix of surprise and fury. "So, you’re going all out already? Well, don’t you dare underestimate me!" she yelled, her voice laced with determination. She lunged forward once more, her resolve unshaken, ready to face the onslaught of weapons with a tenacity that matched Kaede’s own.

"I never planned to underestimate you, because I know you’re strong," Kaede muttered under his breath, his voice filled with both respect and determination. With utmost care, he gently set Aurianna down on the ground, ensuring her safety, before swiftly grabbing hold of a scythe that had manifested nearby.

In a split second, Kaede propelled himself forward, charging at Venassa with an incredible speed that defied expectations. Their weapons clashed with a vengeance, unleashing a series of devastating strikes that reduced their surroundings to nothing but rubble. The sheer force of their blows echoed through the battlefield, an awe-inspiring display of power and skill.

Dust and debris swirled around them, the air thick with the intensity of their battle. Each swing of the scythe and every counter from Venassa’s fan reverberated with a thunderous impact, a testament to their strength.

The ground quaked beneath their feet, bearing the weight of their clash as the landscape transformed into a wasteland of destruction.

Kaede’s muscles strained with every movement, fueled by his unwavering determination to protect his sister and defeat the adversary before him. His mind remained razor-sharp, calculating each strike and anticipating Venassa’s every move. Every swing of the scythe carried the weight of his loyalty and anger and pain he felt for Aurianna, his unwavering devotion propelling him forward.

Venassa, too, fought with a ferocity of her own twisted motives and a burning desire to prove her superiority. Her eyes gleamed with a sinister fire as she met Kaede blow for blow with her fan.