The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System
Chapter 26: A Promise - 2

Chapter 26: A Promise - 2

THIRD PERSON POV

~~~

Evelina knelt on the cold stone floor of the training hall, the Knight’s Trial Elixir clutched in her hand, tears streaming down her face.

The memory of Prudee, his earnest promise to protect her, echoed in the vast, empty space, a poignant reminder of a bond shattered by time and loss. Her own choked words, "I should have been the one to tell you that," hung in the air, a testament to her enduring grief and a deep-seated need for strength.

Another memory, softer, yet equally vivid, raced in her mind, a moment of pure, innocent devotion.

The sun was warm on her skin, and the air in the Sapphire manor gardens was thick with the scent of blooming roses. Evelina, then a slender girl, at the age of eight, was carefully picking the freshest, most vibrant flowers, their petals soft against her fingertips. These weren’t for the manor’s vases; these were for Prudee, a small, secret offering to her knight.

A faint, whimpering sound reached her ears, a distressed cry that seemed to come from the dense, overgrown bushes at the edge of the formal garden. It was a dog. Its cries were soft at first, then grew louder, filled with pain. Evelina’s brow furrowed with concern.

She took a step towards the bushes, but hesitated. The undergrowth was thick, tangled with thorny vines, and she could see the glint of tiny, dark insects crawling amidst the leaves. A shiver of disgust ran down her spine. She was afraid of the creepy crawlies, the unseen things that lurk underneath the overgrown brushes.

She couldn’t rescue it herself. She needed her knight. Without a second thought, she dropped her basket of flowers and ran, her blue hair streaming behind her, towards the far end of the garden.

There, amidst a clearing, Prudee, six years old but already possessing a fierce determination, was practicing his swordsmanship. He moved with a focused intensity, his small body a blur of motion, his wooden sword slashing through the air with different sword swings – parries, thrusts, slashes. He was utterly absorbed, lost in his aspiring knight’s dreams.

"Prudee!" Evelina called out, her voice breathless. "Prudee, come quick!"

He stopped his practice, his wooden sword lowering. He turned, his face flushed with exertion, a bright, eager smile on his lips. "My Queen! At your service"

"There’s a dog!" she gasped, pointing towards the bushes, her eyes wide with urgency. "It’s crying! In the bushes! But... but I can’t get to it. There are... there are bugs!"

Prudee’s smile softened, becoming a comforting, reassuring curve. He walked over to her, his small hand reaching up to gently tap her head, a gesture of affectionate reassurance. "As requested, my Queen," he said, his voice imbued with a confidence that belied his young age. "Your knight shall rescue the distressed creature."

Evelina’s eyes widened with relief, a surge of admiration for her brother’s unwavering confidence and chivalry washing over her. He never hesitated. He was always brave, always ready to protect. He was everything she admired.

Without another word, Prudee turned and headed straight for the thick bushes. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch at the thorns or the unseen insects. He dropped to his hands and knees, pushing aside thick branches, crawling under tangled vines, his small body disappearing into the dense foliage.

Evelina waited, biting her lip, her heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and unwavering trust. She could hear the rustling of leaves, a faint whimper from the dog, and then Prudee’s soft, reassuring murmurs.

After a few tense moments, Prudee emerged, backing out from the bushes. In his arms, cradled gently against his chest, was a small, white puppy. Its fur was matted with dirt and leaves, and its left forelimb was bruised and swollen, a thin tree splinter against its white fured flesh.

Prudee carefully sat down on the grass, the puppy whimpering softly in his arms. He examined its leg with a gentle touch, his brow furrowed in concentration. With a steady hand, he carefully, meticulously, removed the splinter from the puppy’s leg. The puppy yelped once, then settled, seemingly trusting his gentle touch.

He then held the little puppy close, murmuring soft words of comfort, stroking its matted fur. The puppy, no longer whimpering, licked his hand weakly.

Prudee then looked up at Evelina, his face beaming with triumph. He carefully stood, cradling the rescued puppy in his arms, and walked over to her.

"Here, my Queen," he said, his voice filled with pride, "your new subject. Rescued from the clutches of the thorny wilderness." He gently placed the small, white puppy into Evelina’s outstretched arms.

Evelina gasped with immense delight, her eyes wide with wonder and affection for the tiny, vulnerable creature. She cradled the puppy close, stroking its soft fur, her heart swelling with gratitude for her brother.

Prudee watched her, a proud smile on his face. He then reached out, his small hand gently touching the puppy’s head, then Evelina’s arm. "This dog," he said, his voice earnest and full of solemn promise, "this dog signifies my promise to you. That I will always protect you, Evelina. As a knight that’s bound to his queen."

****

Evelina back in the cold, silent training hall. The Knight’s Trial Elixir still rested in her hand. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the sweat of her exhaustion. Prudee’s words, his innocent, heartfelt promise, raced in her mind, it was a painful counterpoint to her own desperate need for strength, for power. She should have been the one. She should have been the one to protect him. The one to make all those promises.

"I should have been the one to tell you that," she sobbed, her voice raw, her body shaking with the force of her grief and a renewed, burning resolve. "I should have been the one."