Isekai: The Eight Soul Fragments

All it took was a single moment.

Time slowed down as the girl gazed towards Draxus, who was on guard as their carriages were still on the way towards the capital. That aura he held did not look staggering, it seemed like an unbreakable willpower that will continue to remain standing regardless of the struggle that he faces.

Watching him duel his own master, fighting with both the perfection of his refinement, and the culmination of violence, a duality that shouldn't exist at the same time in battle. Yet being pushed back by his own master's mastery of all.

Despite that, he showed no signs of wavering, it was a true determination to win regardless of the difficulty of the battle.

The hero beside her watched along, he was in awe as Draxus continued to fight despite knowing that it is impossible to win. He then realized that Draxus had something that he doesn't have despite the experience of wars and battle. An undying willpower that will challenge the impossible.

He smiled, as he knew and understood that the person fighting with such an ironclad will would be the one to protect the princess beside him. He won't waver, he won't fall, he won't stop.

The girl continued to garner more feelings watching Draxus fight. Seeing such duality in front of her, and her memories of their short talks in the mountain as they were summoned...

An joyous expression revealing various emotions that she couldn't particularly express due to her position. It was comforting, fun, and enjoyable. Their conversations would always reach an understanding with each other. Being a princess, she was able to sense the expressions of others and their intent. But to the person named Draxus, she couldn't read into him clearly... His emotions and intent are already in his expressions, yet there was something that she felt inside him.

A sense of heartbreak, despair, and grief, and most importantly, fear... A deep ingrained feeling of a fear of being alone. He has too many emotions, both good and bad... She wondered what she could do, but with Draxus avoiding such topics regarding to his actions, he was forcing himself to focus on the present. However, despite all that, the girl was drawn to him. It's as if [Fate] was telling them that they will be tied together...

She was just a frail princess... While he was an otherworlder who had already surpassed everything in the world she lived in. However, as his training ended, he cleansed himself with magic, and slowly walked towards her with a smile, patting her in the head gently as he sat down next to her to watch his master's next opponent.

At that moment, she had declared on herself...

"Ahh... I want to be next to you... From now... Until forever..."